Chapter 23: GOD HAND(1)

 

The abandoned chick cried out in a pitiful peep, peep.

 

Exhausted from its sorrowful cries, it crouched down.

 

"Peep, peep. From the beginning, you shouldn’t have treated me kindly..."

 

Clutching its chest in excruciating pain, it shrank in indescribable loneliness. 

 

Why does it hurt so much? Why so lonely?

 

"That kid, what is she really...? I couldn’t see her face, but she seems familiar..."

 

The CCTV room where Yoo Hajin was located remained intact. It didn't show news of the world on the brink of destruction or people performing human sacrifices, like some comedy show. It was astonishing how the monitors worked perfectly even within the extraordinary anomaly of the DMZ. Jinari found it curious and sneaked a peek at the CCTV monitors.

 

Actually, to be honest, she couldn't take her eyes off Yoo Hajin and bravely faced her fear to look inside the CCTV room.

 

So, Jinari saw everything clearly.

 

She saw him restless upon spotting a girl on the CCTV, and as soon as he confirmed she was safe, he heaved a sigh of relief and immediately moved to go to her.

 

With every move he made, Jinari’s heart crumbled.

 

But she couldn’t hold onto Yoo Hajin.

 

Because Jinari had given him nothing.

 

Yet, Yoo Hajin had given her so much.

 

Saving her when she was betrayed at Pyeon Station.

 

Covering her with his coat when crossing the terrifying Miryang black water.

 

Fighting off anomalies as a patrol team.

 

Standing against the Gwizon to protect her.

 

And once again, comforting her.

 

"Peep, peep..."

 

What right did she have to hold onto him?

 

Would it have been different if she had more power, more authority, or more wealth? Would he have chosen her over the girl he saw on the CCTV?

 

"Miss, you’re safe."

 

It was then. The troubleshooter sent by her aunt.

 

The voice of Guon, the Grey Spider, rang out.

 

"Has the captain already left?"

 

"...Yes. He’s gone."

 

"I see. You must be heartbroken. From now on, let me take care of you."

 

Guon approached with a friendly smile. Seeing his smile, Jinari also smiled faintly.

 

"But Guon."

 

"Yes, what is it?"

 

"If you’re going to spin a web, why do it so carelessly?"

 

Hearing this, Guon’s smile faded, and so did Jinari’s.

 

No more words were needed.

 

Guon swiftly contracted the spiderwebs he had set up. These webs, strengthened to their limits through a life-risking vow and a spirit elixir received from family, were potent enough to slice a normal psychic in half with just a single thread.

 

There were hundreds of such threads.

 

It was a death sentence for anyone, even for the strongest.

 

In the thrill of murder, that’s what Guon thought.

 

The Phoenix, historically equated with the Zhuque or the three-legged crow, was symbolized by three powers: the summer of the four seasons, the south of the directions, and fire of the five elements.

 

Jinari’s powers were similar.

 

She could draw strength from the south, was blessed by the summer season, and had a masterful ability to manipulate fire.

 

And now, it was summer.

 

Jinari stood in the south.

 

Hence, her flames were strong enough to envelop her entire body.

 

“That’s not some spirit manifestation. It's merely unleashed power. And yet, to cause such damage...?”

 

Merely that was enough to burn hundreds of spiderwebs. The difference in spirit levels between himself, a mere spider, and Jinari was vast. Even with doping and all possible vows made, the power gap was insurmountable. Realizing this, Guon immediately tried to flee.

 

“Is this the power of the Phoenix? One of the four strongest spirits of the East?!”

 

But he couldn’t escape.

 

His ankles were already engulfed in flames.

 

“Aaaagh!”

 

“Now, tell me.”

 

Jinari, with tears streaming down her face, asked:

 

“Under whose orders are you targeting me?”

 

* * *

 

A woman with long, carelessly tied white hair walked down the corridor of Cheonji. Her physique was a perfect blend of feminine curves and appropriate musculature. Her face was so stunningly beautiful, it could rival that of a top idol from a major entertainment agency.

 

Indeed, until the day of her Spiritual Eye Awakening, she was the most promising trainee at a major agency. With her looks, effort, and talent, she lacked nothing to be considered top-class. She was so highly anticipated that she earned the nickname "Supernova."

 

Normally, men would sneak glances at her, only to be scolded by their girlfriends, and women would openly send her looks of envy and admiration.

 

But everyone in the corridor just trembled in fear.

 

No one dared to look at her directly.

 

Some were even on the verge of fainting.

 

They were facing a fearsome, metaphysically transcendent tiger.

 

She was a Celestial Immortal, known as the Tiger of Cheonji.

 

She was the only one who ascended to the rank of Celestial Immortal after the day of Spiritual Eye Awakening in Cheonji.

 

“So, you’re saying I have to bring this man in?”

 

The Tiger muttered in a gloomy voice, to which a shadow replied.

 

+Right. All the new recruits in Cheonji are his followers. He interfered in the Cheonji Selection Exam and turned an entire batch into his followers. Just like other clans and sects, he’s trying to secure power within Cheonji through the Selection Exam.+

 

+He seems to have deep ties with Young Master. He even personally trained that Young Master.+

 

+He killed a Gwizon without using any powers. He wants to keep his abilities hidden from us. But it’s astonishing. To take down a Gwizon with mere physical combat. He might be a monster on par with you.+

 

A monster of equal standing.

 

The Tiger scoffed at the remark.

 

“Shut up. You, you do it.”

 

+But Tiger, aren’t you stronger than us?+

 

“Why would beings who have trained their powers since before the Awakening of the Spiritual Eye parasite off a young girl like me?”

 

+You must help us to close the Great Ghost Gate. Only by helping us can you return to living a human life!+

 

What a joke.

 

The Tiger smirked bitterly.

 

Could closing the Great Ghost Gate really turn her back into a human?

 

Even the Celestial Immortals feared her; could such a fearsome monster ever become human again?

 

The Tiger gazed at the cosmetics in her room. They had become unnecessary, and she had been meaning to throw them away, yet she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

 

The person she saw in the mirror was still herself. Even though people saw her as a deity from another world, she always saw herself for who she was. The girl who once dreamt of being an idol.

 

Of course, when she relaxed her eyes, she too could see the monster.

 

"Ugh, I am not this monster!!!"

 

Her phone was filled with videos from her trainee days. Tiger spent the night until dawn, looking at the comments on those videos.

 

People admiring her beautiful self.

 

The kind comments they left.

 

She stayed up until dark circles formed under her eyes, immersed in those memories.

 

Could someone ever speak kindly to her again?

 

Could there be someone who would love a monster like her?

 

As these thoughts came to her, the Tiger closed her eyes.

 

"Yoo Hajin, was it? Maybe I should find out what kind of man he is."

 

Lying on her bed, the Tiger murmured in a melancholic voice.

 

* * *

 

I was on my way back from shopping.

 

"Damn, the prices have gone up. I really need to find a job quickly."

 

But in today’s world, without spiritual abilities, even finding a decent job is tough.

 

Sighing, I headed towards Louisville.

 

In front of my Happy House Louisville, there was a woman lying on the ground.

 

I wanted to ignore her, but I couldn’t just walk past a familiar face.

 

"Hey, Nayu. You’ll get sick sleeping out here."

 

"Nayu... it hurts so much..."

 

Nayu would sometimes suffer like this. Uncle said it was because she was in tune with the heavens and thus afflicted by celestial punishment. Nothing could stop this punishment, so Nayu had to endure the pain.

 

"But the old man was a liar The Ilwol-Oakmoon sect, what nonsense. Probably Nayu is suffering like this because of a possession."

 

"It hurts. Nayu hurts so much. It hurts."

 

What should I do in such a situation?

 

If it's due to a spirit possession, there’s no solution.

 

There’s really nothing I can do.

 

But if it’s physical pain, at least I could get her some medicine.

 

Let's check her temperature first.

 

I cautiously placed my hand on Nayu’s forehead.

 

And that's when it happened.

 

"Ah, ah. Nayu feels so good. Nayu’s sigh of relief."

 

"Why, why are you reacting like this?"

 

Suddenly, Nayu grabbed my hand tightly and started trembling all over. When I tried to pull away, frightened, she whimpered and kept pressing my hand to her forehead.

 

"Nayu doesn't hurt. Nayu can't hear. Nayu likes this. This belongs to Nayu."

 

"But that's my hand, to begin with."

 

Why was Nayu reacting like this? She even seemed blissfully shaking from the pleasure. All this from just touching my hand. Such abnormal behavior. When have I seen this kind of abnormal behavior before? 

 

Right, it’s similar to the reactions people have when psychics show off their powers.

 

I pondered deeply.

 

And then, I realized the answer.

 

That’s it!

 

That's what it was!!!

 

"Have I awakened my spirit abilities?"

 

Finally, finally!!!

 

It's been such a long time of oppression.

 

It's time to return as the empowered Yoo Hajin.

 

"I don’t know what it is exactly, but it seems like an ability to give pleasure to women or possessed entities. A disastrous Hentai power...!?"

 

Since calling it Hentai power might get me arrested, I'll name this ability 'God Hand' from now on.

 

Any complaints from other psychic? Come to Louisville.

 

Jamsuni, the sour-fisted sweetheart of Louisville, will take care of you.

 

I decided to test this ability further.

 

"Nayu, come with me. I’ll make you something delicious for dinner."

 

"Nayu's pleading to not go!"

 

Luckily, Nayu agreed.

 

Now it's time to explore the capabilities of this God Hand...!