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The Player Who Eats Steel - Episode 221

221fury. 

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Three years have already passed since the day Lee Hyun-wook disappeared beyond the Black Gate, the so-called ‘ending’..

And today was the 3rd anniversary of that day..

This is Seoul's Namsan, once the site of the 1st Battalion of the 3rd Anti-horse Brigade, but now it was the location of the Korean branch of the , which was designed to rebuild the damaged Earth and respond to any possible alien invasion..

But today, the function is different.…….

A reporter was shouting in front of a camera in a plaza set up halfway up Namsan Mountain..

“……I am currently at the Steele Rain Day event venue of the Korean branch of the Organization for the Reconstruction of Humanity in Namsan. As you can see, a huge crowd has gathered, forming a crowded place.!”

This is also the place where the journey of Steele Rain, the hero who saved humanity, began, and was the place where the main event of ‘Steel Rain Day’ to honor Lee Hyeon-wook was held..

And since today is ‘Steelrain Day’, a fairly large event hall had been set up a few days ago and was bustling with people from all over the world..

“Wow—Dad! Look, it's Stillane.!”

A boy ran in front of a huge statue.

The statue resembled Steele Lane and Lee Hyun-wook in a pose with its left hand stretched out toward the sky..

And around the feet of the statue, there were a lot of giant swords called 'Moglai', similar to the symbol of Steele Rain, and they were all actually Moglai used by Lee Hyun-wook..

Meanwhile, a woman who appeared to be a guide was giving commentary in front of the statue..

"Now, these Morgleys are what Steelaine left behind when they crashed the game and disappeared into the Black Gate. A total of 14 remain, of which 12 are on display here and the remaining 2 are said to be used as research materials at Laputa..”

"uh? Why did you leave out the two separately??”

a kid asked a question.

"Stillein's mana pattern remains there, so I'm studying it so I can find out when he returns..”

"omg! then… … Will he return to Earth??”

That was a question no one could answer, so the guide also smiled and nodded..

"It is said that he went to judge the villains who are currently tormenting humanity. The work won't be done overnight... … I will definitely come back someday.”

But it was all just an estimate.

The day he disappeared, the only thing he left behind was one word..

‘……I think I'll have to go somewhere for quite some time..’

The words contained no information about his destination or return, so it was impossible to guess where he went, what he was doing, or when he returned..

Based on the capture and interrogation of several surviving managers from the crashed administrators' aircraft, it was assumed that he was exterminating administrators from another dimension..

and then—

Doo doo doo doo——

Helicopters began passing by Namsan Mountain. At this, the guide's explanation was cut off and everyone raised their heads and looked up at the sky..

Soon, a group of helicopters landed at the highest point of the event venue, the headquarters building midway up Namsan Mountain..

“Wow, who's in that helicopter??”

a kid asked excitedly.

Then the other kid next to me raised his hand and answered..

"I think Zeus Ex Machina and Park Jun-mo are riding it.!”

"No, since the wind is blowing so hard, it must be Kim Se-hee, the Empress of the Wind.!”

“You idiot, the wind is blowing because of the helicopter! And Gravity Wizard Lee Seong-yoon is cooler than them.!”

Today, Steele Rain Day, was also the day when the heroes who fought together with him and advanced to the ending gathered together..

There were a lot of people near the headquarters to see them, but they couldn't get close due to tight security..

"Do not approach any further than this..”

"Uh-uh—there, step back.!”

In this way, even though Lee Hyun-wook was not on Earth, the legacy he left behind became the pillars of the Earth and supported its future..

***

That afternoon, two people were walking around the headquarters building overlooking the Steele Rain Day event—specifically, the Stille Lane statue..

It was Kim Se-hee and Lee Kyo-jun..

"All the members are coming today.?”

Team leader Kyo-Jun Lee, or now Director Kyo-Jun Lee, asked..

To this, Secretary General Kim Se-hee nodded..

“Yes, the team dispatched overseas arrived at Incheon Airport this morning, and they said they departed from the Taebaek Arsenal, so they will arrive soon..”

Meanwhile, on her shoulder, the wind spirit Hani was yawning in the sunlight..

"okay. It would be a shame if they were left out. They are the second main characters of this event. And isn't he still showing his most heroic side??”

Today, Lee Hyun-wook's Seon is active as a key organization in charity and restoration projects under the name..

In addition, the Dwarves, Dark Elves, and Ancient Red Drakes also belonged to the race, but now they are called 'humanoids' instead of 'monsters' or 'NPCs' and are considered members of the human race..

"under… … People like to hear things like, “Hero,” so if you do that, you’ll probably get drunk and start talking about heroes.?”

“Well, isn't today a day where it's okay to get drunk and a day when reminiscing is a must??”

"Yes, it's that kind of day. By the way, Director Woo is coming today, right? hmm… … It's unfortunate that you suddenly announced your retirement last year, and I'm very sad that you haven't shown your face since then..”

Woo Seong-moon, once the omnipotent power of the Republic of Korea, announced his retirement from this position a year ago today..

However, he is still working hard on many things behind the scenes, and the fact that he supported Steele Lane both materially and spiritually was attracting attention, and he was being mentioned as a candidate for the next president. … No, it was receiving worldwide support..

So, he was a candidate for president as well as a candidate for governor..

“Well, the old man is still correcting himself and getting healthier, so he won't miss a day like this. Even though he is retired, he still has trouble sleeping at night worrying about his country..”

Soon, helicopters began to land in a row at the headquarters' helicopter port..

“Haha, I still can't get used to this jerky and noisy helicopter. I need to fix the airship first.……."

The first person to jump out of the helicopter while complaining was Kang Hee-seol. She got off with Kang Jeong-du and the dwarves lined up behind her..

Next, the original members of the Hope Guild, including Park Cheol-soo, Yeo Sang-min, and Lee Jeong-jun, came down. They were still active as the backbone of the Hope Foundation..

And from the landing helicopter, humanoid representatives such as the Water Spirit King, Soiler Wirebeer, Clypheus Griseo, Agaidica, etc. got out..

In another helicopter, there were village officials who were hiding in Incheon's Demon World, including Go Jun-cheol and Go Jin-hwa. They too were now out in the sun and active..

Kim Se-hee and Lee Kyo-jun welcomed them warmly..

"Director Kang, that… … The research to fix something is going well.?”

Kim Se-hee asked Kang Hee-seol.

“Ah, sister, it's almost done! I started accessing mana and hextech items in my nervous system.!”

Currently, blacksmiths and dwarves, led by Kang Hee-seol and Kang Jeong-du, are working hard to develop mana power engines, and it seems that humanity will soon regain the mana power that it lost after the end of the game..

"Huh - It's good that the system disappeared, but it still had to disappear without leaving some information, but it's a hassle..”

Ending, at that moment the system disappeared.

And the system was not only a shackle that bound mana, but also a kind of 'tool' that allowed players to use mana more easily..

For example, the way a skill or item works was all activated with a single click, according to the formula set by the system..

In other words, the moment the system disappeared, all players lost their abilities..

However, this does not mean that 'mana', which has already spread all over the world and is embodied in the players' nervous system, has disappeared, so as time goes by, mana management methods are evolving one by one, and some of them are improving in various areas regardless of their characteristics. He could also control mana.

In this way, humanity was still embracing the power of ‘Mana’ and developing it..

At that time, huge wings flew towards the headquarters..

Hung—

It was a hatchling, a small white dragon..

Looking at that scene, Kang Hee-seol shouted..

"Oh, your dragon mom is here too.!”

Then Kim Se-hee was shocked and waved her hands..

"Well, Eunha really hates that word, so be careful..”

“……Oh right! Haha—anyway, my mouth is fair..”

Soon, the hatchling landed behind the building, and as it approached, the huge dragon suddenly disappeared and a woman was talking to an 8-9 year old girl wearing a dress..

“……You understand me, right? huh? Today, you can't breathe fire from within, emit divine power, or both. You did that last time and got scolded by Uncle Agaidika..”

Seo Eun-ha, she was holding the girl's arm and spitting bitter words..

But the girl had a pouty expression..

“Oh, I understood... … How many times do you say it in the morning? How old am I now? … I'm tired from flying, so stop nagging me..”

“you… … If you speak rebelliously like that in front of others, you will be scolded..”

The dragon that became Seo Eun-ha's descendant quite a long time ago hatched from an egg 2 years and 8 months ago, and it was that girl who polymorphed into human form..

Kim Se-hee, Kang Hee-seol, and Lee Kyo-jun took a moment and then approached the mother and daughter(?) towards the end of their conversation..

"Director Seo, it’s been a while..”

Seo Eun-ha was in charge of the position of head of the ‘Strategy Strategy Office’, an elite unit under her..

Today, the system is gone, but everything the game created remains..

In other words, since monsters hostile to humans were lurking around the world, troops to subdue them were also needed..

Of course, if the conversation worked, peaceful exchange was the top priority, but unfortunately, there was a need to suppress the violent monsters with low intelligence... … Seo Eun-ha was carrying out such a mission..

"Oh, we're not the last?”

"Yes, everyone is busy so it's only arriving now..”

at that time—

Doo doo doo doo——

In the distance, a huge military transport plane was approaching, and at the bottom of it was a huge seal - a giant soldier..

"Ah, Talos is here!.”

「"(^▽^)」

The guy looked in this direction and waved his hand, and every time he did that, the military transport plane shook dangerously..

***

“Ha—I liked it when there was Whyte Hall, but flying all day is hard.……."

The person who complained like that was Donald Harris, the manager of the World Tree..

He was sitting across from Peter Clarke, the head of the White Tree Guards and now the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Chad..

“Haha— Don’t you say that it’s hard for you to come out to Yggdrasil City to drink because you stay in the corner of your room??”

“…… Well, you bastard.?”

"You son of a bitch, I am now a minister of a country..”

“Tsk tsk, don’t get drunk on the taste of power, kid. By the way, Emilia Müller, where has that girl gone??”

Peter Clark sighed at that question..

"......Came with me, then disappeared.”

Then Donald Harris chuckled..

“Tsk tsk—you’re still a drunk.?”

As he said, upon arrival, Emilia Müller was cracking open a bottle of soju alone in one corner of the venue, which had not even started yet..

"……Still, I'm glad that I was able to restore my liver, which was damaged by alcohol, with healing..”

At that time, two men opened the door and came in..

They were all in uniform, none other than Kim Kang-seok and Choi Jeong-cheol..

"Oh, you two came first.?”

Kim Kang-seok approached and offered to shake hands..

“It's only been a year and a half. Now it's peaceful there?”

“Yes, everything is being sorted out and stabilized..”

Kim Kang-seok now wore the rank of brigadier general. And General Choi Jeong-cheol is now the top commander of Korea's AMT forces, with a four-star rating and the rank of captain..

“Come on—the party's about to start, so let's go inside..”

When all the attendees gathered, the party began..

These noble heroes may seem elegant, but…….

“—Here, please give me another bottle of soju.!”

"after… … Holy lady, please save face..”

"Why am I a saint? Okay, I'm not a saint anymore.!”

Perhaps because many of the heroes who gathered here were Korean, the first year was full of elegant dishes, but from last year, pork belly and soju were the main menu items..

In the event hall filled with smoke from grilling pork belly, familiar faces gathered and chatted..

“It was really great back then. No one would have thought he would show up like that..”

"I was also on that battlefield at the time, ha… … It was so absurd that I just kept laughing..”

As old heroic stories and memories came and went and the atmosphere of the party grew, the faces of the heroes turned red one by one..

Among them, the one with the reddest face was definitely Park Jun-mo..

“Ugh—Hyunwook hyung… … I've never called him brother... … He always had a grateful heart, but for some reason, he was also scary... … Wow—”

He was already very drunk, and every time he blacked out, an electric current would flow from his hands.…….

Phage support——!

This time, as usual, electricity flowed from his grasp and flowed through the table, causing screams to erupt everywhere..

And Kim Se-hee, who was sitting next to me, got scared and kicked off her chair..

"evil! Shit! As soon as this bastard gets drunk, he turns into Pikachu and damn it! hey! Go in and sleep!”

Then Park Jun-mo staggered and raised both his hands..

“Uh— uh… … Finally, my abilities... … Is it back?.”

True to his image as a dull genius that he had cultivated for a long time, recovery of his mana utilization ability was still slow. However, whenever he drank alcohol, his abilities would manifest themselves arbitrarily..

At that time, someone helped Park Jun-mo up..

"Hey, let’s get up and get some air..”

He was none other than Ahn Min-tae..

Before he knew it, he was wearing the rank of sergeant..

He was usually in charge of an operation team under Seo Eun-ha, and today he was in charge of security at this event venue..

"Ah, boo—who is this, Corporal Ahn Min-tae?……."

"Ha, corporal? This kid still can't get over his past.?”

"Hehe— hehe— you know I'm always grateful.?”

"Okay, Taeyong is here too, so let’s get some fresh air together..”

Behind him was Choi Tae-yong, with whom he once fought in the same company. He also wore the rank of sergeant and was still carrying out his duties on the same team as Ahn Min-tae..

The three went out to the terrace..

"after......."

Park Jun-mo leaned on the railing, staggered and gestured somewhere..

“……Hey, do you see it??”

That place was halfway up Namsan Mountain, on the ridge. And although it wasn't clearly visible, it was probably where the AMT guard post was located..

“Hyunwook and I were working near the guard post when a goblin gate appeared..”

At this, Ahn Min-tae and Choi Tae-yong nodded..

"Oh, it was like that, right? and… … The 4th wave also started there.?”

"Yes, during a shift change, Hyunwook suddenly stopped us for a moment and said he heard shouting from somewhere, and told me to check the direction of the guardhouse using night vision... … It's still vivid.”

Choi Taeyong chuckled while saying that..

“Wow—if you really think about it, doesn’t it feel like a ghost??”

It was the day when the entire Namsan Mountain area was blocked as an 'unlucky event', and that was the precursor to the 4th wave..

Then, An Min-tae also nodded, looking at Namsan with an expression full of sentimentality..

"Steel rain fell for the first time that day.……."

"That was the climax. Wow, it was really amazing..”

"Yeah, I think it was the best scene of my life..”

Recalling their journey so far, they looked up at the night sky..

Their eyes soon turned to the Stillane statue in the distance. Hyunwook Lee was still standing on Namsan Mountain, albeit in a different form..

"......."

however—

"uh!”

Suddenly, Choi Taeyong let out a sigh..

"Hey, what's wrong? I'm surprised when you scream like that!"

Choi Tae-yong was always a gunner, so he had good eyesight and would always sense a crisis before others..

And for Ahn Min-tae, who has always been with him, it was a signal that he had no choice but to reflexively enter battle mode..

"Team Leader Ahn, over there, in front of the statue… … Mowglei is moving.”

Ahn Min-tae snorted at those words..

“what? This guy, did you secretly drink alcohol because you were in charge of security at the event venue??”

“Oh no! take a good look!”

and really—

Hung——!

A Mowglei, which was obviously firmly fixed to the ground, soared into the air and flew to the back of the building.?

"........"

At that moment, the three people looked at each other with blank expressions. That Mowglai wasn't a fake. That is, 2 tons per piece… … Or there was a real one that weighed 50 tons..

Since it wouldn't fly into the air on its own, it would mean that someone used mana to lift it, and no one with that much power would be able to do so.…….

"......."

All three of them intuitively realized that there was only one person..

"—Wow, it came!”

In the end, Ahn Min-tae screamed without realizing it. Then the people inside the venue turned their heads this way..

He looked at them and shouted with confidence..

“……Hey, Steele Rain is here.!”

Then the heroes came rushing out to the terrace..

"—huh? what does that mean?”

"What, is Sergeant Ahn drunk too??”

Then Ahn Min-tae shook his head and protested..

"Well, the three of us saw the Mowglei stuck under the statue suddenly soar and fly somewhere..”

"yes, i saw that too!”

"Tweet— Me too, me too.……."

As the three people made a common statement in succession, a stir spread among the heroes..

"hmm… … But where did you go??”

“If that's true, there are very few players who have the mana management power to move that Mowglai.……."

Then they all lifted their heads and looked at the sky..

If Steel Rain appeared, it seemed like it would be floating in the sky with steel rain, as it always did..

However, nothing was visible in the sky, and soon sighs came from all over the place, and just as it was about to end in an incident,—

“……That kind of thing doesn't happen anymore..”

A familiar and old voice came from behind me..

Then the heroes turned their heads one by one..

And I looked at a man standing there..

"......."

He was the star of this party, but he hasn't attended in three years... … Still Lane, Lee Hyun-wook was really standing there..

"The reason I was looking down from above was to sweep it up better... … There's no need for that anymore..”

There were many things implied in those words..

And in his hand was a Mowglai, which slowly shrunk until it was as big as the palm of his hand, and he put it in his pocket..

"......."

He looked at the heroes and smiled awkwardly, then opened his mouth..

"ah… … I don't know what kind of party this is, but I think we can keep going. and… … I also want to attend."

He returned to the world as a human being.

.

.

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Player who eats steel (complete))