Chapter 253
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 253
Chapter Title: National Hero
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In the conference room of Raon Group, Korea's largest multinational corporation.
"So, what do you think will happen?"
Kim Tae-yeon asked the group's senior executives.
The topic of the meeting was magic stone semiconductor production—a matter tied to the semiconductor industry that underpinned modern civilization. A middle-aged woman replied in a heavy voice.
"It looks like importing mana crystals from Russia will be difficult."
"Why is that?"
"It's because the Minos Dungeon near the Crimean Peninsula has become active. There have been several battles around it in the past few days."
"......"
The room's atmosphere turned icy at the executive's words. Some faces had gone pale as ghosts.
"N-No way?"
"We can't be certain the 12th Calamity will appear. But the mood among the neighboring countries is far from normal. Russian, Turkish, and Ukrainian raid teams have already sealed off the area airtight, and the military is deploying forces as well."
The executives gulped as the woman continued. The very air felt thicker.
Minos of the Crimean Peninsula.
One of the Twelve Calamities, this monstrous beast had shrugged off a Russian nuclear strike during the Second Darkness War without a scratch.
"Then the mana crystal deals with Russian clans..."
"Will be tough. With a blade at their own throats from the Minos Dungeon crisis, it seems they'll hoard their crystals for themselves."
"Even claiming the penalty from the contract will be hard?"
"Yes. They have international precedents on their side."
Tae-yeon's head throbbed. She pressed her temples hard. Was it stress? She kept craving raw meat.
"For now, we'll need to source mana crystals for factory operations and production from domestic clans."
"Sigh... Check with American clans too. Skip China."
"Understood."
Even if war with darkness monsters erupted, businesses had to keep producing.
And in this advanced mana civilization, mana—specifically mana crystals—was the most essential raw material and energy source for manufacturing.
"How's the factory in Vietnam coming along?"
Tae-yeon's voice filled the room again.
Vietnam was currently the world's hottest—and most dangerous—hotspot. It had spawned dungeons like weeds after two dungeon breaks.
In other words, it offered the best shot at harvesting mana crystals through relentless clears, but it also carried the highest risk of dungeon explosions and monster raids.
Yet Vietnam made crystals easiest to obtain. And the government was eagerly luring foreign raid teams to tackle their dungeons.
"The crystal factory is set to complete soon. Once it's done, Memoria Clan's 3rd Division and promising recruits will head to Vietnam."
"Just Memoria?"
"No. Memoria's satellite clans—Raon, Semes, Plunty, Shelby, and Semes—plan to send raid teams too. Five in total."
"That should do it... What's the projected output?"
The meeting dragged on for nearly two hours.
As it wrapped, executives filed out. Kim Tae-yeon headed to her vice president's office.
Her secretary reported an affiliate meeting in two hours, so she'd rest until then. Lately, she'd been pushing too hard—her body felt heavier. Or maybe she was just getting older...
Then—
Vice President, you have a visitor.
"...A visitor?"
Tae-yeon looked puzzled at the call from the secretary's office.
No one dropped by unannounced, and her staff would screen them anyway. But her face flushed at the follow-up.
Han Minguk, hero of the GGW Raid Team.
"Ah, bring him straight to my office."
She hung up and checked her makeup and outfit in the mirror. The faint dark circles bugged her, but makeup hid them perfectly.
Moments later, a man entered, guided by her secretary.
"This place is way bigger than I thought."
"What do you mean? Raon is Korea's biggest group."
Tae-yeon pouted and snapped irritably at Minguk's words.
But once the secretary left and they were alone, his gentle hug melted her anger instantly.
"Anyway, what's up? You've never visited me at work before."
"Figured you were busy, so I stayed away."
"Then today?"
"Called your secretary's office and checked your schedule. Told them I was your husband—they spilled everything. You have two hours free?"
"Oh......"
Her cheeks pinked at "husband."
She was annoyed her staff blabbed, but she loved Minguk's attention.
Still hugged against him, she pecked his cheek, then remembered something.
"By the way, how's the Daegu City Hall Dungeon? Didn't you say you'd clear it?"
"Just finished Zone 1. Taking a couple days off before Zone 2."
"...Already?"
Kim Tae-yeon's eyes widened.
The Daegu City Hall Dungeon was rated 【A-2】—the toughest clear in Korea.
Only Memoria's 1st Division could handle it properly among domestic teams.
Even Hero Era or Strong Women raids could tackle it, but clearing an 【A-2】 reliably meant burning Revival Stones over endless trials.
Conquering Zone 1 in days? Incredible.
My man's skills are unreal, she thought. No wonder he'd slain Garuda's minion and become Vietnam's national hero.
"Drink?"
"Soda if you have it."
Minguk accepted her offer.
And rather than delegate, she prepared it herself. He smiled watching her.
She still hadn't brought it up—clearly clueless about her pregnancy.
"Been to the doctor lately?"
"...Doctor? Do I look that bad?"
His sudden question made her touch her under-eyes. She'd been skimping on sleep with everything piling up. Her body felt limp too.
"Not that."
Minguk's gaze fixed on her.
Time to spin the story he'd rehearsed. It was close to the truth anyway.
"Had a weird dream about you while clearing the dungeon."
"...A dream?"
"Yeah. We were on a date, then a huge phoenix flew into your arms."
"A phoenix... into my arms?"
Tae-yeon's eyes flashed wide.
First thought: Vietnam. To everyone here, phoenix meant Garuda, the 12th Calamity there.
And Raon was sending heroes to Vietnam for crystals.
Is this a warning? If I send heroes, Garuda stirs again?
A nightmare scenario. Another break would bankrupt the group—losses from the last two were still stinging.
Then Minguk's large hand caressed her belly.
"...?"
She tilted her head.
Not her chest, but her belly? Embarrassing for a second. Then his grave tone.
"You said you have time. Let's go to the hospital together."
"H-Hospital?!"
Tae-yeon snapped alert.
Instinct screamed: prophetic dream. She'd begged for his child, taken his seed countless times. Her cravings had changed lately too. If pregnant...
"W-What do I do? I... I..."
First worry: the baby. Minguk hugged her lightly.
"Don't stress. It'll be fine."
No confirmation yet, but his certainty rang true. They headed out immediately, trailed by her aides.
And...
"Congratulations, Vice President. You're about 6 weeks pregnant."
Minguk's dream was spot on.
Six weeks along. The doctor chided her for waiting; she grilled him on the fetus's health. All clear, thankfully.
Korea's reaction to Kim Tae-yeon's pregnancy was instant chaos.
Raon was a top conglomerate; she was the active 3rd-gen heir.
Succession in years would make her its leader.
Her pregnancy? Everyone wondered about the father. When revealed, nods all around: perfect match.
Han Minguk, GGW hero.
Vietnam's national hero, set to succeed retired Kang Chae-young as Korea's top Raid Leader.
"...Ah."
"As expected of the Raid Leader."
Sincere or teasing? Choi Yuna thumbed up with an innocent grin. Minguk shrugged.
Oh Hyun-ah pouted beside her, face full of envy and regret toward Kim Tae-yeon.
In this world, children were a woman's purpose, her dream.
Tae-yeon's tearful joy at the news was still vivid.
She'd manage group affairs cautiously under her physician—too vital to retire like Kang Chae-young.
How could you?!
Tae-yeon's news meant grief from another chaebol heiress, but Minguk dodged via the 【A-2】 clear excuse.
"We know. We'll slay all Twelve Calamities."
"......Yeah."
Hyun-ah nodded, still wistful.
With Tae-yeon informed and Kang Chae-young visited, next: Daegu City Hall Zone 2.
"Kim So-jeong, dungeon status?"
"Regular mobs spawning in Zone 1. The named bosses we beat will respawn soon."
Minguk nodded thoughtfully.
Better rest more, then replay Zone 1 for loot—his clear wasn't perfect anyway.
Restarting Zone 1 took eight Revival Stones to wipe the three nameds.
Clear was early, but trial inexperience caused fumbles in variants. He gave light feedback—no big deal; time would fix it.
Five days later, GGW cleared Zone 2's four- and five-named waves.
Next: Zone 3's first, the 6th named—"Red Orc Chief – Kanbara," Yuna's sworn enemy.