Chapter 15- Monster Association 3

Choi Kang-sik, his bandages removed, immediately checked out, taking his shovel and camera with him.

‘I can’t just let them gloss over this!’ When monsters are hunted, there are always spoils of war. He wasn’t just talking about the shovel. Monster bones and hides are widely used, not just for hunters’ equipment. Some of the meat is even edible… In any case, it meant money.

“I’ve come for my share.” Choi Kang-sik visited a three-story building in Yeouido, the heart of Seoul. Its floor area ratio was a quarter of Yeouido’s. This magnificent building, newly constructed on the former site of the National Assembly building, which had been destroyed by an aerial monster attack, had a completely different purpose.

It was the Monster Association.

This was a transnational alliance established by humanity to counter monsters. Almost every country was a member, and South Korea was one of them. This was the Korean branch of the Monster Association. Choi Kang-sik had frequently frequented this place instead of MS Yoo Il-am. Always over money, then and now.

“Surely… are you MS Cameraman?” The receptionist’s eyes widened when she saw his camera and shovel. At her words, gazes from all directions focused on him.

‘He looks ordinary.’

‘I still can’t believe it.’

‘How could a powerless person…’

The hunters conducting business in the Monster Association lobby didn’t have pleasant expressions. Far from congratulating the young man who had single-handedly driven back the 5-star monster, Blade, there wasn’t even anyone who bothered to ask about his well-being. Choi Kang-sik calmly disregarded the hostile atmosphere.

“That’s right.”

“N-nice to meet you, Cameraman-nim.” The receptionist trembled slightly and greeted him politely.

‘Mom! What do I do!’ Her mind was in chaos. The man who had set the internet ablaze was standing right in front of her. No famous actor in the world could compare to him now. The one who had driven back the strongest monster. He had achieved an unprecedented feat. He was a living legend.

He spoke, “I’d like to settle the spoils from the two Any-Ones I hunted the other day and the Buffalok herd I recently subjugated.”

[A certain God is bored]

[A certain God demands brevity]

‘No, I need to make a living first before I can even broadcast!’ Choi Kang-sik secretly sighed at the tyranny of the sleepless gods. If he accepted all their demands, he’d die of overwork within a few days.

“Please wait a moment~” The receptionist, replying prettily, began to tinker with her computer.

“……”

“Hum hum~ ♪” She even hummed a tune.

“Hey.”

“I’m busy right now.” Choi Kang-sik answered instantly without even turning around to the voice from behind him.

“What are you busy with when you’re just waiting quietly?”

“……”

“The idea that you drove back Blade, no matter how much I think about it, it just doesn’t make sense. How could someone who struggled even with 1-star monsters defeat a 5-star…?”

‘An annoying type.’ He was muttering and arguing about how someone like him couldn’t do what he couldn’t do. The nuance was clearly picking a fight. Another hunter chimed in.

“Hmph! If it was 1-on-1, I could drive back Blade too. No, I would have subjugated it alone! Don’t brag about a lucky win. It’s disgusting.” He claimed that if the situation were the same, he could do it too. Many hunters, swayed by his logic, shouted, “Me too! Me too!”

“Oh dear…” Choi Kang-sik turned around, his hand moving quietly. He turned on the camera.

“W-what?! Turn that camera off right now!”

“Why? Don’t you want to be a global star? This is a good opportunity. Say the same thing in front of the viewers. What did you say about Blade?”

“Th-that…!”

“If you can’t do it, don’t talk to an MS.”

“Ugh…” The hunter who had spoken to Choi Kang-sik faltered and retreated. Other hunters, observing the situation, did the same. The brave souls who had claimed they would defeat a 5-star were intimidated by a mere camera.

‘How pathetic.’ Choi Kang-sik turned back to the reception desk. However, a camera once turned on couldn’t be turned off immediately.

• It was worth waiting, huh? lol
• Re Hi ^0^/
• Yeah. Promises are meant to be broken. lol
• This MS. He's already discharged. Is he Superman? =.=;

‘…It’d be awkward to turn it off right away.’ Choi Kang-sik turned the camera to face himself. The broadcast background was the main hall of the Monster Association’s Korean branch headquarters. A very famous place, like Sungnyemun, National Treasure No. 1. Viewers immediately recognized it.

“Gasp?!”

“Huh!”

The hunters fled like an ebbing tide. Currently, MS Cameraman’s broadcast was drawing attention not only domestically but also from international public opinion. If they made a mistake or did something wrong here and it became public knowledge? It would be hard for anyone to avoid being ridiculed online and suffering international humiliation. Choi Kang-sik spoke into the camera.

“I’m bored waiting at reception, so I’m starting a broadcast. I’ll just be talking about trivial things, so if you don’t want to, please press the back button.”

• Look at this MS's audacity.
• The strongest man is indeed different. 0.0
• An MS of one week lololol
• Do I have to go just because you told me to? Hmph!

Choi Kang-sik really did rattle off a string of trivial topics. However, his viewership, far from decreasing, actually increased. The receptionist’s lips trembled.

‘Ugh! I barely put on any makeup today!’ Heartbroken, she showed Choi Kang-sik the list on her computer monitor and said, “Here, this is your share, Mr. Choi Kang-sik.”

“……”

“Mr. Choi Kang-sik?”

“I defeated two Any-Ones and many Buffaloks. And this is all the Monster Association calculated as my share? This shovel isn’t even included.”

“I-I’m not sure…”

“Oops! My apologies. I wasn’t blaming you, miss.” What was the point of talking to a service employee who just showed results given from above? Deep wrinkles formed on Choi Kang-sik’s forehead.

‘They’re openly trying to screw me over.’ If that was the case, he wouldn’t stand idly by.

“Viewers. It seems the Monster Association doesn’t like me. The reward for driving back a 5-star monster, a national disaster, is completely missing, and they’re trying to swallow this shovel that I acquired. I’m seriously considering defection.”

• The Korean Association has gone crazy! ;;;
• Wow~ They're total thieves. -.-
• They're treating the strongest so shabbily.
• MS, but defection isn't the answer. Don't go. ㅠ

Naturally, chaos ensued. Viewers also checked the spoils list through the broadcast. The spoils allocated to this MS, who had played the most active role, were only a small reward and a few Buffalok horns. This was clearly an outrage to anyone. Even foreign language experts appeared.

• Dear viewers. I guess the MA hates me. No rewards for taking out a 5 star monster and they also want to take this shovel away from me. I think it is time for me to exile this country.

A translation appeared in the chat. Foreigners who had been watching blankly, not knowing Korean, finally understood the situation. Their reactions were completely opposite.

• Welcome to USA! ^0^
• Welcome. Chinese.
• Hey! Boy! Come on! Paris.
• We want to meet you. ♥

Finally, even someone claiming to be a presidential secretary from some country appeared. But it was hard to dismiss it as impersonation or a prank. A human who drove back a 5-star monster! He was valuable enough to possess, like nuclear weapons in the past. With the clear evidence of a live broadcast, it was even harder to doubt his abilities.

‘Whew~ What a tremendous reaction!’ It couldn’t be helped. Choi Kang-sik had viewed that day’s battle pessimistically, but most people didn’t. They were optimistic that if MS Han Jo-seop hadn’t interfered, Blade would have been defeated. All the blame went to MS Han Jo-seop! MS Cameraman had established himself as humanity’s hope. The ripple effect was enormous.

“Excuse me! Huff, huff!” A man in a suit ran breathlessly to Choi Kang-sik.

“Who are you?”

“I’m the acting manager!”

“Acting manager? Let’s hear you out.”

“Most of the revenue from that day was paid to the families of the hunters sacrificed to Blade. The Monster Association’s Korean branch did not commit any acts of corruption or self-interest.” The acting manager declared proudly.

“…Hey there.”

“Yes.”

“The premise is wrong. The association should pay their condolences. Why are you taking a chunk out of my spoils? The moment you passed on the money you should have paid to someone else, it became fraud.”

“Someone else? They were comrades who hunted together…”

“I hunted alone.”

“……” The acting manager’s mouth clamped shut.

‘Manager! What do I do?!’ If he said the wrong thing here, he could be completely ruined. Perhaps the ‘bastard manager’ had foisted this off on him, knowing this would happen? Cold sweat streamed down his back.

The final blow came.

“Alright! Acting Manager? Explain yourself in front of our fair and just viewers.”

[A certain God is bored]

[A certain God seeks a thrilling adventure]

‘Hmph!’ My livelihood comes before adventure.

“You there! MS hiding behind the camera and lurking! Stop causing trouble in the sacred Monster Association that defends South Korea and get out! Go catch one more monster instead of wasting time like this!”

“Mr. Park Jin-chang?”

“Yes! I am Park Jin-chang!” A grandfather, who had approached with determined strides, shouted back. He was a muscular old man with a huge Zanmaruto (horse-slaying sword) on his back. If not for his snow-white hair and beard, and the deep wrinkles on his forehead, one might have believed he had rejuvenated. He faced the camera proudly, not shying away.

“Ohh! Mr. Park Jin-chang!”

“The conscience of Korea!”

“Please say a word to this youngster!”

“Park Jin-chang is coming out!”

The hunters who had been loitering awkwardly quickly jumped on the bandwagon. However, the viewers’ reactions were exceedingly cold…

[A certain God is enthusiastic]

[A hasty certain God cheers for adventure]

[A certain God scolds for being petty]

His head throbbed.