Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: S-Rank Gate (1)
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Two weeks had passed since then.
"Huaaa."
Chae Seol-ah let out a deflating groan, completely spent from Kim Hyun's relentless hellish training today.
"I feel like I'm gonna die."
"You're crying about dying after just this much?"
"Just this much...?"
Chae Seol-ah sneakily turned her head to glance to the right.
She could see the mountain of monsters she had taken down inside this A-rank gate. These were beasts she never could have handled in the past.
Chae Seol-ah grumbled as she looked at them.
"I took all those down, and you call it 'just'?"
"If you couldn't clear the gate solo, then yeah, it's just that."
"How am I supposed to clear an A-rank gate by myself...?"
"My goal is to train you until you can solo A-rank gates."
"Huh? You're going to train me until I become an S-rank?"
Not just any S-rank, but a top-tier one?
Chae Seol-ah's mouth fell open.
"That's the first I'm hearing about this plan!"
"Now you know. Good enough, right?"
"Oh my god..."
As Chae Seol-ah rested her chin on her hand, Bartori, standing nearby, shot her a sharp glare.
"Her Demonic Majesty is personally helping you grow, and here you are grumbling and complaining. You should be grateful a hundred deaths over. Besides, getting stronger is what you wanted, isn't it?"
"N-no, that's not complaining..."
"If it's not, then shut up and follow orders. Her Demonic Majesty will carry you."
Kim Hyun's eyes widened at that.
"...? Where'd you learn 'carry' from?"
"From the internet, Your Demonic Majesty."
"Oh... right."
Kim Hyun made a subtle face before shrugging it off.
Whatever slang Bartori picked up online didn't matter. If anything, it was proof she was adapting well to the modern world.
"But when did you even go online?"
"While Your Demonic Majesty was sleeping, I accessed the computer."
"You don't sleep?"
"All the fun stuff on the internet happens at night, Your Demonic Majesty. Missing out on all those hot topics just to sleep would be such a shame. Sleep is a luxury, after all."
...She might be adapting a bit too well.
"...Whatever. If that's how you see it, fine."
Kim Hyun shrugged and walked over to Chae Seol-ah.
She extended a hand to the collapsed girl.
"Alright, up you go."
"Yesss."
Chae Seol-ah grabbed Kim Hyun's hand and pulled herself up. Her legs wobbled as she clutched them, making a pitiful face.
"My strength's all gone... I can't walk."
"Then I'll leave you behind."
"Eek."
"Bartori, clean up the rest."
"Yes, Your Demonic Majesty!"
And with that, today's A-rank gate raid was over.
They exited the gate leisurely, only to find an unexpected guest waiting for Kim Hyun.
Kim Hyun scratched her head, recognizing the face but forgetting the name.
"Uh, what was her name again?"
Chae Seol-ah, still shaky beside her, whispered.
"Hwang Yu-kyung, the Seosung vice president!"
"Ah, right, the Seosung VP."
Kim Hyun nodded, and Hwang Yu-kyung, wearing a faint smile, inclined her head.
"Hello, Ms. Kim Hyun. It's been a while."
"Yeah, it has."
Though I didn't expect to see you again.
Kim Hyun smacked her lips and asked Hwang Yu-kyung.
"But can the VP just drop by like this?"
Setting aside appearances, didn't someone at her level have endless work? How did she even have time for this? Wasn't she busy?
"You're a VIP client of Seosung. You trusted us with it before, and even today, you handed over all the byproducts from that A-rank gate to us, didn't you?"
'It wasn't about trust; Seosung's the only company I know.'
Kim Hyun thought to herself as she scratched her cheek.
"We can't neglect a VIP client bringing in trillions in revenue. Please keep trusting Seosung going forward, Ms. Kim Hyun."
"No plans to switch, so don't worry."
"Thank you."
Hwang Yu-kyung bowed again.
Then she cautiously asked.
"By the way, Ms. Kim Hyun, do you like sports?"
Sudden small talk?
Kim Hyun blinked in confusion but nodded.
"Not against 'em."
Hwang Yu-kyung's face lit up as she pulled something from her pocket and offered it to Kim Hyun.
"What's this?"
"A small token from Seosung."
"Huh? What's it for?"
"KBO finals tickets. VIP seats."
"Oh yeah, fall baseball season's coming up."
Time flies. Kim Hyun nodded and took the tickets.
'Not a huge baseball fan.'
But it was a gift; turning it down would be rude.
"Thanks. I'll take 'em."
"I prepared three, so you can all go together. I hope you enjoy them."
With that, Hwang Yu-kyung left.
"Congrats, Ms. Kim Hyun! Korean Series VIP tickets aren't easy to get, right?"
"No idea. Probably not."
"Well, either way, nice gift!"
Chae Seol-ah's eyes sparkled at the tickets. Kim Hyun eyed her curiously.
"What, you into baseball?"
"Not really an expert."
"But you watch? Got a favorite team?"
"Eagles..."
Kim Hyun fiddled with her smartwatch and searched Eagles. Checking their record, she muttered awkwardly.
"...They still suck at baseball."
"Always have."
Chae Seol-ah grinned with a resigned look.
"Well, keep cheering."
"Yup."
She replied in a deflated tone.
Right then.
Chae Seol-ah's smartwatch beeped.
"Ah, hold on."
She checked it, eyes widening.
"It's Team Leader Lee?"
"Lee?"
"Yeah. Why's he calling out of nowhere?"
Chae Seol-ah tilted her head and answered.
"Hello?"
-Agent Chae. Is Ms. Kim Hyun with you?
Chae Seol-ah glanced at Kim Hyun.
"Yes, she's right here."
-Good. Still.
"Pardon?"
-Listen up. An S-rank gate appeared smack in the middle of Busan.
"An S-rank gate?"
Chae Seol-ah's eyes grew wide. Kim Hyun, who had been messing with Bartori, turned at the words "S-rank gate."
-Yeah. Problem is, the timer on this one's pretty short.
"Short... You mean the gate opening?"
Gate opening.
When the gate's door fully opens, allowing entry from outside.
Once it opens, the monsters inside can pour out.
A disaster unfolds.
And this wasn't just any gate.
It was an S-rank gate, packed with monsters so powerful it took ten or more S-ranks to clear.
Right in Busan, one of Korea's major cities. If it opened, the casualties would be catastrophic.
Chae Seol-ah's face stiffened as the implications hit her.
-Three days. Three days until it opens.
Three days was insanely tight.
Gates usually took about two weeks from spawn to opening.
Cold sweat beaded on Chae Seol-ah's forehead.
"Wh-what do we do?"
-Higher-ups seem to think they can handle it as usual.
"By calling in all the S-ranks?"
The standard way Korea handled S-rank gates.
Conscript every Korean S-rank hunter.
Korea had just under 15 S-rank hunters, enough to meet the minimum for an S-rank clear. Full mobilization could handle a standard one.
-Even with only three days, they can gather all Korean S-ranks. Should be enough to clear it.
"Right."
Chae Seol-ah nodded.
-But... just in case. Letting you know for precautions.
"Just in case...?"
-If the S-ranks fail.
Lee Min-hyuk paused, then emphasized.
-Ms. Kim Hyun has to step in. We can't lose Busan.
"..."
Chae Seol-ah bit her lip.
Would Kim Hyun even agree?
From what she'd seen, her rebellious streak made it unlikely.
But they couldn't let Busan fall.
'An S-rank gate opening in Busan would kill so many people.'
Chae Seol-ah couldn't stand by.
"...Got it. I'll convince her if it comes to that."
-...You sure?
"Yes. It's my job."
-...Sorry to burden you.
"It's fine."
The call ended.
Chae Seol-ah clenched her fist.
'You can do it, Chae Seol-ah.'
Of course, it might not come to that.
The S-ranks might succeed.
But preparing Kim Hyun ahead was smarter for emergencies.
With that thought, Chae Seol-ah turned to her.
"What was that about?"
"Ms. Kim Hyun."
Chae Seol-ah explained the whole call.
"...That's the situation."
"Hmm."
Kim Hyun nodded at the explanation.
"Alright, fine. If things go south, I'll clear it."
She'd do it?
Chae Seol-ah was stunned by the straightforward answer.
"R-really?"
"Can't let monsters trash Busan, right?"
Kim Hyun cracked her knuckles behind her back and muttered.
"Not like I love this country or anything, but it's home. Can't let it go to hell."
"Th-thank you! Thank you!"
"No need for that much gratitude..."
Kim Hyun grinned.
"Actually, if you're grateful, do something for me."
"Huh? Like what?"
Kim Hyun grinned wider.
"You're coming in with me."
"Pardon?"
Chae Seol-ah blinked, not getting it at first.
Then her face drained of color.
"Whaaat?"