Chapter 147 – SSS-Rank Hunter (22)
I thought it was strange from the very beginning.
It’s true that Witch Ranuvela—who can freely wander through dreams—is ahead of me in many ways, but she still can’t break absolute rules.
She cannot interfere with others.
In the romance-fantasy world of I Became the Youngest Daughter Of A Count’s Family, she managed to help a patient escape the royal palace—but that was only because she was in direct contact. When separated like this, interference is impossible.
“W-What do you mean? That I was scammed?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. That right hand you think was a gift from the witch was created entirely from your own life force.”
“My… life?”
“This world is your dream. You know that, right?”
“I do.”
“A sweet illusion obtained at the cost of abandoning reality. That right hand is also an illusion you created yourself. The only thing you didn’t create is me—someone who intruded from reality.”
“…How can you be so sure?”
“Because I’m a professional in this field. I’ve treated plenty of stubborn patients like you. Not all of them successfully.”
Nam Hae-soo would probably remain a permanent scar on my career.
And maybe today, another would be added.
The difference from back then was this:
Right now, I had complete control of the situation.
“Don’t you want to return to reality?”
“Even if I did, no one would welcome me. I’m buried in gambling debt—borrowed from loan sharks, no less.”
“What kind of gambling?”
“I invested in real estate in the apartment complex most recently rebuilt by the construction company I worked for.”
“Ah. You leveraged your soul, huh? And the prices didn’t rise.”
“Yes. It was a scam. I thought prices would skyrocket once the subway line was completed and it became a station area—but the bubble had already inflated too much. Unsold units piled up. It sounds stupid, but when I signed the contract, demand was high. Then the moment the building was completed and the deferred payment period ended, people started giving up and prices plummeted—”
“Enough.”
“……”
“I’m not interested in your pathetic life story.”
After living in a commercial building for years, I’d picked up a fair amount of knowledge—from snack bars to stationery shops.
Real estate agents.
I was lucky enough to meet relatively ethical ones, but those who entered the industry thanks to P’s Aptitude Test could sell an abandoned warehouse at a premium if they tried hard enough.
You really got caught good.
People who know nothing about real estate get scammed less—they’re cautious because they know they’re ignorant.
But so-called “experts” like Park Hyo-man—construction workers with half-baked knowledge—are the easiest targets. They ignore advice, don’t investigate properly, and invest boldly.
The favorite prey of real estate agents.
“So choose.”
“Do I even have a choice?”
“Return to reality and work yourself to death repaying debt—or suffer horribly for about two days in this dream, then really die.”
“…What kind of choice is that?”
“Options.”
“They’re both terrible!”
“Are you stupid? If there were a good option, I wouldn’t ask—you’d already be doing it.”
Displeased with both choices, Park Hyo-man made a counterproposal.
“How about this? You release me, and you return to reality.”
“You’d still be euthanized.”
“Then I’ll burn brightly in the dream until the very last second and die.”
“Hah… wow.”
A hollow laugh escaped me.
(He’s impressive.)
Yeah.
I need to be careful because my girlfriend’s involved—but it’s clear that not just anyone can become a Ranuvel patient.
“So you’re saying you have no intention of apologizing to the people who trusted you with their money or repaying your debts.”
“They lent it to me because they were tempted by the promise of double returns.”
“And the bank loans? Did the banks lend you money because you promised to pay them back double too?”
“This is my personal problem. It has nothing to do with you, Amolang-nim.”
“Oh! You’re right.”
I’m not a judge. I have no right to condemn or punish him.
“Just release me, and we’ll go our separate ways.”
“According to whose rules?”
“…Yours, Amolang-nim. But there’s no need to torture and kill me.”
“There is.”
“There isn’t.”
“Think carefully. You seem to have a habit of forgetting debts—but I never forget them.”
“What are you—”
“Hah! Incredible. You completely forgot that you tried to kill me. If that’s a talent, it’s a remarkable one.”
“It was a misunderstanding! I thought it was okay since it was a dream!”
Sensing his life in danger, Park Hyo-man hurriedly tried to explain.
“Not okay. Do you really think this dream is just an ordinary dream?”
“…At the end of the day, it’s still a dream.”
“That’s funny—coming from someone who believed killing me would extend his lifespan. If it’s just a dream.”
“T-That was—”
“I’ll be honest with you. Whether you believe it or not is up to you. If you die in this dream, you die in reality too. There’s no restart, no regression to the past like in fantasy novels.”
“…Lies.”
“Whether it’s a lie or not—you’ll find out when you die.”
“You’re an absolute powerhouse who surpasses even SSS-rank! Do you really need to vent your anger on someone as insignificant as me?!”
“What nonsense. You locked up women even more insignificant than you and satisfied your urges. Let me have a little fun too.”
“Those women are just dreams!”
“Is that your last words?”
“Please forgive me! I was wrong! I deserve to die! I was out of my mind back then! Please! Please…!”
Park Hyo-man completely changed his attitude, thrashing desperately for his life.
But his body—fused tightly to the chair—didn’t move an inch.
“I recruited some friends who are very good at torture. They’re waiting outside.”
“You’re joking… right?”
“You can confirm it yourself.”
“Please spare me! I did wrong! Amolang-nim! I’ll do anything you ask! Please reconsider!”
He was truly desperate.
Watching him,
He still hasn’t woken up from the dream?
A normal person would have—well, Park Hyo-man isn’t normal, but he is a coward who can’t endure pain.
(This is strange.)
Yeah.
This dream has far too many things that go against expectations.
“Good work.”
“No! Don’t go—!”
Bang!
Leaving the solitary cell, I spoke to the aide waiting outside the door.
“Preparations?”
“They’re ready.”
This wasn’t a lie meant to scare a Ranuvel patient.
“Make him regret being born into this world. Don’t let him die until I say so.”
“Yes. I’ll relay the order.”
Turning away without hesitation, I issued my next command.
“Prepare Rudolf. Exterminate the SSS-rank monsters by tomorrow at the latest.”
“Ah! Yes!”
Until the dream ends, I’ll focus on self-improvement.
***
Could debt really be worse than the pain and humiliation of having your skin peeled without anesthesia, being deep-fried in boiling oil, or castrated?
Usually, no.
“This is strange.”
Even as I traveled the world exterminating SSS-rank monsters, Park Hyo-man still didn’t give up the dream.
That shouldn’t be possible.
I did call in torture specialists, but I expected him to wake up the moment a single fingernail was pulled.
“Good work.”
“How long has it been?”
“It took you 40 hours, 25 minutes, and 13 seconds to exterminate all the SSS-rank monsters scattered across the world.”
“I see.”
Which also meant Park Hyo-man endured torture for forty hours.
(Doesn’t seem like the type who’d endure pain stoically.)
Agreed.
“If I wanted to, I could wipe out every monster in the world in a few days by myself—except this one.”
Blink, blink~
The eyeball tentacle, delighted after indulging in slaughter, swayed happily.
“Shall we set a schedule?”
“No. Even if they’re a threat, I intend to leave some monsters behind. If monsters disappear, what happens to hunters? With no work left, they’d become monsters that merely look human. They might even wage war against each other.”
“With you here, war would be difficult.”
“There will always be idiots who believe they can win.”
“Like Park Hyo-man?”
“Exactly. Like Park Hyo-man.”
Though the world would vanish once the Ranuvel patient woke up, I built peace and order as part of my own training.
Boom! Bang!
Fireworks exploded in every city.
Fireworks—normally banned for fear of provoking monsters. But today, everyone poured into the streets to watch them—
“Santa Amolang!”
“Amolang! Long live Amolang!”
“Wow! Amolang~!”
They chanted my name after I exterminated all the SSS-rank monsters without a single civilian casualty.
Santa Amolang.
My greatest rise to power until now had been becoming the second-in-command of an empire in I Became the Youngest Daughter of a Count Family, but today, that record was completely shattered.
Boom! Bang—!
Drunk on the blazing spectacle and atmosphere, an aide spoke in an excited voice.
“Those fireworks feel like they symbolize humanity’s victory!”
“Hm. Let’s leave the remaining victories to other hunters. What about Park Hyo-man?”
“The technicians, inspired by your great achievements, are refusing rest and continuing to torture the criminal!”
“I see.”
Grotesque torture—carried out by some of the world’s top torture specialists and even ability users—had been ongoing for forty hours straight.
Could anyone endure that?
I doubt I could last even one hour.
“You’ve arrived!”
“Amolang-nim!”
“Welcome!”
The moment they heard I was coming, the torture technicians washed up neatly and welcomed me in front of the solitary cell.
To Park Hyo-man, they must have looked like demons—but in truth, they were just ordinary butcher-like men and women you could find anywhere. The only difference was the heavy stench of human blood clinging to them.
“Is conversation possible?”
“Of course. Ever since you ordered that the criminal be kept alive, we made sure his mind didn’t completely break.”
A crisp, professional answer.
I was very satisfied.
“Good work. You are heroes of humanity. You subdued human rage—something more dangerous than SSS-rank monsters. We may call on you again, but for today, enjoy humanity’s victory and rest well.”
“Yes!”
“Thank you!”
Though they were just words, being praised as heroes moved the torture technicians deeply.
The aides watching nearby also looked at me with admiration.
(You’re smooth with words.)
Thanks.
(You really shine in real combat. Swordsmanship aside.)
“…Wait outside.”
Creeeak—
There was no benefit in letting anyone else enter, so once again I went into the cell alone.
They really did a thorough job.
Even with the ventilation running full force, the dense stench of blood overwhelmed my nose—far more sensitive than any normal human’s.
The room itself looked clean.
Park Hyo-man stared at me with a completely hollow expression and begged,
“Please… just kill me…”
“Just wake up from the dream.”
“I begged too. I prayed to wake up from this hell.”
“……”
It seemed he genuinely wanted to wake up—but failed.
Something that had never happened before.
Park Hyo-man continued,
“So please kill me… I know you hate me, but isn’t this enough now?”
“…Do you want to live?”
“No. I want to die…”
His will to live had been completely shattered by the torture.
And there was another change.
“What happened to your left arm? Was it cut off for resisting?”
Like his right arm, his left arm had also been sealed so it couldn’t regenerate.
“You were right. The witch deceived me…”
“Hm?”
“My left hand also turned into a blade. I was too scared to resist, but—”
“Scared? Of the technicians?”
“I felt like I was slowly turning into a monster…”
It wasn’t a direct answer, but I understood what he meant.
(A new discovery.)
Though data and samples were limited, it was clear that a patient’s mental state influenced physical transformation.
So how do we confirm it?
“Park Hyo-man. Listen carefully. I’ll keep torturing you without killing you until you want to return to reality and live.”
“……”
“What will you do?”
“I want that too… but it won’t work. I’m broken. I can feel it… something’s wrong with me…”
“Hmmm~”
Ranuvel patient interview complete!
From here on, I’ll write the prescription using nothing but a shaman’s instincts.
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TL Note:
The novel is fully completed (231 chapters)
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