On Hiatus: God's Personal Reasons

Chapter 59: I’ll Get Serious If You Want

Within the Hunter Academy’s sparring room was a 10-meter octagonal cage reinforced with special iron. I heard it was a magical material that could absorb the impact from force and abilities.

Maybe I can use this as a reference for my novels in the future...

But when I tried to take a closer look, Mr. Lee interrupted me. Wearing his gloves, he spoke disgruntledly.

"Where’s your protective equipment? Aren’t you going to wear any?"

"But you’re not wearing any either."

“Our situation is different.”

“It's fine. I won't wear it if you aren't.”

Veins bulged on his forehead as he maintained a stern expression.

“I warned you.”

Is he offended?

Then, Mr. Lee revealed his copper-colored, shredded muscles, which resembled lowland gorilla’s. However, I was no longer excited to see them. Perhaps, I was too accustomed to Il-Ho’s muscles.

“Don't let your guard down. Geun-Wook is one of the better Reinforce-type B-rank Hunters out there. He might be falling behind in rank, but he’s well-versed in various martial techniques. To top it off, he’s also a veteran in battles! He can even go against A-rank Hunters with no problem!”

...Said Choi Kang-San from beyond the barbed wire like a coach.

“Yeah, yeah,” I answered dryly.

Meanwhile, the school nurse, Choi Eun-Bi, showed a bored expression. She likely thought she didn’t need to watch to know the outcome.

“Te...n-no, Oppa, good luck! Finish him in one blow!” Ms. Sung Mi-Ri, can you tone it down a bit? My opponent is your homeroom teacher, you know? Are you really asking me to finish him off?

Chatter chatter.

Students of the Hunter Academy paused their training and gathered around our sparring room.

“Isn’t that the P.E. teacher from the High School division? Who is he sparring against?”

“The Principal is here too! Maybe they are testing a new teacher?”

“Wow, it’s going to be interesting!”

Mr. Lee took a stance as he glanced at the kids who assembled around. “Let’s wrap this up before we attract more attention.”

I was slightly taken aback. Wasn’t that the stance of a certain famous character in Tekken?

“Let’s begin.”

His friendly greeting marked the start of the battle. Then, Mr. Lee paced in the arena.

Bam!

He stomped, digging his feet so hard that I could feel the earth shake!

Boooom!

Following his perfect form, his fist ferociously jabbed at me! A flawless, nimble, powerful attack that didn’t leave any gap for me to take advantage of. Truly a man of muscle, as stated in the note.

“Equip malevolent god title: Brutal Killer (C).”

This title would allow me to increase my combat prowess according to the amount of evil deeds I’d committed. Like the scene in The Matrix, I could perceive his fist traveling on a terrifying arc in slow motion. Then, our eyes met briefly. He widened his eyes as tears welled up in them.

Did he finally realize he wasn’t dealing with a potato, but a mountain?

Don’t worry, Mr. Lee. I’ll go easy on you.

Tap!

I lightly tapped on the glove that was coming toward me.

“Huh?!”

Then, Mr. Lee’s arm jerked to the side, as if getting pulled out of his torso.

Everyone was in shock. Seeing that he had lowered his guard, I lightly punched his stomach.

Poooop!

Like a balloon popping, Mr. Lee flew a distance before slamming into the iron mesh.

Boom boom boom!

True enough, the wall absorbed the physical impact, remaining unscathed.

“Cough—Y...you, how...”

Mr. Lee seemed about to say something, but his consciousness failed him. He collapsed to the ground limply.

Hmm. This is noteworthy.

Before, I failed to knock that Cheol-Du guy out, but now that wasn’t the case. Even though I didn’t use my full strength, the B-rank Mr. Lee went out cold. Then, was it safe to assume that my malevolent god title, Brutal Killer, was almost on par with an A-rank Hunter?

“Kyaaa! Oppa is the best!” Sung Mi-Ri hopped like a bunny.

“H-how...? But, based on his numbers... isn’t he a normal person...?” the school nurse was so shocked that her glasses slipped down her nose.

“Wow... He knocked down the P.E. teacher in one blow? W-who is he?”

“He must be at least A-rank. Was there anyone like that?”

The students were astonished by me as well.

Uhm, this is a bit too much...

“Hahaha! My guess was right!” Choi Kang-San laughed heartily as he ran into the sparring room. Leaving Mr. Lee in the school nurse’s care, he turned to me with a sharp look.

“Spar with me!”

Choi Kang-San took off his top, revealing a scarred body and rugged muscles, unweathered by age.

If Mr. Lee’s muscles were like a gorilla’s, then Choi Kang-San’s were truly out of this world. Was he a dinosaur in human form?

My appraisal skill activated again.

-----

[Choi Kang-San]

A male human. Around for 58 years.

Special note: Has muscles with potential for transcendence.

-----

Transcendence potential? It was my first time seeing that phrase. Still, considering his body, it did make sense. Choi Kang-San flared his nostrils like a raging bull.

“This is making my blood boil with excitement! Shall we begin?”

Ugh, he’s quite the impatient man.

“Wait, Homeless Uncle. Before we start, let’s make a bet.”

“A bet? Haha, sure! What would you like to bet on?”

“How about doing the winner a favor?”

“A favor? You have a favor to ask me? Keep in mind, I’m still a public servant, so nothing illegal.”

“It’s nothing much, don’t worry. If I win, you just have to repeat a line after me. Easy, right?”

Just in case he didn’t become my follower after I won, I’d make him say the keyword. Yes, the same line that appeared on a message when I made Sung Mi-Ri my follower back then.

[The levels of the other party’s favor and trust have met the minimum threshold. If they speak the following keyword, they can nurture faith in you.]

[Faith development keyword: Believe in Yu Il-Shin.]

That message didn’t appear this time, but there was still a precedent.

“Sure. I don’t know what this is about, but okay! However, if I win, you’ll owe me a favor in return!”

“Yes, of course.”

It didn’t matter what favor he was going to ask, since I’d emerge the victor.

“Okay, let’s begin. C’mon, I’ll give you a handicap.” Choi Kang-San idly gestured with his hand.

Look at that cliche gesture he’s doing. He must’ve read some martial arts novels back in the day.

“Okay, I won’t refuse.”

Clenching my fist, I delivered a powerful straight punch to his six-pack.

Swaaaash!

With a crunching sound, as if air was being ripped apart, my fist slammed into him.

Bam bam bam bam!

However, instead of flesh and blood, the sound of steel being hit reverberated.

Choi Kang-San stood tall like an iron mesh, whereas I was knocked back several steps by the recoil of my punch.

“What do you think? I’m still strong, right?” Choi Kang-San smirked.

Throb throb!

My fist turned red from the punch.

Ouch, that hurt like hell! Damn it, what happened to my body!

I updated my database. The combat level of this malevolent title, Brutal Killer, was below an S-rank Hunter’s! I wondered if increasing the number of evil deeds would change that?

“Stop messing around and get serious! Show me what you’ve got! My intuition has been honed in battle! I can tell when someone is concealing their power!”

After doing some stretching, Choi Kang-San began warming up.

“Let me show you my full strength. Haaaa!”

Tzzzz!

Golden glow surged as his body began transforming.

Crack! Craaaack!

Gradually, his shadow grew, looming over me. Soon, a giant with sculpted muscles, seemingly chiseled by God, stood before me. Would Hercules from

His shadow grew gradually, looming over me. Soon, a giant with perfect muscles, seemingly created by God himself, stood before me. Would Hercules from Greek mythology look like this? The title God of War would suit him.

Suddenly, I saw the Homeless Uncle in a different light. The ultimate Hunter who swept through dungeons and cracks, not leaving a single monster in his trail. That was how that legendary Hunter in South Korea earned his nickname: Street Cleaner.

Should I bring my A-game? I muttered quietly, “Skill Sharing, Il-Ho’s Strong Body.”

Let’s see if Il-Ho’s skill could match the S-rank Hunter with the strongest physical abilities.

Grooooowl! Crack! Craaaack!

My spirit, rivaling Choi Kang-San’s, surged. My body transformed as well.

“So, it was you.” Choi Kang-San was taken aback briefly, before nodding in satisfaction. “I have a friend called Miracle. Once, that reclusive fella gave me a prophecy in secret. Apparently, a loftiest, malevolent being would appear before me, and I must do my best to keep him in the Hunter Academy.”

That name was familiar. Miracle was an S-rank Foresight-type Hunter—a world-class expert who predicted over 90% of the S-class dungeons and cracks that emerged in South Korea. Even foreigners traveled from afar to seek his foresight.

And that person told Choi Kang-San to keep me at the Hunter Academy? That piqued my curiosity.

“Why?”

“That...”

Just as he was about to tell me...

Ding!

[Your devout believer and temporary apostle, Il-Ho, has offered a tribute.]

God-Maker rang, and something appeared in my hand. A beautiful bouquet of flowers, which smelled sweet and fragrant. The sudden tribute surprised me, but considering how he’d offered me the heads of venomous bugs, it was definitely a huge improvement.

I was feeling somewhat flattered when...

-Kieeeek!

-Kyaaaak!

Grab!

The crazy flowers suddenly became alive and kicking! They squirmed and bit at my hands!

“Argh! The fuck is this?!” I freaked out and threw the bouquet away.

Plop, rollll—

It landed at Choi Kang-San’s feet.

-Kieeeek!

“So? Why did he tell you to keep me here?”

I was waiting for a reply but heard nothing. Choi Kang-San tensed up at the sight of the monstrous flowers.

“Uhm, Homeless Uncle?”

“Ahhhh! Mommy! Save meee!”

That shocked me! Choi Kang-san suddenly screamed like a child and stormed out of the sparring room. What’s wrong with him? Did he have a flower phobia? Also, was the iron mesh supposed to tear that easily?

“F-Father!” the school nurse called after him, but Choi Kang-San was long gone.

Bam! Bam bam bam!

All that was left was a hole in the sparring room.

Whiiiing!

The wind blowing through the hole swept over Mr. Lee and the watching students. Wait, so what happens now? Since he ran off, did I win this?

However, God-Maker didn’t notify me about Choi Kang-San turning into my follower.

Instead...

[An emergency quest has occurred!]

[Follower Salvation Quest]

[Target: Sword Demon (Fanatic)]

[God Yu Il-Shin, do you wish to save your fanatic Sword Demon from a life-threatening crisis? (Yes/No)]

Again?

“Haa... What has he been doing?”

Anyway, I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if someone I knew died, so I decided to save him. Fortunately, no one else paid attention to me because of Choi Kang-San’s episode.

“Yes.”

Ding!

[You paid 100,000 Gcoins for the alteration of his fate.]

[The effects of the title Benevolent Savior (C) and the Second Moon created by Yu Il-Shin trigger a “great miracle.”]

Flash!

My body disappeared along with the message.

***

Moments later, I appeared in a completely unfamiliar place. It seemed to be a hut deep in the mountains. Although it cost me some Godcoins, being teleported was convenient.

“Uh... uuurk!”

When I finally spotted Sword Demon, I was rendered speechless. He was about to stab his own chest with a sword. How ridiculous! The message appeared because of this?!

“Ugh, Mr. Sword Demon. What are you doing? Do you have a hobby of attempting suicide?”

“Mr. Sword God. S-save me...”

However, he didn’t look suicidal. His eyes were also bloodshot. I hurriedly snatched the sword from his hand.

Plop!

Sword Demon gasped for breath as he fell to the ground.

“Huff huff! T-thank you, Mr. Sword God!”

—I didn’t sense anyone around earlier... Where do you appear from?

A mechanical voice, likely from a voice changer, came from behind. I turned around to see a grotesque creature with a creepy mask, resembling a Plague Doctor.

Sword Demon gritted his teeth, shouting, “Mr. Sword God! Don’t let your guard down! This person uses strange abilities!”

Um, uh, yeah. This is kind of embarrassing. There’s no use trying to hide your face. I can see everything.

-----

[Sung Mi-Na]

A female human. Around for 24 years.

Special note: Under the curse of Abysm of the God of Destroyer.

-----

“What are you doing here, Ms. Sung Mi-Na? Also, what’s with that outfit?”