Chapter 67: I will Become The Strongest
I will Become The Strongest
Response to [Concerns about my girlfriend] – PureDiaryAuthor [Solar]:
The post is currently set to private. To unlock it, kindly reach out to customer support.
At this point, I believe it's time to delve into the truth of everything.
He's had his suspicions, but in the end, he's the only one left, right? So, in conclusion, let's move on from past relationships. It didn't seem to work out anyway.
Honestly… it felt like I was playing the role of a fortune teller predicting a couple's fate. I had to force out positive words, but deep down, I knew the outcome would be like this.
Even with knowledge of the future, I can't exactly celebrate the present. Not sure if you catch my drift, lol.
Honestly, it was part of my plans. Also, did you notice Kim Minsoo has two potential new girlfriends around him? They're probably at the SSS level of beauty… Not as stunning as my current girlfriend of course, but it's alright, lol.
One of them is even making excuses, proposing a "model" offer to Minsoo… and let's not forget his childhood friend…
That guy you mentioned three hours ago, Baek Taeyang? Honestly, did he really win in the sparring match against Minsoo?What in the world… a guy who used to spar in a safe space now defeats Kim Minsoo in a "real combat gate battle"?
Seriously, does that make any sense? Haha~
Honestly, Baek Taeyang's achievements seem somewhat exaggerated, in my opinion…
Perhaps Minsoo needs to clear an S-rank gate alone… sigh…
Since Kim Minsoo appears to have many doubts, I'll clue him in on the location of an S-rank gate.
Keep it on the down-low (Oh, you already spilled the beans to Kim Minsoo? Haha, no worries, you're friends after all!
The location is…
[Like 1] [Dislike 0] [Comment 0]
——————
"Gulp…"
Kim Minsoo had just wrapped up reading the extensive Q&A thread spanning twelve hours.
"Not a single false word."
I felt guilty for briefly questioning PureDiaryAuthor.
Honestly, Yoomin? I wasn't that into her.
It was just a mix of learned emotions, expressions, and the unfairness I had accumulated about the world. These things led me to cry loudly on the street, not because of some shallow love emotion.
People are dying worldwide due to gates and dungeons. Yet a hero becomes a subject of ridicule on the internet for just one ‘woman'?
"It's ridiculous."
As the saying goes, out with the old, in with the new.
After Yoomin left, Melanie and Ryu Hyemi unexpectedly started actively contacting me. The most surprising was Melanie, pretending not to care but constantly demanding replies.
"Melanie… She's cute."
After actively proposing a modeling offer, she boldly sent several texts. Is this the charm of ignoring messages? Does Baek Taeyang experience this in his daily life?
Kim Minsoo felt like he had ascended to the position of the alpha male. Despite trying to be objective several times, he couldn't help but think he was one.
Melanie is no ordinary woman. The daughter of Kaivan, the head of the leading company in hunter weapon manufacturing.
That is Melanie.
"The fact that she's chasing me like this, if I'm not the alpha male, I don't know what is."
Oops, Unconsciously, a soliloquy slipped out my mouth. PureDiaryAuthor also mentioned that it's good to minimize such thoughts.
After shaking my head a couple of times, I stood upright in front of the tree.
Five seconds to go.
"Baek Taeyang, brace yourself."
Life's probably been rolling out just the way he wanted, giving him a good taste. But now, no, it's not going to happen.
"If I solo clear this S-rank gate, everyone's eyes will be glued to me."
PureDiaryAuthor instructed to keep everything about this gate a secret. However, Kim Minsoo didn't fully trust those words.
He's probably implying me to gather fame by calling people and making a spectacle. He just couldn't say it outright.
This thought was like directly plugging into Kim Minsoo's anxiety. When he thought about solo clearing the S-rank gate and stepping out, he was stressing about having no one around.
Ping—
[Melanie]
Melanie is the daughter of a major corporation. They say her network and connections are extensive and deep.
I need to use her.
An alpha male, who chooses and consumes women only when I want it. Like Baek Taeyang.
[Melanie]
[You're cute.]
[>GPS address<]
A bold determination to use even a girl who likes him when necessary. Kim Minsoo's actions scared even himself, making his body tremble.
It can't be helped. To reach higher ground, sometimes you have to use even people's feelings.
Kim Minsoo opened his eyes wide and shifted his body towards the gate.
I will become the strongest. It's the resolute vow of a hero.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
[Guess what he messaged me? Out of the blue, he calls me cute. It's honestly perplexing. We've decided to file for compensation on our end because of this. I mean, how do you just send an address on the day you're supposed to do model photos and then disappear? And apparently, it's the location of an S-rank gate occurrence.]
"Hmm…"
Kim Minsoo, who had been cooped up at home for a while. Honestly, I was concerned about what might happen if he turned into a shut-in or didn't show up at school due to this shock.
No matter how much I act out and make a scene, Kim Minsoo is the focal point. But what if he doesn't show up?
There's a chance things won't go smoothly, no matter how the situation unfolds. So when I first heard about Minsoo entering a gate, I felt a sense of relief.
Of course, that was before finding out it was an S-rank gate…
After breezing through the previous S-rank gate, I started doubting the difficulty of such gates. So, while at home, I actively searched for articles analyzing the difficulty.
Don Quixote was indeed a unique case among concept types.
Building on the Don Quixote gate interview, various analysis articles flooded the internet. While filled with diverse opinions and subjective views, they all agreed on one thing: it's a gate that combines boss and concept types, and in terms of level, it's similar to B-rank.
With numerous windmill giants, herds of sheep, and even mages, it was said to be impossible to handle such large numbers with a small group without any casualties. Some even suggested that the gate itself might not necessarily be S-rank difficulty. It was because the reward was S-rank.
Reading those articles, I found myself nodding along.
There's no way Kim Minsoo could have cleared an S-rank gate from the early stages.
I felt the same way.
We cleared the gate so cleanly, with no tension and no significant injuries. I just secured the top contribution and received the 1st place reward. But this result was only possible because it was all for ‘Kim Minsoo.'
"So, Melanie, how far has this story progressed now? Is a team being organized?"
[It's not confirmed yet. Honestly, we're all confused right now… It has only been five minutes since he entered the gate.]
Normally, during that short time, the rescue team would be organized, and the opener would arrive on-site. In a nutshell, it would have been right to quickly request a rescue and get Kim Minsoo out. However, in Melanie's case, that couldn't happen.
[We're worried they might chew us out…]
Kaivan, who was already tarnished by the ‘Kim Minsoo's Wail' meme.
In the midst of his declining reputation, Kim Minsoo, chosen as Kaivan's corporate model, challenges an S-rank gate alone? This is a story that will get them tangled up whether they want it or not.
Kaivan leveraging Kim Minsoo to protect its image.
The moment this sentence spreads on the internet, Kaivan loses a lot. Whether it's true or not doesn't matter; the public wields a double-edged sword, believing only what suits them.
That's why Melanie aimed to handle this matter discreetly.
Seeking help from a first-class hunter would spread rumors rapidly, yet avoiding the request posed its own risks. Hence, she needed someone with the skills capable of discreet handling.
That would be me.
A student acknowledged as a hunter, securing the highest contribution in an S-rank gate. Quick to contact and trustworthy.
[It's only you, Baek Taeyang. Honestly, I know I'm asking a lot. But please… based on our investigation, the gate might not have a very high actual difficulty because it's a concept type, just like back then…]
Anguish is evident in her voice that had previously been filled with anger.
I dried my hair with a towel and stepped out of the bathroom.
This isn't a matter of doing it or not.
"I'm going, just give me the address."
I felt sorry for Soojin, but there's no other choice. At least, we've set a date for the Wonderland, so it should be fine.
"It's fine, go and come back, Taeyang." Soojin had neatly laid out my clothes on the bed. Seeing her calmly preparing my outfit as I headed to work gave me a strange feeling.
"I'll be back." I gave Soojin a brief kiss and opened the window.
"Rocinante activate! Drive safely!" As soon as I jumped out of the window, Rocinante was summoned beneath me.
Vroom, vroom—
As soon as the wheels touched the ground, it effortlessly leaped over the wall.
Minsoo, you're really not helpful at all in life.
Ironically, it's a relief. There isn't even a speck of sympathy to be felt.
Melanie should at least have the decency to be nice to Minsoo. She should treat him in a way that makes him think she likes him.
But if it keeps going like this, won't she end up hating Kim Minsoo eventually?
Ugh, why is the protagonist so much like a loser?
Sighing, I felt a sense of gloom for the upcoming love affair.