Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Arnon (5)
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“Your Majesty!”
“Hunter Park Kang-hyuk!”
A man dressed in a pure white mask and uniform stepped down from the imperial transport aircraft.
It was a homunculus with a build similar to Kang-hyuk’s.
“Can you tell me approximately when the enemies will arrive at Jeju Island?”
“If our estimates are correct, it should be in about two hours. The problem is that something unusual has been detected in the East China Sea. It’s as if a battle has broken out... For now, we’ve deployed drones to investigate, and we’ll report back as soon as we have confirmation.”
“Understood.”
Kang-hyuk’s group dispersed toward the Seogwipo area.
In the emperor’s case, he had switched places with Arbon en route.
“Check your weapons!”
The GH Guild members prepared for battle along the coastline.
Moments later, an Association executive jumped out of a vehicle and rushed over to Kang-hyuk.
“P-Park Kang-hyuk Hunter!”
“Yes? What is it?”
“R-Right now, the Mermaids and the Spirit Race are clashing in the East China Sea!”
“Mermaids?”
“Yes, it seems the Mermaids operating in Southeast Asia have pushed all the way to the East China Sea. They might be advancing toward the waters around the Korean Peninsula... If they head to the East Sea or West Sea, it could disrupt trade with the US, China, and Japan.”
To conduct land-based trade, they’d need to clear out the Manchuria region first.
That would inevitably lead to all-out war with the Beastmen.
“As long as the Spirit God lives, Arnon will keep trying to invade Earth. If the Korean Peninsula gets dragged into a war with the Beastmen, Arnon will seize the opportunity and move their forces too. And even if we manage to drive out the Beastmen from Manchuria...”
“Yes, Manchuria is Chinese territory. It would be impossible for South Korea or the Ryu Han Empire to occupy it.”
In the end, it would only benefit China.
“It might be possible to team up with China to push out the Beastmen from Manchuria and extract some kind of compensation from the Chinese government, but...”
“We have no idea how many people would die in an all-out war with the Beastmen. Not to mention the public backlash...”
“Hoo... I hope the Mermaids stay away from the Korean Peninsula.”
Kang-hyuk nodded in agreement.
“More importantly, have you shared the Mermaid intel with the Ryu Han Empire?”
“Yes, the Ryu Han Empire forces should have received the news by now.”
“I see.”
“For now, could you stay on Jeju Island today... no, at least three days? We’ll handle all the daily necessities and food.”
“Where will we sleep?”
“We’ve prepared a nearby commercial building. Soldiers will stand watch around the perimeter, so rest easy.”
Could he really rest easy?
If even a single slashing strike came flying in, the guards would be pointless.
He’d need to keep his sword close to move the instant he sensed mana.
And keep his sleep as light as possible.
Kang-hyuk placed a chair by the coast, gripped his sword, and periodically received updates on the enemies’ positions.
How much time passed like that?
“Understood.”
Sure enough, about an hour later, attacks came flying in from the sea.
“Hup...!”
Kang-hyuk unleashed a slashing strike toward the sky.
Shwoooaaah—!
“Got it!”
Kang-hyuk finished his reply and channeled mid Grand Master peak sword aura into his sword.
A grin spread across his face.
“If you can block it, then keep blocking!”
Kang-hyuk fired off countless slashing strikes, destroying the Spirit Race’s attacks.
Kaboom kaboom kaboom kaboom—!
“Keep it coming!”
The young soldiers watching Kang-hyuk’s slashing strikes gulped nervously.
“I-Is that even human?”
The rifles they clutched in both hands suddenly felt like toys.
“If attacks like that come at us...”
Their rifles would be utterly useless.
The GH Guild members gathered around Kang-hyuk in case of emergencies.
Arbon, who had just arrived on the scene, then fired a slashing strike toward the sky.
Shwoooaaah—!
“H-His Majesty the Emperor of Ryu Han has arrived!”
Arbon unleashed a barrage of slashing strikes, pressing the enemy hard.
The Spirit Race members who had been barely holding off Kang-hyuk’s attacks rolled their eyes in panic the moment Arbon joined in.
The enemies’ attacks were closing in right in front of them.
At this rate, they’d be swallowed by the slashing strikes.
Should they flee?
Could they even flee?
To escape the range of the slashing strikes, someone would need to buy them even a moment’s time.
The Grand Generals glanced around cautiously.
‘If even one of us slips away...’
‘Even those who flee will end up dead.’
At that moment, warriors and great warriors overcome with fear bolted in panic.
“Eek...!”
Some generals followed suit, fleeing in terror, leaving the Grand Generals in stunned confusion.
“What the...!”
Kabooooom—!
Finally, Kang-hyuk and Arbon’s slashing strikes reached the Spirit Race.
“Th-This can’t be...!”
“Damn it—!”
Shred shred shred shred shred—!
Even those fleeing were engulfed and torn to shreds by the slashing strikes.
Kang-hyuk and Arbon simultaneously ceased their slashing strikes and looked up at the sky.
The Association executive, who had been swept up by the gusts, slowly approached Kang-hyuk.
“I-Is it... over?”
“Yeah, seems like it.”
“Ah...”
“They must have been exhausted too. They fought the Mermaids and came straight to Jeju Island...”
The Spirit Race also consumed stamina when flying.
It would be impossible to rest while in flight.
That’s why they had rushed to Jeju Island so hastily.
“G-Good work.”
“No, it’s thanks to His Majesty’s support that we wrapped it up so smoothly.”
The Association executive nodded and rushed over to Arbon to express his gratitude.
Kang-hyuk and Arbon stayed on Jeju Island for about a week, monitoring the situation.
Afterward, Arbon crossed over to Arnon with the legion commanders.
Under the pretext of conquering Arnon.
Kang-hyuk checked the SNS reactions as he headed back to Seoul.
Even while managing the GH Guild and Ryu Han Empire during a relatively peaceful time, cargo ships shuttling between Jeju Island and the Ryu Han Empire never stopped.
Massive amounts of weapons, resources, and equipment poured into the Ryu Han Empire.
As factories multiplied and cheap mass-produced goods flowed out, they were exported to South Korea and China.
“The US forces in Korea still haven’t withdrawn.”
America feared China’s growing power.
Abandoning South Korea was far too risky.
The US tried to recover the Rispien from South Korea, but the country had no intention of handing it over.
The South Korean president clenched his fist, his gaze hardening.
“The Rispien is South Korea’s final bastion of defense.”
Nuclear development was impossible due to allies and neighboring countries.
Plans to deploy US nukes on the peninsula were also quietly shelved.
To protect itself, a strong deterrent was needed.
South Korea now possessed two such deterrents.
Why weren’t the Beastmen in Manchuria pushing south?
The old South Korea would have cowered in fear of them.
But now was different.
The Beastmen feared the national power-level Hunter Park Kang-hyuk.
The allied Ryu Han Empire had also become an object of terror.
And now, add Rispien to the mix?
“The economy will suffer...”
But security was guaranteed to some extent.
The president and ruling party took the stance that the Rispien must not be handed to America.
In contrast, the opposition emphasized the US alliance and pushed to transfer the Rispien, while also calling for adjustments to the Ryu Han Empire alliance.
They knew full well.
That the Rispien would serve as South Korea’s mighty shield.
So why criticize the government and ruling party?
Simple.
To seize the next administration.
Thus, they fiercely attacked the allied Ryu Han Empire as well.
After months of negotiations with the US, it was decided to hand over a portion of the Rispien.
Of course, not for free.
The transfer came with a 20% reduction in US forces defense cost-sharing for four years.
In the meantime, the emperor returned to Jeju Island from Arnon.
The Ryu Han Empire shocked the world.
They had defeated the Spirit God, estimated to be stronger than Lucas.
Of course, it was announced as a collective achievement with all legion commanders, not the emperor alone.
Still, it was astonishing.
North Korea’s territory was no longer an issue.
The Ryu Han Empire had secured all the Rispien in Arnon.
America urgently attempted contact with the Ryu Han Empire.
The concrete barriers around the dimensional gate were demolished, and warehouses and transport facilities were built nearby.
The Ryu Han Empire’s LK Group purchased land in parts of Jeolla and Gyeongsang Provinces from South Korea.
Ruined areas.
Even the original residents hesitated to return.
The Ryu Han Empire hired large numbers of slum-dwelling Spirit Race from Arnon and put them to work farming in Jeolla and Gyeongsang.
“This land... it’s so fertile.”
“Crops should grow well here.”
“Let’s start with rice and wheat...”
They brought in Spirit Race agriculture experts and taught them farming techniques using machinery and spirit arts.
Thus began the farming efforts to secure food supplies.
Additionally, they accepted many Spirit Race into Ryu Han Empire territory and put them into agriculture.
In exchange for sending food to Arnon, they would receive various resources from there.
All transactions went through the LK Group.