Thumbs Up, Level Up

Chapter 47

‘There are more mean comments than I thought.’

Ji-Cheok knew that he would get more haters as he became more popular. His case was special among Hunters, as it also involved the succession battle of the Jungha Group. Some of the haters were probably just ordinary internet trolls, but Ji-Cheok knew that some others were spies planted by the family rivals of Jung Ji-Han.

‘Is it such a problem that I’m getting this much attention?’

Honestly, Ji-Cheok didn’t understand them. He didn’t think these mean comments would do anything to faze Ji-Han in his bid for succession, and he simply couldn’t understand what the high-ups thought. He just knew that it was always the people who had everything that still wanted more.

Ji-Cheok was surprised that someone would donate twenty million won even before he started the mission. Of course, he knew that whoever donated this much money was definitely not just a random, ordinary person.

‘Until now, my heart was trembling from the tension, but seeing this makes me laugh for some reason.’

Something about that donation made Ji-Cheok even more stubborn about doing it.

“Ah, [U_play_like_sh1t], thank you for your donation! Wow, I can earn twenty million won just from this broadcast!”

-Umji, don't take the money. T.T T.T

-That money is boo-boo, don’t take the money!! T.T T.T

-Oh no, my baby is gonna die. T.T T.T

Even the fans were worried and out of their minds. But Ji-Cheok couldn't wait much longer.

“First, let me prepare a few things before the hunt. Cheok-Liang!”

?Yes, Master!?

Meow!

A baby fennec came down from Ji-Cheok’s shoulder. Normally, the chat would be filled with comments about Cheok-Liang’s cuteness, but it was different today.

-Cheok-Liang, save yourself! Your Master is crazy. T.T T.T

-Isn’t this animal cruelty? Should I report it to the police? T.T T.T

-I also want to do that, but the Animal Protection Law doesn’t apply to summons. T.T T.T

Ji-Cheok could not believe that even his fans were doubting him.

“That’s really harsh guys! Cheok-Liang, it seems like the viewers are getting anxious. Let’s take some medicine.”

Ji-Cheok took out the [Demonic Essence]. This was an item that came from the hidden boss [Great Nightmare Demon] Ji-Han had killed in the mushroom dungeon. Ji-Han had sold all the items dropped in the dungeon to Ji-Cheok at a ridiculously low price. In particular, the [Demonic Essence] wasn’t something that Ji-Han could use because he didn’t know how to use it. It might be possible to use the items later when Ji-Han would become a higher level or acquire a new skill, but right now, Ji-Han didn’t know how to use any of the items.

‘Thank you, director, I will use the essence well.’

The ‘director’ was, of course, Jung Ji-Han, who had successfully established a subsidiary to the Jungha Group and was now its CEO. Ji-Cheok thanked him from the bottom of his heart and took out the [Demonic Essence].

-What is that?

-I think that was one of the rewards from the last dungeon.

-It’s black and has smoke coming out of it.

There was quite the response from the viewers. While looking at the chat, Ji-Cheok offered the [Demonic Essence] to Cheok-Liang. This was the way to use the [Demonic Essence] taught to him by Cheok-Liang.

[Offering Ritual]

It was like the time when the System had taken the [Demonic Essence] in exchange for Cheok-Liang. Basically, if someone offered an item to a divine being through the [Offering Ritual], they would receive something in compensation. This ritual was apparently extremely mysterious, esoteric knowledge; in any case, Ji-Cheok had never even heard of an [Offering Ritual] before.

Cheok-Liang opened his mouth and devoured the [Demonic Essence] like a dog.

[Cheok-Liang, the divine spirit, has consumed his second essence.]

[The summoning has started to evolve!]

Cheok-Liang’s body started to get bigger. Soon, the baby fennec had grown to the size of a medium-sized dog.

-Can summoned beasts evolve like that?

-Holy… Cheok-Liang!!!! Everybody shout 乃Strong Cheok-Liang乃!!!

-What difference does it make? That is still going to be their burial ground.

Cheok-Liang landed in front of Ji-Cheok in his evolved form and let out a roar. With this evolution, he had become much more well-rounded, being also able to fight in addition to giving Ji-Cheok advice.

* * *

At the same time, Shin Ju-Ran, who was the eldest daughter of one of the top five Hunter companies in Korea—Shinsung Group—rubbed her eyes with a tired look on her face after dealing with work all day. Even though she had naturally Awakened—without an Awakening Stone—with outstanding abilities and had become one of the best Hunters in Korea, the workload just wouldn’t shrink. Shinsung Group was Korea’s largest logistics company with transportation and delivery as its main business. Shinsung Department Store, Shinsung Mart, Shinsung Duty-Free, and S Market were all part of the Shinsung Group. Obviously, the power Shin Ju-Ran held, as the eldest daughter and successor of the company, was nothing short of impressive. A powerful woman like her put her laptop in front of her and tapped her fingers.

‘Um Ji-Cheok…He is probably doing a live show right now, right?’

In the past, during Ji-Cheok’s recruitment meeting, Shin Ju-Ran had made an arranged marriage offer to Ji-Cheok. Of course, she hadn’t revealed her name, and just told Ji-Cheok that it was someone from the Shinsung Group. She knew that there would have been a lot of opposition and it would have had a huge ripple effect if she had revealed her name.

‘I made that offer because I wouldn’t have to worry about the in-laws, not to mention he looked like a nice person, but…’

Ji-Cheok had obviously declined the offer. It might have been different if Ji-Cheok had known that the person who offered was Ju-Ran. However, even Ju-Ran had only proposed as an escape from the pressure from home. She had been well aware that it was never going to work like this. Yet, she could not get rid of the feeling that she was rejected.

‘No, No. There are many handsome men out there. Let’s not worry. And he chose to stick with Jung Ji-Han. I shouldn’t worry about someone who threw himself into a mess like the Jungha Group.’

Every chaebol knew that the Jungha Group family was a dysfunctional family. And from that dysfunctional family, Ji-Cheok sided with Ji-Han, whose branch had been treated like outsiders for two generations. Ju-Ran knew that there was no way it would work out.

‘Never mind. Let’s forget about Ji-Cheok… He missed his chance of being the son-in-law of a chaebol. Let’s not bother.’

However, Ju-Ran knew deep in her heart that she did care about Ji-Cheok. Her “very_important_company_projects2” folder on her laptop was slowly filled with Ji-Cheok’s photos taken by the media and the fans.

‘No, I am collecting these because he’s handsome and I want my eyes to look at handsome things.’

Every time Ju-Ran thought about it, she swore it was not a romantic feeling. Also, it was not like she wanted to get married or anything. Yet, Ju-Ran kept finding herself searching for pictures and videos of Ji-Cheok.

“Yes, I know I’m right. It’s nothing. There is nothing to worry about. There is nothing wrong with looking at pictures. It’s nothing, so it’ll be fine,” Ju-Ran reminded herself.

She clicked on Ji-Cheok’s GodTube channel without thinking.

“...”

And after three seconds of watching, she closed her browser.

“Is he crazy?”

Ten more seconds passed, and she opened her browser again.

“...Is he crazy?”

It was different from romantic feelings, but it wasn’t that?different.

“Is he going down there alone without even a truck? Is he crazy?” Ju-Ran laughed.

She was dumbfounded. But for some reason, she couldn’t take her eyes off Ji-Cheok. Her heart kept throbbing. She realized what this feeling was—it wasn’t the feeling of love between men and women, but it was very similar. She felt a little excitement, anxiety, exaltation, and anger all at the same time. It felt as if a truck full of emotions crashed into her heart. Ju-Ran, eldest daughter and heir to the Shinsung Group, could now be officially diagnosed as a Ji-Cheok stan.

“Well, I’ll just watch it to the end.”

She was still in denial about having become a stan for Ji-Cheok. Even with her ever-growing feelings, she still refused to admit to it.

“No, I don’t believe it. After all the hot guys I’ve dated, there is no way I am falling for him. Especially at this age. I’m not a child anymore.”

Her throat started to become dry, but instead of water, she opened up a bottle of the finest vodka.

* * *

[Cheok-Liang — Second Transformation]

[Class: Legend (Upgradable Rank E)

Type: Divine Spirit

The spirit has evolved into his Second Transformation. In addition to detection abilities and advising on skills, he is able to actively intervene in combat to help his owner. He is materialized using the owner’s mana, and has the same fighting power as low- to intermediate-level beasts.]

Skills

[Materialization: Changes in appearance from a spirit form into a material form. He consumes a small amount of the owner’s mana while he is materialized.]

[Unity: He can use the owner’s skills. Only the skills that work with a fennec body can be used, and they consume the owner’s mana.]

[Detection: He can detect special objects, items, dungeon entrances, etc. within a certain radius.]

“You’ve grown up so well, my Cheok-Liang,” Ji-Cheok said.

The chat room was filled with shouts and cries.

‘Now I’m going to look like a moth drawn to a flame.’

“Now, RUN!” Ji-Cheok shouted.

Woof!

Cheok-Liang ran down the mountain as gnolls, monsters with hyena heads that were walking upright, started to appear. These gnolls were a little taller than the average adult male, and they had long-bladed spears. Cheok-Liang dug himself into the crowd of gnolls, and without hesitation, he jumped and tore a gnoll’s neck right off with his teeth.

Chomp!

Blood flew everywhere and the gnoll died instantly. The other gnolls also attacked, but Cheok-Liang quickly slipped through the gnoll crowd, biting one gnoll’s legs and tearing them apart. The gnoll’s legs were cut off by Cheok-Liang’s teeth in an instant. After incapacitating the second gnoll, the fennec continued to run rampant.

He was very strong. Ji-Cheok hadn’t expected that he would be this strong, even though Cheok-Liang had informed him before the [Offering Ritual].

?Master, if you give me the [Demonic Essence], I will have the same fighting power as a low to intermediate level beast.?

“Isn’t that good?” Ji-Cheok asked Cheok-Liang.

?It means it will take a lot of mana from you. But in terms of tactical diversity and increased power, I think it’s a good thing for us.?

It was hard to guess how strong Cheok-Liang was, but the heavily armed gnolls were dying in front of Ji-Cheok’s eyes without even having the time to scream.

-Wow Cheok-Liang is pretty strong.

-Still, what can he do by himself?

-Cheok-Liang! Oh no! Can’t believe you are gonna die on the same day you evolved!

-Umji, what did you feed him? Are summonings supposed to evolve like that?

-If that was common, every low-level warlock would have evolved their summonings already.

“Hahaha, how Cheok-Liang evolved is going to be a secret.”

Right then, there was a notification in the chat room.

-[U_play_like_sh1t] has donated 100,000 won.

[U_play_like_sh1t]: You’re gonna go down there yourself, right? It doesn't count just by sending your pet dog down there.

“Hahaha, he is not a pet, he is a summoning. Also, he is a fennec, not a dog.”

Ji-Cheok realized that the viewer was starting to get anxious and was trying to rush him.

Then, another viewer joined the scene.

-[Thrill_Mania] has donated 100,000 won.

[Thrill_Mania]: I’m gonna join this action. He said he will give you 10 million + 10 million to a total of 20 million right? I am going to double that and give you 20 million + 20 million, which would total 40 million. You will get a whopping 20 million won just for attempting to go down.

‘40 million won?’

Including the previous donation, it was 60 million won.

‘Wow, I can’t believe I’m worth this much.’

At this point, Ji-Cheok was genuinely surprised. He knew their intentions were to use this money to kill him.

“Okay, let’s get started. Activate [Mono Bike].”

[Arcane golem [Mono Bike] has been summoned from another dimension.]

A dimensional portal opened and a black and silver motorcycle appeared. The mana circuit glowed across the black and silver body, giving off a faint glow. At the moment, the chat room was on fire.

-WOOOOOOOOW!!!!!!!!

-What is that? What is that? What is that? What is that?

-That’s a motorcycle. But why is it coming out from another dimension?

-I mean, what is he going to do with just a motorcycle?

-UmjI! It’s not too late. Just tell them that you can’t do it!

1. Yes, this is the exact kind of folder you're thinking about. Koreans use a default random name generator for folders, but those random names (“concave eyes”, “brown-eared bulbul” etc.) have become a meme, just like the famous math_homework and New Folder2.