Martial Arts Returnee’s Game Broadcast

Chapter 219

1.
After the nightmare-like dating sim play,
Dashman took some time for self-reflection.

“Now I understand the Guild Leader's great intentions.”
“?”
“To become the kind of man who deserves Eve, I must first realize my own powerlessness. That was the purpose behind selecting this game.”
“??”
“In reality, not only could I not protect my virtual little sister, I can’t even save myself. This game has made me realize that clearly. Thinking back, it was obvious.”
“???”
“Eve is an A-grade Awakened. A war hero, no less. Compared to her, I still have a long way to go. I'm lacking to stand by her side.”

Unexpectedly, Dashman found himself looking back at himself.
Though the process was harsh, it became a new source of motivation for him.

[I'll be cheering for you.]
“Please watch over me. Once I believe I’ve gotten strong enough, I’ll challenge this academy again.”
[The Academy?]
“It’s the shortened name for 'Surviving the Academy with Half-blooded Sisters.’”

The man, filled with determination, even made Ha Eung Eung pause for a moment.

“When that time comes, please watch me again in Ghost Mode. To see how much I’ve grown. To see if I truly deserve to stand by Eve’s side.”
[I will.]

Like Ju Ah Young, Dashman entered a period of seclusion training. His posture was undeniably masculine.

“This is going to be tough for that guy. Once he enters seclusion, he’ll often bump into Ah Young and end up comparing himself.”

During her own seclusion training, Lee So Hye had a time when she competed against Ju Ah Young in the training chambers.

• Phew, 14 hours of intense training done!
• Congratulations, So Hye.
• Hm? Ah Young, aren’t you going in?
• Just a bit more.
• Then should we go in together today?

Even though Lee So Hye felt like her body was about to give out from exhaustion, Ah Young wouldn’t stop.
At first, it was admirable seeing a younger disciple working hard. But by the middle, Lee So Hye started thinking, “Are you the only one working hard? Let’s see who’s better.”
Eventually, they entered overtime, but there was no beating Ah Young.

“Training with Ah Young next to me could only lead to one of two things: I’d either end up in the emergency room, or I’d admit that I didn’t try as hard and keep training at my own pace.”
[It’s all in the mind. Want me to teach you one more thing?]
“Forget it, I’m done. Who’s going to do the manager’s job if I’m busy training?”

Lee So Hye was satisfied with her current pace.
Getting strong enough, enjoying some freedom, and living life in moderation.
It would be perfect if she could spend more time with Ha Eung Eung.

‘I’m a little anxious, though, since Ah Young’s seclusion training will end soon, and this peaceful life might be disrupted.’

Ah Young’s goal was very high.
At least, for now, her training didn’t seem likely to end.

[So when is the Ban-Yo-Gok King going to be played?]
“…Tonight?”

On the day Dashman entered seclusion training,
A new streamer was born in Ha Nam Pa, like a player substitution.

2.
“That was too much, torturing Dashman.”

Unlike Dashman, who easily brushed it off, Eve protested with dissatisfaction.

“I found out that the game was about sisters dying. It’s not a game you should make someone who’s experienced the trauma of losing a sister, even to the point of her becoming paralyzed and dying, play.”
[As a martial artist, one must rise from their painful wounds and find enlightenment...]
“Ugh.”
[Sorry.]
“Make sure to apologize to Dashman later.”

Though Eve appeared to be pushing Dashman away, she still subtly cared for him.
Now even Ha Eung Eung was curious about her true feelings.

[If you care that much, why don’t you go directly and comfort him?]

Eve smiled gracefully and shook her head.

“A man with great intentions must not be disturbed. I don’t want to interfere with his training.”
[You know Dashman likes you, right?]
“I could never not know. It’s so obvious.”
[If you go to him and support him directly, it will be a great motivation for him.]
“That’s not possible. I can’t accept his feelings. I don’t want to engage in anything that might lead to an ambiguous situation.”

She was firm, yet when you saw her care for him from behind, it seemed she didn’t truly have no feelings.
Ha Eung Eung could sense the contradiction.

[Are you worried? That he might be left alone?]
“Sigh. Sister Ha Eung Eung, you’re too perceptive, it’s troublesome.”

If the Silent Swordsman’s viewers were listening, they would have quickly scrolled down the chat in shock at Eve’s heartfelt words.

“With your help, I might have the chance to enjoy a long life, but who knows what will happen. Life is unpredictable.”
“……”
“If a man with a long life falls for a woman like me, who’s dying from Mana sickness, he’s just condemning himself to live alone for the rest of his life.”
“………….”
“Dashman deserves to be happy. I don’t want to burden him with a painful future, living alone for the rest of his life because of me.”

Eve’s heart was heavy.
She didn’t want to accept Dashman’s feelings, but she didn’t feel entirely indifferent to him either.
It was a complicated relationship.

“At times like this, I even think that if I were to die from Mana sickness, I could have no regrets if I shared love with someone who wouldn’t regret it.”
“……!”
“Ha, foolish, right? I keep softening. I’ve been away from the battlefield for half a year, and this is what’s happened.”
[You’re not weak.]
“Really?”
[And I don’t think you’re pathetic.]
“…Sister Ha Eung Eung. I never said I was pathetic.”

While Eve was shocked, wondering if Ha Eung Eung had always thought so poorly of her, Ha Eung Eung wrote down her thoughts in a notebook.

[It’s natural to get a little weaker as you age.]
“I-I’m not that old yet! I’m still in my twenties!”
[We understand.]

20 years spent in the martial world.
Eve was no stranger to the sorrow of aging and the weakening of the heart.
Her body rejuvenated, her playful side had emerged more, but her understanding had also grown.
Her stability of mind had improved, and her capacity for embracing others had only increased since her time in the martial world.

“Humph. If I look so old, go have fun with those younger ones.”
[Eve? Why are you suddenly angry?]

To Eve, who had suffered at the hands of the powerful and seen her youth as a curse rather than a blessing, aging itself was a form of rejection.
Ha Eung Eung couldn’t understand Eve’s mindset about growing older as a woman.

“Don’t you understand why I’m angry?”
[I don’t.]

When Ha Eung Eung smiled innocently, Eve realized she didn’t mean any harm and playfully poked her cheek.

“You know you were wrong, right?”
[I’ll apologize.]
“If you’re sorry, then please do one thing for me.”

Ha Eung Eung nodded happily.
Would she ask her to teach her martial arts techniques?
Or maybe to pass on the skills of power control?
Ha Eung Eung imagined possibilities, but none of them were correct.
Eve pointed toward the front gate of Ha Nam Pa.

“Can you handle the reporters? There are so many of them, it’s even scary to go to the convenience store right in front.”

3.
Outside Ha Nam Pa’s headquarters, reporters were gathered.
It wasn’t just any guild, but Ha Nam Pa was especially targeted by reporters.

“How’s Eve’s side?”
“She’s not coming out.”
“And the Black Army guys?”
“They’re not coming either.”
“Silent Swordsman won’t be coming out, right?”
“He’s not coming out.”
“Damn it, how come none of them are showing up?”

Ha Nam Pa, a goldmine of stories.
If they could get just one good story and interview, they’d get headlines with exclusive reports, breaking news, and more.
Compared to other guilds that casually networked with reporters and handed over some stories for promotion, Ha Nam Pa was unlucky.

“Hey, can’t we just go inside?”
“Don’t be embarrassing and show your rookie status in front of the other reporters, okay?”
“Why? If we go in secretly, what are they going to do? It’s for the public’s right to know, we should be sneaking in with a hidden camera, right?”

Another reporter openly laughed.

“Choi, you’re really having a hard time with this newbie. If you want to stop them from causing trouble, tie them up tightly.”
“Haha. I’ll make sure the other reporters don’t cause trouble.”

Choi laughed it off and then swiftly kicked his junior’s shin.

“Ouch! That hurts!”
“I kicked you on purpose, idiot. If you get caught sneaking into Ha Nam Pa, they’ll confiscate your cameras and microphones with a metal detector and sue you.”
“We’re reporters.”
“So what? Don’t you know Ha Nam Pa’s leader hates reporters?”
“Come on. Then why make news? This isn’t even some kind of dream story. They must be hiding something, and that’s why they hate us.”
“Try saying that in front of Ha Nam Pa members. You won’t get a meal around here.”

No matter how loud the editorial team shouted to pull the story down, Choi would never budge until the money was in his pocket.
He looked like a mad dog, but his junior began to realize the seriousness of the situation.

“Choi, what’s going on?”
“What’s going on? The ugliness on your face.”
“Why are you picking a fight all of a sudden? You’re just as bad as I am.”
“I don’t like how reporters are like the Open Gate or Hao Moon.”
“Open Gate? Hao Moon? Aren’t those intelligence organizations from martial arts stories?”
“They beg for news, acting like they’re doing good deeds. Don’t provoke them. The guy who caused trouble last time is completely missing.”

Ha Nam Pa had more to worry about than just stories.
The junior reporter began to sense the atmosphere and was about to step back.

“Wait, senior. Look at the front gate.”
“The front gate? What about it?”
“Silent Swordsman is coming out.”
“No way, is this for real?”
“Camera! Get the camera, follow him, senior!”

Naturally, reporters who thought he wouldn’t come out the front gate started scattering, trying to catch Silent Swordsman jumping over the wall or jumping down from the building rooftop.
But Choi and his junior, who stubbornly stayed at the front gate, were in for an unexpected surprise.
Silent Swordsman came out the front gate and walked straight toward them.

[I'll give you a story if you gather everyone near the front gate.]

Eve thought of this as an equivalent exchange.
Thus, the transaction began.