Chapter 2
Translator: IPO
Chapter 2
“Night Sea observation, 20 minutes remaining!”
“We will begin the countdown at 10 minutes.”
“All distinguished guests, please take your seats!”
The bustling VIP seating area.
Unlike usual days when only government Hunters participated, many so-called “important figures” had dragged their heavy bodies here to observe, and numerous government Hunters were running around frantically to prepare seats for them.
These were not ordinary civil servants, but National Hunters or Awakened individuals assigned to national duties—valuable personnel who were never ignored wherever they went.
As they carried the title of government employees, they had a certain degree of honor and fairly decent salaries, but today, every one of them had faces filled with worry and concern.
Because today was a Night Sea day.
With far more important figures stubbornly insisting on attending in person on a day when no one knew what danger might occur, the anxiety was far greater than usual.
“Protective spell check complete!”
“Physical defense complete, mental defense complete, corrosion defense complete. No abnormalities!”
“Check everything without exception! Especially the VIP seats!”
Here and there, managers could be seen berating lower-ranked civil servants and Awakened personnel.
The Night Sea was a phenomenon where the sky opened and all kinds of things from worlds other than Earth poured down.
Put simply, the sky tore apart, and things shaped like stars fell randomly onto Earth.
However, the outcome of the phenomenon differed every time, and the identities of what fell were also random.
Naturally, what poured from the Night Sea onto Earth was accompanied by all kinds of dangers, including new dungeons, Gates, and hordes of monsters.
Even after the Great Rift that occurred in 2030, it could still be considered the primary cause that plunged the world into screams.
But that was a story that applied only to powerless civilians.
What was discovered through the Night Sea was not only new monsters, but unknown natural resources that had never existed on Earth, artifacts of otherworldly civilizations whose principles were incomprehensible, and sometimes even vast territories with no owner.
It was full of danger, but at the same time, it was also an opportunity—a virgin land of untapped riches.
Because of this, for giant corporations and Hunters, it could become a chance for new profits and new frontiers. There were even cases where, thanks to the Night Sea phenomenon, the economy recovered and government approval ratings—completely unrelated on the surface—rose, or politicians succeeded in reelection. For a nation, the Night Sea was nothing less than a massive event that could not be ignored.
Of course, what emerged when the Night Sea opened was truly random. Sometimes nothing came out at all, and sometimes dangers beyond anyone’s ability to handle appeared. But as always, the thinking of important figures was careless, lazy, and filled with baseless confidence.
‘Eh, it’ll be fine.’
‘If the Night Sea opens ten times, dangerous monsters only appear three or four times at most, right?’
‘If I just put my name on a new resource development project by attending the Night Sea in person, reelection is guaranteed.’
‘Oh, the VIP seats are set up very nicely. There’s alcohol too… no photos will be taken, right?’
‘Even if something happens, the Hunter riffraff will handle it themselves.’
Such people always showed up at Night Sea events like this.
Presidents wanting to boost falling approval ratings, ruling parties, or rising rookie politicians riding momentum would attend the place where the Night Sea unfolded in person.
It was the underlings and Hunters who rolled around on the ground, but the important figures left behind activity records of having attended in person, acting as if they were captains of expeditions exploring uncharted new continents.
Based on that, they elevated their own names, and even when dragged into hearings, they would shout things like, “I was there, damn it! I even attended the Night Sea site! Damn it! You didn’t even go to the military—have you ever even seen a Night Sea!?”
In reality, politicians, university professors, and famous businesspeople even used Night Sea attendance itself as a form of prestige or career record.
What they actually did after coming was nothing more than drinking alcohol and eating snacks while chatting among themselves in VIP seats plastered with protective spells.
When the Night Sea opened, they would glance at the scenery through the VIP windows, pour more drinks, and when they were about to get completely drunk, their secretaries would escort them home.
That way, their political careers would be stamped in bold letters with records like [Direct Night Sea Site Attendance], [Night Sea Site Supervision].
Wasn’t it dangerous?
Of course it was dangerous.
The Night Sea was fundamentally highly random, and no one knew when or what would tear open the sky and settle onto Earth.
Of course, some level of prediction could be made through prior signs, but predictions were never absolute, so their reliability was limited.
‘According to the Night Sea forecast from the Association, the expected risk level is moderate, right?’
‘If it’s moderate, then nothing serious will come out.’
‘Even if something dangerous appears, it’ll just be a few monsters at most.’
‘There are plenty of Hunters from giant Guilds and Mega Corporations nearby, so it’ll be fine.’
If the Hunters on the ground heard this, they could foam at the mouth and spend all day explaining the anomalies, unpredictability, and dangers of high-risk monsters—but the important figures would never listen.
In the past, the number of Hunters and civilians who died due to “moderate” risk levels was staggering.
These days, evacuation and forecast warnings were better, and the level of Awakened individuals—including Hunters—had risen significantly, so catastrophes as severe as in the past no longer occurred. Still, the danger that settled on this land through the Night Sea could not be ignored.
“Hah, members of the ruling party, opposition lawmakers, even the Minister of Land and Finance showed up.”
“Seriously. When important people come, it’s always the underlings who end up dying.”
“Last time the alert said ‘High’ risk, and nobody came at all….”
Naturally, from the perspective of civil servants who had to escort these important figures and even establish new escort regulations, it was an infuriating situation.
In principle, Night Sea events did not allow civilian observation. They were a kind of “defensive battle” that should only be faced by skilled Hunters and Awakened individuals in a prepared state.
The sight of light falling like meteors when the night sky opened was spectacular, but no one knew whether that light was a calamity or a new frontier or new resources.
If what fell was an ultra-high-risk monster or a distorted dungeon, evacuation alerts would be issued immediately, and Hunters would activate pre-prepared electromagnetic nets, protective spells, and barriers to hunt and isolate the threat.
But on days when many important figures came?
“Ah, Manager. Long time no see. Everything prepared well?”
“Yes, Assemblyman! All protective spells installed in the VIP seating have been thoroughly checked! The reporters will also be restricted from leaving their designated areas, so please don’t worry!”
“Ho ho, good. Take it easy.”
“Ah, we’ve placed suitable drinks at each seat as well. Please don’t worry about photos or wiretapping.”
“Heh heh, good work.”
“Oh my, this fellow is extremely thorough in preparation?”
“Ha ha ha! I’ve valued him for a long time. He handled preparations during the Aptitude Ridge Dungeon observation last time too.”
“Oh? I attended that as well. It left quite an impression.”
“Well then, shall we go, Assemblymen?”
It always turned into this kind of mess.
Seeing the manager—who had been shouting and berating underlings—bow ninety degrees and scrape before suit-wearing politicians with assembly badges made the brows of field workers tighten all at once.
“Haaaa….”
And among those sacrificed underlings at this “observation ceremony” was Dan Ayeon, a Grade-6 civil servant and former Awakened individual.
More precisely, she was pitifully stuck squarely between important figures and underlings, suffering double hardship.
At least Dan Ayeon’s duties were simple.
Listen to the manager’s orders, have the underlings (National Hunters) re-check protective spells, and verify any potential risk factors.
Still, given the extreme randomness of the Night Sea, the most ideal situation would be a purely Hunter-based defensive and isolation battle that completely excluded civilians—but….
‘Just what kind of incident do they expect, breaking regulations just to insist on attending….’
She couldn’t understand the behavior of the important figures who insisted on attending no matter what. What if something truly terrible happened?
With a deep sigh, Dan Ayeon looked at the “crack” forming in the night sky.
‘I wonder what’ll come out of there. I hope it just ends quietly and safely with something like a sky island appearing.’
“Officer Dan, all checks are complete.”
At the report from one Awakened civil servant, Dan Ayeon met his gaze with tired eyes.
Both of them were equally soaked in fatigue, but for some reason, the civil servant looked at Dan Ayeon with even more pity.
“Ah, okay. Good work. Everyone, go to your positions and wait for now.”
“The Assemblymen are….”
“…Haa, I’ll keep watch, so don’t worry.”
After all, Dan Ayeon was a high-level Awakened who would be considered at least A-rank among Hunters, but she had been drawing a civil servant’s salary even before the Great Rift occurred. And when the world changed due to the Rift, the Korean government created an absurd law forbidding voluntary resignation for civil servants who became Awakened.
‘If you refuse, you get hit with all kinds of punishment and sanctions like a deserter, and your social reputation goes straight to hell, right?’
Some people simply emigrated, telling them not to talk nonsense, but Dan Ayeon had family and needed stable livelihood, so she had no choice but to remain a National Awakened civil servant.
Her salary had improved somewhat, but compared to an A-rank Hunter making tens of billions on their own in the private sector, Dan Ayeon was essentially being sold cheap like a soldier not even earning minimum wage.
It was already hard enough, and from the perspective of lower-ranked civil servants, Dan Ayeon being crushed under the arrival of important figures surely looked pitiful.
“Y-yes… then please take care as well, Officer Dan.”
“Yes, you all take care too… ah, I bought ice cream and put it in the base freezer. Take one each and eat it…”
“Yes… thank you.”
But what good was complaining?
Reality wouldn’t change….
Among the Awakened civil servants, the highest-ranking Dan Ayeon had to take responsibility for the safety of the Assemblymen.
Dan Ayeon absentmindedly drew shapes in the sand on the floor with the tip of her shoe.
Spinning around aimlessly, without discernible form.
Then she glanced at the dark circles under her eyes in a hand mirror, sighed, and stood guard in front of the VIP seating with her hands clasped behind her back.
They called it VIP seating, but it really felt like a mobile restaurant plastered with protective spells.
‘I hope something really good comes out of this Night Sea—for the country and for us too.’
‘Oh~ the view is nice~’
‘I heard the Night Sea is far more spectacular than the aurora. I’m looking forward to it.’
‘You’ve seen the aurora as well?’
‘Ho ho, while on overseas diplomatic trips, I had a good opportunity to see it while golfing.’
‘Could I join you next time?’
‘Eh, aren’t you two from different parties?’
‘What does that matter? Ruling party or opposition, we’re all National Assembly members of the same country.’
‘Ho ho ho! I appreciate the goodwill.’
‘Well then, enough pointless talk—shall we raise a glass?’
‘Ha ha! Let’s do that! I’ll pour first, Assemblyman!’
Thanks to her unnecessarily sharp Awakened senses, Dan Ayeon could hear the voices of the important figures chatting inside the VIP seating perfectly clearly.
Looks like they’re having a drinking party in there.
Bastards.
‘When I get home, I’ll order chicken… I had garlic last time, so this time seasoned… no, is seasoned a bit too stimulating? But I kind of want something spicy today. I’m stressed… should I try something called fire chicken? There was a new product called mint chocolate chicken, wasn’t there….’
Even so, Dan Ayeon dreamed of a reasonably happy future (?).
After finishing work, eating something delicious at home while watching entertainment clips was one of the few pleasures in her life.
The Night Sea phenomenon didn’t last long, so if this observation ceremony ended smoothly, she could go home in about an hour.
Cleanup afterward was the responsibility of lower-ranked civil servants, and the Night Sea investigation itself would be handled in earnest by Guilds or commissioned Hunters. Unless a high-risk entity appeared the moment the sky opened, it would probably be fine.
‘Yeah, there’s no way an S-rank monster will pop out the moment the Night Sea opens, right?’
As long as an S-rank monster didn’t appear, it would be fine.
She hadn’t stayed up for two nights preparing the VIP protective spells for nothing.
S-rank monsters were strong, but there were giant Guilds on standby nearby… ah, whatever.
“The Night Sea is about to begin!”
“The Night Sea is approaching!”
“All Hunters, please remain at your designated positions!”
“All distinguished guests, please do not leave your seats!”
Surely.
Surely it would be fine.
Surely nothing would happen.
Thinking that, the night sky opened.
Like the Red Sea parting, the sky split open, and beautiful stars and light moved to face this land.
The light was so enchanting that it inspired awe and admiration in those who beheld it, but it seemed to say this:
…life never goes the way you think it will.
***
—S-rank alert! S-rank alert!
—All Hunters, immediately assume combat posture!
—Spatial contamination detected! Spatial contamination detected!
“…Ha.”
Dan Ayeon let out a short sigh.
Damn it.
How did things end up like this?
Of course, preparations had been thorough.
They had established a defensive and isolation posture by thoroughly drilling the National Hunters, so most things could be handled.
But for an S-rank high-risk entity to appear like clockwork—wasn’t that a bit much?
“All units, combat posture!”
At Dan Ayeon’s single command, all National Hunters simultaneously activated their protective spells and assumed combat posture.
The moment things became truly dangerous, the manager vanished like a ghost.
Ah, that bastard wasn’t even Awakened and was just a parachute hire—so it was true after all.
But it’s quiet.
For an alarm going off, nothing is pouring down.
Stars and light still settled on the ground like a galaxy in the Night Sea, and despite the S-rank alert, the spells remained quiet.
“Why is it so quiet?”
“Did it appear somewhere else?”
“No. If a high-risk entity appeared, it would be here where the spells are concentrated. We even set up luring spells.”
After silencing the murmuring Awakened civil servants, Dan Ayeon focused mana into her eyes and stared at the sky.
At that moment.
-BLINK.
“…!”
Eyes.
Eyes.
Eyes.
Eyes appeared.
Huge eyes.
Countless eyes.
Sensing them, Dan Ayeon shouted immediately.
“Everyone, close your eyes!”
No one questioned her command.
All lower-ranked Awakened immediately shut their eyes and tensed their bodies.
“…The Old Sheep.”
Entity name: The Old Sheep.
First discovered in the Swiss Alps, it was a monstrous lifeform roughly four meters tall with a quadrupedal form, and contrary to its name, it didn’t resemble a sheep at all.
It had no fur, and its skin was extremely thin and transparent, giving it a grotesque appearance like flayed flesh. Its most distinctive features were its regenerative ability—recovering even after bombardment—and the bizarre eyes embedded all over its body.
It usually had around eighty eyes, but despite that, it had no actual vision. Its normal behavior consisted of floating idly in the sky, sometimes crashing into high mountain ranges with a dull thud, then floating aimlessly again for no reason.
At a glance, it might seem harmless, but the reason The Old Sheep was an S-rank threat lay in another trait.
When it made eye contact with another lifeform within a certain distance, it immediately entered a frenzied, luminescent state, generating countless chunks of flesh from its body. These chunks resembled The Old Sheep but differentiated into individual entities, each with its own danger.
There were small monsters called Young Sheep—oval-faced creatures the size of a fist with four legs, which fed primarily on infants.
These Young Sheep evolved into floating flesh masses with tentacles and spikes.
And those floating flesh masses gathered to form Young Rams, subordinate entities of The Old Sheep.
Unlike The Old Sheep, Young Rams actively tried to devour humans, and above all, all entities—including The Old Sheep—regenerated immediately from any wound. Unless they were completely frozen or incinerated, they were essentially impossible to hunt.
It was said that a single Old Sheep had wiped an entire Mediterranean city off the map.
However, the countermeasure was simple.
“It’s The Old Sheep! Never make eye contact!”
“Yes!”
Just don’t meet its eyes.
With swift judgment, Dan Ayeon had the windows of the VIP room covered and issued orders to the other government Hunters.
She didn’t know why a creature with almost no vision was so sensitive to others’ gazes.
Perhaps it was jealousy toward humans with intact sight, but as long as human eyes did not meet The Old Sheep’s within a certain distance, it would not react.
If left unstimulated, The Old Sheep would simply pass by. Once it moved to an area with no potential casualties, they could request long-range magical bombardment and burn it away.
‘Thank god we set up luring spells far from the city…!’
If even a single civilian near the city had made eye contact with The Old Sheep during this Night Sea observation, it would have been a catastrophe.
And so.
A quiet, silent stretch of time passed.
The Old Sheep floated in the sky, blinking its large eyes, and would soon leave this place as if nothing had happened.
Just a little longer.
Just a little more.
If they waited just a bit longer—
“Hey. Hm? What’s going on?”
At that moment, an Assemblyman from the VIP room stuck his head out, unable to contain his curiosity.
Ah.
“N-no!!”
But before Dan Ayeon could scream.
Before she could strike the Assemblyman’s face and knock him unconscious—
The Assemblyman’s eyes met something.
***
The eyes in the sky.
The sheep’s eyes.
The cow’s eyes.
The goat’s eyes.
Eyes.
Those eyes met the eyes of some nameless Assemblyman on the ground.
That alone was enough.
For a loathsome existence to take interest in the ground….
[—MEEEEEEEE!]
Something not even slightly resembling a sheep let out a sheep’s cry.
The sheep felt jealousy.
The Old Sheep did.
A sheep with countless eyes, yet unable to see even a little, screamed in sorrow.
“You motherf—!”
“Who looked at it!?”
“We’re screwed!”
“All units, prepare for combat!”
Watching countless chunks of flesh fall from the sky to the ground, Dan Ayeon looked at the Assemblyman who had opened the door in utter emptiness.
“W-what in the world is going on…? Isn’t this supposed to be safe? You— you, explain yourself!”
“….”
Dan Ayeon felt like crying.