Chapter 8
Believer Santiago (1)
「All Interference Power has been consumed.」
「[World Observation] will be deactivated.」
「Consumed Interference Power will recover in 12 hours.」
Perhaps entering Santiago’s dream had consumed a great deal of Interference Power, because once Lee Shin emerged from the dream, he was returned to his original world.
Sitting in the master bedroom, Lee Shin found himself staring at an enormous number of status windows.
The status window had made quite a fuss earlier about how he needed to fight the demon and show it what he was made of, so apparently what had just happened was quite significant.
「You have gained sufficient faith and spread sufficient influence throughout your world. Your existence will become somewhat clearer.」
「Your existence becomes more distinct.」
「Creator LV.1 → LV.2」
His Trait had leveled up.
Hunters normally grew by entering Rifts and defeating monsters, but Lee Shin’s growth seemed to happen in this manner instead.
Hunters had to risk their lives to level up, while Lee Shin could experience the same thing simply by increasing his number of believers.
He could already picture how unfair Choi Bom would find that if she heard about it.
There were plenty of other status windows as well.
Most of them were labeled as achievement rewards.
Last time, he had received three interesting abilities as rewards.
What kind of rewards had he received this time?
「Extraordinary Achievement: Be the first to convert a Dream Demon’s follower in a ruined world.」
「Reward: Skill [Mental Barrier]」
This time, rather than unlocking a new function within an existing skill, he had received an entirely new skill.
Following Choi Bom’s advice, Lee Shin checked its function carefully.
「Mental Barrier: Protects the mind.」
The description was simple and straightforward.
But protecting the mind was rather vague, and Lee Shin had difficulty understanding exactly how it would help him.
Still, it would surely be useful.
Most of the difficult things Lee Shin had experienced in life had been related to his mental state.
Loneliness, isolation, solitude, other people’s gazes....
If this skill could help him overcome those things a little more easily, then it was undoubtedly a very good gift.
「Extraordinary Achievement: Be the first among Lowest-Rank Gods to obtain a Hero-Rank believer.」
「Reward: 1 Low-Rank Enhancement Ticket」
The next reward was a gray ticket resembling a movie ticket.
As Lee Shin held the fluttering ticket, a ding sounded and its function appeared.
「Low-Rank Enhancement Ticket: Strengthens one of your believers. Raises a believer’s soul rank from [Normal Rank] to [Hero Rank]. This item may only be used on [Normal-Rank] souls. Disappears after one use.」
It strengthens a believer’s soul....
Lee Shin was reminded of the mobile game his father, Younghwan, played whenever he had free time.
It was one of those games where you pulled characters classified into ranks such as R, SR, and SSR.
Lee Shin remembered it very clearly because his father had once secretly spent his emergency stash of money on the game, then proudly announced that he had pulled an SSR character—only to get smacked on the back by his mother.
Apparently, the higher a character’s rank, the stronger and better they became.
I don’t want to discriminate against the kids based on something like rank, though.
Even back when he was in school, Lee Shin had never liked seeing some students rejoice and others become disappointed depending on their test scores.
It would be nice if everyone could simply laugh and enjoy themselves equally every day.
Still, if he had been given the item, it would probably be better to use it.
What mattered for the happiness of the residents of the [Small and Deadly World] was not who became stronger or weaker.
What mattered was how fairly Lee Shin, who had taken on the role of their god, gave them his love.
As long as I don’t mistreat someone because their rank is low or favor someone just because their rank is high, this won’t become a cause of discrimination. It’ll just be a gift.
Not long ago, Lee Shin himself had received a wonderful gift from the residents of the Red City, Gepetto.
It was always important to return kindness with kindness.
In that case, this gift seemed perfect for Eve, who was always working enthusiastically and overflowing with motivation.
Perhaps if her soul rank increased, her clumsy and scatterbrained side might disappear and she would become more dignified.
Of course, even if she remained just as hopelessly clumsy, it wouldn’t matter much.
That was cute in its own way.
「Great Achievement: Be the first among Lowest-Rank Gods to convert a demon’s follower.」
「Reward: Skill [True Justice]」
After the Extraordinary Achievements came a Great Achievement, and this reward was another new skill.
Lee Shin slowly read through its description.
「True Justice: When facing a demon, you will randomly receive one extremely powerful Heavenly Blessing.」
「“You are the natural enemy of demons.”」
When facing a demon....
The sweet dream world created by Lilith, the Dream Demon, had certainly been more than enough to tempt and ensnare people whose will to live had been broken.
The other demons probably wouldn’t be easy opponents either.
If he ever needed to save people who had fallen for their temptations, this skill would undoubtedly be a tremendous help.
Lee Shin was satisfied.
「Great Achievement: Convert a demon’s follower in the shortest time among all gods.」
「Reward: Item [Eternal Protection]」
The final reward was an item.
「Name: Eternal Protection」
「Category: Safe Zone」
「Grade: SS」
「Restriction: God (神) Exclusive Item」
「[Highest-Rank Physical Defense], [Highest-Rank Magic Defense], [Poison Immunity], [Highest-Rank Resistance to All Attributes]....」
「Overall Assessment: Designates the entire space occupied by the item’s owner as a safe zone. Ten engraved seals protect everyone staying within it. Minor illnesses affecting those inside disappear, fatigue recovers almost instantly, and vitality surges through their bodies.」
An item that kept everyone around him safe and healthy.
Of all the rewards Lee Shin had received so far, he liked this one the most.
The next time he called Choi Bom, he should tell her to spend the entire weekend at his house.
Her ankle might not have fully healed yet.
Or perhaps he should send the item to her by courier?
“Ah! My back feels completely fine today!”
“You’re making a fuss again. Stop fooling around!”
“Maybe we should try for one more late-born ch—Ghk!”
“Seriously! Just! Stay! Still!”
Ah.
Sending it by courier probably wasn’t an option.
Watching his father happily celebrate that his back seemed to have completely recovered, Lee Shin felt slightly guilty that his first thought had once again been Choi Bom.
Anyway, he had obtained a good item.
There was also the armor the dwarves had gifted him. The [Small and Deadly World] was filled with things Lee Shin felt grateful for.
But there was still one reward left.
「Achievement: Spread faith throughout one city.」
「Reward: [Religion] function unlocked.」
Religion.... What kind of function is that?
「You have exerted tremendous influence upon the world.」
「Interference Power increases.」
「Current Interference Power: 300」
「Trait level has increased.」
「You can now recover Interference Power more quickly.」
「Time required for full Interference Power recovery: 6 hours」
The interval between his visits to the little world had now been shortened.
Six hours meant that, if he were willing to sacrifice his sleep, he could visit as many as four times a day.
But Lee Shin had no intention of ruining his everyday life just to do that.
He was simply happy that whenever he wanted to visit, he could now go more often and stay involved more frequently than before.
After checking everything he had obtained this time, Lee Shin left the house and headed toward the Academy training center where Choi Bom was staying.
He remembered her telling him to come visit sometime.
He had a gift to give her too.
More importantly, his father, who seemed suspiciously energetic today, had handed him fifty thousand won and told him to go out and have fun until late at night.
Lee Shin’s parents still had an exceptionally affectionate marriage.
“What the heck, Lee Shin! You really came!”
Lee Shin had worried that Choi Bom might scold him for showing up without warning, but instead she came running out looking delighted.
She was still wearing her training uniform, covered in sweat and dust.
“You should’ve called first!”
“Ah, sorry. Was it inconvenient?”
“N-No! No! That’s not what I meant. I thought it was my dad, so I came out still wearing my training clothes. If I’d known you were coming, I would’ve washed up first and made myself look a little prettier... I mean, a-a little more human!”
Choi Bom kept sneaking glances at Lee Shin, worried that she might smell sweaty or look so disheveled that he would dislike it.
“What does it matter? You look pretty enough like that too.”
“...Really?”
“Of course. How’s your ankle?”
“It doesn’t hurt at all anymore. They still told me to be careful not to injure the same spot again, though. Anyway, I really got chewed out for disappearing for two days.”
The moment she saw Lee Shin, Choi Bom began chattering excitedly.
The Hunter Academy training center, where prospective Hunters trained, was a place with heavily restricted freedom.
Everyone had to follow a strict daily schedule, mobile phones could only be used after training hours, and trainees were not allowed outside the facility unless it was the weekend.
On weekdays, they could only leave by taking official leave or applying for permission to go out.
Choi Bom sounded genuinely disappointed as she said that if he had told her in advance, she would have applied for permission to leave.
It really must be exhausting.
Looking at her dirt- and dust-covered training uniform, Lee Shin didn’t think she looked filthy.
He only worried about how hard she must be working, rolling around on bare, dirt-covered ground during training.
“You said you don’t get to eat much good food either, right?”
“They serve the same crappy soup every day. I’m sick of it. Hmph.”
“Next time I come, I’ll bring fried chicken. No, text me beforehand. Tell me what you want to eat.”
“Really? That sounds amazing. Actually, whenever Dad visits, he always brings fried chicken or pizza or something. I’m happy because I got to see you today, but it’s a little disappointing there’s no food, hehe.”
I didn’t think of that.
Lee Shin blamed himself again for being so awkward and inexperienced.
But Choi Bom, regardless, smiled brightly.
“I’m kidding! You don’t have to bring anything.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Just come more often instead! Honestly, training was really hard today, but seeing you made me feel completely better.”
Watching Choi Bom smile so brightly made Lee Shin feel happier too.
He took out the gift he had received from the dwarves.
“What’s this?”
“It’s something my friends in that world gave me. It looks really sturdy, but I don’t have any use for it, so I brought it for you. I looked it up, and apparently personal equipment like this can be used during training.”
“...It looks really expensive.”
“If things get difficult, you can sell it. Use it however you want.”
At Lee Shin’s words, Choi Bom vigorously shook her head.
“Hmph. I’m never selling it. Even if I go bankrupt someday and end up sleeping on the street, I’m absolutely never selling it.”
Choi Bom seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood today.
As she happily chattered away, visiting hours gradually drew to an end.
Lee Shin glanced at the instructor waiting nearby and noticed the name tag attached to her chest.
Choi Mihee.
She was the instructor Choi Bom had said was giving her a hard time.
“Trainee Choi Bom, visiting hours are....”
As Instructor Choi Mihee approached, Lee Shin quietly looked at her.
The instant their eyes met, Choi Mihee felt an inexplicable chill.
It was a bizarre sensation, as though she had been stripped completely naked from head to toe and someone was peering directly into the depths of her heart.
Lee Shin stared at her with emotionless eyes and murmured very softly,
“That’s a relief. You really are someone who cares about the trainees.”
“....”
“Please keep looking after our Bom.”
Lee Shin slowly rose from his seat and left Choi Bom with the same words he always told her.
“If anything happens, make sure you pray. Okay?”
As she reluctantly walked away, Choi Bom shouted back,
“I’m going to pray for you to come again, hmph!”
Lee Shin smiled.
“If that’s what you pray for, then that’s what will happen.”
「First World.」
「Moving to District 444, the [Small and Deadly World].」
When Lee Shin returned to the dwarves’ world, he was greeted by an unexpected sight.
Ever since his arrival, the residents of the Red City, Gepetto, had always been smiling happily.
Now they were all trembling.
Even Eve looked visibly tense.
What happened?
“God, my God. You’ve finally come.”
When Lee Shin asked what had happened, Eve squeezed her eyes shut and explained the situation facing the Red City, Gepetto.
“It seems the persistent pursuers have finally noticed that this city exists. Before long, the enemies will come to drag all of us away to the workshops.”
From what Eve said, this was serious.
Could Lee Shin solve it by selecting the Action tab under [World Interference] again and simply crushing them all?
Or perhaps he could sit down with them and have an open, sincere conversation?
「TIP: The ‘Pursuers’ who will appear soon are far more powerful than the unbelievers you encountered previously.」
「TIP: With your current Interference Power, they are enemies you cannot directly harm.」
「TIP: They are not the kind of beings with whom conversation is possible.」
The status window rejected every idea Lee Shin came up with.
Did that mean there truly was no solution?
Fortunately, the status window always provided the answer.
「TIP: Normally, the correct way to resolve a crisis in this world is not for God to personally intervene, but for the inhabitants of the world to overcome it themselves.」
「TIP: The dwarves must overcome the dwarves’ own trials.」
「TIP: You possess a believer with more than enough ability.」
At that moment, heavy footsteps approached.
“There’s nothing to worry about, everyone.”
At the same time—
Puff.
A newly converted believer appeared, holding a rolled cigarette in one hand as he exhaled a cloud of smoke.
Santiago.
“Because I’m here now.”
Ding!
「The Last Monster Hunter of a Ruined World」
「Name: Santiago」
「Class: Last Monster Hunter」
「Believer Rank: Low-Rank」
「Soul Rank: Hero」
「Overall Assessment: A Hunter who was renowned in his youth. In the past, he ranked among the ten strongest individuals in the [Small and Deadly World]. But even heroes cannot escape the passage of time. Age has rusted Santiago’s body and skills. Even so, most monsters still cannot hope to defeat him.
Those who encounter the oldest hunter of the barren lands should not first wonder how they can fight and win.
They should first wonder how they can escape alive.」