David Brennan, director of the US Hunter Management Bureau, was driven to the brink of madness with frustration.
"What's the Korean Hunter's Association saying?" "Officially, nothing yet." "Then why are you here?" "...Excuse me?"
Wasn't he the one who'd called the man into his office? Seeing his subordinate blinking blankly, the director's anger shot to the top of his head and he roared.
"You should be strangling the Korean Hunter's Association president for an answer if you have to! Isn't that your job?!" "I-I'm sorry!" "Get out there and find out what's going on right now!"
Even after driving out his intelligence chief, the director's anger didn't subside and he huffed for quite a while. An ultra-large Gate. One observed to be far larger than the Gate that had appeared over Seoul had materialized in the skies above Canada. Canada—an allied nation sharing a border with the United States. It wouldn't take long for sparks flying from Canada to reach this land. The best possible outcome he could imagine was that this Gate, like the one in Seoul, would end as nothing more than a brief incident. If the creatures commanded by Hunter Sung Jin-Woo happened to drop down, that would be even better.
'But the problem was...'
That Hunter Sung Jin-Woo and the Korean Hunter's Association—who held all the answers—were still keeping their mouths shut. It had already been three hours since ultra-large Gates appeared across the world's skies. The government was demanding answers from the Hunter Management Bureau.
'To think that the Hunter Management Bureau, one of the greatest intelligence agencies in the United States, had been reduced to waiting for an answer from the Korean Hunter's Association...'
Could anyone have predicted this? How could anyone not go mad and lose their minds? *Beep.* The director, who had been heaving deep sighs, saw the phone light up and picked up the receiver.
"What?" —The President is looking for you, sir. "Tell them I'm not here right now." —S-Sir?
*Slam!* The director had slammed the receiver down and was staring blankly at the ceiling when the intelligence chief he'd just kicked out came back in, panting for breath.
"Director!" "Where the hell do you think you're creeping back to?"
The intelligence chief hurriedly raised his hands as the director grabbed the phone, ready to hurl it.
"An—an answer has come from the Korean Hunter's Association!"
At that, the director's face did a complete 180 and broke into a bright smile.
"See! You just have to do it!"
Setting down the phone, the director approached his intelligence chief.
"So, what do they say?" "Well, um... they said if we want information on the ultra-large Gates, we should come to Korea first." "..."
Both the director and the intelligence chief who'd relayed the message lost their words and stared at each other. After a moment of this stalemate, the director—having barely managed to hold onto his composure—asked.
"Who? Who are they asking to come?" "They said anyone designated by the government as a representative will do." "..."
At that moment. *Beep-* Seeing the phone light up once more, the director picked up the receiver.
—Director, if you keep dodging the President's calls...
*Click.* Hurriedly setting the phone down, the director spoke with a solemn face.
"Tell them I'll go." "What?"
The director enunciated each word carefully so the bewildered intelligence chief could understand.
"I, as the US representative, am going, to Korea!"
* * *
Representatives from various nations, called upon by the Korean Hunter's Association, began boarding flights to Korea one by one. What a reversal. Barely two years ago, Korea had been so weak in its Hunter presence that it was losing its rookie S-rank Hunters to the United States, and yet now it was summoning the world's leaders. No, just one year ago, it was a Korea that couldn't even handle a Dungeon Break on Jeju Island and was laughed at by Japan. And yet. A single Hunter—rising beyond Supreme-grade, Apex-grade, and Peak-grade, now being called Transcendence-grade—had changed everything. The man who had subdued the creatures pouring out of the ultra-large Gate. That man might be able to explain the identity of the ultra-large Gates now blanketing skies across the world. Then, what had happened to him a few days ago could also be naturally understood. All the keys were in one man's hands. The problem was that the other party was too formidable to obtain those keys through force or persuasion. Who could force that man to speak? You could try all you wanted against the brute strength of a Hunter who'd knocked out a national-power-level Hunter, but behind him stood over a hundred thousand summoned creatures waiting in formation. Absolutely impossible. That was why the heavyweights more than fit to represent their nations—presidents, prime ministers, ministers, heads of Hunter management agencies, heads of Hunter's Associations—were moving at the request of the Korean Hunter's Association.
"Are there any more who've contacted us saying they'll come?" "No. So far, the 152 countries reported this morning are all of them." "Okay."
Association President Woo Jin-Cheol received reports on the progress one by one. The emergency对策 conference room set up for the ultra-large Gate raid was still proving useful.
"The Hungarian representative just arrived at the airport." "Who came from Hungary?" "President Ánor Jádesh came in person." "Well..."
Normally, it was only proper to send someone of matching rank to greet a distinguished guest visiting your country. But right now, the Hunter's Association didn't have the bandwidth to attend to such courtesies one by one. Association President Woo Jin-Cheol wore a briefly pained expression before speaking.
"Please escort them to the hotel." "Understood."
The staff member who answered and was about to turn away hesitated briefly. Woo Jin-Cheol, who had been about to look at his papers, raised his head again.
"Hmm? Something on your mind?" "Ah..."
After deliberating, the staff member finally gathered his courage.
"What did Hunter Sung Jin-Woo tell you in the Association President's office yesterday? I've never seen the Association President's complexion turn so pale."
No, it was from seeing Woo Jin-Cheol yesterday that he'd even realized a person's complexion could become that pale. What words had been exchanged inside? The staff member, who had not been able to get Woo Jin-Cheol's expression out of his head all night, couldn't help but ask even though he knew it was improper. Sure enough. Woo Jin-Cheol's face hardened like stone.
"I-I'm sorry. I asked a needless question for no reason..." "No. It's not that the question upset me."
It was simply that the vision that had unfolded from Hunter Sung Jin-Woo's fingertips yesterday had resurfaced in his mind. An army of Light Dragons pressing out from the other side of darkness. And behind them, a single colossal dragon flying forward. So enormous that even while flying at the same speed as the dragon legion, it appeared to be barely moving—drifting forward with glacial slowness. A majesty suggesting that even if every Hunter in the world banded together and charged, they couldn't leave a single scratch. An overwhelming sense of dominance suggesting it could burn all the lands of the world with a single breath. That creature had it all. Just watching it made his mind reel. No matter what power he acquired, no matter how great a reward he was promised in return, he had no confidence he could fight that thing.
'I can't do it...'
Hunter Sung Jin-Woo, who knew of their existence and still chose not to run but to face them, was admirable.
'Come to think of it, what is Hunter Sung Jin-Woo doing right now?'
There was still some time before the representatives of each country gathered. Woo Jin-Cheol, suddenly curious about how Jin-Woo was spending his time, called out to the staff member who was about to leave.
"Oh, where is Hunter Sung Jin-Woo right now?" "He's currently believed to be resting at home."
* * *
"Ta-da!"
When Jin-Woo set down the kimchi stew he'd personally cooked on the dining table, Jin-Ah's face lit up.
"Wow! That looks delicious."
His mother, on the other hand, wore a guilty expression over having to make her already busy son cook.
"I could've made it..."
Jin-Woo said with a smile.
"I wanted to show you the skills I've been honing."
This was the magnum opus Jin-Woo had created after barely managing to convince his mother to step out of the kitchen. Nudged along by Jin-Woo's insistence that she taste it, his mother also smiled and lifted a finger.
"Whew-"
Her eyes went wide after she carefully blew on it and put a spoonful in her mouth. From the side, Jin-Ah was fidgeting with excitement.
"Mom, how is it? How is it? Good, right?" "Oh my."
Seeing his mother's surprised expression, Jin-Woo shrugged his shoulders.
"I didn't know you had a knack for cooking either, big brother. Mom, try this too. He's really good at seasoning side dishes too."
While his sister smeared rice around her mouth heaping praise on his cooking skills, Jin-Woo noticed his mother's expression slowly changing and asked.
"Mother?"
His mother, gently setting down her spoon, asked.
"Jin-Woo... there's nothing going on, is there?"
Maintaining the brightest face he could manage, Jin-Woo asked back.
"What do you mean all of a sudden?" "Your father also used to cook for your mother in her stead like this before doing something dangerous." "..."
Her son, who hadn't done this even when going to defeat the giants in Japan or when a massive Gate opened in Seoul—seeing him do this now made his mother suddenly worried. A woman's—no, a mother's—intuition.
'As if being his blood wasn't enough, he had to go and be just like his father in things like this too...'
After briefly venting a half-hearted complaint inwardly, Jin-Woo quickly shook his head at his mother.
"There's nothing like that, Mom."
Whether she wanted to support her son who was trying so hard to smile, or whether she truly accepted that everything was fine, the mother also smiled and picked up her utensils again. Jin-Ah, who had been biting the tip of her spoon and watching the exchange between her brother and mother, also giggled and resumed eating. Just as the meal was drawing to a close.
[My Lord.]
Bellion's voice came through.
[The soldiers have been placed on standby as you commanded.] 'Noted.'
As if waiting for his cue, Beru's voice followed.
[Your Majesty. Lodgings for my Lord have also been prepared.] '...Good. Thank you.'
He hadn't specifically asked for any of that, though. Having heard his commanders' reports, Jin-Woo slowly stood up.
"That was a good meal."
But. Jin-Woo's hands, which had been about to clear the dishes, stopped upon sensing noise from outside.
'Four sets of footsteps...'
He could hear their hearts pounding with excitement. It wasn't a classification that held much meaning for Jin-Woo, but all four were at least ordinary people—not Hunters.
'What's this?'
There couldn't be any crazed robbers trying to loot a house with an S-rank Hunter in it. At the apartment entrance, monitoring Hunters were stationed thanks to Association President Woo Jin-Cheol's arrangements, so even reporters wouldn't be able to get in. As Jin-Woo pondered, a doorbell rang.
*Ding-dong.*
"I'll go check."
Jin-Woo stopped his mother from getting up and headed for the door. *Creak.* When he opened the door, three burly young men in suits—looking like intelligence agents—were standing there.
'They don't seem to be from the Hunter Management Bureau...'
After scanning their attire, Jin-Woo asked calmly.
"What can I help you with?"
At that, the three burly young men stepped aside, and an older man standing behind them slowly walked forward.
"Hunter Sung... I apologize for showing up unannounced like this. Could you please spare even a little of your time?"
Jin-Woo's voice rose slightly upon recognizing the man.
"...Chairman Yoo Myung-Han?"