๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐: ๐-๐๐๐ง๐ค ๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐
“S-Rank Gate? But in our country, such a Gate has never been. . . .”
Kang Yeo-hwa was unable to finish her sentence.
Another name for an S-Rank Gate is ‘Great Calamity.’
No matter how advanced a nation is or how many Hunters it possesses, when it comes to an S-Rank Gate, all nations react the same.
As if an unavoidable catastrophe had arrived.
“According to official reports up to this point, there have been a total of about nine S-Rank Gates throughout all the countries.”
Kim Eun-ju displayed a world map on the screen.
Two red dots and three yellow dots were marked on the map in sequence.
“As you know, one country in South America and one in Africa were destroyed, and one country in Europe, one in Western Asia, and one in the Middle East went bankrupt.”
“Hmm~ That means the other four nations were safe. Isn’t it a fifty-fifty chance?”
Ryu Ji-hwan retorted as if asking what the big deal was.
“Hunter Ryu Ji-hwan, for the meeting to proceed smoothly. . . .”
“Shut~ up~.”
At that moment, a cute-looking woman with a bob cut muttered.
“That’s right~.”
Ryu Ji-hwan glared at her with murderous eyes.
Ranked 4th in the Republic of Korea and the head of the [Limitless Guild], the S+ rank Hunter, Gi Il-yeon.
She was a petite woman less than 160 cm tall, but Ryu Ji-hwan did not carelessly approach her.
The difference between S-Rank and S+ rank was just one plus (+).
However, the depth and boundary were not easily bridgeable.
Thanks to Gi Il-yeon’s restraint, Kim Eun-ju was able to continue her explanation.
“Yes, if we could prevent it, that would be best. However, the nations that safely overcame an S-Rank Gate were none other than the United States, Russia, Japan, and China. All of them are nations with immense capital and a considerable number of skilled Hunters.”
When preparing for such a terrible disaster, capital was just as important as the number of Hunters.
That was because they could request aid from other nations or quickly recover from the damage if any occurred.
“But if our nation also defends well, won’t we be okay? I think we are considered to be among the advanced nations in terms of the number of Hunters and capital.”
Choi Sung-il cautiously voiced his opinion.
“That’s right. We have three S+ rank Hunters, and we also have President Choi Dae-soo, an SS-Rank Hunter.”
Min Si-joon also chimed in as if agreeing with Choi Sung-il’s opinion.
Although Choi Dae-soo was not to his liking, he was undeniably a national asset, separate from his personal feelings.
“President Choi Dae-soo cannot enter the Gate.”
“Why. . . ?”
“That’s obvious. Because he’s the President.”
In response to Min Si-joon’s question, it was not Kim Eun-ju but Do Kyung-hoo who answered.
“Who doesn’t know that Choi Dae-soo is strong? However, the President is the head of a nation’s administration. He is someone that Hunters should protect, not someone who fights on the front lines.”
“Hunter Do Kyung-hoo’s words are correct. Also, there must be someone to protect Seoul in case of an emergency.”
Several people fell deep into thought at those words.
Entering an unprecedented S-Rank Gate without the Republic of Korea’s strongest forces was a bigger blow than they had thought.
“There’s no helping it. First, we have no choice but to try on our own. Have we requested aid from neighboring countries?”
“Yes, we have made the request, however. . . .”
“That’s good. Which countries have agreed to come?”
Do Kyung-hoo asked again, and Kim Eun-ju hesitated before continuing with a sigh.
“There are none.”
๐ท๐ท๐ท๐ท๐ท๐ท
๐๐ธ๐๐ฃ๐ด๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐.แดศฏฬแด
Shortly before the [Heptagram] meeting.
After a meeting hosted by the Japanese Cabinet Office, Seigen returned to his family’s residence and fell into contemplation.
Rather than a meeting, it was closer to a one-sided announcement.
‘๐ฟ๐ค ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ฃ๐ซ๐ค๐ก๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ง๐๐-๐จ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐จ๐ค๐ค๐ฃ ๐ค๐๐๐ช๐ง ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ค๐ง๐๐.’
Until now, it had been customary or not, but it had been taken for granted that they would help each other in emergency situations.
But now?
Seigen stroked his beard while drinking green tea.
His sharp eyes gleamed even more fiercely under the moonlight.
Moreover, if one were to carefully consider the Cabinet Minister’s words, there was the nuance that Japan had learned about the opening of the S-Rank Gate before Korea.
“. . . . . . Was Japan’s detection ability simply better?”
Or perhaps there was another source that provided the information.
“Takeomi.”
“Yes!”
Seigen’s aide, who had been hiding in the darkness, revealed himself.
“I need you to contact Hikari.”
“Yes. Do you mean the next head of the family?”
“Yes. I think I should tell her to be careful since an S-Rank Gate will open.”
“Yes.”
Seigen stared at the teacup with floating tea leaves and muttered as if to himself.
“My granddaughter just happens to be in Korea. I can’t help it even if ‘coincidentally’ the Korean HSIU learns about this information.”
Seigen glanced at Takeomi.
Takeomi nodded after understanding his master’s intentions and quietly disappeared.
“I guess this is as far as I can go. Even if I am one of the 20, it would not be good to defy the government.”
Seigen recalled the ‘Kyoto S-Rank Gate’ that he had participated in seven years ago.
It was a natural disaster.
Numerous Hunters died or were seriously injured.
Although the Japanese government currently held the 20 in high regard, the truth was that Japan would not have been safe without the help of other nations.
The things he encountered there. . . the monstrous beings of that great calamity. . . .
Even after visiting countless A-Rank Gates, he had never encountered a monster that could compare to the one he had encountered at the S-Rank Gate.
I wonder if there is a Hunter in Korea who can prevent that disaster.
“Choi Dae-soo or Do Kyung-hoo. . . it seems like it would be difficult with just the other [Heptagram] members.”
At that moment, the face of a certain person crossed his mind.
“If Min Siwoo was there, it might be okay.”
But didn’t they say he had gone to the HSIU headquarters?
Seigen looked up at the sky with a slightly worried expression.
๐ท๐ท๐ท๐ท๐ท๐ท
ฬศงฬ๐ ๐๐๐คแนซฬ๐ค๐iฬฬ๐๐ฌ.๐๐ฌแด
ใGerman Hunter Associationใ.
The Association President, Rolf Bangenhelm, had been fiddling with his unlit pipe for a long time.
The most concerning news he had heard recently had come in a little while ago.
Knock knock.
The person who entered after the knock was Layla, the head of the [Stahl Guild].
“You called.”
She gave a perfunctory greeting and sat on the sofa that Rolf had guided her to.
“I came in a hurry because you said it was urgent. . . . What on earth is it?”
“Layla. If something happened in another country, would you go to help?”
“That’s a very sudden question. . . . If there’s an order, I will.”
Layla frowned as if wondering what kind of question this was.
Rolf was not someone who made useless jokes.
He must have had an intention for saying such a thing.
“What if there was no order?”
“I’m not sure, but I think it would depend on what I could do to help.”
“Then let me ask you one more thing.”
“Yes.”
“Could you risk your life for people who are completely unrelated to you?”
“. . . . . . .”
Layla was unable to answer right away.
She was in the position of being the Guild Leader of a Guild and having to cover her uncle’s hospital bills.
Furthermore, she was past the age of giving idealistic answers.
“I don’t know.”
“Yes, that’s an honest answer.”
Rolf sat in the upper seat and let out a long sigh.
“What’s going on?”
“News has come that an S-Rank Gate is likely to open in another country.”
“An S-Rank Gate. . . . Is it a neighboring country?”
“No. It’s a place that’s a bit far from us.”
Layla nodded.
“Then we should be on alert in case of an emergency. Even if it’s far away, some monsters can fly.”
“Yes, that’s what we should do first. Our nation’s safety comes first.”
Rolf gripped his pipe and paced back and forth with an anxious expression.
She realized intuitively that he was avoiding and evading the important part.
“Which country is it?”
At Layla’s question, Rolf was silent for a moment.
It was not that he was trying to hide or conceal anything in particular.
It was just that he did not want to worry her, who was like a niece to him.
“It’s Korea.”
“Ko. . . . When is it supposed to open?!”
As Rolf had expected, she reacted emotionally.
“It seems like there are only a few hours left.”
“Then is the defense there doing well? Since it’s a neighboring country. . . how much support are China and Japan providing? What about the United States?”
“There are none.”
“. . . . . . What?”
“They say there’s nowhere to send support.”
Layla had a look on her face as if she had been hit in the back of the head.
An S-Rank Gate was not simply a personal problem of one nation.
It was an important event that could become the spark of a problem for neighboring nations or even the continent or the world.
But no one was providing support?
“Why on earth??”
“The United States and China seem to be reluctant to send troops due to the current issue with Taiwan, and Japan has apparently issued a prohibition order at the government level.”
Layla bit her lip.
What on earth were they doing in this situation where hundreds of millions of people could die if the Gate was not suppressed?
“Is it the government’s decision?”
“We haven’t received a request from them yet.”
“I see.”
She abruptly got up from her seat.
“I’m going.”
“Layla.”
“I’m not going as part of the government.”
“. . . . . . .”
“I’m going for a friend who saved my life.”
“If it’s an S-Rank Gate, you might have to risk your life this time.”
“Do you think that friend thought about such things when he saved me? I’m going.”
Layla bowed her head to Rolf.
“Layla.”
At that moment, Rolf’s voice stopped her.
“Don’t tell me you’re going to stop me. . . ?”
“No. Wait a minute.”
He began making a phone call somewhere.
“Hello. This is Rolf Bangenhelm. Assemble the executives belonging to the Association. Yes, right now.”
After hanging up the phone, Rolf loosened his tie and smiled faintly at the dazed Layla.
“If I can create a debt for President Choi Dae-soo, I welcome it.”
๐ท๐ท๐ท๐ท๐ท๐ท
แดแบฬ๐ฆแธฬ๐ฐ๐ฉศฏฬ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฌ.๐๐๐ฎ
Siwoo woke up to the sound of someone knocking on his door.
It was still a little early for morning.
He sat up and washed his face with cold water.
When he opened the door, Edwin was standing there with a pale face.
“What’s wrong?”
“First, wash up and get dressed.”
“. . . . . . ?”
Siwoo washed up briefly, came out quickly, and changed his clothes.
In the meantime, room service had arrived and breakfast was served on the table.
“What’s going on all of a sudden?”
“Since there’s still some time until our flight, eat while you listen.”
At Edwin’s words, Siwoo cut and ate waffles and bacon without knowing what was going on.
Western food for breakfast? They might as well have given him kimchi with cup ramen.
ใ๐๐ซ๐จ~๐๐ง. . . ๐ ๐๐๐ง’๐ญ ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ฒ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐. . . .ใ
Pre drooled heavily on Siwoo’s shoulder and yawned.
“That guy eats well and sleeps well. Anyway, haa~ there’s a problem.”
“What’s the problem now?”
“It’s not my problem, it’s yours.”
“What is it?”
Siwoo asked while drinking his morning coffee.
“I came here as soon as I heard the reportใ ก an S-Rank Gate has appeared in Korea.”
“What??”
“Calm down.”
“How strong is it?”
“. . . . . . .”
Come to think of it, there were no ranks for Gates in the past, so he might not know.
“Have you ever entered an A-Rank Gate?”
“Uh~ I think they said the place I went to to pick up Yeo-hwa was A-Rank, maybe.”
“If an A-Rank is a Guild-level matter, then an S-Rank is a ‘national disaster’ level.”
“Is that so.”
“You. . . aren’t you worried?”
Edwin was taken aback by Siwoo’s overly calm reaction.
Numerous nations were currently entering a state of emergency due to this news.
“I’m a little worried.”
“But why are you reacting like that?”
“What’s the point of being anxious now? It’s not like the plane will leave any faster.”
“. . . . . . .”
“And don’t ignore my disciples.”
Siwoo got up from his seat.
“The flight is about 14 hours, right?”
“Usually, yes. But I got the fastest ticket available.”
“It’s too slow.”
Siwoo, who had been muttering, looked at Pre who was hanging from his shoulder and sleeping.
“Edwin. Can I ask you a favor?”
“What is it?”
“Just lend me an empty lot and a few magic stones.”