Chapter 98
Chapter 98
Civil Servant Hunter’s S-class Resignation Log – Chapter 98
"No way Wei Hu would show up for something like this. Is it Lu Enwei?"
Lu Enwei. The Chinese L-rank Awakener who'd attended the WDO conference.
"No way an L-rank who isn't even S-rank would come, right?"
"S-ranks are plenty with just the ones from Japan anyway."
"We'll find out when we get there."
As the yacht drew closer, a Japanese Association hunter on one of the ships bowed his head.
"We welcome the Awakener representatives from Korea. Thank you for making the trip. Would you mind coming aboard briefly to talk?"
The four of them, along with Jung Tae-seok who'd come along as support, lightly hopped onto the Japanese vessel. Everyone else aside from them had already arrived on deck.
"I'm Do Jun-young from the Korean Association's Management Office. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Murasaki Ybe, representing Japan. Thank you for responding to our request."
Murasaki was one of Japan's top S-rank hunters. And yet, he was showing an unprecedented level of courtesy.
Yoon Se-ra could really feel how the appearance of three L-ranks had changed everything. And the fact that one of them was her made her the proudest of all.
"I haven't heard anything about China joining in, though."
Do Jun-young's gaze shifted to the man standing behind Murasaki with the Chinese public security officers. It was definitely Lu Enwei, the one she'd seen in America.
"I wasn't planning to at first. But when I heard Korea's Headbang was stepping up, curiosity got the better of me."
Lu Enwei approached. Her eyes passed over Do Jun-young and scanned the four Koreans from head to toe.
"So where's Headbang? Don't tell me she's coming separately?"
Murasaki, who'd been listening in, looked a bit flustered.
"We're about to enter the dungeon soon. You're not planning to act independently just to hide your identity, are you?"
Of course not. She'd been counting down the days until she could strut her stuff in front of them.
Se-ra, who'd been playing the part of an ordinary Association employee, finally schooled her expression and stepped up beside Do Jun-young.
Ah, to think the day would come when she'd have to announce it herself.
"Hello. Nice to meet you all. I'm Yoon Se-ra, also known as Headbang."
The bastard who came up with that nickname, she would never forgive them.
"...What did you say?"
Lu Enwei's eyes went wide at the bold greeting. The others reacted the same way.
The kidnapping incident had spread far and wide via live broadcast, so the Japanese hunters knew her face well too.
"You're supposed to be Headbang's agent! That's what they said at the WDO too!"
"That's me. It was my first time at the WDO conference, so I disguised myself to observe quietly."
"Disguised? So the reason you seemed F-rank was..."
"Because of my adult form's ability. But if you still can't believe it, I can show you."
Se-ra looked up at empty air. At some point, whenever she tilted her head back like this to sense the Administrator's presence, she could feel his gaze.
It was the same now.
'Administrator. Please lift the Blessing 'Silver Veil.''
It was the first time. The first since her reawakening that she'd let her energy out without hiding it.
And now it wasn't even against an S-rank, but an L-rank. She had no idea what it would feel like.
With the system message, the veil that had shrouded Se-ra vanished, revealing everything.
She exhaled deeply, pushing out everything she'd been holding back, and a refreshing sensation wrapped around her body first. She deliberately didn't rein in her power at all, letting it all flood out.
Se-ra gazed straight ahead with a faint smile.
"... "
"... "
"... "
Silence dominated the group.
How could anyone even describe this?
She was just breathing, yet it felt like facing a massive wave with nothing but her bare body. Lu Enwei choked up at the illusion of being swept away by a storm.
She was definitely the same rank, so what the hell was this energy?
She'd never felt anything like it from Ali, Julian, or even Wei Hu.
The shock of facing the ultimate powerhouse made Lu Enwei instinctively step back. Everyone S-rank and below looked pale as death. Japanese and Koreans alike.
'...My choice was right.'
Kang Se-jun clenched his fist at the sight of Se-ra emanating the greatest presence on the deck, more than anyone else.
He was glad he'd chosen not to be hostile when they first met. Glad he'd heeded Baek Hee-won's advice and groveled before her.
With her by his side, maybe this time he really could restore peace to the world.
Memories of everything he'd swallowed alone flashed before his eyes, emotions surging. Kang Se-jun bit his lip hard.
"Does that prove it about me? Or should I show you my skills too?"
Se-ra smiled brightly, and Lu Enwei flinched back. The public security officers behind her didn't look much better.
Se-ra snorted and neatly reined in her energy before looking at the dazed Murasaki.
"Japan's sending five S-ranks, right? The external reinforcements are just us and Hunter Lu Enwei."
"Y-yes, that's correct."
His tone had grown even more polite.
"I checked with the WDO, and apparently this is the first time a gate has appeared over the ocean instead of on land."
"That's right. If the Korean side hadn't tipped us off, we probably would've had a hard time finding it. Thank you again."
"We got lucky. But luck might not hold inside the dungeon."
Murasaki tensed as Se-ra seriously examined the gate.
"What do you mean by that?"
"It's the first gate over the ocean, and a Grade 1 at that. High chance it's a dangerous dungeon. You think so too, right, Mr. Kang Se-jun?"
"Yeah."
Se-ra tossed it naturally, and Kang Se-jun caught it smoothly. He couldn't give details, but he had to warn them of the danger ahead of time.
"There might be some tricky monsters."
"The boss mob could be a Magical Beast. We'd better prepare."
"Or maybe spirits. Do all the S-rank hunters have mental barrier skills?"
"Ghost types rarely show up... You think they might?"
"Ghost types often appear in special dungeons. Like rift dungeons or higher-grade ones above Grade 2. The rift dungeon I got caught in a few months ago was a den of spirits. Given it's the first over the ocean and Grade 1, I think ghost types are very possible."
Murasaki frowned as Se-ra chimed in. It made sense, but he still couldn't fully buy it.
She couldn't very well yell, 'Everything in there's a ghost! Follow quietly if you don't wanna die!' so Se-ra just let it be.
She'd warned them. Whatever happened next was on them.
"Not everyone has a mental barrier, but since we don't know what's inside, let's head in."
Se-ra and Kang Se-jun offered no more advice. Any more would just make them suspicious.
"Before we go, could you share Hunter Lu Enwei's abilities? We had a video call with the Japanese side a few days ago, but we don't know anything about you."
"I use spear arts. Not a tank, dealer."
To Se-ra's question, Lu Enwei answered surprisingly straightforwardly. Se-ra had expected arrogance like 'Doesn't matter for you lot,' based on her attitude so far. Good thing it wouldn't waste time.
"No healing abilities?"
"Nope."
"Then please take the front with Guild Master Jeong Ho-young. Main healer Shirabu will stay mid with Mr. Kang Se-jun, and I'll handle the rear. Everyone else as discussed in the video call. Any objections?"
Se-ra had seamlessly taken command, but no one objected. It had been decided the moment she revealed her power.
With even Lu Enwei staying quiet, Se-ra smiled and headed to the edge of the deck.
"Shall we?"
A blue-shimmering gate rippled over the ocean surface, a short distance from the ship.
She'd only handled the Magical Beasts that broke out back at Cheolwon, so this was her first time facing a real Grade 1 gate. An enormous mana made her body tingle.
"Gear up. Entering the dungeon."
She donned the Jacket of Revival and Unique Gloves, then drew Heat. People who recognized the jacket widened their eyes in admiration.
Se-ra casually held it out for them to see better.
"Good luck."
With Jung Tae-seok's send-off as support staff, everyone leaped into the gate.
The name was bad luck right off the bat. Everyone's faces hardened as they checked the message.
"Looks like the worst-case scenario."
Nightmare. What gave people nightmares? Facing strong monsters could be called a nightmare, but that was usually metaphorical.
True nightmares came from evil spirits. Meaning the master here was a ghost type.
"Anyone without a mental barrier, back out now."
They hadn't been detected by monsters yet, so they could still exit the gate. At Do Jun-young's warning, two Japanese hunters exchanged glances. Murasaki sighed and gestured, and they finally left.
"...It really is a ghost-type dungeon."
Murasaki flushed, embarrassed at his lingering doubt.
"From now on, no scattering. If anyone acts strangely, the person next to them wakes them up. If that's hard, knock 'em out."
With Guild Master Jeong Ho-young's advice specialized for ghost types, the eight hunters began walking down the narrow, dark path.