The Martial God who Regressed Back to Level 2 Novel

Chapter 134

Click! Click!

At the entrance of the Battle.net Center, journalists were already gathered like clouds.

Every time the national team players arrived, they continuously popped flashes and pressed the shutter button without a break, while quietly expressing their dissatisfaction.

"Ugh... It's another disappointment."

"When is that person coming?"

There was someone who the journalists were eagerly waiting for.

"Ha... What's with the disappointment?"

"Oh, no..."

Even though they spoke quietly, it was a voice that national team-level players could hear.

The national team players passed by, glancing at the journalists' complaints as if they were absurd.

Just as the person who received the flash baptism was about to lose their temper.

A large limousine belonging to the management agency arrived at the entrance of the center and parked.

And when Sung JiHan got out of it, a cry spread among the journalists as if announcing an attack.

"It's Sung JiHan!"

In response, the journalists eagerly raised their cameras.

Click! Click! Click! Click!

The sound of flashes was noticeably different from before.

"Huh? Someone else is getting out too!"

And the person who got out of the large limousine was not just Sung JiHan.

Along with Sung JiHan, Yoon SeA, Ariel, and Akari appeared one after another.

"Is that person Akari?"

"They even brought their summons."

"They brought Yoon SeA too. Is it because of what happened yesterday?"

The journalists who were waiting in advance quickly rushed over and thrust their microphones.

"Sung JiHan! Please say a few words about the upcoming match against Russia!"

"I heard there was an attack yesterday! Since then..."

"The government announced that they cannot overlook this incident. What are your thoughts on this?"

Sung JiHan was instantly surrounded by journalists, even if it was for a moment.

When his expression slightly frowned, the journalists' expressions also stiffened.

'He won't be stubborn today, right...?'

'It's the first day as a national team player. He should at least be a little considerate, right?'

The journalists knew that Sung JiHan had used the power of force several times, but as the day approached, they thought that Sung JiHan would sincerely respond to the interview.

However.

Sung JiHan was not like that.

He raised his hand slightly and said.

"Oh. I'm sensitive to crowds because of what happened yesterday. Excuse me."

"Huh...?!"

The mouths and feet of the approaching journalists were tied together.

Swoosh-

The bodies of some journalists who had approached closely floated up and were pushed back.

A situation where the perfect social distancing was achieved.

The path in front of Sung JiHan, blocked by journalists, opened up clearly.

"I will give you more details at the interview venue later."

Just as the commotion seemed to be over.

There was an unexpected complication.

"Mr. Gato! Are all the things you said yesterday true? Ito's side strongly opposes, claiming that he is being falsely accused of murder!"

"Furthermore, the home country has requested the extradition of the heinous criminal who committed a continuous murder to the Korean government! What are your thoughts on this?"

A Japanese broadcaster who had approached Akari, who was following Sung JiHan, asked her a question in Japanese.

The biggest topic that emerged in Japan was Akari's explosive revelation, so from the perspective of Japanese journalists, Akari was the scoop, not Sung JiHan.

Akari glared at the Japanese journalist in response to his words.

"What? Are you trying to accuse me of killing my parents?"

"If it wasn't you, then who else could have killed them?" Ito's defense attorney argued.

"That kind of innuendo..."

"Just a moment, don't engage."

Sung JiHan intervened to stop Akari, who was about to say something malicious.

In the end, she could only turn her back to the reporters, seething with anger.

* * *

Inside the BattleNet Center, the interior was so splendid that it outshone even the finest hotels.

"Sung JiHan, this way please."

Manager Park Yoon-sik, who had been waiting in advance, guided Sung JiHan and his party to the top floor of the center.

"As you requested yesterday, I have reserved three adjacent rooms for you."

"We're getting separate rooms? Shouldn't I be sharing a room with my uncle? They should be next to each other."

Yoon Sae-ah, perhaps still shocked by the events of yesterday, tried to fulfill her promise to stick close to Sung JiHan like a magnet.

"As long as the rooms are next to each other, it should be enough to keep an eye on each other."

"Really? Yesterday, it was the same location..."

"As long as it's not as far as the top floor and the basement like yesterday, we can provide cover."

Having reassured Yoon Sae-ah, Sung JiHan then looked at Ariel.

"For the time being, you'll have to share a room with Akari."

"With her? Is it because of surveillance?"

"Because we still can't completely trust her."

"Understood."

As soon as Ariel interpreted Sung JiHan's words, Akari nodded as if she understood.

Park Yoon-sik, who had been observing their conversation, cautiously spoke up.

"The BattleNet department of the National Intelligence Service has requested to speak with Akari. May I proceed?"

"The National Intelligence Service?"

After North Korea collapsed into a dungeon, the National Intelligence Service changed its focus to BattleNet-related matters.

After the Demon King unexpectedly left for Japan, the National Intelligence Service, which had been collecting information related to it, took notice when an internal whistleblower named Akari appeared.

"Yes. For the sake of the public opinion war with Japan, they need to cross-check the information held by the National Intelligence Service."

[...!]

Upon hearing Ariel's interpretation, Akari's eyes flashed with anger.

"Akari, will you cooperate?"

"I will. I'll do anything if it means causing harm to Shizuru."

Perhaps due to the conversation with the Japanese journalist earlier, her resentment had deepened even further.

"I'll kill her..."

Taking away her own body.

And with that body, the enemy who killed her parents by using Akari's resistance.

Her voice overflowed with determination.

"You seem to have a lot of plans."

"...Understood. I will relay that to them."

Is she really a Diamond-class assassin?

Her determination is no joke.

Park Yoon-sik wiped away his cold sweat and quickly nodded.

* * *

2nd floor of the BattleNet Center, the National Team's strategy conference room.

There, the top 100 players in South Korea had gathered.

"The map we will be training on today is 'Southgate,' which has been decided for the 1st and 2nd rounds."

Southgate.

A map where battles are fought to defend the southern gate of the fortress.

One round is for defense.

One of the maps involved in the national team battle was a map where the Invades attack the fortress twice in total.

It is the most basic game used in national team battles.

"A simple map that suits the tutorial."

This was Sung JiHan's conclusion after hearing Director No Youngjun's explanation on the stage.

The gates of the South Gate map are already open in the game.

The warriors block it, forming a formation.

Archers and wizards suppress the enemies from the fortress.

Supporters heal or debuff the enemies from behind.

This was the basic gameplay of the South Gate map.

"...As everyone knows, the Warrior's Camp is the most important on this map. The points can vary greatly depending on how long you can block the open South Gate."

The Warrior's Camp serves as the fortress gate.

Whether they can hold on or not determines the outcome of the South Gate map.

If the Warrior's Camp collapses and the enemies step inside the gate...

It would result in an irreparable loss of a tremendous amount of points.

"Because of the nature of this map, there are many pessimistic predictions in the world that we will lose in this national team match."

The Korean national team's Warrior's Camp, classified as the weakest in Northeast Asia.

On the other hand, Russia may not be as strong as Japan, which joined the Northeast Asia League with the Sword King.

But they had powerful warriors similar to China.

With such a difference in warrior levels, even the first and second maps were focused on the most important warrior map.

Both the public's predictions and the bookmakers' odds overwhelmingly favored Russia.

"But this time, I believe our players will break through these negative expectations. Especially! We have a reliable player joining our national team."

While saying that, Director No Youngjun gestured for Sung JiHan to stand up.

"I am Sung JiHan. Please take care of me from now on."

Sung JiHan stood up, briefly greeted, and sat back down.

In front of the senior national team members, his attitude was quite stiff and arrogant.

Clap clap clap!

The other national team players paid no attention to it and welcomed him with applause.

Whooosh!

Especially the players in positions other than warriors enthusiastically welcomed Sung JiHan, even whistling.

"You finally came!"

"I... I will survive now."

Because the Warrior's Camp was so weak that it could be called an automatic door.

But if Sung JiHan, who is currently receiving attention from the world, joins, there will be a clear change.

"Today, we will focus on coordinating the teamwork of the Warrior's Camp."

"Yes!"

And so, the practice began.

"Player Sung JiHan!"

The leader of the warrior team, Kim Dongwoo, approached Sung JiHan with a friendly smile.

"I owe you a lot from last time."

"Owe me? You all got knocked out with one punch. Hehe."

"Hey, keep it down. Do you want to bring up that dark history?"

"Hyung said he owed me first."

During the national team selection test, the Warrior's Camp was completely defeated by Sung JiHan with a single punch.

Perhaps because they were overwhelmingly defeated at that time, they treated Sung JiHan more favorably than expected.

"Anyway, now that we're on the same team, let's practice hard and synchronize."

"Yes, understood."

"Haha. Now that we're on the same team, let's get along comfortably. By the way, how old are you...?"

"I'm 27."

"Ah, I'm 30. Can I speak casually then?"

Sung JiHan looked at Kim Dongwoo silently.

He's a charismatic person.

"There's no need to live pretending."

As they were both part of the national team, they would have many opportunities to work together.

Wouldn't it be nice if they got along well?

Sung JiHan nodded approvingly.

"Please do."

"Oh. Oh... really? Ah, really?"

"Hyung! I'm Yi YoonKi. Please feel free to call me too!"

When Sung JiHan easily accepted it, Yi YoonKi, who was standing next to him, also started calling him hyung.

Director No YoungJun watched from a distance and let out a relieved sigh.

"DongWoo did well in that regard. There shouldn't be any trouble."

He was worried about what would happen if Warrior Jin showed emotional reactions and broke the synergy.

Fortunately, Kim DongWoo welcomed him and Sung JiHan responded well, so it seemed that such a situation would not occur.

"As long as there is synergy in Warrior Jin."

Director No YoungJun thought so and entered the game.

The South Gate map where up to 30 warriors could be selected.

He replaced the lowest-ranked player with Sung JiHan among the existing elite members for now.

However, the game encountered difficulties from the beginning.

"No shield?"

"Yes. I've never tried it while playing the game."

"Ah. To form a shield formation, a shield is essential..."

Kim DongWoo scratched his cheek as if he was in a difficult situation.

The open South Gate.

To defend this place, it was most ideal for the warriors to form a special formation recognized in the game called "Gwigapjin."

Warriors forming a wall-like role, holding shields and gathering together.

To form this, a shield was the most basic requirement.

"Well... in Hyung's broadcast, I only saw him using a sword and a spear."

"Well, then, do you want to use this shield for now? Since the efficiency of Gwigapjin is what the coach wants to see anyway."

Kim DongWoo took out an unused shield from his inventory.

A high-performance, large kite shield.

Sung JiHan looked at it silently.

"To fully demonstrate my abilities, I shouldn't be tied to the defense line."

Unlike the warriors who were forming Gwigapjin now, exceptional individuals like the Sword King were given a more free role.

Even in his previous life, Sung JiHan had shown great performance as the best in American First in that free position.

Even now, with his acquired skills, he believed he had the qualifications.

"Thank you."

For now, it was more important to integrate into the team.

The free position would be recognized and accepted if he showed his skills.

He willingly accepted the kite shield.

Although he had only used a shield until his previous life, it was not familiar to him.

"Is it okay if I stand here?"

"Uh, uh, yeah. Come here. Yes, block this area..."

He formed a formation with 30 warriors.

When Sung JiHan, who was holding a shield for the first time, clumsily took his position.

"I wonder if it would be better not to send Sung JiHan in the first and second rounds..."

Director No YoungJun initially thought so.

Boooooom...!

Once the Gwigapjin was activated.

"Uh... this is..."

He couldn't hide his surprise as he opened his mouth wide.