Black Sky Society
The Black Sky Society.
A name not found in any history textbook.
“Does the Cross Gate have a connection to the Black Sky Society?”
President Baek.
As expected, he knew everything.
“Yes. Regarding that, ...”
“Ah. I already have a rough idea from what I heard.”
Sorry to cut the chief short, but I had no choice. Once I heard the full explanation, it would have become far too long.
“You must have heard it from Master Han Yohan. Then let us move on to the main point.”
The Cross Gate, a fissure that pierces through countless worlds and spans every corner of the planet.
It is called the dimensional hub in other words.
A Bermuda Triangle for the delivery business, you might say.
“The Black Sky Society is a group of devil-worshipping cultists lurking within the Cross Gate.”
The scale of the story was steadily climbing.
If it had been anyone else, they would have told me to stop writing novels right away.
But our nation’s strongest hunter was explaining it, so credibility skyrocketed.
“I’ve never even been near the Cross Gate, though?”
“The gate you witnessed this time is very likely the work of the Black Sky Society.”
“Eh.”
Why are they targeting the friends of my Ma Wang Club?
This is ridiculous.
If they were after a Paladin like Sophia, I could at least understand.
But why target a Necrosmith like me?
Touching undead has nothing to do with sanctity.
“I’m guessing it might not have been a request from the China Abnormal Bureau.”
Aigoo, damn it.
Here we go again.
I flinched at the sudden rise in my irritation, and President Baek lightly stopped my right hand.
“The Cross Gate is a state secret, is it not?”
“Yes, it is.”
“The organization’s information control appears even stricter than I imagined, given that it’s something I’ve never heard of.”
Even the high-ranking members of the Seven Stars Guild don’t know about this.
The Abnormal Bureau asking an unknown entity for a request.
“...”
Impressive.
A competent person who also represents my side, and I couldn’t have asked for more.
“Then let’s think the opposite. Who would target Hunter Park?”
“Pure speculation, but far more convincing evidence than I could hope for.”
President Baek wore an expression that said he had accepted it.
Surprisingly.
I had expected him to demand more solid proof.
“Only two organizations are hostile toward Hunter Park: the Myre Guild and the China Abnormal Bureau.”
Of course, only one of them is actually a candidate, right?
The Black Sky Society is information the Seven Stars Guild executives don’t even know, so there’s no way Myre Guild would recruit them.
That leaves only the China Abnormal Bureau!
Whoa.
That’s a truly brutal purge method.
“Unfortunately, we cannot hold the Abnormal Bureau responsible.”
“Could you still use this as evidence?”
I placed the stained glass cup on the table, an item that had been in charge of the gate’s core.
Chief Jeong studied the cup with a serious expression and shook his head.
“I’m afraid not. It looks like something prepared by the organization, but it lacks the connection needed to link it to the Abnormal Bureau.”
I hadn’t expected any miracles.
I had shown it as evidence anyway.
But this item had its own value.
The soul of another world embedded within it.
I hadn’t touched it because I was too exhausted after the gate expedition.
I’d bring it up again right after the meeting.
But first, focus on this meeting.
“Is there any possibility that the Black Sky Society will target me again?”
“Probably not.”
Chief Jeong’s answer surprised me.
Normally, when a request fails, they don’t say anything like “Ugh, you’re the first person I’ve had to deal with. We’ll see you next time!” or whatever.
Chief Jeon Hyeyeon shook her head.
“You’ve watched too many movies.”
Crap.
My prediction was wrong.
“The Black Sky Society cannot open gates at will.”
Huge resources.
And the lives of countless people.
The fact that their Relephants were wearing modern clothing.
That was because the people sacrificed to open the gates had been resurrected.
Sigh.
How ridiculous.
They sacrificed thousands of people just to kill one of us?
“I believe they must find a singularity and need a large number of sacrifices.”
“Good thing it’s impossible to do something like that easily.”
“There is no free lunch.”
Chief Jeong’s voice was firm.
True.
If the Black Sky Society could create gates so easily, they would have toppled an entire country.
They hadn’t been caught by the Rift Bureau’s detection system, and instead of being sighted, they had hidden the gate in an out-of-the-way place so that we missed the timing and triggered a mega-break incident.
“I wonder why you told us this secret.”
A puzzled expression crossed my face at President Baek’s question.
Since it’s your concern, aren’t you supposed to tell me?
“Not quite.”
President Baek shook his head.
“It would be as simple as presenting one document saying ‘Thank you for handling the special gate.’”
Whoa, icy as always.
But hearing it made sense.
The Cross Gate and the Black Sky Society were information ordinary hunters didn’t know.
“Hunter Park, when do you think you’ll take the B-rank exam?”
“I’ll probably do it when the next promotion exam comes around.”
The experience I gained by slaughtering Relephants was enormous.
By blocking thousand-unit waves, I had even leveled up a few times.
“How about joining the Cross Gate?”
An unexpected suggestion.
President Baek’s eyes widened in surprise.
“You want Hunter Park to go to the Cross Gate?”
“The A-rank level power you proved during this gate expedition proves it. We are formally requesting it.”
“Hunter Park, this is something you must do.”
No.
Why was the president more surprised?
“Even the Seven Stars Guild is eyeing the development of the Cross Gate.”
Rare minerals and materials found only in another world.
Hunting monsters gives a higher chance of obtaining complete items than from gates.
High risk, high return.
The Cross Gate was a land of both peril and opportunity.
“And while we’re at it, pursue the traces of the Black Sky Society?”
“Yes. As the party involved in the incident, I’m asking you to do it.”
Entering the Cross Gate.
Disrupting the Black Sky Society’s work.
Both sounded appealing.
From the look of it, President Baek was extremely surprised.
“Well, I’ll give it a try.”
If the Cross Gate is a land of opportunity, entering it meant no loss.
It was always a win as long as my life was safe.
It wasn’t a bad idea to enter it to help Master Han Yohan and Mr. Nam Jinwoo.
“When you pass the B-rank exam, let me know.”
Ah.
There was still a huge task ahead.
“I’ll do my best.”
B-rank.
Could I pass in one go?
* * *
After the meeting, I had to recount the entire process from gate sighting to internal entry and expedition.
“You should be grateful that we didn’t file a report.”
Chief Jeon Hyeyeon clicked her tongue.
Organizing what I told her was her job, apparently.
As expected, I didn’t get along with bureaucrats.
A report.
Sigh.
Every time I entered a gate, writing reports made my head ache.
“We have something to discuss as well, don’t we?”
President Baek.
There was killing intent in his eyes.
“To the only hunter of the Ascension Agency.”
“U-uh hehe. Right?”
“I’m going to die in the gate if it’s not me.”
We had reached a social consensus on calling this “recruiting for murder.”
If I hadn’t gone in, hadn’t a mega-break or whatever happened?
“Talk to me beforehand if you’re going to do something reckless.”
“Yes. Yes.”
Do they give warning before something happens?
In situations like this, there’s nothing we can do.
“After the fact is fine, as long as you report it.”
Irk.
I had my inner thoughts exposed.
“That’s something to think about.”
“Hunter Park.”
“I’ll be careful ooo.”
He didn’t leave any room.
Only after the conversation ended and President Baek finished tormenting me could I finally return to the workshop.
The Black Sky Society.
I kept replaying Chief Jeong’s explanation.
Sigh.
“You look unhappy.”
“I’m just annoyed.”
They killed thousands of people just to take one of us.
The clothing the Relephants wore.
It was modern clothing.
The people sacrificed to artificially open the gates must have become the Relephants.
The number was at least in the thousands.
The corpses on the floor hadn’t been revived, so it could be over ten thousand.
“It’s not your fault.”
“I know. I’m just feeling gross.”
Black Sky Society or whatever.
I would deal with them when I met them in person.
I calmed my rising emotions with a sigh.
Since I couldn’t even see their faces, I had to calm down.
“Let’s check this first.”
A translucent cup with red stains scattered across it.
No response yet.
I decided to greet them lightly.
[Mana Release]
Zzaang!
“W-what?! It’s ...”
“Now your senses have returned.”
Don’t be so surprised.
I really didn’t apply much strength.
I had to take time to get to know each other first.
“What is your major, Teacher?”
“...... Shin...... Gwan......”
Oh.
An unexpected job.
Continent’s Best Detective.
Solar Eclipse Witch.
Self-proclaimed Archaeologist.
The fourth otherworldly soul I discovered was none other than a Shaman.
Wait.
Is this correct?
“Commander Isra?”
“I have never seen such a bizarre undead.”
“Ingrid.”
“Even the knowledge of the Solar Eclipse Division doesn’t have it.”
[Why aren’t you asking me?!]
“I don’t know.”
[You’re right.]
It was a domain as far from Zaug’s specialty as a million light-years.
Hmm.
A Shaman, huh.
“Not bad, though.”
“Blessing the undead is pretty much cursing them.”
“You’re different.”
Commander Isra and Ingrid were Relephants.
Their appearance was so lifelike that they possessed a double nature of human and undead.
The description of Relephants said they could directly receive beneficial effects on people.
Holy spells had many buffs.
If.
I could use Shaman abilities without penalty.
Commander Isra and Ingrid could hunt more comfortably while enjoying the buffs of a Shaman.
“Lord, the girl is deeply moved.”
“It seems fine.”
[Don’t I get to enjoy the benefits?]
Archaeologist, out.
The problem was what undead were suitable for hosting a soul from another world.
“Ghouls or Armed Zombie Strengthened Soldiers don’t suit them.”
[Don’t give me options and just put them in!]
If I paired the self-proclaimed archaeologist and Shaman, it would work.
Passing on Skeleton Mage and Dark Hood magic-type undead.
Their pairing with mages and Shamans wasn’t good for displaying their original abilities.
“Ah. I remember.”
“Anything that comes to mind?”
“Relephant.”
A vengeful spirit who rose again filled with deep resentment.
On the surface, it looked like an enhanced zombie.
But the production mechanism was completely different.
The material of resentment was mental.
Not magic or martial arts.
Among Relephants, the Shaman line suited them best.
Commander Isra let out a short sigh.
“It feels a bit forced.”
“I know.”
Still, among the undead that could be produced, I had to choose the most suitable one.
Most materials needed for production were in the workshop.
There was only one thing lacking.
[Banshee’s Lament] as a catalyst.
“I’ll have to ask President Baek for that.”
It took too much time going back and forth to the Hunter Market.
I asked him to buy it and immediately started working.