“But isn’t Spider-Man stronger?”

“Based on what?”

“If he restrains him with his webs, wouldn’t Ant-Man be completely stuck?”

“Restrain him, huh... Ant-Man is incredibly small. How would you even catch him with webs?”

“If it’s Spider-Man, he can do it. His senses are well-developed. He could probably adjust the webs minutely and catch him.”

“That’s just your dumb opinion.”

“Then you, the smart one, go ahead and explain it in a way that makes sense.”

“You ignorant orc, try using your brain. Ant-Man is small enough to go through even the tiniest holes. If he hides in a place like that and launches a surprise attack, how would Spider-Man deal with it?”

“Spider-Man is a hero with heightened senses. Naturally, his reaction speed would be super fast. Probably... he’d dodge the moment Ant-Man attacks. And then shoot his webs and snatch him up.”

Park Yeon shook his head.

“This is pointless. We’re not communicating.”

“Yeah, pointless. You’re the one being stubborn for no reason.”

“You’re the stubborn one. Obviously, Ant-Man is stronger, but you keep insisting Spider-Man is stronger.”

“Your reasoning that Ant-Man is stronger is weak. Just because he’s small enough to move through tiny holes, he wins? Then you’re smaller than me, so why are you so dumb?”

“There’s no evidence that I’m dumb, you ignorant orc.”

“No, there is. First, unlike me, you still don’t know how to play back CCTV footage.”

“That’s…!”

“And second, your typing speed is slower than mine.”

“…What’s typing?”

“See, you’re dumber than me.”

“So what is typing, I said!”

“Typing means inputting text, you ignorant hero.”

“Not knowing that doesn’t prove I’m dumb!”

“You should hear the third one. You were tricked by me.”

“Tricked?”

Park Yeon looked at Doo-shik with a turbulent mind and anxious eyes. Then Doo-shik smirked.

“I haven’t learned how to play CCTV footage either. Kukukuku.”

“T-Then what was that threat the other day?!”

“That’s the decisive fourth point. You got fooled by an obvious lie.”

“……”

“Now, will you admit it?”

“No, I won’t. I can’t admit it!”

“They say ignorance is bravery, but I guess ignorance also makes you stubborn. Kukuku. It’s a truth known by both heaven and earth.”

“I even showed you a movie… How ungrateful! This is why they say never raise a black-haired beast.”

“Hey, my hair isn’t black.”

This was yet another blow of truth to Park Yeon. In his original form, Doo-shik’s hair was red.

Park Yeon couldn’t accept the fact that he had lost. No… he couldn’t accept that he was dumber than an orc—the very embodiment of ignorance.

He exhaled heavily through his nose over and over. Then, unable to contain his anger, he stomped off.

“Idiot.”

“……”

“Moron.”

Doo-shik followed behind, teasing him. Just as Park Yeon was about to turn his head sharply and shout in anger—

Thwack! Thwack!

The sound of flesh being struck made them turn their heads. A small alley between buildings where sunlight didn’t reach.

“So I told you, you should’ve answered when I asked!”

Thud!

“Guh!”

“See? Who’s protecting you now?”

“Kukuku. Seong-cheol, aren't you going to get punished at this rate?”

“Yeah, let’s stop and go.”

“Just five more minutes. The more I think about it, the angrier I get.”

A man called Seong-cheol was about to kick the crouched figure—

“17 against 1... a common cliché in movies.”

Seong-cheol turned his head. Some dumb-looking guy was muttering something.

“Who the hell are you?”

“The 1 in that 17 to 1.”

“What are you saying? Are you nuts? Don’t get beaten up and cry—just go on your way.”

As soon as Seong-cheol warned him, Doo-shik kicked off the ground and charged forward.

Sometimes, dragons—beings called demigods—are killed by humans in the human realm.

When this happens, it’s almost always when the dragon has polymorphed into a human or another race.

The moment they polymorph, their strength drops to one-tenth of their original form.

And Doo-shik too, with Seo-jun’s help, was in a polymorphed state.

Logically, his strength should’ve dropped to a tenth of his orc form.

But what made this different from ordinary dragons was that this polymorph was created by Seo-jun.

The full power of the original form was maintained, with only the outer shell turned into that of a human.

And Doo-shik… no, Karanto in his original form stood at 267 cm tall and weighed 366 kg—a massive figure.

If you also factor in the traits of an orc, getting rammed by Doo-shik was like getting hit head-on by a 5-ton truck.

Crash!

Sure enough, Seong-cheol was flung powerlessly through the air.

“……”

Seong-cheol’s friends were at a loss for words. This wasn’t even some horned rhino ramming a Pikachu—how did he go down in one hit?

No, even aside from being knocked out, what the hell was that sound?

“Seong-cheol, you okay?”

“……”

“Hey! Kim Seong-cheol!”

No response. He was unconscious.

“Shit.”

Panicking, the others fumbled to pull out their guns. Of course, it was pointless.

The man in front, pointing his gun at Doo-shik, couldn’t even pull the trigger.

Instead, he witnessed something incredible.

Crunchhhh!

A pistol 189 mm long and weighing 800g crumpled like a piece of paper.

“...An Awakened.”

The man who lost his gun muttered, and Doo-shik, as if he had no interest left, shoved him forcefully.

The man flew back comically like he’d been hit by a palm strike, crashing into a wall.

It was a man who had flown off in a ridiculous fashion, but to his companions, the situation was anything but ridiculous.

“W-What are you doing! Shoot!”

Bang! Tatang!

Tatang!

All fifteen pulled their triggers at once. However...

“...!”

The bullets bounced off. Not a single round pierced Doo-shik’s body—they all ricocheted harmlessly.

“Kyaaah!”

“Aaargh! My arm!”

Some of the ricocheted bullets even became stray shots, embedding themselves in their own ranks.

In an instant, the men were incapacitated.

Doo-shik looked at them and spoke.

“Get lost.”

As the men glanced at Doo-shik and slowly fled, Doo-shik approached the man who had been beaten by them.

The man flinched after witnessing Doo-shik’s monstrous strength up close but quickly realized Doo-shik meant no harm and hastily pulled himself together.

“Ugh.”

“Are you all right?”

“Ah, yes. I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine. You're bleeding a lot.”

The man’s eye socket was swollen and bruised, and blood was streaming from his nose.

“This is nothing. More importantly... thank you so much for saving me.”

“It’s nothing. By the way, can you stand?”

“Yes.”

The man staggered to his feet and bowed deeply.

“Thank you once again. I’m in a bit of a hurry, but may I have your contact information?”

“My contact?”

“I’d like to properly thank you later.”

Doo-shik shrugged his shoulders and readily handed over his phone.

The man who received Doo-shik’s contact information ran off in a rush.

He finally arrived at a shabby-looking house.

In the small home of about 16 pyeong (including the bathroom and veranda), more than a dozen people were gathered.

“Pastor!”

“I’m sorry. Something came up and I was late.”

“But, Pastor… your face...”

“I fell while rushing over.”

“Did you really fall?”

“Of course. Anyway, the elderly man...?”

The person who had been worrying about the man forced a smile.

“He’s waiting for you.”

Relieved, the man followed the guide into a room.

On the bed lay an elderly man with white hair, barely breathing with the help of an oxygen mask.

“Father, the pastor is here. You’ve been waiting for him.”

At those words, the old man, who had been lying helplessly, struggled to open his eyes. And then, he smiled brightly.

It was the old man’s final smile.

As the old man closed his eyes in peace, the man bowed his head. The same went for all the others gathered in the room.

A moment later—

The man began to speak.

“May the merciful one who delights in forgiving and saving sinners...”

“We’re seeing each other a lot lately, huh?”

The owner of the fish-shaped pastry stall greeted Seo-jun with a smile as he moved freshly baked pastries onto the grill shelf.

“That’s why I’m asking you—make them a little less tasty. They’re too good, I keep coming back.”

“Hahaha. Fish-shaped pastries all taste the same anyway.”

“Yours are especially good though. You make the red bean filling yourself, don’t you?”

“Huh? How did you know...?”

“Yours aren’t overly sweet—they’re just sweet enough.”

“Can you tell it’s handmade just from that?”

“Factory-made ones are usually much sweeter.”

“In all my time selling, no customer has ever noticed I make the filling myself... Ah, shall I give you 30,000 won worth with red bean again today?”

“Yes, and also...”

“Fish cakes too?”

Seo-jun made a sheepish expression. Since he stopped by often, the owner had come to know even his buying habits.

“Undercooked ones again today?”

“Yes.”

“These here are the undercooked ones.”

The owner kindly grouped the undercooked fish cakes in one spot.

Seo-jun picked up a skewer. Unlike the mushy ones, the undercooked fish cakes were firm and springy.

He dipped the fish cake lightly in soy sauce and put it in his mouth.

As expected, the undercooked ones had a chewy, firm texture that was particularly appealing.

‘Delicious.’

Seo-jun smiled brightly.

It was the kind of taste that made it impossible not to smile.

He quickly devoured three fish cake skewers, and his next target was the broth.

He filled a paper cup with the fish cake broth.

Steam wafted up—it was visibly hot enough to burn the roof of one’s mouth—but this kind of broth is best when sipped after cooling it down.

He blew on it—hoo, hoo—cooled it slightly, then took a sip. The warm broth slid down his throat.

With its sweet and savory flavor, he couldn’t stop. After finishing one cup, he poured himself another.

Most people drink the broth as a final palate cleanser, but not Seo-jun.

Now that his empty stomach had been warmed in the chilly weather, it was time to tackle more fish cakes.

Just as he reached for another undercooked one, Seo-jun sighed. He felt a familiar presence.

“Tastes better when you eat alone, huh?”

The source of the presence was Park Yeon.

“Even a single bean should be shared...”

“Then come and eat too.”

“Shall I?”

“Where’s Doo-shik?”

“Went home to write his journal.”

Seo-jun nodded. Ever since coming to Earth, Doo-shik had been keeping a journal.

Then, Seo-jun noticed the book Park Yeon was holding.

“Where’d you get that?”

“Oh, this? It was left behind by the guy Doo-shik helped. It looked pretty important, so I brought it along. I figured I’d return it when we meet him again.”

“I see.”

“Now that we’re talking about it... do you know what kind of book this is? Judging by how thick it is, it seems pretty significant.”

As he picked up another undercooked fish cake skewer, Seo-jun said—

“It’s a Bible.”

“A Bible? What’s that?”