Chapter 158

Episode 158. Break down (4)

The ticket that the Clown gave me looked ordinary. It was covered in strange-looking letters. It was probably the alphabet used here.

[Analyzing the language based on the archives of the Akashic Records.]

[Analysis of language successful.]

Well, it could have been a code, but codes didn't work on me. As soon as I finished the analysis, I looked back at the ticket I put on the floor. This time, I could read the characters with no problem.

"It says a world game will take place, along with a short introduction to VIP members. And the place and time."

The boss's Game started a week from now. The location wasn't far, either. It was a fancy and extravagant bar that I center of Utopia.

The boss's Game took place in a superb location. But it didn't suit the jerks who snickered as they thrust tragedy onto innocent people.

I closed my eyes again after putting down the ticket. A week wasn't long. And during that time, I would need to put some effort into gaining enough force to deal with anything that might happen when I faced the boss.

"So, how is your training going?"

"Oh, yes. I'm training hard the way you told me."

"Good. If you keep it up, your talent will soon see the light."

Hiding the ticket under my knees, I talked with the Traveler. He approached me and, starting with my shoulders, examined my body. Then he let out a "hm─" and opened his mouth.

"Perhaps because you engaged in combat as a hunter in that world, you are quite good at constructing and transforming your body. Or maybe you were just born with it."

"......."

"This should be enough shaping for your body. Don't focus too much on the appearance. Unlike the hard hunting you did, bodies are just shells in battles between Transcendents. Fighting against them solely based on it will be difficult. Your inner self must be solid. Your will must be strong enough to withstand any attack, and your conviction must be strong enough to knock down anything. That image will become your most reliable weapon."

"Yes, I understand."

He was right. No matter how strong my body was, it would be no match against Transcendents like the one I met who had a body of fire. The moment I felt sure I would defeat him was when I thought of a power that could completely break 'fire'.

The body was a means, and the strength of Transcendents didn't derive from it. And now I was well aware of it.

"Oh... And could I know what the time difference between this world and the world of mortals is?"

"...Hm? Why do you ask all of a sudden?"

The Traveler tilted his head at the abrupt question.

I smiled as if it wasn't a big deal.

"Oh, I just need to drop by my world for a moment."

* * *

"...Where were you?"

"I told you I had some stuff to do."

"What stuff? You didn't even keep in touch for so long......."

"I'm sorry."

When I came back, Han Yeon-soo spoke to me curtly. I smiled and did my best to coax her. I apologized sincerely, and she soon stopped being mad. Under normal circumstances, I would have been in a hurry. But thanks to what the Traveler told me, I could take some time.

-Unless it's another world, there's no time difference when you visit a world you own. Time will go by the same here and there.

"You know how hard it was after we killed the Great Overlord. I needed some time to cool down."

Before, the time difference wasn't that big. But after I came to own this world, the time here was moving at the same rate as the world of Transcendents, which was why Han Yeon-soo had reacted the way she did.

"...I understand. Just tell me in advance next time."

"Okay."

"I was worried."

I hadn't felt like this in a long time. Coming back after spending time in the world of Transcendents felt good. I was human. I liked staying here instead of living among them. I liked living an ordinary life in peace.

"What happened to that thing? I was holed up for quite a while."

"What thing?"

"You said that the Association and their people set out to wipe out the remaining monsters. Did it... go well?"

"Oh. Of course. Everything went smoothly. Now, officially, there isn't a single monster that exists here. Not a single one."

Han Yeon-soo smiled as she spoke, and so did I. It really felt like everything was over.

"So all of the hunters are unemployed now?"

"Well, I suppose so. But they all saved up a lot of money, so... Haha."

"They're all set for retirement. And honestly, how many hunters would complain about not having any work to do?"

The hunters, Awakeners, and monsters of everyday life disappeared. But no one missed them. It was the peace that everyone had hoped for.

"Han Yeon-soo, I have a question."

"Yes? Go ahead."

In the relaxed atmosphere, I casually asked.

"I know that everything is gone and this is meaningless now....... But I was the strongest hunter, wasn't I? I became strong so quickly and eventually reached the top."

"Aw, what? Why are you suddenly acting so childish?"

"Come on. I'm just asking. What do you think? Was I?"

"Not at all. You were amazing, but to be honest, Lee Hyun-seung was stronger. I mean, he had such a big impact."

"......."

I stared blankly. This uncharacteristically childish question was the fundamental reason I came down here from the world of Transcendents. It was a question I asked to get what I needed in the upcoming 'battle'. And I had come straight here because Han Yeon-soo was the one who would give me the most accurate answer....... But her reply was unexpected.

'...This won't work.'

If I forced her answer, I wouldn't get it. I would get it only if she firmly believed it in her heart to be true.

"Was that what you were thinking of while you were holed up? So funny."

She joked, looking at my face. I scratched my head awkwardly.

Yeah, well. I didn't need it so badly. It felt nice just to see her and take a break. I stopped myself from trying to draw out an answer from her. Staying like this was good enough.

"Mr. Si-woo."

But Han Yeon-soo didn't stop. She continued.

"You aren't the strongest hunter."

Her eyes shone firmly.

"Your pure force was weaker than hunter Lee Hyun-seung, and your ability to protect others wasn't as good as Mr. Zhang Wei or Mr. Kim Seung-hyun. And the power to wipe out monsters in an instant? You weren't as good as Hyun-woo or Yoo Ji-yeon. Wasn't I even better than you? I mean, what good was waving around that shiny Mirage?"

"......."

"But still, I never thought that any of those hunters I just mentioned were better than you. Do you know why?"

Her voice rang out calmly.

"It's because hunters aren't just people who show off their strength. You can't earn recognition just by being strong, hunting many monsters, or being able to withstand them. Hunters are heroes. They're people who can sacrifice themselves and their own lives for others."

"......."

"I don't know what other people might think. And I don't think you can be called the strongest hunter. But......."

The name bore into my ear and resonated in my mind.

"You are, most definitely, the best hunter."

And with that, her words were carved deep inside me.

It was different from an ordinary compliment. It was someone else's definition of me. The name came from a firm belief and an honest voice, and it aroused something that existed within me as a Transcendent. It felt completely different from when I created a new power on my own. It was someone else's judgment of me.

[The 'Akashic Records' senses a change in the user.]

[The user, Jeong Si-woo's 'class' advances.]

.

.

.

[A new 'name' for the user has been born.]

[It is the first modifier the user has earned as a Transcendent.]

[The number of stories the user can summon has increased.]

[Congratulations. The user can now borrow the myths of specific entities with 'modifiers'.]

.

.

.

"Thanks."

I replied genuinely. And with that, Han Yeon-soo stopped moving. And everything around me stopped. The dust floating slightly above the floor, the clouds and people passing by outside the window. The noises and smells of everyday life coming from beyond the wall. Everything disappeared.

The world halted. It was my doing. I had learned it from the Traveler. He had told me that the owner of a world could completely control it, and I had come up with this idea.

'I don't want to miss a single moment.'

I didn't want to waste the time I could spend with my people on killing Transcendents. The stories of heroes arguing with their loved ones in movies and other media were corny. I wasn't going to sacrifice anything. I was going to kill them and come back and live as if nothing had happened. I slowly stood up in the world that was frozen still.

All of a sudden, I thought of the world that the Clown had shown me.

The world that he called a Game, saying that it was amazing. The people there had led peaceful lives. They had smiled so happily. But monsters tore it all apart, and you could hear the screams.

I wanted to rip off the Clown's head the moment he asked, "Isn't this fun and awesome?" It was terrible to think that my world could end up like that again. So, the Transcendents that used it for pleasure disgusted me.

I held back again and again.

I crouched down for the right chance. I hid my weapon and held back the urge to shred them to pieces. And the time was near.

-The Best Hunter-.

-The Best Hunter tries hard even when he hunts for a single rabbit. Even if he is after a tiny chipmunk, a large tiger, or a dragon in the sky, he never fails. He closely observes his prey and thoroughly brings it down.

-Whatever it is that he decides to hunt, unless he makes a 'mistake,' he never fails.

-It doesn't matter if the prey is stronger than the hunter or if it possesses unmeasurable power.

I was going to let it all out. And I was going to wipe out everything caught in the explosion.

I could feel the power raging inside me, softly flowing above my skin.

After I transcended, I didn't immerse myself in my powers. I didn't fall for the Traveler's sugar-coated words and end up admiring the life of Transcendents. I didn't find the Traveler and his great cause impressive, and I didn't decide to follow him.

The Jeong Si-woo who had decided to live selfishly wasn't gone yet. With the Akashic Records as his advisor, he was hiding a sharp weapon inside from everyone.

His mortal life was over, and he had broken out of his shell.

But the Jeong Si-woo who had existed first wasn't completely dead.

A hunter.

That was what everyone had called me. And I was still alive among the Transcendents, with my eyes wide open.

'One week.'

Waiting for my only chance.