Chapter 121
Chapter 121
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: 22. Preparation (4)
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Jo Han-byeol's parents.
They respected their only son's opinion.
That's why they reluctantly agreed to his trip to Japan, but this new information made it impossible for them to stick to the same stance.
"Son. You know I don't usually insist this strongly. They say the Japanese government has decided they can't handle the situation in the south on their own, so they've deliberately branded it as a great hunting ground for growth. That means it's safe enough to attract people there, but perfect for getting yourself killed. And you still want to go? To that dangerous place, of all places?"
Just as she said.
There were rumors circulating quietly among the people.
The massive link that struck southern Japan was like a sudden natural disaster.
Even three years later, the full extent of the damage hadn't been assessed, and Japan couldn't fully resolve the southern situation. As a stopgap, they'd formed 'defense bases.' If they concentrated their forces there and another area got hit, it would be a disaster Japan couldn't recover from. So they wanted to draw in as much outside manpower as possible to deal with the south.
Of course, it was just rumors.
Officially, they'd secured the image of a monster field and were actively allowing foreign mercenaries to intervene.
Jo Han-byeol knew it too.
Going to Japan was extremely dangerous, but there were reasons he had to go anyway.
"I still want to go."
"Han-byeol!"
"Mom. We made a promise. If I passed the E-Rank test, you'd respect my life from then on."
Jo Han-byeol's situation was similar to Yeon Woo-bin's.
His parents worried about him, but unlike the overprotective Yeon Gyu-seong, they supported his will to a certain degree. That's why they'd set the condition of the E-Rank test. If he passed it in one go, they'd deem him capable of protecting himself and support his future as a hunter.
But even so.
They couldn't just watch him head into danger like this.
That's why she'd come to stop him, but for Jo Han-byeol, there was a reason he absolutely couldn't give up, no matter what his mother said.
'It's a world where you could die any moment. If you can't protect yourself, you could drop dead tomorrow and no one would bat an eye.'
Jo Han-byeol had a secret.
A story he hadn't even told his close friend Yeon Woo-bin. The truth was, Jo Han-byeol had nearly lost his mother once, just like Yeon Woo-bin. That link had come out of nowhere. Monsters appeared and massacred people, but the difference was that Jo Han-byeol's mother didn't fall. Luckily, they escaped the scene quickly, and the hunters who arrived soon after wrapped things up.
Whenever he thought back to that day.
His heart pounded wildly.
Seeing Yeon Woo-bin face a different outcome from his own, Jo Han-byeol felt grief as if it were his own.
That was why.
Even knowing how dangerous this Japan trip was, not a single one of them, Jo Han-byeol included, had backed out. It was because they knew traveling with Kang San provided tremendous help for their growth. Before meeting him, they'd all been recognized for their own talents. But after overcoming countless dangers alongside Kang San, they'd achieved explosive growth in just one year. They believed this trip to Japan would yield the same results.
Jo Han-byeol said,
"It's something I have to do. It's the life I've chosen. Please respect that."
He didn't budge.
He was resolute.
After a long back-and-forth, his mother had no choice but to yield a step.
The old saying that no parent can win against their child rang true.
"Fine. But you have to come back safe."
That day.
Yeon Gyu-seong received a call.
[...What a frustrating situation. Han-byeol's so stubborn, he won't back down.]
"Must be worrying you too."
On the other end of the line.
Came the voice of his friend—and Jo Han-byeol's father—Jo Kang-rae.
With his wife returning after failing to dissuade their son, he'd immediately called Yeon Gyu-seong for advice.
[Gyu-seong. You planning to just send Woo-bin off to Japan? You know it's more dangerous than it seems.]
"I do. Part of me wants to tie Woo-bin to the house, but after hearing she passed the B-Rank test this time, I couldn't. Kang-rae, neither you nor I lived obediently listening to our parents as kids. Our kids are the same. They're charging toward what they want, achieving results, so all we can do is cheer them on."
[...You sure you're the Yeon Gyu-seong I know? The guy who used to rage that Woo-bin was getting bad influences from Han-byeol, suddenly cheering them on? You weren't this optimistic before.]
He had a point.
Whenever Jo Han-byeol dragged Yeon Woo-bin around, he'd call Jo Kang-rae and chew him out. Back then, he'd thought Yeon Woo-bin was just getting delusions of grandeur because of Jo Han-byeol. He still worried about her, but after everything they'd been through, he'd eased up a bit.
"I worry too. If something happened to Woo-bin, I'd drop everything and rush over. But she's already passed the B-Rank test. That means she's not some fragile thing that folds easily. And above all, I trust Mr. Kang San, who travels with her. If danger strikes, that man's the type to risk his life to protect his companions. If he wasn't going with them, I'd oppose it tooth and nail."
Kang San.
The source of his trust.
If he couldn't hold back Yeon Woo-bin's growth anymore, he'd put his faith in Kang San by her side.
[If you say it that strongly...]
Jo Kang-rae's tone softened.
Yeon Gyu-seong's love for his daughter was more intense than his own, so if Yeon Gyu-seong trusted him, he could too.
Even so, he had no intention of just sitting back.
Jo Kang-rae said,
[Still, I'll line up some connections in the Japanese government just in case. When trouble hits in a foreign land, we need at least one reliable backup.]
Two days later.
Kang San's group departed for Japan.
There was a hilarious scene where the parents of the three siblings—and even Jeong Hye-mi—came to see them off, but after a brief farewell, they stepped through the 'warp gate.' The warp gate was a product of the new world. Airplanes and such were still in use, but safety concerns made warp gates far more popular. Of course, the cost was steep, so they weren't common domestically.
Flash-
They arrived in Japan.
The first thing Kang San's group did was activate their translation artifacts.
What a convenient world.
The words of the Japanese immigration officer rang in their heads translated perfectly into Korean.
"Welcome to Japan."
They'd arrived at the Kitakyushu Gate.
Following the guidance, they headed to Japan's Hunter Management Bureau.
Foreign hunters entering Japan were required to declare their purpose here.
The bureau building.
It was packed with people.
Drawn by the fame of the monster field, hunters from various countries were visible.
They waited their turn.
Soon, their number was called.
"Number 30."
"Yes."
Kang San stepped forward as representative.
The official-looking man received the documents from Kang San with a blank expression.
"Purpose of entry: simple raid, correct?"
"Yes."
"Japan and Korea are international allies, so no further procedural checks. Your stay is permitted for exactly one year from today. For extensions, formally request and undergo re-evaluation based on achievements here. Also, note that beyond the Kitakyushu walls are the Green, Yellow, and Red zones. Green is right against the walls and relatively safe. We recommend foreign mercenaries stick to there. If problems arise in Yellow or beyond, we can't assist."
A mechanical tone.
He recited procedures without any genuine concern for the dangers.
Perhaps due to the lack of response.
The official glanced at Kang San.
"Understood?"
"Yes."
"Keep it in mind. This isn't lip service—there's no spare capacity here to help anyone. Never forget you must always protect yourself."
Prickly.
But Kang San didn't take it as hostile.
The ponytail and weary face.
It proved how grueling life here was, leaving no room for polite concern.
"I'll keep it in mind."
He turned to leave.
Just as he was about to exit.
MONSTER WAVE INCOMING!
All personnel to stations!
A blaring siren.
The moment it hit home that this wasn't Korea.
Before departure.
Kang San had researched Kitakyushu.
Among it, there was an explanation of the monster waves.
Key info, and why people called this the monster field.
Monsters coming right to them.
Facing them at the walls let hunters fight in relative safety. The Japanese government deployed drones for real-time monitoring, using AI to judge contributions, then distributed recovered loot accordingly by cleaners.
Thus.
Calling it an 'emergency' was just phrasing—hunters here welcomed this monthly big event.
Typical wave monsters were around C-Rank.
Red zone ones pushed into Yellow, Yellow into Green, so the weaker Green residents formed the wave's bulk, shoved along.
It was expected.
As Kang San's group prepared to move out, they witnessed an unfamiliar sight right before them.
Clank.
Clank, clank.
Just moments ago.
The official who'd handled Kang San was now strapping on a sword and hurrying off.
Someone asked where he was going.
The official shot them an irritated glare.
"Our main job isn't babysitting you lot. So whether you tank the monsters here or tuck tail and wait it out, do whatever."
Shing.
He drew his blade.
The keenly maintained edge gleamed in the sunlight, radiating sharpness.
"I'm off to sweep those bastards."
His name tag caught the eye late.
[Nakamura Genji]
Now it made sense.
The official's tired face.
The unfriendly attitude.
This city was maintained a bit differently from others.
Kang San said,
"Let's go too."
"Yes."
Either way.
No intention of forgetting their goal.
The reason Kang San's group came here: maximize strength in the limited six months.
Following Nakamura Genji as he rushed ahead, Kang San's group headed toward what looked like the walls.