Chapter 50
Sparkle arrived at Incheon Airport at a speed like a shooting star.
Its wings were damp and heavy from the high-altitude flight.
'Even this level of drain ends after the 149th time.'
Fairies were insignificant as individuals.
'That guy... he went toe-to-toe with what I thought was a great grandmother tree—a total cult tree impostor.'
Impossible to handle alone.
But running away... wasn't an option.
Seo Wonseok had unleashed his unprecedented power, the Eternal Blessing, binding Sparkle's wings.
'At least I extracted that promise.'
Better than forcing a Eternal Pact Contract and getting stamped into oblivion.
A verbal agreement, even if just words, built trust—and that was a win.
"A flying fairy above walking Homo sapiens!"
Sparkle, who had been grinning slyly, suddenly panicked. Its stealth magic duration had expired.
"Pebbleong."
A translucent silver veil enveloped Sparkle's entire body.
Sparkle twisted its waist, scanning itself up and down. The stealth magic was working perfectly.
'I felt it earlier too, but being around that Homo sapiens seems to reduce my mana consumption.'
Ever since enduring the humiliation of that sticker on its chest, its mana output had increased.
"...Heh heh. Primitive Homo sapiens. You think I accepted 150 tasks without a plan?"
There were intricate calculations beneath the surface!
'Time to get started.'
Sparkle leaped straight up into the air.
First, scout the crowded areas.
Sparkle brought its hand to its brow like a salute, peering around.
'Looks like a rabbit.'
From above, Incheon Airport resembled a mountain rabbit's head, lopped off and scaled up. Round head with a pair of perky ears sticking out.
"Ong."
Near the rabbit's glass eyes, crowds of people swarmed below.
Sparkle descended and slipped into a vent.
'Ugh!'
A blast of stifling heat hit from the exit. The scorching warmth radiating from all those humans.
Sparkle's eyes narrowed in disgust, but then it spotted a refuge: a trash can. It darted inside like a mouse into a hole.
"Now, let's take a look."
Almost all of them were reporters clutching metal devices.
In the center of attention stood three figures.
'Different race, huh.'
Amid the sea of jet-black hair, silver and red locks gleamed conspicuously.
Sparkle, peeking through a hole at these alien beings, furrowed its brow.
'They look like pointy-ears...'
Elves— the race that used to clash with fairies over territory.
Originally, monsters lived clustered together on vast lands.
It was a continent so enormous no one had seen its edges. But then...
For some unknown reason, the continent shattered into pieces.
After that, no more territorial disputes with the pointy-ears.
"...Urk."
Just when Sparkle thought it'd never see them again.
At least their ears were roundish—kinda cute.
"Ethan Gosling, Hunter! You've arrived unannounced—what brings you here? Care to comment?"
The silver-haired hunter with blue eyes scratched his cheek awkwardly.
The freckled redhead on his team fielded it instead.
"It's classified."
"Th-then...! You mentioned earlier 'coming to meet Seo Hunter'—just one word on that! What do you plan to discuss with Seo Boseok Hunter...!"
"That's also—"
"It's fine, Celine."
The elf-like one shook their head. As their hair swayed, it shimmered like scattering silver dust.
"Jewelry Seo Hunter is someone I hold in high regard as well. That noble character is admired even in America."
Ethan Gosling wasn't just any S-rank. He was the priceless healer. Even if it was flattery, having him acknowledge Korea's top hunter meant something.
The reporters' lips twitched upward.
"However, this sudden visit isn't for Jewelry Seo."
"...?! But you said you came to see Seo Hunter."
"Haha, long flights wear on you. That's all."
"Just one more word!"
"If not for Jewelry Seo, then that... situation at the 64 Building...!"
The elf-likes boarded a waiting limousine under escort.
Three long limos farted exhaust and departed.
The reporters, left high and dry, huddled immediately.
"Not Seo Boseok Hunter, but another Seo Hunter—that guy?"
"The unidentified one active at the 64 Building?"
"They've narrowed it down now. Top contributor at COEX and Greenbelt Gates."
The reporters tossed paper cups near Sparkle's hiding trash can and dispersed.
'Thoughtless Homo sapiens, ignoring nature...!'
As Sparkle debated smiting them with peer pressure,
Rattle rattle.
A man approached.
"..."
He glared at the empty spot where people had been. His gaze leaked cold fury.
"Fucking healer bastards."
'...Scary.'
The man, muttering thickly like phlegm, picked up a paper cup with tongs.
Sparkle tried to slip out in the gap.
'Eek!'
The man yanked out the trash bag.
Sparkle tried punching a hole in the plastic to escape—but!
Tossed into a blue plastic bin, the lid slammed shut.
'Nooo!'
Sparkle tumbled in pitch darkness amid banana peels.
As the sun dipped westward,
I rested my chin on the windowsill, watching Seoul's twilight. Half a day had passed since Sparkle set out.
Hemo addressed me.
〔……. …….〕
"Something must've happened, right?"
〔……!!〕
"Nah, Sparkle's no idiot—it wouldn't run away..."
...Would it?
'I still hold the reins, anyway.'
I'd sealed the Eternal Blessing with Sparkle too. Tied by a red thread, tracking it down with some legwork would be easy.
Besides, if it planned to bolt, it would've done so ages ago. Sparkle had faithfully returned even after patrolling from Goyang to Paju as my proxy.
Two possibilities.
One: Searching for the professor was taking longer than expected.
Two: Trouble had struck.
'Hmm.'
The scales in my mind tipped toward the latter.
This wasn't like hunting for Mr. Kim in Seoul—finding someone in uniform with a familiar face shouldn't take this long.
Even if it was the professor's day off.
〔……!!〕
"Yeah. With Sparkle's personality, it'd circle a couple more times before coming back."
Still, something nagged at me.
'Ethan Gosling's sudden visit.'
The idol of healers, Ethan Gosling, had deigned to step foot in Korea...
I opened my laptop.
Skimming the articles, his original schedule was a Japan-only tour before heading back to the States.
Yet he'd insisted on stopping in Korea.
-"I hope to meet with Seo Hunter."
Provocative words.
Was the Seo Hunter Ethan meant my brother Boseok?
Or the Seo ** Hunter wreaking havoc at the 64 Building?
'Ambiguous.'
Initially, I'd assumed my brother.
By past life standards, at this point, Seo Boseok Hunter was gone—assassinated by guild schemes.
No factor in Korea to draw Ethan's steps.
Boseok had awakened three years ago. His blessing revealed about a year back.
"If he'd come, he'd be here by now."
〔……!!!〕
"Like you said, S-rankers have tight schedules. But Ethan? He haunts Japan constantly."
〔……?〕
Why? No big reason—just likes Japan.
"A guy who jets to Japan every chance he gets suddenly changes his mind? Unlikely."
Plus, my brother had publicly sworn off joining any guild.
Not even dizzying sums could sway him.
Conclusion: Ethan's Korea trip wasn't for my brother.
'The other Seo Hunter—not Boseok...'
Korea's guilds wished Seo Boseok didn't exist. His excessively noble character cramped their style.
In my past life, that was prime motive for the guilds' joint hit on him, I reckoned.
'So my plan right after regressing was...'
Save my brother, then become the eye of the storm myself.
'Split the guilds' fixation on Boseok.'
Stir minor chaos from there, topple them one by one.
But now an enormous foreigner crashed the board.
'Small mercy...'
The confusion wasn't mine alone. Korea's guilds were rattled too.
I eyed the final line closely.
"...Evening schedule at Yeouido National Assembly?"
My brow furrowed deeply as Hemo chimed in.
〔……! ……!〕
"Forgot about Sparkle, huh."
Night was falling.
The airport ran 24/7, but staff quitting time loomed.
"Yeah, let's go find it."
As I grabbed my coat to head out,
Bzzz!
A call from Uncle Choi.
Already in a funk, I answered gladly.
"Yeah, Uncle."
-Uh, bro.
His voice was ashen.
"Something wrong?"
-D-did you see the news?
"Too much news today—which one?"
-Not that S-rank Hunter... the gate forecast at Geomdan.
"Geomdan Gate forecast."
I remembered.
'Around now, huh.'
An Abyss Gate would spawn in Geomdan New City.
If memory served, it cleared without major issues—even with a Gate Break.
'Though the apartment complex on the verge of occupancy turned to rubble.'
No residents yet, so no casualties.
"..."
...No way?
"Uncle?"
-That's the apartment I won the lottery for!!
Comedy from afar.
Tragedy up close.
That evening, at Yeouido.
The National Assembly, vanguard of Korean democracy, blazed with light against the darkness. All for one hunter.
A group with rainbow hair entered the vast corridor.
Hunter Association staff, led by the president, greeted them. Yuneobyeon was among them.
"Long journey—welcome to Korea for your first visit, Hunter Gosling."
"No need. Korea was always on my list, but opportunities were scarce."
The president smirked inwardly.
'Says the guy who flies to Japan for sushi daily.'
Couldn't show it.
The president donned a kindly smile.
"If you'd given notice, we'd have prepared properly."
"Wasting precious manpower on us? This welcome is already too much."
"Haha, so humble."
"Just the posture of a hunter who thrives on public eyes. Anyway, can I meet Seo Hunter tomorrow?"
"Sorry. As you know, Seo Boseok Hunter isn't someone we can summon."
"I don't play word games."
"...Hoho, word games before such a guest? Perish the thought."
"President."
The S-rank's eyes darkened.
"I'm here for a different Seo Hunter—not Jewelry Seo."
"..."
The president's expression chilled.
"Everyone out."
"...Yes."
Yuneobyeon glanced at Ethan's group before leading staff out. Ethan's entourage stayed.
Click.
A lighter flicked open with a crystalline chime.
The president exhaled smoke long, massaging his temples.
"Gosling."
"Yes, President?"
"Korea isn't America's vassal state."
"Of course."
"Even if it were, we can't divulge citizen info on one hunter's demand."
Ethan softened his expression.
"If it came off that way, my apologies."
"Even if I wanted to tell you, I couldn't."
"My Korean's limited. Explain again?"
"I don't know."
Deep breath, exhale...
"Don't know?"
"Yes. No info on that Seo Hunter—not Boseok."
"How do you not know the hunter who aced every Chaos Gate?"
"Slippery as a ghost. Deliberately holds back on rank-ups, no traces at the 64 Building. Maddening."
"..."
Ethan's scouts behind him grew grave.
They were at the pinnacle of intel.
If the president spoke true,
This bizarre hunter narrowed to one.
'Sion.'
Meanwhile, Ethan slyly curled his lip.