# Chapter 16

Arriving at Eurwangni Beach, Gyungho looked around in a weird reminiscent feeling.

"This is worse than I thought." Gyungho thought as he recalled Eurwangni Beach as he knew it. Crowded people, flocks of seagulls flying around in pursuit of shrimp flavored chips, blue ocean with waves, and golden sandy beaches. But now it was so different from then.

The dark blue sea, contaminated with demonic energy smelled awful, and of course no seagulls were around. The buildings around the beach were also turned into ruins, giving off a dreary atmosphere.

"This is getting on me," said Gyungho, feeling anger rising from his heart. Also there was a being who really had something rising from the deep down.

[GUGH]

Snowball, who was dragged here at a tremendous speed close to sound by Gyungho, looked at him with a tearful look while throwing up.

[Did we really have to come fly here like this?]

Gyungho smiled and turned to Snowball, looking at his resentful eyes.

"It’ll feel better on our way back since you got used to it,” said Gyungho.

[Aaaah!]

Leaving behind the cry of Snowball tearing his hair with his short front feet, Gyungho opened the Dimensional Space and took something out.

[Huh? Gyungho. Isn't that the Rope of Bind?]

What Gyungho took out of the dimensional space was the Rope of Bind that Snowball used to capture Gyungho for the rite of succession.

"You need a fishing rod to go fishing,” said Gyungho.

[T-That's right,] said Snowball as he stepped back, feeling strange anxiety in Gyungho’s smiling face. Snowball was oblivious to a lot of things but his animal instinct for survival was constantly telling him it is dangerous. Gyungho walked toward the Snowball, who was still stepping backwards, with a nice smile on his face.

[Uh-if you have something to say…] mumbled Snowball.

"A fishing rod isn't the only thing you need when you're fishing. Well then., I look forward to your kind cooperation," said Gyungho as he muttered and reached out to Snowball.

[W-What cooperation are you talking about…]

As the Level 10 Psychokinesis skill was used, the Rope of Bind moved as if it were a living snake.

The Rope of Bind sprung up and flew in an instant to bind Snowball tightly and tied him. Gyungho then tied it twice with his hands just in case.

"Okay, that's perfect. Oh and don't worry. I'll set up a barrier for you,” said Gyungho and cast a small barrier around Snowball. He then added, "It won't break unless it receives constant mana supply, you know that right? The barrier will save you a few bite, so hang in there.”

[W-What nonsense are you talkin...AAAAAAH!]

Gyungho swung a rope tied to the Snowball over his head a few times and threw it away toward the sea. Snowball drew a parabola as he flew toward the sea and disappeared with a splash.

"Alright, let’s get some tasty fish!"

***

"Mom!"

Jisook, who was sitting in the lobby of Shinhwa Hospital in Seoul, turned her head to the friendly voice heard from the back.

"Oh?"

When Jisook turned around, Dahyun, who wore a black cap, lowered her mask slightly and smiled. She was a beautiful girl with her small face, striking features, and smooth skin that everyone would turn their head to. Dahyun wore a mask again, and put her arm around Jisook's arms.

"Mom, you look much better than last time. Something good happened?" asked Dahyun.

Dahyun was very shocked when she first found out that Jisook had lung cancer. She did not have parents so she had always been grateful for Jisook caring for her like own child.

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But that mother-like figure was now dying.

Dahyun tried her best to save Jisook with everything she had, but illness such as this was outside of what human power can solve. As such, she was so happy to see Jisook looking better for the first time after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

"Oh, actually-” It was when Jisook was about to tell Dahyun that Gyungho was back.

-Patient Seo Jisook. Please come into room number two.

Announcement for Jisook’s turn came out through the speaker.

"Mom, it’s our turn. I'm sure they'll say you got better," said Dahyun.

Jisook tried to smile and nodded as she looked at Dahyun.

"Okay, let's go in," said Jisook as she sighed quietly so that Dahyun wouldn't hear it. The hospital has always been a tense and suffocating place. They opened a door into a small doctor's office. Jisook's nervous eyes noticed the doctor's expression that she had never seen before. His eyes were wide as he tilted his head, clearly looking unusual. The doctor always said, ‘It's unfortunate, but cancer is spreading faster than I thought,’ without an emotion until now.

Dahyun, who was quick on reading people’s minds, noticed the doctor's unusual expression.

"Doctor, my mom has gotten better, hasn't she?" asked Dahyun.

The doctor only looked at the monitor despite Dahyun asking him then nodded with an intrigued look.

"I've never seen anything like this before. The size of lung cancer has decreased from the CT scan from this morning. Blood test results are much better too.”

It was the result of Snowball, who rose to level 2, reducing his sleep from Gyungho urging him to work on Jisook harder.

"If-If then, do I have more than six months?" asked Jisook nervously.

"We can never be sure as disease can change anytime, and we also need to check the metastasized area, but it definitely got much better,” said the Doctor.

"Thank you. Thank you very much," said Jisook.

"I didn't do anything special. It’s all on you to take care of yourself well."

Jisook had told herself over a thousand times a day that she can now die peacefully as her son is back after ten year. But it was just an empty holler from her conscious trying hard to keep her going. It was so painful to think that she would die, leaving her poor son who had grown up without his father.

But she heard positive words for the first time today. Jisook jumped up and burst into tears, holding the doctor's hand with trembling hands. She then carefully spoke out her hidden true feelings.

"I want to live. I want to live. Doctor, please save me," said Jisook sobbing.

"Mom, it’ll be alright. Don't cry. Don’t cry," said Dahyun in a weak voice, whose eyes become teary. After a while, the Jisook calmed down and sat back in the chair. The doctor looked at Jisook with a sorry look.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Seo. But you've improved a lot, so let's hope for a miracle," said the Doctor.

Although he was surprised at the improved test results and said positive things, the size of the lung tumor was still large and the metastasis progressed to many other parts, so it was still impossible to perform surgery.

"Thank you, doctor. And I'm sorry about crying," said Jisook.

"That’s quite alright, ma’am. I'll see you in two months, then."

The doctor turned back to his emotionless state, and Jisook said goodbye and was helped by Dahyun to leave the office.

***

Gyungho felt a heavy weight from the Rope of the Bind he was holding.

"Ooh! It's a bite! A good bait works right away!!" said Gyungho spitting out lines that would make Snowball collapse from rage if he heard it and put a strength on his arm.

The basis of fishing was chamfering and reeling.

"Oh, you're strong. Well, I'll deal with you properly," said Gyungho. Gyungho's biceps and triceps began to tighten.

The strength did not matter if there was no foundation, so Gyungho stomped his feet and put both feet deep into the beach. Then he pulled mana up all over the body.

Now the fishing line, the 'Rope of Bind', was never going to break. There is no need to release carefully if the fishing line will not break and the fish has bitten deep into the bait.

Gyungho twisted his back and his whole body and pulled the rope toward him. The fish seemed to hold out a little, but it started to pull up. A rope came up with a huge splash of water, and at the end of it was a huge, almost building sized octopus like the demonic beast, Kraken.

[Save me! AHHH!] yelled Snowball. Looking close, there was Snowball was hanging in front of Kraken's mouth.

"It’s a big one!" shouted Gyungho.

Kraken as it came up to the beach, rolled his big eyes and saw Gyungho the rope. The Kraken wasn’t going to stand still as it saw the man who pulled it up. It released Snowball from its mouth as it roared and ran towards Gyungho accompanied by a huge tidal wave.

"I guess you find living to be boring," said Gyungho as he clenched his fist at the Kraken running toward him. Kraken was a 4th Grade Disaster Class demonic beast that should sound the first-degree alarm but it was nothing more than a tasty seafood for Gyungho. The kraken was huge, but it moved very quickly within the water so it was already upon Gyungho.

"Legs are the only parts that’s delicious anyway," said Gyungho.

Unlike octopuses, the head of Kraken had poisonous bags and hard bones, which were not good to eat. Gyungho’s fist glowing in white light stretched toward the approaching Kraken. A silver bead of mana flew from his fist and penetrated Kraken's fast approaching head. Then with a tremendous sound, the head exploded and blew up without a trace of it left. Blood from Kraken's head poured down like rain.

Of course, Gyungho surrounded himself with a mane like an umbrella and did not get dirty from its blood.

"An awesome control of power,” Gyungho praised himself. Kraken's head disappeared, but its legs that were scattered along the beach were fully intact. It was then when Snowball washed ashore by the tidal wave created by Kraken.

[UGH! I almost died. Gyungho!] shouted Snowball.

"Oh, don’t be silly. Wasn't it thrilling and fun?” asked Gyungho. Then for the first time, Gyungho learned that even dogs can wear a disgusted smile.

[Thrilling? Fun? Do you know how many teeth Kraken has?]

"Why would I know that?" Gyungho replied with a look that said ‘Don’t ask something stupid,’ the Snowball's face turned furious. Gyungho had seen Snowball angry for the first time.

[That’s right! No one should KNOW how many teeth Kraken has!] yelled Snowball and continued, [but now I know that Kraken has 176 teeth. I counted it myself, while the barrier gets chewed up and cracked down! Sure, it was a very thrilling experience!] said Snowball sarcastically.

Gyungho looked at Snowball. He seemed a little out of his mind.

"You’ll all get over it once you taste this. It's really delicious."

[Ugh. Then let's go back now. I don't want to be here for another second. And get me off of this thing!] said Snowball looking at the Rope of Bind around him.

Gyungho then looked at Snowball with an apologetic look.

[Why? Why are you looking at me like that? What is it?]

Snowball, who was oblivious to a lot of things, sensed the ominousness from Gyungho’s expression.

"I don't know if you know, but you need fish to make fish cakes. Kraken's legs can make it richer, but that alone will not make the fish cake delicious," said Gyungho.

[Y-you mean-]

"Well then, let’s go again."

[No- NO!! WAAAAAH!]

Gyungho grabbed the Rope of Bind and threw it farther into the sea than the first time.

Like before Snowball flew away with a parabola, and was swallowed into the dark blue sea with a splash.

"Oh! Dang it."

Gyungho then remembered he had forgotten something.

"I forgot to put on a barrier for him."