The Barrier Backfires
Pinned hard against the wall.
Robert Lee lay sprawled out, his skin steadily worsening under the infection of the Demon Parasite.
"Office Manager Seo, deal with that guy however you want—stick him in a taxi or send him packing."
"Aren't we sending him to the Demon Realm~? Or maybe I should let the Goat Demons snuggle up with him a little~?"
"Hmm. That might be better. Hatchery, you keep him for two days, then hand him over to Office Manager Seo. We need to wipe his mana circuits and re-enlist him."
"Yes, got it~!"
The moment Hatchery finished answering, Office Manager Seo Jihun bowed his head in acknowledgment.
"Understood. In two days I'll take custody of Robert Lee from Lady Hatchery and look into ways to enlist him as a private soldier."
Crackle— Shortly after, Hatchery opened a magic-circle dimensional gate. Goat Demons emerged from it and carried Robert Lee's body away.
Deep along Namsan's Sowol-gil, the sliding door of the state-guest hanok Sangchun-gak slid open.
"A pleasure to meet you, Minister Kang. You're every bit as beautiful as the rumors claimed."
That was the opening greeting from Rick Hasset, White House Dungeon Strategy Director.
"You've come a long way, Director Rick Hasset. Thank you for the trouble."
Beside Eunha stood a middle-aged man—Park Jincheol, Second Deputy Director of the Blue House Policy Office. Behind the two of them, S-class Hunter Choi Doyoon of the Presidential Security Service stood solid as a wall.
"This is Hunter Sarah Cameron. She's the overall lead for Korea's SSS-class promotion test this time."
The blonde woman at Rick Hasset's side gave a slight nod. Her blue eyes raked over Eunha with pure arrogance.
"What we're here to discuss isn't the SSS-class test."
"Sarah, what's the matter? Looking at the big picture, everything is connected."
"……"
Sarah Cameron's dry non-reaction. Rick Hasset soothed her and continued.
"You know why? When a combat asset on the level of an SSS-class Hunter gets official recognition, a nation's prestige changes overnight."
"Like how you sat me here as pure muscle even though I have zero expertise for this talk."
"Hahaha. You understand perfectly."
They spoke as if the Koreans sitting across from them did not exist. Even for an unofficial meeting, the leisure to trade banter was telling.
"Anyway, let's get to the point. I hear the appearance cycle for the Korean Peninsula Field Boss is almost here."
Rick Hasset moved into the main agenda. His aide pulled out documents and slid them across in front of Eunha and Deputy Director Park Jincheol.
"This is a report compiled by the U.S. camp in Wonsan. The recent observation results growing more and more ominous left quite an impression."
Flip—flip—
"On top of that, this one is likely stronger than any before. Honestly speaking—does Korea currently have the power to stop it?"
Eunha's expression hardened. Park Jincheol's did the same. They already knew the contents, yet the words still struck the exact sore spot.
"The United States is ready to provide support at any time. Provided Korea meets the conditions, of course."
"What conditions this time? What we handed over at the last talks was already excessive."
"Northern Korean Peninsula Zone 7. Transfer the mining rights and ownership of that mana mine to the U.S. government."
An outrageous demand. In essence, they wanted to hold Korea's resource sovereignty hostage.
"That is a non-negotiable matter."
"Have you finished reading the report yet? The Field Boss monster about to appear is SSS-class level."
As he spoke he flicked a glance toward Sarah Cameron. Crackle— The temperature inside the hanok plummeted. The air turned so cold that breath fogged white.
A naked show of force. Proof that once the extreme isolationist Dorampu became president, America itself had turned into a thug nation. The only resistance they could manage was Choi Doyoon raising his mana to block the seeping chill.
"…Kh!"
It was not enough. Under the pressure of an SSS-class Hunter, Choi Doyoon's breathing grew steadily rougher. At Rick Hasset's signal, Sarah Cameron finally withdrew the cold.
"Did you see? This is Korea's reality. I hear the man standing behind you is one of the seven remaining S-class Hunters?"
"Director Rick, Korea and the United States are allies. This kind of…"
"We're allies, so it stops at this. We only showed the difference in raw power, nothing more."
No room for compromise appeared.
"We fully understand America's concerns and willingness to support."
Deputy Director Park Jincheol carefully cut in.
"However, transferring ownership involves complicated administrative procedures."
"You think I don't know you're stalling day after day to bury the issue? Finish every administrative process within this year. This is not a proposal—it's a notice."
Far harsher than the rumors.
Rick Hasset, hardliner of the Republican Party. President Dorampu's closest confidant and a core figure of the extreme isolationists. His attitude right now was the living incarnation of Dorampu himself sitting in the White House.
"Minister Kang. I want a definite answer from the Dungeon Management Department right this moment."
"……"
"Will you give it, or will you sit and watch Korea's destruction?"
"This is a matter that requires internal review and consultation among the relevant ministries. I cannot simply give that kind of answer here."
Rick Hasset smirked.
"I'll say it again—I need a definite answer here before we move to the official talks. Without it, we cannot leave through this door."
Rick's glance. Sarah casually flicked her hand.
"Mm, I suppose we have to, but does it really need to go this far…"
"It's necessary. Sarah, please."
The moment mana vibrations rose and space itself began to seal—
Boom—! Creak— crack-crack-crack—
The magic barrier that had been spreading to cage the room suddenly punched open on one side, and Sarah Cameron staggered.
What?!
Sarah Cameron's blue eyes shook.
"…Khuh!"
A groan slipped between her lips. Crackle— Around her, bluish shards like broken glass flickered and vanished. The shock of mana reverse-flow. The aftershock.
"A shoddy barrier."
Creak— The sliding door that had been shut swung open weakly. A man stepped slowly across the threshold.
"Wowow, what's with the atmosphere in here~? Super chilly!"
Beside him a little girl rolled a piece of candy in her mouth and giggled. Kang Hanul and Hatchery.
The word "Uncle" almost left Eunha's lips before she remembered this was an official setting and swallowed it. She simply nodded. Hanul moved behind her and took his place.
"I'm Kang Hanul, acting guild master of the Veteran Guild."
"Kang Hanul? The one applying for the SSS-class test…"
"This isn't an official summit, so no problem if I walk in, right? You've got an outsider with you too."
Outsider? He meant Sarah Cameron. And right now she was still far from whole. No—she was getting worse by the second. Rick Hasset's face went paper-white as he shouted.
"Wait! Let's take a ten-minute break—kuh!"
"Who said you could?"
Yet the moment Rick Hasset tried to help Sarah Cameron up, an invisible force crushed him back down into his seat.
Hanul raised his presence further. Through Sarah Cameron's own mana barrier he continued to reverse and constrict her mana.
"You said we couldn't leave until the matter was settled, didn't you?"
"What kind of rudeness is this?! We are official diplomatic envoys…"
"Rudeness? After you locked the door first? Just like your country brought a hunter for a power display, Korea does the same."
The exact same logic—returning their own stunt right back at them. Rick Hasset had nothing to say.
"If you really want to leave, have that woman you brought as muscle break through with her power."
As if she could. She could not even stand, let alone punch a hole out. Worse, Sarah Cameron could no longer retract the barrier domain she herself had raised. Hanul was preventing it.
He forced the barrier she had spread to remain open while weaving his own technique into it and reversing the flow. In other words, the barrier domain she had created now functioned like a noose tightening around her own mana circuits.
Crackle— sizzle-sizzle—
As if savoring her pain on purpose, Hanul steadily increased the pressure. Sarah Cameron's face flushed scarlet; she looked ready to stop breathing at any second.
"Khuh… kuh!"
"Sarah! Are you okay? Sarah?!"
Eunha shot Hanul a quick glance. He read her mind at once.
Hmm. She finds people dying at her own negotiation table distasteful.
Of course she would. His niece was a bureaucrat and politician, not a warrior. Killing an enemy would never be counted as achievement or merit for her.
"Fine. I'll let you leave."
"Thank…"
"Two conditions. First—now that you're sitting at this table, you will give Minister Kang here your full cooperation."
Crackle— crack-crack-crack-crack—
"Keuk… ghhurk!"
As if to show exactly what would happen otherwise, he yanked his mana output skyward in an instant. Sarah Cameron's eyes rolled back and foam flecked her lips; she looked ready to faint.
"Second—you will politely request permission from our Minister Kang and receive it."
"Ghh… ghhhrrk!"
"Hurry up. Otherwise your so-called SSS-class might cross the Jordan River any second now."
Unable even to speak, Rick Hasset stared at Kang Eunha. His eyes screamed, Are you really going to let your side act like this?
For a moment Eunha almost looked away without thinking. But—
Even with her uncle's power at her back, this was still a chance to seize the upper hand at the table.
She turned her head and met Rick Hasset's gaze without flinching. In the end, that stiff neck of his lowered first.
"…I apologize, Minister Kang. Please allow us a short break. I humbly request it."
Rick Hasset's voice came through clenched teeth. Yet the form, at least, was a perfectly polite request.
"Understood. We'll resume in ten minutes."
Only then did Hanul withdraw his mana with a light gesture. Thud— Sarah Cameron collapsed like someone who had been hanging by the neck and was cut free at the last second. Rick Hasset supported her and left the room.
"……"
For a moment only the Korean side remained, silence filling the chamber. Kang Eunha was the first to speak.
"Sorry for the late introduction. This is my uncle, Kang Hanul, acting guild master of the Veteran Guild."
"Ah! So you're the one from the rumors. A pleasure. Park Jincheol, Second Deputy Director of the Blue House Policy Office."
"Choi Doyoon of the Presidential Security Service. You saved my life."
Deputy Director Park Jincheol and Choi Doyoon offered firm, respectful handshakes.
Their auras aren't bad.
Different texture from the turncoats and traitors. People who would actually help his niece's work.
"For now I'm Kang Hanul, acting guild master of the Veteran Guild. Thank you for standing with Eunha."
"Deputy Director Park, may I have a private word with my uncle for a moment?"
"Of course. We'll step outside and keep an eye on the American side. Guard Choi, let's go."
"Yes. We'll return in ten minutes."
Soon only Hanul, Eunha, and Hatchery remained in the spacious room.
"Master, those guys who just left are still scheming~? Should I go check on them~?"
"So they are. How about it? Want me to give them a little mental education so they listen better to your words?"
"Um, Uncle… If I asked you to, you wouldn't throw them somewhere like you did with the Hwangryun Guild Master, would you?"
"Who knows."
Eunha flinched. Hanul's faint smile was the exact same expression he had worn after sending the Jo father and son of the Hwangryun Guild up to the rooftop and walking away.
