Chapter 156: #Owner of Soul Mecha Lazenca

After I got out of jail, the first place I went to was the hospital. It was a familiar place, used by many Hunters, including Miracle—and recently, Gal Joong-Hyuk.

The heck?! He got sent to the hospital, while I got sent to prison?! What kind of discriminatory treatment is this?! Well, technically,

I

was the one who sent him there...

“Injuries aside, an S-rank Hunter has the level of immunity of an assemblyman. Well, as long as they aren’t convicted of murder,” Sung Mi-Na explained.

After all, S-rank Hunters were akin to strategic arms, who could also change their nationality if they wanted. So, this discriminatory treatment was understandable.

“Regardless, the penalty of this incident amounts to dozens of billions.”

“D-do I have to pay for it?” I flinched.

Hearing the astronomical penalty made me tremble like a leaf. How many volumes of books would I have to complete to reach that?! I’d probably have to write a book every day for a thousand years!

I grabbed Sung Mi-Na’s hands with tears in my eyes. “Noona, I don’t have that much money! What should I do?!”

“

Geez

, I’ve spoken to the chairman of the Hunter Association and came to an agreement, so don’t worry about it.”

Despite being two heads shorter than me, Sung Mi-Na looked incredibly dependable today! Was it the so-called charm of a mature lady?! Well, she still looked like a younger sister, though...

Sung Mi-Na grabbed my hand, urging me, “Anyway, just heal Hunter Gal Joong-Hyuk and don’t cause more troubles. Got it?”

“Okay! Don’t worry.”

Then, we planned to help Gal Joong-Hyuk achieve a full recovery and come to a reasonable settlement.

Heh, it’s just a 3-month diagnosis. It’d be a piece of cake with my powers.

Thus, we arrived at the hospital.

I knocked on the door to Gal Joong-Hyuk’s special ward, but there was no response.

“

Uhm

, is Hunter Gal Joong-Hyuk around?” I opened the door cautiously, only to find that the room was empty.

Did he step out for some fresh air?

I wondered. Maybe I should head to the nurses’ station.

“

Gaaaah!

”

“

Gosh!

Look at that!”

“Quick, call the police!”

Screams and commotion could be heard from outside the hospital.

“What’s happening?” I looked outside the window to see what was going on. Soon, I spotted a familiar figure on the rooftop of the building across the street.

It was Gal Joong-Hyuk. He was hung upside down, half-naked. He seemed to have suffered a severe beating, since he was covered in blood. At that moment, I knew that he needed to be treated in the intensive care unit, and for more than just three months this time.

Gal Joong-Hyuk yelled arduously, “

Aaargh

...

!

Bastard...! To make me endure such humiliation, just kill me instead!”

Oh, he’s saying that again. Is that his catchphrase or something?

It felt refreshing to see him in such a state, but I couldn’t let him stay there for too long.

Who did that anyway?

Although he was injured beforehand, reducing an S-rank Hunter into a bloody mess was no easy feat. I looked up at the group of perpetrators. A curvaceous woman in a tight-fitting

qipao,

and a man in black coat with disheveled hair. They were wearing masks, but why did they look so familiar...?

“

Keke

, release Mr. Sword God right away!”

“I’ll rip off your head if you don’t release him!

Ohohoho!

”

“

Ugh,

j-just kill me...”

“Quiet! If you don’t release Mr. Sword God, I’ll make you suffer so much, you’ll be begging for death!

Kyahahaha!

”

As the couple started swinging Gal Joong-Hyuk dangerously in the air, I quickly shut the curtains.

What the hell are they doing here?!

“What’s wrong? Did something happen outside?”

I broke out into a cold sweat at Sung Mi-Na’s question.

“

Uhm

, Mi-Na noona, well... You told me not to cause trouble, but I think it’s too late for that...”

Technically, it was my fanatics, but still...

***

Gal Joong-Hyuk was wrapped in bandages like a mummy while being put on drips. Meanwhile, Lin Xiaoming and Sword Demon were kneeling before him. I let out a sigh as I looked at my two fanatics.

Why are these two together anyway?

“Did you guys know each other before?”

Sword Demon shook his head. “No. While I have heard of Lin noonim before, this is my first time meeting her in person. I actually came here to take the head of Gal Joong-Hyuk, who dared to offend Mr. Sword God, but coincidentally met her. We hit it off right away.”

Was I mistaken? I thought I saw Gal Joong-Hyuk twitch...

Also, the two hit it off really well...? Maybe there was a special bond between fanatics, but I couldn’t care less about that.

“Who would’ve thought that something like this would befall Mr. Sword God while I was away?!

Gosh,

look at how thin you’ve become!” Tears welled up in Lin Xiaoming’s eyes as she pulled me into a tight embrace. “Lin mei will never leave your side again!”

“Bitch, you wanna die?! Get off him!” Sung Mi-Na forcibly pulled Lin Xiaoming away from me, but she clung to me like a leech.

“Can I please have some space??”

It was common knowledge that a patient needed peace and quiet. After sending them out the ward, I looked at the mummy—no, Gal Joong-Hyuk.

“I’ll heal you right away, but... will you forgive me? I’ll also pay for all the damages.”

“I don’t need it.” With a cracked voice, Gal Joong-Hyuk’s eyes fluttered open. “Just return my Soul Mecha Lazenca, and I’ll put all of this behind me.”

To forgive me despite getting beaten into a pulp, he was a bigger person than I’d expected.

“Okay! Please wait a moment!”

Afraid that he’d change his mind, I launched God-Maker right away. I went to Il-Ho’s channel: Eden, 43rd floor of the Tower of Warriors.

I was still worried that he’d continue his electric torture training like some crazy gym rat, but thankfully, he wasn’t. Now, he was wielding an axe larger than himself instead.

-

Haaaa! Muuuuscle

Axe!

Bam bam bam!

With each swing of his axe, the giant apple tree shook. It was the medium that Beast of Deceit and Rapacity had used to deceive and prey on the Divine Beasts of Eden.

-It’s falling! Everyone, run!

At last, the tree fell.

-

Kyaa!

Everyone,

run-nya!

-The evil tree is falling!

Ruuuumble! Baaam!

Due to how massive it was, the entire island shook as if hit by an earthquake. Even the altitude of the flying whale carrying the island lowered instantly. The Divine Beasts looked at the fallen tree with tearful eyes. The malevolent god, the Beast of Deceit and Rapacity, had promised to save their respective world—but with a catch. The Divine Beasts had to prove their worth and receive a golden apple. However, it was nothing but a lie. Now, they had no hope of saving their worlds.

-I’ll finish this once and for all!

Equipped with Lazenca, Il-Ho directed the dragon head-shaped gauntlet at the fallen tree.

-Soul Mecha Cannon, Dragon Fist!

Flash! Baaam!

As if spewing Dragon’s Breath, a huge beam of golden light poured from the gauntlet, engulfing the evil tree.

-

Kyaaaaak!

Then, a shrill shriek that sounded impossible to come from a tree echoed as it was decimated into ashes. Il-Ho stomped on the ashes as he made a declaration to the Divine Beasts.

-I’ve destroyed the wicked tree! You no longer have to fear being raised and eaten by the ruthless god! All of you are now free!

Rollie clutched the wooden staff tightly and looked at Il-Ho with longing in her eyes.

-Thank you, Il-Ho.

-Thank you for saving us!

-Long live Warrior Il-Ho~!

Il-Ho laughed heartily as he listened to the praises sung by the Divine Beasts for him. In the next moment, he shook his head.

-If you want to thank someone, thank our great and merciful God Yu Il-Shin. He is the one who saved all of you.

-Long live God

Yu Il-Shin-moo!

-God Yu Il-Shin!

Pung pung!

The Divine Beasts chanted my name, praying fervently. God-Maker then responded.

Ding!

𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

[You have gained Eden, the flying whale, and all 664 Divine Beasts as followers.]

[You can receive stronger faith from them than from your normal followers.]

Tzzz!

A powerful surge of divine power washed over me, along with an indescribable sense of omnipotence at the same time.

Wow, this is incredible.

The power from the faith I received from them was significantly different from what I’d acquired so far. Did it have something to do with the fact that they were originally Low-tier Gods from their own world?

-Oh, God Yu Il-Shin! You've returned!

Sensing my presence, Il-Ho’s face lit up as he looked up at the sky.

-Huh? Is that God

Yu Il-Shin-nya?

-Wow, he's gigantic and

ugly-woof!

-God Yu Il-Shin, do you want a carrot?

-God! Play with

me-baaa!

Feeling my presence as well, the Divine Beasts flocked toward me, chattering loudly. I felt like I was left alone with the kids at my niece’s preschool.

Regaining my senses, I said carefully to Il-Ho, “

Uhm

, Il-Ho? Before anything else, sorry for taking back what I gave you. So, could you return the armor that you’re wearing now? I actually borrowed it from someone else... Sorry, I’ll give you something even better next time.”

Let's skip over the minuscule detail that I forcibly took it off Gal Joong-Hyuk.

-No problem! I’m extremely grateful for the grace you’ve shown me all this time! This is the least I can do to repay you! Please wait a moment, I’ll return it to you shortly.

I honestly felt bad because that armor was basically made for him, but thankfully he agreed.

-

Umpf! Ung! Muuuuscles!

“

Uh,

Il-Ho?”

Il-Ho tried to take off the armor, but it wouldn’t budge. It went on for a while. Finally, he went down on his knees, as if asking for forgiveness.

-I'm sorry, Lord Yu Il-Shin! The armor is refusing to return to its original owner.

“Refusing to... What? What do you...?”

-Lord Yu Il-Shin, the armor wishes to talk to you personally.

“

Huh?

Talk to me?”

I was taken aback, but Il-Ho’s armor flashed dazzlingly, emitting beams toward both my forehead and Gal Joong-Hyuk's.

Flash! Swoosh!

Then, the view before me changed.

***

Where is this place?

I found myself in a bizarre space, like the control room of a space battleship in sci-fi movies. All around me, the machinery worked without stopping.

Beep! Bee-beep! Bee-beep! Bee-beep!

Thankfully, I wasn't alone. Gal Joong-Hyuk, who should be resting in his ward, stood beside me, looking all healthy.

“Oh, it's been a while since I last saw you in this state, Partner.” He was looking at the woman clad in golden armor standing before him.

Actually, calling her a woman was weird, since she was a hologram. Still, I couldn’t deny that she was a beauty. Despite having only one expression, making her resemble a mannequin, her features were the epitome of what future plastic surgery could achieve.

-I see, my

former

master, Mr. Gal Joong-Hyuk.

She parted her golden lips and spoke dryly.