Chapter 189: #Ruler of Space and Philosophical Sword Demon

“Seong-Yeon!”

Swoosh!

I teleported back to the evacuation center.

If anything happens to her, I won’t be able to live with myself!

“Bastards! Stop—!” I yelled with bloodshot eyes.

“

H-huh...?”

However, what lay before me was far from what I had expected. The ceiling now had two three-meter-wide massive holes, allowing me to see the clear, sunny sky even though we were deep underground. A monster stood beneath them—or rather, what remained of one.

With only its lower body and thick legs remaining, I guessed it had once been a towering, four-meter-tall giant. Sam-Shin and Seong-Yeon stood before it.

“Uncle Il-Shin!” Seong-Yeon ran to me and leaped into my arms.

“Seong-Yeon! Are you hurt anywhere? Are you alright?”

She looked at me with twinkling eyes. “Uncle, hear me out! Little Uncle’s eyes flashed and the bad monster went

baaam!

Then, it flew! He’s incredible!”

Uh, I’m glad you’re safe, but what are you talking about? My dear niece, can you be more specific?

“T-that kid just s-shot beams with his eyes!”

“

Eeek!

What’s that?! It’s scary!”

Unlike Seong-Yeon, the rest of the evacuation center trembled in fear of Sam-Shin. What did they just say?

Sam-Shin, the one at the center of it all, just stared at the monster's remains. He then parted his lips. The monster’s legs curled up as they were sucked into his blackhole-like mouth.

Chew chew— Gulp!

Hyii! What the fuck is he doing?!

My heart pounded wildly at the sight. Naturally, everyone else around us fell into panic.

“Aaaaah!”

“S-save us! It’s a monster!”

Sam-Shin turned toward the screaming civilians. “Des...troy!”

That only fueled the chaos. Screams grew louder, with some convulsing and foaming at the mouth.

“N-now, everyone! Calm down! Sam-Shin doesn’t bite! He won’t hurt you! Don’t worry!” I rushed to explain, but the commotion didn’t subside.

“

Eeek!

Hunters! Are the Hunters still not here?!” one of the civilians asked.

That’s right! We need a Hunter to handle this situation! Wait, I’m one!

“Everyone! I’m a Hunter! This kid is under my care, so don’t worry!” I showed them my Hunter license, making their expressions shift.

“

Huh?!

An S-rank Hunter?!”

“I’ve never seen him before...”

“Is he a fake?”

Some exchanged doubtful looks, but at least, the panic had subsided.

Gosh, this kid. What is he?

“

Hehe

, Little Uncle!”

When I turned to Sam-Shin, I saw Seong-Yeon clinging tightly to him.

I could live with the fact that he looked like a vengeful spirit with an unreadable face. But shooting rays from his eyes and gobbling monsters like hamburgers?

Ding!

Seemingly having witnessed the incident, the stalkers began to chime in.

[All-Cutting Heavenly Sword looks at Sam-Shin and urges you to kill him while he is still young. He’s willing to lend you a sword for free.]

[Silently Crawling Nightmare freaks out at the sight of Sam-Shin, warning you not to raise such an abomination and suggesting you throw him out secretly at night. ]

[Infinite Abundance’s voice trembles as he says that even though Sam-Shin is a seed of destruction, he can grow up to be kind if you guide him well.]

Since they were around, I decided to ask them the question.

Um, guys. What exactly is this kid?

Just then, Sam-Shin, who had been as motionless as a doll, glared at the sky. “Des...troy!”

Guys? Why aren’t you saying anything?

Did Sam-Shin scare them?

Nah, they’re still Top-tier Gods, so there’s no way...

Sss—

With Seong-Yeon still hugging him, Sam-Shin began to blur out of vision. It was the same phenomenon when Yi-Shin disappeared. Did my Proliferating Thumb of God skill end? Or did I use too much divine power?

“L-Little Uncle? What’s wrong?” Seong-Yeon asked in shock.

Sam-Shin smiled, gently putting his hand on her head.

“Des...troy.”

Surprisingly, Seong-Yeon seemed to have understood him. “Okay, Little Uncle! Come play with me again next time, okay?”

Sam-Shin nodded before transforming into a strange mist of light and darkness. He then returned to me, and his memories played in my mind like a movie.

H-he really shot beams?

My new alter ego’s ability confused me. Then, I saw another memory.

“Look, the Despair Dragon blessed me with this power. Beautiful, isn’t it?”

said a man named Nishimura as he transformed into a monster.

Despair Dragon?

I clenched my fists in anger.

They’re courting death.

***

In the heart of Gangnam, within a towering penthouse—a symbol of success.

Ding!

Steve Choi, or Choi Bong-Shik—A handsome blond—rode an elevator to the top floor. Staggering into his suite room, he flopped down on the sofa that he had specially ordered from an Italian craftsman, costing tens of millions of Korean won.

“

Whew...”

It had been a tough day for him, probably the toughest ever since he became a Hunter. Not only did he reunite with Yu Il-Shin—his worst nightmare—but he was also forced to hunt monsters that even S-rank Hunters struggled to defeat.

Beaten to a pulp, he woke up in the infirmary only to find his nightmare still unfolding.

At first, Choi Bong-Shik saw heaven.

“Uncle, are you awake?” Xu Zhu looked down at him with an angelic smile, nursing him back to health.

“You’re finally awake.”

He then saw hell.

“How dare you keep Mr. Sword God all to yourself! Draw your sword, Choi Bong-Shik! Let's see who Mr. Sword God's top subordinate really is!”

Shriiiing—

The madman unsheathed his sword, charging at him.

Choi Bong-Shik had chills when he pictured Sword Demon’s ruthless and frenzied face. He had to rain bombs on Sword Demon just to escape.

“He’s really persistent.”

Choi Bong-Shik gritted his teeth as he thought about Yu Il-Shin and Sword Demon, but he soon smiled wryly. As if on cue, he took out his phone and checked the real-time search rankings on the internet.

1. Steve Choi

2. Super Rookie

3. Hunter War Winner Candidate

4. Monster Wave

5. Black Helmet Hunter

6. Choi Bong-Shik

Searches for Steve Choi and the Monster Wave dominated the rankings! South Korea was obsessed with him! Number six should be ignored, though; that was a mistake.

“

Hahaha!

Finally! South Korea has recognized my true worth!”

No matter how exhausted he was, there was no way he could stay still on a day like this.

“Alright, let’s have a celebratory drink.”

He went to the cellar to grab his finest wine—a bottle of Romanee-Conti, saved for such an occasion.

However, he soon heard a rustle, making him flinch.

Even though no one else should be around, he felt someone’s presence behind him. Swiftly turning around, he saw a slim foreigner who appeared to be in his thirties sitting cross-legged on the sofa.

Choi Bong-Shik tensed up briefly, wondering if it was Sword Demon, but he soon relaxed.

“A thief? How bold! Don’t you know this is the sweet home of South Korea’s heroic S-rank Hunter Steve Choi?”

The foreigner smirked.

“Of course.”

Russian?

The man grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, as he reached out with both arms and clapped.

Tzzz!

“

Ugh!

”

A blinding flash forced Choi Bong-Shik to close his eyes. At the same time, the man appeared right next to him.

Swoosh!

He felt as though a cannonball had slammed against his chest!

“

Aaargh!

”

Choi Bong-Shik was sent flying.

Baaam!

The crash turned his kitchen and wine cellar into a mess. He slumped against the wall, drenched in blood.

“

Cough! Cough!

”

Choi Bong-Shik clutched his caved-in chest as he coughed up a steady stream of blood. His sternum seemed to have been shattered.

“So, this is

the

S-rank Hunter Steve Choi? What a disappointment. Even more unbelievable is that you stopped the Monster Wave with those measly skills.”

The foreigner smirked as he closed in on Choi Bong-Shik, scattering yellow sparks with every step.

“Or maybe I, Asimov, blessed by the Despair Dragon with the power of lightning, am just too strong for you?

Kukuku.

”

Sneaky pikachoo-wannabe bastard!

Choi Bong-Shik still couldn’t open his eyes properly. Otherwise, he’d have already teleported away.

Yeah, come closer.

He tried his best to glare at Asimov.

I’ll make you chew on my Mana Bombs!

The foreigner was being careless, so he wouldn’t be able to—

Oh!

Choi Bong-Shik suddenly recalled that he’d used up all his bombs to fend off the Monster Wave and Sword Demon!

“Darn it! Ruler of Spa—

Cough!

”

Before Choi Bong-Shik could teleport, Asimov moved at lightning speed and grabbed him by the neck.

“

Kuku

. Trying to run?”

A powerful lightning blast hit Choi Bong-Shik.

He screamed as his insides were burned and white smoke billowed out of him.

“

Kuku.

Why don’t you try using your fancy teleportation skill to escape?” Asimov urged.

With electric currents racking him up, Choi Bong-Shik had trouble finding his coordinates.

“Boring. Had I known better, I would have dealt with the others instead. I never thought an S-rank Hunter could be this weak.”

Tzzz!

A razor-sharp bolt of lightning appeared in Asimov’s left hand. He aimed it at the heart of the screaming Choi Bong-Shik.

“Die.”

Terror flashed in Choi Bong-Shik’s eyes.

S-save me!

His near-death situation was about to be conveyed to the god he served.

Swooosh! Baaam! Thud!

The door to his suite was blasted in two, and a grim-looking man barged in.

“Choi Bong-Shik, you coward! How can you use bombs in a fair duel between men?! Come out now!” Sword Demon shouted.

Swiftly making sense of the situation, he pointed his sword at Asimov. “You! Stop right there! That’s my prey!”.

“S-save me...”

As if discovering a rope in hell, Choi Bong-Shik reached out to Sword Demon.

“What? Are you a Hunter too?” Asimov snickered as he turned to Sword Demon. “You look quite strong. Can you entertain me?”

Asimov then raised both hands.

“C-close your eyes!” Choi Bong-Shik shouted.

Tzzz!

However, He was still a step too late.

“

Aaargh!

”

The flash made Sword Demon cover his eyes.

“

Kukuku!

You’re not any better!”

Clad in lightning, Asimov charged at Sword Demon and threw a punch. The same blow that had incapacitated Choi Bong-Shik struck Sword Demon’s heart square in a millisecond!

Swoosh! Whirrr! Thud!

Choi Bong-Shik couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

Still crackling with ferocious bolts, Asimov’s right arm flailed on the ground like a dead frog’s leg stimulated by electricity.

Asimov clutched his profusely bleeding right arm, fearfully glaring at Sword Demon. “

Uugh!

Y-you! How?! You should’ve been blinded!”

“Foolish Blond. A true sword isn’t wielded with the eye but with the heart.” With tearful, closed eyes like Maitreya’s, Sword Demon pointed his sword at Asimov once more. “Come. I am Mr. Sword God’s

number one

subordinate, bestowed with the Demon Lord’s Heavenly Sword. There is nothing I can’t slash.”

Was it just me or did Sword Demon emphasize the word “number one”?

Choi Bong-Shik wondered.