Chapter 198
Chapter 198
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 198
Chapter Title: Bounty Hunters Assemble
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And a week later, hunters from around the world flooded into Seoul, drawn by the astronomical bounty Olympus Guild had placed on that pastor.
Since his territory technically lay on the North Korean side, plenty headed there directly through China or Russia to take their shot.
“Bounty hunter types are all showing up.”
“Europe, America, India, China… Man, what a mix.”
“But will they compete or team up?”
“Who knows~ Still, the target’s S-Rank, so they’ll probably need to cooperate to take him down? Whoa! Busy, so busy. Next up… Let’s see. Andrew Parkinson, American hunter, importing his main weapon…”
Association staff guarding the airport were frantically checking the endless influx of hunters and their gear.
Even the veterans who’d worked airports and facilities for years were overwhelmed by this—it was a first—and they worried that South Korea, peaceful for so long, might be shrouded in war clouds once more.
“It’s called a bounty hunt, but… isn’t this way too many people? It’s not like they’re forming some global bounty hunter consortium…”
“Heard tons went to China, Japan, and Russia too. This is gonna be a real shitshow.”
“The bounty target’s over in North Korea—think trouble’ll hit here?”
“Might. You think those Scavengers under Slaughter King are idiots? They’ve probably already planted people in Seoul. Hunting each other for info~”
“Sigh~ I wanna go to the Frontline City too. Heard it’s super safe right now?”
Out of their unease came a yearning for peace and safety.
And South Korea’s safe haven, the Frontline City, had become everyone’s envy.
With ten S-Rank hunters, the state-of-the-art barriers once used on New Gangnam’s outer walls, not a single Scavenger in sight, and an SS-Rank hunter at the helm—it was a city free of political or corporate corruption.
“It’s more than safe. It’s downright refreshing? Remember when that M&T Tech company skimmed on the ‘Adamantium’ ratio during barrier construction and got absolutely wrecked? No mercy. Scavengers can’t even breathe there.”
“But with all those Japanese refugees and stragglers from everywhere… no conflicts between people?”
“Bound to be some. But you know how they handle lawbreakers—no exceptions, tons of CCTV, and the knights or… those Cheongeomgun soldiers mediate disputes like pros. It stays at verbal spats, and if not, boom—deported. So everyone watches themselves. Safe, high pay, cheap rent, and even the big shots don’t act up. Where else you got that?”
“The ones who do act up? Heads rolling. Heh heh! M&T Tech’s CEO was raging about a trial, but Frontline City runs on guild rules, not regular law—so yeah, his head literally got smashed.”
“Ha, satisfying. I applied too, but the screening takes half a year… Tsk, anyway, hope nothing blows up.”
With a light sigh, the Association staff dove back into their frantic work.
Yet even as they chatted, another plane full of hunters touched down, swelling the ranks of those stationed in Seoul.
***
Pacific skies.
At the same time, aboard a sleek business jet crossing the Pacific, Yoo Seongwon stared blankly at the ocean below.
He couldn’t dare refuse an invitation from a constellation who truly dwelt in the heavens—not His Excellency the Sky… well, actually in the high skies—so he had no choice but to go. And to vent his irritation, he’d dressed in a tracksuit and hoodie.
Only he had been invited, so no one could accompany him, and he couldn’t summon his knights either.
Anyway, he’d come like this to express his displeasure, but the Olympus Guild member escorting him seemed irked by the look and subtly hinted as much.
“…No other clothes? We can fetch some if you’d like?”
“I’ll just switch to armor when we get there, so I’m comfy now. Problem? I can change in a snap anyway. Or does your Constellation Poseidon care what I wear underneath?”
“No… he doesn’t.”
“Then we’re good. Sigh~ If it’s a commission, just send a letter or email—why insist on seeing me in person?”
That was what puzzled Yoo Seongwon most. No need to summon him to the Sea God’s Palace; a message would suffice. The invitation felt suspicious.
It was a waste of time, and he had a bad feeling Poseidon and his minions were up to something.
“I get why you’d wonder, but that’s our constellation’s will. And once you arrive, there’s something to show you… You’ll need to keep it secret from the outside world.”
“If it’s secret, why show me at all?”
“That’s also our constellation’s will.”
“…Sigh~ Universal excuse, huh.”
Yoo Seongwon let out a deep breath, ignored the unresponsive Olympus Guild escort, and kept gazing out the window.
An endless expanse of Pacific. Facing Olympus Guild, he couldn’t relax for other tasks, so it was sleep or stare at the sea.
But after hours of flight, they were nearly there—too late for sleep.
‘Tech progress isn’t all good. Anyway, this is below the equator, right? Hmm? A whale?’
Lost in idle thoughts, he spotted bubbles rising from the sea.
No expert on marine life, but the massive foam suggested something big surfacing. Sure enough, a huge whale breached for air.
‘Whoa… big one. What kind? White-something whale? Nah. One of those krill-eaters, probably…’
As he watched to kill time, a black shadow formed beneath the whale. Moments later, a massive crocodile maw appeared and devoured half the whale like a fish snack.
Startled, Yoo Seongwon shot up and plastered himself to the window. Blood and guts from the whale’s remaining half floated on the waves, and the maw vanished into the depths.
“What the hell was that?”
“A subordinate of Constellation Eternal Wrath. Calls itself Mega Ocean Eater. A-Rank monster. Looks like a croc-dino mashup, an endless predator devouring sea life.”
“Whoa, holy… Huh?”
Splash!
The surprise didn’t end there.
Its shadow lingered when another emerged from the side, snapping up the whale’s other half.
Slightly different color, but same maw—same monster.
“Two of them?”
“Yes. Number two. Seeing them means we’re nearing the Sea God’s Palace. Welcome to the Pacific Frontline, one of humanity’s worst. Look opposite—prepare to be amazed.”
“…Gasp!”
At the Guild member’s words, Yoo Seongwon whipped to the other window.
The scene was worlds apart from the peaceful ocean he’d seen en route.
A massive barrier slicing the sea, countless ships, battleships, and subs battling colossal beasts inbound—like a blockbuster movie.
“Holy shit…”
“Not even the start of the shocks. Look farther out—you’ll see a huge hole and island.”
“Y-Yeah! There. What… a portal?”
As directed, far off loomed an enormous hole.
The beasts from before looked tiny. Vast beyond measure—like it could swallow islands or continents—endless seawater funneling in.
“What… is that?”
“Constellation ‘Eternal Wrath’ incarnate. Furious at all things, the ‘constellation that devours everything.’ Yes, literally eats ‘stars.’ Uses devoured ‘stars’ to spawn clones that eat more ‘stars.’ Every beast floating out there is basically his clone.”
“My God…”
“This is the enemy Olympus Guild faces. Understand? While you rest easy, Constellation Poseidon, his apostles, and blessed heroes fight nonstop. Against these endless devourers and their minions.”
“…Unreal!”
Yoo Seongwon reeled as if clubbed over the head.
He’d gauged evil constellations by locals like Slaughter King, 66 Thousand Demons, Frozen Ruler—small scale. Never imagined a pure physical ‘star-eater.’
And while they lived in peace! Such horror over the Pacific!
“No small shock. Makes sense. Confirming this hell while your world stays serene.”
“How… do you even fight this?”
“We would’ve ended it if we could. See that? The one earlier was A-Rank. Near the maw’s center? Giga Ocean Eaters, S-Rank swarming. S-Rank monsters needing three S-Rank hunters minimum. Check the falling cliffs around it.”
“…My God!”
The hole (maw) was so vast, surrounding lifeforms seemed tiny, flickering in and out.
But the numbers—hundreds, thousands, as the Guild member said. Not one or dozens.
“Now grasp our plight? Almost there anyway. Yoo Seongwon Hunter, prepare to land.”
“…Got it. Whew~”
The world was far graver than he’d thought.
He’d figured constellations played conquest games on Earth-scale. Never dreamed of this.
And why Olympus couldn’t spare the Frontline? Crystal clear now.
Monsters under this ‘star-devouring’ Eternal Wrath threatened stars themselves—ignoring mere ship thefts or S-Rank kills was natural.
“…If this leaked, global panic.”
“Yes. Painful, but we’re controlling info from civilians.”
Knowing stars marched to doom hourly? Chaos—demands, doomsayers, mass hysteria.
Slow, but devouring stars was terrifying… More so? Eternal Wrath wasn’t the only ‘star crisis.’
Imagining other Olympus Frontlines like this chilled him.
‘What horrors elsewhere…? And they want me for this?’
“Landing complete. Welcome to the Sea God’s Palace, Yoo Seongwon Hunter. Yoo Seongwon Hunter?”
They’d arrived at the Sea God’s Palace—an island fortress dwarfing the golden-maned flagship—but the shock left Yoo Seongwon deaf to the escort until called thrice.
“Ah, got it. Changing now. Haaaa~”
Clank!
Summoning and donning the Golden Guardian Beast Armor, he sighed deeply and stepped off the jet into the Sea God’s Palace proper.
Even then, the shock lingered, mind a whirlwind.