Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Jamsil Monster, You're Mine!
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The Hunter Association was always bustling with activity.
But today, the Korean branch was moving even faster than usual.
Especially the situation room monitoring Myeongdong—it was a complete state of shock.
"A-A-rank threat monster, designated Twin Head, has appeared!"
"Stats analyzed! Strength 8, Endurance 8, Agility 5, Magic Power 4, Dexterity 3. Total sums to 28!"
"C-rank hunters dispatched first to the scene have been wiped out! Yoo Cheol-ran is holding it off to evacuate survivors, but... it looks like she's just buying time!"
"Wh-what?! Anomalous signs from Twin Head detected!"
Kwarung!
"...!"
"Th-that's... Demon Armament?"
"The Twin Head that appeared in Myeongdong this time can wield Demon Armament—confirmed!"
Through the massive screen in the situation room, they saw Twin Head spewing black lightning.
The observing hunters froze in shock, dropping everything.
And even Rolling, the A-rank hunter who wielded conditional national-level authority and had just arrived in the situation room for the Twin Head incident, was no different.
"A Twin Head in Korea, where the average threat level is C-rank...!"
"Mom. I'll go."
Sophia had entered the situation room alongside Rolling with B-rank hunter privileges.
Though it was their first meeting since that day at the airport, this was wartime as far as the military went.
Putting aside personal matters, she immediately volunteered herself as ready for deployment.
"Mom, you know. American B-rank hunters aren't the same as Korean ones. I'm a B-rank from 'Hunter Headquarters'."
"But... even so, taking down a Twin Head is still too much for you, Sophia."
"...! You can't just leave that kid dying down there?! Yoo Cheol-ran is your disciple, Mom!"
"Exactly. That's why I'm going myself."
Her disciple in immediate danger, and now her daughter ready to charge in recklessly.
To protect them both, Rolling was about to return to that national-power-level position even America acknowledged—for the first time in ten years.
"Wuaaaaaaaaah!!!"
"?!"
"Th-that roar just now...?"
That was before the unforgettable roar echoed through the monitors.
"I-it can't be... New monster reaction in Myeongdong confirmed!"
"Size suggests humanoid... Wait, this reaction feels familiar...?"
"...!! Commander! And Lady Sophia! The new monster's reaction matches exactly the one from Busan Port ten years ago!"
"What..."
"What did you say?!"
"Jamsil! It's the Jamsil Monster!"
"Jamsil Monster confirmed reappearing—exactly 3,654 days, 11 hours, 23 minutes, 41 seconds later!"
The Jamsil Monster.
The moment they heard the name, mother and daughter's eyes widened simultaneously.
Appearance location—unknown.
Appearance time—unknown.
Appearance method—unknown.
Unlike typical monsters emerging from gates, even how it appeared was shrouded in mystery.
They thought it had vanished after the [Smiling Monster Incident] ten years ago...
'That thing's back...?'
First appearance: Niflheim, queen with B+ threat.
Second: Angel, national disaster monster.
Now third: Twin Head, classified A-rank threat.
'Like a guardian of this country.'
Not that it was likely.
Monsters pretending to be harmless or benevolent only to backstab humanity weren't rare in history books.
Like Godzilla in Hokkaido, Japan sixty years ago—coexisting with humans as a mountain spirit before suddenly turning monster and causing catastrophe.
Even though he coincidentally saved her life at Busan Port...
'History's full of nations that trusted monsters and perished.'
Sparta, cultivating only the strongest warriors with monster power until they self-destructed.
Britain's ancient kingdom, Britannia, falling to civil war after Merlin the monster's temptations.
History repeats, and Korea was no exception.
"Situation room!"
Though uneasy, for the nation and her two children living here, Rolling steeled herself.
"Contact the President immediately—prepare to declare martial law!"
"Y-yes!"
She fulfilled her role as the cool-headed commander.
"It's a monster with no particular interest in humans, unusually. To subdue it, first strike is key."
"Understood!"
"Contact the Ministry of Defense... No, I'll handle it myself. Have hypersonic missiles on standby. Deploy every available hunter to Myeongdong now! Evacuate civilians swiftly!"
"""Yes!!"""
Even amid the chaos of A-rank followed by national disaster threats, Rolling issued orders unflinchingly.
Her calm demeanor eased the tension in the room somewhat.
"Where's the Korean branch chief right now?"
"Yes! The branch chief is in the underground research building, as always!"
"Got it. I'll gear up and head to the scene with her. Oh, and Sophia, you..."
Since you're a B-rank, support me from behind.
She was about to ask that...
"...Sophia?"
Her daughter, who had been standing right beside her moments ago, was gone.
Anxious, she was about to check the trash cans wondering where the girl went.
"Um... Commander?"
"...?"
"Sophia Hunter... she bolted out the moment we mentioned the Jamsil Monster."
"......What?"
What nonsense is this?
Her face went blank, then cold sweat poured like a waterfall.
"Get the branch chief..."
"Commander?"
"We deploy now! Hurry and drag that branch chief here!!"
Unaware of her foaming, collapsing mother, Sophia raced toward the Jamsil Monster—not Shin-woo—with an excited grin.
'Finally found you... my monster to tame!'
Cheol-ran-ssi’s condition.
Fortunately, though covered in burns, she was still breathing.
Meaning she'd survive if hospitalized immediately.
Relieved, I gently laid the unconscious Cheol-ran-ssi on the ground.
And then.
Kwang!
"Wuaah?!"
"Kruk?"
'What are you doing?'
Twin Head swung its club fiercely at my exposed back.
But seeing me turn unharmed, it looked utterly terrified.
Not that I'd go easy.
"Krruk."
'No time. End this quick.'
For Cheol-ran-ssi to be rescued now, both I and Twin Head had to vanish simultaneously.
So a mere A-rank threat like this.
"U, wuaaaaaah!!"
Did it sense this was its end?
In a final act of defiance, Twin Head raised its goblin club sky-high.
Black lightning surged from the ground, absorbed entirely into the club.
The perfectly blackened club descended to grant its user's wish—crashing toward my head.
The monster's wish shattered instantly.
Kwang-!
No technique—just raw power.
Letting instinct override reason, I channeled my rage into my fist and unleashed it.
"Kraaaaaaaaah!!"
Twin Head's body, still clad in the Demon Armament it summoned, burst open—guts spilling before exploding with a pop!
Splatter.
It sprayed blood everywhere, disintegrating formlessly—completely retired.
"Hoo..."
To think.
Cheol-ran-ssi nearly died because of trash like this.
After preventing Busan's [Smiling Monster Incident]—a bad end trigger—I'd held back to avoid altering the original story.
National disaster monsters popping up left and right would derail the plot.
But now that the prologue began today, no more holding back.
From here on, whenever possible, I'd erase every contrived tragedy from the original.
...All of them.
Monsterizations would cause commotions big and small, but I'd braced for that since possessing this world ten years ago.
So for now, retreat stealthily...
Swipe.
...or try to.
"Kruk?"
"Found you. Jamsil Monster."
A sharp blade pressed against my neck from behind—I naturally turned.
And at the familiar voice matching the familiar face, my mouth gaped wide.
"Krrruk?!"
'S-Sophia?!'
Sophia grinned wickedly, threatening me with her long scythe-like weapon.
She clearly thought she'd gotten the drop on me.
"I've waited so long for this day..."
"Kruk...?"
"The day I'd 'tame' you!"
What the hell is she saying?
How's a mere B-rank gonna tame a national disaster monster?
In the setting, only two Beast Hunters ever tamed national disasters.
What confidence.
With a very pleased look, utterly convinced she had the upper hand, Sophia half-threatened me.
"Become my monster right now. Then you won't get subjugated."
"......"
I was pondering how to persuade her gently into fainting.
Sniff sniff.
"Kruk?!"
Her eyes widened suddenly, then she frowned, pressing her nose to my jet-black skin and sniffing.
'Wh-what's with her?! Suddenly?!'
Did some weird fetish bloom while she was in America?
As her brother-figure, I worried—then.
She raised the scythe high and swung down at me with full force.
Thud.
What now?
It looked custom-made, not mass-produced, judging by the scythe form.
Wouldn't want it breaking on me, so I gently caught the blade with both hands.
Then.
"Hey......"
"Kruk?"
"Why do you smell like Shin-woo?"
Chill.
Erasing her innocent smile, with eyes that could kill, Sophia demanded why I smelled like him.
"What did you do to him?"
"......"
"Then you're dying by my hand."
The lethal warning flew.
No, before that, Sophia... how do you even know my scent?