The Third Dive (2)

Balancing long Dives with battles and sorting out the aftermath, the dim outside had turned bright.

Hurriedly preparing breakfast, I invited the bodyguards for a meal, woke Mina for a late breakfast, and we set out for a walk.

As we moved along the trail around the country house, we greeted the residents lightly and enjoyed the now fully warm weather.

“Not tired?”

“No! Oppa, it’s really nice. Just like when I was little!”

Despite the sweat on her forehead, I patted Mina’s head as she smiled brightly, and insisted on stopping by the local convenience store to buy her ice cream before heading home.

After a quick wash, I handed Mina a necklace, a ring, and a bracelet as she came out to the living room.

“Oppa?”

Mina’s big eyes grew even larger, surprised by the three pieces of jewelry with mysteriously glowing blue gems.

Patting her head at her cute reaction, I continued speaking calmly.

“Remember I told you before? I met people living in seclusion in the famous mountains to treat you?”

“Yes.”

Mina was aware that her condition couldn’t be cured by medicine. How could she not know? It was her own body. She fought the illness herself.

So I explained that I had given her medicine, painstakingly obtained from the people practicing in the mountains, which seemed to have worked.

Mina remembered feeling warm and comfortable before waking up, accepting that it was a tonic.

“They specially made these for you. Think of them as talismans. Wear them all the time. Even when you sleep. Okay?”

“Really?”

“Of course. They said it would keep bad energy from getting to you.”

“Wow! But for a talisman, it’s really pretty!”

Excitedly, Mina put on the bracelet and ring. When I added the necklace, she rushed to the mirror. Watching her from behind, a fatherly smile naturally spread across my face.

After entering ‘Battlefield of the Gods,’ the flow of time here and the time in ‘Battlefield of the Gods’ differed, but it wasn’t completely stopped.

Ten years in ‘Battlefield of the Gods’ equaled one year on Earth.

While preparing for Mina, who would be left alone, I noticed the accessories worn by the character I dove into.

If Mina, who had to live in the modern world, directly increased her strength or agility stats, she might inadvertently harm someone.

Especially in urgent situations, I was worried that a well-intentioned action might harm a fragile person, so I couldn’t easily recommend game items.

However, there were cases where items changed after assimilation.

For example, just as the stat “Magic of HanNoManPanda” originally output as mana, in the game, the “Advanced Spirit’s Jewellery” had an option to increase critical hit probability against humans.

But after assimilation, the option changed to increase luck, making it as good as it could be. Additionally, the effect of reducing long-range attack damage changed to projectile immunity.

In terms of increased vitality, it was beneficial for Mina to live a long and healthy life, and projectile immunity was a perfect defense against guns, the most feared weapon on Earth.

Moreover, it contained a skill that continuously generated a shield that increased luck by a high amount and defended by a certain value, making it unbeatable.

“Oppa, oppa!”

“Yeah?”

“What are you thinking about? You didn’t answer when I called. Can I really have this?”

“Of course. Oppa said so. Oppa has a lot of money. And according to those masters, once it chooses an owner, it can’t be changed.”

“Really?”

She tried to remove the ring and bracelet, but naturally, they didn’t come off.

This is more due to divine power than the original game’s characteristics. Unless Mina dies, those ornaments won’t come off her body.

But since Mina can’t be forcibly killed, there’s probably no way to deal with her unless she dies of natural causes.

Moreover, waiting for a natural death would take too long because her vitality is too high.

Moreover, I added a three-year contract with Special One Guard this time. Since a year on Earth is equivalent to ten years in the ‘Battlefield of the Gods,’ I thought three years would be sufficient, considering my previous life.

Before entering the ‘Battlefield of the Gods,’ the rough preparations to protect Mina were completed.

And today, I drove to Seoul for the remaining preparations.

The man I was supposed to meet at a cafe in front of Seoul S Hospital looked haggard.

It seemed like he hadn’t shaved in a while, as his beard was rough. His hair was greasy as if he hadn’t washed it, and his clothes were shabby.

A haggard and shabby appearance. It was a look that made one frown, especially for a man in his mid-30s who should be in his prime.

“Mr. Jung Il-sung?”

“Yes, I am Jung Il-sung!”

The man bowed deeply to me, who looked young at first glance. An excessive gesture.

But if you knew his circumstances, you would understand. No, I understand better than anyone.

“I’m Kim Han, the one who contacted you. Nice to meet you.”

“Yes, yes, I’m Jung Il-sung.”

“Since your situation isn’t ideal for small talk, let’s get to the point.”

“Yes…”

“Is your daughter’s diagnosis ALS?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

The man answered weakly.

The aura I subtly exuded might have made him suspect that I’m not an ordinary person. Moreover, as the father of a sick child, he bowed even more in front of me.

“Alright. Are you aware of the contract terms?”

“Yes! But…”

“Don’t worry about the treatment. My sister was in a worse situation. She suffered from an unknown disease but has already been cured.”

“Ah…! Th-thank you. Thank you. Truly… thank you.”

The man, who managed to express his gratitude, started trembling and could not lift his bowed head.

The sound of a strong man quietly sobbing reached me from across the table.

The man in front of me was introduced as a legend in the field, having served in the Korean special forces.

He was not only a legend among his peers but also stood out in joint operations with global special forces, akin to the Olympics.

Moreover, his exceptional loyalty to the country garnered him admiration from many military officials who anticipated his achievements.

The reason the man, who seemed destined for success, had to reluctantly leave the military was because his only daughter was suffering from the incurable disease, ALS.

A story that might seem all too familiar.

Perhaps those who live difficult and earnest lives feel pain and suffering more acutely than those who steal or bully others.

In any case, the father and daughter, who were once happy despite having little, fell into the depths of suffering.

What made it even harder for the man was that his superiors urged him to focus on his duties despite his heartache over his daughter’s illness.

How could a father set aside his dying daughter and concentrate on his mission?

The top soldier of South Korea could only watch helplessly as his daughter withered away each day, and with no help from anyone, he had to hastily retire.

The money he had saved up quickly dried up, and in a situation where debts were mounting, the sense of shame as a father must have been overwhelming.

Therefore, the sudden news that his daughter could be treated must have been hard to believe.

But he probably couldn’t help but rush over, even though it was much more likely to be a scam. He couldn’t help but hold onto hope, even if there was only a 1% chance.

“This is the contract. Please review it slowly and thoroughly, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask.”

“Yes, yes!”

Tears from the eyes of a father, not a legendary soldier, stained the contract.

I grabbed his arm as he tried to sign without reading it carefully. I shook my head and spoke to him as he looked up at me with a puzzled and surprised expression.

“If you want to raise Joo-ah without envy, you shouldn’t sign such contracts emotionally. Calm your mind and check each part slowly.”

Jung Il-sung’s face, which had been surprised by my words, contorted. A face that couldn’t be identified as smiling or crying.

Jung Il-sung wiped his eyes with rough, coarse hands, looked at me, and responded with a forced smile and a gruff voice.

“Thank you. I understand you are someone I should serve in the future. Even so, I appreciate your concern and care. I already trust the information I’ve received, but to be honest, I was resenting our Joo-ah. At first, I felt sorry for my daughter, ashamed of my lack of ability, and as I was burdened with loans and debt, I felt despair. So, I ended up resenting my daughter lying in the hospital room.”

“Yes…”

“So, I thought… let’s die together. Just as I was about to tell my sleeping daughter to die with me, the phone rang like a miracle. It was as if her mother, who had passed away earlier, was scolding me. That call was from you, sir. I’ll make the contract. Even if you are a devil or a murderer, I’ll contract. If only my daughter can become healthy again…”

“Whew… Then let me explain briefly. First, Mr. Jung Il-sung, your main task is to protect my sister, Kim Mina. The contract period is initially five years. After that, the contract is automatically renewed on a yearly basis until Mr. Jung Il-sung wishes to terminate it. I will provide the necessary equipment. If you need additional personnel, you can recruit them. The annual salary is 24 million won for the first year. The contract fee covers all of Mr. Jung Il-sung’s debts. The second-year salary is 120 million won. After that, considering the inflation rate, there is about a 10% increase each year as per the contract.”

“Yes! I will do it!”

As he hurriedly tried to sign again, I stopped him and continued speaking.

“Mina is a seventeen-year-old girl who, until recently, was in intensive care without even knowing her diagnosis. Of course, she was treated with the same medication that treated Mr. Jung Il-sung’s daughter, Jung Joo-ah, and now she is healthier than the average person. Currently, four female bodyguards from Special One Guard, contracted for three years, are providing 24-hour protection at a country house in Yangpyeong.”

“Yes! I understand!”

“No… sigh… For now, let’s proceed with the contract after transporting Joo-ah to our home first. We can’t have a proper conversation right now. I’ve arranged for the transportation. Let’s discuss her treatment and the formation of the team, including the salary, after treating your daughter, Joo-ah.”

“Yes!!”