Chapter 128

He had a reason for inserting his name.

'The Wandering Martial God is extremely odd in that he's a constellation who hunts other constellations.'

JiHan recalled how the Wandering Martial God became wary of him after he unlocked the three elixir fields, even going so far as to take back his Gift and stop Nameless Divine Arts from transferring. He'd thought it was because the constellation was afraid of him for some reason, but…

'His response this time was completely different.'

If the constellation was so wary of him, he could've wiped JiHan out the moment he arrived at the Fight Star. Instead, he'd shown JiHan mercy and encouraged him to get stronger. On top of that…

'I obtained Martial Soul too easily…'

Combining the three elixir fields was a great achievement, but Martial Soul was much more valuable than the effort he'd used. Even though he'd blown away the national-level Warriors so easily, he hadn't been able to properly control its power, which just went to show how much potential it had.

Was he just that talented in martial arts?

'I'm not this good…'

Of course, he'd become Earth's strongest Warrior before his regression, but obtaining Martial Soul was incomparably more impressive than that.

All of the strange circumstances as a whole made him wonder if there was some sort of connection between him and the Wandering Martial God. That's why he tried his own name.

Then…

[Incorrect.]

[Attempts Remaining: 1/3]

[Hint: The name is related to an ancient being.]

'So that wasn't it.'

He sighed in relief when he saw that his suspicions were wrong. Since the name was related to an ancient being, it looked like the Wandering Martial God wasn't somehow another version of himself.

'Well, I'll have to modify the three Divine Techniques to upgrade it.'

He didn't have many other clues to go off of and didn't want to waste his last guess. It was better to save it in case he ever found out more and work on upgrading it the conventional way in the meantime.

'I already have an idea on how to modify the Heavenly Lightning Technique.'

Heavenly Lightning got stronger after he fused it with the Phoenix Flag's flames, so it seemed like a good idea to modify the technique by fusing it with the flames again.

'I don't have any thoughts on the other two techniques, though. I'll just start with Heavenly Lightning and work from there.'

"Uncle~ Dinner is ready!"

"Already?"

"Yes, it was so quick because Ariel helped. She's surprisingly good at cooking."

"Okay, on my way."

Hadn't she said she would just taste the food? It seemed like she'd also cooked.

JiHan finished organizing his thoughts and left the room with a lighter heart.

* * *

Four days after the test, the national representative selection committee gathered in the Administration's conference room. Since most of them were executives from the top 10 Korean guilds, they were already familiar with each other.

"Did you see all of the reporters outside?" One asked.

"Yes. It seemed like there were twice as many as last time."

"Oh, my God… They're causing all of this commotion over a single player?"

"Well, that player is none other than Sung JiHan."

"Everyone, please… Take a seat," the chairman said. "Today, I've gathered you here to discuss the national team's selection criteria."

"I can't believe we're modifying the selection criteria because of a single player…"

"Public opinion shouldn't be taken lightly. The people are wondering why we haven't made a decision over the past three days.

The rankings in the Battle Net International League weren't just for entertainment purposes—the future of a nation was tied to the ranking, which was why representative selection was usually carried out through a systematic and fair procedure.

JiHan's performance might have been insane, but procedures took time, after all. Unfortunately, the public didn't think quite the same way.

"Even my elementary school daughter was nagging me."

"Hahaha, my father called me from his nursing home and asked if we had any reason not to pick JiHan. Even when I tell him the selection will be soon, his dementia makes him forget, and he just calls again the next day."

"Haha… It must be hard."

"I wonder if any of us haven't been asked a similar question by now."

After everyone saw JiHan's performance, even those who initially thought there was no way a Gold could be chosen as a member of the national team seemed to have changed their opinion.

There was a match scheduled against Russia in a week, so the thought that he should be deployed immediately was especially fierce.

"I propose we revise Korea's national representative selection criteria and change it from Diamond to Gold or higher. Is there anyone who opposes?"

Since they knew how strong JiHan was, anyone who opposed his selection would be treated like a national traitor. Of course, no one dared to do so.

"If everyone agrees, then let it be so."

Bang- Bang-

The chairman passed the motion immediately.

"The next item on the agenda is in regards to changing the international team roster."

"Are we going to switch player Gu Jiho with Sung JiHan?"

"Yes, that's correct. The plan is to replace Jiho, the lowest-ranked Warrior on the team, with JiHan. Does anyone oppose?"

"That seems to be the fairest solution."

"No objections."

"This is the first time a meeting has ended so quickly."

"Well, our losing streak has to be broken, right?"

"Hmm… Will he be able to get us out of our loss streak?"

"Didn't you see yesterday's stream? He was fighting against Hojo with his bare hands. Considering how rapidly he's growing, I think we can have some expectations."

"Do you watch his streams as well?"

"These days, it's hard to maintain a conversation with my sons if I don't watch."

After the test, JiHan's channel grew again and surpassed five million subscribers.

Korea had less than 10 players in total with more than five million subscribers, so JiHan being able to reach that record as a Gold was remarkable.

"We'll notify JiHan that he's been selected for the national team and ask him to join the training at the Battle Net Center."

"It'll be necessary if he's going to participate in the match against Russia."

"Hmm… Will the others be able to work with him smoothly after how he humiliated them in the test?" One person asked.

"They're professionals, not children. What could happen? Don't worry. The team's Warriors will probably be happy that someone as strong as JiHan is joining."

"Right. I'm sure they're also tired of defeat."

The others dismissed it as if there was no way something like that would happen.

"Let's proceed with the press conference and finish today's agenda."

"Understood."

Thus, the meeting ended and the news was passed to JiHan through Manager Park Yoon-sik.

[The Committee has changed the selection rules! Gold players are now eligible!]

[Sung JiHan has been chosen as a Battle Net National Representative! He's eligible to compete in the next League match against Russia!]

"Uncle! Congratulations on being selected!" Sae-ah entered the room to congratulate him after seeing the breaking news, only to find him on the phone with a tense expression on his face.

"Do I really need to participate in the training camp…?" He asked.

[Yes… The map we'll be on against Russia is an invasion map, so teamwork will be necessary.]

"It's just that I'm hesitant to leave my niece alone."

[Ah! If that's the concern, then don't worry. Family members can also come to the Battle Net Center. The facilities are better than a 5-star hotel's, and each player is provided with their own suite.]

"Okay. When do I have to be there?"

[The camp starts in three days. I'll come to escort you.]

"Alright, see you then."

Having heard the conversation, Sae-ah waved her palm from side to side in a gesture of refusal.

"Uncle, I'm not a child anymore…" she said. "It's okay. You don't need to take me to the Battle Net Center."

"Something might happen."

"There's no way anything would happen~! The girl who wanted Late Bloomer died, right?"

'At this point, he's being too overprotective,' she thought.

"Besides, I've heard of all sorts of things happening at the Battle Net Center! That's where all of the scandalous rumors about the team's players seem to start. Wouldn't you be disappointed if you couldn't participate because you took me along?"

"It's not like I'm going there to play around."

"I heard they have a ton of free time after training sessions and have parties every night," she said.

JiHan looked at her in disbelief. 'I can't believe they have such a lack of discipline when they're in last place.'

Even if it was the Tutorial Season, how much of a mess was the training if the parties were widely known about to the public? He started to doubt if the training camp even helped.

"Anyway! I'm fine, really! So have fun at the camp!"

"What if a crazy person breaks in?"

"There's no way someone could get up here! They won't be able to take even the elevator!" Sae-ah didn't seem willing to go to the Battle Net Center.

'Well, I'm pretty sure she'll be fine.'

With Xin YouHua gone, there was no one left to threaten her, but he still wanted a backup plan just in case.

"Where's Ariel?" He asked.

"She's watching the TV on the sofa."

"She's living the good life."

He went to the living room and saw Ariel slumped on the sofa.

[Master…]

"Ariel, how far away can you be from me?"

[Hmm… I can't go too far in this form, but it's easier in my smaller form.]

"Okay. Stay here in your smaller form while I'm gone at the training camp."

The Battle Net Center was also located in Gangnam, so it wasn't that far from the Sword Palace. Having Ariel stay would be reassuring.

"Uncle… Isn't Ariel your black sword?"

"I don't need her during practice."

[Master, how rude. To think you'd say you don't need me.] Despite what the dark elf said, she continued to relax and watch TV.

Crunch-

She moved a shadow to pick up potato chips on the table in front of her and was enjoying paradise.

[I'll obey my master's command and protect Sae-ah with my life!]

"Uncle… She doesn't seem very helpful."

"She might look like that, but she can be very useful," JiHan said. Though it would be best if Sae-ah never encountered a situation Ariel was needed in.

JiHan gestured to Ariel. "Let's go play a Battle Net game."

[Ah, I wanted to watch this program…]

"Watch the rerun."

[But I've already opened my snacks…]

"Just get more when we come back."

[You're too inconsiderate to everyone but your niece…]

Swoosh-

Ariel turned into smoke and entered JiHan's arm.

"Today isn't the day when we play together, right?" He asked Sae-ah.

"Right." She had agreed to enter games with him twice a week, and they'd already completed that for the week.

"Alright. I'll be back soon."

With that, JiHan entered Battle Net.

[The mission is 'survival'.]

[You've been summoned to 'Experimental Zone'.]

It was the new map he'd unlocked upon reaching level 75.