Chapter 296: #A Happy Ending? (1)

“

Ugh!

You bastaaaard!”

-

Kiiieeek!

The massive caterpillar coiled itself around the gigantified Il-Ho, about to devour him. Il-Ho desperately resisted, clutching the insect’s jaws with both hands.

“Carnage Flames of God!”

“Convicting Middle Finger of God!”

Kwaaaa!

Flames poured down like a tidal wave, burning the insect until its flesh sizzled. Smoke spread in all directions, yet it didn’t even flinch. Instead, it seemed even more determined to deal with Il-Ho—the most threatening of the group—first.

Craaaack!

Despite Il-Ho’s desperate struggles, he was slowly being pushed back. The caterpillar’s grotesque jaws, filled with thousands of fangs, pierced through his steel-like muscles, sinking into his neck.

“

Aaaargh!

”

Il-Ho’s agonizing scream made my mind go blank.

“You fucking bastard! Get away from my Il-Ho right now!”

Glaring at the wretched caterpillar with bloodshot eyes, I raised the divine pen in my right hand. Though it hadn’t succeeded before, I considered using All Phenomena’s ability again.

Riiiip! Baaaaam!

The air ripped apart and black lightning streaked out from it, coming for me! As it pierced me, an immense surge of divine power boiled within me.

W-what’s this?

It was the power of Yi-Shin, who’d been engaged in the Gods’ Sacrificial War with War God! Finally! Nevertheless, he didn’t return alone. My eyes widened at the greatsword in my left hand, clearly belonging to War God. It was monstrous, more like a pillar than a sword.

Psss!

The greatsword was imbued with an overwhelming divine power. It belonged to War of Carnage and Madness—the strongest of all gods. At that moment, Yi-Shin’s memories flooded my mind.

“I’ll lend you my sword, so defeat that God of Destroyer!”

Eyes blazing with vengeance, he handed Yi-Shin his greatsword.

With his power, I’m sure we can do it!

I aimed the greatsword at the caterpillar that was attacking Il-Ho.

Tzzz!

Ding!

[The innate power Clear Eyes of God sees Despair.]

My black, white, green, and red eyes, representing benevolent god, malevolent god, God of Destroyer, and God of Creator’s powers stared at the caterpillar. I was trying to locate its weakness to kill it once and for all.

What...?

I sweated buckets of cold sweats as I read the information in panic.

“

Aaaaargh!

”

Just then, Il-Ho’s terrifying scream pulled me back to reality. Now wasn’t the time to hesitate!

I’ll just think of it later!

I channeled all my divine power onto War God’s greatsword.

Kwaaaa!

The greatsword glowed white, erupting with divine power compressed to its limit. I dashed toward the caterpillar, sword raised high, and struck down at its head with all my might.

“True Demon Lord’s Disintegration!”

The sharp blade, infused with divine power, cleanly sliced through the caterpillar from head to toe.

-

Kyaaaak!

Riiiip!

The caterpillar let out a piercing scream, but my attack was far from done. It’d reduce the caterpillar into nothingness and even alter its destiny.

Psss...

Crumbling like charred ashes, the caterpillar disintegrated. The pitch-black, universe-like space it had created returned to its original state. Standing amid the ruins were Japanese Hunters and soldiers, watching us with bewilderment.

“

Ooh!

God Yu Il-Shin! You did it!”

“

Hahaha!

Impressive! You’ve finally killed our common enemy, that darn Despair!”

Il-Ho and Ant Emperor rushed toward, celebrating our victory, overwhelmed with emotions.

“...”

However, I couldn’t rejoice with them.

***

Time flew by in a blink of an eye. Everything appeared to be peaceful on the surface, but in reality, multiple events continued to unfold since then. Unaware of my presence, a few foolish and tactless malevolent gods tried to invade Earth—only to be swiftly defeated and driven back. Elves relocated back to their world, which I’d restored using False Creation.

With all dungeons and gates gone from Earth, I opened a new one to other worlds to help the unemployed Hunters and my former students. Meanwhile, Sam-Shin and Seong-Yeon departed on an adventure in another world.

A lot had happened, but I could confidently say that nothing as absurd as what was happening now would ever occur.

Sighing, I looked at the terminal window.

The host—a black man in sunglasses—was delivering a passionate speech in a massive colosseum, reminiscent of the Roman arena.

「Hello, viewers from all across the globe! Welcome to the greatest festival on Earth! After the intense preliminary rounds, 64 teams have been selected to advance in the Hunter Wars! The representatives of the advancing Hunter teams, please step up onto the arena!」

One by one, Hunters began stepping onto the arena. Jeanne Lehman from France, Sasaki Roki from Japan—the dark horse of this Hunter War, Ares Lehou from Greece, and more. Up until this point, things seemed to be unfolding like in my previous life. However, the lineup for the South Korean team was vastly different from before. Besides my disciple, Sung Mi-Ri, and coach Gal Joong-Hyuk, the rest were Hunters who hadn’t participated in my previous life.

A plain-looking man with tanned, bursting muscles, scanned the area and shouted, “Incredible! So these are the strongest warriors in God Yu Il-shin’s world!

Kekeke!

My muscles are all pumped up!”

Yes, he was none other than Il-Ho.

“Stop acting like a country bumpkin and be quiet, Il-Ho,” murmured a handsome man with a cold expression.

He was Ant Emperor, my friend and former ruler of the Iron-Blood Empire in Antrinia. I’d used my All Phenomena power to restore his original appearance. Still, who would’ve guessed that he’d be

that

good-looking? I could still recall my astonishment at the time.

Il-Ho and Ant Emperor’s participation had broken the balance, but there was another ridiculous person with us.

Clank! Clank!

An old man in rusty armor, carrying a pillar-like greatsword followed behind them. He growled like a beast at Yi-Shin, who walked beside me.

“The time has come to finish the fight we put off! I’ll kill you—right after we’ve had our fun.”

“

Hmph!

I was thinking the same. Brace yourself, Old Man.” Yi-Shin laughed with determination, baring his teeth like a beast.

Normally, someone of War God’s stature would be able to descend on Earth, but he couldn’t due to the law of causality. Lending his divine weapon to us during our battle with Despair had created a causality that allowed him to do so.

With the War God and Yi-Shin joining the fight, South Korea’s victory was all but guaranteed. The issue here was the upcoming individual matches. Even though I’d asked everyone to suppress their divine power as much as possible, there were fewer than ten true powerhouses across all dimensions, so I couldn’t help but worry. I sincerely hoped that Earth wouldn’t be destroyed.

Earth, I’m so sorry.

Sighing heavily, I turned off the terminal.

“But aren’t you participating in the Hunter War, Noona?”

Across from me, Sung Mi-Na was drinking her banana juice, shaking her head with disdain. “And get involved with those monsters? I’m still sane.”

Well, understandable.

In fact, those troublemakers were only able to participate in the Hunter Wars thanks to her successful negotiations with the Hunter Association.

“What are you looking at? Is there something on my face?”

“You seem more mature. Has anything changed since then?”

Puffing her chest out, Sung Mi-Na replied with a smirk, “That’s right! Don’t be surprised!”

Ever since she was cursed by Despair, Sung Mi-Na’s growth was stunted. Now, that was no longer the case.

“I’ve grown two centimeters since then!” she declared proudly, flashing two fingers—whether as a victory sign or to show the number, it was hard to tell.

“Oh, I see. Congratulations.”

She’s still small in my eyes, but she looks in her late teens now, at least.

Sung Mi-Na seemed dissatisfied with my reaction as she narrowed her eyes. “

Hmph!

Just you wait! I’ll catch up to you soon!”

“Alright, alright. Keep it up.”

“

Ugh!

I hate you!”

Her grumbling side profile resembled a hamster with a mouth full of sunflower seeds.

That’s cute.

There was no way she’d ever be taller than I was, which was also saddening. Did my ideal type change during this time? I used to prefer mature older sisters, but lately, cute older sisters seemed nice too.

I glanced at the time on my phone.

It’s about time now.

“Noona. I’ll be heading out now. I have an important appointment today.”

“Important appointment? Oh is that today? Do you want me to come with you?”

“It’s fine. You said you have a commercial shoot later anyway. Besides, the event is only happening because of your order, so there won’t be many people showing up.”

“Alright then. Call me when it ends. I’ll treat you to dinner as a celebration.”

“Okay.”

After we went our separate ways, I dragged my feet to the next location. I could’ve used the teleportation skill, but I decided against it. Taking the subway brimming with people, I finally arrived at Laker Bookstore located in Gangnam.

Outside the store was a huge banner printed:

Commemorating Publication of On Hiatus: God's Personal Reasons Fansign Event!

In my previous life, the same event was held, but as a substitute. The event was only made possible thanks to Sung Mi-Na’s pre-order of a million copies. Oh, another thing. Originally, my novel was titled God-Gamer God-Writer, but I changed it. Somehow, this one felt more fitting.

“Mr. Yu! I know this is your first fansign event, but don’t be nervous! Just act casual!”

“Okay. By the way, did you bring the thing I asked for?”

“Yes, here it is. Though I'm not sure why you would want to see your old manuscript.”

I received the bag he handed to me, and slowly sat at the fansign table. The cushion felt extremely cozy, befitting of a writer who’d just sold a million copies of his novel. And yet, no reader came to ask for his autograph.

If anything, I could feel the countless passersby murmuring among themselves, wondering who I was. I pulled out the stacks of old manuscripts from the bag and spread them out, trying to kill time. This was the first draft of the novel I’d written when I was a child. I’d submitted it to my editor-in-charge back then.

How long ago had that been?

“Hello, Writer Yu Il-Shin.”

A familiar female voice rang in my ears as a dark shadow loomed over me.

I looked up and saw a pregnant woman smiling brightly before me.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Despair. Or should I call you, God of Destroyer?”

I finally arrived at the tragic ending from my previous life.