Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Omen (1)
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“What should I do?”
A single bench sat alone against a stark white backdrop. The Omnipotent Being and I were seated on it, engaged in a quiet conversation. As I poured out my heart candidly, her soft hand worked my cock beneath my exposed lower half. She seemed not to grasp my question.
“What?”
“I mean, Ichie says she likes me. What should I do?”
“Just take her. Why turn down a girl who says she likes you?”
“That would be cheating.”
The Omnipotent Being lowered her head and stared fixedly at my lower body. I watched her slender fingers rub the spongy tissue there like a delicate water balloon. She glanced back and forth between my manhood and me, saying nothing. I spoke up.
“This is, well... just a mental image. So it's not really cheating.”
“Then imagine that fooling around with Ichie isn't cheating either. Problem solved, right? From what you said, even Kim Yu-jeong gave permission.”
“Well, yeah... but still...”
“You said it's fine because it's in your mental image?”
“Yes.”
“So you jerk off in your mental image imagining women other than Kim Yu-jeong?”
“No, I mean...”
“Stop with the unmanly nonsense. Be bold about it. How can you call yourself a man if you act like such a simpering girl?”
I had nothing to say. On reflection, I'd just been rationalizing my constant cheating. Silenced by her words, I sank into thought.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “Chun-bae quit?”
A Diamond Club hunter spat his toothpick into the trash and scowled. Kim Ju-seong eyed him anxiously in response.
“Hyung, you didn't do anything to him, did you?”
“Do what? I haven't even started on him yet. He must've just gotten scared and bolted.”
“Hyung, what if he snitches?”
Kim Ju-seong's voice trembled with fear. For a guy built like a mountain, his weak heart was a real flaw. In a way, though, that timid side and his obedient nature made him easy to manage. The hunter snorted.
“Snitch to who? The kid's got no connections. Checked his family—dad's a delivery guy, mom's a housewife. Best he can do is geek out in his room. Actually works out better. Let him marinate a bit, then handle him nice and slow later. I'll take care of it before year-end training. Don't sweat it.”
“Okay.”
“Anyway, forget that—what about a new partner? Chun-bae's out, so you need to re-pair up.”
“Oh, the academy just slotted me into Kim Jin-pyo and Oh Min-young's group.”
“Ah, the screamer? She's got skills. Keep an eye on her. Slacken off, and she might screw things up at year-end camp.”
“Got it.”
Kim Ju-seong nodded.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The academy carried on in its usual rhythm even without Kim Chun-bae. His absence didn't faze me at all. Kim Ju-seong had seamlessly joined Oh Min-young and Kim Jin-pyo's group, while the corner seat he'd occupied sat vacant, like a spot haunted by the dead.
We were chatting about the movie from yesterday—specifically, the post-credits teaser hinting at a sequel that we'd missed. So we were scrolling through pad reviews and articles about it.
[Why Won't Lee Hyun-woo Become 'Heavenly Demon'?]
A few articles caught my eye. Drawn by the title mentioning Heavenly Demon Lee Hyun-woo, I tapped it.
📰 Breaking News S-Rank Hunter Lee Hyun-woo is surging in popularity as 'Heavenly Demon' thanks to his starring role in [Urban Heavenly Demon Clash]. Yet he hasn't changed his hunter nickname to 'Heavenly Demon'—because A-Rank Hunter 'Sky-Shattering King' Choi Sun-hong has reserved it for himself. The article was roughly that. But the comments were the real spectacle.
💬 Comments — ID: CCC3325 Old fart can't keep up anymore and jerks off claiming Heavenly Demon? Our Hyun-woo oppa's out here promoting the movie, perfect fit for his looks—should obviously take Heavenly Demon. A-rank lackey calling himself Heavenly Demon? LOL A-rank Heavenly Demon kkkkk — ID: DDDKING Got a cool junior? Man up and yield the name. Won't use it yourself but reserves Heavenly Demon? Bribing for cash? So pathetic! Black Dragon Clan Leader! ↳ Reply — ID: ULTRAICEGIRL You clueless bitch, what do you know? Dickless whore. Heavenly Demon belongs to Black Dragon Clan Leader alone, you fuck. ↳ Reply — ID: DDDKING Dickless so slurping that A-rank geezer Black Dragon Leader? LOL Leader, fix those narrow hips kkk Your guildmates even admit Heavenly Demon is Lee Hyun-woo kkkk “Eww.”
I shook my head and closed the article. I didn't particularly like the Black Dragon Clan Leader, but he didn't deserve treatment like that. Ichie spoke up.
“Is Heavenly Demon that big a deal?”
“It's cool. Like GaoGaiGar.”
“What's that?”
“You don't know GaoGaiGar?”
“Nope.”
Ichie genuinely had no clue. I quickly searched it up and showed her. She frowned at the glowing golden robot.
“That's ancient anime. Like my uncle's generation stuff.”
My chest ached. She wasn't wrong, in a way. I nodded with a bitter expression, and she added,
“But I think it's cool.”
“Thanks.”
The front door swung open, revealing Teacher Lee Jeong-ah. She was staring at her pad, her usual stern face even cloudier today. She set it down, scanned us once, and said,
“Everyone, are you aware of the new release [Urban Heavenly Demon Clash]?”
We all nodded. It was hugely popular, plastered on newspapers and billboards everywhere—who could miss it? She placed her pad on the floor and continued.
“S-Rank Hunter Lee Hyun-woo stars in it, and lots of people hope he'll change his hunter nickname to 'Heavenly Demon.' But A-Rank Hunter Sky-Shattering King Choi Sun-hong has it reserved, so he can't. Public opinion runs strong that an S-Rank should get priority and the A-Rank yield it.”
Teacher Lee Jeong-ah took a breath.
“Our ranks aren't a hierarchy. S-Rank or A-Rank doesn't matter. They're a measure of strength, sure, but not a command to submit or yield blindly.”
She began sketching on the blackboard. A large circle beside buildings formed a cityscape. Arrows pointed from the circle outward as she explained.
“Diving into a gate means staking your life to protect the city. It's an enormous responsibility. Back when the business side wasn't established, people charged in out of duty. They'd watch comrades die beside them, only to realize they'd become superhumans unable to live normal lives. These days are better—even B-Rank hunters like us can enjoy culture. But the old-timers couldn't.”
She turned her head. Shadows clouded her face. With a deep sigh, she said,
“Some aged hunters find no joy in TV, can't adapt to trendy games. Having weathered life's storms in gates, they can't adjust to the changed world. They cling to the dreams that made them hunters in their youth or long-forgotten hobbies.”
I thought of the Black Dragon Clan Leader—his fixation on 'Heavenly Demon,' the wuxia theme of his guild. Teacher Lee Jeong-ah gave a wry smile.
“Those saying 'Can't an A-Rank just yield to an S-Rank?' don't grasp what that attachment means to old hunters. They don't realize it's everything to them.”
She turned away briefly, wiping her eyes. Then she faced us again, inhaling sharply. Forcing an awkward smile, she said,
“Truth is, these days nobody cares. Not even among B- or C-Ranks like me. Some of them say it too: 'What's the big deal over a nickname like Heavenly Demon? Just hand it over.'”
Teacher Lee Jeong-ah looked at us again.
“I hope you all think differently. Those people fought so you could live safely here without a care.”