The Corpse-Choked Break and the Beef Betrayal
Even including the Association President, all seven remaining S-rank and A-rank hunters in Korea had gathered. On top of that, B-rank hunters who'd heard the rumors from who-knows-where had come swarming in from nearby areas. They'd requested help from the Masters in Japan right away, but there was no response. The Korean hunters had to hold off a break rated disaster-grade or higher with just this many people.
They hadn't given in to despair or surrendered. Even now, countless hunters below B-rank were evacuating civilians. Outside Gangseo-gu, barriers were being erected to seal off the city. They'd hold here as long as possible, and if it looked hopeless, abandon the break zone. Even if it meant sacrificing this area, they'd save Korea. It was far better than losing an entire capital like Cairo... That was the judgment of the Association and the government. Sure, a few insurance companies might go bankrupt in the process, but people had to come first. The insurance employees? They'd made bank already. The executives especially. If push came to shove, they'd even dip into the national treasury. Only after that policy was set could the Association President finally arrive on site.
And then she felt a twinge of despair and the urge to give up.
"...Haa."
A research report claiming 8,000 breaks had merged into one. It was a hypothesis that had surfaced even during the Cairo catastrophe. Still, she hadn't wanted to believe it. But now she had to. Denying it when it was right in front of her would just be escapism.
'No wonder they rated it disaster-grade or higher.'
Gate measurement ranks depended on the amount of mana they emitted. Breaks were measured the same way—by quantifying the mana pouring out and assigning a rank accordingly. The highest rank among gates and breaks so far had been disaster-grade. Even twenty S-ranks would struggle to contain a disaster-grade break. At least ten were needed just to safely hunt inside a disaster-grade gate.
What loomed before them now was something beyond that. She didn't know how many times greater, but the measuring device had broken when it hit five times the disaster-grade benchmark. The size of the break? Immense, needless to say. It hadn't even opened yet, and it already blanketed all of Gangseo-gu. Its colors were bizarre too—blue, red, black, white, yellow, then pale green, deep purple, cycling through every hue imaginable, flashing bright then plunging dark over and over. How many monsters were brewing inside to make such a spectacle?
The Association President numbly reached for a cigarette. A nearby staffer placed one in her hand and murmured quietly.
"What should we do with Hunter Baek Hye-seo?"
The President's gaze shifted right. She glanced at Baek Hye-seo, whose face was pale as death, standing rigid. Behind her stood seventy demons in a perfect line, all glaring at the gate ahead.
"She wants to charge into the break?"
"Yes."
"Reason?"
"...She said she needs to find her friend."
The President recalled Baek Hye-seo's profile. She had no family or friends—not a single one. Even the members of her own Cheon-gun Guild kept their distance, intimidated and uncomfortable around their guild master. For someone like that to have a "friend" worth turning her eyes like this... Well, actually, no. Even for an S-rank weirdo and social misfit, this was over the top.
But it was fine. Because it was Baek Hye-seo saying it.
"The other S-ranks are en route, so focus on holding for now. No matter how urgent, she'll prioritize killing monsters first."
The one S-rank she could actually reason with—the hunter closest to a true hero. There was no way Baek Hye-seo would ignore evacuating civilians and a crumbling city. That was the President's assessment as she lit her cigarette.
At that moment, the gate's aura shifted.
Baek Hye-seo—the sole S-rank at the front—and the President reacted first. The seventy demons roared in unison.
The President tossed her cigarette and ripped the side of her suit skirt for mobility. The other hunters drew their weapons in turn.
Thud—
The gate belched a murky gray light. An explosion? A flare? No telling. The President charged forward regardless. Baek Hye-seo's demons followed suit.
And then the two women heard it—a pathetic "Gaaah!" scream echoing from deep inside.
Their eyes met.
'Is that the kid you're looking for?''I think so!''I'll save her. Cover the rear.''Got it!'
It was a split-second exchange, but they understood each other perfectly. They had to rescue the hunter inside—not because she'd strengthen Korea, but because she was a person. The President drew a deep breath and bellowed.
"Block the explosion's aftermath—!"
As the A-ranks obeyed, a deafening boom chased the light, slamming into the world.
"Hup...!"
The President hurled herself into the roar. Bam—wham, or maybe splat. Sounds no human body should make rang out. She ignored them and kept running. Wind battered like a wall, noise stabbed like awls. Illegally parked cars, poles, storefronts blocked the path, but she smashed through them barehanded, barreling toward the scream.
These things could be compensated with money. A dead person? No amount could bring them back.
The Gatekeeper with the Massive Maws that Part the First heartily laughs, praising your excellent form!
The President skimmed the constellation message and scanned her surroundings. Moments later, she froze in shock.
It was the sight of the gate vomiting monsters.
The gate rippled like it was retching, spewing them out in heaving gushes—like vomit surging back up. But every single monster was dead. Burned corpses, melted ones, crushed, exploded, twisted, shattered, vaporized, torn apart... Scattered in every gruesome way imaginable. Not a living one in sight.
'What the hell is this?'
It was unmistakably a break—the sudden gate pulsing to life. So why were all the monsters that should be pouring out already dead? Had someone intervened? An entity exerting influence from inside the gate—maybe a human-friendly constellation?
'People first.'
She shoved the thoughts aside.
Thud!
The President kicked off harder. Soon, she spotted a girl tumbling down, white hair whipping in the wind. Identical to the photo of Yoo Haneul—appearance and all. Her pajamas were shredded, but those unique hair and bare feet confirmed it.
"Gaaah."
Skreeeech—!
She gouged her heels deep into the ground, twisting to brake. Arriving under the falling spot first, the President leaped lightly and caught her bridal-style.
"Oing?"
Haneul stared at the woman holding her princess-style. A woman in her early twenties, with long wavy black hair and dark eyes. Unlike Baek Hye-seo, she looked like the epitome of a Korean. More refined and wealthy-looking now, perhaps. By Haneul's first blink, she knew the woman's real age; by the second, her constellation. A familiar divinity came to mind right away—the gatekeeper uncle who always gaped with an "ahh."
—Little Immortal! I have a favor! If we meet in your next life, greet me first! Even if I don't recognize you! I'll make sure to remember you!!
Recalling that distant memory, Haneul waved.
"Hi there?"
"I got a report she'd use casual speech from the start, but maybe it was wrong."
Touching down, the President set Haneul down and quickly checked her over. No injuries. Not even a scratch. She'd been amid all these monster corpses, yet not a drop of blood on her.
Still, she asked—just in case it was mental.
"Any injuries?"
"Nope, none. I'm Yoo Haneul. Do you know me? You're older, so speak casually."
"Haneul!!"
Before the President could reply, whoosh! Baek Hye-seo barreled in from behind and hugged her tight.
"Huing, g-good... you're okay?! No injuries?! W-what about your clothes... they're all torn...!"
Haneul glanced calmly over the President's head, then turned to Baek Hye-seo.
"Yep yep. Belly full, feeling great."
"I... I brought clothes! This covers up to your thighs at least, so put it on... quick...!"
Flustered but prepared, Baek Hye-seo draped a spare jacket over Haneul. Who knew she had that foresight? The President chuckled, standing.
She'd let them reunite... and handle Association President duties.
"...Ha."
A sigh-mixed laugh escaped. Seeing the monster corpses blanketing Gangseo-gu did that. F-rank weaklings to A-ranks, even a few S-ranks—thousands by rough count. Priceless in mana stones, but... relief at survival overshadowed it.
'Thank god no one died.'
She'd braced for deaths, only for it to end anticlimactically. Tension crashed out, leaving her reeling.
Now: cleanup in Gangseo-gu, break reports, pass intel to the gate lab, grill the observatory on what happened, talk with China's Association and the Namgung clan...
'Fucking annoying Namgung bastards.'
The President swallowed a curse, shaking her head.
'Gotta take a vacation.'
No official leave for her, but no one could force her to work. Self-vacation it was. Squatting before Haneul again, she smiled.
"Hunter Yoo Haneul?"
"Yep."
"Hi, I'm the Association President."
"Oh, here for my C-rank license?"
The President tilted her head; Haneul mirrored it. Blink blink. The President couldn't parse Haneul's words; Haneul couldn't get the tilt. Haneul spoke first—not out of guilt.
"Did I cause trouble so no license? I was the victim. I'm innocent."
"Hmm, Hunter Yoo Haneul's not all there either."
"True that."
Of course, Baek Seungcheol's report had noted Haneul's instability: can't sit still, walking bomb, casual from jump, not right in the head, constant smiling... Unstable, dangerous keywords galore. Tense as she'd been, Haneul's self-awareness impressed her. Meant they could communicate—great sign.
The President had seen Haneul's break-clearing footage. Namgung Hyeok called it Emperor Sword Form? That power alone made her S-rank material. Untested, no apostle contract, boundless potential? Suspicious, eerie, scary even—but still a fellow hunter, a person. Someone to protect and advance with.
'Korea's First Master: Yoo Haneul.'
Music to her ears—the current first Korean S-rank knew that ring best. Bribe media, fend off pesky Chinese, shove aside jealous foreigners, pour in every support Korea could offer... But first, relocate before other hunters saw her.
Smiling warmly, the President met Haneul's eyes.
"Sounds good. Wanna all go grab something tasty?"
"What about cleanup?"
"Staff can handle it."
"Power's the best."
"That's why everyone wants in on politics."
Politician joined Haneul's bucket list.
"What about the mana stones from there?"
"We'll discuss disposal and compensation over food."
"Compensation? I get an award? Why sudden?"
"For yesterday's gate break cleanup. Zero deaths or injuries. All thanks to you, Hunter Yoo Haneul. Thank you—truly."
Haneul sensed pure, unfeigned sincerity. Why the Association wasn't corrupt or incompetent: this.
"What award? A house too?"
"House works. Or gear, cash, immunity rights... Yeah, details over food."
Haneul turned to Baek Hye-seo: You coming too, right?
"Yeah, I'm in. Sounds good."
Baek Hye-seo nodded vigorously. Surprising, if Haneul knew her better—she shunned people, sending demons to her own S-rank ceremony. Even for the President. Yet here she was, eagerly agreeing. Suspicious as hell.
Of course, Haneul had no clue.
"Whatcha eating?"
"Beef?"
"Beef's my fave. Gotta go straight to Association for interrogation after?"
"Nah, China might, but Korean Association doesn't drag hardworking hunters in. We prioritize hunters always. Take your time."
Identical to Baek Seungcheol's words. Haneul's face lit up.
"Yay!"
Korean Association: competent indeed.
*****
An hour later.
"I trusted you...!"
Haneul wailed from her hospital single room bed, bound tight. Sign said beef, but inside? Hospital. A full-service hunter hospital, even with psych for hospital-haters like her.
She ended up poked and prodded every which way. Then the President and Baek Hye-seo ditched her for "urgent business."
She wanted to snap the restraints and bolt, but each hunter-grade rope cost 200 million won. Ten of 'em? Two billion. Terrifying for commoner Haneul. Best she could do: squirm bound on the bed.
After much flailing, she heard muffled talk outside the door. Voice low, but not fooling Haneul's ears.
"Honey... haa... no, really don't know. How the hell do you know Hunter Yoo Haneul's location? Last I saw, she charged into the break. Same Namgung... look, that's what I'm saying. I truly don't know..."
Haneul knew the voice—face, name, guild too.
"Of course. For the Namgung clan's prosperity...! If I knew, I'd have called ages ago. Yes yes, I want to know too. I'm dying here. All because of that brat Yoo Haneul... What? Yes, already beat to hell by Hunter Namgung Pyo and hospitalized... No, Chinese hunter. Namgung clan guild in China... Yes, yes... Namgung Pyo? The one who thrashed me? No way A-rank. Obviously S-rank."
"Uncle Namgung?"
The door flew open at Haneul's call. It was indeed Namgung Hyeok—battered like he'd been pummeled, hand over his phone mic. Haneul shook her head side to side happily.
"Hi hi. Looking for me?"
Namgung Hyeok's mouth hung slack.