Over 300 Missed Calls

What's this.

Why are there over three hundred missed calls?

Most of them are unknown numbers. The ones that look familiar are just a few hometown friends, my parents, and my household registry mate or so.

First things first—I need to figure out what's going on.

"Mom. It's me. What's go—"

"Are you okay?!!"

Whoa. She nearly gave me a heart attack.

"Me? I'm fine."

"They said you got caught up in the Break!"

I didn't get caught up in it—I walked in on my own two feet. Wait.

"How do you even know about that, Mom?"

"Look at this kid. Your face is all over the news and you think I wouldn't know?"

Am I still half-asleep? She's speaking Korean, but I can't quite process it.

The news? Why would that be—

"Anyway, I was so worried. Thank goodness, son."

"Nothing much happened. My subordinates handled all the fighting."

My parents already know what my ability is. Even when I spent five years stuck as an E-rank, they quietly supported me. They told me I could always come home if things got too hard, but I gritted my teeth and toughed it out. I hadn't even been able to visit and greet them properly for years. From the perspective of someone who'd come up to the capital, going back empty-handed just felt like admitting defeat.

"Still, take care of yourself."

"You know me, Mom. I don't do dangerous stuff."

"You?"

"Y-yeahhh."

"As if."

Wow. The world is a harsh place.

【She knows you very well indeed, Sir.】

Knows me well, my ass!

【Did you think I wouldn't notice how many times you put your hand on the hilt?】

Tch. Busted.

"Take care of your health. Don't overdo it."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Call your father too."

"I will."

Click—

The call ended. At this rate, so much for grasping the situation—I just got an earful of nagging and that was it.

【She seems to care for you a great deal.】

"I'm grateful."

【Show your filial piety before you can no longer see her.】

Is even the knight joining the nagging squad now?

Still, I had a rough idea of what was going on.

"Maybe I should search this up."

I opened the internet and realized the truth in one second.

Search? Why would I need to?

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

The moment I opened the internet, my own name was right there at the top.

"Holy crap."

What on earth is going on?

I steadied my racing heart and tapped the number-one real-time search term.

I clicked a random video. Footage from what looked like a Counter-Abnormal Bureau hunter's point of view played.

Me, escorted by the Armed Zombie Warriors. Dame Isra tearing through the battlefield single-handedly. Ingrid handling both suppression and firepower projection with her freeform magic applications.

"Whoa."

Seeing it like this gave a completely different impression. We really do fight pretty well.

"Alright. See here? The sword-wielding undead is cutting in."

"Ghouls have insanely tough bodies. Like iron—hitting them like that would normally just scrape the skin."

"But she one-shots them."

"Why is that impressive?"

"Look. Hunter Park Minho was said to be ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠D-rank. His thralls are D-rank too—generously C-rank at best—but you can't bring out both that speed and power at the same time."

A YouTuber who specialized in hunter analysis was going over Dame Isra's every move, gushing with admiration nonstop.

【It's nothing but a few parlor tricks, yet they make such a fuss.】

Maybe start by doing something about how your cheeks are trembling, Dame.

"I have no idea what that magic even is."

"Magic has fixed frameworks. Even at mastery 100 you can't just remodel it however you want, right?"

"But look. The release range is completely freeform."

"You've played fighting games, yeah? You have to input the command for a technique to come out. Magic is exactly like that."

"It's an application method that breaks free of the system, and I just don't get it."

【Hoho. This one has a discerning eye.】

【They rated me higher. Mage.】

【My, is your iron head preventing you from following the context? They're saying my ability is superior.】

【What?!】

Yeah, yeah. Kids grow by fighting.

Whether the two thralls bickered or not, I checked the comment reactions.

【Somewhat unpleasant.】

"You two work out who's stronger between yourselves."

【No need for discussion. I am the stronger one.】

【You iron-headed oaf!】

【The unpleasant part is separate.】

Dame Isra pointed at the nested replies.

【In a place praising your exploits, Sir, another person is being mentioned!】

"Ah. Jeong Sinho deserves that much."

Five years ago he passed the S-rank promotion exam, and now he was considered the most likely candidate to become the eleventh S-rank hunter in the country. A formidable guy. Seven Stars Guild had supported him with everything they had, I heard.

My lips itched. For five years I had bounced around as an E-rank. How long had I lived hearing "weakest of the weak" at hunter offices? And in barely a week, people were comparing me to Jeong Sinho, who had been called the greatest talent in the nation.

It was deeply moving.

【Straighten your back.】

Dame Isra lightly patted my shoulder.

【You shall become the greatest in the world.】

【For once I agree with the iron head.】

Yeah. If we're going for it anyway—let's aim for the top of the world. With Dame Isra and Ingrid, maybe it was possible. Courage welled up inside me.

【I felt something while fighting this time.】

"Need more modifications?"

【Ah. I'm fine for now. The problem is not me, but you, Sir.】

Who, me?

【Two Armed Zombie Warriors alone were insufficient for defense.】

"I didn't get a single hair harmed."

【Without the mage's suppression, monsters would have broken through!】

"She blocked them well, so that's that."

【Gaaah! In any case, to thoroughly protect you, Sir, the knight order's forces must be reinforced!】

Ingrid. Aren't you going to dismantle this flimsy logic for me?

【I agree. The iron head is saying a lot of correct things today.】

What. Weren't we supposed to need more mage undead?

Why do you two only join forces at times like this!

【I am not saying to use the entire Death Space.】

【Filling even the knight order limit of five would be good.】

You two aren't the ones crafting the undead. Just thinking about how many times I'd have to swing the hammer to make three more Armed Zombie Warriors already made my vision go dark.

A building about a hundred meters from the Chinese Embassy in Myeong-dong. On the first floor was a Chinese restaurant called Dongbang Suksu.

It looked like an ordinary eatery—spacious, with interior design that showed some care. Yet for such a large restaurant, there were almost no customers. It was so empty one might worry whether they could even cover the rent.

Someone entered the restaurant.

"Welcome."

"Two bowls of noodles, one fish-fragrant pork, and two bottles of bamboo-leaf green wine."

"Plenty of seats in the back. Sit wherever."

The employee answered curtly without so much as glancing at the customer. The man who had finished ordering walked past without concern. Once deeper inside, he looked around once, then—

Tap—tatap—

He lightly kicked the floor with his foot. Without a sound, the walls slid left and right, revealing stairs leading underground. The man descended without hesitation into a place without a single ray of light.

Under soft lighting sat a person at an empty table.

"A pleasure to meet you, Hunter Jeong Sinho."

"What should I call you?"

"Please call me Ling Mei."

"A bigger shot than I expected ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠has shown up. My apologies."

"Please make yourself comfortable."

"You're the one who would become my superior if I switch sides. How could I?"

"Hahaha. Pleasant words."

Ling Mei. The director of China's Superhuman Management Bureau—a figure of immense power—had come to the restaurant in disguise. Across from her sat the hunter who might become Korea's eleventh S-rank: Seven Stars Guild's rising star, Jeong Sinho.

"Would you like something to eat?"

"I'm fine. Eating here would probably give me indigestion."

The basement seemed empty. In reality, Chinese public security hunters were monitoring. They were A-rank hunters skilled in stealth, yet they could not escape Jeong Sinho's senses.

"Indeed. Impressive."

Clap—clap—

Jeong Sinho made no effort to hide his displeasure.

"Spare me the empty flattery."

"Since you won't eat, let's get to the point."

Ling Mei held out prepared documents. His eyes moved quickly.

"Triple the salary is to my liking."

"Only natural when inviting someone precious."

"Mandatory participation in Gate Break defense is a bit much, though."

"I understand Korea has a similar clause."

"That's for Gate raids. I'm guild-affiliated, so I'm not obligated to deploy during Breaks."

"If you wish, we can slightly increase the minimum Gate raid count and remove the Break defense obligation."

Only then did Jeong Sinho nod as if satisfied.

Arrogant breadstick. I can see exactly what he's thinking.

Ling Mei suppressed a laugh. Forced mobilization during Breaks? She hadn't even expected it. China was not a narrow peninsula like this one. A vast continent. Ambiguous gates were better left alone until they Break, then closed by deploying hunters afterward. And high-end personnel like this were far better used when a high-difficulty gate appeared near a Communist Party cadre's home—or a building owned by one.

"You're giving me the Heart of the Sub-Dragon, correct?"

"Of course."

"With that, aiming for S-rank promotion is more than possible!"

The Heart of the Sub-Dragon. That was the reason Jeong Sinho had decided to defect. His special class was Dragon Knight. To elevate that power further, he needed the Heart of the Sub-Dragon. At present, the only gates where it could be obtained were located in China. He had tried every avenue through Seven Stars Guild, but as one could see, it had produced no results.

I've given the guild as much as I received in investment, haven't I?

Jeong Sinho felt no shame. At this level, it was time to move to bigger waters. Korea was too small a stage for him.

"And my family?"

"Once you sign, we will comfortably relocate them to the motherland."

If the Korean government learned of this, they would not sit still. Preparations to move both Jeong Sinho and his family to China were already complete.

"By the way, things have been noisy lately because of a hunter named Park Minho."

"A greenhorn."

The answer came without a shred of hesitation. Jeong Sinho's face twisted slightly. The man who had been giddy about obtaining the Heart of the Sub-Dragon now openly showed how much his mood had soured.

"Even so, he couldn't possibly match Hunter Jeong Sinho."

"When I was D-rank I was far superior to that Park Minho brat."

"Of course. Exactly right."

"Is the Superhuman Management Bureau taking an interest?"

"Work is work, after all."

"Don't worry. A mere D-rank will show his true colors soon enough."

"Hahaha. We place our trust solely in Hunter Jeong Sinho."

Even as she said it, Ling Mei's mind worked nimbly.

Park Minho, was it. If she had her way, she would make contact with that hunter and bring him to China as well.

If we spirit Jeong Sinho away, the Korean government will raise its guard.

But for the time being, touching Park Minho would be difficult. She was not disappointed. The more Minho distinguished himself, the more things he would need one by one in order to grow stronger. All she had to do was make him understand that the only country capable of providing every last one of them was China.

How exciting.

Ling Mei smirked.