On Hiatus: God's Personal Reasons

Chapter 57: Would You Like To Take A Test?

“Mister, can I ask a really, really difficult favor from you?”

Sung Mi-Ri’s plea led to a quest that increased her faith by a whopping ten. I had braced myself at first, expecting to fight an S-rank monster. But I was mistaken.

Instead, we arrived at the Hunter Academy, one of the most prestigious places in South Korea. Not only were all of the top twenty S-rank Hunters in South Korea from the academy, but over 7% of the active high-ranking Hunters were also affiliated with it. The academy was a true elite course, as it was divided into middle, high, and adult visions.

Nowadays, getting into Hunter Academy was harder than getting into Seoul National University.

It’s disgustingly huge.

Looking at the imposing front gate made me realize that this place wasn’t for me.

“Wow, Mister! You look great!” Sung Mi-Ri exclaimed in awe. Her eyes lit up when she saw me dressed in a suit.

“Really? I’ve only worn this twice and the last was at noona’s wedding. I’m surprised it still fits.”

Truthfully, a writer didn’t have many opportunities to wear suits. One would at most wear it once or twice a year, when attending funerals.

“Uhm, Mister. How about wearing like this on normal days, too?”

“But I only have this suit...”

“I’ll buy it for you! Let’s head to the department store after the meeting! In exchange for helping me out, I’ll buy the suit for you!”

“Hey, don’t waste money. There’s no reason for me to wear them anyway.”

Besides, as an adult, I had my dignity to uphold. How could I let a minor buy me clothes...

“I have a lot of money! Pretty please? What do you think? I can get you a training suit instead! Don’t wear the same green one every time! You look so great when you dress up! The world needs to witness your coolness!”

Huh? The world needs to witness my coolness? Apparently, Sung Mi-Ri had similar fanatical tendencies as Anty and Sword Demon. I suddenly felt guilty for roping this innocent girl into the unintentional cult.

“Okay, let’s go. At this rate, we’re going to be late for the meeting.”

Indeed. I was here with her today to take on the role of her guardian. Or to be precise, her older brother.

“Let me get this straight. You skipped too many lessons and the academy wanted to call in your guardian. But you don’t want your older sister to know?”

“Yes... She’s going to kill me if she knew.” Sung Mi-Ri shuddered at the thought.

Certainly, I’d only met her once, but Sung Mi-Na’s presence was no joke. By the way, after fulfilling her duty as a Hunter, Sung Mi-Ri skipped classes so that she could train with me. Knowing that made it all the more difficult to turn her down.

“Well, if you’ll have me, I see no reason to refuse. But I have a favor to ask. Can I have your older sister’s contact information?”

“What? Her number? Why?”

“I have something to ask her personally. Do you mind?”

“Uhm...” Sung Mi-Ri pondered for a while with a slightly complicated expression. But in the end, she relented. “Is she your type...?”

Didn’t she misunderstand something? I didn’t really like fierce and touchy personalities. She probably wouldn’t like me too. Anyway, that was all I had to say for myself.

We passed the magnificent gate and entered the palace-like building. There, a burly, short-haired man greeted us.

-----

[Lee Geun-Wook]

A male human. Around for 33 years.

Special note: Useful muscles.

-----

My appraisal skill activated on its own. After seeing the positive special note, I realized that this was no ordinary person. Hmm, Lee Geun-Wook... That name suited his muscular build.

“Hello. I’m Sung Mi-Ri’s homeroom teacher, Lee Geun-Wook. Excuse me, but may I know what is your relationship with Sung Mi-Ri...?”

“I’m her older cousin.” This was what Sung Mi-Ri and I had agreed upon.

“For a pair of cousins, you sure don’t look similar...” Mr. Lee stared at us with a doubtful gaze.

“No! We look totally alike! We’re definitely cousins!”

Sung Mi-Ri, you’re a terrible liar. Do you have to be so agitated about it?

“I thought Ms. Sung Mi-Na would be here.” Mr. Lee scratched his head apologetically.

“S-she’s busy! She’s still exploring the S-rank dungeon right now!”

“It can’t be helped then. Please come this way. The principal is waiting for you.”

Mr. Lee pressed the elevator button, and we got on first. Mr. Lee followed suit, causing the elevator to shake violently. Wow, he was heavier than I thought.

“Our principal is the best Hunter in South Korea. He had saved countless lives. In the past, he even took it upon himself to reform the Hunters who had gone astray. Nowadays, he’s still active in the frontline. However, his main focus is nurturing the next generation of Hunters. He’s a great example for all of us Reinforce-type...”

He was also quite talkative.

“I don’t like the principal.” Sung Mi-Ri whispered into my ear.

“Why?”

“He asked me to train with him even though I already have you.”

“I think it’s better to learn from someone like him than myself.”

“No!”

As if in agreement, the beast in Sung Mi-Ri’s inner world shook its head violently.

Alright, you adorable little thing. I’ll break all those chains as soon as I can so that you can unleash your power to your heart’s content.

“Is Mi-Ri’s cousin also a Hunter? As the relative of Ms. Sung Mi-Na and Ms. Mi-Ri, you must’ve been quite talented!”

“No, I’m just an ordinary citizen.”

“Our oppa is a writer!” Sung Mi-Ri exclaimed proudly, her nostrils flaring.

How embarrassing. I didn’t even write any masterpieces.

“Oh, so you’re a writer? I’m quite the bookworm, so may I know what books you wrote...?”

“Well, I don’t have any specific genre I specialize in. Right now, I’m writing a story about raising ants through a mobile phone.”

“What?” Mr. Lee gave me a weird look.

Ding!

“Oh, we’ve arrived.”

The elevator stopped, revealing the door to the principal’s office. Mr. Lee knocked on the door and announced. “Mr. Principal, Ms. Sung Mi-Ri is here with her guardian for a consultation.”

“Hoho, please come in.” The voice of a nice old man came through the door.

Fixing my necktie, I followed Mr. Lee into the office.

“Hello, I am Yu Il-Shin, Sung Mi-Ri's guardian.”

I respectfully greeted and looked up, only to see a familiar face. A well-kempt old man stood in the office. His clothes were clean, while his beard was shaved neatly. Regardless, I recognized him right away.

He was the homeless man I met when I was doing Infinite Abundance’s quest. Yes, the same guy who blew my entire fortune of 5,000 won on a bottle of soju. An S-rank Hunter who was widely known as Street Cleaner, Choi Kang-San.

Nevertheless, I was also glad to see him here.

“Oh, Homeless Uncle?”

Clatter!

After I said hi, he went white and leaped out the window. But why? Did he dream of rebelling at his age?

***

Afterward, Choi Kang-San returned with band-aids on his face, and the meeting resumed.

Mr. Lee whispered to me with a perplexed look. “I apologize on his behalf for the surprise. Our Principal has been suffering from PTSD since his last active duty. He still relapses from time to time.”

“Well, that’s understandable.”

Even when I first met him, he didn’t seem to be in his right mind, so it made sense to me. He became this way because of protecting the citizens. Who was I to argue with such a Hunter?

“Mister, no—Oppa. Have some biscuits.”

“Nyam nyam. Oh, it’s delicious. Have some too, Ms. Sung Mi-Ri.”

“Heehee, it’s fine, Oppa. Here, have some more.”

Sung Mi-Ri wouldn’t stop grinning for some reason. She also didn’t touch any of the refreshments served by Mr. Lee. What was she so happy about?

Ding!

[Sung Mi-Ri, Earth Branch Follower, offered “Choi Kang-San’s hidden snack” to Yu Il-Shin.]

A weird message popped up, but I ignored it.

Speaking of which, why was Homeless Uncle staring at me like that? Surely, it wasn’t because I ate his favorite snack?

“Uncle, is there something you’d like to say?”

Flinch!

“Homeless Uncle?”

“D-don’t come closer! Stay away! Keep a distance from me!” Choi Kang-San shouted, quickly withdrawing at my approach.

I was secretly offended. Why would he avoid me to such an extent?! Was I a cockroach?! Since the principal was unfit to conduct the meeting, the baton naturally passed to Mr. Lee.

“I hope that you won’t skip lessons in the future.”

“Yes, rest assured. I will make sure to pay more attention to Mi-Ri.”

“Heehee, he called me ‘Mi-Ri.’”

With a silly smile, Sung Mi-Ri blushed slightly, cupping her face. She seemed to be in a good mood today.

Anyway, in summary, she promised to attend classes more diligently. As a side note, Mr. Lee didn’t seem to be aware that Sung Mi-Ri was the famous Thunder Emperor. Since it was a secret, there was no need for a dispute.

Well, now that the session had ended, it was time to head home.

“No!” Homeless Uncle yelled just as we were about to leave the office. “Not like this! I can’t let you go just yet!”

“Hmm? Do you mean me?”

“After that day, I searched for you high and low! This must be fate!”

Huh? I don’t really want to get involved with you, though.

“Our Hunter Academy comes with the best facilities. Would you do me a favor and go through some of the tests here?”

“Why should I?”

All of a sudden, his expression became pitiful, as if he was begging for cigarettes on the streets.

“W-what do you want in return?! I’ll do anything within my capability if you take the test!”

Even if you offer me that, there’s nothing I really want. Oh, right. He’s still the principal of the Hunter Academy.

“Uhm, then can you turn a blind eye if Mi-Ri skips a few lessons here and there? Also, don’t force her to attend training if she doesn’t want to.”

Sung Mi-Ri nodded profusely with glittering eyes.

“Deal!” Choi Kang-San agreed with fiery eyes.

***

After Anty’s summon duration had ended, Il-Ho returned to the Tenth Floor of the Tower of Warriors: Trial of Solitude.

-Grrrr!

He was fighting his mortal enemy, a pure white snake hundreds of times his size. Its venom could melt even steel. But thanks to Buttor’s toxic powder, Il-Ho had developed immunity to poison and venom. Otherwise, he’d have died several times over by now. On the second day of the battle, Il-Ho pressed the nape of the white snake.

“Hyaaaaa! Muscleees!”

Il-Ho’s arm muscles bulged to the fullest. After millions of attempts, the neck of the giant white snake finally broke.

Boom boom boom!

As the snake’s body collapsed to the ground, messages appeared for Il-Ho.

[Congratulations! The Tenth Floor of the Tower of Warriors: Trial of Solitude has been cleared.]

[The challenger has been rewarded with Blessing of Poison Immunity from Eternal Seeker.]

[Blessing of Poison Immunity: Challenger, no poison in the world can harm you from now on!]

Tzzz!

Then, the poison turned into blue smoke and seeped into Il-Ho’s body.

“Huff huff! I finally overcame my trials! I dedicate this victory to God Yu Il-Shin! Puck! Puck!” Il-Ho prayed and cheered toward the sky with his bloody face.

“Tsk. But alas, everything disappeared. I don’t have any tributes to offer.”

Unfortunately, all the heads of the poisonous insects had turned into smoke and been absorbed into Il-Ho’s body. The white snake’s body was no exception. He felt more disappointed and upset than relieved by clearing the trial.

“Hm. Next time, I will be sure to offer my tributes before clearing the trials.”

How could he call himself a loyal follower without offering any tribute to God Yu Il-Shin?

“I want to become as strong as him.” Whenever he recalled Yu Il-Shin’s battle, Il-Ho's heart still pounded in excitement. Yu Il-Shin looked so cool and majestic when he effortlessly swung that huge sword!

“Aah... If only I had a sword like that...”

[Eternal Seeker says that he will be able to fulfill Il-Ho’s wish if he clears the 20th floor.]

Il-Ho cheered at the message.

“Ooh! Really?!” Il-Ho was on cloud nine. He steeled his resolve to clear the trials. He wanted to obtain a sword as large and powerful as God Yu Il-Shin’s!

“There’s no time to waste! Let’s start the next trial!”

Thud thud!

Il-Ho hurried up the stairway to the next floor.

[The Eleventh Floor of the Tower of Warriors: Trial of Flower.]

Il-Ho was slightly flustered. Until this point, the trails had been bloody and gruesome. But now, a gorgeous field of flowers, emitting a succulent fragrance, greeted him.