Ch. 4 The Heavyweight (1)
by AfuhfuihgsChapter 4 – The Heavyweight (1)
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[These Jung Chan-soo stans are getting cocky again. Stop overreacting.]
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The flood of posts from users who seemed to have swarmed in from somewhere, the trolling, and the subsequent actions taken by the admin, Serpina—all of it unfolded swiftly before my eyes.
In an instant, the malicious posts were deleted, and the users were banned.
But that was enough time for me to realize what was happening and for the users in my gallery to get angry.
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[These Jung-tards are really annoying. They act like they’re Jung Chan-soo himself.]
[They’ve never even reached rank 1, always riding on others’ coattails, lol.]
[Why aren’t they banned yet? It’s so easy to create a dummy account by separating your soul.]
[They’re just doing meaningless trolling.]
[Why do they only target us?]
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After that, a flood of angry posts from users poured in. It seemed like this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened.
It only started to calm down after Serpina told them to tone it down.
‘Do other people have fan communities like this too?’
I was stunned as I stared at the screen.
Their raw reactions, contrasting with their true identities, were something I hadn’t expected to be so heated.
I still don’t fully understand why they’re so intense.
While it’s understandable that they’re interested in us, from their perspective, we’re just juniors far beneath them.
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[You probably already know this, but a lot of people have bet points on Jung Chan-soo being rank 1.]
- RealTanker
-“And not just rank 1. They’ve bet on him being the overwhelming rank 1, lol. Have you seen the odds on private sites? If he loses even once, they lose all their points. No wonder they’re so desperate to sabotage her.”
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There was a post explaining the reason. I was shocked to learn that the points they were talking about were the achievement points needed for Constellation rank promotions.
They were essentially using us for their point gambling.
Of course, I already knew that Constellations enjoyed gambling and betting, but I thought it was just for fun and entertainment.
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ㄴ“Those bastards didn’t just bet on Jung Chan-soo’s rank.”
ㄴ“Right, they bet on fan numbers, gallery rankings, sponsorship amounts—everything. These gambling addicts are out of control. Some even bet on whether Reina will join Jung Chan-soo’s harem or not.”
ㄴ“The comment above is hilarious. So, we’re targeted within the top 10 because of our gallery rankings? Are they afraid we’ll catch up?”
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Comments pointing this out or lamenting it started pouring in under the post.
It was absurd that they were spending points that could determine their lives like this, but it was also so realistic that it left me speechless.
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ㄴ“Honestly, even here…”
ㄴ“I’ll admit it. I also bet on Reina staying within the top 10, but when you think about it, that’s gambling too. The only difference is whether it’s private or official.”
ㄴ“The Noble Armor—even that was something we sponsored with our points, and it got destroyed this time…”
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In fact, this culture wasn’t unique to Jung Chan-soo’s fandom. It was a massive system where Constellations’ entertainment was mixed with real gambling.
I felt dizzy when I heard that many users had points riding on me.
The S-grade item I lost this time was something I luckily obtained from a golden reward box, the highest grade of reward chest.
I thought it was just a gift from Serpina, my Constellation, and a stroke of luck, but it turned out to be something funded by users’ points.
‘Wait, does that mean everything so far has been…?’
The unseen others and the massive system they were part of might have been influencing us more than just watching and cheering.
The realization sent chills down my spine.
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“…”
When I woke up, the community where users had been actively chatting also disappeared from my sight, but I sat up in bed with an even heavier heart than before.
It was only natural to feel conflicted.
The countless help I’d received from them was real, and now a new burden weighed on my shoulders—the fear that my mistakes could ruin everything.
“Ah, damn it…”
I covered my eyes with my hand and sighed.
Is this how sports stars feel when they’re burdened with the expectations of many? Even though I’ve never met these people, carrying the expectations and attention of so many is no easy task.
It’s not something that suits my personality at all.
Even though I’m a ranker who’s inevitably famous both inside and outside the Tower, I’ve left all external activities to Kim Ji-eun because of my personality.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
“If you’re not feeling well yet, you can rest a bit longer at headquarters.”
Kim Ji-eun, who had come with my luggage, asked with a worried expression when she saw me like that.
But I couldn’t bring myself to share my concerns with her. There are people watching me everywhere, at all times.
I couldn’t dare say it out loud.
“No. It’s better to get moving now.”
Resting won’t solve anything. I need to move and divert my mind elsewhere.
“I’m heading to the 30th floor.”
With just a light backpack prepared by Kim Ji-eun, I set off.
While climbing up the Tower is excruciatingly difficult, going down is always possible—that’s the rule of the Tower.
Of course, when someone from a higher floor goes down, their stats are reduced accordingly. They’re restored when they return to their original floor.
“Huh?”
“Uh, uh, I really tried to stop them…”
But the moment I stepped out of the hospital entrance.
As if they had been waiting, a large group of people swarmed in.
Kim Ji-eun, looking flustered, averted her eyes and stammered.
“Long time no see, Lady Reina.”
Edmond, the Lizardman, flicked his long, slender tongue and raised the corner of his mouth. In his hand was a camera.
It wasn’t powered by batteries and circuits but by magic stones and engraved spell formulas.
“Edmond, what is this?”
“Please understand. We have to make a living too.”
She frowned, wearing sunglasses made of finely crafted obsidian.
Even though her eyes were hidden behind the large lenses, the furrowed brows and wrinkles on her forehead were clearly visible.
Yet, Edmond just smirked.
“The whereabouts of Lady Reina, one of the core forces for the 150th floor… It’s only natural that not just the Tower’s residents but many worlds watching this place would be concerned.”
Rank 15, Moonlight Sword Radiance, Reina. As he said, she was one of the most famous figures in the Tower.
Even though her rank was in the double digits, in her position, she was essentially the top.
It wasn’t for nothing that Jung Chan-soo had come to see her personally. The role Reina played in the 150th-floor raid and her achievements were significant.
“Above all, as a journalist, I have a duty to deliver information to the countless people trembling in anxiety.”
“You’re quite the talker.”
Edmond, who had lived several times longer than Reina, had abandoned his former identity a decade ago and became a resident of the Tower. In exchange for losing the power he had built, he gained freedom as part of the Tower.
Not just Edmond, but the countless others who had swarmed here were all from the media.
The news they delivered spread throughout the Tower and beyond, to the worlds connected to it.
“Many are anxious, wondering if Lady Reina might abandon the raid, causing problems for the 150th-floor strategy.”
“That’s wrong. I’m just taking a break to train during the reorganization period. My goal is still to break through the Tower.”
Even as an overwhelming powerhouse, it’s hard to ignore public opinion when it’s tied to your homeland.
In the end, Reina had to hold an impromptu press conference in front of the hospital entrance, responding to the reporters’ questions.
‘Well, there’s no helping it now.’
She usually avoided such events, but she decided it was better to clarify things than let misunderstandings fester. The press conference proceeded as usual.
.
.
.
“It’s not uncommon for climbers to revisit lower floors to find what they might have missed while climbing. It’s about rediscovering possibilities.”
“…”
While Reina was meeting with the reporters.
On the rooftop of a building a block away, two men stood watching.
One of them, Jung Chan-soo, remained silent, simply staring at the scene despite the other man’s words.
‘Reina Frontier. The only variable I didn’t know about. Perhaps the only one I might have created.’
The members of Reina’s guild, Over Moon, the reporters, the onlookers.
Nearly 100 people had gathered in front of the hospital, but in his eyes, only one person was visible.
A tall woman, over 170 cm, with long silver hair.
Even though she was wearing her usual loose and baggy tracksuit, her figure was still striking.
But Jung Chan-soo wasn’t focusing on her because of her rumored beauty.
‘Why? Why does Abeltar keep suggesting I eliminate her?’
His contracted Constellation, Abeltar, was known for offering risky choices with correspondingly large rewards. Jung Chan-soo had sought him out and contracted with him, knowing this from his past life.
Recently, Abeltar had been consistently suggesting that he eliminate Reina.
Jung Chan-soo, who had been using Abeltar to his advantage, had been ignoring the suggestion, assuming it was just an attempt to increase his own difficulty by removing a strong candidate who might one day reach the top of the Tower with him.
“Let’s go back. We’ll also strengthen ourselves during the reorganization period.”
“Is that possible in the current situation?”
“There are many ways. You just don’t know them.”
With that, Jung Chan-soo turned away without hesitation.
He thought it would be good if Reina grew stronger. He just needed to grow stronger himself.
Author Note
A/N (Author’s note):
Thank you for the support!!!!!!
Translator Note
T/N (Translator’s note):
Oh yeah, with this novel being taken by me, I officially have the most novels taken on this site…Yeah, rent is that high that I have to take that many, but so what..!!
I love money, even though I’m dirt poor… but it doesn’t matter, smh!
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