Chapter 21
With a casual hoodie on, Hawk Eye stepped outside and headed to the cafe in front of his house. Since his appearance wasn’t particularly eye-catching and he wasn’t a streamer known for his looks, no one recognized him.
After glancing around the cafe for a moment, he ordered two coffees in advance and waited for his guest. While he was killing time playing with his kit, his guest arrived and sat across from him.
“How’s streaming going?” John Tail asked while taking a sip of the still-steaming coffee. As Balhae’s head of management, he always greeted him the same way.
Click—
“It’s about the same.”
“No way. The data shows you’re getting more popular.”
“Really? It was so gradual that I didn’t notice.”
“That’s better than a sharp increase. A sharp increase can result in a fall just as quickly, but a steady increase doesn’t drop as easily.”
Given their jobs, most of their conversation was focused on streaming.
Hawk Eye had been streaming with Balhae for a long time. He’d known John Tail since before he became the team leader, which was why they could speak so casually.
“So, what brought you here?” Hawk Eye asked.
“Your place is very close to the office. It’s not like it took much for me to get here.”
“Still, you aren’t the type of person who would come just for a cup of tea.” Since they’d known each other for a long time, Hawk Eye knew John Tail’s habits well. “What’s up?”
“Are you quick to notice thanks to your eyes?” John Tail asked.
“Everyone in the company knows you’re busy. If you wanted to hang out, we’d be at a bar, not a cafe.” Hawk Eye shrugged as if it were no big deal.
John Tail sighed and got to the point. “It’s about Lee Su-hyeok, the streamer you saw during yesterday’s stream.”
“The new streamer?”
“Yes, the new guy. What do you think of him?”
“Didn’t you watch my whole stream?” Hawk Eye felt that the conversation wouldn’t take long. “I meant what I said. I think he is more talented than the original Lee Su-hyeok.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes, I’m serious. Why do you ask?”
“I want to bring him to our company.”
“What…?” Hawk Eyes’s eyes widened, and his hand halted before he could bring the cup to his mouth. Slowly, he set his coffee down again.
“Why that reaction? Are you against it?”
“No, it’s not that I’m against it. It’s just that I’m a bit surprised. So soon? You’re a perfectionist.”
“No, I’m not.” John Tail waved his hand as if to deny it.
Still, Hawk Eye knew that John Tail wasn’t the type of person who showed interest in a streamer unless their success was certain. He was only interested in those close to being gems, not raw stones, which was why his interest in the new streamer was unexpected.
While Hawk Eye saw Lee Su-heok as a player, John Tail probably saw him as a streamer. “Well, there’s an employee who’s been taking a close look at Lee Su-hyeok.”
“Who?”
“Her name is Un-hyang. She’s a recent hire.”
“Un-hyang…?” A certain name and a face popped up in Hawk Eye’s mind. Looking shocked, he asked, “Are you talking about the genius…?”
She was an emerging player from Murim. Up until a few years prior, when she suddenly retired and disappeared, she was one of the players Hawk Eye had been keeping an eye on. He wasn’t expecting to hear her name there.
“I was shocked too. She suddenly joined the company, saying her childhood friend worked with us,” John Tail explained.
“Un-hyang’s interested in that streamer, Lee Su-hyeok?”
“She said she was a huge fan of the real ‘Lee Su-hyeok’, but as soon as she saw that stream, she became a complete fan.
Hawk Eye felt a sense of pride in his discerning eye. “See? I’ve still got it. If the genius is interested in him, then that means he’s really as good as the original Lee Su-hyeok.”
“You pretended not to care, but those negative comments bothered you, didn’t they? John Tail asked.”
“Who wouldn’t feel bad about being criticized? Still, I respect my own judgment more.”
“Indeed.” John Tail nodded, acknowledging Hawk Eye’s perspective. Then he brought up the reason for their meeting. “I’m not saying this as the team leader, but as your former manager…” He had been Hawk Eye’s manager before becoming the team leader.
“So?”
“Whether he comes to our company or not, let’s try to collaborate with him.”
* * *
Reaper Scans
Translator – SCM
Proofreader – ilafy
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* * *
“There’s no one here but us, right?” Isaac asked.
Su-hyeok read the sly smile on Isaac’s face. No matter how much one tried to hide their expression, it was hard to deceive the eyes. Moreover, Isaac wasn’t even thinking about hiding his expression.
The man’s eyes clearly displayed his emotions—Contempt, disregard, anger, killing intent…
Su-hyeok almost burst into laughter. “Yeah,” he confirmed there being no sign of anyone around before continuing, “there’s no one…” His words slowly trailed off.
Isaac was convinced that Su-hyeok’s tone was due to fear. They weren’t right in the middle of the village, nor were they in a busy restaurant. Rather, since they were in a place where nobody could come to his aid, it was only natural to be afraid.
“Why did you suddenly act tough and enter a dungeon? Huh, friend?” Isaac asked.
Su-hyeok’s mood plummeted.
“Why? Did you think you had become the real Lee Su-hyeok? Did you think you’d get lucky as that streamer and get the Lightning skill?” Taking a step toward Su-hyeok, Isaac revealed the real reason for his anger. ”
Isaac gritted his teeth and glared at Su-hyeok. “Fuck! Those insect-like bastards should know their place. Acting tough just because they got the Lightning skill… Don’t you agree, friend?”
‘Friend’ again. Although he always approached Su-hyeok with that word, it was full of mockery. Also, Su-hyeok was included as one of the ‘insects’ Isaac had mentioned. Even with the word ‘friend’, Isaac was trying to trample on his pride.
‘I had forgotten.’ Right, he’d forgotten about something.
“You better not appear in front of me again.”
He decided to show Isaac, who lightly used the word ‘friend’, how scary an adult could be.
Fwoosh—
Flames flickered on Isaac’s fingers. “But what kind of dungeon is this? From how you look, it seems you couldn’t clear it and ran away during the clear.” He waved his fingers and threateningly shook the flames.
Su-hyeok had heard Isaac was good with magic. The man didn’t even need to make any preparations to put on such a performance.
Isaac continued speaking. “You fool. If I were you, I’d be too ashamed to stop and would try to clear it until the end, and—”
Su-hyeok interrupted him. “It’s not like I don’t remember, but let me ask again…”
Isaac’s face twisted in anger.
Su-hyeok drew his sword, which he’d sheathed not too long after exiting the dungeon. “Why do you hate me so much?” He’d asked the question once before, a long time prior.
“Why… Why are you doing this?” The one to ask the question had been the previous owner of the body, though, who’d been tormented by Isaac for a long time.
“That question again?” Isaac mockingly asked. He probably didn’t know how much the old owner of Su-hyeok’s body had struggled and suffered before gathering the courage to ask that question. “I just don’t like your name, you bastard.”
“I just don’t like your name, you bastard. Got it?”
It was almost the exact same answer, word for word. Isaac’s eyes gleamed with hostility, making it clear that he wasn’t joking.
“Why? Everyone seems to like Lee Su-hyeok.” Su-hyeok had realized it during the stream, but there were more people who liked him than he thought. In his past life, he’d always been too busy looking ahead and climbing the tower to notice.
For some reason, people liked someone whose face was hidden behind a mask just because they shared the same name. He didn’t truly understand it, but he felt grateful.
“You really don’t know who my father is?” Isaac asked.
The guy in front of him was the exact opposite. Su-hyeok had never seen him or met him in his past life, but he harbored strong resentment toward the real Lee Su-hyeok.
Su-hyeok shook his head. “I don’t. Should I?”
“You really don’t know? Does the name ‘Reinhardt’ ring a bell?”
‘Reinhardt?’ Su-hyeok recalled the name from the body’s original memories. Apparently, it’d been mentioned several times during his time in the educational institution.
Isaac was Reindhardt’s son and the genius who would succeed him. That’s how he was known at the institution, but… Su-hyeok remembered that name for a completely different reason.
‘Reinhardt?’ “Are you talking about ‘One Hit Defeat’?”
Isaac’s expression distorted in anger. It seemed Su-hyeok had hit the mark perfectly. Thanks to that, he understood why the man hated the ‘real’ Lee Su-hyeok so much.
‘If he’d said so from the beginning, I would have understood.’ Reinhardt was a ranker from a renowned magic family on the Rune Continent. Although he was a famous ranker, he had the notorious nickname of ‘One Hit Defeat’.
Back when Su-hyeok was just emerging as a rookie under the name ‘Blue Eyes’, Reinhardst had publicly said, “Lee Su-hyeok? A single sword strike is enough to defeat someone like him.” In the end, the man had been defeated with a single strike.
“You bastard… How dare you say that?” Isaac asked.
“Is it because of your daddy’s nickname? Is that why you hate me so much?”
“Yes!” Isaac, unable to handle his anger anymore, swung his hand. Flames surrounded them, cutting off any means of retreating. “I hate that bastard. No, I hate all those sons of bitches from Blue Eyes!”
Su-hyeok’s eyes wavered when he heard Isaac curse his friends and former comrades.
“That bastard, Lee Su-hyeok!” Isaac vented all the anger he’d been holding inside. “That damn fry, Kim MinJae!”
The face of the friend who’d died with a hole in his chest rose in Su-hyeok’s mind. He used to brag about being the fastest, only to die first fighting the enemies.
“Choi Suhun, that wretched pig!” He’d foolishly stood in front of his comrades, blocking the enemies, only to be cut down and die kneeling.
“Ahn JiYeong, that bitch!” She had taken a sword for Su-hyeok.
“Kim Ilsu, why did that bastard survive?! Fuck!” Su-hyeok could agree with that one.
“Kim Siwoo, that—”
“Stop,” Su-hyeok interrupted. Isaac had crossed too many lines. “I can’t listen to you anymore.” He swung his hand.
Woosh—
[‘Lightning’ has activated.]
Flash—
BZZT—!
The flames surrounding the two were pushed back, replaced by golden lightning.
“…!” Isaac’s eyes widened in surprise when his magic was repelled. What shocked him even more was the nature of the skill that had taken its place.
‘What’s this?’ The lightning shone with a golden color, and Isaac stared in astonishment as Su-hyeok put on a mask. Isaac recalled the words he’d previously uttered.
“The world is truly unfair. How can you two live such different lives despite having the same name?”
‘Don’t tell me…’
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