YES! I made it! Almost didn't have time.

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After the initial shock died off, they decided that it made a twisted sort of sense that Seung’s father had spied on his adventures in Royal Road, and then find out who his friends were with the aid of the massive corporation at his back.

Then Meonji (Rell) asked what his father’s corporation actually did, and Seung had to admit that he had absolutely no idea, and that he had tried to find his family on the internet and failed.

Sangjong (Aurora) found this very interesting, and spent the next half hour trying to find something.

Eventually she got fed up, and just put out word on the internet that she was looking for people who are, or might be fabulously wealthy, but are still unknown, and gave up.

“You don’t get this much money without anyone noticing.”

She was very insistent on that.

“But no one has noticed.”

“No, they just haven’t connected it to your names. If we find a money trail connected to no names, and names connected to a missing number trail, we just put two and two together.”

“Speaking of two and two, what are you majoring it?”

“Medicine.” Hyeol (Aesh) answered for her.

“Yeah. Like Teru, and Saijou and-”

“We get it.” growled Meonji.

“Are those friends of yours?”

Sangjong laughed at him.

“No, they’re characters. From manwha.”

“What are manwha?”

There was a pause, as even Meonji stared at him, aghast.

Sangjong looked like she would faint. Or perhaps cry. Maybe grab a knife.

“Have you ever met anyone your age? Ever?” asked Hyeol. “Before Royal Road.”

Seung thought for a second.

When the second ended, he noticed that the minute hand had moved forward an appreciable amount.

He was surprised there was a broken clock in his house.

“Yes. Yes I have.”

The other four, who did not believe the clock was broken, were exchanging glances.

Their new friend was sheltered.

Nuclear bunker sheltered.

They were also his first friends his age, within a few years or so.

“So you two are majoring in martial arts, and she’s majoring in medicine, what about you?”

“Geology.” Meonji said proudly, “But Hyeol isn’t majoring in martial arts.”

“Well,” Hyeol said, “I am. I’m just also majoring in visual arts. And creative writing.”

“And he’s minoring in everything else.” added Sangjong.

“Everything?”

“No.” Hyeol said, “I can think of at least five I’m not, and that’s just off the top of my head.”

Seung thought to himself that Hyeol was very lucky. He wished he was taking everything like that.

“So Meonji, you’re a martial artist in the game, and your mother and sister are martial artists here.”

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Yeah.”

“Why aren’t you taking martial arts?”

“Because I suck at it.” he answered honestly.

“I couldn’t live up to my mother’s expectations or my sister’s ability. Maybe that was why, but I didn’t enjoy it.”

“Then,” Yeong continued, “When we started Royal Road, he said that he wanted to give it another shot.”

“Actually,” Meonji said, “She said that he should give it another shot.”

Seung asked “What do you mean?”

“She forced meinto doing it. Her idea was that the people taking martial arts shouldn’t be the front liners.”

“We need our skills to complement our lack of abilities in game. Besides, it’s more fun to try new things.”

Seung thought for a while.

“So then Meonji is the mage.”

“What?”

“You’re a party with a monk, a swordmaster, a mage, and a priestess.”

“Yeah, but he’s the monk.”

“In the game maybe, but this is real life.”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“Sangjong is taking medicine, so she’s the priestess.”

“I guess that makes sense.”

“Yeong is the monk, so Hyeol is the swordmaster and Meonji is the mage.”

It was Meonji’s turn to think.

“Nope.” he decided.

“What do you mean?! It’s the only arrangement that makes sense!”

He smiled.

“I’m the thief. You’re the mage.”

[p=center]* * *[/p]

The elder Sun was in his office.

Sitting in front of him was a computer with three monitors.

On each of the side monitors there was a person’s face.

“Look,” he was saying, “We share our monies for gains and losses alike. What more do you want?”

“I want you. You’re not just the head of D. Your also the greatest… whatever it is you are, and the only one who can do whatever it is you do.”

“I can’t leave my son behind, and I can’t move him. I’ve told you that.”

“Then take a break. Just leave your other project behind for now and I’ll send you some new work to do.”

“My project is for all of our sakes.”

The other screen spoke.

“We know, and we appreciate that. She just wants you to take a little break. I don’t care one way or the other.

“That’s what I like about you P.” the first screen said. “you’re so blunt.”

“Fine.” Sun said. “I’ll do your homework. Besides, I’ve already finished our project.”

“You have?”

“Yes. And I have four new test subjects. And, of course, my one old one.”

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