13
Chapter 13
Pohang City, South Korea, where Parang lived. The sea directly adjacent to it. It was the well-known East Sea.
Heading north from there along the coastline and past the Sea of Okhotsk revealed a sea enclosed by Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula to the west, the United States' Alaska to the east, and the sweeping curve of the Aleutian Islands to the south.
The Bering Sea. The northernmost sea of the Pacific Ocean, bordering the Arctic Ocean.
The roughly 100 km-long strait separating the Arctic and the Bering Sea was called the Bering Strait, and the 3rd point of the Arctic Ocean was located here.
Parang used the Warp Gate located in Wales, Alaska, to travel to the 3rd point of the Arctic Ocean, at a depth of 3 km.
Given its location, the Bering Sea was incredibly cold. Parang turned her Diving Suit's heating function up to the maximum.
Even so, it was still a bit chilly.
The Bering Strait's average depth was about 30 to 50 meters. Normally, it would have been impossible to set a meeting point at a depth of 3 km, but...
For some reason, the underwater topography of this World was completely different from Earth's. By some coincidence, only the topography of the seas surrounding South Korea—with a shallow West Sea and a deep East Sea—remained similar to reality.
Naturally, Parang had no idea why either.
And right in the middle of this World's Bering Strait was a 3 km deep oceanic trench.
Its shape resembled a sinkhole more than a trench, but for convenience, it was called the Bering Trench.
Swimming diligently toward the meeting point, Parang caught sight of the Bering Trench.
It looked as if someone had pushed their finger deep into the ground. A dark Hole unnaturally sunken amidst the gentle plains.
Parang stood on the seafloor and peered down into it for a moment.
Darkness.
The inside of the Hole was so dark it felt alien.
Only gurgling bubbles rose from deep below.
Without hesitation, Parang dove into the Hole, as if taking another plunge while already underwater.
And then she descended, descended, descended at a crazy speed.
She naturally encountered a few Monster Fishes on the way, but her priority was getting there, so she ignored them and kept going.
However, the heavens were indifferent. Despite rushing all the way, Parang ended up arriving dead last.
And the world was always harsh on the last place.
'Seriously....'
At the bottom of the Bering Trench. Parang stared ahead with an incredibly aggrieved expression.
Parang was locked inside a prison.
Not metaphorically, but an actual iron-barred prison.
Still, because it was placed right in front of a hydrothermal vent, it was warm and somewhat comfortable.
No, it wasn't comfortable at all. Parang stomped her feet.
"Come on, I'm not even late, I just arrived last!"
Regardless, the five sitting outside the prison remained unmoved.
Six chairs and one prison were arranged in a circle around the hydrothermal vent on the Floor.
Five people sitting in chairs, and one person locked in a prison.
It felt like a congressional hearing.
"Reflect on your actions."
A woman with long white hair wearing an old Soviet military uniform glared at Parang.
Every time Parang saw it, she wondered where the woman had gotten it. The preservation condition was even immaculate.
"Hey, are you really the one to say that?!"
Parang was now swinging her arms around wildly.
Seeing that sight, a burly, muscular man next to them let out a sigh.
"Parang, how many times have I told you to fix that habit of sleeping underwater? South Korea is even closer than where I am, yet you're late every time."
"Argh...!!"
In truth, they weren't genuinely angry. She wasn't even late. Why would they be mad?
However, since everyone was confident in their swimming speed, a culture of teasing the last person to arrive at the meeting spot had simply taken root.
Parang also cheerfully teased others when they were last.
It was just that this time, Parang felt genuinely wronged.
"It's because you interfered, Elvira!!"
Parang pointed at the woman in the Soviet military uniform.
It was true. Elvira, who arrived right after Parang dove into the trench, had—
"Elvira? Uh...!!"
Kaboom-!!
"Ouch!!"
—summoned a Naval Mine five meters in diameter right in front of Parang's eyes, using the distraction of the explosion to overtake her.
"Bleh."
She hadn't forgotten to teabag her either.
"Whether you were interfered with or not, last is last. Just stay in there today."
Pushing an angry person's buttons was the most fun thing in the world. It was even more so if it was a close friend they had known for years.
A slender woman with a red bobbed haircut sat with her legs crossed and threw a word at Parang.
Her hair was so starkly red that the color was visible even underwater; as it swayed, it looked like her Head was on fire.
A black-haired girl with bun buns, wearing a black Dress, added her own comment.
"Bertea is right. If there's a Naval Mine right in front of you, you just have to dodge it, right? I think Parang is at fault. How can you be a B-Rank Hunter and get blocked by a C-Rank?"
She spoke incredibly fluently in South Korean, a language she shouldn't have been used to.
Thanks to Hunter Han Siwoo, who wasn't exactly a source of pride, the South Korean language currently held the position of the World's common tongue. Thanks to that, Parang was spared the trouble of studying foreign languages.
"Xiao, you're just saying that because I teased you about your rank last time, right?"
"Yeah, I am. If you hate it, don't be late."
Xiao never let anyone have the last word. Being teased for being a D-Rank last time must have felt incredibly unfair to her.
"Alright, now that everyone has said their piece, let's get to the main topic. Why did you call us together?"
The red-haired woman called Bertea spoke.
Strictly speaking, there was one person who hadn't spoken, but regrettably, Diego still couldn't speak underwater.
Wearing a thick Decompression Diving Suit for the Deep Sea that covered his entire body, he merely nodded his head as if feeling a bit left out.
Anyway. They had gathered to work, so they had to work.
All eyes focused on Elvira, who had issued the summons.
Parang also briefly assessed the mood before bending the iron bars to step out and sit on a chair.
Thus, the six Hunters, sitting in a circle around the hydrothermal vent at the Floor of the Bering Trench, began their meeting.
#
"A few Sperm Whales underwent Mutation again."
Elvira glanced around at the group and dropped the news.
Xiao rubbed her forehead at those words. Showing such a displeased reaction meant she found it annoying.
Parang also disliked hunting Sperm Whales.
"How many are there?"
Parang crossed her legs. She couldn't help but relax a bit in front of them.
"Six."
"How could they perfectly match our numbers for their Mutation? We can't even slack off."
Bertea slumped over with her eyes half-closed.
On the other hand, Russell's eyes sparkled as he asked.
"What's their size?"
Looking closely, Parang noticed that Russell's Teeth were pointed like a Shark's. It meant he was excited.
"Three at 300 meters, two at 450, and one at 600."
"It's not the worst. Let's draw straws."
Parang said.
The reason it had to be drawing straws was because of a long, l-o-o-o-o-ngstanding tradition.
"What do you mean 'not the worst'? The fact that they are Sperm Whales already makes it the worst...."
Bertea slid down in her seat, slumping completely.
Because of that, her legs dipped into the boiling hydrothermal vent, but acting as if it was nothing, she stood up entirely, stuck her legs right into the vent, and perched on the edge.
"You have a great matchup against Sperm Whales, so why are you whining?"
Elvira retorted sharply.
"Ugh, whatever. I just want to go home quickly and finish writing my book."
The 'book' here referred to a Monster Fish encyclopedia. Over 80% of existing Monster Fishes had been named by Bertea.
Until then, they were just called long things, big things, gross things, etc., but when Bertea finally gave them names, they came to her and became her workload.
It was the prime example of biting the hand that feeds you.
"I agree. If I had known it was about Sperm Whales, I wouldn't have come."
Looking fed up as well, Xiao stood up and kicked her chair away.
Then, the ground squirmed. A few fish and human bones thrust upward with a crackling sound, grotesquely tangling together to form a sunbed.
As she lay down on it comfortably, she looked just like a tourist on vacation.
Bertea, perhaps feeling that her previous posture was uncomfortable, threw her entire body into the hydrothermal vent, leaving only her arms resting on the ground.
The secret organization defending the World from the blue abyss, Oceanus.
They really didn't want to work right now.
"I'm annoyed too, so let's just hunt them quickly and get it over with. Why are you acting like this when you're going to hunt them anyway?"
Elvira glared at Bertea and Xiao with eyes as cold as ice.
"Elvira is right. If it's annoying, we can just finish it and go home."
Parang chimed in.
Thump-thump-
Diego stamped his feet twice from where he was sitting. It meant he agreed.
"I share the same opinion. If it's going to be annoying anyway, let's just finish it fast and go home. I even have my B-Rank promotion exam tomorrow morning."
Judging from Parang's experience, that was only half right. Russell wasn't annoyed at all right now. In fact, he was probably trying his hardest to hold back his excitement.
However, the part about having his B-Rank promotion exam was probably true.
Four against two. The Sperm Whale hunt was approved.
"If it's Sperm Whales anyway, I won't be much help, so can't I just go?"
"Do you think so?"
Xiao's opinion was immediately dismissed.
And the long-awaited drawing of straws. Xiao pulled out six identical bones from the ground and carved numbers into them.
"If you mess with the lots like last time, I'll assign you the 600-meter one without hesitation."
Bertea glared at Xiao as if ready to eat her alive. Getting tricked back then must have been quite frustrating.
"I'm not going to."
Amidst the tension, the drawing finished.
Bertea, Russell, and Diego got the 300-meter ones,
Xiao and Elvira got the 450-meter ones.
Parang got the 600-meter one.
It felt unfair, but there was nothing she could do.
With that, work matters were concluded. Next up was some casual chatting since they hadn't met in a while.
Xiao was the first to speak.
"Ah, right. Now that I think about it."
Everyone's eyes turned toward her.
"About the 'Artifact'. I found one."
!
Everyone paid attention to those words. The 'Artifact' mentioned here could only refer to one thing.
Hunter Han Siwoo. It meant the Divine Object he had created.
Naturally, Oceanus had started searching for these Artifacts the day after his Ascension. Among them, Xiao was the fastest at searching, thanks to her ability.
"Where is it? Whose is it? What kind of Artifact?"
Russell excitedly fired off questions in rapid succession.
"Calm down. First off, the location is the deepest part of the South China Sea 'Hive'. I don't know whose it is or exactly what kind of Artifact it is."
"We'll figure that out by bringing it back and using it. Who wants to go?"
It was Elvira's suggestion. Hunter Han Siwoo was a Production Hunter. An Artifact made by a Production Hunter who ascended to become a god. Naturally, it was something to covet.
However, a fight over the rights never occurred. It was because of Xiao's next remark.
"Only Parang can go. The 'Starfish' is guarding it."
"Ah. In that case."
Everyone fell into Silence at those words, then nodded in agreement.
"Parang has to go."
"Right. What a shame."
Everyone seemed convinced. Even Parang.
"I'll go get it as soon as possible. Tomorrow or the day after should be fine, right?"
"Whenever you're comfortable. I have plenty of time anyway."
As soon as Xiao finished speaking, Elvira opened her mouth this time.
"Then let's settle that matter like that. Parang."
"Yeah?"
"How did that broadcast end up like that?"
"Broadcast?"
Russell looked at Elvira with eyes full of utter ignorance.
"You didn't know?"
Bertea seemed to know about it,
"What do you mean broadcast?"
While Xiao was in the dark.
Diego silently shook his Head.
Elvira glared at the group once.
"Can't you guys show a little interest in each other normally?"
"I'm already busy with my own stuff, and you want me to care about you all too? No thanks."
"Xiao is right. Parang probably doesn't care about us either, does she? Did you even know Diego got his B-Rank recently?"
"Really?"
"Look at this."
Russell looked at Elvira, smiling triumphantly.
"So what's this about a broadcast? Did you end up on the news or something?"
Bertea answered Xiao's question.
"She did a live broadcast underwater yesterday. Hunting a Galecus."
At that, Russell and Xiao narrowed their eyes.
"Wait, how did that happen?"
In response, Parang babbled on, explaining the story of what had happened so far.
"Hmm...."
"Hoo...."
After listening to the story until the end, Russell and Xiao's expressions were complete opposites.
Xiao looked slightly suspicious, while Russell looked proud.
The one who is dissatisfied is always the first to open their mouth. Xiao spoke up.
"Well, since it's you, I'm sure you'll handle it well enough, but from what you're saying, it seems you didn't use your Kraken? Did you do that on purpose?"
"Yeah. Even so, it's a bit much to show that on broadcast."
"Why are you even doing a broadcast in the first place? Isn't it because you're worried about what might go wrong if people see you through the Screen unable to use the Kraken? You should've just made Elvira or Xiao do it. It wouldn't cause any problems if they exposed themselves, and they're fun to watch."
"Would you do it if I asked?"
"Absolutely not."
"Hmm."
Elvira and Xiao nodded at the same time.
"See, you wouldn't even do it anyway.... Ah."
Parang spoke to everyone as if she remembered something.
"You guys will have to come to South Korea sometime soon."
"Why."
"A Statue. They've crawled up again."
For a moment, the atmosphere froze.
"Ah, that? Got it."
Elvira replied apathetically.
"What, didn't we grind them all up last time?"
Russell seemed surprised.
"I thought so too, but I guess some were left."
"Ha, so some were left, huh. Those dog-like bastards...."
Xiao ground her teeth together.
"We can't miss out on catching that damned Boulder."
A vein popped on Bertea's forehead.
"If you saw that, you should have called us immediately, what are you doing? Sperm Whales aren't the problem here."
Now, even Elvira's voice revealed unhidden anger.
"I only saw it yesterday evening."
"Got it for now. If it's about a Statue, of course we have to run right over."
"I'll find a good time and let you know. It's such a regret that I can't catch it myself."
"Everyone has matchups they're weak against."
Xiao said something nice to Parang for the first time in a while. Parang was a bit surprised too.
"Let's just tail it and blow up its entire habitat."
Russell's eyes seemed to burn.
"This time, let's really destroy them without a trace, and then all go pour a drink over Alice's Grave together."
At Bertea's words, all six members of Oceanus fell into Silence.
Just thinking about that time, thinking about that cursed monster, made anger surge from within them.
"Anyway, that's that, and a whale is a whale. Shall we make a bet for the first time in a while?"
Parang skillfully changed the subject to break the frozen atmosphere.
Xiao immediately took the bait.
"The person who comes in last buys the drinks. Sound good?"
"Xiao, it sounds to me like you're going to be buying?"
"I'd rather die than hear that from you, Bertea."
Reading the room, the six members of Oceanus looked at each other.
"Chukchi Ridge. Depart."
Along with Elvira's words, their eyes seemed to flash, and then,
Swoooosh!!
Soon, all of them shot upward from the Floor of the trench like Bullets.
Bloop-bloop-bloop-
Amidst the scattered chairs, only the hydrothermal vent spewed out boiling water.