RE: Player again

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[Chapter 103] [To Subjugate the Soul (6)]

To be honest, there wasn't much I remembered about Donghae Group.

The image Eunha remembered of Donghae Group was only that they always fought for the lower ranks with KK and Dangun Group.

Especially, they often had nerve wars with KK Group, whose business sectors overlapped.

Therefore, he only knew that the chairman of Donghae Group's surname was 'Jung', but didn't remember about the person who had an ordinary impression even otherwise.

Anyway, the rest of the people were just small fry to him.

"Hyung was from Donghae Group?"

"What, you just found out now?"

How would I know if you didn't tell me.

Jung Geumjeon giving him a rebuke as if saying how could he just find out now.

The direct descendant of Donghae Group showed off his luxurious suit while putting on airs.

Even so, Jung Geumjeon was Jung Geumjeon.

It didn't suit him at all, who grumbled about money leaking while ordering delivery food downstairs.

At least in Eunha's eyes.

However, he seemed to look different in other people's eyes.

"Oh! Hey, Geumjeon! It's really been a while! Isn't this the first time since you dropped out of school?"

"I heard rumors you were managing a clan, but I didn't expect you who only played games during class to become like that, hey!"

"Unexpectedly... You're quite something?"

Jung Geumjeon was very friendly to direct descendants from other groups.

Moreover, there were even people who remembered him from school days occasionally.

"Ah... This is why I said I didn't want to come."

Jung Geumjeon himself didn't seem to welcome their reactions very much.

He only responded indifferently to those who quietly approached him.

Meanwhile, Eunha sent a gaze to Jung Hayang over them.

Wondering if she also knew Jung Geumjeon's identity.

Hayang, did you know too?

No. I just found out now too.

Hayang shook her head.

Come to think of it, after entering the academy, there were quite few times I went home. Even when I was in elementary school, I rarely saw him except when encountering Jung Geumjeon coming out to throw away trash or when caught ordering delivery food.

Since he was always cooped up in his room... Honestly, I had forgotten that hyung even existed.

In the end, he was a low priority person to Eunha.

He forgot about him in his memory since he wasn't visible from some point.

Just like forgetting about Donghae Group in his previous life.

"Anyway, this is good. Geumjeon, you came at just the right time."

"What are you talking about?"

"We were about to do something interesting. We decided to have a duel between Jinwoo and Noh Eunha."

"Huh? Jinwoo? Who's that?"

"Hey, you don't know Jinwoo?"

"Why should I know? By the way, who are you to act familiar with me?"

"......"

Jung Geumjeon showing a clearly annoyed face.

He, who unbuttoned the rest of his top buttons, passed by those with dumbfounded expressions and went straight to the table.

Then he picked up snacks with his hand and shook off the crumbs.

"Ah, this is delicious. I should take some home when I leave later."

"......"

"Oh my. I'm sorry. I'm a bit sloppy..."

"Ah... No, it's okay."

By chance, the crumbs he shook off fell on Jin Seona's head.

She, who entered the Sky Lounge with the position of Hong Jinwoo's third fiancée, could only smile.

Jung Geumjeon, who didn't even notice that, asked the people sitting at the edge to move in a bit.

"Wow, how much expensive alcohol did you drink? Since I came all the way here, I should get my money's worth too."

Jung Geumjeon looked closely at the bottles on the table and exclaimed softly.

Then he opened the cap and poured whiskey into a glass without ice.

Eventually, he downed it in one go and blew the alcohol on Jin Seona's face who was sitting across from him─

"─So, you're Hong Jinwoo?"

"...Yes."

"Alright, nice to meet you."

"...Nice to meet you."

"Your face doesn't look like you're glad to meet me... Well, I'm generous so I'll let it slide."

"......"

He wiped the alcohol on his mouth with the back of his hand and suddenly spoke to Hong Jinwoo beside her.

Eunha was dumbfounded.

Didn't he say he didn't know who Hong Jinwoo was?

His words and actions were completely different.

Judging by his behavior, it seemed he knew Hong Jinwoo and Jin Seona even if he didn't know others.

Yet he pretended not to know and acted rudely to the two like this.

People were at a loss how to take his behavior.

"This oppa is quite an interesting person, isn't he?"

"Interesting, what..."

Then, Han Seoyeon showed interest and spoke up.

Jung Geumjeon shrugged.

Replying as if he didn't care even if relations with Sirius soured.

However, Han Seoyeon didn't mind. Rather, she showed more interest in him.

Meanwhile, Choi Yejang, who was acquainted with him, explained the situation to him.

"Is that so? Sounds interesting."

Jung Geumjeon, who had been quietly enjoying alcohol, soon put down his glass and opened his mouth.

After glancing at Eunha for a moment.

That hyung is really excited.

There was no way Eunha couldn't read what the face Jung Geumjeon made for a moment meant.

Jung Geumjeon was finding it very interesting that he was pointed out.

Since he was bullied by him and his friends when young, it seemed he wanted to see him suffer.

Anyway, all the direct descendants of groups ranking within the top 10 in the business world agreed.

"But are there swords here?"

"I just ordered some practice swords to be brought a moment ago."

The duel was set.

One of those close to Hong Jinwoo instructed an employee to bring practice wooden swords.

Meanwhile, Hong Jinwoo and Eunha stood up from their seats.

"Hey, Eunha. You know, right?"

"Know what?"

Eunha turned to look at Dojun who suddenly grabbed his wrist as he was about to go to the spa that became the dueling ground.

Yoo Dojun had a serious face unlike usual.

As if saying he shouldn't go like this.

Nevertheless, Eunha asked back as if he didn't know.

Then Yoo Dojun questioned as if asking if he really didn't know.

"This is a fight you must lose no matter what. Don't you know what those guys are thinking in challenging you to a duel?"

The reason Hong Jinwoo and his gang challenged him to a duel.

The reason was obvious.

Since they had been given the cold shoulder until now, they would give him the cold shoulder this time.

"I know too, so don't worry."

"Do you really know?"

"I said I know."

It wasn't a real duel.

It was a rigged duel.

Even if he crossed swords with Hong Jinwoo, the direct descendant of Dangun Group, trouble would arise if he faced him seriously.

Moreover, this was a gathering of direct descendants.

Birds of a feather flock together.

No matter how much they check each other, they absolutely can't stand being embarrassed by someone they consider beneath them.

So to them, if Hong Jinwoo was embarrassed, it would be the same as everyone attending being embarrassed in the extreme.

Birds of a feather flock together.

Like attracts like.

"The people gathered here know it's rigged, and they know how strong you are. But they're still doing this..."

"They want to see how I'll grovel, right?"

Eunha cut off Dojun's words.

They just want to see.

Last year, the incident where he almost made Hong Jinwoo and other group direct descendants bow their heads might have been just an amusing story to some.

But to those who felt their authority was infringed, it would have been an unpleasant incident.

However, they were only a minority.

Moreover, at that time, Hong Jinwoo only lost a bet.

Hayang and Dojun won with Eunha's victory.

Above all, the background for such an incident to occur was based on the eye game between direct descendants.

Everyone could let it slide nicely.

"Eunha... Enduring is winning. You have to endure here."

But what about this time?

If there was a justification that Hong Jinwoo did wrong before.

This time there was nothing.

What those who created this flow want isn't the duel itself between him and Hong Jinwoo, but how he satisfies them while losing to Hong Jinwoo.

That's why Yoo Dojun said.

No, he pleaded.

That he must endure.

If he doesn't want to turn them all into enemies.

"I agree too."

Lee Yucheon chimed in as well.

That it's a matter of hurt pride but he should endure just this once.

That it's dirty, petty, and annoying but he might be disliked later.

Lee Yucheon was sincerely worried about him too.

"Are you going to keep whispering among yourselves? I brought the swords."

On the other hand, Choi Yejang showed his displeasure looking back at them.

His younger sister Choi Yejin who was sticking close to him was smiling gently.

As if looking at a newly bought toy.

"Don't worry too much. Do you think I'd cause trouble here?"

"Yeah. You seem like you would."

"I'm just saying in case. I'm glad you know though."

Eunha let go of Yoo Dojun's hand.

Already, some people had brought chairs from somewhere and were sitting around the spa.

Eunha took steps under their attention.

Then midway, Hayang blocked his path.

"...You absolutely. Can't win."

Jung Hayang grabbing his two hands while ignoring others' gazes.

The girl who always showed a friendly smile was looking up at him with a tense face.

Her round eyes were shaking.

The emotions on her face were worry, sadness, anxiety, and fear.

"Just... have a moderate duel and then lose, okay?"

"I know too, I said I know."

"...Do you really know?"

Eunha felt like laughing.

Yoo Dojun, Lee Yucheon, and Jung Hayang too.

He didn't know why the three of them were worrying about him so much.

Moreover, they even firmly believed he was stronger than Hong Jinwoo.

He could understand Yoo Dojun and Jung Hayang, but he didn't expect even Lee Yucheon to believe so.

"You just watch quietly."

Eunha pinched Hayang's cheek.

Hayang pursed her lips and asked again if he really understood what she said.

Eunha answered again.

Of course I know.

Then he turned his back on her.

He moved forward.

Jung Geumjeon was eating popcorn.

He's really enjoying this.

Jung Geumjeon wasn't the only one enjoying it.

Han Seoyeon was grinning too.

And beside her, Choi Jeonghun was looking at him indifferently.

Gong Cheonggi was visible too. He had a very stiff face.

"Use this sword."

"Yes."

Someone handed over a wooden sword.

Eunha discovered Choi Yejang over his shoulder.

Meeting eyes, he was smiling gently unlike before.

As if saying do well.

As if saying how admirable.

Choi Yejin's expression was no different.

Kim Geonwoong's face was.

Kim Geonwoong was frowning.

Like someone who noticed what was going to happen.

Surely his suspicion would become reality.

Eunha swung the wooden sword once and walked towards Hong Jinwoo.

Now the distance between the two was not far.

"You know, right?"

"......"

Now at a distance where only the two could hear.

Hong Jinwoo, who was holding the wooden sword at middle guard, soon let out a sneering smile.

Eunha didn't answer to words he had heard several times now.

"If you want to be less embarrassed... just follow my lead."

And Hong Jinwoo took his silence as affirmation right away.

Eunha suddenly became curious.

If he kept his mouth shut like this, what kind of strange things Hong Jinwoo would spout.

But he couldn't stay like this for long.

"─Start!"

Because the person acting as referee signaled the start of the duel.

As soon as the referee quickly stepped back, Hong Jinwoo drew up his internal mana.

People cheered seeing the blue energy rising from his body.

He's really determined.

Even though it's just a sword duel.

Hong Jinwoo brought out mana as if to show them his skills.

Or he wanted to crush him that much with this opportunity.

"Aren't you coming?"

Either way, Hong Jinwoo intended to subjugate him today.

Now he even provoked.

"Do you think anything will change if you just stand still like that?"

Hong Jinwoo sneered.

Eunha pretended not to hear.

Then Hong Jinwoo became even more arrogant.

"Right, what power could you have."

The longer Eunha's silence continued.

Hong Jinwoo, who had been somewhat wary of him until now, felt the taste of power.

"You'll just live like a pig or dog."

No matter how capable he was.

In the end, he must submit to himself who held power from birth.

Hong Jinwoo seemed to have realized such a lesson.

He went from being wary of Eunha, to sneering, to finally pitying and mocking him.

"If you won't come, I'll go."

Eunha was no longer an uncomfortable existence to Hong Jinwoo.

He was food.

Food with an adjective starting with 'L' in front.

So now kneel and regret.

─Blade...!

For trying to climb up to him.

He ran towards Eunha and swung down his mana-imbued sword boldly.

"─Huh...?"

However, the situation Hong Jinwoo envisioned never happened.

Eunha just parried the falling sword very slowly so it was visible.

Just with that alone.

Hong Jinwoo ended up letting go of the wooden sword in his hand.

The wooden sword that rose into the air fell spinning at some distance.

"What if you let go of the sword midway?"

"......"

Hong Jinwoo just blinked.

As if unable to understand what suddenly happened.

Then Eunha raised his voice so others could hear.

"This won't do. We should do this again, right?"

"...Huh? Uh... yeah..."

Hong Jinwoo answered in a daze.

He probably doesn't want to end the duel like this either.

Eunha used his pride.

"Hold it properly next time. Don't let go again."

"......"

This time so only Hong Jinwoo could hear.

Eunha spoke close to his ear.

"─I'll lose properly for you."

Just how many times should I let him drop the sword to crush that pride.

Eunha turned around and giggled.