Debuff Master

Chapter 642

A paparazzi managed to snap a photo of Tae-Sung and Yong Seol-Hwa when they dined together two weeks ago, and it started absurd rumors of their romantic relationship.

Tae-Sung planned to discuss with Yong Seol-Hwa regarding the matter before releasing an official statement, but the rebellion in the Espadrille Province led by Count Arial and the Almighty Soul happened at the same time.

Thus, Tae-Sung called Yong Seol-Hwa, and both of them agreed to release an official statement regarding the rumors only after the rebellion in the Espadrille Province was quelled.

So what was this father-in-law thing about? What the hell was this all about?

“What do you mean by that...?” Tae-Sung asked, perplexed by what the chef said.

“Oh? Is this article not true then?” the chef asked in response and showed him a news article.

[Interview with Yong Tae-Pung, “I wouldn’t mind having a son-in-law like Han Tae-Sung”]

(omitted)

[This was the living legend, Yong Tae-Pung’s response when asked the question, “Will you allow your daughter and Han Tae-Sung to date?”]

[“Hey, reporter. Why do I have to allow them or not? I want Han Tae-Sung as my son-in-law, so he should be the one allowing me to be his father-in-law!”]

(omitted)

[Neither Han Tae-Sung nor Yong Seol-Hwa have issued an official response regarding the matter.]

[Many people are curious whether they will acknowledge the rumors and officially announce themselves as a couple or not.]

“Oh my god...” Tae-Sung dropped his chopsticks and muttered in disbelief. He stayed frozen for a few seconds before suddenly exclaiming, “H-Hey! What’s wrong with him?!”

“E-Excuse me...? Mr. Han Tae-Sung...? Are the rumors not true?” the chef asked carefully.

“Yes, they’re not. That was the first time we had a meal together, and that was it,” Tae-Sung grumbled in response.

“I-I see...”

“These reporters are going too far... Sigh...”

“Haha... Hahaha...”

“Ah, I should just eat something first and forget about that for now.”

“I will prepare your meal at once.”

Tae-Sung finished his meal and had a cup of coffee. Then, he waited for a while to digest his food before heading to the gym.

“Chest up! Inhale! Push the barbell up! Down! Push! Down! Push!”

“Heup! Haaa! Heup! Haaa!”

Tae-Sung decided to release all the stress he got from the rumors by lifting weights at the gym. Perhaps that was the reason, but he managed to bench one hundred twenty kilograms for four reps.

“Oh! You just benched one hundred kilograms!”

“What?” Tae-Sung glared at his trainer. Then, he snapped back, “It’s one hundred twenty kilograms, not one hundred kilograms. Why are you removing the weight of the bar? Are my ancestors benching the twenty kilograms of the bar and not me?”

“Ah? T-That is...”

“Hmph!”

The reason he snapped at his trainer was that he hated it when people arbitrarily reduced the weight he was lifting. He finished his workout and took a shower before calling Yong Seol-Hwa.

— Hello! Oppa!

“Oh? You answered right away today. I thought you would be playing the game now.”

— Ah, I decided to take the day off and go shopping today.

“I see. Anyway, erm... that is...” Tae-Sung mumbled, finding it hard to bring up what he wanted to say.

— Is this about the rumor circling around?

Yong Seol-Hwa immediately understood what he was trying to say and brought it up first.

“Huh? Ah, y-yeah, it’s about that.”

— Come on~ You don’t have to worry about that. Just call the reporters and tell them your side of the story. Hmm... I guess if you tell them we’re like siblings, they would buy it?

“R-Really?

— Of course! Besides, they can’t keep the rumor going without any concrete evidence, and you will just be stating facts.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

— Don’t worry about it, oppa.

“Rather than worrying about it, I’m more—”

— You’re worried about me, right? Don’t worry. I’m fine.

“Oh? Really?”

Tae-Sung was more worried about Yong Seol-Hwa, as she was a girl, after all. A romance scandal would drastically affect her image.

— Yeah, I already expected these kinds of things to happen the moment I signed up for the Super Rookie Tournament.

“Hmm...”

— Don’t worry about it, oppa. Let’s just not think about it that much.

“I'll be okay as long as you’re okay. Hahaha...”

— And don’t worry about my dad. He can be quite the prankster at times.

“Hahaha...”

Tae-Sung chatted with Yong Seol-Hwa for around twenty minutes before hanging up.

“Phew... That’s a relief,” Tae-Sung finally let out a sigh of relief after talking things out with her, and he slept with a light heart.

***

“Hmm... This oppa only knows how to play games and work out. What kind of strategy should I use against him? I’m sure there’s a way to make him interested in me...” Yong Seol-Hwa muttered under her breath with narrowed eyes after the call with Tae-Sung.

Yong Seol-Hwa was indeed the living legend, Yong Tae-Pung’s daughter, judging by how she approached Tae-Sung as if he were some sort of boss monster to raid or an NPC in the game she had to woo and increase affinity with.

“Slowly but surely. Let’s not scare him away,” Yong Seol-Hwa muttered with a smile. She decided to be patient with him, just like how a predator would take its time before pouncing on its prey.

***

Tae-Sung logged into the game with a light heart and immediately got to work on the post-war efforts with the Marmont Territory as his base of operation.

“I, Siegfried van Proa, the King of Proatine, hereby pardon everyone who participated in the rebellion except for the rebel leader, Arial de Gray.”

He forgave everyone who had participated in the rebellion. This was an understandable choice, as he would have to execute hundreds of thousands of people, which was not feasible at all. Moreover, an overwhelming majority of them were just deceived by Arial’s trickery, and they had no intentions of rebelling against the kingdom.

“Furthermore, the Proatine Kingdom will shoulder the treatment expenses of those deceived by Arial de Gray, and they will be given assistance with reintegrating into society; the kingdom will also bear the burden of the assistance."

His decisions were received with praise.

“Ah! His Majesty is truly a righteous ruler!”

“I’m ashamed to say I was tricked by a heretic when His Majesty is such a good person...”

“Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!”

“Thank you!”

The people who participated in the rebellion thanked Siegfried while crying tears of joy. In all honesty, they thought Siegfried would dig a large hole and bury all of them alive, as nobody would say a peep, even if he did that to them.

Why?

It was all because participating in a rebellion was punishable with the execution of three generations of the family.

This was the reason why everyone was so dumbfounded to learn that not only would he pay for their treatment, but would also help them reintegrate into society. Siegfried's actions resulted in a massive boost of everyone's loyalty and reverence toward him.

Of course, the only reason Siegfried could do this in the first place was all thanks to the Proatine Kingdom being flushed with so much cash they could afford to waste it like this.

“Phew... I’m tired,” Siegfried said. He was finally done with work, but it was already past three in the morning.

“Kyuuu! Hamchi will give you a massage, owner punk!”

“Hmm?”

“Sit here! Kyuu!”

Hamchi proceeded to massage Siegfried’s stiff neck and shoulder muscles.

‘Haha, this punk is being cute these days,’ Siegfried thought, thinking of buying a premium nut set.

A servant entered and informed Siegfried that he had a visitor.

“Your Majesty, Viscount Cornelius seeks an audience with you.”

“Oh right, I completely forgot about him...”

Siegfried was so preoccupied with Count Arial that he completely forgot about Viscount Cornelius. He moved to the makeshift throne room and received the viscount.

“I greet Your Majesty,” Viscount Cornelius greeted with a bow.

“Long time no see, viscount,” Siegfried replied.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I was busy subduing the rebels, so I forgot about you for a while.”

“That is completely understandable, Your Majesty.”

“So, have you made your choice?” Siegfried asked, going straight to the point.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I have decided to... serve Your Majesty from now on.”

“Are you certain of that?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will serve you.”

Initially, Viscount Cornelius was torn and could not make up his mind, but he finally made up his mind after seeing how Siegfried had not only forgiven the rebels but had also decided to assist in their treatment and reintegration into society.

“Good, Viscount Cornelius,” Siegfried replied with a smile. Then, he exclaimed, “I hereby appoint you as the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of the Proatine Kingdom!”

“Eh...?” Viscount Cornelius muttered with his eyes round, baffled at the sudden appointment. He did not expect he would be appointed as a minister—no, any position at all, so he was stupefied to be given such an important role in record time.

“I have been thinking of appointing you as my kingdom’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock ever since I first saw you.”

“A-Ah...!”

“I hope you will work hard for the kingdom from now on, viscount.”

“Y-Your grace is immeasurable, sire!”

And that was how Siegfried successfully recruited Viscount Cornelius, a talented man with SSS-rank in Agriculture.

***

Siegfried was busy the entire week stabilizing the Espadrille Province and starting the numerous development projects lined up for it.

It was then.

“It’s really hard to see you these days, Tae-Sung.”

“Are you busy?”

“Don’t tell me you forgot about us already?”

“I hope we’re not bothering you when you’re busy? Haha!”

Siegfried was visited by the four legends, Park Gi-Don, Kim Gi-Tae, Kim Han-Yong, and Han Sang-Gi.

‘Eh? Damn it! I’m so busy these days!’ Siegfried was flustered by their sudden visit.

He was on the verge of going crazy from how busy he was, so the fact that he had to accommodate these old men gave him a migraine.

However, Siegfried's actions were completely different from his true feelings.

“Welcome, sunbae-nims!” Siegfried courteously greeted the Legends and chatted with them for quite a while.

The Battle Homeground Legend, Han Sang-Gi, asked carefully, “Are you busy these days, junior-nim?”

“No, not at all! Also, please just call me Tae-Sung!”

“Should I do that? Hoho!”

“Yes, sunbae-nim!”

“Alright, if you insist. Anyway, you said you wanted to learn that thing last time, right? Do you still want to learn it?”

“Ah!” Siegfried exclaimed after remembering how he asked the Legends to teach him the numerous strategies and techniques they used in the Ruin of Martial God. Then, he stood up straight and replied, “Yes! I want to learn!”

How valuable was it to learn directly from those who dominated as legendary pro gamers of their era? This was something that couldn't be quantified into money, and if it was to be put into words, then it would probably be something like "Introduction to Advanced Gaming: Legend Edition."

“When are you free?”

“I am free right now!”

“Really? Then should we start right now?”

“Yes!”

Siegfried was on the verge of going insane from the amount of work he had right now, but he immediately accepted Han Sang-Gi’s offer.

‘Training is also important. Yes, it is,’ Siegfried thought, rationalizing his decision to abandon his work to learn from the Legends.

However, it wasn't a bad thing at all, as Siegfried’s overall power would increase if he learned the tips and tricks the Legends had to offer, so it was best that he learned from them while he could still learn from them.

“Do you have a gun? Or maybe something like a bow or crossbow?” Han Sang-Gi asked.

“N-No, I do not,” Siegfried replied, flustered by the question.

The only ranged weapon he possessed was the one thousand projectiles made from the Chromatic Dragon’s scales.

“Hmm? It seems that you’re not prepared for your class.”

“I-I apologize for that...”

“You should’ve bought a gun in advance if you wanted to learn.”

“From the PX?”

“What?”

“N-No, please ignore that...”

Siegfried ended up blurting some Korean military nonsense, but he immediately apologized and shut up. Then, he carefully asked, “May you give me a few days, sunbae-nim? I will buy or make a gun and come back prepared for your class.”

“Time is all I have, so I’ll wait for you.”

“Thank you! I will go and buy a gun right now!”

“Huh? Now?”

“They say strike while the iron is hot. It will take a few days for it to be ready, so I will commission it right now.”

“Oh?”

“Then, I will be back,” Siegfried said and headed straight for the PX—no, the Bavarian Workshop. He already had to go to the workshop to get a new set of armor after his Quad-Turbo Set got destroyed, so he was technically not going out of his way just to get a gun commissioned.

“Oh!”

“I like his passion.”

“He’s ready to learn alright.”

“What an impressive young man.”

The Legends could not help but smile while staring at Siegfried’s departing back.

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