"You want me to turn off the camera?" "Yes."
The cameraman looked at Jin-Woo with a bewildered expression. Jin-Woo's face was serious.
"Why the sudden request about the camera...?"
Jin-Woo didn't answer the cameraman's question.
"..."
The cameraman couldn't make a decision easily. Sung Jin-Woo Hunter was his savior. Since he was the one holding many people's lives in his hands even now, there was no reason to refuse his request.
'But asking me to turn off the camera, of all things...'
This was a broadcast that virtually the entire nation was watching. As a former broadcaster, it was hard for him to press the power button on the camera. While he hesitated, Jin-Woo spoke without delay.
"If you don't turn it off, I'll destroy it."
At Jin-Woo's cold voice, the cameraman flinched. If Sung Jin-Woo Hunter was serious about destroying the camera, could all the Hunters gathered here combine forces and stop him? Without needing any further reason, there was no room for choice.
"Ah, understood."
The cameraman took off the camera from his head and switched off the power. After confirming the light had gone out, Jin-Woo took Cha Hae-In from Baek Yoon-Ho's arms.
'I didn't want to frighten the cameraman, but...'
There was no other way if he wanted to help Cha Hae-In. Holding her in his arms and looking around, Jin-Woo took a light breath and gently closed his eyes.
'What's he planning to do?'
All the Hunters' attention was focused on Jin-Woo's movements. Shortly after, Jin-Woo opened his eyes. Having identified the location of what he needed, Jin-Woo suddenly began walking into the interior of the ant tunnel. His steps were quick, but he didn't run out of concern for Cha Hae-In's condition. The people stared blankly at Jin-Woo, then quickly snapped out of it and followed him. Before long, Jin-Woo stopped and gently laid Cha Hae-In down. Then he cleared away the ant monster corpses piled nearby.
"Gasp!"
The cameraman let out a groan upon discovering something.
"Ugh..."
The other Hunters swallowed hard as well. There lay the cold body of Min Byung-Gu. It was a wretched sight—the upper part of his neck was missing. Only now could everyone guess why Sung Jin-Woo Hunter had asked for the camera to be turned off. No one would have wanted to see such a scene.
"Kuh."
Baek Yoon-Ho, who had been closest to Byung-Gu, squeezed his eyes shut and turned his head away. But then—
'Wait...'
A thought suddenly crossed his mind.
'How did Sung Jin-Woo Hunter find Byung-Gu among all these monster corpses?'
The answer came quickly. Unless it was a special skill, there was only one way. The magic power waves emitted by humans and monsters were subtly different, and Jin-Woo had discerned that difference to locate Min Byung-Gu's body before the waves had fully dissipated. If that was true, it could only be described as truly astonishing perception. It was something that would have been impossible even with the "Monster's Eye" skill specialized for that purpose. Having reached that thought, Baek Yoon-Ho turned his head back toward Jin-Woo. Even if the sight of Byung-Gu's body tore at his heart, he wanted to see with his own eyes what was about to happen.
'Sung Jin-Woo Hunter... just what are you planning to do?'
Cold sweat beaded on Baek Yoon-Ho's forehead as he watched Jin-Woo, Min Byung-Gu, and Cha Hae-In. Meanwhile, Jin-Woo checked Min Byung-Gu's condition. Black smoke was rising from the body. This meant Shadow Extraction was possible. Sure enough—ding!
[This is a target for whom Shadow Extraction is possible.]
The familiar mechanical chime accompanied a System message, helpfully reminding him of what could be done. Of course, Jin-Woo had been aware of the fact that he could turn Min Byung-Gu Hunter into a Shadow Soldier from the moment he heard the news of his death. He simply hadn't wanted to do it. Raising an innocent person into an undead and using them as a soldier? Even if it was the corpse of an S-rank Hunter, he wanted no part of it. It wasn't something a human should do. But—Jin-Woo looked down at Cha Hae-In's face, which was growing paler by the moment.
'...This must be the best option.'
In this critical situation where every second counted, what if the injured could be entrusted to South Korea's top healer? What more deliberation was needed? Even if Min Byung-Gu himself could be given the choice, ten out of ten times he would make the same decision. With a resolute expression, Jin-Woo issued his command to the shadow.
"Rise."
However, the result was not what he expected. Ding!
[Shadow Extraction has failed.]
A look of puzzlement and anxiety flickered across Jin-Woo's face. Was it because his Shadow Extraction skill level was too low compared to the target's stats? Or was it because the extraction simply didn't sit right with him this time? Jin-Woo shook off the idle thoughts. And then, with a voice full of strong will, he spoke again.
"Rise."
That was when the change began. A deep, heavy tone—whether it could be called a roar or a scream—echoed through the area, and an eerie wind swept across. The Hunters' eyes went wide at the chilling sensation that ran down their spines.
"My God!" "What is that!"
From Min Byung-Gu's shadow, a black hand rose upward. As if unwilling to sink back into the shadow, the black hand gripped the ground tightly. Grasp. Then it pulled itself out of the shadow on its own.
'No way!'
Baek Yoon-Ho, watching from the sidelines, felt as though his heart would burst. No one else might have noticed, but it was clearly visible to his eyes. The magic power of Min Byung-Gu, drawn up from the shadow, was gradually taking on a human form. More precisely, the form of a soldier clad in black armor. Before long, the summoned entity revealed its complete appearance.
"..."
All the Hunters were struck speechless, gazing in a daze at the new summoned entity Jin-Woo had called forth. A powerful magic power, on par with that of a top-tier Hunter, radiated from the summoned entity.
'No, surely not...?'
Choi Jong-In, sharp as ever, flinched in surprise and his eyes snapped open. Amid the silence of everyone holding their breath, Jin-Woo gazed at Min Byung-Gu's shadow with a calm expression. Meeting his gaze, the shadow nodded its head. A shadow becomes connected to Jin-Woo the instant it is turned into a soldier. They could know what their master desired. There was no need to issue separate commands. Min Byung-Gu's shadow bowed and cast a healing spell on Cha Hae-In. Woooonnngg—warm light appeared in the Shadow Soldier's hands, and simultaneously, color began to return to Cha Hae-In's complexion. It was the highest level of healing.
'As expected!'
Choi Jong-In shuddered. Only when he saw the hand healing Cha Hae-In could he be certain. The identity of the black soldier was none other than Min Byung-Gu. Only then did the other Hunters begin to vaguely realize what was happening. Ma Dong-Wook, who had been left mouth agape ever since the hand emerged from Min Byung-Gu's shadow, finally burst out in admiration.
"You, Master Sung, are no ordinary summoner."
Jin-Woo neither confirmed nor denied it. But who were these people? Each of them was an outstanding Hunter representing a major guild. Without needing an answer, they understood well enough.
"Could it be... Sung Jin-Woo Hunter, you can wield the power of the dead?"
Choi Jong-In asked with a tense gaze. Jin-Woo nodded. There was no reason to hide his ability at this point, nor did he want to fabricate words for the sake of doing so.
'Well, it's not like they're people I could fool with someThe request was rejected because it was considered high risk