Episode 56: 7th Iteration: Interim Review (2)

North America, at a certain underground fight club.

Artificial lasers traversed the darkness.

Intoxicated by the loud music and excitement, people screamed with an unpleasant smell of tobacco and marijuana covering the building.

People drunk in alcohol and drugs danced indecently and in slightly darker corners, men and women of all races gushed out heated breaths as they embraced each other.

Yu Jitaes clone 1 stepped into that vulgar world after changing its appearance.

On the greeeeen coorrnerr! Explosive fists! Strong quads! He achieved three consecutive wins at a fearsome speed!! The shiniest head, listed by the Times as the best head to lickkk~~~ Baldman!!

When the host raised his voice, cheers echoed from all four sides and welcomed the bald man entering the ring. The scar going down from his head to the chin made him appear all the more ferocious.

He was most likely a superhuman; and a criminal, who suddenly needed some extra cash. Most of the ones that swung their fists at a place like this were like that.

However, Clone 1 was interested in someone else.

s

On the reed cooorrnerr!

The hosts words were met with an explosive reaction.

Uwaaaaahhh!

In that moment, the bustling crowd looked towards the ring.

The mysterious powerhouse of the abyss! Master of fighting! The greatest star of our club and the protagonist! The champion with 12 victories!! Misterrrrr~~~~ Cthulhuuuuu!!

Screeching cheers left the crowd. Among them were some men who frowned when the women near them cheered their guts out.

The squid-masked man who soon walked up the stage had an overwhelming build. Enormous shoulders, perfectly symmetrical abs and twitching biceps and triceps.

Standing in front of each other, the two of them raised their fists and Clone 1 leaned on a chair as he watched them fight.

Deng! The bell rang.

The bald ran in with tight fists.

Kwaang!

But the bald head disappeared with one strike. Blood splattered and a drop of blood also entered the single malt whiskey ordered by Clone 1.

Without understanding what was happening, the crowd rolled their eyes. Upon closer inspection, they found something smooth in between the shoulders.

It seemed that the downward smack was so strong that the head of the bald man crushed the inner muscles and bones and entered the body. After finally understanding the situation, more thunderous screams of cheers left the crowd.

Waaaahhh!

Cthulhu punch! Cthulhu punch!

Unbelievable! Thats a crazy amount of power-!!

The protagonist of 13 consecutive wins threw his hand up into the air and marked the end of the fight.

No-one cared for the dead.

The champion, Mister Cthulhu, bathed in the cheers of the crowd as he stepped down from the ring with others that were as big as him. He showed off his showmanship by lifting his fist into the air. When several drunk women ran up to him, Mister Cthulhu lifted them up and placed them on his shoulders as an extra performance.

Mister Cthulhu.

His name was Jefferson Antonio.

He was the chief aide of the International Superhuman Associations leader but he wasnt wearing his usual suit.

As a youth who wanted to be acknowledged on the battlefield as a soldier, he went through several wars and got acknowledged for his loyalty alone.

In other words, his individual strength had never been acknowledged. The place he belonged to was the International Superhuman Association where all sorts of monsters gathered worldwide. A Rank 781 like him in a place like that was commonplace.

When he graduated at the top of a state academy as the youngest to do so in history, he thought he was the strongest in the world.

In the new environment, he realised that there was a sky above a sky and felt a severe inferiority complex. And therefore, he would enter the underground fight club in secret and swing his fists to fill his ego on weekends.

No-one cared on his 1st win but everyone watched him after 3 wins.

They looked up to him after defeating the champion, and after defending the place 5 times in a row, people started expecting a lot from him.

He was a clown. A clown that made the opponent into an increasingly more bizarre corpse.

Cheap and vulgar respects like this felt better than being respected by those that wore suits all day.

Even now, that was the case.

Hey, sexy lady.

He spoke to the one he liked the most from those that ran up to him.

Ouh, me?

Yes you. Who else there is sexy apart from you.

Oh my

Would you like to go on a drive tonight?

He was met with a vulgar gaze.

Hahh how far can you take me?

My car always goes down the Autobahn.

It was clear what her reaction would be and that undoubtable feeling was what made him satisfied the most.

Like Cinderella chosen by the prince, the female smiled brightly and showed off to other women nearby. The jealous eyes of other women were a delight to watch, and the glaring eyes of men losers from behind made him incredibly joyous.

This is my life.

Im this great of a man.

Kuhahaha!

But Mister Cthulhus joy didnt last for long.

A strange man stood in front of him and blocked the way. He was tall and had an ideal physique but his eyes were somehow hazy like a corpse.

What ya doing here you bastard! Get the f*ck away from here right now!

Mister Cthulhus brothers went out and cursed at him but the guy remained silent even when the brothers approached him.

But Mister Cthulhu stopped them.

The man was looking down at him as if he was pathetic and it was a gaze he was seeing for the first time in this place. Cthulhu was therefore intrigued.

Bro. You got something to say?

Looks like youre having fun. Is this seriously what you wanted?

What?

Youre a soldier, yeah?

Right. Dont I look like one?

How pathetic. Acting cocky in front of anchovies and struggling when with sharks and whales. Watching that does make one sympathise.

Hoho

Mister Cthulhu couldnt stop himself from sneering.

A little friend with a death wish or something youre saying Im pathetic?

Cthulhus muscles twitched.

There was nothing else to say. A sudden gust of wind was followed by a large thud and before anyone could even realise it, Cthulhus fist smacked the mans head. It was a fist that could create a dent in steel-armoured cars, but was grabbed by the mans hand.

Inside the squid mask, Jefferson Antonios eyes widened.

Yeah. Thats what Im saying.

The guy gave a hazy smile.

Even this

Soon, he turned around and disappeared while the brothers were flustered. Mister Cthulhu, or rather, Jefferson Antonio was even more dumbfounded. Grabbing his fist in mid-air? Who in the world is that person?

Despite being flustered, he tried to forget it since the person disappeared.

However, even when he was drinking with his brothers and spending vulgar times with women he didnt know, his head was muddled with discomfort.

And on the 14th defence round that was suddenly added at dawn, Mister Cthulhus discomfort hit its limit.

On the greeeenn sidee!! A first timer that grabbed the hearts! Of all the judges~~ The mysterious man who quickly rose to fight the champion!!

The man was wearing gloves instead of bare fists, and a yellow mask of a baby chicken on the head. The crowd wasnt that interested by his appearance.

Gloves? And whats with that chicken mask? Is he here to play around?

Some of them even booed and jeered.

Fuc* off!

Ill deep fry you!

But the crowd changed their attitude when the man took his shirt off. He had the idealistic muscles and a balanced structure that even normal people were baffled with, let alone superhumans.

Kyaaa!

Good nipps!

The men were unenthusiastic but the women screamed out loud in joy from the spectacle. Or perhaps, it was just himself that felt like the women were screaming out more.

Jefferson gritted his teeth.

Misterrrrrr~~ Baby chicken!!

The guy was his next opponent.

***

Hukk! Wait, no!

Kaeul clapped.

Whats wrong, Kaeul?

Unni unni. If we go in like this, itll definitely be boring!

In front of the elevator, Kaeul suddenly stopped them from taking a step forward.

Ahjussi. Were doing a birthday party right now. Right? Right?

Yeah. We are.

A birthday party has to be a surprise party. Thats the rule!

A surprise party?

Thinking back, the kids did carry out a surprise party on his birthday.

He replied.

But today is to commemorate you guys.

Uhh, yes I guess?

You all know already, so what surprise party.

Eyy. Cmon ahjussi? Were not the only ones inside the house!

Kaeul smiled as if his words didnt make any sense. Right now, Chirpy the baby chicken and the protector were inside the house.

The two of them probably dont know anything, right?

She giggled, Kuhihi, with the face of a mischievous child.

However, Yeorum looked dissatisfied. Wearing a frown, she was about to press the elevators button but was again blocked by Kaeul.

Whyyy!

Ehew. What a freakin kid. You really think thats gonna be fun?

Of course itll be fun!

The cleaner cleans without saying anything and the damn chicken eats all day and goes outside. You think itll be fun teasing them?

What? Chirpy is so cute! And cleaner ahjussi is also slightly cute in some areas! Dont you think so too, Gyeoul?

Kaeul glared while waiting for a reply but Gyeoul merely smiled faintly without saying anything in response.

Look. Even damn Gyeoul is saying no.

No. No, no no. Unni, ahjussi. Listen.

Hmm, she pondered with her tongue sticking out, before opening her mouth.

Listen carefully. Firstly, Chirpy likes me, Kaeul, the most. So if I dont give him any attention, he would be very disappointed right?

Well yeah. Cuz it always sticks to you like a gum.

Nn nn. And I think cleaner ahjussi actually likes Gyeoul a bit more. Right?

Does he? Gyeoul tilted her head.

So, well do this. Ill ignore Chirpy even when he comes up and Ill look away. And well all ignore cleaner ahjussi, but Gyeoul, youll be slightly good to him.

And then?

And then you suddenly ignore him and treat him coldly! What will cleaner ahjussi be like then?

Sad?

Yes, yes. Like, theyll both be sad and like when they dont know what to do, well suddenly give them the cake!

For some reason, a party that was meant to commemorate the 7th iteration was starting to become like a birthday party for the protector and the baby chicken.

However, after thinking about it, Gyeoul seemed quite interested in Kaeuls strategy.

Sounds fun.

Right!? When the protector ahjussi is looking sorrowfully at the wall, you suddenly give him the cake. How happy will he be?

Do I, give?

Of course you do!

While sharing their imaginations, Kaeul and Gyeoul giggled. Meanwhile, Yeorum seemed to have mastered how to say retards with her expression alone.

What! Whats with that expression?! After hearing this much, dont you also think itll be fun, unni?

Shut it you kids.

Crossing her arms, Yeorum clicked her tongue but suddenly remembered how a few days ago, the protector had opened the door of her room without even knocking on it, saying it was cleaning time.

Because of that, Yeorum, who had killed her presence to enjoy the reading time in secret just for herself, was quite mad.

She did chase it away in fury but that definitely wasnt enough.

Listening to them speak, it did sound slightly interesting as well

Hmm. So youre the only ones doing it?

When she asked while hiding her inner thoughts, Kaeul gave a bright smile.

No no! Lets do it together unni!

I dont really feel like it

Clueless, Kaeul persuaded her again but Gyeoul looked into her eyes before sneering.

Oi, did you just laugh? asked Yeorum.

What.

You wanna die?

Hmph.

Nn? Nn? Why are you suddenly fighting? Anyway, theres something for you to do as well Yeorum-unni!

Before long, Yeorum was also immersed in thinking of the strategy and the three of them started adding more and more depth to their plan whilst laughing out loud. At the start, it was just to tease the two of them, but soon they decided to upgrade the seriousness of the situation by having Gyeoul and Yeorum fight, or by having Kaeul cry after getting hit by Yeorum.

Bom, who was quietly standing next to Yu Jitae, chimed in when their strategy started becoming excessive.

Kaeul.

Nn?

Dont be too excessive, said Bom.

Huh?

The cleaner ahjussi and Chirpy will feel hurt.

Hukk, really? Maybe its too much to put the cake into the armour?

If someone were to put a cake inside your clothes, that wouldnt feel good right?

Hing, youre right

The atmosphere started cooling down a little. Bom tapped her lower lips with her fingers before turning around and staring at Yu Jitae. She then widened her eyes.

What.

Guys. So it will be more fun if someone plays the bad role right? asked Bom.

Nn nn!

Why didnt we think of this before?

Nn? What is it, unni?

We have the master of awkwardness creation next to us.

The master of creating awkward situations. Hearing that phrase, red, blue, green and yellow four pairs of eyes naturally turned around and reached Yu Jitae.

Soon, they suddenly realised something.

Uaahh! Right, right!

!

Kaeul and Gyeoul clapped their hands together and created a fuss. Ahh, thatd be freakin perfect! said Yeorum after seemingly thinking of something and also laughed out loud.

What is it.

Ahjussi! Help us out a little, please!

With what.

Please get angry! Not much and just a little! Just a tiny little bit! Enough to make people nervous!

He didnt say anything.

It was a clear demonstration of his unwillingness.

Ahhhng! Why nottt!

Kaeul stuck right next to him while Gyeouls eyes also turned into circles.

Please.

I, havent done anything like this before.

Ahh! Its not hard!

With a wide smile on her face, Kaeul started sharing the new plan she had in mind.

So,

And after listening to her plan, he pressed on his temples.

You want me to scold you?

Yes yes! Chirpy and the cleaner ahjussi does something wrong, but ahjussi misunderstands that and scolds us! Something like that has never happened before, right? Im sure theyll both be super surprised!

Please scold us! Be just, a little bit scary!

s

The Regressor wasnt really fond of the current situation. He just bought a cake so why did things turn out like this.

But at this point, even Bom was staring at him with eyes full of intrigue and it was rare for the kids to be expecting something together, so he couldnt turn them down.

Got it.

They shouted, Wahh! in joy.

And soon started the plan.