Episode 152
152. Victor’s concerns
Victor wanted to tell his family.
How much humiliation he suffered and how many atrocities he saw when he was captured by IS for a year.
I wanted to honestly tell my family what I had experienced.
But I couldn’t do that now.
“Sophia, you said she took first place in the district rankings again?”
“How proud I am. “I heard it’s a rare profession called Guardian.”
My younger sister, who was worried that she might be left out of the round, was doing better than she thought.
‘No, it’s not just that you’re living well, you’ve completely improved your life, right?’
Sophia’s claim was that she was taking first place in the district rankings, which she had never done before.
‘I’m sure it’s not a lie. ‘Sofia is a child who hates lies.’
Seeing that I was living well, contrary to my worries, made me feel both empty and relieved at the same time.
Suddenly, I look up and see my parents, and I see that their complexions have brightened.
How could he not be happy that his daughter was doing well in this world?
‘Can you tell me that you like me so much? I was captured by IS and suffered a lot… … .’
I couldn’t bring myself to open my mouth because it felt like I was just sprinkling ashes on the finished rice.
But my parents happen to ask me about this.
“Victor. What happened so far? “Why haven’t I heard from you in a year?”
“iced coffee… … Well, that’s it.”
Victor, who was wondering whether he should talk about the gloom or not, finally made a decision.
Let’s not break the mood by talking for nothing.
“Hey, I went on a trip abroad.”
“what? travel?”
My parents shouted, dumbfounded by the unexpected answer.
“Is that really true? “I thought you were kidnapped by IS and died!”
“haha… … It’s not IS. What is the world like these days… … .”
“So you’re really saying that you went on a nice trip?”
“How about contact? “Why on earth didn’t you do it?”
“I lost my cell phone… … .”
“But what if you don’t even contact me? “You were worried!”
Victor lowered his head.
“sorry. I wondered if I should continue working as a doctor, but I had so many worries and my head was so complicated that I just wanted to leave. There are times like that. “I suddenly feel like I want to drop everything and leave.”
Concern quickly appeared on the parents’ faces as they sensed the atmosphere.
“… … Depression, something like that?”
“yes… … I was a little distraught. “It’s a good idea to do this not in adolescence but in your late 20s.”
“So you’ve been traveling here and there?”
“yes. I just walked around wherever I could. Then, when I ran out of money, I got a job and started working. When I save up money, I go on a trip again… … .”
Once I did it, the lie came out easily.
Even his parents, who were dumbfounded at first, seemed to understand that he seemed persuasive as his words became longer.
‘okay. ‘It’s better to say that I went on a trip because of depression than that I was kidnapped by IS.’
It was a white lie told in the hope that the family would worry less.
“okay. I’m glad it came this way. “Have you made up your mind now?”
“yes. From now on, I will never get out of here. “No matter what, my house is the best.”
“It’s good that you know now.”
“Sofia is doing well as a player, so you too, make up your mind and work hard.”
“Yes I will.”
Victor answered with a somewhat bitter feeling.
“And where did Sophia go?”
“They said they were going to film because an ad came in recently.”
“ah… … “Really?”
“I can see how happy you would be when you found out that your brother is back. Hehehe.”
Seeing his parents with smiles on their faces, Victor felt once again that his decision was a good one.
“It’s been a while since I took a look at the room.”
“Sure.”
Victor returned to his room after a year, closed the door, and sighed.
‘It went well. ‘Your younger brother and family weren’t having as hard a time as you worried about, right?’
I wanted to meet my family at least once before I die, and my wish came true.
Now there are no more regrets left in my heart.
In fact, it went even better.
Because I can leave without any regrets.
‘It’s a game of survival, it’s stupid, and I’m sick of it. Now I want to get some rest.’
Rather than struggling to survive, it seemed better to spend his life with his family and end his life like this.
As such, Victor’s mind, which had been kidnapped for a year, was much weaker and more broken than it seemed.
“son! You must be hungry, but I prepared a meal for you. “Eat.”
“yes!”
It’s been a while since I had a good meal and talked with my family.
And when evening came.
Victor was able to reunite with his sister who came in late at night.
“Oh, brother!”
“Sophia!”
The two people hugged and had tears in their eyes.
It’s rare, but the two were siblings who were so close that they had a lot of fights.
“Where have you been, brother! “How much did I find?”
“Ahaha, that, that… … .”
Victor, sweating profusely, told a white lie again.
Of course, the answer that came back was my younger brother’s nagging.
“No matter how much of a trip you take, how can you leave so quickly! “You shouldn’t have left at least a message!”
“Okay. “Is that what you and your parents both say?”
“That’s because I’m worried! We thought our brother was dead! A cataclysm has already occurred!”
“I knew what happened to you. I never thought I would survive until the 9th round… … .”
“Brother, didn’t you hear me? I am the one who took first place from the first round. Oh, of course, it is ranked #1 in the area. The entire area is occupied by a player named Black Scythe. You know that your brother is a player too, right? “Black scythe.”
“uh? Uh… … .”
Is it just knowing?
I spoke with the black scythe, my life was saved, and I saw his terrifying power with my own eyes.
They are much closer to each other than their younger brother, whom they only know by name.
“As for that Black Scythe player, don’t you think he’s really great? “The level is extremely high.”
“Wow, that’s great. then.”
“I heard you’re a Korean player. Have you ever traveled there? “Is it too far away to go?”
“Ha, Korea? “Black Scythe was a Korean player?”
“huh. I did not know? This is a fact that has already been revealed in articles… … . “In Korea, I am serving as the leader of a unit called CPF that catches criminal players.”
“Well, I see.”
I didn’t know.
Because I lived in an environment where I couldn’t even use my cell phone for a year.
‘Do you mean to say that they also punish criminals there?’
I was once again filled with respect for Black Scythe’s efforts to eliminate crime in my own country.
“But how did you survive all this time? What’s your occupation?”
“me? “He’s an alchemist.”
“alchemist? “Have you ever had a job like that?”
“I really want to ask. “What does a guardian do?”
Time passed quickly as we talked and asked each other things we didn’t know about each other.
The brother and sister, who were already close, had a common denominator as players, and a deeper bond developed.
After such a happy time, it was past midnight.
Victor lay in bed and thought deeply.
About future steps.
‘After talking to her, I see that Sophia doesn’t need to worry. ‘You’re doing well.’
My younger brother was treated well both in reality and in the other world.
When he was captured and struggling by IS, fearing death.
‘Ricky’s parents decided to take responsibility for Mr. Marcus’s search, and the other children are also safe. Black Scythe eliminated all the IS monsters that were harassing me.’
Everything fell into place smoothly.
So much so that there is nothing to worry about anymore.
‘But why is my heart so empty?’
Is it because of the hardships suffered under IS?
Or has my soul been worn out from watching the atrocities of these beasts day after day?
Victor, who was staring at the ceiling with blank eyes as if a screw had been missing, fell into deep thought.
So much so that I couldn’t even hear a knock on the window next to my bed.
Tumbling-
“huh?”
Victor, who heard the sound too late, looked out the window and was startled.
‘What, Black Scythe?’
When I was told to come out, I gasped and went out of the house to see a black scythe standing there.
“Oh, hello. What’s going on at my house… … ah! If you’re here because you need a potion… … .”
As I was rummaging through my inventory, Black Scythe shook his head while wearing a mask.
“no. “I have come to tell you something.”
“What can I say? No way, the thing about IS… … .”
“Don’t worry about ISIS. It’s already been sorted out. “You will hear good news on the news tomorrow.”
“Ah, that’s a good thing. So what I have to say is… … .”
“Victor Jafaile.”
Black Scythe set the mood with a very serious voice.
“… … Do not give up.”
“yes? “Didn’t you hear me clearly?”
“Don’t give up on life.”
“… … .”
“I know. What happened to IS? You must have suffered greatly. but.”
After a brief pause, Ryumin looked at the house and continued speaking.
“Don’t you have a family to protect?”
“I don’t know why you’re suddenly saying this… … There is no problem with the family. My younger brother and I are doing very well without me. I achieved my goal and now I have no regrets… … .”
“You’re arrogant.”
“yes?”
“Purpose achieved? Do you think life is a simple game that ends when you complete a certain mission?”
“… … .”
“Life continues until death. Life is a game that doesn’t end until you die. The same goes for the survival game we play now.”
“… … .”
“You have to keep moving until you reach round 20, either you finish the walkthrough or you die before then. But you’ve achieved your small goal of meeting your family and your work is done? No more regrets? How ridiculously do you look at life to be able to say something like that? “If that’s not arrogance, what is?”
Victor just listened in silence to the storm of words.
It wasn’t particularly wrong.
“Don’t give up on life. “If you give up the game of survival, what do you think will happen to your remaining family?”
“well. Maybe we won’t live without problems like we do now… … .”
“Do you really think the family lived without problems while Victor was away? “Wouldn’t he have been waiting at the front door for his son, who didn’t know if he was dead or alive, anxious to know when he would return?”
“… … .”
“The reason the family was able to survive was because of the expectation and hope that you would return, Victor. If you die in the next round, there will be no hope left. Then what about your family? “Will I be able to live normally?”
“… … .”
Ryumin, who felt that he needed to finish this quickly, added a wedge.
“Victor. You just want to rest. “After suffering for a year, I guess I want to rest in peace now that I die.”
The impact, as if he had been hit on the head with a hammer, rang in Victor’s throat.
“I understand. But that’s not the way for families. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. “It’s also a selfish decision just for yourself.”
“… … .”
“I hope you hold on until the end. Until round 20. Your sister, Sophia. I know she is a famous ranker in Nigeria. But is she really confident she can last 20 rounds? Victor, without you?”
Victor’s heart is seen shaking like the wind.
Ryumin concluded, thinking that persuasion was almost complete.
“Please protect Sophia. Aren’t alchemists the only class in the world that specializes in assistance? If I’m with you, my brother won’t be eliminated before the 20th round. Of course, if I get the chance, I will help you with the strategy. If this is fate, it is fate. So survive.”
“Thank you for your words, but I wonder if a guy like me can protect his younger brother… … .”
“I can protect it well enough. “Let me show you this as proof.”
Ryumin took out an item from his inventory.
Victor was surprised when he saw the information on the item.
It was a legendary item that resurrects people, a potion of life.
“This is an item I got by chance. Using this, you can even revive dead players. “It means that you can protect Sophia by my side.”
“W, are you saying that an alchemist can make a potion like this?”
“I guess so. Can’t you make anything with a potion? However, as you can see from the usage restrictions, potions can only be used by Masters or higher. That means you have to reach at least level 60 to be eligible to make potions.”
“ah… … .”
It was just as the black scythe said.
When you reach level 60, you may be able to make a potion of life.
Then, even if Sophia dies in an emergency, he can protect her.
“If you want to protect Sophia from death, make her level 60. If you don’t have a goal, just find a new one. “I’m not giving up like an old man who has mastered life.”
When I looked at Victor’s eyes, there was a liveliness that had never existed before.
When I saw the potion, a new goal emerged.
“Thank you for your words. My mind was somehow confused and complicated, but now I feel like it has been sorted out. The only person who said this to me is Black Scythe. thank you.”
“I’m glad it helped.”
“But how do you know my heart so well?”
“I have a good eye for people. Would you say you have insight?”
insight?
It was not something that could be stated in such simple words.
Because I felt like I found light in the darkness.
Because I felt like I had been rescued from a quagmire in which I was struggling.
‘Black Scythe is truly a great person. ‘It makes me wonder if it is Allah who has come to this world.’
“That’s all I have to say. I stopped by to tell you this. “It’s sad that the person who saved me disappears without any motivation.”
“sorry… … Because I look ugly. Don’t worry anymore. Because I have a new goal. “I won’t think nonsense.”
“That’s good. “I believe it.”
Ryumin, who saw that Victor’s mind had completely changed, smiled beneath his mask.
“Before you leave, I would like to give you one last piece of advice. Be honest with your family and don’t hide anything. That will solve a frustrating situation.”
Victor’s eyes grew infinitely larger.
“You see through things I didn’t tell my family…” … How on earth… … ?”
It was then.
“brother!”
Sophia appeared out of nowhere holding a sword and shield.
“Who are you talking to this early in the morning?”
“Ah, this person… … huh?”
Victor turned his head, but the black scythe had already disappeared.
“Brother, who are you? “You were with a suspicious masked person just now.”
Victor, who was pondering Sophia’s question, spoke softly.
“… … sickle.”
“huh?”
“… … “It’s Black Scythe.”
“what?”
Looking at Sophia’s surprise, Victor made up his mind.
I decided to take the Black Scythe’s advice.
