"Is that the man?" "Yes, sir." "He looks no different from an ordinary person?" "That's correct."
It was literally true. If he just tidied up his scraggly hair and beard, he'd pass for a typical middle-aged Asian man.
"Have you identified him?" "He claims to be a Korean Hunter." "Korean?" "Yes." "How did a Korean Hunter come out of a Dungeon on the other side of the globe?" "The Gate closed ten years ago with him still trapped inside the Dungeon." "And when he opened his eyes, he was in America?" "That's his claim."
The vice director pressed his forehead. How was he supposed to explain this to the director? His head was already starting to hurt.
"But what are you all doing out here? If you're going in, at least bring back something."
This might be a matter that needed to be reported not just to the director, but to the people above him—and the ones above them, too. There was no time to stand around gawking. But the chief in charge thought differently.
"We're also focusing on the possibility that this man is a magic beast with human memories." "So?" "If he reveals his true nature during the interrogation, all of Washington could be in danger."
It was a valid point. Hadn't a raid party full of A-rank Hunters been helpless against something like this? They couldn't act rashly.
"We'll need a capable Hunter to assist during the investigation."
A S-rank, if possible. The chief nodded.
"There happens to be a S-rank Hunter nearby who speaks Korean."
The vice director's face brightened. As the vice director of the Hunter's Management Bureau, he had a thorough roster of every S-rank Hunter residing in the United States.
"Mr. Hwang! Is he on his way?" "Yes."
The Scavenger Guild's main Hunter, Hwang Dong-Su. No one knew how much the entire Bureau had struggled to naturalize him.
*'With him...'*
No matter what came up, they'd be fine. The vice director smiled.
"Oh, right."
A question that occurred to him belatedly. If he was going to report this to his superiors, he should at least memorize the subject's name.
"What did you say that man's name was?"
It was a name that was difficult to pronounce. The chief double-checked the report his subordinates had submitted and spoke.
"He said he is a Korean Hunter named Sung Il-Hwan."
***
Hwang Dong-Su had no mercy. Especially not toward magic beasts. He had lost both parents in the Dungeon Break and was raised by his older brother. So when he became a S-rank awakener, he considered it an opportunity granted by heaven.
*'A chance to tear magic beasts apart to my heart's content!'*
That was likely why Hwang Dong-Su's gaze was cold as he stepped into the interrogation room. A man who came out of a Dungeon. And supposedly his mana wave pattern was the same as a magic beast's.
*'If a magic beast is impersonating a human...'*
He'd snuff out its life right here. That was his intent when he accepted the Bureau's request. His eyes met the man's.
'...' '...'
An exchange of gazes. Hwang Dong-Su placed the file containing the man's information on the desk, pulled out a chair, sat down, and spoke.
"You'd better cooperate with me. With one word from me, it gets decided whether you're human or a magic beast." "Fine."
Before getting into the formal interrogation, Hwang Dong-Su thought of a personal question. His brother, who had died in a Dungeon. Was there any chance Hwang Dong-Sok was alive and would come back? He wanted to know that first.
"Is there a possibility that other Hunters could return, like you did?"
The man shook his head. In that instant, Hwang Dong-Su's eyebrow twitched.
"How can you be so sure?" "Because I know the reason I was able to come back." "A reason? What reason?" "Before that, let me ask one question of my own." "...I'm the one asking questions."
Hwang Dong-Su's eyes narrowed. But the man paid him no mind and continued.
"The Gate. Magic beasts. Dungeon Breaks. How much do you know about them?" "..."
If it had been a trivial question, Hwang Dong-Su would have used force to shut the man's mouth. But he couldn't. It was the question that countless people had challenged since Gates first appeared and awakeners began to emerge ten years ago—yet no one had ever found an answer. This might be the moment they could finally find it.
"Vice Director, sir..." "Shh."
The Bureau staff watching the interrogation from outside the Magic Mirror swallowed hard. Hwang Dong-Su spoke.
"You're saying you know?" "Dungeons, Gates, magic beasts... those are nothing more than the opening act of a real war. And among those real things, a power that could become the worst catastrophe recently opened its eyes." "Then what is your purpose in coming here?" "To prevent the catastrophe." "What is this worst catastrophe?" "...I can't tell you that."
Hwang Dong-Su let out a short laugh.
"You say you came to prevent a catastrophe, but you can't reveal what it is? Whatever it is, isn't it better for many to handle it rather than one person going it alone?"
The man shook his head.
"Numbers are powerless before that force. Unskilled people banding together will only be devoured and used." "So you're saying only you can stop it?"
The man nodded. Hwang Dong-Su clicked his tongue inwardly.
*'Crazy as they come.'*
If he'd been trapped inside a Dungeon for ten years, it was understandable. Or maybe the process of a magic beast impersonating a human had gone wrong and something in his head had snapped. So Hwang Dong-Su just played along.
"You sure are confident in your abilities." "I'm just saying there are requirements beyond raw strength." "Well... if you say so."
What information could he possibly extract from a lunatic? Hwang Dong-Su stopped asking questions. Instead, as the Bureau had requested, he opened the file case to verify the man's identity.
"Your name is Sung Il-Hwan..."
The photo was a definite match.
*'But it looks like only a few weeks to months have passed, not ten years.'*
But Hwang Dong-Su wasn't concerned. High-ranking Hunters supposedly aged slower.
"Your résumé as a Hunter is impressive. In this day and age, you'd have made quite a bit of money?"
Sung Il-Hwan didn't answer. Back then, the Hunter system hadn't been established yet. There weren't even rankings for Hunters. Hwang Dong-Su read on through the documents.
"Spouse: Park Gyeong-Hye. Two children. Son..."
As he calmly skimmed the children's profiles, Hwang Dong-Su's eyes briefly widened.
*'Sung Jin-Woo?'*
But only for a moment. Hwang Dong-Su kept his composure as best he could and continued.
"...Sung Jin-Woo. Daughter's name?" "Sung Jin-Ah." "Okay. Next."
Then.
"Wait."
Hwang Dong-Su, about to turn to the next page, was stopped by Sung Il-Hwan. Hwang Dong-Su looked up casually. Sung Il-Hwan's gaze had turned just as cold as his own.
"Why did I sense killing intent when you mentioned my son?" "..."
Toss. Hwang Dong-Su set the file on the desk. Then he switched off the microphone connected to the outside.
"I told you I'm the one asking questions." "I need an answer." "And if I won't give one?" "Then I'll make you talk, even if I have to use force."
Sung Il-Hwan's eyes glinted. He showed no sign of backing down. That was when Hwang Dong-Su let out a short laugh.
"Fine. You're a magic beast."
Since when did a magic beast threaten a Hunter? The strong hostility directed at him was more than enough evidence.
*'No, maybe this is heaven's second chance.'*
Having reached that conclusion on his own, Hwang Dong-Su turned the microphone back on. Beep.
"Vice Director, sir. This man is a magic beast. An attack seems imminent—please evacuate immediately." —What? H-Hold on!
Beep. Outside the Magic Mirror, the commotion died down as everyone scrambled out in an instant. Soon, sirens blared throughout the building. Hwang Dong-Su's two hands began to glow silver.
"I'll be stopping by Korea shortly."
Having finished his preparations, Hwang Dong-Su flashed a savage smile at Sung Il-Hwan.
"What do you think I should tell your son about his father's last words?"
***
The TV kept broadcasting news about the Red Gate. Jin-Woo scratched the back of his head.
*'Things have gotten messy.'*
Still, he didn't feel particularly troubled. Just a somewhat odd feeling? The fact that complete strangers in a place far from him were trying to figure out who he was felt unfamiliar. What if his identity was discovered? Even so, it didn't matter.
*'I've already raised my power to the level I wanted.'*
The reason he'd originally decided to hide his strength was the worry that someone might try to use him. But where was he now? He was at a level where he could shake off even Baek Yoon-Ho—the master of the Baek Guild and a S-rank Hunter himself. Before, that would have been completely unthinkable.
*'Even just making eye contact would have made my knees go weak back then.'*
A faint smile rose to Jin-Woo's lips. Times like these called for letting the memories wash over him over a drink. Ding.
[Harmful substances detected.] [Starting treatment with the effect of 'Buff: Detoxification'.] [3, 2, 1... Detoxification complete.]
Unfortunately, that was all he was allowed. Jin-Woo laughed bitterly. But the expression on his face after setting down his glass was more serious than ever.
*'Still, I have no intention of stopping here.'*
Jin-Woo brought up his Status Window. Ding.
[Name: Sung Jin-Woo] [Level: 61] [Class: Shadow Monarch] [Title: One Who Overcame Adversity (+1 more)] [HP: 13,001] [MP: 1,677] [Fatigue: 0]
[Stats] Strength: 142 Endurance: 101 Agility: 121 Intelligence: 89 Perception: 103 (Available stat points: 0) Physical Damage Reduction: 46%
Level 61. Thanks to investing every point earned from his Daily Quests, his Intelligence was now nearly 100.
*'Still a long way to go, though...'*
He could still climb higher. To somewhere even greater. Perhaps to a place no one had ever reached. The thought made his heart race. Starting with the Demon's Castle.
*'He did say there'd be items I want in there.'*
He recalled the first time he'd obtained a Blessed Random Box.
[Blessed Random Box] Provides the 'Player' with a desired item.
That was where the key to the Demon's Castle had come from. High-level monsters and spectacular rewards—he'd already confirmed both. He had no idea what awaited on the upper floors, but it probably wouldn't be much different. Now it was time to reap the harvest. He intended to go inside and stay for a few days. Jin-Woo had just one concern.
*'Once I'm in there, I won't be reachable...'*
What could he tell his brother? As he thought about coming up with a good excuse on the way home, Jin-Woo stood up. Tap, tap.
"Jin-Ho."
Tap, tap.
"Yoo Jin-Ho." "Mmph..."
He tried shaking him, even gave him a light smack, but Yoo Jin-Ho was completely dead to the world. What was he going to do with this guy?
*'The guy said he had to take the written exam at the Association tomorrow...'*
Exam or not, getting him home was the priority. Jin-Woo picked up Yoo Jin-Ho's phone.
"Famous chairmen and Yoo Jin-Sung are obviously out."
Who could he call to come get him so that Yoo Jin-Ho wouldn't face any fallout? As Jin-Woo racked his brain, one name caught his eye.
*'Yoo Su-Hyun?'*
This was someone he'd exchanged far more messages with than anyone else besides his father and brother. From the name, it looked like a woman...
He hesitated for a moment, considering calling her, then set the phone down.
*'Just in case.'*
Sure enough, the item he was looking for was there in the shop. Found it!
[Item: Status Recovery Potion] Acquisition Difficulty: E Type: Consumable A potion that restores your condition. Drink it to recover from abnormal status effects. Can be stored in the Inventory but cannot be transferred to others.
The moment he confirmed the purchase, a yellow vial appeared on the table. It was a bright color that contrasted sharply with the red of the Healing Potion and the blue of the Mana Potion. Jin-Woo glanced around, then quickly tilted Yoo Jin-Ho's head back and dripped the Status Recovery Potion into his mouth. In that instant, Yoo Jin-Ho's eyes snapped open.
"Hyung-nim?" "You awake?"
Tilted head. The elder brother looking down at him.
"Hyung-nim, what were you doing over there?" "..."
He couldn't think of a suitable explanation. When in doubt, play dumb.
"Let's go." "Yes, hyung-nim!"
Yoo Jin-Ho sprang to his feet and tilted his head.
'Huh? Why do I feel so refreshed?'
He stretched his body this way and that, then followed Jin-Woo out with a refreshed expression. Behind them, the news continued.
[Up next. The U.S. government continues to delay an official statement regarding the explosion that occurred at the Hunter's Management Bureau headquarters...]