Angma's Mercy
In the heart of Jamsil. Before the A-class water-attribute Jamsil A-class Gate.
The gate had about a week left before collapse.
The Jamsil area had already been sealed off by the Association.
If the gate collapsed, monsters would pour out.
A massive battle would erupt in the middle of the city.
And in the process, Jamsil would essentially be reduced to rubble.
"Director, is the President really throwing Jeon Yu-i back in?"
"She went to the hospital, but... who knows. If we don't find a way by five days before collapse, we might have to request support from another country."
Director Lee Chang-ho sighed, cigarette dangling from his lips.
His sigh scattered with the acrid stench of cheap tobacco.
"Still, we have to prevent the collapse at all costs."
By law, when a gate's collapse deadline approached, all civilians in the projected damage zone had to be evacuated.
Thanks to that, Jamsil was deserted, and even the press couldn't enter.
But the Association hadn't given up hope yet.
They were determined to stop the collapse somehow.
If worst came to worst, they'd request aid from the US or wherever.
But requesting foreign help was a last resort.
Korea had a history of high-rank hunters being poached by every other country.
So they didn't like relying on outsiders as a rule.
Plus, every time they did, it cost a fortune.
Money aside, the real danger was the talent drain.
Every request for foreign aid led to a chunk of hunters defecting.
It showed the world how weak Korea's hunter force was.
These incidents gave domestic hunters excuses to bail and overseas recruiters openings to poach.
"Better than a collapse, though..."
But they had to avert immediate disaster.
Lee Chang-ho thought the country's future looked bleak.
"If we just had an electric-attribute weapon..."
The Jamsil A-class Gate was actually manageable compared to other A-class or higher gates.
Party size was limited to 13, so it wasn't huge.
It had a clear weakness—water attribute—that could be exploited for a high chance of success.
A good electric-attribute weapon would make it conquerable.
The problem was, no one would lend one.
"Attribute weapons are rare, sir."
A-class or higher attribute weapons were hard to come by worldwide.
Electric ones were even rarer.
The odds of one conveniently appearing in Korea for loan were slim to none.
Just sighs all around.
"Go home for now. Have dinner with your family."
"Aren't you heading out, Director?"
"I have to stay on-site until the President arrives."
Lee Chang-ho rotated shifts with his staff.
Left on-site were night-shift personnel and hunters on standby.
A mix of A-class and B-class hunters.
They'd gathered max force, but this lineup was risky for tackling the gate.
Just adding electric attacks would skyrocket success odds.
"If only they'd take it slower..."
Lee Chang-ho couldn't help resenting the President.
If they'd let Jeon Yu-i rest properly, this wouldn't have happened.
Though, two weeks to collapse was urgent too.
The President was all heart for the country, but that hot-blooded temper was the issue.
Not every hunter burned with the same passion.
Caw... caw...
Darkened Jamsil was eerily quiet.
A rare sight in Seoul.
The city stayed lit even at night.
But Jamsil was pitch-black, everyone evacuated.
A few stars were even visible—hard to see in Seoul's night sky.
Lee Chang-ho stared blankly at the heavens.
Whoosh...
Then something strange happened.
The pitch-black sky was subtly shifting hue.
And that wasn't all.
The air was growing heavy.
Oppressive pressure built.
Like space itself pressing down on shoulders.
"Ugh... urgh... what the...!"
Thud—thud— Lee Chang-ho's knees hit the ground.
Everyone else too.
Non-awakened staff were practically face-down.
Standby hunters fared no better.
B-class wobbled under the pressure; even A-class trembled, barely holding.
"H-Hey, Director! What's going on? Isn't collapse a week away?"
"I don't know either!"
A-class hunter Kim Dae-sung on standby shouted.
No answers even from Lee Chang-ho.
The gate still glowed normally.
"The sky... it's turning red...?"
The anomaly came from above.
The sky was reddening.
More like the air itself tinting red.
The whole area crushed under mysterious energy.
Click-clack—click-clack—click-clack.
Then elegant footsteps echoed through Jamsil.
All eyes turned to the sound.
"Whoa."
"Director, this isn't the time for jokes."
"I know. Know her?"
"No way."
Lee Chang-ho and a nearby staffer whispered.
Meanwhile, the presence kept approaching.
Long red hair down to her waist.
A mask evoking devils—seductive yet terrifying.
Plain hoodie over it.
Underneath, scandalously revealing attire.
Yet her movements were graceful, not vulgar.
Step by step.
Elegant strides.
Pressure intensified with each approach.
"This the gate that needs electric attributes?"
She glanced around casually and spoke.
Red eyes gleamed from behind the mask.
"Who are you? The area's restricted...!"
One hunter bravely spoke through the pressure.
Though his jaw trembled.
A force overwhelming even the hunters here.
Could they win if all rushed her?
"Thinking you could block me with that? Humans really are ridiculous."
She covered her mouth mockingly.
No tension at all.
Lee Chang-ho was certain: rushing her was suicide.
Without an S-class, these mid-to-low A-class hunters stood no chance.
Request backup?
As he pondered, she moved.
BOOM—
The ground shook with a massive thud.
Everyone startled.
She'd dropped what was strapped to her back.
A enormous hammer.
Not some crude nail-pounder—clearly a high-grade item.
"Rejoice, mortals. The great Angma-nim, taking pity on your plight, bestows this hammer upon you."
...Angma?
Lee Chang-ho jolted at the name from her lips.
The new awakener 'Angma' at the center of all the fuss.
Why here?
"Her Excellency pitied the overworked hunters and prepared this weapon herself."
Overworked hunters?
Jeon Yu-i?
"Yet you pathetic fools refuse to worship Angma-nim?"
Hummm—
Pressure surged suddenly.
Her aura crushed the space.
Lee Chang-ho was nearly one with the dirt.
"Daring to insult Her Excellency with your filthy fingers... Without Angma-nim's mercy, Hunter Gallery would've been shut down long ago, and you'd all be drowned in blood."
Hunter Gallery? That infamous online community?
Why bring it up here?
Lee Chang-ho was baffled by her baffling words.
But she kept muttering, ranting about Hunter Gallery.
Like some basement-dweller rage-posting after a keyboard war.
"...Anyway, be grateful for Angma-nim's mercy. She'll judge you. Spit one more insult, and I'll chop off every finger."
Her face relaxed after unloading on Hunter Gallery.
The people here got chewed out for no reason.
But no one dared retort.
That ominous power, first encounter.
No telling what'd happen if they mouthed off.
"I'll be watching."
She tossed that last barb and turned.
Her figure vanished like it'd been erased from the world.
Pressure lifted gradually with it.
"Hah—hah... hah... what the hell was..."
"Hah... hah... D-Director, that woman..."
Finally breathing normally.
Even A-class hunters drained.
Least-worst-off A-class Kim Dae-sung approached Lee Chang-ho gravely.
"Hey, Director. That woman..."
"Yeah. Seems connected to Angma."
"Fuck! What the hell? So that hammer's from Angma?"
Lee Chang-ho rose, steadying shaky legs.
Mysterious woman appears, drops hammer, vanishes.
Furious at Hunter Gallery, claims to be Angma's subordinate.
"Looks like Angma sent gear to help with the Jamsil Gate crisis."
"Fuck... What the hell is Angma, bossing around a woman like that?"
"Guess she's way bigger than some rookie sensation."
Public opinion on 'Angma' varied.
God-tier class, but too new for real combat.
No, probably already A-class strong.
Debates raged.
But Lee Chang-ho was convinced now.
That woman was surely Angma's subordinate.
So Angma dwarfed her.
If a sub crushed A-class hunters, how strong was the boss?
"...A monster. That Angma guy's a monster."
"Best not to piss her off."
"But silver lining: providing gear means no hostility toward Korea. Seems pissed about Jeon Yu-i's overwork—might be a fan."
Kim Dae-sung chuckled.
Trying to lighten the mood, but not impossible.
The woman did say Angma pitied overworked hunters and granted the weapon.
"Some absurd entity's shown up in Korea."
"Hope we can build friendly ties..."
"Ha! Friendly ties, Director?"
Kim Dae-sung barked a laugh.
"Didn't you see that woman? The one bossing her around decides if we're friends. Not us."
"...True enough."
Kim Dae-sung was spot on.
Angma. Uncontrollable.
Be grateful for the gear.
"But why not come clear it herself?"
"No reason to for something this minor. As humiliating as it is, she probably sees an A-class gate as beneath her."
Too trivial for personal involvement?
Makes sense—a giant wouldn't strain for one ant.
"Gotta report to the President first. And..."
Lee Chang-ho urgently called Park Chul-yong at Jeon Yu-i's hospital.
This gate crisis seemed solvable.
But Lee Chang-ho sensed a greater stir brewing beyond one gate.
"What about Hunter Gallery... sigh..."
Worst, Angma was mad over their trash-talk posts.
"Asmodeus-nim should've come to eat too-yu..."
Me and Hagenti set the table with delivered bone hangover soup.
Best hot and fresh, but Asmodeus hadn't arrived.
Then the door lock beeped.
Beep-beep-beep—
"I have returned, Lucy-nim. Perfect stealth maintained; no pursuers confirmed."
"Oh! Good work! Bone soup just arrived too!"
Asmodeus made it right on time, luckily.
Before the real bone hangover soup cooled.
"Dig in quick!"
Heehee, looks delicious.
Hungry first—eat now.
"No trouble, Asmodeus?"
I asked, stripping meat heartily.
Worried too late if anything happened.
"All perfect, my lady."
But Asmodeus spoke confidently.
If she says it's fine, it is.
Hammer delivered—they'll handle it at the Association.
So I heartily enjoyed the bone soup.
Oblivious to tomorrow's fallout.