I’m stepping in even though it’s a problem without a clear answer, so this time I’m thinking of leaving it to the residents.
Thus, after a series of ups and downs, our shelter was gradually forming its own little society.
“In 10 minutes, the meeting will start.”
Once again, an unnamed C-rank hunter rushed in with a somewhat excited expression. Although the meeting had been confirmed a few days ago, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation.
It was because key personnel from the barrier mages, who were the first in the world to close an Orc gate, were visiting our shelter.
Are they here to share their know-how? If that’s the case, it would be amazing.
Since the barrier mages belong to different factions, it wasn’t easy to gather their opinions.
‘Once this meeting is over, will I test merging with the Sword Dragon…? This is oddly nerve-wracking.’
With the advance team appearing early, it wouldn’t be long until the Orc Legion Commander showed up as well.
The growth graph was exponentially rising, but I still felt lacking.
“Before we begin the meeting, let’s start with a brief self-introduction-”
At the first words of the unnamed A-rank hunter in charge of the meeting, everyone expressed their dissatisfaction.
“Hey, Hunter. Are you here for a vacation?”
“Hehe, we’re not exactly in a relaxed situation, so let’s skip the introductions and get straight to business.”
The one who calmed the tense reaction was a burly middle-aged man.
“Alright, let’s start calmly.”
It was Cha Mu-yeol from the White Knight Guild.
Taking on the role of the escort captain for the barrier mages, he appeared to be in quite a good mood.
He had received the news that Kang Yeon-su, whom everyone thought was dead, was alive and well in our shelter, and he had quietly vanished to a place away from the crowd.
‘Cha Mu-yeol really cares for Yeon-su.’
“Even if we skip introductions, let’s share some basic information. I’ve heard there are many questions about our shelter. Since I can’t get through to you otherwise, feel free to ask everything while you have the chance.”
Yeon-su had raised her physical condition to 80% in just a week.
That alone made her stand out among the thirty or so hunters gathered here.
I wasn’t sure if she had achieved results that matched her significant growth since facing Escalon, but it was certainly evident that she bore no aftereffects from getting ambushed by Maeng Seong-yong.
“He…”
Hearing Yeon-su refer to “our shelter” made Yeon-hee’s lips subtly lift into a smile.
Yeon-hee really likes Yeon-su.
Having lived together in the same space for nearly a week, the two had grown closer.
The reason she followed someone so openly was undoubtedly because Yeon-su cared for her without any expectation in return.
Of course, Yeon-su wasn’t staying in our shelter solely because of their friendship.
The day after Yeon-su was brought here, she ran up to me the moment she regained consciousness.
“I want to repay my debt somehow. Skeleton. No, Il-wol.”
“Tap…?”
I wondered if there was really a need for her to do that with a monster, but her eyes were sincere.
I put forth a somewhat vague condition that she should protect Yeon-hee going forward through Yeon-hee, and after a half-day deliberation, she accepted it.
Of course, Yeon-su did not leave the White Knight Guild.
She would continue her previous activities, only moving the base of operations here.
But that alone brought significant mental stability to the over two thousand residents currently sheltered here.
After she woke up, miraculously, the Orc assaults on our shelter began to taper off.
It started around that time that they began to repeatedly pull their troops back more than a kilometer.
Whenever she had the opportunity, Yeon-su would fly over to their main camp and mercifully grant peace to the Orcs.
Realizing that Yeon-su’s attitude was more progressive than I expected, I set another condition.
[Take me with you when you close the gate.]
“······ What on earth?! A skeleton that writes in Hangul?!”
The expression on Kang Yeon-su’s face upon seeing the words I had written in a notebook was truly worth a look.
Seeing such a surprised expression was a rare sight throughout my past life, and even upon reflection, it made my shoulders shake with laughter.
Anyway, I ended up joining the gate closure team led by Kang Yeon-su and Cha Mu-yeol.
“And me?”
“Tap?”
Yeon-hee decided to join based on the situation at the shelter.
Although Yeon-su didn’t inform others that I had subdued the crazed Maeng Seong-yong, it seemed that she hinted I was a helpful presence, as team members didn’t raise significant doubts about me.
Cha Mu-yeol, Kang Yeon-su, the barrier mages, and their supporting members. And I.
Of course, just because the team was formed, it didn’t mean we would spring into action immediately.
The memories of being severely beaten by Maeng Seong-yong still shackled their steps.
“Before we start planning the gate closure, I have a few questions.”
Cha Mu-yeol suddenly began to look around Yeon-hee’s room.
Our house had gone through a complete renovation.
We had torn down all the crumbling walls and rebuilt a box-shaped space with ‘Dark Stones.’
This was certainly assisted by the Non-Awakened individuals, including Manager Park.
“What materials were used for this building… And is the amazing means of maintaining hygiene usable at other outposts?”
The war with the Orc Legion had already entered a long-term phase.
We had to find a way to survive, and addressing basic survival needs was paramount.
In that respect, our shelter had quite ideal conditions.
To the north, it was situated next to a river, and to the southeast, it was surrounded by low-level dungeons where edible monsters appeared.
Furthermore, the proximity to major strongholds established by large guilds clustered in Seoul offered advantages for potential retreats via main roads.
But beyond these locational conditions, the most crucial factor was undoubtedly the existence of the [Sanctuary of the Boundaries].
“It isn’t usable. Unless there are equivalent users… I already mentioned that.”
Upon hearing Yeon-su’s response, Cha Mu-yeol glanced at Yeon-hee and nodded.
Although Yeon-su knew that this miraculous ability was a miracle I alone created, she told Yeon-hee that she couldn’t disclose this fact to others.
“I can’t let even I handle those ultra-powerful beings that might target Yeon-hee. A summoner who can summon top-tier anti-aircraft facilities? The strongest entities in the world would be drooling over that.”
“Clap, clap, clap.”
Both Yeon-hee and I agreed with her opinion.
“I already know that the miracle caused by Hunter Lee Yeon-hee’s high-level summoned creatures is a fact. However, those summoned creatures continue to increase. I was merely wondering if there might be other possibilities. Let’s not take it too sensitively.”
“This side can’t accept it lightly either. The maximum capacity is only around 3,000 people, even at the highest estimate. It’s already over 70% full, and with the internet being reactivated, refugees keep pouring in.”
The flow of conversation felt a bit strange.
Kang Yeon-su was the representative of the White Knight Guild, and Cha Mu-yeol was a senior figure in the same guild.
For such a representative to take the lead for the benefit of our shelter wouldn’t be easily understandable to those unaware of the deeper circumstances.
Nonetheless, Cha Mu-yeol nodded quietly, expressing that he completely understood.
“Then let’s get into the thick of the discussions about gate closure-”
“No, first, shouldn’t we analyze the causes of past failures?”
“Not a failure. Only we succeeded. You should speak accurately-”
As the barrier mages, who had been silent, rebutted, it seemed they still harbored the excitement of having closed the gate.
They deserved acknowledgment.
After all, they had closed two gates.
Considering the number of Orcs pouring out from just one gate, their contributions couldn’t be overstated.
“I think it would be only right to publicly disclose Hunter Kim Jae-hyun’s secret arts at a grand level. And also regarding the supply of Kadinites and the alchemical recipe for potions.”
The hidden key issues of this meeting were indeed whether to disclose methods for closing the gates and certain hidden strategies.
Logically, it would be sensible to make a clear disclosure for the survival of humanity, but it seemed the thoughts of the meeting participants diverged slightly.
“Without skilled barrier mages leading the charge, it could result in adverse effects-”
“No, we would handle whatever needs to be done.”
“Honestly, it’s asking us to just disclose the research we’ve dedicated our lives to. Do you really think that would be so easily accepted? With the President having gone into a monster’s stomach, who can force us to do that?”
“VIP isn’t officially dead yet.”
“I heard there was a gate opened in the Blue House? Several chimera creatures, whatever they are, crashed the place, right? That’s just bad luck. Did anyone survive that?”
“No way, everyone knows what kind of people make up the VIP guard.”
“Considering that a stronger Orc Battle Commander appeared, isn’t it likely that the hotline was broken right from the first day?”
“Hmm… This is dizzying.”
I pulled out a notebook in the other space, revealing the alchemist’s recipe I had written in advance.
Of course, this recipe was for ‘Killbard,’ and even if one followed it perfectly, it wouldn’t transform into the ‘Potion of the Alchemist Near Death’ that I made.
Still, the effect produced would surely be significant.
“Oh?! Is this the alchemist’s potion recipe?”
As I levitated the paper with telekinesis, silence fell over the meeting space, with only the sounds of photos being taken and writing filling the air.
“What about the recipe for Hanbang Ryeonghwan? They say it has to be eaten together for effect?”
“That’s up to the Ilseom Guild’s discretion.”
Cha Mu-yeol’s gaze fell upon a bald man in Daoist robes who was calmly seated, suddenly receiving the flood of attention.
It was Do-yeon from the Ilseom Guild.
An individual regarded as the second-best player in the guild following Yeon Il-hwan.
“We’ll also disclose everything. However, there are conditions.”
“Anything within reasonable limits, I’m willing to discuss.”
“It’s related to supplies first-”
Listening to Do-yeon’s story, it turned out that the Ilseom Guild had established a base where their main force resided.
When it came to defending against monsters, their situational conditions were superior to our shelter.
However, they were struggling with food supplies and were still engaged in a civil war, which hadn’t resolved yet.
“This isn’t the time for family squabbles, is it? Why on earth are you doing this? Didn’t Jung-gil just let it go?”
To outsiders, they seemed like a rather idle group.
Considering they were combining such antics while holding off the Orcs, one could say their abilities were truly impressive.
“… The ‘Sword Master’ is currently in a difficult state. We need your help to stop the rampaging Hyeon Joong-seob.”
Hyeon Joong-seob.
He was the brother of Hyeon Joong-gil, known as the Sword Master.
The instant his name was mentioned without an honorific by Do-yeon, it became all too clear what kind of state the Ilseom was in.
It didn’t take long to reach a conclusion.
If the Ilseom’s base located on the outskirts of Seoul were to collapse, it would significantly impact the already fragile defenses surrounding central Seoul.
Providing them with suitable assistance to maintain their role as a shield would surely be beneficial in many ways.
The recipes for potions and Hanbang Ryeonghwan.
And discussions about lifting the supply restrictions on Kadinites were also concluded.
The barrier mages could not simply hold onto their cards any longer.
“To close a single gate, this much resources are required?”
“The incantation is surprisingly not that complicated…”
“Even so, in the end, isn’t it about overwhelming them with numbers?”
“No, that’s not it… If you try it yourself, you’ll understand: it’s like maintaining balance atop a finely crafted blade. It’s not something to take lightly.”
While the barrier mages shared the methods to close the gate, they were confident that it could be done only by themselves.
“Um… We’ve detected some unsettling movements on our side.”
At the moment when the main agenda was being smoothly passed around, an A-rank hunter, who had been completely quiet, suddenly spoke up.
“Uh, which guild was that?”
“I’m Hong Soon-won from the Jangwon Guild.”
“Ah, got it. What do you mean by unsettling movements?”
Cha Jin-hyuk, who was evaluated as the best force in the city where he was stationed, served as the vice guild master of the Jangwon Guild.
‘It’s a place three times bigger than the Cheonsudan. If we’re talking scale, they’re comparable to the Guardian Guild.’
However, the hunters from the top five guilds didn’t seem interested in him, as they reacted rather indifferent.
“A faction that advocates for independence has emerged.”
“… Independence? What on earth does that mean?”
“They’re part of a group claiming that the world’s destruction is certain, and we must venture beyond the gates to seek a new foundation. Essentially, a newly emerging religious group. They haven’t taken any aggressive actions yet, but the rate at which their numbers are swelling is terrifying.”
───?!
‘What the hell?’
We already have the Blue-eyed Organization giving me a headache, and now another religious organization just popped up?
‘Is it because Nam Yong-seok’s Black Church is gone that other religions are swarming?’
It’s not like there’s a law of villain preservation in this crazy world; it just seems hopeless.
“That’s just crazy talk. Non-Awakened individuals can’t even enter dungeons, right?”
“Essentially, they should be regarded as an Awakening-oriented faction.”
“That might not exactly be the case. It could be the side effects of the Evolved Creatures spreading…”
According to the hunter from the Jangwon Guild, the group claiming independence—ironically named “Dependent”—asserts that even Non-Awakened individuals can safely enter dungeons.
Those low-level dungeons where we’re acquiring food supplies must be the destination they aim to relocate to.
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