Chapter 24- Sponsorship

★★

【Toast (土-Toast)】

A reclusive monster that consistently bakes the earth. It’s incredibly troublesome because it bakes subways and basements. It lives anywhere except underwater, where it’s hard to raise the temperature. Its weakness is its core, which breaks easily like pottery.

“Oh, for goodness’ sake…”

Seong Sil-nam, the hospital director, who was raking in a decent income by promoting himself as ‘MS Cameraman’s Primary Physician,’ looked troubled as he read the report in his hand. The source was foreign. It wasn’t that Korea lacked technical skill or intelligence, but South Korea couldn’t excel in every field. For instance, anthropology?

To put it bluntly, it could be called human experimentation. Citizens killed by monsters or showing unusual symptoms occasionally went missing, but this country was still relatively conscientious, unlike other major powers that openly abandoned human decency.

‘Well, that’s probably why they’re called major powers.’

This was information absolutely unobtainable in South Korea. Even as a doctor, it was hard for him to imagine how many humans had been sacrificed for this. Perhaps, precisely because he was a doctor, it was even harder…

Seong Sil-nam picked up his phone. After a brief hesitation, he dialed the number listed in the patient’s personal information.

“Hello?”

A young man’s voice came through the receiver.

“Do you have some time?”

“Who is this? I’m broadcasting.”

Indeed, a famous MS was different from the very first word. Seong Sil-nam, the director of a famous hospital, nodded with satisfaction. Such audacity was only natural for a patient he was specially looking after.

“It’s Doctor Seong Sil-nam.”

“Doctor? Hmm. Is this some new kind of voice phishing…?”

“Memorize your primary physician’s name!”

Isn’t this audacity a bit too much?!

“Ah-ha! You’re the brazen—ahem!—excellent doctor who treated me last time. I remember you told me to come back in a month?”

“The results came out quickly.” Strictly speaking, the party he requested hurried.

MS Cameraman. It was proof that his reputation was quite effective even abroad. Seong Sil-nam thought it was a very unusual thing.

‘That meticulous friend…’

“I’m a bit busy right now.”

“Why?”

“Didn’t you feel the earthquake?”

“What’s with the fuss, new generation friend? It happens sometimes.”

“Exactly.”

“…Hello? Hello? Mr. Choi Kang-sik?”

Beep, beep, beep, beep…

South Korea is a country safe from earthquakes. …That’s an old saying. It’s not a geological problem. Earthquakes and tsunamis occur simply when giant or powerful monsters move.

So, who was the culprit behind this earthquake?

Crackle!

A gigantic crack appeared in the Monster Association garden, which had been devastated by the Pig-尊 horde’s attack. It radiated outwards from the point where Choi Kang-sik had pulled out his shovel. The pattern was as detailed and uniform as bullet-riddled bulletproof glass… The flat ground was finely pulverized.

“Oh dear!”

“E-earthquake!”

“Mommy?!”

“Has the earth gotten angry?!”

Citizens, startled by the earthquake, scurried in disarray. However, the material damage wasn’t as great as their commotion suggested. Was it because most of the force was concentrated at the spot where the shovel was pulled out? That made it even more problematic. Everyone’s gaze turned to the MS holding the shovel.

“Well, this is awkward…”

Choi Kang-sik, who had been buying time by dealing with the sudden phone call, scratched his head with a troubled expression. He glanced down at the shovel.

‘Did an ability get added along with the handle? But was there really a need to add a handle…?’ Couldn’t they have just added the function invisibly, like changing a car engine? It was impossible for a mere human to understand the will of the gods.

[A certain God found his lost belly button]

[A leisurely certain God congratulates him]

[A certain God drops his belly button into the celebratory toast]

…He didn’t even want to know.

Choi Kang-sik, observing his surroundings, ‘poked’ the ground with the shovel and then lifted it. Just in case it was a coincidence, he tried once more.

“……”

No miracle occurred. Choi Kang-sik’s eyes narrowed in embarrassment.

‘Was this sponsorship a one-time use? Or did I not meet the conditions? Can someone explain this clearly?’

[A certain God flatly refuses]

[A certain God chuckles]

Deep wrinkles formed on the young man’s forehead as he read the messages. Then, he heard the murmuring of the people.

“What was that earthquake just now?”

“Look at the crack. It spread exactly from there.”

“Exactly! I knew it was a magic shovel!”

Since the crack appeared immediately after he pulled the shovel from the ground, it was hard to deny. Choi Kang-sik deliberated for about 0.1 seconds, then said, “An unexpected earthquake has made the situation quite strange. For those who are truly suspicious, you can add MS Cameraman’s broadcast to your favorites. If you keep watching, you’ll probably get closer to the truth, right? Thank you!”

Choi Kang-sik bowed exaggeratedly.

‘Excuses are a sin!’ Suspicion is a very tiresome, incurable disease. Complete recovery is almost impossible, and no matter how hard you try, it doesn’t improve quickly, just as trust isn’t built overnight. He decided to just be brazen.

• Wow! He tells us to watch if we're curious. LOL
• Oh my. MS's audacity is mind-blowing.
• ● ▅▇█▇▆▅▄▇
• ● ▅▇█▇▆▅▄▇
• What are those guys lying down above? lololol

Viewers’ protests flooded the chat, but Choi Kang-sik remained unperturbed. He packed his shovel and camera and cheerfully exited the Monster Association.

‘I’ve been at the association for too long.’ Just when he thought it was all over, something new would erupt. Was it because the old National Assembly building used to be here, making the ground unlucky? He’d make his exit for today…

“How are you going to explain that crack?!” someone shouted from behind.

He glanced back to see a man with a well-formed face. Judging by the cameraman accompanying him, he was an MS, a fellow professional. His fingertip pointed to the center of the crack. The place where Choi Kang-sik had pulled out his shovel. It was evidence that overtly hinted at a connection between the earthquake and the shovel.

‘Hehe! This is where I build my recognition in one go!’ The man’s lips curved into a wide grin. By using MS Cameraman, who was emerging as a new force in the broadcasting industry, he could drastically increase his low viewership. The opportunity of a lifetime had arrived.

‘Come on! MS Cameraman! Hurry up and become my stepping stone…?’

“My next schedule is the jjimjilbang. Which jjimjilbang is a secret! After sending the package to the winner, Thumbelina-nim, I’ll see you again on broadcast. This has been MS Cameraman. Thank you.”

He was openly ignored.

“You bastard! I’m talking to…”

“What? Do you have something to say in front of my viewers? You’re really brazen. You want to easily publicize your name and face without even attempting to pull out the shovel?” Choi Kang-sik picked his ear and retorted. The eyes of the hunters who had tried to pull the shovel and were utterly humiliated suddenly changed.

‘Come to think of it, he’s right?’

‘I’ve never seen such a despicable bastard!’

“Gasp?!” The frightened man bolted.

“……”

“……”

After that, no one bothered Choi Kang-sik. Anyone would be subjected to the same misunderstanding as that MS. He had finished his broadcast schedule for the day.

• MS. Let's not do this. (Serious)
• Another broadcast accident just happened. I just saw it.
• The person above is a Level 100 prophet. I know. ^0^

Choi Kang-sik laughed off the viewers’ petitions and curses and boldly turned off the camera. He wanted to rest, regardless of viewership or anything else.

‘How many broadcasts a day am I doing?’ Still, he finished safely. Now he could finally breathe a sigh of relief…

[A certain God asks about the adventure schedule]

[A certain God wants a journey to find a dream]

Oh, that?

‘The broadcast accident delayed it by 3 days!’ The Excalibur legend imitation was a performance intended to make people give up on the shovel. But the earthquake that happened at the very end was the problem. It drew even more attention, didn’t it? The adventure of finding whether it’s a dream or bean paste is on hold for now.

[A certain God is sullen]

[A certain God gets goosebumps from the penalty]

[A hasty certain God leaves the stream]

[Viewers: 12]

“Huh? Really?” Viewership dropped for the first time in a while. It was a situation where even one god was missed, but Choi Kang-sik remained unmoved. He decided to take it easy and think it was for the best.

‘I knew that hasty fellow would leave someday!’ He was the type to betray. Let’s just focus on the remaining gods.

“Caw?”

“What about you now?”

It was just as he ambled through the main gate of the Monster Association.

“Caw! Caw! Caw!”

“Caaaw! Caaaw!”

The young Oracle, which had been dozing on his shoulder, suddenly opened its eyes wide and began to cry loudly. Right? Left? Choi Kang-sik’s eyes widened.

‘What’s with both now?’

Hissing…!

Heat like a charcoal kiln and steam billowed softly from the ground. Right behind him, in the Monster Association garden. The tough grass, which had remained unharmed despite the Pig-尊 horde stomping all over it, instantly withered like straw.

Rustle.

Finally, it turned into gray ash and was carried away by the wind.

“H-hot!”

“Steam from the ground?!”

“Another monster?!”

The people who had been standing on that grass were no exception. Panicked, they thanked their two legs and fled in all directions. The heat swallowed the Monster Association.

“Ugh?!” Choi Kang-sik also quickened his pace. His body felt like it was being cooked by the hot wind rising from the ground.

‘No, this should be called baking… No way?’

Clang!

The sound of pottery breaking was heard. Below the large crater that formed when the firm ground collapsed, pottery fragments surged upwards and flew in all directions. Like sharp awls. Choi Kang-sik threw himself behind a parked car.

Thwack! Thud! Thwack! Ding!

The compact car, having collided with hundreds of fragments, rattled precariously. The pottery fragments, despite being mere pottery, pierced through the steel plate and even ravaged the car’s interior. Who could do such a thing?

“Toast…!” It could only be that guy.

A 2-star monster that normally just baked pottery deep underground. It was generally quiet as long as its work wasn’t disturbed by underground construction or noise between floors. That’s right. As long as it wasn’t disturbed…

‘Is this also because of the earthquake…?’ If it had been quiet until now and suddenly went berserk, that was the only possible cause. Choi Kang-sik pressed his thumb against his temple.

“Just looking at it makes me dizzy.” In front of him, a hellishly blazing landscape unfolded. He couldn’t even contemplate walking on it.

‘Just my luck.’ Toast, a 2-star monster. It was the worst possible match for him, a close-range physical fighter. He couldn’t think of any way or means to attack the monster itself while batting away the pottery fragments raining down like a shower. The estimate was in.

‘Let’s leave this to the other hunters. It’s getting late too.’ If there was just one thing that bothered him? The key was whether the viewers, hungry for stimulating adventures, would readily understand his retreat.

[A hasty certain God peeks out]

[Viewers: 13]

‘Go away, traitor! Boo!’ He could clearly see the dark intentions of the traitor who had returned because something seemed interesting. Even though he couldn’t see anything!

He was going home now. Work done!

[A hasty certain God introduces a friend]

[A certain God was dragged along]

[Viewers: 14]

“Alright! I’ve received my night pay, so shall I get to work properly!”