Everyone Is Young Except For Me Chapter 230

A port city in the coastal region of Russia—Vladivostok, which meant 'Ruler of the East,' was the largest port city and military port on the east coast. It was full of history and travelers. It was also the place where Russia's Arkstar national team selection was being held today.

A total of 64 Russians had pa.s.sed the qualifiers. The most popular one among them was Reina, an executive of the Zeus Guild and the only woman present.

“Reina!”

“So s.e.xy!”

“Look at me!”

“Marry me!”

Reina's popularity was unparalleled in Russia. If a pa.s.sing child was asked about the ident.i.ty of the most popular woman in Russia, the answer would be 'Reina.' Her beauty blossomed every day and the media praised her, saying she was at her peak. This was why she always appeared in the media with a haughty look. However, today Reina wasn't feeling very good.

'You dare to run away from me? This Reina...?'

Reina never had a man hate her in her life, so the words she heard from Dark Wolf yesterday came as a big shock. She didn't even seem like a woman to him.

'I've been seducing him like that for the past week...'

Reina gritted her teeth. Just then, a broadcast was heard.

-Next is a Russian treasure! Reina Genrich!

Waaaah!

The audience's shout rang through Vladivostok. The circular dome stadium had a stage with access to capsules and screens placed in the center, with the audience around the stage. Once her name was called, Reina gracefully stepped onto the stage like a model in the new high heels that she bought yesterday. 'Genrich' was her surname and it was said to be the surname of an ancestor who played the piano very well. Well, this wasn't important.

-The opponent is Leonid Koscha, who is known as the Russian Human Bomb Tank!

“Ohhhh!”

Leonid Koscha was the name of a man wearing a navy blue sleeveless s.h.i.+rt that showed off his muscles. He was the man who used the ID 'Leonid' in the game. He pursued the path of a tanker and had a pretty big fan base in Russia. He was also one of the people most likely to be selected for the Russian national team. There was virtually no tanker in Russia that could be compared to him.

'He is far below Reinhardt, but it isn't bad.'

She didn't have the slightest intention of going easy on him. This was a personal exhibition that determined the individual competence of a player. Reina planned to thoroughly trample on Leonid in front of her. She was in a very, very bad mood right now.

Soon, the two people got in their capsule. Their field of view flashed and they appeared in a s.p.a.cious plain surrounded by a dense forest. Reina saw Leonid appear in front of her eyes. He was walking while b.u.mping his fists together. “Huhu. How about joining my guild, Reina? I will treat you well with my lower body, ohuhu.” 

It was a very explicit comment. For Reina, who was already angry, Leonid should've chosen more respectful words.

“You... today you will be caught well.”

Reina emitted dark energy and a faceless soul in a black cloak and holding a huge scythe appeared behind her back. Her power, which was nicknamed 'Reaper,' burst out and chilled the surroundings.

“It would be good to protect it well—your lower body.” The black scythe in Reina's hands shone in a chilly manner. “It might be cut off.”

* * *

Seoul, the capital of South Korea. Since the early morning, many people had been busy moving to Jamsil Stadium. The police stepped in to control foot traffic in order to reduce the chaos. Countless cars lined up and arrived one after another.

“Ah~ this refres.h.i.+ng air.” Mido arrived at this place. She stretched the moment she got off the athlete-only shuttle bus. She might've come here last time, but she still felt the air here was really good.

Mido yawned as she saw the players getting off behind her. Various Korean rankers were riding this large bus that could carry a total of 50 people. It included Kim Hyeonu, Park Taehyeon, and Eun Jeonghyeok who were in the same guild as Mido. They also came to the finals so it was natural for them to be here.

“It is always s.p.a.cious here.”

Park Taehyeon heard Kim Hyeonu's words and said, “It isn't a playground.”

“Hey, I'm tired. Let's go to the waiting room and relax.”

They nodded and headed to the players' waiting room prepared by Union. Originally, there should be separate waiting rooms for men and women. However, there was no reason to do so due to the nature of the virtual reality game. Union gave consideration to people who were close to each other, so all the members of the Icarus Guild, including Mido, used the same waiting room. There were only four people from the guild, including her.

“Wow, so many of the guild members failed? In the preliminaries? It somehow feels empty.”

Mido sighed deeply as she recalled the preliminaries. In yesterday's preliminaries, Icarus had a total of 38 players. However, as could be seen, they were the only survivors.

“They all failed because they were weak.” Park Taehyeon shook his head and clicked his tongue.

In fact, they might be weak, but he thought more people would survive this year. He hadn't expected Union to make it more difficult than last year.

“Yes. I never expected traps to be present in the monster wave.”

Eun Jeonghyeok shook his head as he thought of the preliminaries. More than 1,000 people partic.i.p.ated in the preliminaries and 100 people were divided into each group. It was just that the traps prepared by Union were stronger than expected. They were saying that those who couldn't even pa.s.s these traps weren't qualified to be national representatives. Those who weren't good when it came to traps all dropped out.

'Ah, I feel numb just thinking about it again.'

Huge rocks rolled and a huge mace hung from the ceiling in front of them. The trickiest were the arrows flying from the wall. Fortunately, Eun Jeonghyeok had the ability to identify traps in advance. He might've survived, but it was different for his other guild members.

“I don't know how the finals will go,” Eun Jeonghyeok murmured.

Park Taehyeon heard it and exclaimed like it was insignificant, “Won't it be divided into an individual compet.i.tion and team compet.i.tion like last year?”

“The rules have changed. Maybe the selection method has also changed.”

“Hmm, we'll see sooner or later.”

They had been resting for around an hour.

-Finalists, please come up to the stage.

“Go.”

The guild leader, Kim Hyeonu, walked in front while Mido followed one step behind. Mido suddenly thought of the faces of the family members who came to the stadium today. She thought of them one by one and wanted to pa.s.s the finals today to become a national representative.

'Please watch me, Mom, Dad, and Grandpa.'

Mido jumped vigorously toward the stage. She didn't realize that she didn't mention her brother.

* * *

“Achoo!” A loud sneeze rang out in a corner of Jamsil Stadium. My daughter-in-law's eyes grew wide. “Oh my, do you have a cold?”

“No, it is just winter,” Jeongdo answered as he rubbed his nose and sniffed.

I saw it and clicked my tongue. “A big person like you is catching a cold. Tsk tsk. It can't be helped. Go hiking with me.”

“Ack... I don't want to. Grandfather, it is hard to go with you.”

“This brat.”

I grabbed his head for a moment before letting go. Jeongdo had a lump on his head that was swollen. “Ouch... Why do you have to hit me every day?!”

“What?!” I grabbed Jeongdo's head and squeezed a bit more. I tried to ignore the groan from next to me as a broadcast was heard.

-From now on, we will start the final round for the selection of Arkstar's national team. Before that, the anthem will be played. All guests, please stand up.

I placed my hand to my left chest and started singing the national anthem.

Until the day when Mt Baekdu is worn away and the East Sea's waters run dry.

At the end of verse 1, the audience sat back down in their seats with a roar. Then the host's voice continued.

-You've waited a long time. Everyone, I will introduce the finalists for Arkstar's national team.

Waaaah!

There was a ma.s.sive scream that surged like a wave. In the meantime, dry ice spread thickly in the distance as players entered the stadium one by one through a pa.s.sageway. It looked quite good combined with the splendid and majestic background music. My daughter-in-law's voice was heard from the side.

“Oh, there's Mido. Mido~!”

She might not be able to reach Mido, but my daughter-in-law still waved excitedly. My first son to the side was already red-faced.

“Honey, it's embarra.s.sing...”

“What is embarra.s.sing? I'm supporting my daughter. Isn't that right? Our Mido, fighting~!”

Choi Kanghyun and Choi Jeongdo covered their faces as they watched my daughter-in-law. However, I liked it. This was truly my daughter-in-law.

“Kuhaha! Yes, let me cheer with you. Mido, have strength!”

“Ohoho. Father, you are fired up as well. Fiiiiiighting!”

Therefore, my daughter-in-law and I cheered without being conscious of other people's eyes. I wouldn't have done it normally, but this was a game where Mido would be selected for the national team. It might be embarra.s.sing, but I still had to do it. Kanghyun and Jeongdo lowered their heads and were blus.h.i.+ng.

Then the host continued once again.

-As you all know, this year's national team selection will be for an integrated league.

It was something that everyone knew well.

-Union has insisted that the trials need to be more difficult since it is an integrated league. 50 people have pa.s.sed through the high difficulty preliminaries. Who will survive to the final 20? Who can wear the flag of South Korea on their chest?

The tense background sound spread calmly, causing tension.

-The final event of the trial has been decided by Union. This is being implemented all over the world at the same time. I have a piece of paper in my hand with the event on it. I will reveal what it is right now.

The host's face appeared on the giant screen along with a slight drumming sound. He pulled out a small envelope and his eyes widened when he saw what was in the envelope.

-Ahhh. This is it.

He paused for a moment before opening his mouth.

-The Arkstar national team selection. The final event is...!

The sound of the drums heightened the tension in people's heart and made their bodies tremble. 30 seconds pa.s.sed and this was what the host said after gulping...

-I'll see you after the advertis.e.m.e.nt.