Chapter 148
Chapter 148
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 148
Chapter Title: There's Something Special About Mages (6)
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However, it didn't matter. The people here weren't who they used to be. Wyverns were threatening monsters that struck continuously while keeping their distance, but if they abandoned evasion maneuvers and charged straight in, they weren't scary at all.
"Anyway, the result's the same!"
With their shout, the squad members unleashed a barrage from their ranged attack artifacts at the charging wyvern. The wyvern, its eyes rolled back as it barreled forward without dodging, instantly turned into a pincushion and plummeted.
Boom!
"Hey, isn't that our warehouse over there?"
"Oh no..."
"That bastard couldn't die in an open lot? Why'd it have to crash on top of a building!?"
"How's the situation?"
"Ah, Shaina."
As Shaina hurried up, the squad members nodded and replied. She looked flustered, drenched in sweat.
"The wyverns are rampaging, but it doesn't seem like a huge threat. More importantly, why do you all look so exhausted?"
"The tiger we were raising suddenly went berserk... Took a lot of effort to calm it down."
"Did the monsters all take drugs or something as a group?"
Someone's mutter carried oddly loudly.
Meanwhile, wyverns were appearing one by one in Pyongyang's skies. Streets that would normally be overflowing with crowds were eerily empty, so the wyverns kept swooping down to the ground only to take off again.
Pew-pew-pew-pew!
"Isn't that Lee Jung-woo?"
A squad member scanning the surroundings with binoculars asked. On top of a high-rise, a massive ice sphere formed, then shattered into a frenzy of bullets that intercepted the wyvern.
"Even after all those died in the Dragon Slayer Project, there's still some left. Honestly, I was worried we were fighting alone."
"The government's not that incompetent."
A bolt of blue lightning shot straight up. The wyvern, mid-evasion, plummeted from the strike. A four-story building shattered noisily under the wyvern's corpse.
"Hey, hey, that one..."
Before the wyverns appeared, preparations to deal with monsters had already been underway in various spots. No matter how sudden, Pyongyang wasn't without superpowered users. Efficiently positioned, they waited and shot down the wyverns.
If they'd been caught completely off guard, it would've been a record-breaking loss of life. But that brief difference made all the change. Aside from property damage to empty buildings, the monsters inflicted no harm on Pyongyang.
It was thanks to Kim Suhyun grabbing them by the collar and ordering a citizen evacuation.
* * *
"Gate! Run to the gate! Hurry!"
Bang!
"Shut your mouth. From now on, only open it with my permission."
"Wh-what the...?"
Kim Suhyun used his superpower to blow off the roof of the escort vehicle. It was tough enough to stop rifle rounds, but against monsters now, it was meaningless. It only obstructed visibility.
"We're heading back to Pyongyang. As fast as possible. The vehicles behind, follow the lead car. I won't stop anyone fleeing elsewhere. Just remember the guy who ran off on his own earlier and got bit by a wyvern. Is it safer sticking close to my car, or running wild to the gate?"
"..."
No one acted on their own after that. As the situation seemed to calm a bit, Kim Suhyun grabbed the collar of the researcher beside him and demanded answers.
"Now, tell me what you did."
"Pardon?"
"What the hell did you do to make the monsters go berserk like this? This outcome. Wasn't it all rigged under government pressure from the start?"
"H-how did you...!?"
"There's ways to know... Damn."
Another wyvern was diving fast and sharp. It looked ready to snatch the car in its talons and fly off.
Thud!
Screeeeech!
The wyvern's corpse hit the road, and the car behind swerved hard. Screams echoed through the comms from inside.
"So what happened? Do you know the situation? This might not be the only city—monsters could be hitting others too. If you have any guesses, spit it out now!"
The researcher's words that followed shocked Kim Suhyun. To be precise, it wasn't complete fabrication.
China's superpower nullifier and monster lure devices had given them the hint. Devices that artificially generated the unique frequencies of superpowers, nonexistent on old Earth. What if they applied this to gates?
But creating an artificial gate by emitting frequencies tuned to gates hit snags. Ordinary output couldn't even form the frequency. The government above kept demanding results, and the researchers jumped to conclusions without systematic tests.
The principle was complete, so just boost the output and it'd work.
And the result of massively boosting output was this. No gate appeared—instead, monsters swarmed.
Kim Suhyun pressed his forehead. He had so much to say, but now wasn't the time. He could roughly grasp what they'd done.
'Not a Dimensional Gate, but they activated a top-tier monster lure on a one-use basis.'
That was fine. But what complicated his mind was that this never happened before.
Superpower nullifiers, monster lures—both spread faster than they should have. Of course, because of clashes with him.
He wondered if this, which would've ended as a minor scam originally, blew up because of what he did.
'Nah, not the time to worry about that...'
Kim Suhyun glanced at Louiril. She nodded with a meaningful expression.
'We succeeded in diverting it.'
The familiar silhouette of the city appeared on the distant horizon. Pyongyang. Kim Suhyun prayed the damage was minimal.
'This bastard's just rushing back to his spot in a crisis...'
As Kim Suhyun glared, the staff member bowed his head deeply.
It wasn't just humanitarian concern for minimal damage.
A city taking monster attacks didn't end with the incident. Kim Suhyun knew well the deep-rooted fear of Cameron Planet residents. One such event would skyrocket that fear.
And if fear surged, people would exploit it. Mercenaries enjoyed much freedom now. But if public opinion shifted, that'd change. They were part of society too, after all.
'The current system shaking benefits me not at all...'
* * *
The commotion fully settled only after a few days. Even after the all-clear to go outside, people stayed in shelters a while longer.
Separate from the public's fear, the damage was record-low. No casualties in Pyongyang—just empty buildings half-destroyed and parked cars crushed by wyvern corpses on streets.
"Thank you. Without you, Team Leader, the damage would've been huge."
"No need. Just did what had to be done... More importantly, how are the other cities?"
"We sent requests right away, but none are as unscathed as Pyongyang. Seems they all moved half-believing it."
Who wouldn't half-doubt an earthquake warning in a city quake-free for centuries? Same with monster attacks. Pyongyang officials, spooked by Kim Suhyun's name, mobilized first—and it paid off.
* * *
-Monster attacks raiding Cameron's cities have shocked the public. Officials are stepping in for cleanup, but recovery won't be easy.
-The flying monsters called wyverns penetrated city centers, but luckily, ground types were stopped by base forces.
-Pyongyang saw virtually no casualties compared to others, thanks to swift early action. Korean mage Kim Suhyun at the artificial Dimensional Gate test site sensed the anomaly immediately, issued evacuation orders, and saved Pyongyang's citizens. The Japanese government is preparing a statement on the Dimensional Gate...
"Wow, Team Leader's all over the media."
"Our faces aren't on there?"
"Figures it'd show citizens who took down wyverns."
The squad members lounged in the break room watching holographic TV. Such a shocking event dominated Cameron news. Seeing Kim Suhyun do a quick interview and leave, they cheered with whistles and claps.
"Quiet."
"Team Leader?! Huh? How're you here?"
"That's pre-recorded. Anyway, not the time to celebrate."
"But? Isn't this good? You look like a total hero."
"Yeah. Reactions elsewhere are all praising you."
"You still don't get it."
Kim Suhyun entered, sighing as he sat.
"The situation isn't that rosy. They'll hype me up since I deserve it. But nothing changes."
They cheered related parties and the first mage, but average folks just put question marks on their faces at "first mage." At least this feat shifted perceptions to "Oh, mages are amazing!"
The squad straightened at his attitude.
"Some problem?"
"Citizens got properly scared this time. Things'll get messy. Government's treated mercenaries and explorers well till now."
It was mutual benefit. Mercs and explorers risked lives in uncharted zones—if no rewards, no one went. So governments incentivized with freedoms and pay.
Discoveries benefited the nation.
Merc companies could refuse Development Bureau requests in that context.
"What's public fear got to do with us?"
"Government might try leashing mercenaries."
"What?! What're you saying?!"
"No way...!"
"Think it's impossible? A few congressmen float 'Our city's too exposed to danger,' and people nod along. On city safety, forcing mobilization? Citizens vote yes or no?"
"But... we stepped up and fought..."
"I don't think monsters will hit cities again. This was pure bad luck piling up. But memories don't fade easy. Everyone's tense. Situations change fast."
"Team Leader, big merc companies won't sit idle."
"Of course. They'll lobby hard. Government's not dumb enough to push too far. But they might concede some. So no celebrating. Got it?"
"Yes!"
Half of what Kim Suhyun said was a lie. Regulations were possible. But not for him.
He'd prevented nearly all damage, and Uncle Jo Company joined city defense on its own.
With their standing, plus this, government couldn't demand anything. Even if regs came, they'd be exempt.
'Exposed as a mage for this—deserve the treatment.'
Only merc companies with weak gov ties would suffer regs. He wasn't in that position.
He was already a big shot.
'Bet Lee Jung-young's thrilled, rampaging.'
Gov-led unit formation would accelerate from this. Kim Suhyun clicked his tongue.
'Gotta poach talent quick. No dying under that guy's boot for nothing...'
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