# Player with Maxed-Out Talent – Episode 36

“Firstly, I should inform you that only you can see me,” came the advance notice. When he turned around, it was BJ Senia, who had an exclusive contract with Kim Hyukjin. Senia was still expressionless, her thoughts inscrutable.

‘As my proficiency in the Sense Eye improves, I’ll be able to read even Senia’s state.’

It was a distant thought, but he believed it possible. At this point, guessing why Senia had revealed herself was not too hard.

‘She must be curious why we’ve come to Japan. And why we’ve been spending days in Dotonbori.’

BJs serve as guardians, delivering and broadcasting play to the watchers.

‘She must want to explain to the guardians.’

You know, like saying, “This is why he’s doing this kind of play here.”

“Why are you in Japan?”

“Travel.”

“The combination of friends seems too unusual for a simple trip.”

Unusual was an understatement, even Kim Hyukjin admitted. But that was irrelevant.

“Do I have to reveal every detail of my personal life to you? Work is work. Personal is personal. Even players have a right to privacy. The guardians understand that boundary, right?”

The channel was likely open by now. Hoping for a guardian to concur with me. Perhaps someone like the Lady of the Scales.

[The ‘Lady of the Scales’ agrees with your statement.]

Sure enough, the Lady of the Scales agreed with Kim Hyukjin.

[The ‘Whispering Demon’ despises your words.]

Kim Hyukjin nearly scowled. It seemed like it always voiced disdain whenever he made a valid point.

‘A disdain fetish? Never even sponsored me.’

Kim Hyukjin asked, “What? Is there something related to play here?”

…

Silence. A trap was set.

“According to the Law, any act that directly influences the play or leaks information is prohibited.”

“But it’s possible in the form of a quest.”

…

Senia was silent. That alone was a big clue for Kim Hyukjin.

‘It seems correct that a gate has appeared here.’

If one must search for a gate, receiving a quest to do so would undoubtedly be more helpful and efficient. It would aid in the search, and completing it could garner rewards. Two birds with one stone.

‘It wasn’t part of the plan, but.’

Nevertheless, it was a good turn of events. Minimal time for maximum efficiency. The basics of play, after all. Kim Hyukjin was aware.

‘Talking like this… the small fries will start yapping.’

Anonymous guardians, or in other words, nobodies. Guardians of no consequence were probably chatting away on Senia’s channel.

Kim Hyukjin’s expectation was on the mark.

[Yes. Let’s give them a quest.]

[With the Japanese tutorial cleared, let’s give him a quest and see how he rolls.]

[Quest! Quest! Mid-manager, give out a quest!]

[Are there any wealthy guardians willing to grant this player a quest?]

Senia looked at Kim Hyukjin. In truth, she had been observing him for hours with her channel closed. Having watched him, he didn’t seem to be on vacation. His play clearly indicated he was searching for something. Yet, suddenly referring to the guardians and mentioning a quest stirred them into action.

‘Could it be… intentional?’

It seemed unlikely. Not even an advanced-ranked player would deliberately provoke the guardians and make them react this way.

‘It can’t be intentional…’

It’s impossible. Even the most trivial guardians, if they wanted, could effortlessly squash a player. It requires a hefty amount of COIN, but they can do it. So how could one dupe the guardians into doing something like this?

A player unaware of this wouldn’t dare, and a player who knew wouldn’t be able to do so.

‘It seems impossible, yet it seems intentional.’

The probability was high. Logically, it was nonsensical, yet his eyes and instincts told him. This situation was crafted intentionally by that Kim Hyukjin.

Kim Hyukjin also knew. Mentioning guardians and scheming against them was undoubtedly risky, akin to a precarious tightrope walk.

‘But they can’t kill me over something this small.’

And someday, the tables would turn. There were multiple guardians, but only one of him. There were numerous replacements for a guardian, but no substitute for him. He would ensure it.

Senia spoke calmly in a conversation unheard by the players, a ‘guardian-mid-manager’ talk.

“I have the authority to issue a quest, but I lack the COIN to do so.”

Her tone was matter-of-fact, no expectations or thoughts, just stating the fact. Administrator messages began to stream in quickly.

[The ‘Whispering Demon’ wishes to issue a quest.]

[The ‘Lady of the Scales’ wishes to issue a quest.]

[The ‘Valiant Lion King’ wishes to issue a quest.]

[The ‘Pearl of Mt. Cheonma’ wishes to issue a quest.]

Four guardians requested quests. Senia was speechless for a moment. Guardians seldom open their wallets. Yet here they were, eagerly wanting to give out a quest over something trivial. This didn’t just include any small fish, but four guardians with their ‘True Names’.

This indicated one thing clearly. They were seriously paying attention to Kim Hyukjin’s play.

Then another message popped up.

[An ‘Unnamed Observer’ donates 3,000COIN.]

[The ‘Unnamed Observer’ wishes to issue a quest.]

The quest issuance fell to the ‘Unnamed Observer.’ The other guardians fell silent.

[The ‘Unnamed Observer’ wishes to remain anonymous.]

Thus, the quest was granted in the name of Senia.

* * *

Senia assigned our party a quest.

[Quest ‘Turtle’s Nest’ has been activated.]

[Please clear the ‘Turtle’s Nest’.]

I found it somewhat strange.

‘Senia is giving us a quest directly?’

If we consider the future, she’s a BJ who didn’t survive. In other words, she lacked initial capital. She donated 3,000COIN to me, so she must be short on funds, right?

‘A mid-manager’s quest, then.’

Does COIN flow like water for her?

‘I thought the guardians would issue it.’

I could read nothing from Senia’s expression. It appeared she had been chatting with the guardians in a communication channel, but that alone wasn’t enough to grasp everything.

Shin Yeon-seo commented, looking fascinated.

“A quest.”

──────────

[Quest – Turtle’s Nest]

A suspicious trace of a gate has been found somewhere in Dotonbori.

Find and destroy the Turtle’s Nest.

──────────

“There really is a gate around here.”

“And you thought there wouldn’t be?”

Senia seemed focused on our conversation. She must be incredibly curious. Why I formed a party and came to Japan, particularly to Osaka’s Dotonbori. And how I knew to come here. Everything must be puzzling to her.

“No, but it’s really amazing, isn’t it? Seems like genius. Like there’s a special ability or something.”

I smirked listening to the innocent young Kendo who would eventually become one of the eight heroes leading the future and confronting the Demon King.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Just because.”

“You thought it was cute, didn’t you?”

“Are you crazy? Do you even know what cute means?”

“But really, how did you get here? I’m seriously curious.”

While talking to Shin Yeon-seo, I was still mindful of Senia. Wondering how to best bait a response.

“I had a dream.”

“A dream?”

The tips of Senia’s feathers quivered slightly. Yeah, a dream. This seems like a good angle. I decided to be more precise.

“Like a premonition.”

“Pre, premonition? That really exists?”

“There are players, monsters, and dungeons—why not premonitions?”

“Well, that also does seem plausible.”

Of course, I don’t have them. Judging by Senia starting a conversation with the guardians, she seemed to have taken the bait. A special ability: ‘Premonitory Dream.’ Indeed, such an ability was not uncommon, albeit rarely observed.

After wandering for a while, Sunhwa spoke.

“Oppa, I’m hungry.”

“Are you?”

It was about time for a meal. Even as a player, after walking all day, Sunhwa must be feeling hungry and tired.

We decided to find something to eat.

“Anything specific you want?”

“Is it okay if I tell you what I want?”

It wasn’t a big deal. Sunhwa hesitantly fumbled her words due to the unaccustomed kindness, but then spoke up.

“I want to eat gyukatsu.”

* * *

Now, how to describe this situation?

“Screams!”

People were screaming and running away. I saw a sign written in Japanese in front of me. Although I couldn’t read the language, the pictures were unmistakably ‘gyukatsu’. Sunhwa wanted gyukatsu, so we came to this gyukatsu restaurant, but just as we arrived, people screamed and ran out.

“Sh, should we go in, hyung?”

Despite his massive frame, Ma Sang-hyun seemed a bit frightened. Those robust muscles seemed to shrink just ever so slightly.

“Let’s go.”

We entered the gyukatsu restaurant. Everyone had fled, leaving the place deserted. Something akin to a black hole was visible, clickable even.

──────────

[Gate – Turtle’s Nest]

──────────

Shin Yeon-seo said hesitantly,

“We found it… right?”

Odd, isn’t it? We came here because Sunhwa wanted it, and lo and behold, a gate is open. Makes one wonder what we’ve done for the past three days.

‘It must be a coincidence, right?’

Probably just a coincidence. But then, why does it feel like it’s not? Still, it’s easier and more appropriate to assume it’s coincidental for now.

“Do we enter, hyung?”

“Yeah. Sunhwa leads the way.”

Ma Sang-hyun and Shin Yeon-seo seemed unaccustomed to the idea of putting a kid in front, but they didn’t object. We had to get used to it. Even the muscular Ma Sang-hyun’s body was not as resilient as Sunhwa’s. It’s essential not to be deceived by appearances and forget the essence.

Sunhwa had grown accustomed to my method, or rather, had understood her role well.

“Understood.”

Once cleared, gates usually disappear. The Turtle’s Nest was a relic of a ‘Break’, meaning there are no guides to conquer it. In other words, we had to clear it without any guidebook.

[You have entered Turtle’s Nest.]

I was still confident. Japan had just completed its tutorial. No matter how difficult, it couldn’t surpass ‘beginner level’. And in the beginner level, we had four of the top rankers present.

‘It’s dark.’

The place was generally dark, resembling early evening rather than night with no significance to time inside a gate.

‘A marsh?’

Moisture hung in the air. A vast marshland made up the field, with mud underfoot. Reed and unknown bush species grew here and there. In some patches, lotus flowers bloomed in the puddles.

The first gate challenge without any guide.

‘Let’s scope out the terrain first.’

Basic gate clearing protocol. Terrain recognition. Trap detection. Safe zone location. Monster zone awareness. Knowing the layout is crucial.

‘Huh?’

Someone was here before us. This someone approached and asked,

“What exactly are you guys?”

This someone. He did not register at all on the Sense Eye.