The Game of the Greatest Black Mage-Chapter 389

Chapter 389

3.

Before a week had passed since the Demon King's backup parties plunged into the Abyss.

The dinner time that sparked the incident concluded smoothly.

“Whew, I feel like I’ve truly eaten well for the first time in a while.”

“Noona, Mom would be upset if she heard that.”

“Ah, no, I meant it’s been a long time since I’ve eaten this well dining out.”

Although he felt a silent pressure not to tell their mother.

Seonghyun smirked while looking at Yoo Mina, who spoke as if pleading.

“Please.”

“Hmm, I’ll think about it.”

“Ah! If Mom pouts, it lasts for a month!!!”

Looking at the siblings, both Ahn Yubin and Lee Geondong were honestly a bit surprised.

To think that Yoo Mina, who always appeared haughty and cold on the outside, would break down like that!

Are they truly siblings after all?

Anyway, after finishing their satisfying meal, they stepped out of the restaurant and headed to a nearby cafe to discuss the preliminary inspection.

Ahn Yoojin, the guild leader of the Rapid Guild, wasn't there, but they could just notify her of the details later.

“Hmm, tomorrow? The day after? When is good?”

“You’re trying to go while the construction is still underway, right?”

“Well, that’s probably for the best.”

“Hmm, I think so too.”

Since all four agreed it would be best to move in once the remodeling of Seonghyun’s house was finished, they concluded that they should go soon. After Yoo Mina checked everyone’s schedule, it was set for the day after tomorrow.

Naturally, Ahn Yoojin was informed of the decision.

The participants would be the four present plus Ahn Yoojin, totaling five people.

At first, Seonghyun wondered if it was okay since there were only two men, but.

Since everyone else didn't seem to care, he didn't think much of it.

Anyway, after roughly planning the schedule, they stood up, said their goodbyes, and parted ways.

As Seonghyun walked home with Lee Geondong, he stretched lightly and spoke.

“Whew, for some reason, I’m tired.”

“Haha, we did have a meeting, after all.”

“Right. I’m fine with physical labor now, but sitting still makes me feel a bit stiff. Is it because I started working out?”

When Seonghyun spoke as if it became more apparent after he started exercising, Lee Geondong glanced at him with sharp eyes and then looked at him with genuine annoyance.

Seonghyun looked back at Lee Geondong, asking what was wrong.

“What?”

“Sigh, shouldn't handsome guys be banned from working out?”

Lee Geondong said that and flinched as he felt the soft flesh of his own body.

He used to go to the gym quite often before he started video editing work.

As he got busier, he couldn't go as often, and he vividly realized that his muscles had faded away.

Seonghyun smirked seeing that and said.

“Join me at the gym while I’m staying here.”

“Hmm, I should. Even when you go back home, it’s close by, so we can keep going together.”

“Oh, that sounds good too.”

Since exercise is always a good thing.

Like that, Lee Geondong took the opportunity to register at the gym on his way back and fell into a deep sleep at home.

4.

One day had passed since Seonghyun first joined, and as the next morning arrived.

Michael honestly couldn't help but be deep in thought.

Usually, he considered clearing one floor a day to be fast.

Since the Mansik Party had already uploaded a conquest video for the 71st floor, he thought they could clear it quickly, and his goal had been the 72nd floor.

But they broke through that, reached the 73rd floor via a shortcut, and defeated both the 73rd and 74th floors to reach the 75th floor in one go.

It was a speed that was difficult to adapt to.

Originally, clearing floors below the 60th basement floor became considerably slower.

The difficulty increased, and the monsters became stronger.

The record-breaking pace for Michael’s party after the 60th floor had been two floors in a day.

Since there were times they couldn't even clear a single floor, this current record came as a considerable shock.

‘Yuseong-nim is truly amazing.’

Above all, the power of Yuseong’s utility was substantial.

Because he could provide enchants and hunt while handling beams freely, mobility was bound to increase.

Although the speed gradually slowed down as they reached the 74th floor, it was still fast.

He thought that if they were lucky today, they might reach the 76th floor.

On the other hand, the Cheongwi Party had now pierced up to the 77th floor.

The gap was narrowing to almost one floor. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Just as Michael was strengthening his resolve, he saw Seonghyun entering the party hideout.

“Oh! Yuseong-nim! You’re here!”

“Oh, welcome!”

“O-oh, you’ve arrived.”

Michael welcomed him immediately, and Lowell and Noir also greeted Seonghyun.

However, when Seonghyun made a slightly troubled expression while looking at the three of them, Michael’s complexion turned pale in an instant.

With Michael looking as if his soul was being sucked out through his open mouth, Seonghyun spoke cautiously.

“It hasn't been long since I joined, and I’m sorry to say this, but could I ask for a favor?”

“...Y-yes, yes.”

Gulp.

The sound of Michael swallowing his saliva seemed to echo throughout the hideout. Seonghyun, without paying much mind, spoke.

“Would it be okay if I stepped away tomorrow and the day after? An appointment came up.”

“Pardon? Ahhhhh!!! Ay! Of course!”

“Whew.”

“Phew.”

Michael’s color returned, and Lowell and Noir also heaved sighs of relief. They had thought he was going to say he was leaving because their levels didn't match after yesterday’s experience. They felt truly fortunate.

Seonghyun thought the party’s reaction was a bit strange, but he felt at ease since they gave permission. At the same time.

[Seonghyun - Tomorrow is fine.]

[Luna - Great. I’ve talked about it too.]

[Yuna - I’m down anytime.]

The conversation between the two came out, and Seonghyun smirked at the last message from the person who was invited in a hurry yesterday.

[Rapid - You guys are truly something... planning a preliminary inspection without the Guild Leader?]

[Luna - Unni, originally employees go on inspections, not the CEO. Isn't this the right way?]

At the atmosphere that felt like they might leave Rapid out if she wasn't careful, she quickly changed her tune.

[Rapid - Well, taking a break this time is a good thing too.]

After all, hadn't there been a flood of inquiries since the guild event?

Because of that, Rapid had been moving busily, but clearing her schedule for a 2-day, 1-night trip meant she could rest and feel at ease. Above all:

[Yuna - Geondong will be there too, right?]

[Geondong - Ahem, Noona…….]

[Rapid - Anyway, let's see everyone tomorrow morning.]

Watching the conversation wrap up hurriedly like that, Seonghyun closed the group messenger.

Since the trip was tomorrow, shouldn't he work hard on today's tasks today?

Seonghyun snapped out of it and joined the Michael Party's meeting.

Even though it was called joining, Seonghyun was mostly just observing.

As Seonghyun sat quietly watching the meeting:

“Huuuum, it seems the 75th floor really won't be easy this time.”

“Yeah, even the Cheongwi Party wasted three days on the 75th floor.”

“Since it's that difficult, we might not be able to clear it today.”

“The Cheongwi Party took a day each for the 73rd and 74th floors. Thinking about that, we should consider the possibility of not clearing the 75th floor today.”

Seonghyun couldn't help but be a bit surprised at the news that other parties took three days.

Indeed, the Abyss took a long time not just because the monsters were strong, but because there were many labyrinth-like traps or cases where a door only appeared after satisfying special conditions.

Even with a map, Seonghyun didn't possess a guide that showed exactly how to reach the next door instantly.

He only knew roughly what kind of floor it was and what hidden elements existed, so he had to follow the opinions of the Michael Party who had been conquering it all this time.

Furthermore:

“We also have to keep in mind that the Mansik Party cleared the 74th floor.”

“Well, since we're doing a live broadcast, it can't be helped.”

“But the revenue is too significant to give up on the live stream…….”

When they spoke like that, Seonghyun also nodded.

They probably couldn't imagine it, but Seonghyun empathized because he sometimes earned billions of won just by turning on a stream.

Of course, for them, it was an amount slightly under a hundred million won per month, so there was a considerable gap.

Anyway, after finishing the meeting and concluding that the floor conquest was what it was, they moved on to discussing the live stream.

“Huuuum, since donations are really popping off this time and the revenue is higher than average…….”

“We should distribute it all to Yuseong-nim. That's thanks to Yuseong-nim.”

“I think so too.”

As everyone spoke like that and tried to concede most of the live stream revenue to Seonghyun, Seonghyun was shocked after hearing the amount.

It was an amount much smaller than he expected, yet they were trying to give most of it to him?

‘This isn't right.’

Since Seonghyun had already earned a lot of money, he didn't feel the need to take it all.

While it was true the stream grew and earned more thanks to him, he didn't feel he needed to be conceded that much, so Seonghyun quickly waved his hands.

“No, it's fine.”

“Pardon?”

“I just need the live stream revenue to be distributed equally.”

In all honesty, he wanted to refuse the revenue altogether.

In fact, Seonghyun was even thinking that he should be the one paying them for essentially providing him a "bus ride" to the Deep Part.

However, he knew that if he refused everything, they would never listen.

Thinking that an equal distribution was more than enough, he stood his ground.

Michael pondered for a moment before finally nodding.

“Understood. Then we’ll stick to equal distribution for now, but how about we give all the donations specifically directed at Yuseong-nim to him directly?”

“Huuuum. Alright, I can do that.”

He wanted to refuse that as well, but seeing their sincerity, Seonghyun gave a small nod.

On the other hand, Michael was doing this because he desperately wanted to hold onto Seonghyun.

Since they had agreed to maintain the party only until reaching the Deep Part, he knew he’d have to let him go eventually, but he hoped to keep him as long as possible until then.

Once they reached a point of mutual satisfaction, the meeting wrapped up quickly.

When it came to the live broadcast, Michael was like a god in Seonghyun's eyes, so he naturally followed his lead.

As the discussion turned to the stream's structure and pacing, Michael took the reins.

Since they were skilled enough to run a "pro-play" stream but also had the wit to make it entertaining, it made sense why they held such a solid position despite being a small channel rather than a giant guild.

Only after hearing everything did Seonghyun nod.

“Then let's go with that. Shall we head into the Abyss and turn on the stream?”

At those words, the entire party rose from their seats, and Seonghyun stood up, feeling a spark of excitement.

Suddenly, a fleeting thought crossed Seonghyun’s mind.

When should I tell them I’m the Demon King?

He hadn't been caught yet, but he felt it was only a matter of time.

There were quite a few people who knew his secret, and no matter how close they were, rumors had a way of spreading.

However, Seonghyun just shrugged his shoulders, thinking he could worry about it later.

He didn't necessarily have to bring it up today.