'Did they find something?'
Choi Kahng-Sik became super tense from what the doctor said.
He believed that they wouldn't be able to find anything. But, what if his physique changed, and he got stronger as a result of divine intervention?
Then, the chances were high that such a change would be discovered during his treatment.
Since the suspicious words were coming out of the doctor's mouth, he had to pay attention here.
"Sorry for butting in in the middle of your broadcast, young man."
"Not at all, sir."
His fists were crying out for justice, but Choi Kahng-Sik still smiled gently as a reply.
'This guy, what does he want now?'
It was possible that he was eavesdropping on the broadcast from outside the door before intruding like this. Simply explaining this event by saying that the doctor had a penchant for ill-timed intrusions, didn't sit too well with Choi Kahng-Sik.
In any case, the doctor continued to speak.
"Young man, you're definitely not ordinary."
"But, I..."
"Even though your body's ordinary, there's no way your mental fortitude is ordinary. Don't you agree?"
"........"
"The patient Choi Kahng-Sik has trained his body to a wondrously miraculous degree. We couldn't even find a single trace of any form of drugs whatsoever in his system. An ordinary guy like me can't even fathom how much effort he put in just to get to where he is now."
The doctor stared into the camera in the middle of his speech.
So, in other words, this was...
┖ He's really the same as us?! ;;;
┖ Come out, the guy who was so confident that he was hiding his superpower. ^^
┖ Where is that friend who swore he'd slash his own wrists if he was wrong?
'Hiiiya~, this guy is really helping me out here.'
Choi Kahng-Sik did feel rather uncomfortable when the doctor intruded in the middle of the stream without a warning. But now, that old man looked like an angel to him!
He wasn't here to provide support fire only, though.
"Everyone, please come and utilise the services offered by this hospital. We specialise in taking care of the victims of the monsters' rampage. With our fifteen years of experience and know-how, plus our state of the art equipment, we will strive to provide the best medical care you deserve. I am the director of this hospital, Seong Sil-Nam. Thank you for your time."
"....You're pretty good with words, doctor."
"Well, it is part of my job description, so..."
"Oh, well. Let's leave it at that, shall we? Dear viewers? As long as some weird misfortune doesn't fall on me, I shall see you all midday tomorrow. Thank you for tuning in. Goodbye."
Choi Kahng-Sik couldn't believe that the doctor only wanted to advertise his hospital.... Still, the broadcast ended without an incident, so that was something.
The hospital's director, Seong Sil-Nam, smiled brightly.
"Haha, I did as I felt like, didn't I? My bad."
"Well, at least you know."
"Forgive me for butting in. Your situation didn't look so good and I thought my appearance here would be for the best. You see, there are quite a number of folks wanting to dissect you at the moment."
"........"
Suddenly, it felt like a bucket of ice-cold water was poured on top of Choi Kahng-Sik.
'Dissect me?!'
A word that he couldn't overlook jumped out at him from nowhere. A different kind of goosebumps compared to when fighting monsters crawled up on his skin.
The director continued to speak.
"Everything I said during the broadcast is the truth."
"In that case, why...?"
"While you were asleep, we performed every test available on you, from MRI to CT. Ah! Don't misunderstand me here, since the government told us to do those tests. Anyways. Every single test result came back as you being an ordinary human being. But unfortunately, those folks just refuse to believe the results."
Choi Kahng-Sik knew very well that he wouldn't be able to dodge all the questions arising from his feat of beating back one of the most powerful monsters on the planet. That wasn't something the so-called 'regular' person could do, after all.
Choi Kahng-Sik sat on the edge of the bed while falling deeper into his thoughts.
'I knew something like this would happen. It's just happening a bit sooner, that's all.'
[A certain god is very unhappy.]
[A certain impatient god is suggesting multiple assassinations.]
[Another god is agreeing with that suggestion.]
[Number of viewers: 11]
….He needed strength to protect himself. At this rate, he might wake up one day to the view of a lab's ceiling, in the middle of being experimented on.
"What about my shovel?"
Choi Kahng-Sik asked for his reliable weapon first.
"The only things that came with you to the hospital is your camera. Since I was also kinda curious, I asked around, and they tell me it's ended up in a lab somewhere, apparently."
"These as*holes...!"
This was a clear case of them infringing on his private property!
Choi Kahng-Sik felt dejected by the thought that the shovel gifted to him by the gods would be misused. Or worse, he'd never get it back.
'D*mn these bureaucrats!'
He should've known from the moment they decided not to help out a poor citizen who lost his dwelling on the roof of a shopping centre and ended up destitute in the streets.
From here onwards, he'd never, ever work for the government. Never!
"There's one more thing, young man."
"What else is there?"
As Choi Kahng-Sik's expression crumpled in dismay, the director continued on.
"During our examination of your body, we found something quite interesting about you. A regular check-up would've missed it. That's how minor it was."
Choi Kahng-Sik's heart finally skipped a big beat just now.
"But, you said my body's completely normal, didn't you?"
"That is correct."
".....OK, fine. Let's hear it."
"Here! Take it."
The doctor pulled something out from his pocket and chucked it at Choi Kahng-Sik. The young man caught it without thinking too much and spoke up after confirming what it was.
"Isn't this a monster's Core?"
It was a round marble-like object the size of a pearl.
It was also an object that could be referred to as the source of a monster's strength as well as its foundation. But, now that it was out of a monster's body, it looked like a simple little crystal.
"Correct."
"But why are you giving me this, doc?"
"There's only one difference between an Esper and regular humans. You're an Esper if the monster Core resonates with you, and you can pull out the powers of a monster in the process. And if there is no reaction, like with you, then you're a regular person."
"Doc, I already know that."
Choi Kahng-Sik received an aptitude test when he was a little kid. The result was - he was a regular person. He was an ordinary human being who couldn't use any form of superpowers.
"Well. In that case, do you also know that you can only resonate to the specific Core for your aptitude?"
"Yes."
MS Yu Il-Ahm wielded a flame-based superpower.
MS Hahn Joh-Seop, lightning-based.
However, even if these two men swapped their Cores, Yu Il-Ahm still wouldn't be able to fire lightning bolts. The reverse was also true. Why? Because the Cores simply didn't match the person's aptitude.
"We found that you have a 'talent' for superpower."
".....Pardon?"
"However, we just don't know which monster's Core suits your aptitude. That is all. There's nothing in Korea's databank that corresponds with your aptitude. Such a thing is very rare. Well? How about it? Are you getting intrigued?"
A teasing smile crept up on the director's lips as he asked.
[A certain god is waiting expectantly for your answer.]
[A certain impatient god is getting really curious.]
"I'm not interested."
[A certain god is despairing.]
[A certain impatient god is very frustrated.]
Meanwhile, the hospital's director panicked slightly.
"C, cough!! But, why? Mister Choi Kahng-Sik, I thought you wanted to become an Esper? Don't you need the power to avenge your family's death?"
"That's true."
"Then, why?"
"Superpowers are just one of the ways available."
What Choi Kahng-Sik needed was a power to kill the Bul-Raid. And that power didn't necessarily have to be a superpower. If he could kill the d*mn thing with a shovel, then that would more than suffice.
Also...
'It'll be way too difficult with superpowers, actually.'
Choi Kahng-Sik saw it with his own two eyes. The MS Hahn Joh-Seop was famous among Espers as someone with a fairly powerful ability. Yet, a lightning bolt fired by him was easily brushed away by the Bul-Raid.
That meant superpowers didn't work on the b*stard.
The only answer remaining, then, was a beatdown with a shovel.
Meanwhile, the director's expression showed how puzzled he was.
"....It'd be wonderful if all those people who can't use superpowers thought the same as you, young man."
"....I'd like to get started on the discharge procedures."
"One month!"
"I can't stay here for a month. Sorry."
"What the hell? You think my hospital is full of quacks?! And besides, you should listen to your doctor till the end! Come and see me again in a month. I'll find a Core that suits your aptitude, even if it means searching through the data banks of the entire world."
"...."
"And why are you staring at me like that for?"
"Well, I can't help but get curious why you would go so far for me."
Could it be that this old man was being nosy? Or was he trying to advertise his hospital again?
Choi Kahng-Sik may have remained uninterested even when the possibility of turning into an Esper came up, yet this quandary was making him genuinely curious.
The hospital director replied without holding back.
"Because it's fun."
Immediately, Choi Kahng-Sik's expression crumpled again.
"Oh, come on! Sir, stop yanking my chains, please. It's because I don't have any talent or aptitude become an Esper, there's nothing to be found in the data bank."
"What about the flip side of that argument?"
"It'll remain the same story, that's why."
"Nope. Not at all! You're getting it all wrong. Think about it. There's none to be found in the databank, because the monster with the right Core hasn't been subjugated yet! A fantastical monster! A mythical beast! Doesn't something in your heart stir up just from imagining the possibilities?"
[A certain god is imagining all sorts of heart-pounding adventures.]
[Another god is getting very excited.]
"....Not at all."
"Tsk, tsk. You're still young, so where's your adventurous spirit? Mm? Wait a minute!! Underneath your bed, isn't that, isn't that your shovel?! How come it's over here....?!"
"Mm?"
When Choi Kahng-Sik hurriedly took a look, it really was there.
The shovel that a lab somewhere had apparently stolen away without his consent was hiding under the bed.
As Choi Kahng-Sik picked the shovel up, his frowns were getting deeper and deeper.
'It definitely wasn't there befo....'
[A different god wants to see that journey of the dreams commence.]
[Another god is shouting out their imminent departure.]
".....Hey, doc? I'll come see you in a month."
< Chapter 15: The Monster Association (2) > Fin.