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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: The All Master Who Regressed to Bronze
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Pyongchang-dong Mansion.
Even among affluent neighborhoods, Pyongchang-dong was renowned as the pinnacle of wealth—and after the "Dimension Arena" appeared in the world, it had only grown richer still.
The wealthy used their fortunes to craft mansions from the new materials and byproducts pouring out of the Dimension Arena—bigger, sturdier, and more extravagant than ever.
And among them, the grandest estate stood in the safest, most expensive spot. Its owner was none other than Choi Cheol-ho, chairman of the Shinwa Group, one of Korea's two corporate titans.
"It's been a while, everyone."
"Yes, Father."
"It'd be stranger if we saw a busy man like you more often."
"Dad! Is it true that Oseong snatched up the new-material bags and jewelry we were supposed to get for the department store?"
Others besides Choi Cheol-ho had gathered at his residence.
His three sons and one daughter.
Yet the word "family" rang hollow. The conversation at the table involved only four people, including Choi Cheol-ho himself.
To be precise, it excluded his third son, Choi In-gyun.
He sat at the table but kept his mouth firmly shut, unable to utter a word.
And Choi Cheol-ho along with the other siblings saw this as perfectly natural.
The hierarchy at the table extended to the kitchen.
"Sister-in-law, bring this to the table."
"...Yes."
"Oh, right. This too."
A modest, charming woman sandwiched between two intimidating women carried out the food with her head bowed.
When their orders overlapped, she couldn't hide her confusion.
"Um, the eldest madam spoke first, so..."
"What? You listen to big sis but not me? Fine, got it."
"...No. I'll do it right away."
"Good~ Keep up the good work~"
Unable to withstand their sharp glares, she trembled as she carried the heavy plates.
This was the wife of the house's son, treated worse than the maids.
Yet this brutality was normalized—even for the children.
"Ho-seong, you got promoted to Platinum this time, right?"
"Basic stuff for the son of the Shinwa Guild Master. Now I'm aiming for Diamond Tier like Dad."
"True, Uncle's collection is insane. That'll get you to Diamond quick."
"All gear carry."
"You guys only talk about Diamond every time we meet. Aren't you sick of it?"
"Nah, never gets old. Always fresh."
"Ugh, all grown up and still kids."
A man of average height with a sleazy look.
Another tall and handsome.
And a woman dressed like a princess from a movie.
The three chattered away happily, but one man couldn't join in.
"Sigh, I have no idea why Grandpa would bring that worthless family back to the main house."
"He's still unranked, right?"
"What's the point? Look at his brother—it's obvious."
"Oh, what was it again? That..."
"Useless Scrub?"
"Yeah, that. Man, if it were me, I'd have killed myself already. For real."
"..."
Even as his family trashed them right in front of him, Shin-woo's fists shook with rage, but he couldn't muster a word.
Choi Shin-hyeok's younger brother, Choi Shin-woo, could only clench his trembling fists.
It was then.
"...Young Master Choi Shin-hyeok has arrived."
A low voice echoed through the mansion.
At the entrance of today's protagonist, Shin-hyeok, silence fell over the table, kitchen, and rooms alike.
Amid the hush, steady footsteps resounded.
Thud... thud...
Just footsteps, yet they carried undeniable weight.
As everyone puzzled over it...
"It's been a while. Grandfather. Uncle, Little Uncle, Aunt."
"...Are you really Shin-hyeok?"
"Yes. Father is Choi In-gyun, and Mother is Lee So-yeon."
"Bold one. Sit down first. Eat before we talk. Koreans run on rice, don't they?"
Choi Cheol-ho's eyes flickered with interest at Shin-hyeok's firm response.
He had greeted the grandfather and family he once feared.
That alone proved Shin-hyeok could handle some pressure.
So when Choi Cheol-ho beckoned him to the table, Shin-hyeok started toward it—then stopped.
"...? What are you doing? Come sit."
"I have something to do first."
"Something to do?"
With that, Shin-hyeok headed to the kitchen and gently took the plates from his mother's hands.
"Shin-hyeok... That's for Mom to—"
"Your soon-to-be player son wants to lend a hand. Mother, go to the table. You haven't eaten yet."
"No... Um..."
Lee So-yeon, Shin-hyeok's mother, was utterly flustered by his sudden action.
And his invitation to the table—without Grandfather's permission, no less—left her at a loss.
"Kehhehe, right. Daughter-in-law hasn't eaten. Come here. Let's have a meal together."
"...Thank you, Chairman."
"Good? Now eat."
With Choi Cheol-ho's chuckle, it seemed Shin-hyeok would finally sit—but
"My brother will greet you too before we eat."
"Your brother...? Ha! Fine, let's see that greeting."
"Choi Shin-woo. Come greet Grandfather."
"B-Bro, that's a bit—"
"Choi Shin-woo."
"...Grandfather, I hope you've been well."
"I have. You too. Sit and have a bite."
"P-Pardon? Oh... yes."
Choi Cheol-ho's interest deepened at Shin-hyeok's care for his family to the very end.
In the end, Shin-hyeok and his entire family sat at the table for the meal.
Yet even as he urged them to eat, Choi Cheol-ho questioned Shin-hyeok again.
"My grandson's becoming a player soon?"
"Two days left."
"Right... Players are great. Even this old man's Platinum—know everything. But your reputation's trash, kid."
Shin-hyeok calmly scooped rice into his mouth at Choi Cheol-ho's sly smile.
Only after chewing and swallowing some soup did he answer.
"Yes. My predicted tier is Bronze. Factoring in how schools underrate by one tier, it'll actually be Iron."
"Heh, Iron... You know that's a disgrace to our family?"
His voice turned icy, as if the prior laughter was a lie.
And the phrase "family disgrace" he'd just uttered.
It implied that if Shin-hyeok got Iron, he could erase the shame.
'In the past, they kicked me off the family registry. Never came back here.'
He knew it well from experience.
Yet Shin-hyeok didn't care.
"Grandfather. Know about gambling?"
"Gambling? Sure. What're you getting at?"
"Gambling has longshots. And they say if a longshot hits, it's a jackpot. It really is."
"True, true. Longshots are great. But they rarely hit—that's why they're longshots, right?"
Choi Cheol-ho answered readily, turning question to answer.
His reply about longshots was aimed at Shin-hyeok.
Whether the Placement Exam lottery would hit on Shin-hyeok, the longshot.
Shin-hyeok grinned at Choi Cheol-ho, who stared piercingly from the head of the table.
"How about betting on that longshot?"
"What makes me trust you? Hell, I don't expect anything from you anyway."
A heavy response.
Satisfying someone with no expectations is harder than one with demands.
Especially for Choi Cheol-ho, whose hopes for Shin-hyeok's family were rock bottom.
Meeting his gaze, Shin-hyeok placed his bet.
"Oseong Group."
"...!"
"Oseong Guild Master's son, Lee Joo-ho, is in this Placement Exam. Same age as me."
"...What're you saying?"
A bet invoking Oseong—their bitter rivals.
As Choi Cheol-ho grew serious at the name, Shin-hyeok continued.
"I'll make Shinwa's name echo through this Placement Exam, not Oseong's. I'll give you the kindling."
"Kindling... How? Oseong Guild Master's eldest is predicted Silver—top tier. He could scrape by there. With Oseong Group's backing, that'll dominate headlines all day. And you can make kindling from that?"
Choi Cheol-ho's sharp question—he'd already scouted all the Placement Exam talents.
A normal person would sweat under the pressure of that wall.
Not Shin-hyeok.
"Yes. I can."
"...If true, worth the longshot. But reject if the terms are ridiculous."
Choi Cheol-ho nodded at the prompt reply.
Shin-hyeok replied nonchalantly to the line drawn.
"Lee Joo-ho climbs to Silver. To dim his shine? I hit Silver too. Brighter, even. High school practical exams dead last, Useless Scrub, sole predicted Bronze—then I land Silver proudly."
"...You're serious?"
"Dead serious."
Firm answer.
Choi Cheol-ho nodded, adding,
"Fair point. But only if you get Silver. Low odds—you want Shinwa PR team assigned?"
"Never planned to do it empty-handed."
"Then what're you betting?"
You bet on me, the longshot—what do you stake?
At that, Shin-hyeok glanced at his parents and brother beside him before speaking.
"My family."
"...Bet your family... What do you mean?"
"If this fails, strike me and my family from the Choi registry. We'll leave ourselves."
"...!"
His parents and brother stared at him in shock—no prior discussion.
But neither Choi Cheol-ho nor Shin-hyeok minded their gazes.
"...Hmm. Then reverse: if you succeed, what do you want?"
Success reward.
Not questioning his grandson's self-disownment, but the prize for victory—cold as ice.
Shin-hyeok smiled.
"Same. My family."
"Which family this time?"
"Take my family back into the Choi house. That's my reward."
"..."
Family on the line for failure or success.
Choi Cheol-ho rested his chin, eyes closed in silence.
But briefly.
"...Kahahahaha! Fine, good. Can't refuse my cute grandson's show for Grandpa. Go for it. Failure or success—as said here."
His booming laugh shook the mansion, granting permission.
Shin-hyeok nodded calmly, as if expecting it, then turned to his stunned family.
"Let's eat. I'm hungry."