Chapter 27

What?

Why on earth would Yu Jia follow her profile……?

The two of them had only crossed paths a single time and exchanged basic pleasantries…… or at least, that was her initial bewildered thought.

Ah, she remembered now—she had initiated the follow first.

It had slipped her mind completely.

Yu Jia was a massive digital celebrity boasting an incredible online presence, so Ajin had simply clicked the follow button out of pure admiration as a fan. However, looking at it from the perspective of Yubaek’s chief executive, it was perfectly logical that she would accept a connection from a close relative of one of her contracted players.

After all, she was the younger sibling of Baek Jinwoo.

“Ahaha, that’s right.”

Finding herself entirely at a loss for words in front of her peers, Baek Ajin sheepishly rubbed the back of her neck.

“That’s right……?”

“Hold on! You can’t just brush off a massive deal like this with a casual ‘that’s right’!”

“How on earth do you know her? Are the two of you actually close?”

“Have you lost your mind? Why did you keep something this huge a secret from us!”

While Ajin was already accustomed to being the center of attention, the sheer intensity of her companions’ reactions on this particular day was utterly unprecedented.

Her chest swelled with a sense of pride, yet she simultaneously felt a wave of anxiety creeping in.

She had given her word to her brother. Every single time they spoke, he drilled the exact same request into her.

Please refrain from spreading word about him to others.

He really meant it.

Honestly, if he didn’t want her boasting about him, he should have settled for being just moderately well-known.

She eventually played it down to her circle, claiming she had merely run into Yu Jia on one occasion by chance and the influential woman had simply taken a liking to her character.

Naturally, not a single one of her friends believed the story, but there wasn’t much else she could say. It was the absolute truth.

And then, out of nowhere.

Her next encounter with Yu Jia materialized far quicker than anyone could have anticipated.

[Yu Jia: Ajin? Would it be possible for us to meet up briefly sometime soon?]

An actual direct message received straight from the prominent figure herself!

“KYAAAAAH!”

On that fateful afternoon.

Baek Ajin let out a high-pitched squeal that sounded like a startled bird.

She simply couldn’t contain her absolute ecstasy.

Hannam-dong.

Having resolutely closed up her shop for a scheduled day off, Baek Ajin stood waiting along the side of the road for her guest.

It didn’t take very long.

Screeeech!

A highly polished, elegant vehicle glided smoothly to a halt right in front of her position.

It was a top-tier luxury model manufactured by Daesung Group’s own automotive division.

This was undeniably Yu Jia’s personal ride.

“Hop in.”

“Oh, right away, ma’am!”

With her nerves stretched incredibly taut, Baek Ajin gingerly slid into the front passenger seat.

She lives surprisingly modestly.

Ajin had naturally assumed that a high-profile granddaughter of a massive conglomerate would travel in an exorbitantly expensive foreign luxury car, complete with a professional chauffeur at the wheel.

Yet here she was, operating a domestic vehicle all by herself.

Then again, looking at the bigger picture.

When you belong to a mega-wealthy chaebol family, the specific brand of car likely loses all meaning.

Whether it was locally made or imported from overseas, the cost was trivial pocket change to individuals of their stature.

In reality, Yu Jia possessed a personal garage vast enough to rival an entire museum collection, though Ajin possessed no way of discovering that particular detail.

“So,”

Baek Ajin spoke up, breaking the silence.

“If I understand correctly, your goal is to sit down with my parents? Without Oppa there? Just a private meeting with us.”

Prior to arranging this face-to-face encounter, the two women had held a continuous conversation through an extensive string of direct messages.

“That’s correct. Jinwoo has been completely overwhelmed with his schedule lately. I approached him to ask if it would be alright to deliver some seasonal gifts to his household on behalf of Yubaek, and he gave his blessing.”

“Wow, but to think you’d bring the presents over yourself!”

“Well, yes, I do hold the title of CEO, after all.”

That brief phrase spoke volumes to Ajin.

It revealed precisely how Yu Jia viewed and intended to support Baek Jinwoo.

It demonstrated the incredible level of sincere dedication she poured into their professional partnership.

Any typical corporation would have simply scheduled a standard courier delivery and forgotten about it.

That exact realization was the reason Ajin had consented to this arrangement.

Furthermore, she couldn’t deny her own intense curiosity regarding the items being brought over.

“I specifically instructed Mom and Dad to take a break from their jobs today. I informed them that there was a special guest I wanted them to meet.”

“Hehe, I truly appreciate that.”

“I really dislike speaking poorly of my own mother and father, but they truly are a unique pair. To this day, they remain completely oblivious to just how incredibly renowned their own son has become.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, when it comes to living in total ignorance of current events, they could easily challenge anyone on earth and take home the gold medal.”

The pair shared lighthearted conversation as the vehicle made its way toward the residence.

The old villa neighborhood. This was the precise residential area that Baek Jinwoo called home.

After navigating through a tightly cramped side street, they finally arrived in front of an exceptionally dilapidated apartment building.

“……”

Yu Jia found herself genuinely stunned by the sight.

People actually inhabit places like this.

To an ordinary citizen, it might have appeared to be a standard, run-down home, but to a chaebol heiress, this was a stark exposure to the unvarnished reality of everyday working-class life—an environment she had never once encountered firsthand.

Thick spiderwebs draped across the main entryway.

An old bicycle sat abandoned to the elements, buried under a heavy layer of dust accumulated from years of complete neglect.

The rich aroma of home cooking drifted through the air from the surrounding units.

Ding-dong!

As soon as they rang the bell and stepped across the threshold, a middle-aged husband and wife greeted them with warm, welcoming smiles.

Baek Jincheol and Hwang Myeonghui.

These were the parents of Baek Jinwoo.

“Oh, goodness me.”

Hwang Myeonghui, in particular, appeared utterly transfixed the very moment her eyes landed on Yu Jia’s striking features.

“How can such an exceptionally gorgeous young lady— Are you perhaps a classmate of our Ajin?”

“Haha, Mom, stop. She’s not a friend from school.”

“Oh? Not a friend?”

Ajin had deliberately kept her explanation brief, merely stating she was bringing someone important home.

Consequently, her parents possessed absolutely no clue regarding Yu Jia’s true identity.

Stepping gracefully into the living room, Yu Jia offered a deeply respectful and polite greeting.

“It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Yu Jia, and I serve as the CEO of Yubaek.”

“Yubaek?”

“Yu Jia?”

As both parents blinked in total bewilderment, Baek Ajin let out a heavy, tired sigh.

It was exactly as she had predicted.

They were completely clueless.

Yu Jia was a figure so prominent that it was virtually impossible to miss her if one paid even a shred of attention to mainstream media broadcasts.

“Alright, Mom, listen closely.”

Ultimately, Baek Ajin took it upon herself to lay out the facts.

She had resolved to do this the exact moment she agreed to guide Yu Jia to their home.

She was going to explicitly reveal to them precisely what tier of player her brother truly was.

While keeping her friends in the dark was perfectly fine, her immediate family absolutely needed to be aware of the reality.

Her brother kept promising that he would break the news to them eventually, but he spent every waking hour doing nothing but grinding through dangerous dungeons day after day. Furthermore, given that he had already authorized Yubaek to deliver high-value presents under their corporate banner, he had undoubtedly prepared himself for this revelation to occur.

Pulling out her smartphone, she began presenting every recorded video clip and news publication regarding her brother that she had been meticulously archiving.

The professional alliance linking Baek Jinwoo to Yubaek, alongside a detailed background on Yu Jia herself, was all cleanly and explicitly laid out for them to see.

“I-Is all of this actually reality?”

“Our Jinwoo is…… a player of this magnitude? Heavenly skies, his face is being broadcasted all across the national news channels!”

“A historic national milestone? Ha, how could our boy manage such a feat?”

The parents initially rejected the information as an impossibility, but after methodically reviewing the overwhelming digital evidence before them, they had no choice but to accept the truth.

Yu Jia lowered her head in a respectful bow once more.

“Yes, and that is precisely the reason I have personally come to visit your home today, acting in my capacity as the chief executive of Yubaek, the organization responsible for managing Player Baek Jinwoo.”

“……Good heavens.”

Baek Jincheol released a soft, breathy sigh.

At last, the full weight of who this young woman was dawned upon him.

A direct descendant of the legendary Daesung Group dynasty.

No matter how disconnected from society you might be, it was fundamentally impossible to reside within the borders of Korea and remain ignorant of the Daesung name.

The undisputed titan among the nation’s elite conglomerates.

The financial powerhouse that practically sustained the entire country’s economy!

To be perfectly frank, Jincheol felt incredibly overwhelmed.

He was so utterly taken aback that he couldn’t even formulate a proper composure or response.

How could a figure of such immense societal status deign to step foot inside a run-down, cramped residence like theirs?

“Father. In accordance with the formal agreement executed with your son, our enterprise bears a strict corporate responsibility to offer comprehensive, specialized care and security for both of you.”

“For the two of us?”

“Indeed. If you would be so kind as to look over this?”

Yu Jia slid a high-quality informational pamphlet across to them.

It detailed a comprehensive family welfare initiative engineered directly by the minds at Yubaek.

Top-tier personal security details, a brand-new luxury residence, consistent monthly financial stipends, full-coverage medical benefits……

“Oh dear Lord.”

“What on earth is the meaning of all this?”

Hwang Myeonghui’s eyes stretched wide with absolute astonishment.

Particularly when her gaze locked onto the specific clause guaranteeing a monthly stipend of ten million won for basic living expenditures, she felt so dizzy she nearly lost consciousness from the sheer shock of it.

Could this truly be happening? Was she the target of some elaborate hidden-camera television prank?

Just how agonizingly difficult had their existence been up to this point?

She had been grinding through three separate jobs simultaneously just to keep their household from falling apart, a grueling labor that had already left her wrists permanently damaged.

Deep, sorrowful lines were etched permanently into her worn skin.

No human being willingly subjects themselves to such soul-crushing, physical torment.

She had simply pushed through the agony out of a primal necessity to keep her family alive.

“I-Is this an absolute reality?”

“Yes, and there is truly no reason to be overly startled. When measured against the staggering financial returns we secure through the exploits of Player Baek Jinwoo, this represents a relatively modest token of our appreciation.”

“Goodness gracious……”

The entire situation played out like an impossible fantasy.

And honestly, how could it feel like anything else?

Their beloved son had spent three agonizing years trapped in a vegetative state, battling illness, and the precise moment he finally regained consciousness, he suddenly transformed into one of the most revered and celebrated players in the entire country? Did a narrative like that even conform to reality?

If she were to sprint outside and recount this tale to her neighborhood acquaintances this very second, they would mock her ruthlessly and tell her to stop spinning wild delusions.

“Oh, and furthermore…… aside from those corporate benefits, I have personally organized a few individual tokens of appreciation.”

“Personal tokens?”

“I was given to understand that you possess a deep appreciation for the summoning arts, Father?”

“Oh, well…… I assume she is referring to my Pebble Golem.”

Baek Jincheol awkwardly massaged his head.

A sudden wave of intense embarrassment washed over him.

It felt like it was only yesterday that he had been proudly parading around and bragging to everyone about his meager, E-rank Pebble Golem……

“Let us step out to the open courtyard first!”

They gathered in the open recreational playground situated directly in front of the villa complex.

The very first entity that Yu Jia manifested into reality before them was.

Awooooooo!

A magnificent Shadow Wolf, unleashing a thunderous, awe-inspiring howl that echoed through the area.

“Wow! What in the world is that!”

Baek Ajin’s bottled-up enthusiasm instantly bubbled over.

An elite, B-rank summon commanded a market value of 500 million won!

Her older brother had previously promised that he would eventually secure a high-quality summon for her, so she had been harboring quiet expectations, but as weeks passed with absolute silence on the matter, she had realistically wiped the hope from her mind.

A sum like five hundred million won rolled off the tongue easily enough in casual conversation.

But in reality, it represented an astronomical fortune that a vast majority of ordinary citizens would never even catch a glimpse of throughout their entire lifespans.

Truthfully, she already carried a profound sense of guilt and indebtedness toward her brother simply because he allowed her to sell his valuable runes while claiming a mere 20% brokerage fee.

“This particular creature is a direct, personal offering from myself. Jinwoo explicitly brought the matter to my attention. He mentioned that you would be absolutely ecstatic to receive it, Ajin.”

“Are you serious…… I am truly permitted to keep this?”

“Naturally.”

Flashing a radiant, comforting smile, Yu Jia proceeded to distribute separate gifts to both Baek Jincheol and Hwang Myeonghui as well.

“This belongs to you……”

The specific entity bestowed upon Hwang Myeonghui was a rare, B-rank Rainbow Snail.

“What kind of creature is this?”

“It is an incredibly elusive find in the current market, but I managed to successfully track one down for you. The comprehensive skill metrics and attributes are clearly detailed on the parchment, so please review them at your own leisure.”

Meanwhile, the entity presented to Baek Jincheol was a formidable, B-rank Diamond Golem.

“In terms of physical dimensions, it closely mirrors your familiar Pebble Golem, but its destructive capabilities exist on an entirely separate stratosphere.”

“My word, my word…… Words cannot express my gratitude. To receive such magnificent treasures, all entirely due to the merits of my own flesh and blood.”

While he couldn’t calculate the precise monetary worth of the creatures down to the penny, it was glaringly obvious that they possessed an immense, staggering value.

In truth, the sheer gravitas of the situation and pure, unadulterated joy intermingled within his chest.

Whenever faced with situations of overwhelming gravity, Jincheol instinctively relied on lighthearted humor to break the tension.

“You aren’t planning to come back around and demand a returns policy on these later down the line, are you?”

“Haha, if circumstances allowed, I would have gladly provided even more luxurious options. A reversal like that will absolutely never occur.”

Once the distribution of the extraordinary items concluded.

“Please, you must join us for a home-cooked meal before you depart. It is right around the hour when your appetite should be kicking in.”

Hwang Myeonghui gently took hold of Yu Jia’s arm, guiding her back toward the entrance of the home.

“Mom! What are you thinking, inviting her for a casual meal!”

Baek Ajin desperately attempted to intervene and diffuse the awkward hospitality, but.

“Would that be alright? To tell you the truth, my stomach has been making quite a bit of noise for some time now.”

Hehe.

Yu Jia playfully poked her tongue out a fraction and offered a warm chuckle, an act of genuine endearment that instantly dissolved any lingering stiffness or formality in the air.

At that very moment.

Baek Jinwoo remained completely absorbed in the arduous task of systematically dismantling and conquering high-level dungeons alongside Stormy.

As of late, he had trained his focus so singularly and intensely on this objective that he possessed absolutely zero mental capacity or time to allocate to any external matters.

[Summon: Storm Dragon Sorcerer]

[Classification: Human]

[Tier: EX-Rank (Isolation Protocol)]

• Subjected to isolation protocols due to the identification of severe, balance-disrupting capabilities triggered under highly specific parameters.

[Current Level: 42]

[Attributes]

STR: 20, INT: 85, VIT: 20, AGI: 20

Health Points: 22,000, Mana Points: 500

Critical Strike Probability: 55%

Critical Damage Multiplier: 185%

[Active Capabilities]

• Dragon Burst: Unleashes a devastating, dragon-shaped torrent of incinerating flames directly ahead.

The embedded runes had been substantially upgraded and optimized by this point, and her numerical level had progressed to a highly respectable position as well.

With highly optimized rune traits slotted into her active inventory, her overall damage metrics were perfectly acceptable for standard combat, but.

“Is there still absolutely no breakthrough regarding the Chain mechanism?”

• Tell me about it, honestly. I held the assumption that since I had successfully mastered the technique in my past existence, simply elevating my level metrics would suffice to unlock it…… On the bright side, I am gradually starting to grasp the fundamental mechanics of it, bit by bit.

Stormy was pouring her absolute maximum, genuine dedication into the task.

Even so.

While her overall offensive output continued to steadily scale upward, and given the sheer, repetitive frequency with which Dragon Burst had been deployed, her mastery rating should have broken through the ceiling by now…… yet inexplicably, no supplementary active capability had manifested in her profile.

She absolutely needs to unlock the Chain technique with extreme urgency so we can finally transition into the subsequent phase of our progression.

Furthermore, the window of opportunity had arrived to begin elevating the standard Day Dungeon operations into the intermediate tier, and far more critically……

The daunting Tower of Trials.

A sharp, determined fire ignited within Baek Jinwoo’s eyes.

The moment had finally arrived to throw himself against the gauntlet of the Tower of Trials.

Rachel noted that her current progress sits firmly on the 29th floor, correct?

Ascending to such an elite height was entirely out of the question for his current standing, however.

Securing a victory on the 10th floor was an objective he could realistically squeeze through using the full extent of his current combat assets.

That is, assuming Stormy could successfully manifest the Chain capability.

He possessed the mechanical skill to compensate for a minor deficit in raw offensive output through superior battlefield positioning and control, but if the foundational damage metrics fell drastically below the required threshold, achieving a successful clear became a mathematical impossibility.

The solitary key capable of shattering that formidable barrier was none other than Stormy.

The Tower of Trials represented an essential dungeon that Baek Jinwoo was fundamentally required to conquer.

The reasoning was simple: the ultimate payouts directly matched the utterly preposterous level of difficulty it presented.

It yielded treasures and enhancements that existed on a completely different existential plane—rewards so bizarre and miraculous that even veteran, high-ranking players lacked a comprehensive understanding of their full scope.

There was a logical explanation for this information gap.

Each individual floor could only have its ultimate prize claimed a single time across global history, the specific drops underwent a complete transformation with every successful attempt, and since the vast majority of legacy players had abandoned the path long ago, the available statistical data was laughably minuscule.

One fundamental reality, however, remained completely indisputable.

It yielded highly exclusive, unparalleled drops that could absolutely never be acquired through the standard dungeon loops or routine Day Dungeons.

No matter what kind of prize manifests, it will provide an astronomical boost to my current operational power.

To make that vision a reality, Stormy desperately needed to master that elusive technique without delay.

• Please do not worry yourself, Master Jinwoo! I will absolutely unlock it under my own power, and the moment we succeed, we are going to celebrate the victory with a massive feast of crispy fried chicken and cold beer!

“Right, right. Just maintain a steady pace. When you force things too aggressively, even the mechanics that were functioning perfectly fine will start falling apart.”

FWOOOOOSH!

On this day, once more, the incinerating, celestial fires of Dragon Burst erupted outward, painting the interior of the cavernous dungeon in an intense, brilliant shade of crimson flame.