Chapter 142
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: Suwon, Black Dragon Hunt - 1
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Lee Hyun-wook's sudden press conference naturally caused a massive stir.
- [Breaking News] Steel Rain Knows the Key to Defeating the Dragon? The Truth is...
First and foremost, an unprecedented amount of attention was focused on what his "certain method of attack" could be.
It wasn't dismissed as an empty boast. His track record of accomplishments served as proof.
However, Edward Woods's Slayers flatly denied it.
- Slayers Spokesperson: "Steel Rain's Claim Has Zero Credibility," Declares Refusal to Cooperate
- A More Certain Method Than the Dragon Slayer's? Is There Any Basis for Such a Claim?
All day, every media outlet chattered about the story, turning it into an ever-growing issue.
- Fierce Competition for Command of the Dragon Operation: Steel Rain vs. Dragon Slayer, Who Will Win?
The rivalry between the two sides intensified, and sparks began to fly long before the dragon even appeared.
And there were those who took a deeper, more vested interest in this fascinating conflict...
'Just as I thought, the gamblers are starting to smell money and flock in.'
Betting platforms all over the world began featuring the issue on their main pages.
A rivalry between famous Players was, more than anything, a thrilling subject.
And for it to be 'Steel Rain' and the 'Dragon Slayer' waging a media war over a dragon...
It was clear this would become a massive stage, one that could draw money from all over the world.
'This... I might actually make some money from this.'
Lee Hyun-wook also planned to have Park Cheol-su place a considerable amount in bets.
At this rate, the commotion might bring an unexpected profit.
But it seemed Hyun-wook wasn't the only one with that idea, as the stakes began to grow larger and larger.
***
"...I still remember that day vividly."
The Dragon Slayer, Edward Woods, sat in the study of a hotel suite. He gazed into the air with a somewhat melancholic expression as four cameras operated around him.
"Three years ago, in London... a giant, fire-breathing monster appeared..."
"—A dragon. The first appearance of an unprecedented being."
"Yes. It was a catastrophe beyond comparison."
He and the man sitting across from him, who appeared to be a producer, exchanged lines as if they had rehearsed.
"And now, you're facing a dragon for the second time. It's quite an ill-fated relationship."
"No, I don't think it's ill-fated. I believe it's destiny. This is the path I must walk."
They were in the middle of filming a promotional broadcast ahead of the dragon hunt.
A moment later, after the filming concluded, the producer smiled brightly and handed out his business cards to the guild members.
"Well then, we'll be back tomorrow to start filming the Slayers' preparations!"
His words revealed that this was more than just a simple promotional shoot.
They planned to turn this entire big event into a reality program.
"We're cheering for you, Slayers!"
"Crush that Steel Rain guy!"
As the cameramen left the hotel room, Amanda Anderson approached with a worried expression.
"Boss, is this really okay? A live broadcast... Won't it expose our team's strength?"
Edward Woods smiled faintly. His smile was filled with composure.
"I've already spoken with the platform's CEO. We'll be able to cut away at key moments."
"Ah, still... broadcasting a battle live is almost unheard of, so I'm honestly worried."
Battle scenes with monsters were often gruesome, which was why they were rarely aired on national television. Some internet platforms were granted permission to stream them, but major guilds were reluctant to be broadcast at all.
This was because the risk of exposing their strategies outweighed the promotional benefits.
In other words, Edward Woods was willing to take such a risk, betting a great deal on this contest.
"Steel Rain's inexplicable provocation... Honestly, I was worried on one hand, but on the other, it's turned out for the best."
He took a leisurely sip of coffee and looked out the window at Laputa.
"Steel Rain... he's shown incredible prowess until now..."
He spoke as he turned his head to look over his team members.
"If you were to pick the strongest Player today, there are far more skilled people than him. But the most famous Player... and the one who generates the most buzz is, without a doubt, Steel Rain, isn't it?"
A sharp glint appeared in his eyes.
"If we decisively beat him in this raid, our guild's reputation... will soar through the heavens."
The Slayers was one of the top guilds in Britain, but it didn't have much of a global reputation. But now, with the dragon raid, they had a chance to elevate their status through a method only they possessed.
As the master, he couldn't let this opportunity pass.
'To take down the first adult dragon and defeat a big shot like Steel Rain...'
A truly massive event, one that might never come again for the Slayers, had opened up.
***
In Laputa's Order Tower, Lee Hyun-wook, Kim Se-hee, Park Jun-mo, and Lee Jeong-jun sat on a sofa in front of a large TV.
- ...The Slayers guild has announced they will be live-streaming their dragon subjugation process on an internet platform, drawing public interest! Furthermore, they plan to produce a documentary of the process...
"What? A live broadcast and a documentary? Are they trying to turn this situation into a TV show or something?!"
Hearing the news, Kim Se-hee raised her voice, her displeasure evident.
"Aren't they just blatantly trying to embarrass you, Mr. Lee, and show off to the whole world?"
Honestly, Lee Hyun-wook understood, to some extent, why they were acting this way.
The Slayers guild, founded by Edward Woods, had its spiritual origins in the hunt for the young dragon in London. The survivors from that day had gathered, and the guild was established with the fame and fortune gained at that time.
In other words, for them, this dragon hunt would be a monumental event that would go down in their guild's history.
It was a natural desire to want to use this event to elevate their guild's name.
But the idea of using a situation where our country was being trampled for a broadcast couldn't help but be a little irritating.
"Those bastards, they talk about solidarity, but in the end, they're just looking out for themselves, aren't they?"
"Exactly! I can understand a documentary for archival purposes, but a live broadcast of a battle?"
Lee Jeong-jun and Kim Se-hee each took turns spewing curses at the Slayers guild.
But it was an undeniable fact that this disaster was already being consumed as entertainment.
A city might be wiped out, and countless people would inevitably die,
yet many would watch the process from their TVs, eating popcorn or chicken.
'Whether those viewers shed tears or feel elation... most of them are instinctively enjoying it.'
This phenomenon wasn't just a problem of today; it was akin to a fundamental human instinct.
Even before the game began, how did people view wars happening in distant foreign lands?
There were never a small number of people who watched with keen interest, wondering who would win and how.
It was an uncomfortable truth, but a disaster that didn't feel personal was all too easily converted into entertainment.
"Just a few days ago they were talking about solidarity, and now they're thinking of making a show? What a bunch of hypocrites!"
In any case, if they were truly determined to put on a show, Lee Hyun-wook was prepared to give them a spectacular one.
"...That show will be a huge success."
At Hyun-wook's words, everyone sitting in front of the TV turned their heads.
"Huh?"
"Yes?"
They all wore expressions that asked what he meant.
"And at the climax... we will be the ones standing there."
He rose from his seat and clapped his hands.
"Alright, let's start preparing step-by-step for the perfect surprise show."
At his command, everyone got up and began their assigned tasks.
It was all in preparation to execute the flawless strategy Lee Hyun-wook had devised.
'It looks like I'm going to unintentionally crush the Dragon Slayer's pride.'
Edward Woods was a good hero, but his pride as the Dragon Slayer was too strong.
After all, his current identity had been forged the moment he killed the young red dragon.
'If I mess with that, he won't turn into a Villain, will he?'
Lee Hyun-wook planned to steal the Dragon Slayer's show entirely.
***
Another seven days passed.
During that time, the Slayers guild steadily built up interest through intermittent broadcasts.
- Slayers Raid Team Interview Episode 2, Featuring the Bulwark of Wales, Amanda Anderson
- Slayers Announce They Will Introduce 'Dragon Weapons' on Broadcast, Capturing Global Attention
Public opinion gradually shifted to favor the Slayers over Steel Rain.
Along with this, the betting sites also began to predict a Slayers victory.
In short, a kind of media manipulation had begun.
'Good, let it lean more in that direction...'
For Lee Hyun-wook, who would be betting on himself, this was nothing but good news.
Around that time, Hyun-wook also received an offer to broadcast his preparation process.
The CEO of a domestic internet broadcasting platform came to him and proposed a contract with excellent terms.
He tried to persuade Hyun-wook, saying that if they put their full promotional power behind it, he could easily earn tens of billions.
But Lee Hyun-wook flatly refused.
'A dragon, of all things... I can't create distractions when I need to focus every ounce of my attention.'
As a result, rumors began to circulate that Steel Rain was blocking filming because he had something to hide.
It was likely that the internet broadcasting company, having been rejected, was spreading malicious rumors.
- Slayers vs. Steel Rain, the World's Choice Increasingly Leans Towards Slayers...
Reading such news articles, Lee Hyun-wook hoped the scales would tip even more steeply.
Two days later, the Slayers alliance established a forward base in southern Suwon and began to station their troops.
Lee Hyun-wook and his retinue remained in Laputa, waiting for the right moment.
'There's no information on exactly when the dragon gate will open.'
According to Donald Harris's prophecy, it would be within 30 days from that point.
'Today is the 21st day since then, so the gate should open soon.'
Despite not having that information, the Slayers, as veteran Players, moved at the appropriate time.
Using their past experiences as big data, they sensed that some critical point had been reached.
- [Breaking News] Slayers Alliance Deploying All Raid Forces to Southern Gyeonggi Province (1st Report)
In line with the atmosphere, an emergency evacuation order was issued for the entirety of South Korea ahead of time.
All residents of southern Gyeonggi, the predicted battlefield, had no choice but to evacuate to the south.
And tens of thousands of A.M.T. troops surrounded the southern Gyeonggi area, setting up a blockade.
The Slayers' broadcast also shifted its focus from self-promotion to darkly highlighting the tragedy that would befall Korea. A scene was broadcast showing Edward Woods on top of a building, looking down at the stream of Korean evacuees.
- ...It is truly a tragedy. This disaster must be brought to an end as quickly as possible.
The sense of anticipation that had felt like a grand festival just days ago was replaced overnight by intense tension. As if matching the mood, the sky turned a gloomy gray, casting a dark light over everything.
Rumble—
The urban center of southern Gyeonggi came to a cold standstill.
However, the world's broadcasting industry alone continued to burn hot.
And 36 hours later, finally, a change began in the Suwon area.
- Warning! The invasion of the 'Angra Mainyu Legion' is about to begin in this area!
A warning system message appeared before the eyes of every Player in the vicinity...
At this, everyone's attention turned to Suwon, and every Player began to move toward the city.
***
Like an omen of disaster, the Korean peninsula remained shrouded in dark clouds.
- Well, it looks like we'll be talking about this topic all day again.
- That's right. We don't know when the dragon will appear, so we're on constant standby.
- Hahaha— You said it. I haven't been able to sleep lately because of this.
The famous American Player talk show, <Kill the Monster>, was also providing intensive coverage of the event.
Currently, Tyrone Thompson, the 5th ranked Player in the US, was on the show, providing live commentary.
- Now, if you look behind me, you can see the troop movements of the Slayers alliance in the Suwon area.
On the large screen behind them, a map of Suwon was displayed along with the Slayers alliance's deployment chart.
- A total of 1,561 members. Over 80% of them are B-rank Players or higher, an incredible force. And the majority of them are scouting the Suwon area, trying to be the first to find the gate.
At that moment, the screen changed to show a picture of Steel Rain.
- However... we have no idea where Steel Rain's forces are. They haven't been seen for days.
- Hmm, if I were to guess the reason, I'd say he's given up on the initial search. Since the Slayers alliance has overwhelmingly more troops, he's probably conceded the initial response to them.
As such speculation circulated on a major broadcast, public criticism of Steel Rain intensified.
His failure to make any significant gesture in this thrilling show was bound to earn him disapproval.
It was like a boxer being booed for being too passive in a match.
Meanwhile, the place with the most viewers was, by far, the Slayers guild's official broadcast.
- [LIVE] Slayers Dragon Raid OFFICIAL (VIEW: 11,194,551)
It was because it was the one and only channel where you could see the dragon raid unfold in the most vivid detail.
Right now, Edward Woods himself was on screen, driving up the viewership.
He stood on the rooftop of a building, looking down at the Suwon city center.
"Uh— DS, if you're not too busy, I'd like to ask a question."
From off-screen, at the PD's question, DS—the Dragon Slayer—nodded his head.
"The dragon appearing this time is a black dragon. What kind of attributes do you think it will have?"
This was a scripted question, a piece of stage direction meant to highlight his image as a dragon expert.
"Well, as is known, the type of dragon varies by its color. The dragon I killed in London was a 'Red,' possessing the authority of flame. And a black dragon, I predict..."
He paused for a moment before continuing his explanation, when a shout came from somewhere.
"—It's open!"
The only thing that could be opening right now... was, of course, a gate.
The camera swiveled to focus on the direction the voice had come from.
A man burst through the rooftop door, running breathlessly.
"The, the gates— F-five of them opened simultaneously in one location!"
Five simultaneous gates... had such a thing ever existed outside of a Wave?
At the news, every member of the Slayers guild felt a sharp tension, awaiting their orders.
"Boss, take a look at this."
Edward Woods's second-in-command brought over a tablet PC.
Its screen was connected to the camera of a mana drone several kilometers away.
The broadcast feed switched to the drone camera's point of view.
Wooooosh—
Somewhere in the southern part of Suwon's city center, five gates had opened, spaced about 500 meters apart.
Five shimmering purple distortions... and something was pouring out from within them.
Leading the charge were six Twin-Headed Ogres.
Following them, building-sized elephants marched out in a line, with black-furred Gnolls riding on their backs.
Behind them, red-skinned Trolls clad in iron armor appeared in formation.
This was merely the opening act, but it was a prelude so spectacular that it could make one forget about the main dish, the dragon.
"...The Angra Mainyu Legion. So that's them."
Edward Woods tore his eyes from the screen and looked up, and the camera returned to him.
A very urgent situation, but Edward Woods's expression was calm. Cheers erupted in the broadcast's chat window.
He slowly drew the spear slung across his back... the Dragon Spear.
Then, with a determined expression, he turned to face the executives of the Slayers alliance.
"Everyone, the time has come. From this moment, we begin the dragon subjugation operation—"
But his voice was cut off by a woman's sharp interjection.
"—He arrived first!"
It was, without a doubt, the worst possible blooper.
A blooper that completely ruined this magnificent scene.
But the noise didn't stop there.
"S-Steel Rain! He, he has arrived on the scene!"
For a moment, it felt as if the broadcast had frozen.
Edward Woods, caught alone on camera, didn't move, and no one spoke.
A heavy silence, as they say. A sudden chill in the atmosphere. That feeling filled the screen.
'How... so quickly...'
It was an overwhelmingly fast arrival, as if he already knew exactly where the gates would appear.
With this, their first plan—to overwhelm Steel Rain from the start and break his momentum—had gone up in smoke. A heavy silence fell for a moment among the Slayers executives who knew this fact.
"......."
After a long moment of silence, Edward Woods looked at the camera as if nothing had happened.
The entire world was watching this situation. And this scene would be remembered for a long, long time.
If he showed any sign of panic here, he would become a laughingstock.
"This was not unexpected. This is Korea, Steel Rain's home ground."
He smiled leisurely. He had more than enough quick-wittedness to handle a blooper.
"Now! We must not forget that our target is the dragon."
"Ah, so you didn't rush on purpose?"
The PD asked, but he didn't answer. He simply smiled faintly once more.
"The dragon won't appear during the first wave anyway. And no matter how much steel rain he can summon, he won't be able to handle the first wave that quickly. And rather..."
He turned his head to look at the Suwon cityscape and frowned slightly.
"...I'm worried he might get himself into trouble by being too hasty. We should also move out quickly."
His tone was one of concern for his competitor, Steel Rain.
But just then, another scene unfolded.
"Uh... Boss, a communication has come in through the Mana Messenger."
Edward Woods's second-in-command approached hesitantly, holding a Mana Messenger.
"Yes? From whom?"
"Uh, it's, it's..."
Though not a single word was mentioned, everyone—everyone watching this broadcast—knew.
Steel Rain. He had contacted the Dragon Slayer.
"......."
He didn't know what this scheme was, but since they were live, he couldn't refuse the call.
And taking the call privately, off-air, would look very strange.
- *Ksssh*— This is Lee Hyun-wook.
And so, his voice rang out on the Slayers' broadcast.
- I'm giving you a warning in advance, just in case.
"......."
- For a while, I advise you to stay away from the vicinity of the gates.
"Excuse me? What do you mean by that?"
- I'm letting you know so you don't get caught up in my attack.
"Hmm... we are well aware of Steel Rain's firepower, but I wonder. I'm not sure if it will work this time."
The steel rain was impressive, but it wasn't powerful enough to kill Twin-Headed Ogres or Gray Trolls.
Nor could he detonate a massive number of landmines like he did on Ganghwa Island.
"I assume you're planning to drop a Mjolnir from a low altitude, but honestly, that too..."
- I have given my warning. Well then, I wish you luck.
And with that, the Mana Messenger communication ended.
A one-sided notification... he had suddenly barged in, completely ruined the magnificent picture, and then vanished.
Finally, Edward Woods's eyebrows twitched twice, noticeably.
Just then—
"—Something strange has been detected on our northern mana sensors!"
Another blooper began.
"An incredibly large mana-powered flying object appears to be flying above the clouds!"
Above the clouds. Come to think of it, the sky was completely covered in dark clouds.
"...Excuse me? Has the black dragon already appeared?"
one of the executives asked, but Edward Woods shook his head.
"That can't be it. Isn't it Lee Hyun-wook's Steel Fleet? Hah— was this it?"
But...
"...No, it's neither of those. Something much bigger is approaching."
At those words, everyone held their breath and looked up at the northern sky.
A moment later...
Gwooooooooh—
Parting the thick, dark clouds like a blackout curtain, what appeared was none other than...
"N-no way..."
The flying city, Laputa.
Gwooooooooh—
The massive object, caked with dark clouds, manifested within sight, above the city.
The Steel Fleet hovered majestically around it, matching its speed.
It felt like watching an aircraft carrier and the escort ships that surrounded it, an entire carrier strike group.
In that moment, people all over the world realized.
The famous Laputa was always floating in the sky.
Meaning, it was a being that could fly more freely than anything else.
They had simply failed to recognize it because it had never once moved until now.
The first long-distance flight of a Transcendent-grade object. Its purpose was...
Azi Dahaka, the black dragon hunt.