The Player Hides His Past - Chapter 275: Those who are not merciful (1)

– Attachment file: Photo

– Wow! What else did our Hoyeol do this time?

– After running away from home for 15 days, he became a celebrity

– (Dancing puppy emoticon)

– Sisters ㅡㅡ Why do you guys just react like that???

“Huh.”

Lee Yerim let out a hollow laugh.

– The title floating on the top right!!!!! Look at that!!!

– Top right? I have a hard time seeing small letters these daysㅜㅜ

– Yerim, why are you hurting the oldest sister this way

– No, we’re a year or two apart at most, what are you saying??

It couldn’t be helped.

Tap tap.

She kindly transcribed the text in the capture.

– Dragon Lord, Dark Dragon Lee Hoyeol. Shout out to the world.

– Is that the title of the broadcast?

– Yesㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

– (Hand clapping seal emoticon)

– No, are you just going to be happy about this?!!

Being proud and happy about Hoyeol.

Weren’t Mom and Dad and the whole world enough for that?

Some people needed to make fun of him to balance it.

She typed, undaunted by the unwanted reactions.

-DarkㅋㅋㅋㅋDraㅋㅋㅋㅋGonㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

– Isn’t it great to be a dragon?

– Right~? Just hearing the name, it sounds amazing~

– Ha……

They were only one or two years apart.

She didn’t expect that she would feel a generation gap with her sisters in her 30s.

How could they say that such a moniker was cool?!

– Sisters, you really don’t remember???

– (Doubtful seal emoticon)

– When Hoyeol was young

– We used to tease him a lot

– When did I?

– Yerim still does it to this dayㅎㅎ

– Anyway is it a story from a long time ago?

– No, it was when the maknae was in middle school

Lee Yerim remembered it vaguely.

Hoyeol’s second year of middle school.

But Lee Eunhye and Lee Jiyoon didn’t remember.

Of course.

– If Hoyeol was in the second year of middle school…

– It was when we were in high school?

– That’s when we didn’t even have time to see each otherㅜㅜ

– (Soul coming out of the mouth emoji)

…Now that she thought about it, that was true.

They were four siblings born in different years.

Unnies must be adjusting to high school.

Also, she must have been busy putting all her effort into concealing her emotions about her declining force. She was the only one who could say that she had watched Hoyeol during his middle school years.

“…I need to stop drinking.”

She was the only one whose memory had deteriorated due to frequent drinking and depravity!

Lee Yerim sighed.

…All right, then.

– Whatever, I’m not gonna talk

– What do you mean? You should get ready

-…Get ready? Get ready to tease him?

– What? We should at least have a celebration party

– Party? Even without that, I wanted to see Momㅎㅎ

Ring!

– Attachment file: Photo

– Our Arang is excitedㅋㅋㅋㅋ She doesn’t even snuggle up to me, but she likes to hug Hoyeol. Auntie is already upset, Arang

– Sigh

“The Lee family is really harmonious.”

It was a good thing, so she should just change her mindset.

“Really, why is it so important to tease him?”

Actually, she just gave up because she couldn’t remember.

“I’ll let you go for now, our maknae.”

Lee Yerim pretended to give up like an adult and laughed.

Then, she tapped the screen one last time.

Indeed.

The number of participants in this group chat room.

There were a total of 4 of them, including the maknae, Hoyeol.

– Did you hear that, Hoyeol? If we have time, let’s meet face-to-face ~

*

…Are you crazy?

Since there was only one missed call from the nemesis, I thought she had grown up a bit. She was really making things bigger in the group chat!

‘I knew it, she still remembers!’

To think that she would mention those days to No. 1 and No. 2.

I, Lee Hoyeol, was in serious trouble.

I thought about erasing everyone’s memories with magic.

But it was really just my impulsive wish.

What I said was the opposite of my feelings.

“I’m glad you look calm, noonims.”

Hey, Grandfel.

I don’t know about Mom and Dad.

But you shouldn’t make such a vague expression when you think of your blood relatives.

Especially when you think about No.3, the nemesis…!

You speak informally to the Emperor and to the dragons who have lived for eternity. Why do you always call sisters with extreme honorifics ‘noonims’?

“I need to visit them.”

Thanks to that, I couldn’t get rid of these goosebumps!

But when did Grandfel’s formality ever take my situation into consideration?

In the end, I sent a reply in a serious tone.

“I’ll see you after taking a break.”

To think that I could avoid the worst without going against my pride.

In times like these, the excessive burdens I took on sometimes could be helpful…

I looked at the photo one last time and muttered.

“I’m glad you’re growing up great.”

The only thing I and Grandfel could agree on was the thoughts of Arang, my niece. She really grew bigger every time I saw her… This uncle is already worried, Arang.

‘…I wonder if you might understand what I mean.’

As I moved my finger, the previous picture appeared.

It was a TV screen taken with a camera.

To be exact, it was the title of a program about me.

[Dragon Lord, Dark Dragon Lee Hoyeol. Shout out to the world]

Look at the exaggeration.

The process of the Dark Dragon becoming a dragon lord.

The process of how this guy’s big words become a reality…!

“Has the world heard about it?”

The VBC station, was it?

I’ll remember your name…!

Thanks to the grandiose confirmation and kill shot.

With Grandfel’s pride, it was impossible to ignore it.

‘In the end, I end up saying it with my own mouth.’

Present time.

The lobby of the Mage Tower and in front of the Golden Palace of Yusra.

There was a crowd of reporters waiting for me. I originally planned to head straight to Zero Mountain after the Holy War Allied Force meeting.

Level up.

Attack 100,000 caves.

Encounter Union.

In order to kill three birds with one stone, I couldn’t waste any more time. To be honest. I wanted to manifest a portal and moved to Zero Mountain, not giving a damn about the reporters.

“Then I won’t have to hesitate anymore.”

Tap tap–

As you could see, my proud steps were heading towards the main gate of the Golden Palace.

I should organize my thoughts while tidying up my clothes.

Yes, Hoyeol.

You can’t avoid it.

If you can’t even enjoy it…

‘Let’s think about it as rationally as possible.’

I, who materialized [Legend, Dark Dragon Lee Hoyeol], was well aware of it.

The effect of [Legend] was not proportional to my strength. The degree of effect varied depending on how widely that [legend] resonates and what kind of power it had.

‘Just like how it was at Antonium.’

Let’s just think of my shame and the growth of [legend] separately.

The reporters.

Making a fuss about me being the Dark Dragon in front of cameras to be sent around the world.

It would be a truly terrible experience.

To put it simply…

‘The more terrible it is, the stronger my legend becomes.’

This time, it was not a rationalization to protect my–Lee Hoyeol’s–dignity.

It was an undeniable fact.

Thinking of it like that eased some of my mental burden.

No, it would be more accurate to say I’d resigned to it.

‘Yes, just say whatever you want, my big mouth.’

A knight of the Lionheart.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Commander.”

Enoch bowed his head to me.

“If you tell me, I will open the door.”

Buzz–

The sounds of the crowd were ringing through the thick door.

I could feel it even without checking how many people had gathered.

But now that I had made up my mind, I didn’t hesitate.

I spoke.

“I leave it to you.”

Screech–!

Enoch bowed his head again and the door opened.

There was no cheering.

Of course.

‘Because I unintentionally disciplined them too…’

Thanks to my forced injection of formality.

I was able to take steps in quiet silence.

Not only the Arcana Continent, now the reality.

It was a huge situation that no one had ever experienced before.

If it was also for my sake, I’d play along.

No, I would take it one step further and swallow it up.

If this was also the weight given to me, I had no choice but to carry it with pride.

I opened my mouth.

“You don’t have to be afraid.”

Everyone’s eyes were focused on me.

“Dark Dragon.”

At the words that came out of my mouth, the crowd stirred for a moment.

But who was Grandfel?

A being who always exceeded everyone’s expectations.

“He too is just a ‘part’ of me.”

“…!!!”

How many times more exaggeration could be added with just one word?

I acknowledged the great performance of Grandfel’s style of speaking once again.

At the same time, I was seriously worried about the future.

What kind of being would I become when this press conference was over…?

*

There were a total of 5 top executives responsible for Union.

They were called the five stars of the world and were known as the Five Stars. However, that information was naturally a secret to the outside world, and not even many people within Union knew about it.

Even the Five Stars didn’t know who was the other Five Stars.

But it was all part of Liu Jinchun’s plan.

All he needed was their loyalty to him as a monarch.

There was no close relationship between the Five Stars.

Hadn’t it been repeated countless times in the history of great countries?

The history of the king’s head being cut off by the rebellion caused by his subjects.

A woman in a rabbit mask.

Five Star, Yoo Jioh looked at the other person.

Looking at the red insignia, they were a fellow member of Union.

“What are you doing here?”

However, this was not a scheduled meeting.

Union was a huge guild that surpassed other large guilds.

The number of guild members was more than twice of the members of the Shining and Gaon Inazuma Berserker Alliance, which were classified as large guilds. So Union operated following strict rules.

“This area is under Yoo Jioh-nim’s jurisdiction.”

Yoo Jioh looked at the number of opponents.

There were less than ten of them.

‘In terms of power, it’s not a Five Star.’

Tsk, what kind of battle of nerves was this between allies…

Sometimes Yoo Jioh felt as detached as she did now.

She just persevered, saying that the inefficient process was also for the shake of the lord.

So she wondered.

‘But why are you covering your face?’

There was no rule that only the Five Stars had to cover their faces.

However, except for the Five Stars who needed to be careful of each other, no one else had any reason to cover their faces. As you could see now, it created unnecessary suspicion.

‘I’ve never seen that mask before.’

It was neither a pig mask nor a wolf mask, which were presumed to be the Five Stars.

Yoo Jioh shrugged her shoulders.

What could it be…

No way, were they the people impersonating the Five Stars?

“I did hear that. There are people inside who are selling Five Star’s reputation by touting Five Star’s unknown characteristics. I didn’t know it was real, but aren’t you brave?”

Yu Jioh was dissatisfied with the structure of Union.

But she understood and accepted it.

Yes, it was all because the Master was so merciful.

Even if they were a high-rank, a low-rank, or even a supernova.

He embraced all the mediocre people who had nowhere to go.

So what she had to do with the Five Stars was simple.

“It’s my responsibility to take care of it before he blames himself.”

One hundred.

Sss!

Yoo Jioh’s leash surrounded about ten opponents.

At this point, did they notice it and stiffen up?

The fact that she was not an impersonator like them.

That she was the star of the world.

Yoo Jioh examined the broken fingernails and said.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t intend to let you off if you beg me.”

Even if it was the real Five Stars, she had no intention of letting them go.

Yoo Jioh was confident.

All she needed to do was replace Master’s hands and feet.

Other stars were just obstacles that came between her and Master.

She just persevered all this time because she had no justification.

“Don’t think this is unfair. Haven’t I said it before entering Zero Mountain? Only Master can set foot in my territory.”

Indeed.

The thing that stretched out like a spider’s web was not an area, but a trap.

Whether it was Five Stars or some rascals pretending to be Five Stars.

Once you got caught in the trap, you’d never escape it.

Yoo Jioh smiled.

“Master will understand my loyalty.”

Sss!

Yoo Jioh’s special leash accelerated even more.

Until it was just a hair’s breadth away.

The moment it got close to the enemy.

She heard a calm voice.

“Look. Didn’t I tell you?”

“It’s true. I should just believe what you say.”

“You’re too proud just for getting one right, old man…”

Yoo Jioh doubted her ears.

…What were they talking about now?

Then she doubted her eyes.

Jingle!

…They exchanged money in this situation? Anyone could tell. They were settling the results of a bet. She didn’t know what the bet was about, but this was the moment right before they lost their life.

The person who was called the old man laughed.

“It’s a common tactic. Disturbing the internal hierarchy of an organization. See, isn’t it easier to manage the organization now? It’s a scene where everyone thinks they are the real executives, competing against each other, and trying to prove their loyalty.”

…That bastard must have gone senile.

No matter how she looked at it, he was talking about her.

But that was all.

Under the rabbit mask, Yoo Jioh gritted her teeth and said.

“You’re just saying whatever you want to escape the situation.”

Sk–

This time something huge moved.

Had they been squatting all this time?

A large figure three or four heads taller than an ordinary person came into view.

“Stop showing off, old man. Keep on the lookout”

“There’s no eye in Zero Mountain, keheh.”

“That’s true, too.”

“Hahaha. This will be one more mask.”

Thud.

Thud.

Then he threw something to the ground.

Yoo Jioh was shocked when she confirmed the identity of the object.

It really was a mask.

“Pig, wolf.…?”

It was the masks of the two people who she guessed to be Five Stars.

They took off Five Stars’ masks…

They did that and survived…?

She could only think of one possibility.

‘…Dead? Two of the Five Stars?’

By the time she realized something was wrong, it was already too late.

A cold voice followed.

“Union, was it? It’s not an organization for members. It’s not a mutually beneficial organization like ours. No need to look far, you can see that from the useless play on the hierarchy. Isn’t that right, old man?”

“Of course.”

“It’s an organization for only one leader.”

“…!”

Yoo Jioh did not refute.

Because they were absolutely right.

But at the same time, she got goosebumps.

‘It is not easy to see through us from the outside.’

Even if a spy entered inside.

Master had kept that possibility in mind.

No one could have been able to easily see through it.

But, these people were different.

She heard a drowsy voice.

“There’s nothing to be surprised about. Actually, this is our specialty, though it’s annoying.”

Their specialty…?

“Infiltration, manipulation, disruption, violence, intimidation, extortion. And murder.”

“…!!!”

“Thanks to that, I can see it clearly.”

At that moment, Yoo Jioh thought of Union and Liu Jinchun before she thought of her own life. They infiltrated the inside and toppled two of the Five Stars, then calmly confessed everything.

She was certain.

They were a clear threat to Master.

‘…There are not many people who can threaten Master.’

Rox?

No, Shining had long since fallen at Union’s feet.

Then there was only one option left.

Until now.

The man who caused an uproar in the world, the Dark Dragon.

Yoo Jioh shouted with hostility.

“Lee Hoyeol…!!”

However, a colder voice responded.

As if they were looking in the mirror and talking to it.

The voice was self-mocking.

“Don’t put his name together with trash like us.”

At the same time.

About ten shadows moved.

No, to be precise, there were nine of them.

Sk–

A crow mask was revealed beneath the shadow.

Clink–

One of the masks said, loading the crossbow.

“We are not as merciful as he is.”