Chapter 14- Monster Association 2

‘Did he find something?’ Choi Kang-sik tensed. He wanted to believe it wasn’t true, but what if his body had changed and become stronger due to the gods’ interference? The chances of being found out during treatment were high. He couldn’t ignore it, especially since it was the doctor speaking.

“Sorry to interrupt your broadcast.”

“Not at all, Doctor.”

Choi Kang-sik’s fist clenched, but he replied with a smile. ‘What’s this man’s motive?’ There had to be a reason he barged in after eavesdropping on the broadcast from outside. Simply being tactless didn’t quite fit the situation.

The doctor said, “You are not ordinary.”

“I am…”

“Just because your body is ordinary doesn’t mean your mind has to be.”

“……”

“Mr. Choi Kang-sik’s body is astonishingly well-trained. There’s no trace of drugs either. An ordinary man like me can’t imagine how much effort you’ve put in.” He started addressing the camera halfway through his statement. This meant…

• Is he really saying he's like us? ;;;
• Where's the guy who swore he was hiding psychic powers? ^^
• Where's the friend who said he'd cut off his fingers?

‘Wow~ This guy’s helping me out.’ The doctor, who had been an annoying intrusion on his important broadcast, suddenly seemed like an angel! He wasn’t just giving things away for free, though.

“Please make frequent use of our hospital, which specializes in monster disasters. We will serve you with 15 years of know-how, state-of-the-art medical facilities, and the best service. I am Director Sung Sil-nam. Thank you.”

“…You speak very well.”

“It’s my job.”

“Well, that’s what he says. Viewers? If misfortune doesn’t strike me, I’ll see you again around noon tomorrow. Thank you.”

‘A hospital advertisement…’ Still, the broadcast itself concluded successfully. The hospital director laughed jovially.

“Haha! I was a bit presumptuous, wasn’t I?”

“You are aware of it.”

“I intervened because the situation wasn’t good, so I hope you understand. There are quite a few colleagues who would love to dissect your body, you see.”

“……”

Choi Kang-sik felt as if he had been doused with cold water. ‘Dissect?’ An unsettling word had popped out. A chill different from facing monsters enveloped his entire body. The hospital director said, “Everything I said on the broadcast was true.”

“Then why…?”

“While you were asleep, we took every scan, from MRI to CT. Oh! This was at the government’s request, so I had no choice, don’t misunderstand. Anyway, the test results showed you as an ordinary human, but these colleagues still didn’t believe it.”

From the moment an ordinary human, not even a psychic, stood against and defeated the strongest monster alone, suspicion was an unavoidable inevitability. Choi Kang-sik sat on the bed, lost in thought. ‘What was bound to come simply came sooner.’

[A certain God is displeased]

[A hasty certain God suggests assassination]

[A certain God agrees]

[Viewer: 11]

…He needed the power to protect himself. Now, he felt as if he would wake up to the ceiling of a laboratory.

“Where’s my shovel?” Choi Kang-sik immediately looked for his weapon.

“Only you and your camera were moved to the hospital. I was curious and looked into it a bit, and they say it was sent to some research institute.”

“These bastards…!” It was a clear violation of private property. The possibility that the shovel gifted by the gods was either damaged or would not be returned weighed heavily on Choi Kang-sik’s mind.

‘Damn government!’ He should have known from the moment they refused to provide aid to a poor citizen who lost his rooftop apartment in a commercial building and was forced onto the streets. He would never cooperate with the government again!

“And one more thing.”

“What now?” the hospital director asked the perplexed young man.

“While conducting a detailed examination of your body, we discovered a peculiarity. It was so small that it would have been overlooked in a general examination.” This time, Choi Kang-sik’s heart truly sank.

“You just said I had an ordinary body?”

“That’s correct.”

“…Just tell me the conclusion.”

“Here! Take it.” The doctor pulled something from his pocket and tossed it to him. Choi Kang-sik unconsciously caught it and mumbled, “A monster core…?”

A spherical bead the size of a pearl. It was the source and foundation of a monster. Now extracted from the body, it looked like an ordinary crystal.

“That’s right.”

“Why this?”

“The difference between a psychic and an ordinary person is simple. If you can resonate with a monster’s core and draw out its power, you’re a psychic. If there’s no reaction, like with you now, you’re ordinary.”

“I know that much.” Choi Kang-sik had also undergone an aptitude test as a child. The result was an ordinary person. He was a normal human who couldn’t use psychic powers.

“Then you also know that each person has a core that resonates with them, fitting their aptitude, right?”

“Yes.”

MS Yoo Il-am uses fire psychic powers. MS Han Jo-seop uses lightning psychic powers. But even if they swapped their cores, MS Yoo Il-am couldn’t shoot lightning. The reverse was also true. Because their aptitudes didn’t match.

“You have a talent for psychic powers.”

“Excuse me…?”

“It’s just that you don’t know which monster’s core suits your aptitude. There’s nothing in the domestic databank that matches. It’s a very rare occurrence. Well? Does that pique your interest?” The hospital director asked with a playful smile.

[A certain God is filled with anticipation]

[A hasty certain God is very curious]

“Not interested.”

[A certain God despairs]

[A hasty certain God is very frustrated]

The hospital director was taken aback. “Cough! Why not? Mr. Choi Kang-sik? Didn’t you want to become a psychic? I thought you needed the power to avenge your family?”

“That’s correct.”

“Then why?”

“Psychic power is merely a means to an end.” What Choi Kang-sik needed was the power to get revenge on Blade. That power didn’t necessarily have to be psychic power. If he could beat it with a shovel, that was enough.

Besides, ‘psychic powers are difficult.’ That day, Choi Kang-sik saw it. Blade casually batting away the lightning fired by MS Han Jo-seop, famous for being a powerful psychic. Psychic powers didn’t work on him. A blunt weapon was the answer.

The hospital director wore a very surprised expression. “…I wish other people who can’t use psychic powers would think that way.”

“I’d like to be discharged soon.”

“One month!”

“I can’t rot here for a month.”

“What do you think my hospital is?! And listen to the doctor to the end! Come back in a month. I’ll search every databank in the world to find a monster that matches your aptitude.”

“……”

“Why are you staring so much?”

“I’m curious why you’re caring so much.”

‘Is he just meddling? Or is it another advertisement?’ Choi Kang-sik, who had been indifferent even to the mention of being a psychic, was genuinely curious. The hospital director answered straightforwardly.

“Because it’s interesting.”

Choi Kang-sik wore a bewildered expression. “Come on, Doctor. Stop filling my head with nonsense. There’s no possibility of me becoming a psychic, which is why it’s not in the databank.”

“Why don’t you consider the opposite?”

“It’s the same thing.”

“No, no! The order is wrong. It’s only not in the databank because you haven’t found the monster’s core. A phantom monster! A legendary monster! Doesn’t just hearing the names fill your heart with excitement?”

[A certain God imagines a thrilling adventure]

[A certain God is excited]

“Not at all.”

“Tsk tsk. Young man, you lack romance. Hmm? Wait a minute! That under the bed, isn’t that your shovel? Why is it here…”

“Hmm?”

It was true. The shovel, which he thought had been arbitrarily taken to the research institute, was hidden there. Choi Kang-sik’s brow furrowed as he picked up the shovel.

‘It definitely wasn’t here a moment ago…’

[A certain God approves of the journey for dreams]

[A certain God shouts ‘depart!’]

[Viewer: 12]

“…Doctor. I’ll come back in a month.”