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The Player Who Eats Steel - Episode 148

148fury. 

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At the site of an incident at a gate in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, AMT troops were setting up a blockade..

Until a day ago, the entire Korean society was shut down due to the Suwon dragon attack incident..

However, apart from that, gates continued to occur and attacks were made all over the country..

"Well, it's a troll gate, and the terrain inside is... … I guess it's a tropical rainforest..”

‘Gate analysts’ dispatched from the 3rd Port Horse Brigade headquarters were investigating the gate..

They could confirm some information in advance by placing their hand on the gate..

“2Since 8 hours have passed since the first eruption, the third eruption will occur in about an hour..”

This time, the Troll Gate was at a level that even a decent AMT attack team would find difficult..

In these cases, it was common to entrust the strategy to the so-called 'private outsourcing', that is, to a private guild..

"This is pretty tough, right? Still, Captain Seo Eun-ha's attack team will be able to do more than enough.?”

"Well, they are the strategy team that is attracting the most attention in AMT these days and they have a lot of support, so they will do well..”

Meanwhile, Seo Eun-ha was listening to the radio and checking equipment in front of an armored search vehicle..

- ……This is information on the current status of gate occurrences nationwide. As a troll gate has occurred in Gangdong-gu, Seoul and is about to be attacked, traffic restrictions have been implemented within a 3km radius. There was also a report of a gate occurring in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, but details have not yet been confirmed.…….

This broadcast provides breaking news about gates occurring across the country and provides evacuation guidance, and only this channel had to be turned on within AMT..

Meanwhile, during times when there was no breaking news, the channel changed to a current affairs talk channel covering player issues, and the recent issues were all about Steele Lane. Even now, his name was flowing out of my mouth..

- I heard that Steele Rain was selected as the most active player of the year by Lee Hyun-wook.?

- Honestly, it's worth it. Ugh, doubt after doubt, but didn't you always overcome it all in the end??

- Haha— I can't help but be proud that someone like that is a player in our country..

- However, it is said that famous players from all over the world are still criticizing Lee Hyun-wook..

- Isn’t that criticism, not condemnation? No, it's jealousy. Why do I hate you so much??

Since it was a national broadcaster, it tended to take a favorable stance toward domestic players..

‘By the way, Lee Hyun-wook… … Now it has grown to an unbelievable level.…….'

Seo Eun-ha raised her head. In the western sky, Laputa, which had gone to Suwon, was returning to Seoul again. The sight of that huge thing slowly approaching from a fairly high altitude felt very foreign..

‘No matter how much you grow, driving something like that like a private jet is... … Even if it’s on a different level, it’s so different..’

Every time she heard news about Lee Hyun-wook, she felt somehow shabby..

4Starting with the Tea Wave, he has solved numerous cases that have threatened this country..

Compared to the national work, Seo Eun-ha's activities could be said to be minor..

Of course, I thought that targeting gates that appeared in the area would be a worthwhile mission..

‘This too is about protecting someone’s life and someone’s daily life.…….'

But since some time, she has been feeling a strange sense of deprivation and helplessness. She was faced with repeated crises that would ruin her country, but she could only watch and do nothing else..

As a child, I dreamed of becoming a heroic player while watching my father... … It looks a bit far from him..

"under… … When am I thinking like this? Phew—now I’m also the leader of the attack company..”

She strapped her great sword and shield to her back, put her helmet on her side, and headed to the meeting point..

There her team was gathered, fully armed..

“1Platoon leader, are you ready??”

The 1st platoon leader, a lieutenant, nodded to her question..

"yes! We are ready to attack all troops of the 1st and 2nd platoons..”

Just like that, the 26-member anti-horse brigade 'attack company' approached the purple gate fully armed..

at that time—

“—Attack Company Commander, you are still waiting.!”

Someone's voice rang from behind, and Seo Eun-ha turned her head..

"Gasp— gasp— An order to cancel the operation came from above.!”

What kind of situation is this all of a sudden? The entire army looked at Seo Eun-ha with a puzzled expression..

"Company Commander, look over there..”

A private guild guild's attack team had crossed the no-access line and was approaching this way..

They were a sub-strategy team that was on standby nearby in preparation for any unexpected situation..

"what?”

Seo Eun-ha sensed something strange and asked the communications officer somewhat sharply..

"What situation is this? We have the right to attack, so why are they coming here??”

As if he heard that voice, the team leader of the Cheonghwa guild answered..

"Hey, it's absurd for us too. This is what they requested, so don't be condescending.."

At those words, Seo Eun-ha looked at the communications officer, and he shook his head with an embarrassed expression..

"Well, that… … I also just received an urgent call. The right to attack was handed over to Cheonghwa..”

I don't know what happened, but it seemed like the higher-ups were trying to prevent Seo Eun-ha's team from entering the gate..

"Anyway, if you hold on any longer, it looks like the second eruption will start, so you can go in right now.?”

"Ugh… … What kind of rice cake is this? If it were Troll Gate, the reward would be pretty good.?”

Cheonghwa's strategy team rushed towards the gate, making obnoxious giggles..

Seo Eun-ha had no choice but to hand over the operation to them and visit the operation barracks..

Sitting there was Major Moon Tae-ho, who had been promoted from the regional magic control officer to the head of the operations department..

"—Manager! What's happening all of a sudden? Where is this case??”

They had planned the strategy since yesterday, and after several briefings, they were fully prepared..

However, it was a strange situation for me to suddenly stop right before the operation was launched and I lost my temper..

Looking up at Seo Eun-ha, who had a very feverish expression, Major Tae-ho Moon showed disapproval..

"I was also planning a strategy with you, do you understand? It was just an order from above..”

"under… … So, what's the reason? Did the battalion commander give you an order??”

"No, what the battalion commander said was that it was an emergency order from a much higher level than that..”

He shook his head repeatedly, as if he really didn't know, blocking Seo Eun-ha's questions..

"Captain Seo, I don't know the details, so don't ask anything and just return to the unit. But seeing as he's arbitrarily telling people to come and go like this, it seems like he's a pretty big person, but he didn't do anything wrong.?”

Seo Eun-ha walked out of the tent with a huff, and Sergeant Kang Ik-jun, who was standing at the entrance, followed..

"Hey, I'm being summoned by someone higher than the battalion commander. Who is that big guy? No way, General Seo?”

"No, my father is not the person to tell me to do this or that. Ha, no matter what, I feel bad.……."

I was already confused, what kind of situation is this all of a sudden??

"Could it be that a general who liked you, the company commander, is recommending you for a higher position??”

"It's okay, there's no need for all that, now honestly... … I want to do something by staying at AMT..”

I've been feeling skeptical lately. The AMT she worked for felt like the local sheriff at best. If you think about it, wasn't it always the private guild players who solved the big threats??

'……Should I really stay here??’

So they returned to Namsan, exhausted, and Seo Eun-ha went straight to the battalion commander's office..

“—Loyalty! Battalion commander, what the hell is this?……."

And the person sitting in front of the battalion commander, Kim Kang-seok,…….

“……Uh, Hyunwook Lee?"

Sure enough, the biggest name among big names came looking for her..

***

Lee Hyun-wook and Seo Eun-ha went to an empty conference room and talked alone..

"What does that mean? Our team... … You can transfer the whole thing, that’s right........"

Lee Hyun-wook said he needed Seo Eun-ha's strength and asked her to work on the strategy team he planned..

She also added the unconventional statement that if she wanted, she could move the entire company-level attack team under her command. And that’s on the condition that they treat you much better than here..

"If you accept this offer, Captain Seo's team will formally become the president's direct attack team..”

In other words, it meant that he was directly under Director Woo Seong-moon of the National Gate Response Strategy Office..

And if you look a little closer, you could say that he was directly under Lee Hyun-wook..

“……That was approved by the battalion commander.?”

As soon as she asked that question, she realized that it was a question that made no sense..

From the beginning, if Lee Hyun-wook wanted it, he couldn't stop it just because Kim Kang-seok refused..

And since Kim Kang-seok also passionately supports Lee Hyun-wook, he would not oppose it..

"Yes, the battalion commander heard my opinion and understood the need..”

Of course, Lee Hyun-wook was not the type to push his opinion recklessly..

However, Seo Eun-ha could hardly understand this situation..

"Ah, but why me… … You can find a much better paladin than me.?”

"......."

"Well, I have a connection with Saint Dom, and they also applied last time.……."

Even in this country, there are many paladins better than Seo Eun-ha, even if you don't have to go far to Saint Dom..

Although she ranks among the best in AMT, she has only just entered the bottom half of the national rankings..

‘I don't think there's much I can do to help.…….'

It was the same the last time we tracked down a devil worshiper. In the end, didn’t Lee Hyun-wook do it alone??

"Well, there are many good paladins... … Because there is no paladin you can trust..”

"I am alive thanks to the bracelet that Captain Seo gave me during the 4th wave..”

And in fact, in my past life, my life was saved several times thanks to Seo Eun-ha..

It would have been a lie if he said he didn't have Seo Eun-ha's share in coming this far..

In other words, Lee Hyun-wook was able to trust her more than Seo Eun-ha thought..

"Ah, a bracelet containing a divine shield… … It was like that......."

Seo Eun-ha couldn't help but laugh when she remembered that time..

Also, I felt strangely proud of remembering and talking about it..

‘You've become a real tycoon... … Each and every word like this is so moving, really.…….'

Seo Eun-ha laughed at herself because she was embarrassed..

"Yeah, well, that doesn't seem like a bad offer.……."

To be honest, I was more attracted to being able to work with Lee Hyun-wook than to the unconventional conditions he presented..

To be exact, Stillane's heroic actions... … I wanted to join the procession that followed..

“……Uh, but, what am I supposed to do??"

Now that I think about it, I haven't even heard what I'm going to do yet, so I'm at a loss..

"But should I say this is confidential??”

"Ah, I guess it shouldn't be known to the outside world.?”

"hmm… … Come with me now and I'll tell you..”

Lee Hyun-wook got up from his seat, and Seo Eun-ha hesitantly followed suit..

"uh… … Where are you going??”

Lee Hyun-wook raised his left hand and pointed his index finger to the sky..

"The headquarters of Captain Seo's newly created attack team will be located a little higher..”

***

- [Breaking News] Slayers Guild begins conquering Paldalsan Mountain’s ‘Dragon Labyrinth’ (1st step))

Starting with Edward Woods' speech, the Slare's Guild began conquering the labyrinth..

At that time, Lee Hyun-wook arrived in Laputa with Seo Eun-ha..

As she stepped onto Laputa, which she had only been looking up at from the ground, her eyes widened..

“Wow—this place is bigger than you think? uh! But what are those dwarves??”

The sight of upper gray dwarves coming and going and talking noisily was bound to be unfamiliar..

"They are not monsters, but helpers in the NPC concept..”

"ah… … Yeah, yeah?”

"They will make the equipment for Captain Seo's team from now on..”

Knowing well the power of Lee Hyun-wook's magic engineering equipment, she felt strangely excited..

As a player, it was an inevitable instinct to desire high-performance equipment items..

However, no matter how well one was treated within the AMT, there were clear qualitative limitations..

She turned her head here and there and looked around Laputa as if she were at an amusement park..

After a while, the two arrived at the Order Tower..

Only then did Lee Hyun-wook explain why he needed her help..

To summarize, the contents were as follows:.

First, immediately after conquering the Black Dragon, a labyrinth called ‘Dragon Lair Ruins’ was created on Mt. Paldal..

Second, in order to conquer the labyrinth, there must be ‘special conditions’..

Third, that condition can only be satisfied by 'Knight' type players, and Paladins are also Knight type players..

After saying the final conditions, Lee Hyun-wook brought a box..

"So, if I hold this, I will have that special condition.?”

"Yes, only knight-type players can hold it..”

The moment she carefully reached out and grasped the hilt of the old sword.—

Wooooow——

A brilliant light burst from the black, rusty sword body..

And then…….

- (!) Quest has arrived.

[job change quest]

- Coincidence, special encounter, absolute power…….

You have obtained an unknown sword..

In fact, this sword holds a great secret..

That's it... … This is the power of ‘Dragon Knight’.

When you embrace this power, new paths open up,

At the end of the road you will meet your best friend.

* Would you like to accept the quest? (Y/N)

"uh? Well, a quest popped up… … Job change quest, what is this??”

Seo Eun-ha blinked and frowned as she rechecked the system message that appeared in front of her..

“……Dragon Knight? Wait a minute, I'm becoming a dragon knight or something.?”

As I had grown into a Holy Knight over a very short period of time, there was no way I would be happy about my characteristics changing. If your skills change completely by chance, won't the combat methods you've learned become meaningless??

"However, some skills will be reorganized based on the original abilities..”

Lee Hyun-wook, who noticed her worry, added, and Seo Eun-ha nodded with an uncomfortable expression..

"So, if you accept this quest, how will it unfold in the future? … you know?”

Hyunwook Lee nodded slowly. Because the role she will play in the future is so important, it was necessary to explain it to her in detail in advance. But I was a little at a loss as to where to start with this..

"Captain Seo, by any chance… … Have you ever raised a child??”

Seo Eun-ha frowned at those words..

'Ah, is this a bit of a question to ask a single woman??’

Lee Hyun-wook realized that the question was very strange and quickly shook his head..

"No, I don't mean that. Well, a younger brother, a nephew, or even a dog or a cat.……."

While saying that, I remembered that this woman is far away from that kind of thing..

‘Now that I think about it, I think I said that I didn't want to see everything that I had to take care of one by one.…….'

I remembered how when I scolded my subordinates for their poor behavior, I used to call them brats..

In addition to being a non-marriage person, he dislikes dogs and cats, and goes to cafes in search of no-kids zones..

‘When I think about it, I was individualistic and had a secretly cynical side to everything in the world........'

In many ways, it was difficult to have the characteristics of a dragon knight..

I am so worried that I will be able to raise a dragon that goes through the egg, hatchling, subadult, and adult stages well........

'However, she is the only knight I can trust enough to entrust a dragon to..’

And best of all, dragons in their subordinate form take on their master's traits..

In other words, if Seo Eun-ha becomes the owner of a dragon, the dragon…….

'……Become a white dragon with divine power attributes.’

It couldn't have been the picture Hyunwook Lee wanted the most..

No matter how I thought about it, I had to push through this..

"Big—that's a young life form... … I may need to grow the same thing..”

"what? What does that mean? I'm a little confused right now, so don't be specific.?”

Lee Hyun-wook nodded and cautiously opened his mouth..

"Captain Seo… … Well, I think I need to raise a baby dragon..”

At those words, Seo Eun-ha's face hardened and her eyes slowly widened..

"what? I like some reptiles... … No, I hate it a lot.……."

It's an expected reaction. Lee Hyun-wook decided to push ahead no matter what..

"Ah, I see. But you won't be put off just because of that.?"

Seo Eun-ha regretted grabbing this sword in the first place..

***

14 hours have passed since Edward Woods' Slayer Guild began conquering the Labyrinth..

- [Exclusive] Slayer Guild leaves the Paldalsan Labyrinth empty-handed... … Was the attack a failure??

A few minutes after the article was published, Edward Woods held a press conference, which was broadcast as breaking news on TV..

- ……They say we left empty handed, yes! That's true to some extent.

Click—click—

- But we clearly succeeded in our strategy and reached a critical turning point..

His expression was much better than I expected, and he was somewhat confident. He struggled to break through the labyrinth, but was blocked at the last gate. He might have been annoyed, but he seemed to accept it positively..

And the turning point in his remarks was that it meant a 'hint' to find the Dragon Knight..

'……Coordinates, levels, characteristics, etc. must have come to mind..’

Lee Hyun-wook guessed that he would have given three clues: Seoul—86—Paradise..

And that… … Unfortunately, it meant Seo Eun-ha..

In other words, no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't get the 'key'..

‘Because I already have it…….'

however.......

- I proudly declare in front of all citizens of the world that we will ultimately be the ones to conquer this labyrinth! And the treasure we will bring with us is... … It will be the rarest thing in history..

He was asked what that was, but Edward Woods didn't answer..

He smiled with a confident expression and continued speaking..

- but… … We're looking for the key to solving this problem—one player. And to find this player, we're asking for the help of the entire country. I promise that the Slaize Guild will reward him and everyone who helped him handsomely..

It seemed like they were trying to find that 'qualified person' publicly..

‘It will be much faster to find it by scattering those three clues.…….'

He added one last word.

- and stille…….

“ah… … no……."

The moment his name was called, Lee Hyun-wook could not suppress his sad feelings..

- As I warned you, we will clear this labyrinth first..

Then the spotlight struck like a thunderbolt..

- Uh, what do you mean by that now??

- DS, what kind of conversation did you have with Stillane??

- Hey, wait a minute! Just one more word…….

However, he left the press conference under the spotlight without answering..

It seemed like he didn't intend to abandon the confrontational structure with Lee Hyun-wook..

‘I decided that if I conquered the labyrinth here first, I would be able to make up for the past humiliation to some extent..’

In other words, in order to restore a little bit of honor, he must have boldly called out Lee Hyun-wook's name..

And Steele Lane, which was doing nothing, must have decided that they could not turn the tables........

“under……."

I never wanted it to, but at some point, the eggs started to fly in and break apart..