“What should we do if an A-rank Hunter gives unfair orders during our journey?”
Joo-ah had a lot of questions.
Yeon-su could have found Joo-ah’s curiosity a bit annoying, but she answered calmly, showing no signs of irritation.
“Don’t worry about that. We’ve already made a pact, so you can leave it to me. I’ll also give you a few ‘letters of well-being.'”
“Wow—thank you!”
‘She’s not showing any openings. She must have prepared thoroughly in advance.’
“But remember one thing: there might be instances where the A-rank Hunters accompanying you suddenly disappear. Of course, I hope that doesn’t happen…”
At the mention of a potential disappearance of their protector, the eyes of Joo-ah’s companions shook slightly.
‘They might just vanish…? Ah, I see. She’s already made arrangements for Hunters from other countries.’
It’s not just us participating.
China has been aggressive lately.
When considering the risks excluding monsters, it can definitely be listed as the number one concern.
“What could cause such an event?”
At Ha-yoon’s question, Yeon-su scratched her forehead and replied.
“If by any chance China or Russia decides to backstab us, we will issue a Level 1 alert. Then you all must do whatever it takes to survive. I’ll provide you with the major escape routes, so don’t worry.”
“Ah….”
Aside from that, countless variables would arise, and I’m sure many people in the task force, like Maeng Seong-yong, are racking their brains to prepare for them.
Of course, other countries would rightly be concerned too.
China and Russia still hold superpower status compared to our country, but when it comes to the quality of Hunters, we aren’t lagging behind, even if the numbers are vastly different.
“We leave in two days, early in the morning. We will refrain from moving around noon when that monster is most active.
We’ll pass Songrim City, which is a two-hour drive from the DMZ, and then head northeast along the Daedong River. From the junction just past Duruseong, the three teams will take different routes.”
While highlighting the map with a laser pointer and meticulously confirming the route, Yeon-su emphasized that the purpose of this hunt wasn’t solely to eradicate the Great Beast and posed a question.
“If the hunt reaches a certain conclusion, what’s the worst-case scenario we can anticipate?”
“Uh… that would be… China…”
“Or the strongest who stood on the front lines might take significant damage…”
Everyone shared a piece of their thoughts, but no one hit the nail on the head.
“Yeah. All scenarios are possible. But the biggest risk I think is that after successfully hunting the beast, we find ourselves facing borders with the other two countries.”
When everyone tilted their heads in confusion, Joo-ah nodded along.
“China and Russia might attempt to swallow North Korea using this opportunity. That’s how the task force under the government perceives it.”
With Joo-ah quick to catch on, Yeon-su snapped her fingers and said, “Exactly. Everyone knows that our country has a higher ratio of edible monsters and mana stone mines in the dungeons compared to other countries.
North Korea has been like our shield, but during this hunt, they might consider a different approach.”
‘Things are complicated. We must exterminate the Great Beast to expand our influence, yet once the hunt succeeds, another threat will emerge…’
At least in my past life, I haven’t seen any reports of friction with other countries.
Of course, I can’t know for sure if everything went by smoothly. However, I still recall Kang Yeon-su waving her hands saying nothing unusual happened when she participated in the hunt back then.
I stared blankly at the map stuck on the whiteboard.
The countless red arrows extending toward North Korea drawn by Yeon-su during the PPT filled my vision.
The image of a significant portion of our top-tier forces aiming northwards.
‘Hmm… something feels off.’
Yet, as I looked at the map, an inexplicable unease kept creeping in.
“Alright! The data will be compiled and sent again, so make sure to read it carefully then. After lunch, it’s time for the main event, right?”
The one to break the thought was, surprising enough, Kang Yeon-su.
Yeon-su was surprisingly good at the presentation, and before we knew it, time flew by.
We had a light Korean meal for lunch and re-entered the arena.
Countless cameras busily captured Yeon-hee’s figure.
– Seriously, she’s so beautiful… what a figure.
– She looks tall because of her good proportions. I heard she’s only in her early 160s.
– I’ve only seen pictures of her with her face covered; she really is a goddess.
– To think someone like her handles horrific monsters. Isn’t that a bit mismatched?
– It’s the gap that’s the charm, you know?
– Wake up everyone. I heard Lee Yeon-hee has a boyfriend!
– Isn’t that obvious? People around her wouldn’t let that slide.
‘Where are all these boyfriend rumors coming from anyway?’
Anyway, before us in the arena stood a hulking man, heavily muscled with a massive, sturdy frame.
A solid waist. Bursting muscles. A long beard.
He was the very definition of a Dwarf.
And the large battle axe he wielded still emanated a boisterous sound.
– Kehahahlahlahlahl!!! Hehe… Hel… Huh?
But his battle axe suddenly froze in place, as if gripped by ice.
Hwang Bo-jin-hyeon put his ear near the hushed axe only to jump back and widen the distance between us.
[Well-Listening Ear]
Having the passive trait always active, I could overhear their conversation.
“Uh… what’s going on? Does he not want to fight?”
Hwang Bo-jin-hyeon stepped further back, making Yeon-hee find it strange.
By this point, sweat was visibly pooling on his forehead.
‘The Ego Crusher,’ they called the battle axe.
What it transmitted to Hwang Bo-jin-hyeon sounded rather fresh to my ears too.
[Skeleton. Extremely strong. Never retreat. You will die.]
I thought he was just a goof laughing, but he was clearly communicating? Even gauging my combat power and urging retreat!
‘He doesn’t intend to kill him at all. Still, he’s impressive.’
From Hwang Bo-jin-hyeon’s expression, he seemed to have absolute faith in the judgment of his weapon.
‘But he can’t just give up, right?’
Maybe he thinks the same way, as he slowly circled around the outskirts of the arena, inching closer.
‘I’ll back off, so go ahead and fight to your heart’s content.’
I raised my arms lightly towards the sky and stepped back.
Since Yeon-su had asked me last, I thought I’d let Yeon-hee gain some experience.
Seeing me retract, Hwang Bo-jin-hyeon grew even more wary, but as I climbed atop the head of the Castle and leisurely polished bones, he was too distracted to pay me any mind when the Alpha Trio rushed in before him.
In reality, I was keeping a close eye on Jo Gi-man’s clone right in front of me.
‘This clone might not be it… am I reacting too sensitively?’
After weeks of living in the guild building, Jo Gi-man’s clone was a bit too in tune with its surroundings.
If the unease I had felt earlier about the map didn’t stem from Jo Gi-man, who could it possibly be?
‘I’m not sure. Perhaps I trust my instincts too much.’
Nodding, I continued to watch the battle between Hwang Bo-jin-hyeon and the Alpha Trio.
The clash of hefty weapons reverberated like a heavy metal sound that pierced the arena.
‘We have numbers, but our side seems to be slightly at a disadvantage. To face all three at once is a true demonstration of being a monster.’
Of course, assuming the summoned beings and Hunters were of equal ranks, it is only natural that Hunters would hold an advantage given their diverse skills, traits, and the meticulously prepared equipment.
Even so, what surprised me was that Rakan from the Alpha Trio had exceeded mid-level B-rank status with no trouble.
‘Ego Crusher. It certainly compensates for all of Hwang Bo-jin-hyeon’s deficiencies. Impressive enough to be envied.’
A weapon with its own soul…
‘If I could manipulate a self-judging weapon with telekinesis…’
I briefly imagined what it would be like.
How a weapon with dozens of egos made of bone would charge toward the enemy, guided by me.
‘Just thinking about it is thrilling.’
Kwaaaah— Kwarung!
“Ah?! Lizardman 1 is…!”
Even just a little while after battle began with Hwang Bo-jin-hyeon, Lizardman 1 was dispelled among the trio.
However, Yeon-hee immediately summoned the combined form of the Alpha Trio right back into the arena.
She even wrapped it with a thicker ‘mystical membrane.’
“Kahaha?! So you can instantly summon something that’s died? That’s incredible!! This never ends, does it?! Hmm!”
At that, Hwang Bo-jin-hyeon burst into hearty laughter, looking to take the fight wherever it might lead.
‘His aggressive nature remains intact.’
The initial fear he had towards me seemed to diminish as he fully utilized the arena, engaging joyfully in battle with the trio.
“Kurkh! Keng!!”
Is he planning to respond to lightning with lightning?
Yeon-hee summoned another five Dire Wolves and even provoked Hwang Bo-jin-hyeon.
To push just the Alpha ranks was a challenge due to Hwang Bo-jin-hyeon’s sheer strength.
“Ura-chachacha!!”
Shaking off the provocation with sheer shout alone, Hwang Bo-jin-hyeon remained fixated solely on the Alpha Trio while being bitten relentlessly by the wolves.
‘How amusing. Is this damage merely a joke to him?’
Hwaahawk──—
Yet, perhaps he could not endure against Were Raven ‘Black Bird’s’ vortex, steadily tumbling into confusion.
‘His vision is becoming blurry, and his accuracy is dropping. The speed of his skill activation will decline as well.’
“Black Bird!! Keep unleashing the vortex!”
The Black Bird continued to hurl its black vortex from above.
Hwang Bo-jin-hyeon seemed to be falling short in countering the enemy attacking from a certain range, unable to counter the vortex no matter what.
Regardless, he charged forth recklessly, and perhaps thanks to his weapon, he struggled to hold on.
After about ten minutes passed, the most of the audience began to cheer him on at his determined display.
‘Oh?! Finally, something usable has appeared.’
I earned the luck of pulling a proper weapon for the first time from the [Window of Darkness].
There were no describing messages, but it was a silver halberd imbued with the craftsmanship of a near-master blacksmith. The only problem was that the handle was broken.
‘Can I finish this with it!’
The concluding match had dragged on for ten whole minutes already, so we had done our fair share.
I grabbed the broken end of the halberd and hurled it directly at Hwang Bo-jin-hyeon.
SCEEEEEE—
With a horrific crack sound, the halberd flew through the air, and Hwang Bo-jin-hyeon’s weapon reacted first rather than himself.
Swoooooosssshhh──!
“─?!!”
The Ego Crusher deflected my attack and flew far into the sky, leaving an opening for Rakan from the Alpha Trio to collide fiercely, bending Hwang Bo-jin-hyeon’s waist.
“Kurkh─!”
Being struck with a knee to the face, Hwang Bo-jin-hyeon was hoisted by the trio who started pulling on his limbs, attempting to disassemble him.
“Stop-!”
At Yeon-hee’s cry, the summoned creatures finally calmed down.
“Haah- haah- that was incredibly strong. I-I lost.”
“Good job.”
Hwang Bo-jin-hyeon picked up the Ego Crusher, which had flown far away, acknowledging his defeat.
[Summoner Lee Yeon-hee wins!]
The audience erupted with cheers that could shake the area.
When any brawl breaks out, the crowd tends to get excited and entertained, and Yeon-hee and Hwang Bo-jin-hyeon had satisfied that 200%.
‘I really have nothing to do now.’
As Yeon-hee raised Castle and lifted her arm high, the cheers burst out once more.
– Awesome! That’s a captivating scene. Look at that!! I really like this friend, Lee Yeon-hee!!
– Is it okay to have her in the Round of 16 next time? Viewership has increased by 25% compared to the last tournament!
– It’s only right to reconsider from scratch, including the option to move up the top league to next year.
The VIP seats were buzzing, and the organizers of the event already seemed to be dreaming big without providing any actual rewards.
‘The signs of the world ending are clearly showing, yet this… what a remarkable thing in a way.’
Even if the world ended tomorrow, humans would still scheme for immediate gain. I realized that this was so intrinsically ‘human.’
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