Vol 3 Chapter 53

"..."

As Jin Je-hwan's expression darkened further, Jin Seo-hwan's lips curled into a small smile.

"Well, since you showed interest in bikes and programming, this is the first time I've seen you so engrossed in something for this long. I suppose that game must be quite something."

"..."

"And yet you lost interest in our company's games as soon as you 'hacked' them."

"You're talking too much."

Jin Seo-hwan pushed up his glasses and chuckled.

"Ah, yes. I got a bit sentimental. What I really wanted to ask today was how your analysis of that game is progressing."

The moment he spoke, Jin Seo-hwan didn't miss the slight change in his brother's expression, even if it was just for an instant.

"Even if it is the first R(real)VT game, for 'you' to have jumped in personally and still not have produced any results until now. It's taking too long, unlike before. Don't you think? Father is curious too."

"..."

"To think it's like this even though we specifically asked you. Was this task impossible even for you..."

While his brother's face remained expressionless, Jin Seo-hwan focused his gaze as if reading the fragments of various complex emotions quickly passing through his sharp eyes, and slowly delivered his final words.

"It's not as if you're really engrossed in that game, I hope."

***

"...You mean you've been keeping this ring without appraising it all this time?"

Un-o's question, delivered with his usual cold expression but with strangely trembling fingertips, was met with a nod from Kapros.

"Yeah."

They were now heading north, leaving Bala Monyak behind.

After examining the map, Kapros's next destination was also to the north, and they decided on this route because Kran's quest location was somewhere in between.

On the way, they happened to learn that Un-o had a skill to appraise items, and when he offered to appraise any items that needed it, Kapros rummaged through his storage and produced the ring he had obtained from defeating the boss monster Kalap Titan before entering Zagreb. When he handed it over, the reaction that came after a moment was precisely that response.

"Hah..."

Un-o frowned briefly, let out a small sigh, and then placed the ring back in Kapros's hand.

"See for yourself. You'll regret having left this in storage all this time."

Ignoring Kran, who was saying "What is it? What's going on?" beside him, Kapros opened his mouth at Un-o's voice, which seemed to contain a subtle hint of pity.

"Check item information."

As soon as he finished speaking, a window popped up in front of his eyes.

A Ring of Storage... Depending on how it's used, it could be extremely useful.

"Hmm..."

But as Un-o had said, Kapros didn't feel the level of 'regret for leaving this in storage' yet. After finishing his assessment, he casually slipped it onto his finger. Un-o frowned and asked.

"Is 'Hmm...' all you have to say? Really?"

"What else do you need?"

As Kapros scratched the back of his head and asked, Kran, looking like he was about to die of curiosity, interjected.

"Ah, so what is it already!"

"It's a Ring of Storage. You can put anything in it! One of anything, and for consumables, there's no limit on quantity. Can you believe you got an item like this and just left it in storage without a second thought until now?"

"Ugh?!"

Surprised by Un-o's words, Kran stepped back with an expression like he was about to fall over, looking at Kapros as if he were some kind of monster. Kapros returned the gaze with a slightly deflated feeling.

"That... Isn't that what we got after defeating Kalap Titan before? That was something like this?! No, no. To think you didn't even try to appraise it out of curiosity and just buried it away. As expected, you..."

"What's the big deal."

"What's the big deal?! You high schooler! Say something. I can't speak anymore!"

Un-o stepped in for Kran, who was dumbfounded. When did these guys get so close?

"If you were to put that ring up for auction, you could easily get hundreds in real money. If it finds the right owner, it could fetch even more."

Un-o spoke coldly, almost sulkily, but Kapros still didn't feel the impact and still didn't think it was that amazing, so he just looked at the ring once more. Kran sighed and patted Kapros's back.

"Alright, alright. Anyway, the only items that would surprise this guy are probably super powerful magic books or something like that. He's still wearing the clothes he bought when he first started the game, so what more can we expect?"

"...Is that true?"

Un-o seemed surprised and stared intently at the inside of Kapros's robe as if trying to see through it. Kran sighed and concluded.

"Well... It's not like you absolutely need good items, but it's a waste not to use what you have. Kap, you probably need to pay a bit more attention."

Kran muttered, "Looking at you makes me realize that items might not be that important after all..." as he raised his hand over his eyes and looked ahead.

"Anyway, we still have a long way to go, so shall we take a short break here?"

Kran's destination this time was a village called Russil, so small it wasn't even marked on the map.

From what he had found on the MIST community he frequently visited, it was just an ordinary village in a grassland area with many novice users, nothing special. It seemed that once again, they would have to go there to find out what was what.

However, as they were looking for a place to rest, suddenly the ground shook and something popped up.

Boom!

"Tsu-tsu-tsu-tsuk!"

"It's that thing again!"

With perfect timing, a large mole-like monster called a Deberebreb, which had been hiding underground, revealed itself, wiggling its threatening hook-like feet and moving its insect-like mouth.

These creatures didn't form groups, but their shells were very hard and their body fluids emitted a foul odor, making them one of the more unpleasant monsters to deal with.

Before Kran, who was slightly irritated by the monsters that appeared occasionally when they let their guard down, could even draw his sword, Kapros felt something shoot past his face with tremendous force.