Chapter 539: Kim Hyunsung vs Park Deokgu (1)
At a glance, it was a pitiful expression. It seemed to say, ‘Why am I the only one…?’
He might have really thought that. Even Elena and Han Sora had their hands in fishing after finishing their meals and cleaning up.
Even Kim Chang-ryul, who came down to rest for 10 minutes and fished, had caught something before he went back up.
“I think this is pretty fun.”
When Kim Chang-ryul said those words before he went back up, I saw Kim Hyunsung’s eyes start to shake.
He seemed to wonder why he was the only one who couldn’t get anything. The current atmosphere and surroundings, including Park Deokgu, must have also contributed to his bitterness.
“Wow, the feeling on your hand is amazing! I had fished plenty of times before, but I had never felt anything like this. It feels as if a fish had really bitten the bait!”
Park Deokgu’s words must’ve especially hurt him.
“Everyone probably felt it, but I’m not lying!”
Heartbreakingly, Kim Hyunsung had not felt it yet.
“Oh my G.o.d, I think another one bit! It came! It’s a catch! A catch!”
Yet another one took the bait.
“This is why we fish!”
“It’s more fun than I thought it would be.”
“I think another one came for you too, Hee-young-nunim! Try lifting it!”
“Ah!”
“It came for me too!”
“It feels sweet. I think it’s something huge again!”
‘Stop it, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d…’
I could understand how he was having fun, but he couldn’t read the atmosphere. It was almost cute how the usually perfect Kim Hyunsung was silent at that moment.
I couldn’t help but be bothered that only he was quiet while everyone was having fun.
Only Cho Hyejin seemed sympathetic to him and tried to support him with several things, but there was still no progress.
After hours of silence, it seemed that Kim Hyunsung’s mind was getting eaten away.
Then, I saw him slowly move from his spot as if he thought he wasn’t catching anything because of his location.
He threw the fishing rod again, but the situation was the same.
“Only Hyunsung-nim seemed to have not caught anything.”
“…”
“Oh, don’t be too impatient. Some people naturally don’t have fishing luck. That’s probably the case.”
“I understand.”
“You never know. Maybe you will be able to catch a big fish… But today’s winner will be King Deokgu, the fishing king. I think I can catch one more Myth-grade item… There you go! Here we go again!”
“…”
Kim Hyunsung now started to look resentful, and I felt surprised to see that side of him.
It was surprising to see him obediently follow our tour guide, Park Deokgu, and his trip, but that was also another surprising side to him that I was seeing.
He continued to look at the people who kept catching items and pondered what the problem was. He seemed to have been too stubborn and prideful to ask Park Deokgu for some tips.
‘I still can’t tell what his personality is.’
I thought he was very compet.i.tive, but seeing him like that, maybe that wasn’t it.
About an hour after Kim Hyunsung’s eyes had become soft, he looked around his surroundings hastily.
“Kiyoung-ssi!”
I didn’t know why he called me, but his urgent voice seemed to ask me to do something.
“Just try lifting it!”
He looked so happy at that moment. His rod curved like it was going to break, but he was holding it still without moving.
I knew he was feeling the vibrations on his hand like Park Deokgu had talked about.
Although he pretended not to be interested, he had glanced at the people fishing around him and knew what to do. In the first place, he was skilled in anything that was physical.
Unlike me, who had struggled with one item for a long time, he lifted out the rod almost instantly.
‘That was way too easy…’
I worried that he might have gotten a legendary or a hero-level item.
All the guild-members were focused on him at that moment.
And when he finally pulled out his catch, he had a crumpled look on his face.
“Isn’t it too small considering your efforts?”
I heard Park Deokgu say those words, but I saw him smile widely from ear to ear after seeing the item’s abilities.
A small ring was attached to the end of the hook.
I worried that compared to items like the Spear of Longinus, it looked insignificant, but after realizing that it was a Mythic level ring, Hyunsung looked as happy as he had gotten the whole world.
He grasped onto his item like he was very satisfied, and I began to feel a bit excited for it too.
‘It must be a quite useful item.’
There was a high chance that it had a useful function if Kim Hyunsung, who had gone through the first timeline, was satisfied with it.
“I made my decision. This is what I am going to take. The user of this item is decided too.”
He even made such a declaration. He looked as if the event was over for him. With my curiosity raised, I checked out the ring’s description.
[Breech’s Purification Ring.]
[The ancient G.o.ddess Breech had used her own heart to make this ring for her lover.
Purifies Myth-grade debuffs and curses upon wearing. While wearing the ring, the user also becomes immune to Mythic-grade debuffs and curses. Its abilities are attributed to the first person who wears it.]
“Ah…”
‘It’s good, but…’
It was something hard to say. Rather than an item like that, a large and beautiful item like Longinus was much more appealing.
However, I had to accept it if Kim Hyunsung had decided on it.
‘Maybe the Outer G.o.d or whatever utilized debuffs or curses…’
If that was really the case, I could only give a thumbs-up for his decision since we would need items like that. But as I saw him approach me with the ring in his hands, I realized what he was thinking.
‘Wow… this crazy b.a.s.t.a.r.d…’
“It can probably purify the curse in your body instantly.”
‘Kim Hyunsung, you sh*t, you still haven’t come to your senses. Seriously, you’re not in your right mind.’
No matter many Mythic-grade martial arts items or Durendal he owned, there wouldn’t be another event where he could gain another Myth-grade item. It was huge merit.
For a moment, I thought the Outer G.o.d might actually be a specialist in debuffs, but that wasn’t it. He really just wanted to free me from Belial’s curse.
‘Kim Hyunsung, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d…’
I didn’t know how to respond when Belial’s curse had already become established with G.o.ddess Benignore’s appearance.
‘What can I really say, seriously?’
I was happy to see that he was really concerned for me, but I couldn’t deny that if I didn’t stop the guy who ruined the first timeline, everyone would be screwed.
I wanted to ask him if he’s really sure of that decision but couldn’t.
I knew that Kim Hyunsung was really strong, but there was still a lot of room for progress. If Belial threatened him, he would still prove to be lacking. Because of this, it was only right to pick an item that focused on strengthening his power rather than a ring that could only be used for a specific situation.
But with the guy’s declaration, the mood became different. Sun Hee-young and Elena, our resident medics, were delighted while Jung Hayan jumped up and down in happiness.
They already thought it was worthy of keeping due to the fact that it could purify Belial’s curse. However, I had to find some way to keep him from choosing this particular item.
“O-One worry will definitely disappear.”
“Yes, definitely… although things may have calmed down now, it will be a good idea to fix the situation before something happens again.”
‘No, it’s not like that.’
Of course, I had to speak up.
“No, I am fine. If you can only take one item, a different one will be better. I basically don’t have the curse anymore anyway.”
“But…”
“It will be fine since we have Benignore-nim with us. I told you this before, but I think I can probably control this power…”
“No, you must not try to control that power, Kiyoung-ssi. You might think it can be helpful to you, but that kind of power only eats you away. It will only put your body in danger. So, please take this item.”
‘Don’t bullsh*t, you sh*t…’
Depending on the item one took, the more difficult it was to take it.
However, I couldn’t find a way to get out of that situation. I observed my surroundings like a mouse caught in a poison trap, but everyone seemed like they wanted me to take the item.
I actually had to look away after meeting Park Deokgu’s eyes quickly. If that guy became crazy and stirred up an incitement, I might have to return home while wearing the ring.
I really wanted to say something as Hyunsung released his jaw to start speaking again. But then, somebody else talked.
“Hyung-nim could be right.”
‘What?’
“Of course, I know everyone is worried about Hyung-nim. I’m worried about him too. I also want Kiyoung-hyung to receive the ring, and like Hyunsung-hyung and Nunim, I want to be rea.s.sured that everything will be alright now. But I think there’s room for more thought. As you said, I think it would be alright because of G.o.ddess Benignore… and most of all, Hyung-nim is saying that he’s okay…”
‘You sh*t…’
“If Hyung-nim says that he can do it, he can. He can withstand it if he says he can. Hyung-nim knows his body’s state better than anybody else. If he really thought he was in danger, Hyung-nim would’ve been the first one to ask for the ring.”
‘Deokgu, sh*t…Deokgu…’
Practice made perfect. He must have read the signal I had just sent him through my eyes.
He had never been so trustworthy. As he winked at me, I almost wanted to applaud him.
“It’s my personal opinion, but rather than a ring, I think it will be better to take the Doomginus or whatever-its-name-is spear!”
“No, Sh*t, that’s not it.’
“It’s a spear! Definitely the spear!”
My face naturally crumpled.
‘Just shut up, you sh*t…’