Let's Go! To North Korea.
The bill was passed with unusual speed. It was officially titled the Special Act on Hunter Military Service and Contribution to National Security. The content itself was nothing special. It simply stated that all hunters of South Korean nationality who were A-rank or higher—specifically those who had not yet fulfilled their mandatory military service—would be restricted from receiving visas if they chose to naturalize in another country. In short, it meant they would never be able to set foot on Korean soil again.
Under normal circumstances, this would have sparked a fierce backlash, but this time it was different. The entire nation was of one mind, actively supporting the newly enacted bill. And that news reached Kang Minho in Japan.
"Heh, screw that," Kang Minho muttered with a sneer. "Do you really think I’d ever go back to that tiny piece of land? Just try asking me for help later."
Unlike Korea, Japan's Hunter Management Department was powerful. Strong hunters would even lobby just to get into the department. Naturally, Kang Minho had also joined the Japanese Hunter Management Department. The generous salary and support were incomparable to Korea. Before long, Kang Minho stood in front of a massive building. He looked up at it with an arrogant smile. The words Hunter Management Department were written on the building in large, bold letters.
"Is today my first day?"
The C-rank gate that had appeared in Korea had manifested in Japan as well. The monsters that emerged were also slimes. However, the response was different. Unlike Korea, which had been in disarray, Japan had prepared meticulous advance information and a systematic strategy plan.
'This is what a hunter powerhouse looks like.'
Unlike in Korea, the gate strategy was organized systematically. And it was different from the Korean incident. There, he had been the only A-rank hunter, but here, there were already four other A-rank hunters besides himself. This was a raid that couldn't fail even if they tried.
"Let's see what these Japanese hunters are made of."
Kang Minho walked into the building, puffed up with pride. Korea was already out of his mind.
Guided to the conference room, Kang Minho opened the door with a confident stride. 'Heh, alright! The A-rank hunter has arrived!' He expected a warm Japanese welcome. But what greeted him was a scene completely different from his expectations.
The conference room was bustling, and ten people were engaged in a heated debate over raid plans and monster data. A screen on the wall displayed a slime, and thick documents were piled high like mountains on the table. Even though Kang Minho had entered, they just glanced at him once and went back to their work.
'...W-what? Do they not know my face?'
Kang Minho felt a bit awkward. At first, he thought they were just too focused, but he soon felt an uncomfortable energy. No, he could see it. One hunter glanced at him and wrinkled their nose. Another clicked their tongue softly and turned away. The emotion clearly felt in their gazes and expressions was contempt.
'What is this?'
He was flustered. He couldn't understand the situation. He spoke up in fluent Japanese.
"Excuse me, I'm the A-rank hunter, Kang Minho."
But what returned was total indifference. "I said I'm an A-rank hunter!"
Then, one of them frowned and looked at Kang Minho. "So what? Do you think you're the only A-rank hunter here? Just shut up and stay in the corner."
"...What?"
Did I hear that wrong? Why should I be treated like this? He was an A-rank hunter. He had been the most popular star in Korea. So why?
"Hey, Korean," a Japanese hunter continued coldly. "I know why you're here. You ran away because you didn't want to go to the army, right?"
Another hunter chimed in. "Didn't you fail to clear a C-rank gate? With what face are you showing up here? Just quietly do what we tell you. Don't act out. You got it?"
Kang Minho was left speechless. 'F-fucking...'
Only then did he realize. He had been mistaken. He thought he would receive the same treatment here as he did in Korea. The contemptuous gazes of the Japanese hunters suffocated him. To them, he was nothing more than a coward who had run away to avoid military service, an incompetent hunter who couldn't even properly stop a C-rank gate.
There was no paradise in the place he had fled to.
"...Where did you say?" Cheon Yooshin asked, looking at Team Leader Park Haesu.
"Pyongyang."
"Pyongyang?"
He nodded. "That place up north?"
"You know it well. We received a support request from North Korea. It's regarding support for a C-rank gate raid."
"Don't they have hunters there? They know we aren't on good terms, so why ask us for help? Don't they usually go to China?"
"That’s how it’s been until now. But recently, there have been many incidents where Chinese hunters caused trouble inside North Korea. To begin with, North Korea was a hunter-poor nation, struggling to even clear D-rank gates."
"Oh?"
Complex emotions flickered in Team Leader Park Haesu's eyes. "And if you don't want to, you don't have to go. Personally, I recommend you don't."
"Why?"
"First, even if it looks like a simple support request, the inner workings are complicated. North Korea is currently split between pro-South and pro-China factions. That’s why North Korea has had to be reclusive until now. Since their opinions weren't unified, external activities were impossible. But suddenly, they're asking for help? There must be some ulterior motive."
Park Haesu continued. "Second, the political situation in North Korea. It's much more unstable than we know. It was like that before, but the current situation in North Korea is chaos itself. They can't properly control their hunters. Furthermore, our hunters could end up being taken hostage if they cross over to the North."
Me? Taken hostage?
Unlike Park Haesu's serious expression, Cheon Yooshin scratched his cheek. He had expected something grand since he was speaking so seriously, but in the end, it was trivial talk. Unaware of Yooshin's inner thoughts, Park Haesu continued.
"Lastly, Hunter Cheon Yooshin is a precious asset to our country. I don't want to send you to a dangerous place like North Korea, which isn't even another country."
Cheon Yooshin nodded obediently. "I see. It's dangerous."
'Thank goodness. The persuasion worked.' Actually, the flowery language above was all an excuse. It was true that North Korea was dangerous, but he didn't even think that the Cheon Yooshin in front of him would be in danger. However, that place was different from Korea. If an accident happened here, the Hunter Management Department could handle it. But if an accident happened in another country, and in North Korea at that? It would be helpless. So, for this time, Cheon Yooshin wouldn't go—
"I'll go."
"Yes, think it over well... Wait, what?"
Did I hear that wrong? Did I miss the 'not'? But Cheon Yooshin spoke clearly and distinctly once more. "I. Said. I'm. Going. To. North. Korea."
"No, why? You don't have to go to North Korea."
"No, I said I'm going!"
"Why on earth!"
"You said it was dangerous, right? You said it was a C-rank gate?"
"Yes, it's extremely dangerous."
"Then I have to go. I need to test the Hunter Management Department hunters I've been teaching, don't I?"
Real combat was better than training that felt like real combat. To improve their skills in a short period, at least. Besides, if it wasn't D-rank but C-rank, he had to go even more.
"No, are you saying you're going with the hunters?"
Until now, Cheon Yooshin had cleared gates alone. This time, too, he had thought that if he went, he would go alone.
"You said you wanted me to make them strong, right? Then I have to go with them."
'No, I asked you to make them strong, I didn't ask you to kill them! You crazy man!'
Cheon Yooshin's eyes darkened. "Furthermore, this is a golden opportunity to expand our influence into North Korea."
"Yes? What does that mean?"
"You said they've been handing gates over to China until now."
'Was that handing them over? They were just requesting support.'
"If we successfully finish this North Korean gate raid, we might be the ones in charge of uncleared gates that appear in North Korea in the future. Actually, it's not that we're helping North Korea, it's the same as North Korea helping us."
D-does it work like that?
"Think about it carefully. For a hunter to get stronger, they eventually have to clear uncleared gates. Right?"
"Y-yes, that's right."
"But our country has a small landmass. We don't have as many opportunities as the US or China, right? So we need to expand our scope of activity. Besides, we successfully cleared a North Korean gate? Then support requests might just pour in from other countries without restraint. Am I wrong?"
He hadn't thought of that. He had only thought about North Korea right in front of him, and hadn't even thought about what came after. 'How did he think of that?' Park Haesu admired him inwardly. He was ashamed of his own prejudice, having only thought of Cheon Yooshin as a brawler until now. Moreover, while others were busy responding passively to their own country's gates, Hunter Cheon Yooshin was the opposite. He acted as if it were a bother, but he was actually seeking out gates.
'Is that why he can get so strong?'
Then, Cheon Yooshin gave a definitive answer. "Let's go. To North Korea."
Public opinion boiled over at the news of Hunter Cheon Yooshin's trip to North Korea. Most of the reactions were negative.
Social media and portal sites were filled with anger and criticism. The name "Cheon Yooshin" instantly climbed to the number one spot on real-time search rankings. A total of about 100 people, including Hunter Cheon Yooshin, the Hunter Management Department hunters, and related personnel, entered Incheon Airport to cross over to North Korea as a group. However, the airport entrance was already swarming with reporters.
"Oh! It's Cheon Yooshin!"
"Hey! Focus the camera!"
"Cheon Yooshin is out!"
"Excuse me! Hunter Cheon Yooshin! Please spare us a moment!"
"Look over here, Hunter!"
Camera flashes went off, and microphones swarmed toward Cheon Yooshin. Then, Team Leader Park Haesu, who was standing in front of Cheon Yooshin, waved his hand and shouted.
"We are on our way to North Korea right now! Please clear the way!"
But the reporters didn't care.
"Argh! Don't push!"
"Hey, come on! We're just asking for a moment!"
They were just shining their eyes like hyenas to get a scoop. It was when Yooshin was walking down the path made by the Hunter Management Department members, looking clearly annoyed.
"Hunter Cheon! Public opinion is quite bad. Do you really have to go to North Korea?!"
Then, Yooshin stopped dead in his tracks. "Who asked that just now?"
Then, everyone's gaze turned toward one reporter. She was a somewhat young-looking woman.
"I-it was me."
Yooshin started walking toward her. And he snatched the microphone right away.
"Can I just talk into this?"
She nodded. "Ahem, mic test. Mic test. You said public opinion just now, right?"
"Y-yes, Hunter."
Yooshin smiled at the corners of his mouth. "Why would I care about public opinion? Am I a politician? Or a celebrity?"
His voice was filled with mockery. At the same time, a firm will could also be felt.
"I'm just a hunter who knows how to catch monsters. I'm going to do what I'm good at, so why is other people's opinion important? So, citizens?"
Cheon Yooshin turned his body toward where the cameras were gathered. Everyone swallowed their saliva.
"Wherever I go and whatever I'm doing, mind your own business, wash your feet, and go to sleep."
'Whoa.'
Park Haesu was watching Yooshin from behind with his mouth wide open. No, even so, in a situation where the whole nation is watching... Ah, that person wasn't someone who cared about such things. If he were someone who cared, he wouldn't have done that at the hearing.
While everyone was staring blankly at Yooshin, Yooshin handed the microphone to the female reporter and winked. Then, he started walking majestically through the crowd that had parted like the sea.