Chapter 37
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: S-Rank Gate (2)
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"Why are you dragging me along?"
Chae Seol-ah asked with a look of utter confusion.
"It's not even an A-Rank Gate—it's an S-Rank. There's nothing I can do there. I can only watch from the sidelines."
At her words, Kim Hyun patted her shoulder as if to say not to worry.
"Don't sweat that. And what's wrong with just watching? It broadens your horizons."
Horizons.
Only then did Chae Seol-ah's expression soften a bit.
Still, that didn't mean she fully bought into everything Kim Hyun was saying.
"Can I really grow just by watching?"
"Of course you can. Absolutely."
"You're not just taking me along as some cuddle toy, right?"
"Well, that's part of it."
"You have to say no at times like this!"
Chae Seol-ah stared at Kim Hyun with a look of disbelief. Part of her wanted to call bullshit. But she knew better—once Kim Hyun made up her mind, he wouldn't back down.
"Fine... I'll go with you. But please, if things get dire, raid that S-Rank Gate."
"Don't worry about it."
Kim Hyun gave that reply, then tilted his head in puzzlement.
"Is it really that bad?"
"No, not that bad."
Chae Seol-ah shook her head.
Based on the track record so far, the assembled S-Ranks should have no trouble clearing this Busan S-Rank Gate.
The odds of something going wrong were slim.
"But you never know. Better to be prepared."
"Hmm."
Kim Hyun nodded.
"In that case, Seol-ah, you should gear up for entering an S-Rank Gate too."
"Ugh. Guess so."
Chae Seol-ah shuddered, her face scrunching up.
An S-Rank Gate. Normally, a place she'd never set foot in. And now she was getting dragged there.
No, this is a chance.
But she quickly changed her tune.
When else would I get to step into an S-Rank Gate?
She resolved to broaden her horizons and grab everything she could. That was her mindset now.
Of course, that's all assuming disaster strikes.
If the Busan S-Rank Gate got cleared safely, it was all moot. It wasn't a bad idea to prepare mentally, but still.
No way it'll fail, right?
Chae Seol-ah thought.
Day 2 of the Busan S-Rank Gate raid.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
A sudden alarm blared through the Gate Forecasting Division at the Meteorological Agency.
"What the hell? What's going on?"
The division chief whipped his head around in shock at the abrupt noise. One of the staff came running up with a report.
"A gate has been detected in southern Gyeonggi Province!"
"A gate? Then why the alarm..."
"It was projected as A-Rank initially, but we're seeing higher energy readings than expected. That puts the gate rank at..."
The chief's face darkened at those words.
"...S-Rank."
"Yes."
"Head to the situation room. Now."
The situation room was chaos. Shouts echoed everywhere, and every face was pale as a ghost.
The chief cut straight to the most critical question.
"Location?"
"Between Cheonan and Pyeongtaek, near the Cheonan border!"
"Type? What type is it!"
"Type is... monster type!"
"Monster type..."
His expression eased slightly at that. Among disasters, it was the lesser evil.
If it were an invasion gate...
Just imagining it was horrifying.
Of course, an S-Rank monster-type gate was no joke either. If it opened, it could claim thousands of lives—a catastrophe.
This is bad.
The chief bit his lip.
All of South Korea's S-Rank hunters were tied up raiding the Busan S-Rank Gate.
A new S-Rank in this timing.
If the stars don't align, casualties could pile up fast.
Right then.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Another alarm rang out.
The chief glanced up at the main monitor.
[Projected Opening Time: 3 Days]
His face turned ashen instantly.
"Just 3 days to opening?!"
"This is insane...!"
Not just the chief—everyone in the room was rattled.
Three days.
S-Rank gates took an average of five days to clear. Realistically, closer to a week.
Which meant.
The opening overlaps with the Busan gate...!
Korea's S-Ranks were already committed to Busan. Physically impossible to touch this new one.
The chief swallowed hard.
Still, not all doom and gloom...
It was dire, but he wasn't panicking completely.
In the past, this would've triggered a national emergency, mass evacuations, total pandemonium. But not anymore.
Because Korea now had a National Power-level Hunter.
So he could report upward with some reassurance.
The report reached the president.
President Han Sung-ho rubbed his temples hard during the cabinet meeting, letting out a earth-shaking sigh.
Why did these massive crises always hit on his watch?
Lamenting wouldn't help. The mess was here, and as president, it was his to handle.
"What will you do, sir?"
The Defense Minister asked.
Han Sung-ho sighed again and muttered.
"At least we have a solution. That's something."
"Kim Hyun... you mean?"
The president nodded silently.
His chief of staff muttered with a sour look.
"Mr. President, he's an uncontrollable blade. No guarantee he'll move as we want, and the price to make him budge is steep. Even then, he might not."
Look at the treaty negotiations—president had to bow personally.
"...Why not call in overseas hunters?"
Han Sung-ho clicked his tongue.
"And foot the bill with taxes?"
"Well..."
"Out. Now."
The chief's face flushed red. He opened his mouth, then spun on his heel and stormed out of the meeting room.
Time to replace the chief of staff.
Han Sung-ho turned to the cowering Superhuman Management Bureau Director in the corner.
"Can you get Kim Hyun to move?"
"According to our agent, he expressed willingness to assist with the Busan S-Rank Gate."
"Good. Perfect."
The president shot to his feet.
The cabinet startled and stood as well.
"Then I'll go myself."
"Go... where, sir?"
"Southern Gyeonggi could turn into another Pyongyang. Least I can do is bow my head in person."
Han Sung-ho said with a stern face.
"I'll convince Kim Hyun Hunter myself."
Today.
The president came to my house.
His approach was cautious—he even asked if it was okay to visit.
Nothing wrong with it, so I said yes.
Upon arrival, he bowed to me immediately.
"The nation faces a dire crisis, Kim Hyun. I earnestly beg you to lend your strength."
"Dire crisis?"
"A new S-Rank Gate has appeared in Cheonan."
The president murmured gravely.
"Projected opening in three days."
Chae Seol-ah gasped at that.
"Th-then..."
"As you know, all domestic S-Ranks are focused on the Busan S-Rank Gate. No one left to raid Cheonan's... except you, Kim Hyun."
The president met my eyes.
"Only you can save Korea. Please, lend a hand for your country."
I glanced at Chae Seol-ah.
She looked hopeful. I'd already told her I'd help with Busan, so she figured I'd handle this one too.
Makes me wanna mess with her a bit.
But I dropped the prank idea. No fun power-tripping in this situation.
I'll agree anyway.
So I started to nod.
"Demon Lord."
If Batori hadn't raised her hand to stop me.
"Yeah, what?"
I tilted my head, and she came close, whispering in my ear.
"You're just gonna accept like that, Demon Lord?"
"Pretty much."
She let out a groan. Glancing at the president and his entourage, she began explaining slowly.
"You don't seem to want anything specific, Demon Lord, but we can't do it for free. It'd tarnish your dignity."
Fair point.
But I don't want anything specific.
She had to know that. Guess she had a plan...
I jerked my chin.
"So?"
"Leave it to me, Demon Lord."
Batori thumped her chest.
"I'll negotiate for your benefit. And handle all future deals like this."
I eyed her.
Batori's trustworthy.
No clue how, but I knew she'd always have my back.
If not, she wouldn't have ditched her Demon Lord's power to follow me to Earth.
"Fine."
I turned to the president.
"Batori handles negotiations. Same for anything like this going forward."
He nodded in relief.
"Understood. Then I'll summon the negotiation team..."
"We'll negotiate later."
Batori shook her head.
"We'll handle it now for free."
"R-really?"
"Strictly speaking, it's a prepayment."
She crossed her arms and nodded.
"You'll pay later. And we'll take a blank check."
"Ooh. Blank check."
I was impressed inwardly.
Postpone specifics, no limits on rewards—smart.
Good call handing it to Batori.
The president pondered the blank check offer.
But soon nodded.
"Agreed."
"Mr. President!"
"In the name of Han Sung-ho, issue the blank check."
"Perfect."
Negotiation done.
I rose slowly from the sofa.
Glanced at Chae Seol-ah and Batori.
"Alright, let's wrap this up quick and grab dinner."
I'm hungry—hate dragging it out.