Chapter 164: #A Woman’s Transformation is Innocent, But

“

Ugh...

”

I woke up and found myself in a hospital bed. I could still feel the reverberations of Nightmare’s kiss as I touched my swollen lips and my face.

So, it isn’t just an ordinary nightmare, after all...

Suddenly, I saw Sung Mi-Ri’s tear-stained face and an angry Sung Mi-Na before me.

“Mr. Yu! Do you know how worried I was?”

“You idiot! Causing trouble everywhere you go! Why would you face such a dangerous monster alone?! You should’ve waited for reinforcements!”

Sung Mi-Na slapped my back—it hurt like hell. As expected of an SS-rank Hunter!

“

Aack!

Stop hitting me! It hurts!”

Still, I couldn’t understand what she just said. Dealing with it alone? Huh? I remembered transforming into the Dead Dragon, then crashing to the ground while attempting to escape, and having a dream with Nightmare and the sickle...

How did I end up in the hospital, anyway?

“I see that you’re awake, Hunter Yu Il-Shin.”

Then, I heard a cool, mid-bass voice. A man wearing silver-rimmed glasses and a clean suit stepped into the ward.

That face looked familiar. He was Choi Woo-Shin, the secretary of the Hunter Association. Why was he here?

“Well done. You showed such prowess despite having been promoted to an S-rank Hunter just recently. The Association is greatly indebted to you.” The man bowed to me, smiling from ear to ear.

“...Pardon? What did I do?”

I’d briefly summarize what I heard from both the Sung sisters and Secretary Choi. The Dead Dragon, estimated to be an S-rank monster, appeared in the city center without any signs or premonition.

The military and Hunter Association quickly tracked the running dragon's whereabouts, but it was too fast, and they eventually lost track of it. Naturally, it became a hot mess, especially since defeating a Dragon-type monster had become top priority after the Despair Dragon incident.

They followed the dragon’s trail, and at the point where it ended, they found Lilith and me. I was buried in a pile of bones, which they presumed to be the dragon’s. By the way, Lilith was taken away by Ko Sa-Deuk. After hearing the news, he cried and rushed there without even wearing sandals. He was a much more loving person to his wife than I’d expected.

Anyway, everything fell into place so nicely that everyone thought I’d slain the dragon. As a side note, S-rank Hunter Choi Bong-Shik was found buried in the ground.

“Mr. Yu is incredible! What a shame! I wanted to see you defeat the dragon!” Sung Mi-Ri clenched her fists, giving me a look of utter admiration and respect, which pricked my conscience.

“

Uhm,

I think there’s some misunderstanding. That’s not what happened, actually.”

“What do you mean?”

I’d finally gotten their attention. My brain made a quick simulation.

That dragon was actually me! I was just trying out a transformation just for fun, hahaha!

The Dead Dragon who’d knocked out S-rank Hunter Choi Bong-Shik, and played the military and other Hunters turned out to be Yu Il-Shin. It didn’t take a genius to guess what would happen next.

With a stern look on my face, I spoke calmly, “...That’s right.

Phew,

that monster was so huge, I didn’t know how I managed to defeat it! I never want to transform—no, deal with it ever again.”

“I knew it! You’re incredible! Hunter Yu Il-Shin is the treasure of South Korea!” Secretary Choi exclaimed, grabbing my hands in excitement. “You can expect rewards from the Hunter Association after the investigations have ended.”

“N-no, there’s no need to reward me...”

I was the one who caused everything to begin with! However, Secretary Choi took my words the wrong way.

“How selfless you are! You aren’t driven by self-interest and care about the safety of people! You’re a model for all Hunters! To think that such a good samaritan still exists in this day and age!”

No, I’m the opposite of all of that!

“...

Oof

, I’m sorry. I haven’t fully recovered from my last battle, so I’ll need some rest.” I laid back down in bed, making up an excuse. Things would only get more tiresome if we continued this conversation.

“Please get some rest. I look forward to seeing your performance in the upcoming Hunter-Wars,” Secretary Choi said, before excusing himself.

The Sung sisters also followed after him. As S-rank Hunters, they were quite busy. On top of that, Sung Mi-Ri was still a student.

Before Sung Mi-Ri left, she said something mind-boggling to me. Apparently, someone I’d been expecting would be visiting me soon. But who? I couldn't think of anyone. Could it be Seong-Yeon?

Now that I was left alone, I reflected on the current situation, recalling the advice given by Nightmare in my dream.

How to become a High-tier God, the reason for becoming one, and the Sacrificial Wars...

My mind was a tangled mess, like a ball of thread. But there was one thing I was certain of: I could stop that fucking God of Destroyer if I became a High-tier God.

I have to do whatever it takes to become a High-tier God.

Ding!

Just as I made that decision, a message from God-Maker appeared.

[Quests to become a High-tier Benevolent and Malevolent God are now available.]

Huh?

And the following windows appeared.

[Those of High-tier God status and above aren’t just gods, but the symbolic beings of transcendence.]

[Those of High-tier God status and above are close to omniscient, the only condition required to become a true god.]

[Therefore, please think twice before proceeding with the following quests.]

-----

[High-tier Benevolent God Quest]

Have at least a trillion intelligent beings, or accept ten thousand intelligent beings of S-rank or higher as your followers.

-----

[High-tier Malevolent God Quest]

Sacrifice at least a trillion intelligent beings and accumulate karma, or sacrifice ten thousand intelligent beings of S-rank or higher and assimilate their powers. The fastest method would be through Predation in the Sacrificial Wars, which allows you to plunder the divinity and followers from gods of the same level or higher than you.

-Currently predated god: Fire Shining in the Highest Skies (2,000 S-rank sacrifices)

-----

What the hell?

My happiness over the quests' appearances was quickly replaced by frustration. What were those ridiculous numbers?! It was almost a hundred times more compared to the Mid-tier God promotion quests!

Could I even achieve those numbers? Although there had been an influx of refugees and an increase in followers at Gayami Nation recently, it was still only a little over a hundred million.

Let’s say that I could, but how long would it take? Even the Great Goddess of Mother Earth I saw in my dreams, whom I presumed to be Infinite Abundance, needed tens of thousands of years! No wonder Nightmare gave me that suggestion. One High-tier God was equivalent to two thousand S-rank sacrifices.

Didn’t two High-tier Gods request a duel before? Beast of Deceit and Rapacity and Ruler of the Abyssal Swamp. Could I stand a chance against them?

While I did defeat Fire Shining in the Highest Skies, who was of the same rank, it was all thanks to sheer coincidences and pure chances. I didn’t think I’d win if I were to do it all over again.

I’ll save the Sacrificial Wars as my last resort. Before that, I’ll gather as many followers as I can and grow stronger.

The first thing I needed to do now was obtain the God of Harmony’s Scales as per Kang Woo’s recommendation. I wasn’t sure what it’d do, but since it was suggested by a regressor, I was sure it’d be helpful for me.

According to him, it’d appear in an S-rank dungeon three days later. I still have about two days left.

Since there was nothing wrong with my health, I should get discharged from the hospital and make the necessary preparations for the dungeon raid. I put on my slippers, dragging my feet to the nurse’s station.

“When I was active as a Hunter in LA...”

I heard a gruff, vaguely familiar voice coming from the hallway. Turning around, I saw a blond man with ears full of piercings. He was flirting with a woman he’d pinned against the wall.

“

U-um

, thank you for sharing, but I’m kind of busy at the moment.”

“Don’t you know who I am? Steve Choi, the newly appointed S-rank Hunter.”

Bullshit. You’re just Bong-Shik.

I knew I didn’t have the right to judge other’s names, but at least I didn’t use a lame pseudonym like him!

Well, at least he looks fine.

Anyway, if he could still flirt with women despite his arms in casts and wrapped in bandages all over his body, I guess he was in much better shape than I thought.

I walked past them, relieved, but was called to a stop.

“Mr. Yu Il-Shin!” the woman flirted by Choi Bong-Shik called out to me, beaming.

“Teacher! Please help me! That uncle's been bothering me since just now!” She then ran and hid behind me.

“U-uncle?!” Choi Bong-Shik’s face turned to ice. He growled, taking his anger out on me. “Why the fuck are you here?”

Hey, I am just as surprised as you are.

The cute girl behind me appeared to be in her late teens, standing at about 160 cm tall. Her hair was tied up into two buns, one on each side, resembling a certain female character from a fighting game.

Who is this?

Since she called me “Teacher”, she was probably a student from the Hunter Academy. She probably recognized me from the time I was still a substitute teacher. I took a closer look at her, but I had no idea who she was. Still, I should probably help her out.

“Hey, don’t fucking ignore me? What are you doing here?!”

“Excuse me, Mr. Steve Choi? You should stop. The lady doesn’t seem to want to have a conversation with you.”

Choi Bong-Shik’s face contorted badly at my response.

“The fuck?! Are you looking down on me because of how I look right now? Since you’re in this hospital, you must be a small fry! Tell you what, I’m way out of your league!” he yelled, letting out a ferocious burst of aura.

I got pissed off right away.

“Bong-Shik,” I muttered in a low voice, glaring at him while raising my hand slightly above my head. “Shut the fuck up if you don’t wanna die.”

“

Eeeek!

” Choi Bong-Shik squealed and flinched in fear.

I didn’t even do anything yet, so why was he acting like this? Both of us were flustered, but for different reasons.

“J-just you wait...” Choi Bong-Shik murmured meekly and ran away like a scared puppy.

Pathetic.

Now that the situation had been resolved without any issues, I turned around to ask the student. “Are you a student at the Hunter Academy? How do you know me?”

“

Huh?

What's wrong with you Mr. Yu? Did you forget me already?” Tears welled up in her panicking eyes.

“It was a joke!

Haha!

It’s been a while!”

“Yes! It’s been a long time, Mr. Yu!”

I recognized her voice, somewhat. I cheated a bit and used my powers on her.

Ding!

[Your innate power Blind Eyes of God has been activated.]

-----

[Xu Zhu]

A female human. Around for 19 years.

Special note: Blessed by Infinite Abundance.

-----

What? She is Xu Zhu?

Pretty sure the Xu Zhu I knew was built larger like a general...

Ding! Ding!

While I was dumbfounded by her sudden transformation, more messages from God-Maker appeared.

[Il-Ho desperately requests salvation from God Yu Il-Shin!]

Il-Ho? What happened to him?!

Freaking out, I launched God-maker in a hurry.

Tadan tadan tadan~♬

W-what’s all this?

Nothing could prepare me for what I was about to see. Along with a cheerful wedding melody, I saw Il-Ho being wedded to the octopus princess on the screen.

-Lord Yu Il-Shin! Please help me!

Il-Ho cried out while being wrapped by the octopus’ tentacles.

What the fuck is going on?!?!