Ranker’s Return

Yeongchan’s parents naturally lived in his home. Hyeonu simply greeted Yeongchan’s parents and explained why he was here today. After hearing all the facts, Yeongchan’s parents looked at Hyeonu with a satisfied smile.

“Hyeonu, it was hard on you today.”

“No, Mother. What was hard? I was able to go on a date with such a pretty dongsaeng.”

Despite Hyeonu’s sincere words, Yeongchan’s parents shook their heads. It was because his words seemed too flattering.

“She is pretty, but... her personality is a bit stubborn. She is over 20 years old, but she doesn’t have a boyfriend yet.”

“My friends say they’ve seen their daughters going out with their boyfriends several times. Meanwhile, my family...”

Yeongchan’s parents sighed simultaneously. Yuri was too much. She either hid too well, or she didn’t date at all. They had never seen or heard of her having a boyfriend. As her parents, they were naturally worried.

“I don’t think you should be worried. Yuri is a really smart kid. She’ll do well on her own,” Hyeonu said.

“I really hope so...”

While listening to the conversation between the three people, Yuri had a stunned expression. Her face burned with embarrassment because her parents brought up this topic in Hyeonu’s presence.

‘Why are they saying this in front of Hyeonu oppa?’

Now she even felt resentment toward them. Then that feeling disappeared when she heard her father’s next words. Yeongchan’s parents spoke playfully like they were joking.

“If a man like you loved Yuri, I will give her to you right away,” Yuri’s father said.

“You are handsome, kind, and capable. On top of that...” Yuri’s mother glanced at Yuri.

Meanwhile, Hyeonu gave a completely different answer as if he didn’t understand or was pretending not to understand: “Yuri? I wish I had a dongsaeng like Yuri. If I had such a pretty little sister, I would be able to stick out my shoulders proudly in front of my friends.” 

Then a moment later, Hyeonu left Yeongchan’s house to return home.

***

Back home, Hyeonu quickly took out his ringing smartphone. The name ‘Gang Junggu’ was written on the LCD screen of the smartphone.

“Yes, Junggu hyung-nim. What is going on?” Hyeonu quickly answered the call.

-Hyeonu, do you have anything planned for before or after Christmas? Gang Junggu immediately inquired about Hyeonu’s schedule rather than giving a greeting.

“Christmas...?” Hyeonu stretched out the ending sound for a while. In the meantime, he searched through his memories.

‘There’s nothing?’

“I have no appointments, Hyung-nim. Why are you asking?”

-Really? That’s great. We should have a party, a party. A Christmas Eve and Christmas party. Don’t you know there should be parties on holidays?

Hyeonu was speechless by Gang Junggu’s sudden remarks.

-Why? Are you so moved that you can’t speak? Is there no one else like Hyung?

Gang Junggu kept saying what he wanted to say while Hyeonu was unable to speak.

“I understand. In fact, this is good. We can’t just play games all day though, even if we are professional gamers...”

-Yes, you thought well. Pro gamers are also people. You should enjoy yourselves so you can focus more on work. 

Gang Junggu spoke playfully, but the meaning of his words was not light. It contained what he had felt throughout his decades of life. He wanted to teach it to Hyeonu, his dear younger brother.

-I’ll say it once again. Life is short, Hyeonu. You just have to blink, and you’ll already be 30 or 40 years old. Arena is good. Work is good. Everything is good. Take care of your surroundings. No, take care of yourself first.

***

“What is wrong with her?”

“I don’t know. She doesn’t look particularly happy today?”

“Did something happen to upset her?”

The players of the New York Warriors muttered at Reina who was wielding her sword with a bloodthirsty air. They didn’t think there was any reason for Reina to feel upset. Rather, good things had been happening to her recently. As the winner of the Winter League, the New York Warriors had won a direct ticket to Arena Week. Nevertheless, Reina didn’t seem like she was in a good mood.

“We won the Winter League, so what’s the problem? She should be smiling like a fool, but she isn’t.”

Mascherano pouted as he complained to the New York Warriors players with a dissatisfied expression, “Shouldn’t I be the one making that face? Yet I’m smiling like this. What’s wrong with the first place?”

“Yes. Still, I’m certain she felt good until yesterday?”

“The party ended well yesterday.”

At Mascherano’s complaint, the New York Warriors also said they didn’t know the reason. In the meantime, Reina ended the battle and came back. “Why are you here? Mascherano.”

She looked at Mascherano, who stood among her team’s players, and shook her head.

“Why shouldn’t I come to this place?” Mascherano replied.

Despite Reina’s cold expression, Mascherano’s seemingly upset expression changed into a genuine smile as he said, “Don’t be so hard on me, Reina. It isn’t only a day or two that you’ve hung out with me and Red Bull America. Aren’t you being too harsh today?”

“Right, I think you’re a bit sensitive today.” The New York Warriors sided with Mascherano. In the first place, the New York Warriors and Red Bull America were very friendly. They competed with each other during the league, but at the end of the league, they were just close friends.

“Yes, don’t do this. Anyway, the league is over. Now we are colleagues until Arena Week.”

In particular, they now shared the big goal of Arena Week. Of course, it would be one team that won Arena Week, but it wasn’t that simple. Arena Week was a national fight that went beyond teams. Which nation had better players? Which league would the winning team come from? Which country’s teams would perform better? In short, Arena Week was like the World Cup. It involved a range of participants, ranging from small teams to big countries, as well as the matter of shared honor.

Since all her teammates said so, Reina reflected on herself. ‘Am I being too sensitive?’

“I’m sorry if I was being oversensitive,” she apologized to Mascherano.

“I’m fine. By the way, what is really going on? Aren’t you really weird today?” Mascherano asked.

“Nothing happened? It is just the same as usual. Rather, I feel better.”

No matter how Reina thought about it, she wasn’t actually in a bad mood. She’d won the league title she had longed for and made it straight to Arena Week. In particular, she won the title of MVP of the winter league, so her days were happier than ever.

‘Yet I look like I’m in a bad mood?’

Amidst Reina’s confusion, a group clothed in white approached from one side of the plains.

“You were here? I was looking for you.” Kim Seokjung was at the forefront of the group. He walked over while waving happily. Naturally, the white-clothed group with him was New World.

“Jin Sijong?”

“New World?”

“You were looking for us?”

The New York Warriors looked surprised at the appearance of the New World players. This was unexpected. At present, the field of the demon world was very narrow, but it wasn’t narrow enough for this type of chance encounter. It was because there were actually countless demonic creatures in this narrow field.

“To be precise, I am looking for those two. I have something I want to ask them.” Gang Junggu was the one who opened his mouth, instead of Kim Seokjung who was shaking hands with Mascherano. The two people Gang Junggu pointed at were Reina and Mascherano.

“Me?”

“You have something you want to ask me?”

The expressions of Reina and Mascherano changed.

A question...

They thought about what Gang Junggu wanted to ask the two of them. They could think of things he might ask them separately, but they didn’t know what he would want to ask them both at the same time.

“Yes. Are you busy these days?” Gang Junggu asked.

“My schedule is a bit relaxed after the league... I just have a few commercials and broadcast appearances,” Mascherano eagerly answered Gang Junggu’s question despite feeling confused.

“I am similar except I’m a bit busier...” Reina’s schedule was similar to Mascherano’s. However, she had a much fuller schedule since she was the winner and MVP of the Winter League, rather than the runner-up.

“Then it won’t work,” Gang Junggu said. Hearing that, they felt their curiosity amplify. 

“What do you mean by it won’t work...”

Gang Junggu waved his hand and replied, “Ah, I was going to call my acquaintances for a simple party on Christmas Eve... The two of you are so busy that I’d be sorry to invite you. It might be a burden...”

There was no point in inviting people who wouldn’t come anyway. He didn’t want to place an extra burden on them.

“On that day, I should also call the woman who was on a blind date with Hyeonu. I am lacking people,” Gang Junggu said to himself in a manner that everyone could hear.

“No, I can go. Please invite me.” Reina changed her words in an instant. Contrary to her words about being busy, Reina suddenly said she could go to the party. She explained, “I have only a schedule for this week. I was going to rest on Christmas Eve. I need a break so I can show a better appearance at Arena Week.”

Gang Junggu nodded and put forward a proposal to Reina: “Ah, is that so? So would you like to come to South Korea? Accommodation and transportation will be provided.”

There were two sponsors for this party—Mason and Kim Seokjung. The party venue was a five-star hotel, which would be provided by Mason. Meanwhile, Kim Seokjung would be responsible for organizing the transport and the party itself.

“Then I will go as well. You just have to decide the date. Please invite me.” Mascherano’s attitude also changed rapidly when he heard Gang Junggu say they didn’t need to come.

He now clung to Gang Junggu like he was going to kneel down.

“I understand. Both of you are coming then. I will send the plane ticket to your accommodations,” Gang Junggu said. The New World Guild disappeared after these words. They had to hunt as well.

“Didn’t you say you had an advertisement shoot that day? Is it okay...?”

“I think you said you had a shoot on Christmas Eve as well...”

The moment New World disappeared, the New York Warriors ran and surrounded Reina. No one could say anything upon hearing the words that flowed out of her mouth: “I want to take a break.”

They all knew how hard Reina had struggled. In particular, it was safe to say that this Winter League had been Reina’s one-man show.

“I can just cancel the shoot. Thank you for all of your concern,” Reina said with a bright smile.

‘A party in South Korea...’

She felt it was interesting just thinking about it.

“I wish I’ll be able to drink a lot.”