Those Who Walk Upon the Ashes (2)
The administrative headquarters was bustling even late at night. The reason was simple: the volcanic eruption. The Kargas Volcano, quiet for ten years, had suddenly begun emitting smoke and showing signs of erupting—and strongly at that. Its next expected eruption had been at least several decades away, yet this unforeseen event put not only the administration but the entire autonomy on high alert.
The administration formed a disaster response headquarters with Deputy Director Charles Pegar as its head. They were busy calculating the scale of the eruption's damage, inspecting shelters, and evacuating citizens near the volcanic zone. The conference room where Han Seongjin and Ricardo were present was no different.
“Hmm......”
“Haa......”
Sighs filled the room. The air inside was as heavy and stifling as the gas fields around Kargas Volcano—perhaps even more so. Outside the window, volcanic ash now blanketed the sky. On the large screen within the conference room, a real-time graph of volcanic activity glowed a vivid red. Even someone with no background knowledge could tell something was terribly wrong.
The expressions of the administrative executives, including Deputy Director Charles Pegar seated at the head of the oval table, were uniformly ashen.
“...The estimated time until eruption is approximately sixteen hours.”
The geologist's trembling voice broke the silence as he delivered the briefing. Ricardo stood with arms crossed, brows deeply furrowed. Han Seongjin leaned back in his chair, tapping the conference table.
“Let's get to the point.”
All eyes turned to Han Seongjin at the sound of his voice.
“What about the Inferno Operation? Are we continuing?”
A direct question about the Inferno Operation. Everyone had known it was coming, yet no one had dared voice it aloud—until Han Seongjin did what was typical of him. Murmurs rippled through the room.
One executive cautiously offered his opinion. “We need to be realistic. If the volcano erupts, that entire area will be completely devastated. Going in now would be tantamount to suicide. The safest course is to declare the operation a failure and evacuate all personnel far from the volcanic zone.”
“And then what?” Han Seongjin asked. The executive fell silent.
“Suppose we evacuate as planned. What happens to the high-level magical beast? It won't die in the eruption, and once the volcano blows, all the areas we've purified will be wiped out again. Cracks will start forming once more because the high-level beast is still there.”
Ricardo nodded in agreement. “Han Seongjin is right. If we give up now, all our previous sacrifices will have been for nothing. Magical beasts will keep spawning in the volcanic zone.”
Deputy Director Charles let out a weary sigh and rubbed his face. “...We know that. But there's no time. The gas fields have become even more dangerous, and aerial support is impossible because of the ash. Re-entering that hell and locating and eliminating the beast within sixteen hours? The odds are vanishingly small.”
“I have a solution.”
Han Seongjin pulled a terminal from his coat and tossed it onto the table. A single red dot glowed on the screen.
“It's a tracking device. I attached it to the high-level magical beast.”
The room erupted in shock. A tracking device? When and how had he attached it to the beast? Was it even real? Yet the red dot moved slowly deep within Kargas Volcano, proving its authenticity.
“With this, search time will be drastically reduced. We can head straight to it without wandering through the gas fields.”
Han Seongjin scanned the room, then rose from his seat.
“Choose. Will you flee and spend the rest of your lives ceding land to magical beasts, or will you finish this insane operation within sixteen hours and reclaim the autonomy?”
His gaze passed over the deputy director and settled on Ricardo.
“I'm going. I've worked too hard to return empty-handed.”
“......”
A moment later, Ricardo stood as well.
“I'll go too. As an A-class Hero, I can't turn my back on the disaster right in front of me.”
Following Han Seongjin, Ricardo had also endorsed the reckless plan.
“We'll step out while you deliberate. Please call us when you've decided. As quickly as possible, if you would.”
With those words, Han Seongjin and Ricardo opened the door and left the conference room.
Once the two had gone, Deputy Director Charles Pegar's eyes trembled violently. He stared fixedly at the pulsing red dot on the terminal atop the table.
A fierce debate erupted among the administrative executives.
“It's impossible! Even if we know its location, this is a volcano on the verge of erupting! If it erupts during the operation, we'll lose an A-class Hero and all support personnel at once!”
“But if we miss this chance, Pyros Autonomy will become a land without hope! We must decide now!”
Pyros Autonomy had already drawn the world's attention by launching the massive Inferno Operation. They had bowed their heads and requested aid from across the continent for this operation. Though its true purpose was profit, eradicating and purifying magical beasts was, in itself, an act of justice. That was how they had secured support. Therefore, the operation had to succeed. If they declared failure and evacuated now, what would happen? The operation, backed by aid from every corner of the continent, would end in total failure with nothing gained. The repercussions were obvious: international disgrace, the administration branded as incompetent worldwide, and nothing left but shattered reputations and magical beasts.
Yet even if they entered the volcanic zone, failing to eliminate the high-level beast within sixteen hours would still mean mission failure. The opinions in the room refused to converge.
When the uproar reached its peak, Charles slammed his hand on the desk.
“Silence!”
His sharp command brought an abrupt stillness, as if cold water had been thrown over the room. He removed his glasses with shaking hands and wiped them roughly.
“With Director Alex Bancroft missing, all decision-making authority rests with me as deputy director. And that responsibility does not end with evacuating the people.”
Charles pointed at the red dot on the terminal Han Seongjin had left behind.
“We have already made an irreversible decision. If we retreat now, Pyros Autonomy will become a city overrun by magical beasts, and the administration will be recorded as the most incompetent group in history. But...”
He clenched his fist.
“If we capture that beast and save the autonomy even under the threat of volcanic eruption, this will become one of humanity's greatest victories against magical beasts.”
He glared sharply at each executive still seated. They instinctively averted their eyes. Deputy Director Charles Pegar—whether his feelings toward the autonomy were positive or negative, his sincerity was genuine.
“......”
“......”
Silence pressed heavily upon the room. Even the hardline opponents and the realists lowered their heads one by one. Eyes met among the executives. They, too, were people who had devoted their lives to this land. Their methods differed, but their ultimate goal was the same.
“......”
“...Heh, it seems we have no choice.”
The first to speak was the elderly executive who had advocated halting the operation. He nodded with a hollow laugh, a faint smile on his lips. Reluctant or resolute voices followed from around the room. In the end, they reached a decision.
Several hours later, in the waiting room, the members of Z-Group had gathered. Though their rest had been brief thanks to the priests assisting with evacuation, their condition was good.
“Entering the volcanic zone again... You're all truly out of your minds.”
Ju Won laughed hollowly. Ryan replied, “Was there ever anyone sane in this group to begin with? We're used to this sort of thing.”
“That much is true.”
“......”
Chiron leaned silently against the wall, gazing outside. He had removed his stifling helmet since there was no need for it. The blackened sky reflected in his eyes.
Beowulf stepped onto the veranda for a cigarette. Ricardo joined him with one of his own—an unexpected sight from the man who seemed ill-suited to smoking.
Alice sat quietly on the sofa with her eyes closed. At that moment, Han Seongjin, having drunk from the water dispenser, approached her.
“Student Alice.”
“...Yes, Professor.”
Han Seongjin looked directly at her trembling shoulders and spoke calmly. “Once we enter the gas fields, the spirits won't be able to exert their power like last time. You know that. Protecting you while dealing with that monster will be difficult. Stay here and assist with rescue operations.”
“......”
Harsh words, yet every one of them was true. In the gas fields, spirits could not be summoned, and even if she exhausted all her mana to call forth a powerful one, an ordinary person like her would not be safe from the aftermath of battle. In this fight, she would be nothing but a burden. Alice herself knew this well.
Alice nodded. “...Yes. I understand. But when you return after capturing the high-level beast, please let me observe it a little.”
“Observe the beast? You mean when the portal opens?”
“Yes.”
What Alice was asking was this: the operation plan was roughly as follows. The subjugation team would locate the high-level beast via the tracking device, proceed there, and eliminate it. They would then immediately activate the portal generator connected to headquarters. Using the resulting portal, Z-Group would return before the volcano erupted. That was the core of the operation. Alice's request was to cross through the portal into the gas fields from headquarters and observe the beast.
Why would this timid girl suddenly make such a demand?
“Well, there's no reason I can't allow it... but what's your reason? You look like you'd faint just seeing a high-level beast.”
“Ahaha... I just want to see it up close once. To know what it actually looks like.”
“Hmm.”
Han Seongjin narrowed his eyes. His senses were sending him signals. She's no good at lying. Eyes avoiding his gaze. An awkward smile and gestures. The girl was practically wearing a sign that read “I am lying.”
Well, she didn't seem to have any hidden agenda...
“Fine. But we have to finish quickly. If you dawdle, I'll drag you out immediately.”
“Yes! Thank you!”
Han Seongjin gave Alice's shoulder a light pat and walked toward the center of the waiting room. Roughly thirteen hours remained until the volcanic eruption. Time was up.
-Clap.
“Alright, is everyone ready?”
At Han Seongjin's brief call, the entire Z-Group and Ricardo gathered. Determination was etched on every face.
“We've been waiting to depart.”
“Preparations are complete. Let's show the high-level beast the pinnacle of firepower.”
“Let's finish this quickly and return. We can easily handle a magical beast or two, can't we?”
Beowulf crushed his cigarette underfoot and approached.
“Ricardo, the equipment?”
“Ready.”
Ricardo brought over a bag and opened it. Inside were freshly laundered protective suits, masks, charged compact lightweight oxygen tanks—and, most importantly, the portal generator. They donned the gear.
Ricardo gave Han Seongjin a brief nod. His eyes held a mixture of trust and tension.
Han Seongjin checked his status window once more.
Name: Han Seongjin
Race: Unwritable Memory? Owner?
Age: 25
Abilities: [Super Sense], [Demon Body lv.4]
Traits: [Advanced Martial Arts lv.2], [Advanced Dagger Arts lv.1], [Intermediate Marksmanship lv.3], [Stealthy Steps lv.3], [Colony-Type Tentacles lv.6], [Radiant Flame lv.2], [Weakness Analysis lv.1], [Variable Bio-Carapace lv.2]
Nothing more needed to be done. Only the real battle remained.
“Let's move out.”
They left the waiting room and headed to the rooftop. A large helicopter had landed. They would board it and fly directly to the edge of the gas fields. Being a special helicopter, it could apparently fly to some extent even through volcanic ash.
However, people were waiting beside the helicopter.
“Deputy Director?”
“I have something to deliver to you all.”
It was Deputy Director Charles Pegar and the executives. Their expressions carried both determination and a trace of reverence.
Deliver something? The operational briefing was already over. What could it be?
As the team members stopped, Charles signaled to an employee behind him. The employee carefully carried forward a jet-black hard case.
“This is a treasure Pyros Autonomy has preserved since its founding. It cannot be removed without the director's seal, but... these are emergency times. I have decided to authorize its release on my own judgment.”
When the case opened, its contents were revealed.
“What is this?”
“Ho, its energy is extraordinary.”
Inside was a small orb emitting a faint red glow. It was clearly no ordinary object. The moment it appeared, the air seemed to heat up instantly.
Deputy Director Charles spoke. “The Lotus Pill. It is the one and only elixir in Pyros Autonomy. Han Seongjin, I entrust this to you.”
Han Seongjin narrowed his eyes at the pill. It was slightly smaller than a ping-pong ball, yet the immense mana contained within was palpable. His super sense warned him of the violently swirling, concentrated mana inside.
“You must complete the mission and return alive. This is proof that the autonomy's hope has been placed in your hands.”
Without a word, Han Seongjin accepted the pill. A scorching aroma stung his nostrils and lungs.
“I gratefully accept. However...”
Han Seongjin turned his head.
“Is it all right for me to consume this? It is an elixir, after all.”
He looked to his teammates, but they all nodded in unison.
“If Brother Han Seongjin doesn't take it, who will?”
“You're the strongest here. It makes sense for you to have it.”
“Indeed. I also believe Han Seongjin should be the one to consume it.”
“Then I'll gratefully accept.”
At his teammates' words, Han Seongjin nodded and swallowed the pill in one go.
“Wait a moment, Seongjin! Don't consume it like that!”
Ju Won rushed forward from behind to stop him, but the pill had already entered Han Seongjin's stomach.
“Ju Won? What's wrong?”
“The elixir's effects will diminish if taken that way! You must first circulate your energy and open your meridians before consuming it!”
“What? Really?”
He hadn't known that.
“......”
For an instant, silence fell over the space. The team members stared at Han Seongjin in disbelief, while the deputy director and executives stood with wide eyes. The thought that he might have just wasted the elixir began to creep into their minds.
-Fwoooosh!
Fortunately, that was not the case. A heat like swallowing molten lava erupted explosively from Han Seongjin's stomach.
The concrete floor beneath his feet cracked faintly and scorched under the heat radiating from his body.
“......!”
Ju Won stepped back. Normally, consuming an elixir without opening one's meridians would cause blood vessels to burst or energy to flow backward, turning one into a cripple. Yet Han Seongjin's body, defying human common sense, had devoured the immense mana raw—like a starving beast—ignoring any refined circulation of energy.
“Haa......”
Han Seongjin exhaled a long breath. Traces of mana escaped between his lips. Ju Won hurried to his side.
“Seongjin, are you all right?! No blood gushing from your mouth or body twisting in pain?”
“Haa, no. I'm fine. Rather, I feel overflowing with strength.”
Far from suffering qi deviation, Han Seongjin appeared perfectly normal, leaving Ju Won astonished.
“Heh... What a strange occurrence. Every time I see you, Seongjin, I'm filled with nothing but amazement.”
Overwhelmed by Han Seongjin's imposing presence, the administrative executives gasped and stepped back.
“Let's go. Time for a trip to hell.”
With Han Seongjin in the lead, six figures—excluding Alice—boarded the helicopter. Watching them, Deputy Director Charles Pegar placed a hand over his chest and bowed deeply. His figure was visible through the closing hatch.
“I entrust the fate of Pyros Autonomy... to all of you.”
“......”
-Thud, click.
Leaving that farewell behind, the helicopter's hatch closed. External noise was cut off. The red interior lights illuminated the team's resolute faces.
“Haa......”
Han Seongjin let out a breath. This expedition into the volcanic zone was nearing its end.