On Hiatus: God's Personal Reasons

Chapter 28: The Strongest Cleaner

He was Choi Kang-San. A specialist in this circle, so to speak. But that day, a new face threatened to take his place!

Choi Kang-San glared fiercely at the youngster who invaded his territory.

***

Despite having picked up the trash in my neighborhood for over three hours, the good deeds counter wasn’t rising. As soon as I realized that, I decided to switch locations. My next destination was the subway station near my house.

Oh, it's going up again!

[You helped clean the world.]

[Your good deeds have increased by 1.]

[Good deeds done until quest completion: 11/100]

Sure enough, the unmoving counter began rising after changing places. I picked up an empty can and threw it into a recycling bag.

Haha, I, Yu Il-Shin, am a man who also takes part in recycling.

[You are an excellent law-abiding model.]

[Your good deeds have increased by 1.]

[Good deeds done until quest completion: 12/100]

“Hehe, it's going up again.”

Great. While it did stop earlier, if I keep going at it, I’d be able to achieve 100 good deeds within a day.

Merely imagining the mature World Tree, abundant with wondrous berries, was enough to make me smile. All of the sudden, someone grabbed my shoulder from behind.

“Boy, what are you doing in my territory?”

Surprised, I turned around. An elderly man with a long, silvery beard stared back at me. He donned a scruffy dark gray jacket, with a mesh bag slung over his shoulder.

I immediately broke into a cold sweat.

T-this man is...!

Although they had become a rare sight in recent years, this man was clearly one of those who lived near the subway stations—the so-called “homeless men”!

“This isn't a place for a newbie like you.” Said the man while sizing me up with his vicious eyes.

Yeah, I did hear that the homeless were sensitive about their territory.

I tried to think about my current situation objectively. I had an unkempt magpie hair, and was wearing a shabby training suit. I was also covered in dirt and sweat after picking up trash for the last couple of hours. He probably mistook me as a new face invading his territory.

“Uhm, I think there's some misunderstanding. I'm not who you think I am. Ah, here. I have something for you...” I pulled out a crumpled 5,000 won bill from my pocket.

“Hmph! How dare you belittle me, this Choi Kang-San!” the old homeless man glared at me.

“I-I’m sorry.”

I hurriedly tried to keep the bill away, but...

Snatch!

“Huh?”

The bill vanished from my hands and ended up in the old man’s, which were clad in a pair of worn-out cotton gloves. His speed was tremendous, like a hawk snatching a chick from its mother.

“But I, Choi Kang-San, would never ignore other's sincerity.” As he said that, he slid the bill into his own pocket.

Hic, goodbye, my dear Mr. Yulgok Yi-yi.

Pocketing my bill, he bolted into a convenience store nearby. I felt bitter as I watched him walk away, but I was still feeling expectant.

I donated to a homeless elderly. Won’t this count as a good deed?

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However, contrary to my expectations, the number on my quest window didn’t change.

Why? Recycling trash counts, but donating doesn’t?

Seriously, what was the system’s definition of “good deeds”? As I pondered about that, the old man went out of the convenience store.

“Pwah! Drinking alcohol in the afternoon is the best!”

No shit. I can see why it doesn’t increase.

Seeing the old man holding soju bottles in each hand enraged me. I couldn’t help but scream, “Look here, old man!”

“What is it, punk?” The old man stopped drinking and approached me. “How dare you call Choi Kang-San an old man!”

Crack!

The moment he straightened his back, he somehow became a head taller than me. Even though he wore a jacket, I could see how well-built his body was up close. His biceps alone were twice as thick as my scrawny arms.

H-hmph! Do you think I’m scared?! I have a powerful kid with me!

“If you have something to say, say it!”

Clang!

The soju bottle he was holding shattered like chips.

“Tsk, the bottles are so flimsy these days,” the elderly man muttered, clicking his tongue regretfully at the spilled alcohol on the ground.

You sure it’s because of the bottles?

“So what is it?”

I held out the bag of recyclables in my hand, trembling. “I-I wanted to give you this.”

Like I said, I wasn’t scared.

“Hmph. I, Choi Kang-San, don’t care about such crap. I only deal with much bigger and more harmful trash in this world!” He snorted.

Oh, I see.

Instinctively, I knew that it was best not to get involved with him any longer.

“Well, take care then, Hyung-nim. I’ll get going now. I still have some work to do.”

Grab!

The old man grabbed my shoulder with his hand, which was still soaked with alcohol.

“W-what’s wrong?”

“Did you just call me ‘Hyung-nim’?”

I could feel tears welling up in my eyes when the crazy elderly glowered at me.

Dammit! Just how unlucky can one be?!

But then, the unexpected happened—the old man suddenly laughed boisterously!

“You’re quite the tactful kid, aren’t you! I do look younger than my age. I like you. Where are you from?”

Rocky Media. I caught and stopped myself in time, remembering that I was fired for not submitting my manuscript on time. Ugh, it made my heart ache.

“...I’m a freelancer now.”

“Oh, well. It’s more convenient to work alone. I like you more now. Hahaha!” he said, tapping my shoulder with such force that a bruise wouldn’t have been surprising.

Just as I was contemplating how to get away from this crazy old man...

Whiiing!

All of a sudden, a familiar siren blared loudly. The alarm, which was a few decibels higher than that of a fire engine, signaled that a gate or dungeon had appeared in the area.

Wait, there’s a monster nearby?

I shuddered, recalling my traumatic encounter with the Spiky Rhinoceros. On the contrary, the old man lit up.

“Keke, did it appear? Miracle’s prediction is accurate after all.”

Miracle? I had heard this name from somewhere before, but who were they?

“Hyung-nim. I think something has happened nearby. I’ll excuse myself first.”

If a monster had truly appeared in the vicinity, we’d have to evacuate right away. My surroundings would likely head for the subway station, where the bomb shelter was located.

“Hmm, are you going to help as well? Follow me. I’ll show you what I’m capable of.”

However, it looked like the old man misunderstood me somehow.

“Excuse me? Where to...”

Before I could finish my sentence, the old man had grabbed the scruff of my neck, and then...

Slam!

We jumped.

“Hahaha! How refreshing!”

Is this a dream?

Whiiiing!

My feet were no longer planted on the ground, and strong gusts of wind began slapping my face. Ironic how I described him as a hawk snatching a chick earlier, when I ended up becoming said “chick.”

Beneath my feet, the cityscape seemed like a miniature toy.

Fuck! I just remembered!

No wonder I found that old man familiar. He was just an ordinary street cleaner—at least until a gate appeared at his daughter’s elementary school. The day he saved his daughter was also the day he became a legend nicknamed Cleaner. Otherwise known as the S-rank Hunter, Choi Kang-San!

“Hmm? Is there something on my face? Why are you staring at me so intently, Boy?” he asked, smiling brightly.

That was the last thing I saw before I fainted, foaming at the mouth.

***

Choi Kang-San watched Yu Il-Shin, who fainted in his arms, in disbelief.

“What’s with this punk? Did he just faint? Strange. I thought he was at least a B-rank hunter.”

Did his senses dull in the last few years after stepping down from active duty? Regardless, from the moment he first laid eyes on Yu Il-Shin, he could tell that the lad was different. Yes, like a cute whiz.

“Well, I can always think about it later.” Choi Kang-San then slung Yu Il-Shin over his shoulder and continued forward.

He was heading for “that place”.

“Miracle predicted there was an 80% chance a gate would appear there, and sure enough...”

A crack formed in the air, as if a giant had slashed across it.

[The apostle of ??? enters Earth.]

Strange text not originating from Earth appeared in the air, and...

Riip! Riiip!

A creature—no, a monster that was at least twenty meters long, resembling a frog, emerged from the crack. Nevertheless, the gigantic horns and white, shark-like teeth jutting out of its mouth made it clear that it was no harmless frog.

“A Beelzebufo?”

The ferocious, A-rank monster was called such because it resembled Beelzebub. In Korea, it was known as the Horned Devil Frog, and didn’t appear that often.

“Just in time for a good warm-up. Been a while.”

As an S-rank Hunter, Choi Kang-San could handle a mere A-rank monster by himself.

What Choi Kang-San didn’t expect was that this Beelzebufo was different from the rest, evident from the crown of black bumps between its horns. King Beelzebufo was an exceptional being favored by a great god.

The so-called King Frog grimly squinted his eyes as he stared at Yu Il-Shin, who was sprawled in a corner.

-Is that the rumored young god? This is my lucky day. To think I arrived before everyone else. My master will be thrilled if I offer him as a tribute.

King Frog flicked his tongue, which was entangled with live snakes. He warned Choi Kang-San, who stood in his way.

-Move aside, decrepit human. Since I’m in a good mood, I’ll spare your life.

In spite of that, all Choi Kang-San could hear was the monster’s cries.

“Geez, this monster’s so loud.”

Taking a deep breath, Choi Kang-San clenched his fists.

Riiiip!

Instantly, his copper-colored muscles burst through his top, ripping it to shreds. Choi Kang-San smirked, baring a row of yellow teeth.

“Keke, nice! I’m having alcohol with frog legs tonight!”

-Such insolence! I’m a favored subject of a great god, and you dare stand in my way?!

King Frog was furious when Choi Kang-San refused to move.

Flash!

With a tremendous aura, King Frog’s body emitted a radiant golden light. The ground shook as if an earthquake had hit the area.

-Lowlife! Look! This is the power of those favored by the gods!

Choi Kang-San was taken aback by the king frog’s unexpected power, but then laughed maniacally.

“Haha! In the last few years I’ve been away, the level of the Horned Devil Frog has increased this much? Great! I’ll be able to use my full strength!”

-You overestimated yourself! Fine! If that’s your wish, I’ll show you the might of the great god!

“Come at me, Frog!”

The strongest human and strongest monster were exuding bloodlust, about to clash at each other when...

Ding!

A message appeared on Yu Il-Shin’s phone.

[A life-threatening crisis targeting the wielder of the innate power has been detected.]

[You have met the conditions for activating Silently Crawling Nightmare’s innate power Night Rose.]

“Hmm?”

-Krrr?

Both Choi Kang-San and the king frog instinctively turned around, and found themselves facing their worst nightmare.

“Arrrrgh! What the fuck is that!”

-Kweeeeeek!

Whirrr!

Gulp!

...Silence followed.