Chapter 1056

〈 Chapter 1056 〉 1056. Spirit Rank

June 7th, Monday.

The week flew by in the blink of an eye.

During this time, I traveled around the world using the dimensional travel spell scrolls. I visited all branches of the Light Origin Sect scattered across the globe and planted bombs.

“Only managed to install a few because vampire police world bombs are tricky… and their power probably weakened when brought to this reality, but they should be enough to demolish buildings.”

As you can see from the Korean branch of the Light Origin Sect, their brainwashing ability stems from special patterns or images.

“But it’s not just that. If brainwashing were so easy, they’d be waving pictures around everywhere or proselytizing more freely.”

However, the Light Origin Sect was expanding its influence slowly and secretly.

This means there are limits to their brainwashing ability. And since the sect leader’s power is related to the shrine, I assumed other Light Origin Sect branches also possessed some kind of power.

“Even if not, leaving them intact could allow someone else to revive the sect through brainwashing. Let’s finish this off properly.”

I’d like to wipe them all out myself, but there are limitations. I’m alone while the Light Origin Sect has countless branches. Most importantly, they still don’t know much about me and Park Soho.

“They’re watching me to some extent, but that’s all. Park Soho needs to take the lead – he’s the hero of Selbritina after all.”

If I took the lead, the Bramasen bastard might openly target me.

“I don’t care if he targets me, but he could go after my girls… Han Harin, Han Ayoung, Jin Se-young, and Baek Ji-eun. I don’t have the strength to protect them all from Bramasen.”

Thus, I’m letting Park Soho take point.

“But why hasn’t that idiot Park Soho contacted me after a whole week?”

I called him, but he didn’t answer – proof he’s in the tattoo world. I clicked my tongue and opened the Leisure Life app.

[Hunter Killer

A purple-tinted moon has risen.

Today is the day hunters get hunted.

You’ve become the monster in the ‘Clown and Hunter’ world. You feel endless hatred toward hunters who hunt monsters and other creatures.

Your mission is simple:

Hunt down 1,000 hunters.

Quest Reward – 3,000 points, Hunter Killer Bone Spear.

*Multiple penalties apply.]

[Penalty 1: Inventory Restriction]

[Inventory limited to 3 slots.]

[Only 3 items can be brought into the game world.]

[10,000 points required to reduce penalty.]

[Penalty 2: Monster]

[You’ll gain the appearance and abilities of a monster.]

[Use 2,000 points to start as a human instead.]

[Penalty 3: Hunter and Hunted]

[Hunters will know your approximate location and prioritize eliminating you.]

[5,000 points to remove penalty.]

[Penalty 4: Mana Cheat Out]

[A mana-free world.]

[3,000 points to remove penalty.]

I chose the quest.

What I need right now is points.

“And this Hunter Killer Bone Spear is exactly what I need.”

[Hunter Killer Bone Spear

Upon hitting the target, the opponent becomes unable to recover for 3 hours.

Price – 20,000

*Note

One-time use only.

Durability is average. Accuracy is crucial.]

I remembered the sect leader from before my regression.

That monster kept regenerating no matter how many times I killed him. What a pain.

“If I had this back then, things would’ve been different. This could be my ace in the hole in case something goes wrong.”

Thinking about the [Clown and Hunter] game world. From what I know, it’s a web novel – one that’s closer to traditional fantasy and isn’t particularly popular. It had decent popularity until the later parts where it received heavy criticism and ultimately failed. Afterward, rumors spread that the author changed their pen name.

“It’s not a dangerous world. At least compared to the God’s Atlantis or White Lotus. Being a monster doesn’t make me excessively powerful either. The goal is to complete the quest within a day – 24 hours maximum.”

In [Clown and Hunter], the clown and hunter are the same person. Originally a clown who awakens the hunter talent, managing both roles simultaneously.

“I’ll probably encounter the protagonist at some point, either very early on or near the end.”


[Quest accepted.]

[Game starting.]

•••

I was in the forest.

As I tried to move, I felt an unfamiliar sensation. It was like… aside from sensing temperature and wind on my skin, I had developed a whole new sense.

“Right. In this world, I’m a monster.”

I checked my body. First off, it was covered in hard exoskeleton-like skin, similar to a stag beetle’s shell. Though definitely stronger.

I had three fingers on each hand, but four arms total – so twelve fingers altogether. More than when I was human. Profit.

“No wings, though. Instead… I’ve got these Piccolo-style antennae on my forehead.”

I touched the antennae. I could sense everything within 5 meters in incredible detail. Even the bugs crawling on the ground.

“With stats like this, things should be easier.”

I sensed something flying into my range. Before I even realized it, my body reacted. Two of my right hands moved faster than thought to catch what had flown at me – three arrows. I locked onto where they’d come from. My vision zoomed in past the dark night sky to pinpoint a hunter 30 meters away.

“Acceleration. Blink.”

In an instant, I was right in front of the hunter. Rather than panic, he bared his teeth and swung his finger at me. His fingernail transformed into a sharp blade.

“Guess I’ll take one hit. Need to test how tough this armor is.”

His claw scraped across my chestplate. There was a brief spark as a shallow wound opened in my hard skin. Just that much.

“What the hell! A monster like this here…! Gaaaaah!”

I grabbed and snapped his neck. The hunter screamed even with his neck broken – proof he wasn’t ordinary.

The hunters in this world were based on real-life Hunters. They had awakened abilities. And there was the setting that if a hunter became drunk on power or faced death, they’d transform into a monster.

“If hunters become monsters, they get stronger. So it’s best to kill them before that happens.”

[Hunters hunted: 1/1000]

Ignoring the popup, I dashed off in search of more hunters.

Less than an hour later, I encountered a group of them. Pathetic ones.

“Lightning!”

Zzzziiip.

A bolt of blue electricity swept through their ranks.

[Hunters hunted: 4/1000]

“Without mana, using lightning really tires me out.”

Best not to use it except in emergencies.

I kept moving, easily finding more hunters.

[Hunters hunted: 7/1000]

“They keep showing up, but this is getting tedious. Time for auto-progress.”

Auto-progress would have been convenient… except then I realized something unpleasant.

Hunts during auto-progress didn’t count toward the quota.

“No loopholes, huh? Guess I’ll have to kill them manually every time.”

About two months had passed in-game time.

[Hunters hunted: 331/1000]

Around the 300 mark, things started getting tougher. The useless hunters avoided me while the strong ones gathered together.

So I intentionally left one alive.

“Where do you hunters gather?”

“…You can talk? Your intelligence has increased too, I see.”

“Answer the question.”

“Hmph. We only gather for one reason. To hunt powerful monsters. Wait for us. We’ll gather around you and kill you before you grow too powerful, Brain Bug.”

The hunter opened his mouth wide and shot teeth at me. What an odd ability.

“Blink.”

I dodged all the teeth and punched him in the chest, killing him instantly.

“Brain Bug? That’s my name now? Such a generic one.”

Clearly named for my insect-like appearance and occasional lightning use.

“Now that my name’s spread, the hunters will gather on their own. Time for me to train.”

I wiggled my antennae and generated some lightning.

Just as I could sense the bugs crawling on the ground, I could now sense the form and nature of the lightning in perfect clarity.

“This feeling… like I’m about to grasp something important, but it keeps slipping through my fingers.”

This current sensation would definitely be useful in reality once memorized.

•••

[Hunters hunted: 921/1000]

I raided a hunter village and wiped them all out. Though I think I killed 500 people, only 94 counted as actual hunters.

“P-please spare me!”

A woman knelt on the ground, begging for her life. She’d been hiding at the back of the village. Nice figure, blue hair – quite the beauty. But I kicked her head, killing her instantly.

Monsters in this world lacked reproductive organs. I couldn’t feel any lust at all, which was kind of unpleasant. Still, once I complete this quest, I’ll return to normal.

Time passed.

[Hunters hunted: 980]

Only 20 left.

I rose from the mud where I’d been hiding. Yesterday’s hunter had been truly strong, enough to rip off two of my arms.

“The arms have regenerated already. This is the power of a mons…


The regenerative powers of a righteous being…!

Aside from the fact that it doesn’t heal and occasionally being too sensitive to stimuli, this was an otherwise top-tier physical body.

“Brain Parasite. There you are. Allow me to hunt you.”

A calm male voice echoed.

I turned my head toward the source of the sound. There stood a hunter with a clown-like face, holding a bow on his back and gripping a sword at his waist. Despite the absurd appearance, this was the power of the protagonist.

‘If he’s hunting with a clown face, we’re at least in the mid-game. Not bad.’

Words were unnecessary. I leaped toward the clown using my ability called ‘Fleeting Moment,’ unleashing four simultaneous punches aimed at his clownish visage.

His figure blurred, reappearing to my right. His sword grazed my waist, splattering green blood. Ignoring it, I extended my hand toward the clown.

‘Once I grab him, victory is mine.’

Just as I thought I had him…

He vanished from my grasp. This was the clown’s ability: ‘Cheerful Deception,’ which tricks the senses.

‘My mental state is intact. If it bypasses reason and only tricks the senses, it makes sense why it works. Ugh, feels disgusting experiencing it firsthand.’

An iron arrow shot toward my back. It was far too fast to dodge. *BOOM!* The sound of the arrow embedding itself was louder than expected.

“Mikela! Are you alright?!”

A man with black hair appeared behind me. Zrun, Mikela’s partner hunter.

“Zrun! I’m fine! Watch out!”

Using ‘Fleeting Moment,’ I attempted to kill Zrun, but he narrowly evaded by a hair.

“Ugh!”

Like a squirrel, Zrun fled into the trees. As I prepared to chase after him, I sensed six daggers thrown by Mikela.

I swung my arm to deflect them. Two daggers pierced my arm, but I calmly pulled them out. Clenching my fist, the bleeding stopped. I glanced at Zrun. There was a scar on his face.

“I see. We’re in the late game now.”

Well, I know nothing about the original story’s late game.

“Late game? This is just the beginning. We’re one entity, after all.”

The clown grinned confidently. His body blurred again. An arrow flew from behind. Zrun’s ability is extreme amplification of force. Taking three or more direct hits from his arrows would overwhelm even me.

‘Going full strength.’

*Crackle.*

Lightning surged from my body.

During the time I killed 980 hunters, I wasn’t idle.

At first, I used auto-progress mechanics, but soon realized it was the perfect environment for training and adjusted my approach accordingly.

‘The sensation of owning this space entirely has been quite helpful.’

*Crackle-crackle.*

In terms of time, approximately three months.

During that period, I trained exclusively in one technique.

‘Senrai (Flash Lightning).’

A streak of lightning raced through my body.

Ironically, the absence of mana allowed me to feel it even better.

The lightning awakened every single cell in my body. Expanding my senses, I charged toward Mikela.

The startled clown opened his mouth to perform some trickery. Though I kept throwing punches, Mikela narrowly dodged each one by a hair.

‘The arrows coming from behind are getting annoying.’

I switched targets. Time to take out the archer who keeps interrupting me.

“Zrun!! Run!!”

Too late. Before Mikela’s voice faded, I was already in front of Zrun. Unlike Mikela, Zrun was slow.

Gritting his teeth, Zrun fired an arrow aimed at my forehead.

“One arm is worth giving up.”

Blocking the arrow with my raised arm, I swung the other three arms toward Zrun.

Suddenly, my body froze.

*Zzzziiip.*

The smell of burning flesh filled the air.

‘Dammit. Overloaded.’

In that fleeting moment…

The protagonist seized the opportunity. Mikela, standing behind me, began slicing my body apart like a butcher.

[Death Resistance activated. For the next 15 seconds, you cannot die.]

“I’ve killed the Brain Parasite!!!”

“Haa… In the end, you managed it. With this, you’ve earned your freedom.”

“Zrun. Thanks to you. Without you, I wouldn’t have…”

“Shut up. Don’t start dissecting every little thing.”

[Complete Recovery activated.]

I rose to my feet. Both stared at me with wide eyes.

“You two won.”

They hastily readied themselves for combat.

“But you’re the ones dying.”

Wielding the Gay Slayer, I swung it.

*Whoosh.*

A beam of dark light sliced through Mikela and Zrun. Their torsos cleanly separated from their legs, sliding to the ground.

The web novel [Clown and the Hunters] received criticism because the author heavily leaned into BL content in the late stages, completely derailing what was originally a straightforward protagonist growth story into something much seedier.

‘From reading the comments on the ending… Wasn’t it a marriage ending?’

Marriage ending.

It wasn’t bad.

Except for the fact it was a gay marriage.

Three days later. I completed the quest.

[Hunters Hunted: 1,000]

[Quest rewards granted.]

[3,000 points obtained.]

[‘Hunter Killer Bone Spear’ acquired. Please check your inventory.]

[You can now purchase ‘Hunter Killer Bone Spear’ at random shop draws.]

[Ending available for review.]