25. Tracking
The first thing Ryumin did after returning to reality was use his skill.
[Please say the name while picturing the target's face.]
Ryumin recalled the face of the man he encountered when giving out rice cakes.
'An Sang-cheol.'
In the other world, the customized face and nickname were necessary conditions.
'But in reality, the real face and name are the conditions.'
In other words, tracking was possible just by knowing the face and name, even without being acquainted.
This is why the Track skill is useful.
It could easily find the location of needed people in reality too.
'Moreover, since it only works with real names, it's also useful for verifying someone's true name. Just like now.'
[Face and name match. Tracking target's location.]
Ryumin smiled with satisfaction at the matching message.
'As expected, the guy next to Seo Arin when giving out rice cakes was indeed An Sang-cheol.'
Ryumin doesn't know what the real An Sang-cheol looks like.
He only saw him active as Ma Gyeong-rok's right-hand man in the other world.
But not anymore.
'Now I know his real appearance too.'
Of course, having the same real name doesn't guarantee he's the An Sang-cheol from the other world.
It's just circumstantial evidence.
'Seeing how he's sticking close to Seo Arin, it's probably certain.'
Just then, a message appeared before Ryumin's eyes.
[Target 'An Sang-cheol's' location found.]
[Currently 85m away.]
[Follow the arrow in front to track the target.]
'He's quite close.'
It seems he's in the penthouse upstairs with Seo Arin.
If he decided to closely monitor Seo Arin, it's not strange for him to be with her.
'Huh? The distance is changing.'
The real-time distance to An Sang-cheol was getting closer then farther again.
Seeing how it's changing quickly, it seems he's taking the elevator down to the parking lot.
'Where is he going at this hour? Could it be?'
It was obvious where Ma Gyeong-rok's loyal dog would go.
'Should I follow him? To confirm his identity too?'
If he confirms contact with Ma Gyeong-rok, the circumstantial evidence will become conclusive.
As soon as he decided, he changed into outdoor clothes.
Meanwhile, glancing aside, he saw his brother sleeping face down on the floor.
'Seeing him sleep here, he must have waited for me to wake up with open eyes.'
Smiling, he shook his brother's shoulder.
"Wake up."
"Mmm...? Brother?"
Ryuwon blinked his eyes then suddenly sat up.
"Brother! You're back!"
"Why are you sleeping here instead of your room?"
"I was worried something might happen!"
"I told you. There's nothing to worry about."
"Are you okay? No injuries?"
"Even if injured in the other world, the real body is fine. And Round 2 was voting, so there was no fighting. It was almost a bonus round."
Ryuwon sighed in relief at those words.
"That's good. But why did you change clothes?"
"I have somewhere to go."
"What time is it... Huh? It's 3 AM? You're going out at this hour?"
"Yeah. I'm just going out for a bit, so don't worry and get some more sleep."
Leaving his worried brother behind, Ryumin went outside.
Though the distance with An Sang-cheol was widening, he wasn't worried.
With Track, he could find him anytime.
* * *
Clink-
Ma Gyeong-rok, who was swirling whiskey, looked out the window.
The moonlight reflecting on the Han River seemed especially dark today.
'A day like this is perfect for work.'
But he had to hold back for now.
He had a report to hear from An Sang-cheol, his right-hand man.
'Black Scythe...'
Ma Gyeong-rok knew who Black Scythe was too.
What player wouldn't know the 1st place ranker across all areas in Rounds 1 and 2?
Plus, he heard he was in the same area as his subordinate An Sang-cheol.
'Though I'm not in the same area and haven't met him...'
He was a rival who subtly provoked competitiveness.
He could be considered a rival.
As someone who ranked 2nd and 3rd across all areas, doesn't he have the right to say so?
'To have business related to Black Scythe...'
He had a bad feeling.
He didn't like Black Scythe either.
'Did he pick a fight with my subordinate?'
If so, he couldn't just let it slide.
Messing with his right-hand man was also a challenge to himself.
'Black Scythe. He'd be quite troublesome as an enemy.'
Ma Gyeong-rok tilted his head back and downed the whiskey.
Thud-
As Ma Gyeong-rok set down the glass, killing intent flashed in his eyes.
'I won't let anyone who stands in my way off easy. Even if they're 1st place.'
As he was looking out the window with blazing eyes, there was a knock from outside.
"CEO, are you in? It's An Sang-cheol."
"Yes, come in."
Ma Gyeong-rok turned around smiling as he fixed his clothes.
The murderous look from earlier was nowhere to be seen.
"Director An? It's good to see you again."
"Hahaha, it's good to see you too, CEO. This is all thanks to you."
"What did I do when we're not even in the same area?"
"Just knowing you're there gives me strength. Thank you."
"Director An, you're so good at flattery."
"It's not flattery, but sincere. I'm so fortunate you're here. Belated congratulations on surviving."
"Surviving? What are you talking about? Round 2 was just a freebie."
It really was.
It was such a simple quest of just voting that it's almost embarrassing to be congratulated.
'That's why it was more suspicious. It was too easy compared to Round 1.'
The 'Main' attached to the quest was suspicious, and giving 3 hours for voting was dubious too.
That's why Ma Gyeong-rok entered the forest.
Wondering if there was something new.
'But to think there was a hidden sub-quest.'
Ma Gyeong-rok didn't know a quest would pop up when reaching level 10 either.
He found out by chance while absorbed in hunting.
"Congratulations on getting a job too, CEO."
"No, I was just lucky."
It wasn't just lip service.
He really said it because he was lucky, but An Sang-cheol took it differently.
"I always feel it, but you're truly humble, CEO."
"Humble? I'm just stating facts."
"You know the saying? Luck is also a skill. Plus, is it easy to rank 2nd and 3rd across all areas? It's my utmost honor to serve someone like you."
"Hahaha. Seeing Director An praise me like this, you must want something."
An Sang-cheol was taken aback but didn't show it.
As expected, the CEO knows him too well.
"Tell me. You have something to ask, don't you?"
"Um... Then may I ask one thing?"
"Yes, go ahead."
"You changed to Dark Knight this time, right? If it's not rude, where did you get the class change item..."
An Sang-cheol asked cautiously, but Ma Gyeong-rok answered readily.
"It's nothing special. I just got a class change item while killing monsters."
It was half true and half lie.
He did get a class change item from killing monsters, but it wasn't for Dark Knight.
Dark Knight wasn't a job anyone could get.
'It's a job only those with the Rune of Black Knight can get.'
Rune of Black Knight.
An overpowered rune that increases all stats and allows coating weapons with dark aura.
It even automatically changes class to the unique Dark Knight class at level 10.
'I was lucky. To think such an overpowered rune came from a random rune fragment.'
This is why Ma Gyeong-rok lied.
He couldn't reveal such important information about his rune to An Sang-cheol.
'Even if he's like family, he's not real family.'
He wouldn't have told even if it was real family.
Because it's human nature to change in an instant.
Especially for relationships that started as business.
'That's not to say I don't care for Director An.'
An Sang-cheol was an irreplaceable talent and right-hand man to Ma Gyeong-rok.
If anyone messed with such an arm and leg, he would tear them apart without hesitation.
"Director An. Let's get to the point. Who injured you?"
There was no trace of a smile on Ma Gyeong-rok's face.
It was such a cold expression, it was hard to believe he was smiling just moments ago.
"Could it be Black Scythe?"
"Huh? Black Scythe?"
"Didn't you say on the phone it was related to Black Scythe? If that bastard touched you, I'll find him and retaliate no matter what..."
As killing intent flowed from Ma Gyeong-rok's eyes, An Sang-cheol hurriedly waved his hands.
"Ah! No. Black Scythe didn't injure me."
"He didn't?"
"Yes. Black Scythe is rather a lifesaver who rescued me."
"Lifesaver?"
Ma Gyeong-rok's eyebrow twitched as he withdrew his killing intent.
"Tell me in detail."
An Sang-cheol reported everything that happened in the forest without omission.
"So you almost died because of thugs targeting Actress Seo?"
"Yes. If Black Scythe hadn't appeared just then, we both could have lost our lives. Well, Ms. Seo Arin might have lived... But even if she returned, she would have been too mentally traumatized to continue her entertainment career."
"..."
He almost lost his cherished subordinate, and his business would have been rendered useless?
Ma Gyeong-rok gritted his teeth.
"What happened to those guys? You killed them of course?"
"Black Scythe inflicted enough pain to nearly kill them, but didn't kill them."
Ma Gyeong-rok tilted his head quizzically.
"Why?"
"I was curious too and asked, but he said there's no benefit in killing them. He said reducing the population only reduces survival spots..."
"That's reasonable, but who knows what those guys will do in the future... Tsk tsk."
Ma Gyeong-rok clicked his tongue and shook his head.
'He's probably saying such naive things because it's not related to him.'
Unless you know the future, leaving future troubles is really foolish.
'But thanks to Black Scythe, my subordinate and my property were protected.'
It's clear he owes Black Scythe a debt.
"Did you offer to reward him?"
"Yes. But he said it wasn't necessary and left right away."
'Is he being careful in case his identity is revealed? He's quite cautious.'
If he had at least gotten an account number, there might have been a way, but now there's no way to know his identity in reality.
There's no way to contact him.
"Director An. If you meet Black Scythe in the next round, convey my thoughts. Tell him I'm truly grateful for saving you."
This was all he could do, speaking through An Sang-cheol.
"Understood, CEO. I'll convey it as instructed."
"And keep an eye on Black Scythe and see if there's anything we can help with. You know I can't stand being in debt, right?"
"Of course. I'll do that."
"Ah, by the way, I forgot to ask something important."
Ma Gyeong-rok's eyes flashed with killing intent again.
"What are those thugs' nicknames?"
* * *
Ryumin, who followed An Sang-cheol using the Track skill, nodded.
'As expected, he was Ma Gyeong-rok's right-hand man.'
The place An Sang-cheol is currently at is a hotel under Ma Gyeong-rok's name.
Can entering Ma Gyeong-rok's building be dismissed as coincidence?
'He is indeed the An Sang-cheol I know.'
It was circumstantial evidence until now, but now it's conclusive.
There was nothing more to confirm, so he turned back.
Loitering around needlessly would only arouse suspicion.
'Who would have thought a celebrity sponsored by Ma Gyeong-rok lived in the same apartment? I should thank my brother for this.'
If his brother hadn't thought of giving out rice cakes, he wouldn't have encountered Seo Arin.
There would have been no chance to learn An Sang-cheol's real face either.
'The future changed, but it changed in a way more favorable to me.'
Using the fact that they're neighbors could help somewhat in gaining Ma Gyeong-rok's trust.
'I'll have to proceed gradually. We'll see if I take Ma Gyeong-rok to Round 20.'
Ma Gyeong-rok has the Rune of Black Knight.
Seeing how he changed to Dark Knight, that point seems unchanged this regression too.
'It's a good rune. But the downside is there's no rune reward for changing class.'
While most get a rune reward for changing class, the Rune of Black Knight doesn't have that.
You just get one weapon and one skill when reaching level 10.
Not to mention being forced to change to Dark Knight.
'Above all, Dark Knight has a fatal flaw.'
That is, to use dark aura, you need to charge dark magic power, a special mana.
And that dark magic power can't be charged through normal methods.
'In a way, it's a perfect ability for Ma Gyeong-rok's psychopathic hobbies, so maybe it can't be considered a flaw?'
Except for that point, the Rune of Black Knight is clearly an overpowered rune.
The fact that Ma Gyeong-rok never drops out of the top rankings is proof enough.
'Anyway, Ma Gyeong-rok is strong, but it's dangerous to include a psychopath as an ally.'
Of course, once max level is reached, there are ways to control him so it won't be dangerous, but...
'There are many other talented people besides Ma Gyeong-rok.'
As long as there are alternatives, there's no need to use him.
'For now, I'll keep him as a candidate while using him. I need other talented people more right now.'
Especially, a buffer is absolutely necessary for Round 20.
'I should start working as soon as day breaks.'
Now was the optimal situation to butter up a buffer.