Player Who Returned 10,000 Years Later

Chapter 58 – Bait (Part 1)

Editor: Cherish

— We need to throw out bait.

— Bait? — Young-ju tilted her head in a questioning manner.
— What do you mean? —

— You do realize that the Devil’s Teachers are using Players with high-class special abilities as victims, right?

The tattooed man who appeared in the video had said: ‘Maybe because they’re Big Guild Players, but most trained victims had special abilities above Class B.’

What he said revealed that Players with high class abilities were needed.

He wouldn’t have mentioned it if that were not the case.

— I see, of course.
— Young-ju nodded with understanding.

She knew better than anyone that the Devil’s Teachers were targeting those kinds of Players.

— Most likely, they’re targeting low-level Players.

— Low level?

— Their target should be Players with low levels and high special abilities.

— Ah…! – Young-ju made a short exclamation and nodded again.

Players who start with high rank special abilities tend to get even higher special abilities as they level up.

But the higher the level, the more likely it was that they were connected to a guild or had a regular hunting party.

For the Devil’s Teachers who act in secret, it was too dangerous to connect with high-level Players.

— I agree.
I heard there’s been an increase in Team Killers and missing persons at the lower level gates lately.
— Hwa Yeon nodded affirmatively as she listened to their exchange.

It wasn’t until they caught wind of the Devil’s Teachers that Hwaran began their investigation and found out the pseudo-religion’s goal was to hunt for ‘sacrifices.’

In fact, when Hwa Yeon first met Kang Yu near the low-level gate, her squad was there to investigate.

— That’s why we have to start a rumor that an incredibly gifted Player has appeared at the lower gates, — Kang Yu continued quietly.

Hwa Yeon arched an eyebrow at Kang Yu’s resolute answer.

— Time is ticking.
— He stared into her eyes with a serious gaze.

— What do you mean by that…?

— They’ve already found out that there was a spy among them.
I’m sure they’re wary that information about their planned summon may have leaked outside their school.

— Right.
But wouldn’t that make them even more secretive?

In response to her question, Kang Yu slowly shook his head.

— They’ll raise the stakes.

— Raise the stakes…?

— If it was necessary to stop them right now, what would you do, Hwa Yeon?

— Huh… If I was the one in charge of the Squad, we’d be watching the Players with special abilities of rank B and above more closely.
That’s the way it always works.

It’s the most reasonable move for Hwaran Squad if they knew that the Devil’s Teachers were targeting talented Players.

— And if that’s the case, they won’t be able to easily hunt Players with special abilities above Class B, since they won’t be sure who exactly you’re looking out for.

— That’s right.

— So they’ll devote all their energy to hunting Players with Class S special abilities.

Baek Hwa Yeon bit her lip nervously.

According to him, the Devil’s Teachers will raise their stakes once they learn that they could be caught hunting Players with Class B special abilities, so they’ll take a risk and hunt Players with Class S special abilities.

However…

— Isn’t it possible that they’ll just delay their plan and move on to even weaker Players? — The girl asked Kang Yu cautiously.

He smiled smugly.

— No.
They’ll try to finish what they started as soon as possible.
There’s no way they’ll sink to getting weaker Players.

— What makes you think that?

— Because they’re human.

Hwa Yeon was surprised by his answer.
He continued without a moment’s doubt:

— They know that once they’ve completed what they started, they’ll be able to expand and get even more support.
That’s why there’s no way they’re going to lower the stakes.

— It’s kind of weird.
Are you telling me they’re willing to put themselves in even greater danger for the benefit?

— That’s right.

— How can you be so sure…

— Because all people are the same.

Thrown off by his confident response, Hwa Yeon bit her lip again.

Kang Yu glanced at her and smiled.

— Do you know about the book ‘Don’t Pounce on Marmalade?’

— I know it… — Hwa Yeon nodded her head.

The book was a world bestseller for self-development, which basically says that if you endure temptation, you can gain greater benefits.

— Do you know why it became a bestseller?

— Because it outlines the basic principles that make a person successful?

— No.
This book became popular exactly because most people aren’t like that.

Confronting temptation with temptation.

Looking at this simple sentence, it may not seem that difficult.

To a third party who watches from the outside, people who are unable to resist temptation look nasty and stupid.

But when the third party himself is in the same situation, there is a high probability that he will also succumb to temptation and act ‘nasty and stupid.’

Only then will he admit how dangerous temptations can be.

And through this experience, he will realize that by enduring temporary gratification, he can gain greater gratification later.

(Editor’s Note: I believe this is a reference to the theory based on the Stanford Marshmallow Experiment— a kid is given a marshmallow and told to wait 15 minutes alone without eating it in order to get a second marshmallow.

You fight the temptation of eating the first marshmallow in order to get more later, thus fighting temptation with temptation.
Anyway

People simply can’t give up the sweet marmalade in front of them.

It doesn’t mean they’re stupid or narrow-minded.

The decision is wholly influenced by passionate desire, a mechanism that blocks the ability to make other decisions.

‘Of course, there are also those who are able to control their desires.’ Kang Yu’s eyes gleamed.

He didn’t believe that all humans blindly indulge in their impulses.

However, resisting temptation would be difficult for the red masked man, as it would be for all the Devil’s Teachers.

‘Since they’ve got Magi.’

Anyone who possesses Magi is bound to turn into a demon.

And demons, as we know, are always starved for more.

Even Kang Yu, who has lived as a demon for so long, often found it hard to resist temptation.

That’s why Kang Yu was sure that they couldn’t curb the thirst, what with their inexperience.

— And who are you thinking of using as bait? — asked Young-ju, who had been quietly listening to their conversation.
— If it’s a low-level player with a high special ability, he’s probably already been noticed by the press, or he’s joined one of the big guilds.
Unless you’re saying you want to be the bait yourself? —

— No.
That would be hard to pull off because everyone already knows me as a talented rookie sponsored by Red Rose.

— So, you’re going to start a false rumor?

— That would just be advertising the bait.
It wouldn’t work.

Listening to Kang Yu’s answers, Young-ju bit her lip and frowned.

— Well, then who?

— I have someone in mind, — Kang Yu said with a confident smile.

A player who’s at a low level but has a special ability higher than S class.

A person who doesn’t want to join a guild and is not yet known to the public.

Kang Yu knew the perfect person.

‘Kim Si Hoon.’

A man with outstanding skills who was able to subjugate himself.

A player who received a first rank ability, not of Class S, but SSS.

‘A bait that is impossible to resist.’

Remembering the unknown man with the red mask, Kang Yu narrowed his eyes.

***

***

A week has passed since the spy incident.

After the girls approved Kang Yu’s proposal, rumors about Kim Si Hoon began to spread quietly around the country.

His name wasn’t in the headlines nor discussed by high-level Players.

Instead, his name became the main topic of gossip among entry-level Players.

‘Unusual.’ Kang Yu’s gaze was bright as he scrolled through social media.

The rumors were on the Internet, sounding like a fairytale fable.

‘A player at a low-level gate who hides his special high-end abilities.’

Not too conspicuous, but enough to spark interest.

He didn’t know who had a hand in this, whether it was Young-ju or Hwa Yeon, but the information was spreading at an incredible speed.

‘Even though I thought that neither of them had any talent in this industry.’

That Hwa Yeon, a straightforward, cold female general, and that passionate, hot-headed Young-ju both had no talent for falsifying classified information.

‘But I know who could have done it…’ In Kang Yu’s memory, there was one face that appeared every time he went to the Red Rose office.

A young man who gives the impression of being a calm man.

The Head of Human Resources, Park Hyun Woo.

‘Well, it doesn’t matter who handled it, it’s all good.’

Kang Yu put his phone in his pocket, then turned his head towards the ragged window leading to a room in the basement.

Through the glass, one could see a middle-aged woman lying on the bed, and Si Hoon, who was caring for her.

‘Their house is even worse than Han Sol’s,’ Kang Yu thought while watching the boy.

Si Hoon was chosen as bait a week ago.

Kang Yu guarded his house 24 hours a day without going in.

After all, he had no idea when the Devil’s Teachers would come for him.

‘I can’t lose this guy.’

Even though Si Hoon was being used as bait, not once did Kang Yu think of putting him in real danger.

Si Hoon didn’t know it, but his soul was completely under Kang Yu’s control.

And Kang Yu wasn’t going to let the boy’s extraordinary strength waste away as mere bait.

‘After all, since I made him my subordinate, I should be responsible for him.’

He believed that Si Hoon had every right to shout at him and call him names for what he was doing, but that didn’t mean that Kang Yu would avoid taking responsibility.

‘In the future, you’re going to be an outstanding person.’ With a forlorn gaze, Kang Yu continued watching Si Hoon care for the woman, most likely his mother.

He will become more and more powerful.
And the strength Kang Yu has put into him will make him even better.

Considering that, the rumors will likely spread at an even faster rate.

— Mom, I’ll be leaving now.
— Si Hoon opened the door and headed out.

He was on his way to the gate as usual, where Han Sol, Dae Su, and Eun Bi were waiting for him.

As he walked outside, Si Hoon let out a sad and heavy sigh.

Then he stopped, thought for a moment and shook his head, and whispered to himself like he was making a promise:

— Hold on! A little more and you can repay all your debts!

Si Hoon briefly touched the sheath hanging from his belt and continued on his way.

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Kang Yu, who was hiding nearby, smiled:

‘So he became a Player to pay back his debts and take care of his sick mother.’

Kang Yu cocked his head to the side and followed Si Hoon.

‘Seriously… is he the main character?’

***