Chapter 20
Chapter 20
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Ryu Han Empire (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
As the dispersed protesters showed signs of regrouping, even more Seoul citizens came out to condemn them than before.
The government began ignoring the protesters' voices altogether, deploying large numbers of skeletons to the disaster sites in Seoul and Chungbuk.
In the end, the protesters fully disbanded, left with no choice but to swallow their rage.
The civil servants assigned to the reconstruction sites burst into admiration at the sight of the skeletons.
"All the simple tasks are being handled by the skeletons."
Skeletons were hauling construction materials like cement, bricks, and sand, along with tools.
Some cleaned the surrounding areas or assisted the technicians.
Construction progressed at a rapid pace, and people gradually regained their daily lives.
The families of Yu-na and Hye-in, who had been staying at the GH Guild headquarters, also returned to their homes.
In the end, the raid incident in Seoul and Chungbuk claimed 50,000 lives and injured 170,000 people.
This disaster made the public realize once again the importance of nurturing hunters.
Articles related to the GH Guild poured in day after day.
Likewise, other major guilds announced they would pour all their efforts into training their members.
The GH Guild received 72 billion won as compensation for the raid.
In exchange, all byproducts from the magic beasts they subjugated went into government warehouses.
"Even if we sold them to Hanseong Group, we could've easily gotten over 100 billion won..."
Well, nothing to be done about it.
Of course, Hanseong Group had also deposited a massive sum.
It was payment for the byproducts from conquering that A-rank dungeon earlier.
On top of that, they received 4 billion won for renting out 20,000 skeletons for two months to aid reconstruction.
That came out to 200,000 won per skeleton.
For two months.
And these skeletons were on standby 24/7, capable of handling menial labor even at night.
Renting that kind of workforce for 200,000 won?
It was an absurd deal, but Kang-hyuk accepted the government's terms for the sake of the GH Guild's image.
By leaking the donation news to the press, the GH Guild began building public favor.
Following that, Kang-hyuk purchased an abandoned building in Dongjak-gu to construct the GH Guild's First Branch and bought a nearby officetel building to remodel into dormitories.
Dongjak-gu residents felt a sense of security watching the construction site for the First Branch.
"I hear an S2-rank hunter who's just been promoted is stationed at the First Branch here."
"Usually, property values drop in areas hit by raids... but this place might actually go up."
Real estate prices could skyrocket just because a major guild was stationed nearby.
In fact, the Goguryeo Guild's presence in Gangnam had boosted surrounding areas.
Yongsan-gu's prices had risen due to the Teynen Guild headquarters but were showing a slight decline recently.
With Teynen's S-rank hunters missing, security concerns had arisen.
Of course, the Korea Hunter Association's Seoul headquarters in Yongsan kept the drop minimal.
Universities that had suspended classes due to the raid began resuming lectures one by one, and Yu-na instantly became a celebrity.
"Yu-na!"
Friends who had evacuated to the campus cafeteria during the raid gathered around her.
"Y-You're safe... thank God."
"More importantly, is the rumor true that you're Hunter Park Kang-hyuk's sister?"
"Why did the GH Guild members only take you and Hye-in last time?"
Yu-na let out a small sigh.
"Yeah, my brother's Park Kang-hyuk."
"R-Really?!"
"Why didn't you say..."
"Oppa doesn't like his face being publicized much. So our family tries not to talk about him casually. The GH Guild members who came to campus said oppa had secretly assigned them as bodyguards for me. And..."
Yu-na faltered, recalling the GH Guild members who had lost their lives right before her eyes.
"A lot of them died."
"Ah..."
"W-We should've been taken with you..."
"How were we supposed to take you when the cafeteria doors were sealed shut? You survived because you were in there. We were even chased by the S-rank magic beast, the Orc Chieftain! If oppa hadn't come..."
Yu-na bit her lip hard.
"S-Sorry."
At that moment, Hye-in approached Yu-na and patted her shoulder.
"She's sorry, but Yu-na's not in a good place right now, so could you leave?"
"Ah... Got it."
Hye-in comforted Yu-na while recalling the events of a few days ago.
The GH Guild members protecting them had been brutally killed by the Orc Chieftain.
Thinking of them brought waves of guilt.
Plus, the shock of learning Yu-na's brother had fought those terrifying monsters was immense.
"Haa..."
Yu-na took a deep breath to calm herself.
"I heard GH Guild is setting up the First Branch near our university this time."
"...Yeah, they started demolition and construction on an existing building."
"Probably to protect you and your parents, right?"
Yu-na nodded with a bitter expression.
S2-rank Hunter Royard was assigned to the First Branch.
He was the hunter who had protected them in the past.
Just knowing he was assigned made it clear the branch was for their protection.
"They say about 50 hunters will be on standby at the First Branch at all times, so don't worry too much. And the branch chief is S2-rank Hunter Royard himself."
"Just thinking those people might die because of me makes my chest ache constantly."
Hye-in understood Yu-na's feelings.
She had received protection too, after all.
As university lectures resumed, Kang-hyuk headed to Jeolla and Gyeongsang Provinces, summoning an additional million homunculi in each region.
He also dispatched 100 GH Guild members.
"Use them as temporary officers to bolster your forces. And..."
"Understood. We'll make contact with the Korean government."
First Legion Commander Harian bowed his head.
"For now, just the legion commanders, come with me. I need to strengthen you first."
"Thank you."
Kang-hyuk took the 20 legion commanders around three A-rank dungeons in Jeolla Province.
Thanks to that, every legion commander reached the High Sword Master realm.
Afterward, he took the division commanders and brigade commanders in turn, raising them to Mid Sword Master.
When Kang-hyuk returned to Seoul, the officers helped the newly arrived homunculi grow.
Now, a whopping 2 million homunculi were stationed in southern Korea alone.
'Ah, about 100,000 died in the last raid, right?'
In reality, it would be around 1.8 million net.
The Spirit Race, expanding their territory centered on Jeju Island, detected the homunculi operating in Jeolla and Gyeongsang Provinces and showed their displeasure.
"Insolent fools..."
Aren, the Spirit Race Grand Marshal with golden hair and blue eyes, gritted his teeth.
"Korea is merely a bulwark holding back war with the Beastmen. The emergence of National Power-level Hunter Park Kang-hyuk has only made that bulwark sturdier. But we can't avoid war with the Beastmen forever. To even lay the groundwork for war, we must fully seize Jeolla and Gyeongsang Provinces."
"What about Japan?"
"We've taken Okinawa and the surrounding islands. China succeeded in occupying part of Yancheng City north of Shanghai. Shanghai's raid left their defenses weakened."
Aren nodded once.
"It's time to dismantle that bulwark."
"Then..."
"Jeolla and Gyeongsang can wait. First, send every force from Jeju straight to their heart in Seoul. Prepare the fleet."
"Yes, sir!"
The Korean government was also tracking the Spirit Race's movements via satellites and drones.
When anomalies appeared around the warships stationed off Jeju's coast, the government grew urgent.
As newly developed missiles and military equipment were mobilized, tensions peaked.
News of the Spirit Race reached the masters of the major guilds as well.
"..."
Kang-hyuk immediately contacted First Legion Commander Harian.
"The Spirit Race is preparing for war. Hurry and strengthen your forces."
"That possibility exists too, which is why no preemptive strike. However, if they cross onto the peninsula..."
First Legion Commander Harian, as the Ryu Han Empire's envoy, contacted the Korean government side with GH Guild's assistance.
The Korean government was shocked to hear the Ryu Han Empire's army had established a base in southern Korea but showed a positive stance toward an alliance.
The issue was territorial cession.
"You're asking us to cede the western region of North Korea around Pyongyang?"
The territory demanded by the Ryu Han Empire amounted to about 30% of North Korea.
It was no small chunk of land.
Ceding even up to Pyongyang was a tough demand to approve.
If Korea absorbed North Korea's territory, the gains would be enormous.
Holding the western areas would bring massive economic benefits due to geography.
But that assumed the Beastmen and magic beasts in North Korea were eradicated.
'If we suffer heavy losses in war with the Spirit Race, the Beastmen might come down from the north.'
In the end, the president decided to hold a national referendum to discuss the alliance with the Ryu Han Empire.
The opposition fiercely criticized the ruling party and government, calling it nonsense.
In contrast, the ruling party defended the government, pointing out the possibility of reclaiming North Korea.
With anomalies from the Spirit Race detected as well.
At this rate, they wouldn't even recover Jeolla and Gyeongsang, let alone North Korea.
Public opinion was divided, but most understood the situation well.
After all, neighbors Japan and China had lost significant territory to the Otherworld Races.