Taming the Tyrant 1
I remember it from when I was a kid. My mom sent me to church. A devout believer, she was convinced that only the church could save me, going so far as to shell out the hefty fees for that pricey "summer Bible school." Of course, a self-proclaimed genius like me had no use for faith. To me, religion was nothing more than a tool for controlling slaves. Otherwise, revolutions would erupt. Cities would burn. I'm not denying its positive functions—it's the only thing that brings peace of mind to people with nothing else to lean on. The brain releases oxytocin, granting that genuine sense of calm. Ever since societies merged church and state, religion had always served that role: solace for slaves, comfort for the oppressed, the hope of a better afterlife to keep them slaving away diligently. And hypocrisy. That's why I've always hated religion.
But was it coincidence? A fire broke out at the church I attended. Amid the ashes, only two of us survived—me included. That's when I vaguely realized it. I don't burn.
"You... why aren't you burning??" Kwon Si-hyeok shouted at me with wide, shocked eyes. Because I was unscathed amid the hellfire engulfing his body. Even with Phnoima lodged in his heart, pinning him in place, he couldn't hold back his curiosity.
"Ow, hot."
At my casual quip, Kwon Si-hyeok furrowed his brow. He tapped the hilt of the Phnoima embedded in his heart.
"A sword... stuck in me... why doesn't it hurt? And who the hell are you?"
"How the fuck did you grow up talking down to strangers like that? You some kinda Amyris Aviris Grown?"
"What the hell are you doing?!"
"Told you. Treating you."
Kwon Si-hyeok's mana rampage began to subside the moment Phnoima pierced him. Mana slowly absorbed through the blade. When it came through my dick, there was at least pleasure involved, but absorbing via the hilt felt more like drinking water.
Hmm. This is just 10%? Not bad at all.
10%, my ass—it was denser than the mana I'd siphoned from Gu Mirae's rampage. Absorbing an S-rank hunter's full-blown mana surge straight up? That'd be some serious gains.
S-rank female hunter mana rampages? Gotta tame those with the cock every time.
No more mana to absorb, so I slowly withdrew Phnoima. It seemed to suck it up faster than expected.
"Kwon Si-hyeok. Even if you get dementia, don't forget what happened today. Hell, pass it down to your kids like a family heirloom."
As I unsummoned the holy sword Phnoima that had pierced his heart, it dissolved into silver dust and scattered.
"F...fuck..."
Thud.
I brushed off my palms and looked down indifferently at Kwon Si-hyeok collapsed on the floor.
"Treatment's done."
At my quiet declaration, the hellish mana and suffocating tension filling the hallway vanished like a lie. Like a midsummer downpour suddenly stopping, a profound silence settled in.
"……!"
Team Leader Gu Kang-cheol stood there dumbstruck, clutching fragments of his shattered shield, mouth agape. Awe mingled with primal terror in his eyes—the fear of witnessing something beyond human comprehension.
"N... no way... He killed an S-rank hunter mid-mana rampage with just a dagger?"
His mutter was laced with sheer disbelief. Team Leader Gu Kang-cheol was misunderstanding. Stabbed the heart with a dagger? Of course he'd think it was a kill.
The Hunter Association agents and medical staff hiding behind debris at the end of the hall, watching the scene, were frozen in the same shock, unable to process it.
"Kuhk... ugh..."
Kwon Si-hyeok coughed harshly and propped himself up from the floor. Team Leader Gu Kang-cheol, approaching, nearly tumbled backward in surprise.
"H... he's not dead?"
"Come on, Team Leader. I said I was treating him. Didn't you hear?"
"Treating... a mana rampage??"
Shocked Team Leader Gu Kang-cheol—and even more shocked was Hunter Kwon Si-hyeok himself. The dark crimson mana that had coiled around him was gone, his raging red eyes back to their original black. But his body trembled like a leaf, utterly drained.
"You... who the hell are you..."
He gasped out the question. Instead of answering, I squatted in front of him and met his gaze.
"Hey. Learn some fucking manners and speak politely. You're a real rude prick. That why they call you the Tyrant?"
His brow twitched at my words. Clearly didn't like hearing his nickname "Tyrant."
"What's... your name..."
"I'm Park Woojin, B-rank hunter with the taxpayer-funded 'Love Korea Guild.'"
"B-rank...? Don't fuck with me. That power of yours..."
"Shh. Shut up. Keep talking down to me and big bro here's gonna beat your ass."
I grinned and patted his shoulder. Just then, Team Leader Gu Kang-cheol staggered over.
"Hunter Park Woojin... you okay?"
"As you can see. But you look rough, Team Leader. Looks like a few cracked ribs."
"Haha... this is nothing. More importantly... thank you so much for saving Hunter Kwon Si-hyeok."
Gu Kang-cheol bowed deeply in genuine gratitude. I patted his shoulder and helped him up.
"Just hunters helping each other. Anyway, handle the cleanup. I gotta head out."
"Wait, Hunter! One moment!"
Gu Kang-cheol grabbed me urgently.
"We'll take full responsibility for treating Hunter Kwon Si-hyeok in our guild. But... could we talk about this incident? It's a very important matter."
His eyes were dead serious. I pondered briefly, then nodded. And so, Team Leader Gu Kang-cheol and I talked for a good while. I was with the 'Love Korea Guild' anyway. His proposal was pretty tempting.
After wrapping up, I patted his shoulder and stood.
"Alright. I'll come back once that little shit pulls himself together."
I jerked my chin at Kwon Si-hyeok and sauntered out of the room. As I walked the hallway, I felt the barrage of awed and suspicious stares on my back.
Shit’s about to get annoying.
But a satisfied smile tugged at my lips all the same.
An hour later, in the VIP room where Kwon Si-hyeok was admitted. Seoul's glittering nightscape sprawled beyond the window, but the room's air hung heavy.
Kwon Si-hyeok leaned half-upright in bed, IV dripping.
"No way... Hellfire... even I couldn't withstand that extreme flame..."
He vividly remembered turning demonic from the mana rampage. The demon he'd become was an Ifrit, wielder of hellfire.
"If... I'd fully become an Ifrit... Korea would've been..."
He shook his head. Not a complete transformation, but the hellfire's power had been immense enough to awe even him.
"Incredible... flames..."
A small flame flickered in his palm. He clenched his fist, snuffing it out. His skill was Flame—manipulating intense fire at will.
As he sighed, the door burst open. A stunning blonde beauty entered, dressed in holy nun's robes. Her face lit up at the sight of him.
"...Ieliya."
"Sorry, Si-hyeok. I came too late."
Ieliya, the golden-eyed saintess speaking flawless Korean. Still shocked, she channeled her holy power to heal him. But Kwon Si-hyeok took her hand and shook his head.
"I'm fine. All healed. No wounds, rampage subdued."
Pale-faced, but his eyes burned sharp as ever. A light kiss turned heated as aroused Ieliya tried to shed her robes.
"Ieliya... this is a hospital. I'm still a patient."
He calmed her down. Face flushed crimson, licking her lips, she trembled but began to steady herself.
"I'm... in heat... fuck me... Si-hyeok."
"After discharge. Hold on a bit."
He stared silently out the window; she stayed quietly by his side. Her nun's robes soaked through at the thighs. Love juices trickled down her ankles, dripping onto the floor.
Kwon Si-hyeok and Ieliya had promised each other a future. A love transcending borders.
"Hoo..."
Then the door flew open—no knock. It was Director Byeon from the Hunter Association's central control room. The guy who'd bolted first during the rampage.
"As expected! Wahahaha! I knew our Hunter Kwon Si-hyeok would pull through! Conquering an S-rank gate for 10 days straight! Overcoming a mana rampage! Incredible!"
"......"
Team Leader Gu Kang-cheol followed; Kwon Si-hyeok nodded politely to him, ignoring Byeon.
"I owe you, Team Leader. Because of me... no injuries?"
"Nonsense. My power makes things squishy, so wounds heal squishy-fast."
Byeon's face soured. Furious at Kwon Si-hyeok treating him like a worthless sack, he forced a grin and kept talking.
"Korea's hope! On behalf of the nation, thanks for the Tyrant Hunter Kwon Si-hyeok's survival."
"......"
As Kwon Si-hyeok openly ignored him, Byeon blocked his path.
"Team Leader Gu Kang-cheol wanted to kill you, but I stopped him. Hunter Kwon Si-hyeok, he kept insisting on killing you."
Byeon pointed accusingly, raising his voice. Gu Kang-cheol sighed and shook his head.
"Hey, lower your voice in front of a patient?"
Ieliya mediated; Byeon calmed briefly, face still red. Kwon Si-hyeok's too flushed crimson. Then his twitching lips dropped a bombshell that stunned everyone.
"Byeon Gi-tae. If you don't wanna die here, get the fuck out of my sight."
"Hunter Kwon Si-hyeok, there must be some misunderstanding..."
A powerful shockwave grazed Byeon's face.
"One more word, and you're dead."
"Tch!"
Byeon fled, hiding his shock. Once gone, Kwon Si-hyeok rose from bed and bowed deeply to Team Leader Gu Kang-cheol.
"Team Leader, truly grateful. I remember everything. Japan experimenting on me... unforgivable."
"Even trash like Director Byeon... thanks for sparing him."
"Wanted to kill him on the spot, but needed to uncover the mastermind. But... Team Leader, who was the one who saved me?"
"Hunter Park Woojin. B-rank, but the man who'll save the world..."
Just then, the door creaked open slightly, then shut.
I'd timed it for a cooler entrance. But then Team Leader Gu Kang-cheol goes, "Hunter Park Woojin. B-rank, but the man who'll save the world..." Cringe hit so hard I shut the door and retreated. Felt like my hands and feet shriveled up.
"Ah... perfect timing."
Oblivious, Gu Kang-cheol flung the door wide. Exposing me again as I shook off my cringe behind it.
...Should I just kill him?
I scratched the back of my head casually and stepped in. Three pairs of eyes locked on me.
"How's the body feeling?"
I spoke first. Kwon Si-hyeok stared, lips moving.
"Thanks to you, I'm alive. Appreciate it."
"But you're consistent as fuck. Polite to Team Leader Gu Kang-cheol, but I'm easy game? Call me next time you rampage. I'll stab you real painful next time."
His eyebrow twitched. Gu Kang-cheol sensed the tension and jumped in.
"Haha, calm down, both of you. Hunter Park Woojin, have a seat. That's why I gathered you both."
"Nah, before that... one question for Kwon Si-hyeok."
I crossed my legs on the sofa and cut straight to it.
"Who gave you the Awakening Fruit?"
Kwon Si-hyeok's face hardened. Gu Kang-cheol tensed, glancing at me.
"What does it matter who gave me the Awakening Fruit?"
"Ha. This fucker. I speak nice and polite, so you think you can too? Saved your ass and now you're cocky as shit. Ah, that why they call you Tyrant?"
"Hunter Park Woojin..."
Gu Kang-cheol fidgeted, but I didn't budge.
"Little punk barely out of diapers. Hit S-rank and think you own the world? That's how you end up dead."
"Grrrr."
Saintess Ieliya blocked the grinding-teeth, mana-summoning Tyrant Kwon Si-hyeok.
"Si-hyeok... don't..."
"Hey, you two dating?"
Kwon Si-hyeok ground his teeth so hard his jaw shook.
"...Why provoke me?"
"You talked down to me, way older than you. Forgot the guy who saved your life. You fucking brat. Still at it."
"......"
"So who gave you the Awakening Fruit, you little shit?"
"A sister I know..."
Ieliya's eyes bulged seeing Tyrant Kwon Si-hyeok use polite speech.