EP7. North Korean Gate

Jae-jun opened his status window while riding in the taxi to the Hunter Association.

'Status Window.'

He'd taken down quite a few monsters at the amusement park last time and even eliminated the demon Zagan, but he still hadn't leveled up.

'Probably because of the level 200 cap.'

They'd said the job change quest was needed to lift the level restriction, right?

But he had no idea what the job change quest was or where to get it.

If he couldn't level up anymore, his only options were upgrading items or acquiring stronger skills.

'...There's a limit to how much stronger I can get right now.'

It was frustrating.

Learning that Lucifer was after his body made him feel like he was being hunted, for some reason.

'I could resist Zagan's illusion magic, so why did Lucifer's hit me so easily?'

Come to think of it, no system window had popped up that time either.

Whenever he'd fallen under some status effect without noticing before, the system window had always appeared right away to alert him.

One of two things, then.

'Either Lucifer's illusion magic is so advanced even the system window couldn't detect it.'

'Or the system window obeys Lucifer's commands.'

Whoosh.

Jae-jun let out a sigh.

"We're here."

"Thanks."

He handed money to the taxi driver and got out.

It hadn't been long since his last visit to the Hunter Association, so Jae-jun headed straight for the president's office.

'Should've called ahead.'

He'd mentioned coming yesterday, so it should be fine.

As Jae-jun approached the president's office, the secretary stood and greeted him.

"What brings you here?"

"I have an appointment with the president today."

"May I have your name?"

"Choi Jae-jun."

The secretary's expression flickered for a moment before she picked up the intercom and called someone.

"...Hunter Choi Jae-jun, please wait just a moment and I'll escort you right in."

"Sure."

But he didn't have to wait—a familiar face appeared from the opposite end of the hallway.

"Hunter!"

It was Hwang Dong-su.

"Did you get home safely yesterday?"

"Yeah. Thanks to you."

Hwang Dong-su looked much better than yesterday.

"I'll show you in."

Jae-jun followed him into the president's office.

He could feel the secretary's eyes sparkling as she watched from behind.

Knock knock knock—

A deep voice called ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠from inside, "Come in."

Click.

As soon as he opened the door, sunlight poured in through the large window, shining right into Jae-jun's eyes.

But.

Jae-jun was so shocked upon entering that he momentarily lost his words.

"President Jang Gil-san...?"

"Hunter Choi Jae-jun. It's been a while. Heh ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠heh."

Jang Gil-san's outstretched hand looked completely different from before.

The handshake felt frail.

His once-massive frame had withered away, and his ribs were visible through the gaps in his open shirt.

There was no trace of his former robust build and presence.

"How did this happen?"

"Heh heh heh. I moved around a bit too much lately, and look at me now. Don't worry—it's just how it looks on the outside."

Jang Gil-san's hand trembled faintly as he poured tea.

Seeing that, Jae-jun realized the situation might be more serious than he'd thought.

"Oh, right—we haven't announced your S-rank promotion yet, have we, Hunter Choi Jae-jun?"

"I'm fine as long as you update my hunter license."

The hunter license required a high rank to access high-rank gates.

As if expecting that, Jang Gil-san handed Jae-jun an envelope from the desk.

"We prepared your license in advance. You're officially an S-rank hunter now, Hunter Choi Jae-jun."

Hearing those words stirred a strange feeling in Jae-jun.

Inside the envelope was an S-rank hunter license that looked antique and prestigious at a glance.

"It works as a cash card too, and doubles as ID. More convenient than you'd think. Heh heh heh. Oh, right—is that all settled?"

Jang Gil-san glanced at Hwang Dong-su.

"Yes. The additional magical cores from the amusement park yesterday were bought at full price by the Hunter Association and deposited into Hunter Choi Jae-jun's account."

"I can't thank you with money alone, but... on behalf of the association, thank you for what happened yesterday. You saved countless lives."

"No, it's nothing."

Jae-jun gave a wry smile.

Would he have stepped up even if his sister hadn't been there?

Probably not.

It felt burdensome to be painted as some hero.

Jae-jun picked up the teacup in front of him and wet his mouth.

Slurp.

"Hunter."

Jae-jun reflexively looked up.

His eyes met Jang Gil-san's sunken gaze.

"You've heard about the gate in North Korea, right?"

"Yeah. It's all over the news."

"To be direct, the situation there is dire."

"...Didn't the Japanese Association offer help?"

Jang Gil-san sighed deeply.

"The Japanese Association... they'll only extend a hand—or rather, their greed—when we're at our absolute worst."

Maybe it was because he'd been rejected so many times before, but his voice lacked strength.

The composure from their first meeting was gone.

"...We're trying to form another raid team this time. It will include all of Korea's S-ranks and the association's main forces."

Jae-jun nodded silently.

"We need you on that raid team, Hunter Choi Jae-jun."

Jang Gil-san didn't expect Jae-jun to match the battle prowess of veteran S-ranks.

But he hoped that with "Brave Knight" Jae-jun joining, even the Big Five guilds—who'd been holding back—might change their minds.

"I'm begging you."

Jang Gil-san bowed his head.

A raid team, huh.

"I..."

Jae-jun opened his mouth.

But before he could finish, someone burst through the door.

"...President!"

It was Jun-yong, his face covered in a thick beard.

Jun-yong glanced at Jae-jun, then spoke urgently.

"...The barrier's about to break!"

"What?"

Jang Gil-san shot to his feet.

His body swayed unsteadily.

Hwang Dong-su quickly supported him.

Jang Gil-san clutched his head and shook it a few times.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Just a momentary dizziness."

Jang Gil-san glanced back at Jae-jun.

"Sorry, but I have to go handle this emergency."

Jang Gil-san grabbed Jun-yong's arm.

"Let's move."

But Jun-yong's gaze was fixed on Jae-jun.

"You must be that new S-rank hunter?"

"Yeah, that's me."

"Then mind lending some mana for a bit?"

Jae-jun tilted his head, and Jun-yong extended his hand.

"You'll see when we get ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠there. Heard about the North Korean gate mess?"

Jae-jun nodded.

Sure.

Going to see it firsthand wouldn't hurt.

As he took Jun-yong's hand, a sensation similar to using Blink washed over him.

Whoosh—

His feet felt empty for a moment, then he was standing on solid ground.

Jae-jun had arrived at Gyodongdo Island in Incheon.

A fierce sea wind brushed past his face.

"Block over there! They're heading that way!"

"Dealers, attack!"

"Someone heal here!"

The sea in front of Gyodongdo was pure chaos.

A massive gate loomed visibly over North Korean soil, swarming with monsters nearby.

A faint green barrier enveloped the area around the gate.

No.

It was more like it was keeping the monsters from escaping.

But the barrier was riddled with large and small holes, letting monsters slip out.

The hunters were fighting those escapees.

Just the sheer number pouring out required every hunter here to barely keep it contained.

"The barrier's breaking down faster now."

Jang Gil-san's face hardened.

"The Death Knights have increased."

Even from afar, their enormous bulks stood out starkly.

Clad in pitch-black armor, the mana they exuded marked them as no ordinary monsters.

"First things first—repair the barrier."

Slightly away from the barrier, a staff was buried deep in the ground, its head peeking out.

A blue crystal orb atop it glimmered in the light.

Jang Gil-san reached for the gem.

"President."

Before he could, Jae-jun stopped him.

"Mind if I try first?"

"You, Hunter Choi Jae-jun?"

Jang Gil-san eyed him questioningly.

Was Jae-jun a magic-type?

He fought with a sword, so combat-type, maybe.

As those thoughts crossed his mind, Jang Gil-san stepped back.

An S-rank should have more mana than most, at least.

"...I can pour in as much as I want?"

Jun-yong answered.

"You'd have to overload it just to patch one small hole."

"Is that so?"

Jae-jun chuckled despite himself and placed his hand on the staff's head.

A smooth, cold sensation met his palm.

'As much as I want, huh.'

Vrrr—

Mana began pouring from Jae-jun's hand.

Every hunter in the area turned toward him in an ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠instant.

Fwaaaah!

And then, the unbelievable happened.

—Author's Note—

Thank you.