Epilogue. An Imperfect World
About a year had passed since then.
“This deserves to represent America.”
Kang Shin-hyuk was looking at artifacts that had grown beyond the originals after more than a decade of experience in the hands of outstanding talent. They were a pair of pistols, and on each barrel was written ‘Valentine’ in neat cursive. Kang Shin-hyuk could feel the sprout of spiritual power faintly in them. When was this seed planted? It must’ve been influenced by the spiritual power that Kang Shin-hyuk used in the terrorist attacks in Paris. Juno Valentine had played an active part at that time.
“But it was very weak, so there was no immediate change. What’s really great is that as the years passed, since the gun was constantly energized and cared for, these seeds grew.”
“Give it back!”
Juno Valentine, who was on his knees, had begun to beg, but Kang Shin-hyuk tapped the barrel on his palm and laughed.
“No, you madman, you should be grateful you didn’t die for showing up at the wedding hall and firing this.”
“I knew right away you wouldn’t die from it, so I shot it!”
Wasn’t he recognized as the world’s No. 1? Opinions had been divided on who should be No. 1 due to Shin Eunah’s return, but it was clear that no one on Earth except for Eunah could harm Kang Shin-hyuk. And then this guy had shown up as soon as his wedding with Claire was over, brandishing a gun.
“I thought you were really crazy.”
Baek In-ha, who had overpowered Juno, checked the torn sleeve of his suit and mumbled vaguely. Kang Shin-hyuk had been prepared to beat him, but Baek had stepped in instead. He was a famous superhuman representing Shinyoung, but he wanted to reveal his prestige as an individual by defeating Juno Valentine, the US top ranker.
“No, if you knew I wouldn’t die, then why?”
“Ha, that’s why you’re just a savage. Kahak!”
Juno was beaten down again for his comment.
“Of course, kahk! To appeal to Claire, uh… I did it! To show my one-sided spirit and supreme dignity of not giving up until the last minute…!”
“What should I do, sir?”
Kang Shin-hyuk suddenly felt like his necktie was choking him.
“Aren’t you feeling alright to have such a man try his best?”
“Then, Shinyuk.”
“Kill him, really.”
Juno’s attack on the wedding hall had just been an appeal to Claire. If it hadn’t been for his uncanny shooting ability that wouldn’t harm any other than Kang Shin-hyuk, he wouldn’t have left with his limbs attached.
“But I couldn’t help it! It was the last way to convey my heart to her!”
“How many women have you flirted with using such insane means?”
“Two hands aren’t enough!”
“If you hadn’t done such stupid things, then maybe you’d have better chances.”
It was a real headache. The marriage between Kang Shin-hyuk and Claire Boyle was an issue of the century. But this crazy cub had jumped into the scene and made a mess! Before Kang Shin-hyuk, the prestige of the United States meant little.
“Hey, let’s get rid of him quickly and go.”
Claire, wearing her wedding dress, leaned on Kang Shin-hyuk’s shoulder. It wasn’t even half a year after she gave birth, but she had regained her slim form due to her rich spiritual power and magic, plus the private help of the administrator of the Hero Universe through login bonuses.
“Right, Ian? Do you want to play too?”
“Fuah—“
Kang Shin-hyuk and Claire’s son, Kang Ian, an incredibly big boy despite only being half a year old, struggled in his mother’s arms. He had already clearly inherited his parents’ handsome features and golden eyes, but he didn’t look like a 6-month old baby. Rather, he seemed more like a toddler.
“But Claire, this isn’t just a matter of kicking him out; the diplomatic issues between Korea and the US…”
“If international relations are a problem, just naturalize them as Koreans and have them join Shinyoung.”
Kang Shin-hyuk wondered the moment he heard that if his wife was a genius.
“Like that, just naturalize?”
“What?!”
The issue of bringing another country’s top ranker to Korea was no joke, but it was different if their target was a crazed criminal who came to Korea to shoot people. Most of all, the shooting had been aired all over the world! This gunman had committed an incident even the US couldn’t shield!
“Baek In-ha, I have a request for you. A humiliating nickname.”
“Kwon Jong-ah.”
“It’s perfect, Walter!’
Baek already recognized his intent and presented a stunning proposal. Indeed, he was Kang Shin-hyuk’s best friend.
“Ah…”
“Yeah… bloke!”
Valentine was forced to naturalize and was even renamed while Claire laughed. However, he looked away from Kang Shin-hyuk with the intent to kill and turned to Claire.
“Claire, are you really okay with that?!”
“Hmm? What?”
“What…!”
Juno trembled as he pointed at Kang Shin-hyuk.
“This kid is unsatisfied with you! He’s so trash that he’s trying to marry another girl! I can’t entrust you to him!”
“Oh, was that why you came to Korea and pulled this shit?”
“Yes! At least if it were a man who only cared for and loved you, I would’ve been able to withdraw, but not this kid! No!”
Kang Shin-hyuk felt like he had become the villain this madman was trying to slay. Yes, three months after his honeymoon with Claire, he had a wedding with Shin Eunah. It had been possible due to a revision of Korea’s laws. Not only in Korea, but in other powerful countries, these kind of events were taking place. The era had come when certain types of marriage were no longer a crime. Of course, although monogamy or polygamy was possible, multiple marriages were prohibited, but with Kang Shin-hyuk’s family, there was no need to worry.
‘Social notions don’t vanish easily, and there are still many who oppose it like this… though usually less violently.’
He had thought similarly up to a few years ago, so he didn’t fully understand how it happened. Yes, it was probably because of the different mindsets a transcendental had. There were also probably the memories of Anvil, which made him determined not to lose anything precious to him again.
“Hah, this is a stupid wall to the end. I was the one who persuaded him to accept Eunah as well.”
“…What?”
Claire’s response made his eyes go wide. Kang Shin-hyuk shrugged as Juno looked at him blankly. Then, Juno knelt in place.
“Uh… why?’
“Should I tell you, a stranger? Anyway, we are happy, so there is no need for outsiders like you.”
“Hmm… Still, if you expand your horizons a little, you may be able to grow.”
Suddenly, Kang Shin-hyuk said that, and everyone focused on him.
“What do you mean?”
“And to broaden your horizons, you’ll have to grow.”
“You mean joining you eventually.”
“You have good ability. There are a lot of places on Earth who could use skilled people.”
“Ah…”
“Yes, that woman is also there…”
Claire smiled as if she had come up with something good, but Juno Valentine shouted in confusion.
“What? What is it?! I’m in no position to be admonished by you, who lives with several women! What’s more, it doesn’t mean you can do anything to me!”
“Now that’s now your decision, Kwon Jong-ah.”
“Yeah, Kwon Jong-ah.”
“Don’t call me by such a strange name!”
Juno felt uneasy about Kang Shin-hyuk’s obscure words, but he noticed that the eyes of those looking at him held sympathy.
“Good. Juno Valentine, I’ll return this.”
“What?!”
“Not only that, I’ll strengthen it.”
Kang Shin-hyuk let an enormous amount of spiritual power and Heavenly Dragon flow into it, changing the pistols’ appearance. They became slimmer, slightly elongated, and the metal hardened as a new dragon figure was carved onto the barrel, covering Valentine’s name. The spiritual power that had sprouted inside it increased explosively.
“Nonsense…”
“Huh…”
“Wow.”
Those who watched his work were stunned at the sight. He had eliminated even the process of creating with a hammer. Yes, he had become a Heavenly Dragon who could freely intervene in all cause and effect, omitting the process to go straight to the result. An artifact that could buy a country was born. As Juno watched with his mouth hanging open, Kang Shin-hyuk held the gun handle out to him.
“Take it.”
“You… you’re…”
“I believe you know the meaning of taking this. This gun is a contract between us. Since the power of our souls inhabits it, there will be no harm.”
“Oh…!”
People began to murmur as Kang Shin-hyuk confirmed that he dealt with the power of the soul. No one knew it was the key to the Hero Universe, but everyone knew its power couldn’t be underestimated. Juno impulsively grasped the pistol, his superhuman instinct for strength suppressing his reason.
“Okay…well done.”
Kang Shin-hyuk’s eyes narrowed. There would be constant disputes through many worlds, yet he didn’t move directly anymore. Knowing that the world couldn’t be perfect, it was fine to watch.
“Then you are now my subordinate, and publicly, you’ve become a naturalized superhuman assistant under Shinyoung.”
People die, and monsters die. If he had to fix it all, it wouldn’t be life but a puppet show. Losing important people and gaining many others. Killing those who were too greedy and fulfilling their greed in the process. It was a truth that he barely admitted when he realized he couldn’t be perfect himself.
“Then, your first job. Kill Yuki Mizushima Ella, who is hiding in Africa and creating a villainous organization.”
“What?! What can I do with Bomber Girl!”
“Go, I choose you!”
Nevertheless, he would continue to forge and interfere indirectly in the world. Even knowing he would never reach perfection, this process had great significance.
-A 1,000,000HP bonus for dad’s cool slaughter! Added 2,000,000HP hard-boiled bonus!
“No, I won’t kill him.”
And that was how he lived in that imperfect world.
[Thank you for the support! The rest of the chapters are side stories!]
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