Chapter 3: Hello, This is Yu Il-Shin

Chapter 3: Hello, This is Yu Il-Shin

Twenty years ago, when humans encountered inexplicable events, they would seek out psychiatric hospitals or shamans. In the present day, the places they consulted had changed.

At the Supernatural Phenomenon Center desk, a pretty receptionist wearing a badge that said "Kim Yoo-Jung" called out my name.

"Number 369, Mr. Yu Il-Shin."

... I had desperately hoped that they would simply call out my first name.

"Il-Shin" by itself was quite common, but with the addition of the surname "Yu," it became a very holy name that sounded like a prayer.[1]

"Pfffft."

"Yu Il-Shin? Wow, what a bold name."

Hearing the whispers of those around me, I blushed slightly and walked briskly toward the receptionist.

Smiling, she said, "Congratulations, Mr. Yu Il-Shin. The test results indicate that you have a supernatural aptitude."

I nervously gulped. “Really? What's my rank, then?"

This moment could change my life for the better.

I didn't even dare to hope for anything above Rank A. D or even E would suffice for me to quit my struggling writer's life and start anew!

The staff member smiled as she dashed my expectations. "Rank G."

Those with supernatural abilities were ranked on a ten-level scale like a pyramid, from SSS to G. The SSS-rank was so rare that it was statistically insignificant; even on a global scale, only a handful of individuals were at that level. Three of them weren't even human.

Anyway, that was not the important part.

"Rank G?"

Rank G was assigned to those who possessed supernatural abilities with almost no impact on everyday life.

"According to the test results, you have a G-rank Material Creation ability, Mr. Yu Il-Shin."

The staff member handed me the test results and recited what seemed to be the standard procedure.

"Would you like to register for a Hunter license? If you register, you will be able to participate in future hunting activities suited to your rank."

"Do I need to pay for it?" I asked.

"Yes, the registration fee is 280,000 won."

That basically meant not to bother. There were hardly any gates or dungeons that a Rank G could enter, so it would just be a waste of money.

I sighed as I looked at my result sheet.

Name: Yu Il-Shin (M)

Age: 23

Ability: Material Creation

Rank: G

Analysis: A precision analysis was conducted on the coin produced by the Material Creation ability. Although seven types of test equipment were used, no remarkable findings were detected.

The produced coin’s precision analysis results:

Capper: 95%, Carbon: 2%, Ammonia: 0.4%, Lime: 0.15%, Phosphorus: 0.8%, Potassium Nitrate and Fluorine: 0.75%, Iron: 0.24%, Silicon: ...

Curious about one aspect of the results, I asked, "What's this '95% capper' about?"

"Capper?" The staff member squinted slightly as she looked over the results. She then broke into a smile.

"Ah, that’s a printing error. There's no element called 'capper.’ It's copper, sir."

The emphasis on the word "capper"[2] made me feel as if the staff was deliberately mocking me.

***

「S-rank Hunter Baek Yoo-Hyun has successfully cleared the cataclysmic Dark Dragon Dungeon! Humanity has taken another step toward salvation...!」

I raised my finger.

[No. 2 has been crushed!]

[You have been rewarded with 1 Gcoin.]

[The kill has increased Nameless God's Karma by 1.]

[Congratulations. You are now a step closer to becoming a great malevolent god in pursuit of tyranny and power.]

Another cap coin had popped out of the screen.

Clang!

Finally, the notifications stopped, and I found some peace. I felt no guilt. After all, it was just a crude game produced by my material creation ability. However, when I tried to sleep again...

Ding!

[No. 3x Nameless Godx xxx xxx xxxxx.]

Another pixelated ant appeared.

"Fuck!"

I immediately crushed it. Another message about advancing as a malevolent god appeared, and a cap coin popped out of my phone.

Ding!

[No. 4x xx xx Godx xxx xxx xxxxx.]

[No. 5x xx xx Godx xxx xxx xxxxx.]

[No. 6x...]

Ding! Ding! Ding!

The ants were now swarming in droves. I tried to turn off my phone, but it was no use. This wasn't just a phone anymore, it was a manifestation of my ability.

"These stupid fucking ants! Let's see who wins this!"

Frustrated with my lack of literary progress and nearly useless awakened ability, my stress shot through the roof. I gritted my teeth and tapped on the pixelated ants with my index finger.

Pop! Pop! Pop!

"Hmm...."

This is oddly addictive.

I could see why people got hooked on popping bubble wrap.

***

Sunlight streamed through the cracks in the window.

"Ugh... When did I fall asleep?"

I had been so focused on crushing ants that I must have unknowingly dozed off.

Something was off, though. The coins that I had sprung from killing the ants had disappeared. I should have earned hundreds, but instead, all I had were three large coins the size of a baby's palm. Unlike the others that were marked with a "1," these were engraved with "100."

"One hundred?"

At that moment, I noticed a message on my phone.

[Congratulations, Nameless God. You have met the conditions to unlock the God's Shop.]

[Unlock Condition: Possess 100 or more Dark/White Gcoins.]

[Would you like to unlock the God's Shop? (Yes/No)]

1. Yu Il-Shin in Korean can be interpreted as "One and only God." ☜

2. In English slang, “cap” means lie or something false. ☜