Great Misfortune
“?!”
Hongmaehwa's Seol suddenly widened her eyes and stared at the system window. She seemed to have confirmed something bewildering.
She looked extremely pleased about it.
Cheon Seung-hyuk, watching the scene from beside her, subtly asked what was going on, but she didn't respond.
“Perhaps.”
“What. What's up.”
To him, there was only one thing lately that could provoke such a reaction from Hongmaehwa.
“It would be best not to approach rashly. It could be more dangerous than you think.”
“I'll handle it myself—.” Seol replied offhandedly as she exited the Management Bureau.
“······.”
Cheon Seung-hyuk stared blankly at her retreating figure before entering the large conference room to prepare for the scheduled debriefing.
“······The key point is that otherworldly firepower or war-scale troop deployment is needed to follow up.”
An American staff officer shook his head at Cheon Seung-hyuk's situation briefing.
“That's correct.”
The conference room was packed to capacity.
Not just Management Bureau Director Baek Moon-seong, but high-ranking officials from countries around the world were in attendance.
The “recovery of Korea's authentic relic” was public information.
Since the Hell Gate was humanity's collective problem, sharing the situation was necessary.
Gate Entry Combat Results
Only pre-screened information from the Korean side was announced, however.
“······!”
The officials buzzed as they relayed the content to their respective countries. Baek Moon-seong silenced them in an instant.
Allowing the officials to gather in Korea without objection was the white-haired elder's scheme to resolve one pressing issue at a stroke.
• Holy Relic [Jackal Mask] Destruction Plan
The recovered authentic relic had reached the “neutralization” stage, with Yoon So-i expending most of her holy power to erect a sanctuary barrier at maximum intensity.
But “destruction” remained the best option.
With scholars gathered, they discussed the feasibility of using relic-grade items from various countries.
One of them:
The Murasame Blade in Japan.
A weapon even Sato Kenji couldn't wield yet. Of course, he was working on it, but even if successful, the user would immediately be cursed to death.
Korea's holy relic, the Sainchamsageom, possessed constellation-level destructive power, but it could only be activated at specific hours—Inwol, Inil, Ins i—so it was unavailable for the time being.
In short, there was no immediate way to destroy the relic, concluding it was a long-term issue.
Including the remaining four relics, opinions converged on “destruction on hold for now.”
“Next, there's one matter to discuss with Korea.”
As relic discussions wrapped up, the American side spoke.
They wanted to inquire about Korea's absolute firepower, the “unregistered.”
Should we register him in the world rankings, or treat as non-standard?
Discussions on domestic and international classification of this asymmetric force, distinct from prior ranker systems, followed.
The result: named “unregistered” as CODE-0.
This was footing to implore Korea's Management Bureau for the unregistered to lend power to the world.
But Baek Moon-seong preemptively cut off the momentum toward “global cooperation with the unregistered.”
“That matter requires consultation with the unregistered hunter. Korea is only proceeding with conditional cooperation... we hold no decision-making authority.”
It wasn't a lie. He truly couldn't decide on unregistered matters. Even this battle's cooperation was his unilateral decision.
Thus, the high officials returned with only relic inquiries resolved and little else.
They were solidifying their stances.
The high official confirmed the unregistered's power far exceeded a single unit. Now was the time to choose.
At that moment, Baek Moon-seong pondered sufficient gains before handing the [Power Fragment] to the unregistered.
“Gold alone won't suffice.”
‘One thing comes to mind, though.’He immediately contacted MARK-67.
Not sure if he'd want it.
MARK-67 was overseeing Pohang mana stone development. Reported 1.5x production, 20% quality boost.
Top 1-4 conglomerates and energy labs hit unexpected boom. Energy source massively upgraded qualitatively/quantitatively.
Japan-sourced energy (mana stone) research tech, know-how soon applied directly.
Thus, not just hunter power surge, but national windfalls pouring in.
Major corps showered near-bribes as support funds.
Gifts for unregistered here too.
All achievements centered on him.
The Power Fragment on her ring finger.
To me, my top goal tied to survival.
Hongmaehwa sent two emails first.
Simple content: had business, must meet.
‘Can't ignore this.’Replied immediately.
Briefly noted place/time, emphasized disarmed state.
“A few days from now.”
Wanted now, but needed prep time, so slight delay.
Reply near-instant.
“···First private guild contact, I think.”
Critical rendezvous.
‘Power Fragment. Just one in ring? Or two? More?’Extract max info first.
My choice hinges there.
Seize by force? Take willingly? Wiser way?
Prepare for combat just in case.
Key: agent Jenny's safety.
Plan [Ally Join] to protect Jenny priority, but scout extra instant-return if worsens.
- Beep! Beep!
To that end, Ollie began probing Hongmaehwa Seol's abilities. Tougher as private guild.
While prepping contact,
Email from Management Bureau arrived.
“Ugh, uhmm. Um··· Uh···”
“?”
“Uh, ooh···”
Reading email, Ollie suddenly fidgeted.
Diligently gathering Hongmaehwa combat data, but butt wiggling, rummaging Josbong bags piled nearby.
Seemed to have something to say, eyeing me.
“Ah.”
Ollie always trembled at mana stone items needed for research.
And subtly eyed byproducts closely.
Desperately wants to earn mana stones for resource-depleted homeland.
“Uh··· Um···.”
Seemed wanting approval for Bureau's extra rewards.
Time to pay wages anyway.
Planned moderate mana stones from stock, but Bureau offer? Welcome.
Showed Ollie full email.
“Uh, ah! Haha! Bureau's working hard, yo!”
Sneaky about needs, apparently.
“Ollie. Need mana stones for homeland?”
“Ack!”
Ollie's eyes bulged, surprised I remembered. Obvious duty.
“Planned with Jenny's payday, but Bureau plan stabilizes it. Right?”
“Uh··· Haha!”
Confirmed non-confrontational type.
Probed: needed massive amounts.
Beyond solo handling.
‘Definitely help.’Couldn't ask much, so I decided.
“Mana stones from Bureau: use for shelter mgmt, research, explosives. But allocate from profits for homeland periodically.”
Can't handle mana stones myself. None better than Ollie.
- Thud.
Ollie suddenly dropped Josbong.
“N-no, Captain! Way more than I thought··· And such high quality, can't accept!”
Homeland Decad resource depletion severe. Mana stone value like Arcana gold disparity.
Didn't know when Bureau delivery, so gave from stock.
“Eeeeeh?”
Stacking in hands, eyes sparkled like stars. “Eh?” Jenny curious.
“C-Captain! Uh··· Waaah!”
Stuffed in Ollie's bib pocket, he sniffled “Waaaaaah!” bolting to ops room corner.
Jenny hands on hips, chin up.
“First paycheck, junior! Swear loyalty to Captain from now on! And me!”
“WAAAAAAAAH!”
Ollie suddenly backflipped in joy.
- Thunk.
Failed.
Short limbs should've rolled ball-like, but tried jump.
Bump on head from floor, but stood unfazed, saluting me.
“I'll kill Hongmaehwa for you!!!”
“Oof···”
- Snatch.
Ghostly Jenny stole Josbong by Ollie's gauge.
“Eat! Giving one!”
Ollie noticed. But newfound generosity.
“Heulp! Ollie gave me Josbong! Captain! Something hurts! What do?!”
“······.”
Too grinning for pain?
“Hmm~♪”
Location-unknown container.
Faint hum from Hongmaehwa Seol.
“······.”
Subordinates puzzled, focused on her mood shift.
“Meeting soon.”
Power Fragment ring on her right index.
Gleaming ethereally in moonlight.
Till dawn, she hummed sleepless.
“······.”
One subordinate guarded her all night.
Long-haired woman in white mourning garb.
“What'll happen when you meet?”
At Seol's question,
The woman silently floated sticks from a small tube into air.
- Whiiiir···
Seol gestured; one dropped: thud.
- It would be best not to approach rashly. It could be more dangerous than you think.
Cheon Seung-hyuk's voice surfaced; Seol's expression blanked briefly.
“Hmm. Great Misfortune.”
Swept back long hair, faint sigh.
Didn't matter anyway.
If Dream Demon's curse unresolved,
“······Nothing could be worse than now.”
Hongmaehwa Seol.
Shamanism rank 1 among S-ranks.
She harbored desperate wish.
* [‘Dream Demon's Curse’ Active] (∞······)
Power gained cost her life.