Chapter 44: I’m Here To Convey Good News

Chapter 44: I’m Here To Convey Good News

Ding!

[You have successfully completed the quest: Follower Salvation Quest.]

[Sung Mi-Ri’s faith has increased by 100.]

[Sung Mi-Ri’s faith is currently at 139.]

[A job change is possible when a follower’s faith has surpassed 200.]

[You have been rewarded 10,000 White Gcoins.]

Ding!

[You have gained Sword Demon as a follower (Fanatic).]

[Yu Il-Shin’s favorite sword, Sword God, can now be evolved.]

Whiiing!

Police cars and ambulances were dispatched over. They reached the remote neighborhood in no time. I could see why, since the clashes involved high-ranking Hunters like Thunder Emperor and Department Head Kim.

“I’ll leave her in your care.”

I handed the unconscious Sung Mi-Ri to the paramedics.

“Oh, wait a minute. Can we please ask you... Huh? Where did he go?”

By the time the police tried looking for me, I had left the scene.

***

Sss—

Sword Demon and I appeared out of thin air in a deserted park.

[Sword Demon has deactivated his skill, Stealth.]

It was the effect of his skill, which showed his specialization.

Sword Demon respectfully knelt down before me. “I’ve done as you asked, Mr. Sword God.”

Leaving aside the sword slung over his shoulders, his disheveled hair and tattered trench coat made him look like a vagrant. In the darkness of the night, his sharp eyes glowed brightly like a hungry beast. Perhaps, that was his true nature. I couldn’t think of a better name that would suit him other than the one in the appraisal window.

Yet, the same man was kneeling meekly before me.

-----

[Yu Il-Shin’s Fanatic, Sword Demon]

A male human. Around for 29 years.

Special note: Try asking him to die as a test. He might happily oblige.

-----

On top of that, he now had the label of a Fanatic.

I had learned about the entire situation from Sword Demon. The Brilliance Guild had commissioned him to assassinate Sung Mi-RI. It aligned well with the fact that Department Head Kim came knocking on my door uninvited this morning.

But why would they target the two of us? Well, I had a certain theory. Most likely, it was because we had foiled their bombing plan. They probably wanted to make an example by getting rid of us. Once, I even considered alerting the police.

Still, to think they were crazy enough to target an A-rank Hunter like Sung Mi-Ri... And to prove it, the lunatic they sent after her was now standing in front of me. The very same Sword Demon who became a fanatic of mine and would die if I ordered him to.

Fuck you, bastards. Fuck you.

“Mr. Sword Demon.”

“No need to be so formal, Mr. Sword God.”

“No, I’m more comfortable like this.” I didn’t want us to sound too close. “So, how strong are you?”

“I don’t dare compare myself to you, Mr. Sword God.” His eyes glinted faintly, making my skin tingle. “But as long as I have sufficient time to prepare, there wouldn’t be a person in this country I couldn’t kill.”

I liked that answer. But just in case, I tested it out.

“You. Will you do anything I ask?”

“Of course. Any of your commands!”

“Then, take care of the Brilliance Guild. Didn’t they commission you to kill both Ms. Sung Mi-Ri and I?”

Briefly, his gaze flickered, taken aback by my order. He looked as if I had told him to die.

From your beloved writer, Yu Il-Shin, who always holds deep admiration and loyalty to his mighty editor-in-charge.

Beep beep!

“This fucking writer! Pick up the phone already!”

Exasperated, Team Leader Lee kept calling Yu Il-Shin until his phone overheated, but the writer never answered.

Beside him, Assistant Manager Yoon shook her head and said, “I really don’t understand. Why are you so obsessed with Mr. Yu? You even got into a huge argument with the boss just to maintain his contract. Sure, the first novel you took charge of was his, but that was a decade ago. Haa. Aren’t you letting your attachment cloud your judgment?”

“Mr. Yu is a genius.”

“Eh? Isn't it the total opposite? He looks quite lacking to me. His debut novel might’ve been a hit, but all the ones after that didn’t do as well, did they?”

“You don’t know anything.”

Team Leader Lee recalled what happened ten years ago. A 13-year-old boy had walked into his office with a stack of exercise books containing his first draft. His eyes exuded endless insanity, unlike now.

“He could write something really great if he put his mind to it.”

“R-really?”

“Or not.”

“Pardon?”

Assistant Manager Yoon was dumbfounded by Team Leader Lee’s abrupt change.

In response, he chewed on a piece of no-smoking gum, saying, “If I knew how things would unfold from the get-go, I wouldn’t be here living like this. You’ll have to open the blind box to find out. That’s what makes this industry interesting.”

***

[Launching God-Maker.]

In the world of God-Maker, Antrinia, what appeared to be a 100,000-strong horde was making their way to the North. They consisted of a few tribes, but most of them were people from the Termite Kingdom, which had recently fallen into the hands of the empire.

“Ughh...”

“Arghh...”

Every single one of them looked worn, their faces pallid, yet they didn’t stop marching forward. Unable to endure the tyranny, they had chosen to flee. As a result, the imperial army was hot on their heels. Only a gruesome end of being devoured alive by their predators awaited those who got caught.

“We’re almost there, everyone! Let’s keep it up a little longer!”

The elder of the Termite Kingdom encouraged the refugees. Their destination was the demonic forest, Areulia. According to the legends, an ancient malevolent god dwelled there, so the place could be ominous. Regardless, it was also their last hope, as it was the only place the empire had yet to conquer.

Rumors also said that the malevolent god had risen from the dead and massacred millions of the Empire’s troops. Still, they had no other choice.

Rumble!

Just then, clouds of dust fiercely rose in the distance, causing them to stop in their tracks. At first, they were worried that it might be the empire, but something seemed different.

Rumble!

Beautiful men of towering heights, just like the warriors from the myths, could be seen pulling huge carts of grain. Just like the refugees, they also had antennae on their heads, along with insect-like tails. Even though they appeared to be the same species, they were also vastly different

“Impossible!”

“Look at those huge, rich grains!”

Above all, the refugees couldn’t take their eyes off the cartful of grains. Because of the empire’s tyranny, their lands became barren, and the young were reduced to food and eaten alive. They had nothing else left to offer aside from the labor. To them, the sight of such ample grains seemed like an oasis.

Rumble!

The group of Gayamis stopped before them. A woman sat in front of the cart, leading the Gayamis. She was enveloped in a pure white cloth, radiating a holy glow.

“I-is she a goddess?”

“She's beautiful.”

The sight of her, who was as gorgeous as a lily, mesmerized the refugees.

“Hehe, hello everyone!” waving her hands, the woman leaped off the cart, looking like an angel descending...

Plop!

...Only to fall on the ground in a heap.

“Gasp! Saintess!”

“Aigoo, why do you exert yourself when you're so delicate!”

The Gayamis tribe cried out, rushing to the fallen woman. But she sprang to her feet as if nothing had happened, exclaiming, “I’m God Yu Il-Shin's loyal servant. I have some good news for all of you!”