A Declaration of War
“So, you’re looking to start a war with me, are you?”
Every eye in the vicinity turned toward Yooshin and Kim Seongryong. In that moment, as if time itself had frozen, Kim Seongryong stepped in front of Cheon Yooshin. He leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper that only Yooshin could hear.
“Comrade Cheon Yooshin, the situation is dire. We have found ourselves in a very troublesome predicament.”
Kim Seongryong glanced at the North Korean officials staring at him before continuing in a low, urgent tone.
“What I wanted was the clearing of the gate. I have no interest in some Green Magic Stone.”
Huh? Yooshin’s eyes widened slightly. He had expected them to demand the Green Magic Stone, so what was this?
Kim Seongryong’s voice was laced with urgency. “The situation is extremely dangerous. As soon as we emerged from the gate, our warriors departed to report back. There is no time for a detailed explanation. You must leave at once. I will open a path for you. You must escape without looking back. Do you understand?”
“...You’re just going to let us go?”
He had expected them to do anything to snatch the Green Magic Stone, yet they were just letting him walk away? This was unexpected.
“Under normal circumstances, I would have liked to treat you to a delicious meal as a token of gratitude for clearing the gate. But I trust Comrade Cheon Yooshin understands why that is no longer possible. So, move quickly. If you are late, you might not be able to cross the border.”
Just as Yooshin was about to say something, Kim Seongryong suddenly shouted at the surrounding crowd.
“What are you all doing! Move your feet! The South Koreans have achieved what they came here for, so why aren’t you sending them off quickly!?”
The North Korean personnel jumped at his roar and replied, “Y-yes, understood!”
Only then did the North Korean agents begin to scramble. The sound of car engines roared through the area in an instant. Park Haesu, Baek Woohyun, and the other hunters let out sighs of relief and piled into the vehicles. Unlike when they arrived, Kim Seongryong did not board any of the cars.
He gestured for them to leave immediately. Bang! Yooshin thought he saw a complex emotion flicker in Kim Seongryong’s eyes, but before he could grasp its meaning, the car door slammed shut.
***
Located in the heart of Pyongyang, the headquarters of the Workers' Party of Korea—the place where the true power of North Korea resided—was where Supreme Leader Kim Jeongyun received an urgent report.
“What? A Green Magic Stone? You mean to tell me that appeared? And those South Korean bastards took it?”
His protruding belly wobbled. Kim Jeongyun slammed his desk and stood up, his face twisted in rage.
“You stupid fools! What are you doing! Go at once and seize that Green Magic Stone from them!”
The Green Magic Stone. It wasn't a time when nuclear weapons were the only threat anymore. Of course, they were still dangerous weapons, but they weren't the universal cheat code they once were. These days, they were even being mocked as a 'Hunter-poor nation.' He had to find a new means to maintain his power, no matter what. But the Green Magic Stone, whose existence was only cautiously predicted, actually existed? And it was here right now? What kind of insane person would give that up?
An aide spoke up, reading the room. “But, Supreme Leader, they are the ones who cleared a C-rank gate that no one else could. If we provoke them too easily, we might be the ones who end up suffering.”
Kim Jeongyun slammed his desk again. Crash!
“This is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea! It doesn’t matter if we use weapons to threaten them or kill them! Deploy the 1st Corps immediately! Bring that Green Magic Stone before me at once! And use the jammers to neutralize all communication devices they possess. Cut off all contact with the outside world!”
A dangerous light flashed in Kim Jeongyun’s eyes.
“And capture Kim Seongryong at once! Letting those South Korean bastards go? I will execute him myself!”
He turned his gaze to the terrified aides. “That magic stone is absolutely necessary for our great revolution! This is a matter of life and death for our nation. If you fail, you and your families will all be purged!”
The aides nodded, their faces pale with terror.
***
Cheon Yooshin sat in the back seat of the comfortable car, leaning back deeply. The exotic scenery of the city passing by the window failed to catch his interest. Yooshin’s gaze was fixed on the Green Magic Stone resting in his palm.
“It really is fascinating.”
The energy felt from this small stone was quite ferocious. The inherent magic power was also quite different from the Yellow Magic Stone. However, it was useless to him. To someone whose foundation was Magi, magic power was of no use. His own Magi was effectively infinite. Therefore, there was no need to forcibly absorb magic power that had a completely different origin.
‘Well, the efficiency is low, too.’
If he was unlucky, it could collide with his Magi. In the Abyss, the only ones who could handle Magi were Marcas and himself. Even the demons couldn't handle Magi. That was why there was always a sense of fantasy surrounding it. And some insane demon, trying to mix Magi and magic power, had forcibly absorbed a stone containing Magi, and then...
‘His body exploded and he died.’
Magi and magic power were not energies that could be easily fused. However, the lack of necessity was only for him. To others, and to those who could utilize this, it would have the value of a life. Yooshin was pondering how to dispose of it when, suddenly, his gaze turned toward the window.
And he could see it. Something black and murky flying toward him at high speed.
“Are these bastards crazy?”
Kuaaaaang!
Before his curse could even finish, the sound of an explosion filled his ears.
***
Team Leader Park Haesu’s emergency distress message. The message delivered to the Hunter Management Department was instantly relayed through the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Unification, all the way to the Blue House. An emergency meeting was convened. High-ranking officials gathered one by one in the Blue House situation room. Their faces were etched with tension.
The content of the message was simple, yet shocking.
[C-rank gate clearing successful, Green Magic Stone acquired, need support for escape from North Korea!]
It was a short sentence, but the meaning contained within was heavy. They had acquired a Green Magic Stone. If the content of the message was true, it was a monumental event.
“We must deploy special forces to rescue the Hunter Management Department agents dispatched to the North.”
“However, the sacrifice of the special forces will also be inevitable.”
“Operations within North Korean territory could cause diplomatic friction.”
Urgent discussions continued. Deploying special forces for a rescue operation, negotiations through diplomatic channels, or opening a secret route for informants within the North. While the ministers were engaged in a heated debate, President Cha Insoo spoke up.
“Can we no longer contact Team Leader Park Haesu?”
“It seems the North has used jammers to block communication signals.”
“Haa... Is there any way to respond?”
The room went as quiet as the grave. President Cha Insoo made his decision.
“We will initiate a special operation.”
The Minister of National Defense immediately took action. “The 707th Special Mission Group will open the path, and we will deploy the Hunter unit.”
“The National Intelligence Service will contact our collaborators in North Korea to plan an escape route.”
The conference room began to grow noisy again.
***
Inside the vehicle following behind, Park Haesu and Baek Woohyun, who had witnessed everything, turned pale. Park Haesu slammed on the brakes with all his might. The tires shrieked against the asphalt, and the car came to a halt. Not just them, but the entire Hunter Management Department convoy stopped their vehicles. The scene unfolding before them was too horrific.
Flames and black smoke covered the sky.
“Th-those bastards! They can’t even repay the favor to someone who helped them, so they launch a bomb!”
And it wasn't just a regular bomb. It was undoubtedly a large-caliber rocket. The car that the General rode in was by no means ordinary. Everything from the body to the glass was bulletproof. Such a car had been engulfed in flames and smoke. Even if it was Cheon Yooshin, it was impossible for him to survive a direct hit from that large-caliber rocket.
Just as Park Haesu, Baek Woohyun, and every Hunter Management Department agent present were staring in despair at the burning car:
“Kikikik, it burns well.”
From far away, soldiers in military uniforms began to appear one by one. Seeing them, Park Haesu let out a groan.
“Ri Kangju...”
Although North Korea was mocked as a hunter-poor nation, it didn't mean there wasn't a single strong person among them. Although he wasn't an A-rank hunter, there was a brave warrior who made a name for himself as a B-rank hunter. That was the hunter known as Ri Kangju.
He was a hunter who hadn't shown his face for the past two years, so many had expected he had died while clearing a gate. But there he was, alive and breathing right in front of them. And he had appeared at the worst possible moment.
Ri Kangju whistled as he looked at the burning car. “This, this, Captain Kim Seongryong is going to have a sour stomach. Kikikik.”
Ri Kangju stared at the car for a moment before looking at the South Korean bastards glaring at him. He hadn't liked them from the start. Weak South Korean bastards coming to the Republic to offer help. It was enough to make their ancestors buried in the graveyards rise up.
‘I should get rid of Captain Kim Seongryong while I’m at it. He’s lived too long.’
A cruel light shone in Ri Kangju’s eyes. There were moderates and hardliners within North Korea. The head of the moderates was none other than Captain Kim Seongryong. He was effectively a stumbling block for him. This time was no different. Hadn't he let the South Korean bastards with the Green Magic Stone go without the Chairman’s approval?
‘How dare you take my magic stone?’
His logic was simple. As the strongest hunter in the Republic, he should be the owner of the Green Magic Stone. Therefore, the great Supreme Leader would bestow the Green Magic Stone upon him. To become even stronger and serve the people. This incident was a perfect opportunity. Eliminate the eyesore Kim Seongryong and get his hands on the Green Magic Stone. It was a golden chance to stand tall as the strongest in the Republic, perhaps even ascending to the Chairman’s seat.
Ri Kangju said to his subordinates, “Take care of the remaining bastards too. Don't leave a single one alive.”
His command was cold. But then.
“Gasp!”
“L-look over there!”
Ri Kangju’s subordinates behind him gasped in surprise and pointed somewhere.
“You bastards, what is it that...”
Ri Kangju turned his head to speak, but he couldn't finish his sentence. A man’s silhouette was slowly walking out from within the smoke and flames. His entire body was flickering with flames, as if he were a warrior from hell.
Everyone, regardless of the North-South divide, was astonished by his appearance.
“W-what on earth.”
Park Haesu muttered. Was he really human? Could he perhaps be a devil in human skin? How could he survive that situation and walk out?
All eyes turned toward Yooshin. At that moment, the flames that had been covering Yooshin’s entire body began to subside slowly. And his gaze turned toward the North Korean soldiers.
“So, you’re looking to start a war with me, are you?”
Yooshin’s eyes began to stain black. Seeing that, Park Haesu muttered to himself without realizing it.
“We’re fucked...”
An uncontrollable runaway train had begun to derail.