Reincarnator’s Stream

No matter how much they had gathered in the city for the same tournament, running into him in such a small shop was quite the twist. Moreover, that Omar Schneider was helping him.

‘Well, that’s that.’

While the situation was intriguing, it wasn’t the most important thing at the moment.

“Hey, mister.”

“M-Mister?”

Groloc was momentarily taken aback by Suhyuk’s sudden change in demeanor.

“I’ll hear the price one more time. If I’m not satisfied, I’ll go elsewhere. If I am, we’ll close the deal here.”

Thud-.

Suhyuk pretended to pack up the Sky Serpent’s scales as if ready to walk out anytime.

“Think carefully and make a good offer. Let’s make this mutually beneficial.”

*

After much deliberation, Groloc offered a price of 18,000 points. It was 7,000 points higher than his original buying price. Selling it again might yield some profit, but probably not a substantial amount.

‘Sweet deal.’

In addition, Suhyuk also sold various other monster parts. In total, he managed to gather 20,000 points. With the settlement money added, he had earned 69,789 points in total.

『Current Points: 76,329』

Upon checking his accumulated points, two thoughts came to mind. One was the expectation that he could reach his target points sooner than he thought. The other was the regret that he was just 4,000 points short of leveling up his skill.

‘I can’t exactly borrow money from anyone.’

Borrowing points was akin to drugs. Eventually, borrowed points would have to be repaid. It was best not to start such a vicious cycle.

‘Do I really have to wait for the next stream?’

As Suhyuk smacked his lips in frustration.

“You’re Lee Suhyuk, aren’t you?”

Schneider’s sudden question. Clearly, he had approached him with prior knowledge. Of course, it would be hard not to know.

Regardless of how many streamers used masks for cosplay, not many would be wearing a mask at this exact time, in this exact place.

“Have you been following me?”

“No. It’s not that. You just stood out too much. Seeing the state of the Sky Serpent’s scales confirmed it.”

At those words, Suhyuk fiddled with the mask covering his face.

‘Should I start going without it?’

Reflecting on it, in his previous life, he often went without the mask when alone. After all, no one besides his comrades knew what his face looked like under the mask.

“You hunted that Sky Serpent?”

“I didn’t steal it.”

“It was in excellent condition…”

Schneider stroked his chin in astonishment. The Sky Serpent. A final boss-level creature that one could encounter on the third floor if lucky.

Hunting the Sky Serpent with a team of fewer than ten was considered a sign that the team had the skills to graduate from the third-floor section.

And yet, to hunt such a Sky Serpent, and in such prime condition?

“Would you like to have a cup of tea?”

Checking the time, Suhyuk nodded at Schneider’s suggestion. It just so happened that Suhyuk also had business with him.

***

A corner seat in a bustling café. Schneider ordered a parfait piled high with cream. Despite his appearance suggesting he’d prefer a bitter espresso without sugar, he actually had a sweet tooth.

“I hadn’t thought of this, but you can’t drink tea with that mask on-.”

Click-.

Before he could finish, the mouth part of Suhyuk’s mask opened. Schneider chuckled awkwardly.

“It’s more advanced than I thought.”

“This isn’t the first time.”

After wetting his throat with some coffee, Suhyuk asked.

“So why did you ask me here? The tournament is right around the corner.”

“There are still three hours left. Besides, I’ve also been quite interested in you.”

“Your interest is a bit overwhelming… but given everything earlier, I suppose it’s okay.”

Suhyuk had received help from Schneider, which allowed him to get a better price for the Sky Serpent scales. Anyone who helped him make money was likable in his book.

“You’re planning to tackle the Thunder Cave, right?”

The sudden question caught Suhyuk off guard, lighting a spark in his previously disinterested eyes.

Thunder Cave.

It was true; he did plan on tackling that dungeon, which hadn’t been solved in over 20 years. And if anyone knew about the place, it was Schneider sitting in front of him.

It was a topic he couldn’t help but be interested in.

“That’s right.”

“Initially, I thought you were arrogant.”

Schneider recalled when he first heard about Suhyuk.

“Think about it. A guy who just reached the third floor, declaring he would conquer the Thunder Cave. It sounded arrogant.”

“Are you saying this because you’ve changed your mind?”

“You’re perceptive. That’s half right.”

Clink-.

Suddenly, Schneider put down the spoon he was using to eat his parfait.

“Half wrong.”

“So your opinion hasn’t completely changed.”

Schneider nodded.

“I heard you had acquired Lightning. I was surprised. That’s why most people go to the Thunder Cave.”

“Most people?”

“Our guild, I mean. They’re all obsessed with obtaining Lightning.”

That implied lightning wasn’t Schneider’s goal.

“Anyway, you have talent. A lot of it. To the point where people compare you to the original Lee Suhyuk.”

Since his collaboration with Falcon Eye, Suhyuk’s comparison point had always been himself. The same trials, the same scores, even their names and the symbolic lightning were identical.

Comparisons were inevitable at this point.

But.

“Even so, I can only half-acknowledge you.”

Suhyuk looked straight into Schneider’s eyes. What he saw there wasn’t simple envy or jealousy, nor a narrow-minded grudge.

What he saw was the dedication and pride of a man who had lived his life focused on one thing. And it was obvious what that thing was.

‘He’s sincere.’

He liked it. Even that dedication and pride. Most importantly, seeing that Schneider had no interest in lightning implied his connection to Blue Zone wasn’t deep.

Suhyuk leaned back into his chair and got to the heart of the conversation.

“So? Is this why you called me?”

“No.”

Schneider also realized it was time to put a conclusion to their conversation.

“I want to make a bet.”

“A bet?”

“But first, is there anything you want from me?”

Suhyuk grinned. As expected, Schneider knew precisely what he desired.

“There is.”

“Speak up.”

“Everything you know about the Thunder Cave. I want you to share it with me.”

Omar Schneider.

He was the specialist in conquering the Thunder Cave. No one in this tower knew more about it than he did. No matter how much information could be gathered through communities or articles, it couldn’t compare to what Schneider knew.

“I figured as much.”

“And what do you want?”

He definitely wanted something from him. The reason he bothered to arrange this meeting and asked what Suhyuk wanted first—it was all for that.

Sure enough.

“Apologize.”

“To you?”

“No.”

Schneider shook his head.

“To everyone watching your stream. No, to everyone who knows about the Thunder Cave.”

He clearly had something he desired.

Grit-.

“Go live and state that your soloing declaration for the Thunder Cave was an arrogant mistake due to your ignorance. Admit you can’t do it.”

His gums ground together.

“Apologize.”

He was talking about his pride and belief.

‘He feels disrespected, doesn’t he?’

Suhyuk’s statements on his stream had undoubtedly pierced through and wounded him deeply. The years Schneider had dedicated to attempting to conquer the Thunder Cave had been dismissed in an instant by Suhyuk’s declaration.

Schneider’s proposal was to rectify that. To glue back together the pride that had been torn apart by Suhyuk’s stream. He wanted Suhyuk to apologize on his stream.

“The bet is obviously the tournament’s outcome, right?”

“Yes.”

“That’s an offer I can’t refuse.”

Schneider laughed at Suhyuk’s confidence.

“You’re accepting the proposal rather easily.”

“Because I’ll win.”

“Hmm. Perhaps that will be the case eventually, in nine out of ten scenarios.”

Schneider stood up, seemingly concluding that the conversation was nearly over.

“But at least for now, that’s not the case.”

Power surged in his blue eyes, barely contained. After glaring at Suhyuk for a moment, Schneider turned around and left the café. As if signaling the end of their discussion.

‘Indeed. He’s well beyond the third-floor level.’

From the brief display, Suhyuk could roughly gauge the extent of Schneider’s prowess. Most players fall into one of two categories: those who overcome the trials and rise, or those who hit a wall and give up.

But Schneider was neither. His dedication to conquering the unrealistically difficult Thunder Cave had made him an extraordinary existence, with levels and stats unattainable for most third-floor players.

‘Ten years. They weren’t wasted.’

It was clear. Schneider had achieved more on the third floor than Suhyuk had in his past life.

***

Outside the café, Schneider’s companions were waiting.

“Did you meet him?”

Don Zhao approached Schneider, wearing a grim expression. He didn’t need to ask what the conversation was about; it was likely centered on the Thunder Cave.

“Yes.”

“How did it go?”

“Not easy.”

Relaxing his tense expression, Schneider sighed. Seeing this, Don Zhao smacked his lips.

“It would be nice if we could get an easy apology.”

“Not so sure about that.”

“What do you mean, not sure? Easy is always good.”

“If it were easy, then that would mean an insignificant guy disrespected the Thunder Cave. That would be even more annoying.”

“Really…?”

Don Zhao scratched his head. Their team leader certainly had a different way of thinking from others, especially when it came to matters related to the Thunder Cave.

“But honestly…”

“Honestly what?”

“Meeting him has sort of calmed me a bit. At least it doesn’t seem like a half-baked guy who happened to get lightning is acting up.”

He wasn’t just making that up. In fact, Schneider’s face appeared much more at ease than it had been before entering the café.

“His skills must be considerable.”

“He’s no rookie. That much is certain.”

“Do you think you might lose?”

Don Zhao’s subtle provocation.

“Meeting him made me even more sure.”

With a faint smile, Schneider shook his head.

“I won’t lose. Absolutely not.”

With that confidence, Don Zhao refrained from asking further about the encounter with Lee Suhyuk. Although it was a chance meeting, it helped Schneider regain his composure. That alone made the meeting worthwhile.

As the warm atmosphere lingered, there was one thing neither Schneider nor Don Zhao were aware of. Someone was quietly trailing them.

“Is that him? Schneider or Shenaider or whatever stupid name he uses.”