Chapter 1- Cameraman

★ [Any-One (Any-猿)] A simple-type monster, roughly and carelessly formed. Its appearance is too uninspired to simply call it a giant ape. Aside from the monstrous common traits of strong vitality and stamina, it has nothing special. The best prey for beginners.

Even after 10 years, I can’t forget it. The magnificent sight of blades covering the city sky like dark clouds, raining down like a deluge. Wasn’t it divine retribution for arrogant humanity? If so, then God must be the devil.

“Hey, manager.” “……”

Other scenes also vividly come to mind. My mother, holding a ladle, yelling at me not to be late for school, my sister waving goodbye. The girl in my class who gave me chocolates, saying she was recreating some old-fashioned event, and my friends teasing us with “ooh-la-la.” They were all beautiful memories.

“Hello? Mr. Choi Kang-sik?” “……”

My father, watching my sister dance, twirling in the white dress she got for her birthday, only gave boring advice like “be careful not to trip.” My beloved family… All of it was destroyed in an instant. Like a child breaking an anthill in a playground, I lost everything to a monster’s playful attack, and now 10 years have passed, wandering through Seoul, South Korea. Several times a day, I ask myself:

‘What have I been doin—’

“Hey! Choi Kang-sik! What are you dawdling for?!”

Choi Kang-sik.

At the shout of the man calling his name, the young man suddenly snapped awake. He focused his eyes, which had been slightly unfocused from deep thought, and sharpened his gaze. He saw his employer, a young man his age whom he’d grown sick of seeing for three years, huffing like an angry bull.

“Even if it looks like I’m dawdling, the camera setup is perfect. Don’t worry, no matter when you catch the monster, it’ll be perfectly filmed.”

Choi Kang-sik, he had struggled to survive. There was definitely a naive time in his youth when he vowed to become a super-powerful hunter who would eradicate all monsters in the world.

Hunter (Hunter). A profession that hunts monsters, the public enemies of humanity.

But he lacked the essential requirement of a hunter: ‘talent.’ This world was too realistic for a human, who would suffer fatal injuries from even a graze by a monster’s attack, to simply charge in with sheer willpower. Yes, realistic. There were countless cases where people tried to push through with dreams, hopes, love, and friendship, like in an anime fantasy, only to end up with a string of funerals.

A world without an ounce of mercy.

A hunter who had adapted to this reality called out to him.

“Choi Kang-sik! If you’re ready, does that mean your work day is over? You need to report to me!”

He had reported long ago. He was pretending not to hear, looking for an argument.

“Mr. Yu Il-am. Just honestly say you need an excuse for the continuously falling viewership ratings.”

“You, you cameraman, talking back to me!”

Cameraman. A profession that captures the brilliant exploits of humans taking down ferocious monsters threatening humanity, in real-time. Choi Kang-sik, the cameraman, had been following hunter ‘Yu Il-am’ for three years, filming him hunting monsters.

Hunter & Cameraman.

It was truly an ill-suited combination, but in an era of rapid change, preferred professions also shift. If the world was half-destroyed by the appearance of monsters? Then it’s just an opportunity to accumulate money and fame, even in such a bleak, apocalyptic situation. Humanity adapted that way.

Monster Streamer (Monster Streamer). MS for short. This profession was born this way. People who lost lovers to monsters, people who lost family to monsters, people who lost friends to monsters, people who lost property to monsters, to monsters, to monsters, to monsters…! Ordinary people who were resentful but lacked the ‘talent’ to fight. They found vicarious satisfaction watching the exploits of hunters killing monsters. Like zealots at a gladiatorial combat in a coliseum. And they sponsored and cheered for their favorite MS.

[MS Yu Il-am. A broadcast to trust and avoid!]

Watched well. ^^

Brother's here. MS. Aren't you going to greet me?

Logging off. GG

If it's not fun today, bye.

Of course, not every MS succeeds. A Monster Streamer is still a person before being a hunter, so it’s common for them to play it safe and avoid strong monsters. Naturally, as the risk decreases, so does competitiveness. What about an MS whose viewership ratings have plummeted?

‘They always pull desperate stunts.’

Choi Kang-sik, with 5 years of experience as a cameraman, knew this fact well. He had seen several employers leave that way.

“Mr. Yu Il-am.”

He observed the monster resting in the bushes intently before calling the hunter’s name.

“Why?” “This hunt is too reckless.”

No matter how many times he thought about it, this was too dangerous.

“Why?” “Your psychic firepower isn’t enough to fight without a vanguard. The terrain is flat, making evasion difficult. And most importantly, didn’t you drink yesterday? Your steps are subtly unstable. If your aim slips…”

“Shut up.” “……”

“Someone who doesn’t even know the taste of alcohol blabbering on. Do you know the romance of whiskey, sipping it with a pretty girl? Choi Kang-sik. Just film properly. If my face doesn’t show, you’ll get nothing!”

“…Mr. Yu Il-am.” “Argh! What now?!” “We’re live.” “Gasp?!”

MS. You know romance? LOL

Did you drink with a girl yesterday? OMG...

Kid. Listen to the sensible cameraman's advice. ^^

This MS is determined to die. Tsk tsk.

Choi Kang-sik, leaving the startled MS Yu Il-am behind, looked at the monster again.

1-star monster, Any-One.

It looked like a giant ape, 4 meters tall. Its astonishingly featureless appearance even caused unpleasantness. It was rated as the weakest, 1-star grade. The weakest of the weak. But if you underestimate it based on its appearance and rank, you’ll become the monster’s snack.

‘No matter how I think about it, this hunt is too reckless…’

“My oppa can easily handle such an ugly monster alone!”

A young woman’s voice suddenly cut in. It was the pretty girl who had been with MS Yu Il-am when he was talking about the romance of whiskey. She was also a civilian he had allowed to accompany him to the hunting ground while drunk.

“Haa…”

Choi Kang-sik clutched his forehead. A sudden headache.

“Hehe. Good, good.”

On the other hand, MS Yu Il-am seemed very satisfied. Taking an unlicensed civilian outside the city was clearly illegal, but this employer was incorrigible.

‘He’s piling reckless stunt upon reckless stunt to salvage his plummeting viewership.’

She's a pretty lady. (⊙ 0⊙) Wow!

This is why I watch this MS's broadcast.

Just hope it's not a complete wipeout scenario. ^^

MS. Finish quickly and let's go for round 2! ♥ω♥

The reaction in the broadcast chat wasn’t bad. If a woman, especially a strikingly beautiful one, accompanied him to a hunting ground outside the city teeming with monsters, it created an unexpected competitive edge. Thug tactics! But the effect was undeniable. Viewership ratings slowly began to climb.

“Greetings, viewers! This is MS Yu Il-am. Today, I’ve prepared a very special broadcast. The story of taking down a monster with a beautiful lady! I’ve also prepared a strip show under the moonlight, so please tune in!”

“Nice to meet you!”

The pretty girl greeted cutely, like a surprise guest.

“Strip show…?”

Wrinkles appeared on Choi Kang-sik’s forehead as he took his eyes off the camera’s viewfinder. He hadn’t been consulted, as cameraman and manager, about adding such a strange program to the broadcast. Furthermore,

‘Taking down that monster with a civilian? Is he serious?’

He wanted to open his employer Yu Il-am’s skull and look inside.

“Today’s prey is Any-One.” “That ugly friend over there.” “Viewers, are you disappointed it’s a 1-star? Then please look around me. Today, I have no colleagues. The beauty next to me? She’s not a hunter.”

“Oppa! Surely…?”

“Exactly! Here’s a question. How many intermediate hunters in South Korea can take down a 1-star monster alone?”

“I know! 86 people!”

“Wrong! Time’s up! Soon it will be 87. Because I’m going to update that number today! Please watch until the end.”

“Kya! Oppa, fighting! Viewers, let’s cheer him on together!”

‘…Not bad.’

Choi Kang-sik admitted it a little. Regardless of the hunt, the broadcast itself was proceeding smoothly. Although his personality was difficult, MS Yu Il-am was a veteran with over 3 years of broadcasting experience. The pretty girl, who was an aspiring entertainer, was also good with words.

The viewers’ reactions were…

Finish quickly and do the strip show.

MS. You're not going to strip, are you?

This broadcast has also fallen. GG

If it's boxer briefs, I'm never watching your broadcast again.

Numerous critical comments flooded the chat, accusing them of forgetting the original purpose of monster hunting, but the viewership ratings were honest. Sometimes, even this isn’t bad – the mercy of gentlemen! The pretty girl’s contribution was significant.

“We will now begin the hunt.”

After some pleasant conversation to progress the broadcast, MS Yu Il-am, judging the time was ripe, extended his right hand towards the monster.

Whoosh!

Despite no special device, a fireball the size of a basketball formed on his palm. It wasn’t a trick or a mechanical device. It was the exclusive domain of hunters.

Psychic power (超能力)! A power allowed only to a select few ‘talented’ humans.

MS Yu Il-am struck a stylish pose like a legendary sorcerer, then threw the fireball with all his might. Not that it would increase its power. It was a performance. Like a professional MS, he was conscious of the camera and the viewers. The visual effects were also as spectacular as fireworks!

Boom!

The fireball directly hit the 1-star monster Any-One, which was lying in the bushes, sunbathing. It was accurate despite the considerable distance. Flames blazed. The viewers’ reactions also grew heated.

As expected of Yu Il-am! (◐ 0◐) b

The Sniper of Flames!

This is why I watch. ^^

‘No. It’s a failure.’

Choi Kang-sik’s expression hardened. He should have aimed for its head or legs to deprive it of either sight or mobility, but he hit the easiest target: its broad back.

Fwoosh.

The dry grassland caught fire. Acrid smoke spread like a mist. Even without a headwind, he couldn’t immediately grasp the situation.

“Kwoo-aahh!”

The enraged monster’s roar was heard.

‘C-crazy!’

Choi Kang-sik, who located the monster’s position with the viewfinder’s infrared detection function, urgently shouted:

“Yu Il-am! Look up!”

He didn’t care if his employer cursed him later for daring to give an order. If the main actor died, it would all be over. It was almost impossible to hunt monsters without a psychic hunter.

Leap.

The 1-star monster Any-One leaped high into the sky like a grasshopper. It quickly closed the distance, tracing a parabolic arc.

“Damn it!”

Yu Il-am grew anxious. He never had the arrogance to think he’d finish the monster in one shot. However, he had expected to definitely gain the upper hand. But clearly,

“Kwoo-aahh!”

A painful blunder, made in a situation where there were no colleagues to compensate for his mistake. He had missed so badly that his epithet, ‘Sniper of Flames,’ seemed undeserved. A hunt that had gone awry from the start. But he had no intention of just standing there and dying.

“It’s just beginning!”

He quickly retreated, firing fireballs at the monster that was falling in a parabolic arc like a cannonball. If he could keep it in check and accumulate damage, he could win…

Grab.

That was the plan, anyway.

“O-oppa!”

The pretty girl, terrified and cowering, grabbed his pants leg, forcing Yu Il-am to stop short. No, he was startled.

“Hey! Hide over there… Damn it!”

Yu Il-am remembered the cameraman’s warning, which he had ignored. This was a flat plain with no suitable obstacles for a person to hide behind. Not even a common rock was nearby. All there was, was one truck.

His decision was quick.

“Kya?!”

He shook off the pretty girl’s hands that were clutching his leg.

What did I just see? ;;;

That XX MS is crazy!

Isn't that really dangerous?

MS abandoned the pretty girl! O_O

The viewers were greatly flustered. They had expected a smooth hunt and then a strip show by the beauty, but this turn of events was unexpected even for them. It wasn’t a simple skit, not an issue that could be brushed off as a broadcast accident. MS Yu Il-am even said this:

“Choi Kang-sik! Lure him!”

“What kind of bullsh*t is that?!”

Judging that it was no longer time to maintain the live broadcast, Choi Kang-sik threw the camera into the bushes and shouted.

It was then.

“S-save…”

The fate of the pretty girl, abandoned by the hunter she trusted, was sealed.

Thud.

The fragile woman, kicked like a soccer ball by the giant monster’s foot, flew through the air, covered in blood. Undeniably instant death (卽死).

“Kwoo-aahh!”

Seeing blood, Any-One went into a frenzy and charged again. Yu Il-am urgently shouted:

“Choi Kang-sik! Look behind you.”

“What? Gasp!”

Choi Kang-sik, who had been running away frantically, saw a fireball flying towards him and rolled without hesitation. The fireball grazed past his head.

And then,

BANG! WHOOSH!

A scorching heat brushed his cheek, and goosebumps belatedly erupted. If he had been even a moment slower, he would have been burned to death by hunter Yu Il-am’s psychic power. The young cameraman yelled:

“Yu Il-am! You, are you crazy?!”

Note: 猿 for monkey, 超能力 for superpower, 卽死 for insta death. That’s all folks.