Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: The Ascension Ritual
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“Director, did you know the angels were gathering monsters? The government gave them permission?”
“Yes. That’s correct. It was even on the news, but you must not have heard since you were inside a Gate. It was a bill hastily passed by the National Assembly.”
“What kind of bill?”
“One that gathers monsters hiding across the nation in one place and renders them immobile. It was first proposed by the angels and their followers.”
“Expecting too much from those beings isn’t a good idea.”
“I agree. But civilian casualties from monsters spreading nationwide during the recent Gate Breaks have been increasing daily. There haven’t been issues so far, but with the angels and their followers taking control, the number of hunters available for subjugation missions has dropped sharply.”
In the end, the angels were the problem.
It left a bitter taste in my mouth, but I held back since I’d recently acquired a huge tract of land and increased their workload. Besides, causing a scene here wouldn’t let me take out angels worldwide without civilian casualties. The governments of each country wouldn’t leave me alone either.
“I’ll tag along too.”
I ended the call and said to Angelus.
“Do as you wish.”
“By the way, did we meet last time?”
I’d thought it was the same Angelus since she knew my name. The angels’ faces looked identical, like mass-produced dolls from a factory, making them indistinguishable.
“Ah, we are all Angelus. We share memories as well. Feel free to think of us as one.”
“Does that mean you share thoughts in real time too?”
“I’m sorry. That touches on our fundamental nature, so it’s a bit hard to explain.”
I had no idea how they shared memories, but if over ten thousand individuals could exchange thoughts without delay, it was a more threatening communication method than any telepathy skill.
We moved slowly and arrived at the destination.
Pastor Seo Hyun-tae would’ve been better off as a real estate agent than a pastor. His talent for selling land was so impressive that the area around the holy site kept expanding until the entire district became private property owned by the angels’ followers.
They’d cleared the trees from the barren mountain and leveled the ground, and behind it stood countless monsters packed tightly together.
The monsters that followed took their positions one by one and froze in place. It wasn’t like being encased in ice like the Ice Dragon’s method—it looked more like their time had simply stopped. The faded, motionless monsters resembled stone statues.
“Is that ability from Metatron too?”
Angelus flinched subtly when I mentioned Metatron’s name without the honorific.
“Yes.”
“Why not just kill them?”
“They’re monsters now, but they were once living beings with lives. We’re protecting them safely until we find a way.”
Even if they’d lost their egos to the Destruction God or his minions, the orc I saw there must have had thoughts and emotions like Sonorim. Protecting them wasn’t a bad idea if possible.
Soldiers surrounded the private property. It was a relief they weren’t just leaving it unattended, even if gathering monsters had been permitted.
After that, I observed the angels’ activities for a while. They healed the sick and captured wild monsters. Earth-born monsters or those transformed from wild animals couldn’t be captured, so they handled those subjugation missions themselves, but as Director Baek had said, with the angels gathering monsters, hunters had far less work.
A few weeks after the angels descended, people quickly grew accustomed to them. An unspoken distance formed between believers and non-believers, reducing conflicts. Excluding the Middle East where things had escalated to extremes, coexistence with angels was becoming the norm.
“Oppa, your hunch hasn’t changed?”
Na Young asked, seeing my serious expression while watching the news.
“Yeah. They can control monsters, right? They’re definitely connected to the Destruction God. Even the way they immobilize monsters is similar to the Ice Dragon’s freezing, just a slightly different method.”
“What are you going to do?”
“For now, just watch…”
I stopped mid-sentence as I glanced at the TV.
“These bastards…”
I shot up from my seat, and Na Young followed after seeing the news screen.
Tens of thousands had already gathered at the holy site. I couldn’t push through the crowd with force, so I leaped high into the air and used the flotation magic on the cape Na Young had wrapped around me to descend slowly.
There was a female-type angel I hadn’t seen before. She wore similar attire to Angelus and held a short staff about fifty centimeters long.
Five female-type angels pointed their staffs at a person in a wheelchair. He had his hands clasped and tears streaming down his face—not from sorrow or fear, but from relief and anticipation.
“What are you doing?”
“Lee Ji-seok.”
The five Angelus turned their heads in unison and spoke simultaneously. It was unsettling seeing identical faces turn at the same time.
“I asked what you’re doing.”
“This person has suffered for a long time. We are guiding him to the land of eternal rest through the ascension ritual. It’s by his own will. Is there a problem?”
“Lee Ji-seok, Hunter?”
The patient in the center looked at me in confusion.
I doubted if the land of eternal rest even existed, but I couldn’t voice that doubt in front of tens of thousands of religious followers.
“Stop it.”
“He has permission from the state for euthanasia. Isn’t it better to go under our guidance than with drugs?”
Hospitals had become scarce after the Gate incidents, legalizing euthanasia, and apparently they’d even approved angel-assisted ones.
“Lee Ji-seok Hunter, why are you interfering?”
The patient asked, and religious followers began crowding around. Their eyes held infinite faith—verging on madness.
As I scanned the surroundings, I spotted a familiar face.
“Jae-won.”
“Ji-seok.”
He was gaunt, but it was Jae-won, sitting in a wheelchair in front of the followers.
“Why are you here?”
“To receive the ascension ritual. Terminal cancer. Not much time left.”
“Why didn’t you contact me?”
“You’ve climbed so high. Felt like we weren’t in the same world anymore.”
“I’m sorry. I should’ve reached out.”
“It’s fine.”
“So you’re going like this?”
“What choice do I have?”
“I’ll heal you.”
“It’s spread throughout my body. Even an elixir couldn’t fix it.”
“We’re building a hospital near the World Tree. Try there before giving up.”
“...You ghost me and now you’re telling me what to do?”
“I’m sorry. Just give me one chance from now on.”
“Leave me alone.”
Fwaaash!
While I talked to Jae-won, the patient behind vanished in a burst of light.
“Ascension my ass. You just incinerated him with light attribute!”
“The flesh is as you say. His soul will now rest eternally in peace in the land of eternal rest.”
“Not him.”
I placed my hand on Jae-won’s body.
“He came of his own will.”
“Don’t come closer.”
“Lee Ji-seok! Leave me alone! I just want to rest!”
“Na Young, put him to sleep.”
Na Young put Jae-won to sleep without a word.
“No.”
One of the Arcangelus reached out toward me swiftly.
I threw a punch to threaten her.
I did it slowly on purpose, but she didn’t dodge—instead, she thrust her face forward.
With all my pent-up frustration, I didn’t hold back and punched full force.
Thwack!
Her head exploded from my light punch. No, it wasn’t the impact—it burst from within at the exact moment my fist connected.
“What…?”
“Kyaahhh!!! Lee Ji-seok killed an angel!”
“S-Satan! He’s Satan!”
“Killing God’s messenger! Oh God!”
“Forgive our sins…”
People screamed at the sight of the headless angel collapsing. Many charged at me to grab me. Behind them, angels stood still, smiling.
“Oppa!”
Na Young climbed onto my shoulder, and I scooped up Jae-won. I bent my knees and leaped away quickly.
Looking down, the angels just watched me, showing no intent to follow.
* * *
“The situation isn’t good.”
Director Baek Young-shin visited my home. Soldiers had set up a perimeter around the house, while outside, religious followers had turned into a mob pushing against them.
“I’m sorry.”
I bowed my head.
“I don’t like those guys either, but with public opinion like this, could you exercise some restraint for now?”
Director Baek Young-shin bowed as well.
“Yes, I’ll stay near the World Tree.”
“I’m sorry. We keep owing you, and now we treat you like this.”
“I should’ve been more careful too. My mistake.”
“Please bear with it just for a bit.”
My family boarded a large helicopter and headed straight to the World Tree.
Below, the angry mob hurled rotten eggs and filth at the soldiers and our house.
“Those humans…”
Na Young’s eyes glowed purple. It was terrifying how faith could make them act this way against an S-Rank Hunter capable of mass slaughter if she wanted.
“Hold back, hold back.”
Feeling frustrated, I stepped off the helicopter to find a welcoming face waiting.
“Hong Rong.”
“You can finally thank me properly. Lee Ji-seok, thank you.”
Hong Rong and his family bowed.
“No need. Tell me if there’s anything inconvenient. I’ll help.”
I grabbed Hong Rong’s shoulder and pulled him up.
“You too—anything you need, just say it.”
“Then how about a spar later?”
“A spar? Anytime.”
After promising a match with Hong Rong, I headed straight to the hospital to treat Jae-won.
“Doctor, how is it?”
“The cancer has spread too far. We could do chemo, but it’ll attack even healthy tissue. His body won’t hold up.”
“What if I infuse life force during it?”
“Too experimental. No data so far.”
“Any other way for this guy?”
“...No. Just morphine to ease the pain.”
“Do it. I’ll take responsibility.”
It went against Jae-won’s wishes, but considering his condition impaired judgment, we sent consent forms for surgery and treatment to his parents. They approved immediately at the chance to save their son.
The harsh chemo drugs entered his body. They killed cancer cells and healthy ones alike. Under the World Tree’s influence, normal cells would recover from its emitted life force even passively, but I sat beside him, steadily infusing more.
Normally, you’d give recovery time between doses, but since he regenerated in real time, we administered it nonstop for a full day.
Color returned slightly to Jae-won’s face, so we took another MRI.
“......It’s halved.”
The doctor incredulously reexamined the MRI scans multiple times.
“So surgery’s possible now?”
“In this state, yes. Can you infuse life force during surgery as needed?”
“Of course.”
Surgery was scheduled for the next day.
“...Am I not gonna die?”
“You’re not dying, man.”
Tears streamed down Jae-won’s face.
“You’re not even religious—why’d you go there?”
“Since I was dying anyway, I wanted to go to heaven at least.”
“How do you know heaven exists?”
“With monsters, other worlds, demons, and angels—why wouldn’t heaven exist?”
“Can’t argue with that. But those guys are weird.”
“I know. I just clung to it with no options. Just heal me. Let’s drink after.”
“Sick guy talking about booze.”
As the pain eased, he reverted to his usual self. It was mostly my fault for being too busy to stay in touch.
The next day, surgery began.