Chapter 187
Chapter 187
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 187
Chapter Title: The Core Dungeon Announcement
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The publicly known information about Yoo Seongwon's current situation was straightforward: he had somehow survived and returned from the Core Dungeon, was recuperating in a trailer, faced off against the remaining forces of the Constellation 66 Heavenly Demons, both sides backed down, and he collapsed.
People had been sent to investigate, but with Iron Fortress's security tighter than a drum, no news leaked out. All they could do was gather experts for meetings and speculate.
"No announcements from inside Iron Fortress or Frontline City?"
"None. Oh, and from the photos and videos, Hunter Yoo Seongwon doesn't look good at all."
"He went into a Core Dungeon... Coming back unscathed would be the weird part."
"From the pictures, his hair turned completely white, and after facing off against the Constellation 66 Heavenly Demons' army, he collapsed without a fight. Looks like he had some kind of talk with that Heavenly Army Great General."
"Talk...? But more than that, I'm worried about the guy's condition."
The Hunter Association Chairman and all the government officials had no choice but to stay on high alert regarding Yoo Seongwon's whereabouts.
They were curious about what happened inside the dungeon, concerned about the rewards from clearing the Core Dungeon, and anxious about his relationship with the Heavenly Army Great General—not to mention how his every move could drastically alter East Asia's power balance. They had to focus entirely on it.
"At least with the Constellation 66 Heavenly Demons' Core Dungeon gone, Japan should be safe soon."
"Ah... yeah."
"Sigh~ That's a bit..."
"Ughhh~"
When it came to Japan, everyone's faces twisted inevitably.
Historical tensions were one thing, but as one of East Asia's powerhouses, its influence was massive. It had been weakened, half its territory stolen by the Constellation 66 Heavenly Demons, but now freed, it would normalize and reclaim its former strength. From a national perspective, that wasn't good news.
"At least the Great Generals under the Constellation 66 Heavenly Demons are still alive, and the Commander armies are intact. The worry is what they talked about with Yoo Seongwon. Whether it's friendly or them agreeing to fight someday."
"We can set aside hostility for now—nothing's changed there. The issue is if it turns friendly and Yoo Seongwon absorbs those Great General forces...?"
"You think that's possible?"
"No one knows what'll happen next. If we stuck to common sense, him dragging around all those S-rank knights would be impossible, but it happened, didn't it? We can't demand logic from that guy's actions."
Yoo Seongwon had always defied norms, and he would continue to do so.
Could a normal guy upend the hunter ecosystem in just a year, let alone shake all of Korean society?
If he solidified control over Korea and took the Constellation 66 Heavenly Demons' forces in Japan, East Asia would essentially become his stage.
"So, what are we supposed to do?"
"What else? Like he always said: become a 'nation worth protecting.' We run harder."
"...The good old days are truly gone. But what about troublemakers?"
"We 'justly' deal with them. Yes, very 'justly.'"
The time had come to actually live up to those flowery words meant for show.
Of course, they didn't have to. It was a choice.
They could keep selling out their consciences, playing favorites with brothers, relatives, and alumni networks—no one could complain.
But now, falling out of favor with East Asia's strongest wouldn't just risk their nation; they couldn't even appeal to his 'conscience' anymore.
"I'm stressing this again: absolutely, absolutely, absolutely do not do anything to upset Yoo Seongwon. This is unequivocally his era. Rebelling against him just means following New Gangnam's footsteps. Make sure prosecutors, police, and media all know."
"Sigh~ Yes. Next up..."
"Wait! Hunter Yoo Seongwon just started his official announcement on the Core Dungeon raid results."
"Tell us before this crap! Damn it! Treating us like idiots?"
A little heads-up would go a long way, but Yoo Seongwon wasn't the type to care. Everyone sighed and switched to a screen showing his broadcast.
The subtitle read 'Core Dungeon Raid Results Explanation and Press Conference.' It showed Yoo Seongwon, hair fully white, seated in a wheelchair.
"His hair...? Ah, just like the reports."
"Something definitely went down inside."
『Ahem, hello? Uh... not looking great, but it's Hunter Yoo Seongwon. I returned from the 'Core Dungeon' recently, got treatment, and can finally move, so here I am. Lots of questions, I know, but it's still tough... *cough! Cough! Cough!*』
He seemed genuinely ill, coughing harshly and slumping until the knights at his sides supported him, handed him water, and helped him calm down enough to continue.
『Sorry for the sorry sight... Let's get to the point. First, my raid on the Constellation 66 Heavenly Demons' 'Core Dungeon' is officially a failure.』
"What? F-Failure?"
"Then how'd he get out?"
The Association and government officials reeled in shock.
But his announcement continued, so they calmed and listened.
『I can't detail the 'Core Dungeon's' mechanics, but the Constellation 66 Heavenly Demons' forces' valor and the dungeon's viciousness overwhelmed even me and my reversal heroes, the knights. In the end, everyone fell, I was alone, driven to total defeat—but thanks to the Constellation 66 Heavenly Demons' mercy and the dungeon's 'rules,' I barely survived and escaped.』
"...What? Then how do you explain the Core Dungeon vanishing?"
『The 'Core Dungeon' disappearing came from my knights' valor inside, earning 'achievements' that let me barely 'negotiate' with the Constellation 66 Heavenly Demons to close it and leave. Right after, I nearly fought the 'Heavenly Army Great Generals' and Commander armies, his minions, but postponed it.』
"What? So the fight isn't fully over?"
"Then... isn't this good news?"
"Right?"
It sounded bad at first, but it meant the Constellation 66 Heavenly Demons' forces would keep holding Japan.
For the Korean government, that was very, very welcome—Japan, freed from the Constellation's grip, wouldn't stretch its legs, which was satisfying enough.
No other nation mattered; they just wanted to block Japan rising as East Asia's hegemon.
『Anyway, I need time to heal from the 'Core Dungeon' wounds and rest. After, I'll resume monster subjugation with the 'Heavenly Army Great Generals' and such. That's it. *Cough! Cough!*』
He coughed again post-announcement, wheeled away by knights.
Afterward, government and Association folks pondered deeply, but little changed.
Even if Yoo Seongwon was sidelined temporarily, his knights numbered plenty, Frontline City's chaos would end, and his power remained intact.
***
Iron Fortress.
Once off-camera, Yoo Seongwon sprang from the wheelchair.
Sure, he was hurt, but not so badly he couldn't move.
So why the blatant show? Because he wanted to.
"Awesome! Freedom! After faking this much illness, even Olympus won't bitch anymore!"
"Wasn't it also to root out internal traitors?"
"That too, but if I came out fine from the Core Dungeon, what would Olympus say?"
Knowing society piles work on the capable—not rice cakes—Yoo Seongwon planned half a year minimum of recuperation.
The issue: using his recovery as cover, how to check the Slaughter King forces up north? Knights were solid, but he prepared extra.
"And as planned, call in the Great Generals and Commander units~ station 'em above Frontline City. Excuse: waiting to fight us. Perfect fit, right? Yujeong?"
"A wise stratagem, Your Majesty."
The Heavenly Army Great Generals and Commander units under the Constellation 66 Heavenly Demons were undead needing no supplies. Millions, nearing ten million strong. He'd have them form a northern line above Frontline City.
"Wonder what the Slaughter King's flesh-hungry army will think seeing the south crawling with Commander undead."
"No loot, no food—passing means fighting. They'll rage. Plus, it fully separates northern Scavengers' Undercities from southern human lands. Double effect."
"Didn't think that far... Anyway, profit's profit."
During recuperation, it kept him safe, severed Korea's interior from North Korea, isolating Slaughter King Scavengers. One stone, two birds.
Slaughter King's main hunting grounds spanned China, Russia, Korea, Japan—but closest and densest was population-rich Seoul in Korea.
"Wonder their reaction? Wanna scout Scavenger groups incognito."
"Like cutting their lifeline. Leftovers: Dragon-Phoenix King's turf and Russia. Russia's emptier than expected, Dragon-Phoenix King's no pushover. So, cross the sea... nearest easy spot..."
"Southern China's Communist government and Japan?"
"Yes. Of those, Japan—lost most S-ranks."
Somehow pawned off, but it secured peace for rest. Yoo Seongwon headed to his room carefree.
Soon after, minor commotion: to fight Yoo Seongwon, Heavenly Army Great Generals and Commander legions crossed Korea to north of Frontline City, spreading out!
They built a northern line side-by-side, settling in earnestly, attacking anything passing through.
***
Pyongyang Undercity.
"No, damn it! What the hell? Why no trailer with booze and food today?"
Bang!
A Scavenger running a bar in the Undercity slammed the table, grilling the transport guy.
As known, their economy was plunder or buys from nearby cities—mostly Seoul's prosperous goods.
"Suddenly, monsters swarmed our route overnight..."
"Argh! Monsters are daily life. Your handlers catch 'em, right?"
"Tried... Barely any EXP, no blood, flesh, or bones—ghost types. Pure loss, they refuse."
"H-Here, photo they sent."
"What the fu...?"
The Scavenger gaped at the photo.
As described, their transport routes crawled with Commander-type monsters and armies.
Ghost, undead unfit as Slaughter King Scavenger fodder—total crisis for all North Korean Undercities.