Chapter 128

Chapter 128: Fate - (1)

It really just passed by, like a fleeting moment.

Sanghyun knew that in his past life, Yuki Hashimoto had made a contract with the Goddess of Fortune and soared to success.

But right now, he wouldn’t be aware of that fact. So there was no reason to acknowledge it, nor any reason to bring it up.

“No, Goddess. What are you talking about? I don’t have that kind of preference. I don’t even hold hands with men.”

Sanghyun firmly answered the Goddess of Fortune’s suspicion.

And just like that, Yuki Hashimoto disappeared into the distance. In this life, he would meet a completely different celestial being and live his life accordingly.

‘I will carry your share as well.’

Sanghyun clenched his fists, making a silent vow that the other party would never know, nor ever hear.

Fate was truly terrifying in that way.

Depending on how and when it approached, one could simply pass by it or be bound to it for a lifetime.

Perhaps because he had accomplished his objective, Sanghyun felt a great sense of relief.

So, for the first time in a long while, he let go of everything and fully immersed himself in his trip to Dotonbori with a light heart.

He had already booked a return flight for tomorrow at noon and secured a hotel room with a clear view of the city.

Now, embracing the role of a pure tourist, he roamed the city and indulged himself in food.

There were so many things he wanted to eat, yet the limited space in his stomach felt frustrating!

“Wow! Over there, over there!”

“What is it? Why are you so excited all of a sudden?”

“It’s Hyuncheon - The Four Divine Archers! I heard they recently cleared a major gate, and now they’re doing a parade!”

At that moment, the people on the street began murmuring and rushed toward one side of the road.

‘If it’s Hyuncheon - The Four Divine Archers…’

He already knew who they were.

If compared to Korea, they were equivalent to the players who would later be known as the Top 5 swordmasters, the renowned figures called the Five Emperors (五帝).

Japan was unique in that many of its famous players were archers.

The Four Divine Archers of Hyuncheon were a prime example.

Moreover, all four of them were women.

This led to a fanatic following that adored them, with fans obsessively buying up all their merchandise and photobooks.

Each of them specialized in a different elemental attack—fire, ice, thunder, and wind—making for a well-balanced team.

‘I wonder how Kim Miso is doing?’

Suddenly, he thought of Kim Miso.

Though he might have been biased, he still felt that Kim Miso was far more beautiful than the Four Divine Archers.

“Well, I suppose showmanship is important too. If ordinary people become fans and offer their support, that’s something that can’t be ignored.”

The extravagant parade of the Four Divine Archers made sense to some extent.

Even in Korea, many players engaged in external activities and actively built fanbases through communication.

One of the most notable examples was the Sword Saint, So Hyeongjun.

If one were to exclude the fact that he was a player, So Hyeongjun’s activities were closer to that of a celebrity—no, perhaps even beyond that.

‘This is around the time he starts making moves.’

Sanghyun checked today’s date and gauged the timeline from his memories.

This should be right after So Hyeongjun’s self-imposed training period, which he would later call his secluded cultivation.

The grueling time that allowed him to elevate himself as a swordsman.

Now, the era of the renowned swordsmen was beginning.

Do Kyungsoo, Jung Heeseon, Kang Boa, Dokgo Yoon, and So Hyeongjun. The war of the stars was about to unfold.

‘Maybe this time, there’ll be one more?’

Sanghyun chuckled at the thought of turning the Top 5 into a Top 6.

He had certainly reached a level where he could afford some self-praise.

Yet, perhaps because he had lived a life of hardship for so long in his past life, it still felt unfamiliar.

Night had fallen before he knew it.

He had indulged in a feast, eating so much that it felt as if he was forcibly stuffing himself.

The final touch was a late-night meal.

He stopped by a famous restaurant he had checked out beforehand and gathered the last of his energy to enjoy some sushi.

And then, at that very moment—

“Excuse me… I’m sorry to bother you.”

A woman at the table next to him, who had been glancing his way, cautiously spoke up.

Like Sanghyun, she had been quietly dining while drinking alone.

Sanghyun hadn’t been paying her any attention, but she, on the other hand, had been observing him closely from the start.

His face was unmistakably familiar.

At first, she couldn’t believe that someone like him would be in Japan, rather than Korea.

“Yes?”

“Are you… Shin Sanghyun?”

Her Japanese was careful, and her posture carried an almost extreme level of deference.

“Yes, I am.”

Sanghyun also recognized her.

Kosaka Yui.

The leader of a guild known as Osaka Players and a well-known name among mental-type players.

At that moment, he immediately activated Pure White Option.

Although it was unlikely, there was a possibility that she could use a skill to invade his mental world.

If that happened, he could momentarily fall under hypnosis, and in the worst case, he could become an imbecile.

Fortunately, it seemed to be an unnecessary worry, as there were no such signs.

“I didn’t realize you were traveling alone. I was checking for a while to make sure you were really here. If I made you uncomfortable, I apologize.”

“No, not really.”

In fact, he hadn’t even noticed Yui was next to him, so he had no time to feel uncomfortable.

He was simply savoring each piece of sushi, fully immersed in the pleasure of gourmet dining. That was all.

“Would it be alright if I sat with you for a moment and had a conversation? I apologize again for the intrusion.”

“By all means.”

She wasn’t an unwelcome guest, and he wasn’t unfamiliar with her, so Sanghyun gladly accepted.

A guild master taking interest in him meant she was trying to form some kind of connection.

That was exactly what Sanghyun wanted.

He was looking to expand his sphere of activity into Japan, and her approach seemed to align with that goal.

It didn’t seem like a planned coincidence.

From what he knew of her personality in his past life, she wasn’t the type to put on an act of pretending to accidentally run into someone.

Sitting across from him, she carefully opened her mouth to speak.

Sang-hyun signaled the server to bring additional sushi and drinks for her. A quick gesture of consideration.

“What brings you to Japan?”

“Just a bit of traveling. I really needed a trip abroad.”

Sanghyun answered vaguely.

The Break Spot Dungeon was something he would take to his grave as a lifelong secret.

“Ah. I just thought the timing was quite a coincidence. We were actually talking about you in our guild.”

“At Osaka Players?”

“Yes. If that makes you uncomfortable, I apologize.”

“Not at all. Players talking about other players isn’t anything to be bothered by. I just find it interesting. I haven’t really accomplished anything yet, after all.”

“We tend to pay more attention to new faces who are experiencing rapid growth rather than already established names.”

“I see.”

“Among the players we’ve been consistently monitoring in Korea, China, and Japan recently, Shin Sanghyun is undoubtedly at the top.”

“You mean in terms of growth?”

“Not just growth. Personal potential, skill evolution, social status, reputation, and evaluations from others.”

“There are many skilled individuals.”

“As I mentioned, we focus on new faces—in other words, latecomers who are rising through the ranks.”

Yui’s eyes gleamed.

Even within her guild, everyone was curious about the extent of Sanghyun’s abilities.

In particular, they were in constant awe of his well-known skill, Demon Bash's staggering effect.

If its duration extended from 1.5 seconds to even 2 seconds, it would be considered a noble-tier skill in team play.

But Sanghyun had possessed a skill that exceeded that level from the beginning.

Moreover, after killing Ivan and merging skills, the newly created "Full Bash" was nothing short of a living hell.

‘I need connections in Japan, too. But asking Han Hyunjung for help isn’t ideal.’

It wouldn’t look good if he were the one to make a proposal or request first. It would put him at a disadvantage in the battle for dominance.

As he was considering how to steer the conversation, Yui took the lead.

“I happened to run into you today, but truthfully, I’ve been thinking that I’d like to meet you in Korea someday.”

“I’m honored. Truly.”

“From what I understand, you formed a one-man guild, which suggests you dislike being tied down. Am I right?”

“That’s correct.”

“If you ever find yourself active in Japan, how about working as a mercenary through our guild?”

“Ah, now that you mention it, Japan has a well-developed system for that, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, we recruit a lot of foreign players that way. The screening process is also very lenient.”

“It’s a low-pressure offer for me.”

“Then I’d like to make a bold proposal. As you know, mercenary contracts are signed per dungeon raid, allowing for free renewal and termination.”

She was right.

Mercenary contracts were made for specific dungeons or gate raids and ended upon completion and distribution of rewards.

If new work was desired, a new contract was drawn up, and compensation was reevaluated accordingly.

‘I already mastered Japanese. Seems like a good offer.’

There were no language barriers, and Osaka Players Guild had a solid reputation and recognition.

There was no reason to refuse.

Sanghyun nodded.

“Alright. Let’s do it.”

“Thank you! Thanks to this chance encounter, our guild now has a connection to Korea!”

Yui was genuinely pleased.

That meant her guild had no prior ties to Korean players.

Sang-hyun thought it might be a good opportunity to introduce some acquaintances later on, not just himself.

“You should visit Korea sometime. I know all the best restaurants and date spots in Seoul. You can bring your boyfriend along, too.”

“Ehh, boyfriend?”

“If not, then at least someone you’re seeing. Anyway, I’ll contact you next time I come to Japan.”

“Yes! Here’s my business card. If you can’t reach me directly, call this number instead.”

Yui handed him not only her card but also another person’s.

Sanghyun tilted his head slightly in curiosity, prompting Yui to explain.

“That’s my younger sister’s contact. She’s also my direct personal secretary. If I’m unavailable, you’ll definitely be able to reach her.”

“So, in other words, I can contact you 24/7.”

“Hoho, that’s right. I hope we can talk again soon.”

“Japan is certainly an attractive place for foreign players. I’ll be in touch. Shall we have a drink? Since we met like this, let’s make the most of it.”

Sanghyun, feeling the mood naturally ripen, found himself craving a cold beer.

“Of course!”

She didn’t refuse.

The night in Osaka deepened as various fates intertwined and parted.

The next day.

After returning home to Player Town, Sanghyun had an unexpected visitor.

“Who is it?”

“I’m your downstairs neighbor.”

“Kyunghye? What brings you here all of a sudden?”

Since their last meeting, they had grown quite close, so her visit was a pleasant surprise. Did she have some news?

“Would you like to try some curry? It’s my first time making it...”

Certainly.

It was unexpected news.