Making plans is essential for getting things done.
As the importance of that ‘task’ increases, it’s only natural that the significance of planning does too.
And while there’s a bit of variance among individuals, saving the world can be considered quite a significant task.
“Now, what do we do?”
Here sit six men and women, whether they like it or not, gathered together, needing to save the world.
At least they all seem fired up about the idea of saving the world.
Anyway, they were making plans.
The plans to be made could be divided into two main categories.
First: the tasks they originally intended to do. This just requires a solid schedule set. Things like hunting down statues or visiting the East Sea Hive fall into this category.
Second: brand new plans that need to be devised from this point on. This includes the next hive exploration, diving, investigating Hawaii, etc.
First, they would tackle the easy tasks that just need scheduling. The issue of hunting down the statue, for instance.
“So, when are we going?”
Elvira casually asked. Parang felt a bit strange.
The first mention of this statue hunt was during the whale hunting day with Oceanos.
Surprisingly, less than two weeks had passed since that day. Recently, Parang’s life had felt so crammed that everything felt like a distant past.
And hunting the statues seemed particularly tough just for Parang (not that there’s anything tough about it), whereas for the rest of Oceanos, it felt like homework. Decisions came quickly.
“How about the day after my interview? Next Tuesday.”
“Well, that doesn’t sound bad.”
Decided. Next Tuesday.
It was nice that they were so quick on that front.
Next, they discussed the upcoming hive exploration. Interesting opinions emerged on this topic.
“What if all six of us explore at the same time? Six at once.”
Everyone was dumbfounded by the suggestion.
Why hadn’t they thought of this sooner?
It turned out Parang had been so focused on finding the Slayers’ remains that it slipped their minds that they could handle hive exploration easily.
Searching with six people means six times the speed!!
Plus, the number fit perfectly.
There were sixteen Slayers including Han Siwoo.
There were also sixteen locations to search, including Hawaii.
Excluding Hong Kong Hive and East Sea Hive, that left them with fourteen.
Removing Hawaii, which Hunter Han Siwoo occupied, and the Mariana Hive, which Oceanos was still hesitant to explore, that leaves them with twelve.
Just the right number.
Why was the Mariana Hive such a concern?
Simple: it’s freaking vast and deep.
So vast and deep that Russell couldn’t reach the bottom even after roaming around the Mariana Hive for a week.
“How deep did you go back then?”
“About… 20km?”
So if they were going to search the Mariana Hive, it made sense for all six to go in together. Searching alone would be almost impossible.
For that reason, four were set aside, leaving twelve.
If the six searched it twice, it would fit perfectly.
As always, the agreement was reached swiftly.
Diego would explore the Caribbean Hive, Elvira the Arctic Hive, Vertea the North Sea Hive….
They agreed to check out their closest Hives.
Since Hong Kong Hive had already been explored, Xiao decided to scout the Bengal Bay Hive.
It was a bit farther from his home, but hey, it was still within the realm of Xiao’s skeletons.
That left Parang.
With the East Sea and South China Sea Hives already explored, there were no nearby hives left for Parang to check.
Not that there weren’t hives, but there weren’t any hives with Slayers sleeping near her.
So what did she choose to do?
“I’m going to check this one out.”
“What?!”
“Isn’t that a bit unexpected?”
“Anyway, we need to check this place out. Besides, this place is a must-see.”
It was the Drake Hive, located in the Drake Channel.
Where’s the Drake Channel? It’s the body of water between the southernmost tip of South America and Antarctica.
The distance from Parang’s home in Pohang is 17,000km.
That’s almost half the globe.
Even though warp stations are spread out worldwide, it’s such a remote place.
The closest warp station is on the Falkland Islands.
Even after warping, they still have to travel about 1,000km more.
The reason Parang chose that far-off place for her next destination was that a sleeping Slayer there was incredibly significant.
The ‘Madman of Steel,’ Marian Lindberg.
The mechanical engineer of the Slayers and a certified crazy woman.
With an impossibly unpredictable personality and completely inconsistent actions.
Her violent tendencies and eccentric traits.
But when standing before Hunter Han Siwoo, she becomes a gentle pup, lost and bewildered. She met her end in the Drake Hive.
That is, the last to escape among the Slayers, aside from Han Siwoo.
Indeed.
Marian Lindberg was the last escapee.
Even if they didn’t need to worry about others, Parang had to see her memories.
And sadly for Oceanos, Alice Melville is now…. no longer around.
No one can explore the Drake Channel, classified as part of the Southern Ocean.
That’s why Parang decided to go.
Moreover, the Drake Hive is renowned for its beauty. It would definitely make for great broadcasting content.
Thus, the plans were finalized.
After tomorrow’s visit to the Association and the World Government, followed by Parang’s interview and apology broadcast the day after.
Then the statue hunt, a brief rest, and all six would explore Hawaii.
Then, after another short rest, they would each commence with their hive explorations.
By the way, the apology broadcast.
In both previous and present lives, streamers and YouTubers never stopped posting apology videos.
Parang had run into them often on algorithms.
All black background with big white characters saying “I’m sorry.”
Titles were always something like “Deeply Reflecting” or “I’m quitting streaming (but I’m not really).”
Channel names Parang had never seen in her life.
It almost became a trend.
And now, Parang had to do that too.
Since she was at it, she might as well apologize properly.
She’d need a suit and get a green chroma key as well.
By the way, she planned to ask Silo for help.
As for compensation for damages… she had some ideas already prepared.
Anyway, with that, the meeting concluded. They cracked open a few beers, caught up, and drifted off to sleep.
#
And the next day. August 4th, Sunday.
“Ugh… ugh…”
Yu Parang, early riser.
Looking at the clock, it’s eight in the morning.
Considering her usual wake-up time, it’s really, really early for her.
Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she stepped into the guest bedroom and found Russell and Elvira splayed out, sound asleep without a care in the world.
Were they struggling to adjust to the time difference?
In fact, it’s ironic since the other three had already neatly packed and returned home by now. Parang knew they were just lazy and sluggish.
Well, they’d pack and leave when they opened their eyes. It’s not like it’s the first time.
After Parang hastily prepared breakfast, she packed three thick towels and a suit into a waterproof bag and dove into the sea.
She planned to swim all the way to Seoul.
If she started now, she thought she’d arrive at the Association comfortably.
You might wonder why she chose to swim around the Korean Peninsula to get to Seoul.
Well, she loved swimming, plus the risk factor is virtually 0% when she’s at sea.
So Parang kept swimming, passing through Busan, the southernmost village, crossing Shin-an, entering the Yellow Sea, crossing over to the 38th parallel, and finally splashing into the Han River at Jeongdongjin.
At twelve thirty-six.
Parang popped her head up from under the Han River Bridge.
Not her whole face, just her eyes peeking.
The Han River on a weekend afternoon was bustling with people.
Still, thankfully, no one seemed to have spotted her.
She stealthily wiped her face with a towel beneath the Han River Bridge and put on her suit over the bodysuit.
Adding sunglasses, a mask, and a hat completed her suspiciously perfect disguise.
Of course, her “departure” was also hidden away in some secret spot, totally undetectable at first glance.
She had tucked it into her hair.
…And thus, she climbed the ladder, making her way up to the Han River Bridge. Successful landing at Han River Park.
After riding the bus for a bit, she arrived in front of the Hunter Association at one twenty.
Her appointment was set for two, so she slipped into a nearby udon shop, hurriedly demolished a bowl in twenty minutes, and then made her way to the Hunter Association.
She definitely recalled it being the Branch Head Office.
Staring intently at the sign in front of the elevator, Parang searched for the branch head office.
Branch Head Office…Branch Head Office…
‘Where is it?’
Why isn’t it visible?
A room as significant as a branch head office should definitely be marked.
Should she ask around? However, seeing everyone in suits with papers, moving around with serious faces, any courage to approach them completely evaporated.
Ah, a sad beast, deprived of water.
So Parang flitted about, having an eye duel with the sign for about five minutes.
“Excuse me?”
“Oh, yes?!”
“You’ve been standing there quietly for a while. Should I help you out?”
“Oh, yes. Thank you.”
‘Oh… she’s pretty.’
Feeling like she had grown accustomed to beautiful women after meeting Vertea, Xiao, Elvira, and, more recently, Shin Yuna Hunter, Parang found the woman before her to have an entirely fresh beauty.
With red eyes and long black hair, she had a friendly demeanor but an ice-cold smile.
Plus, she had a violent bust that couldn’t be concealed by her suit.
“I, um, I’m looking for the branch head office.”
And that was the first encounter between B-class Hunter Yu Parang and Igarashi Natsuko, the head of the Hunter Association.
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