Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Beijing Gate (5)
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"I'm out!"
Right in front of the Beijing Gate.
As Kim Hyun stepped out of the gate, the waiting Chinese hunters and officials all turned to stare at her in unison.
"Already?"
"How long has it been?"
"It's only been three minutes..."
"Did she fail or something?"
The Chinese personnel exchanged bewildered glances.
Typically, clearing an S-Rank Gate took at least a full day.
Even at the fastest, it was common sense that it would take over ten hours.
But three minutes?
That didn't make any sense.
"Gate status?"
"The gate... it's closing!"
"What?!"
At those words, everyone around looked up at the gate.
Sure enough, the red rift was gradually shifting to green.
"Wh-what the hell..."
"Doesn't this mean... it's been cleared?"
"In three minutes?!"
"No way!"
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
A ripple of unrest swept among the Chinese personnel.
That was when it happened.
"Found it?"
Kim Hyun walked over to Chae Seol-ah and asked.
"Huh? Oh, Beijing duck?"
"Yeah."
"I-I found it, but..."
Chae Seol-ah hurriedly replied.
"Then let's go eat some Beijing duck. I'm starving."
At Kim Hyun's words, Chae Seol-ah nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Watching the scene, Liu Guoliang muttered to himself.
"Did she really... clear it?"
Liu Guoliang's voice trembled.
Seeing this, Kim Hyun shrugged.
"Of course. Why else would I come out?"
Liu Guoliang stared at her in disbelief.
"In three minutes..."
At that moment.
"We need to take pictures!"
Someone shouted.
Click! Click! Click!
In an instant, reporters waiting beyond the barricade started snapping photos of Kim Hyun.
"Three minutes!"
"Korea's National Power-level Hunter cleared an S-Rank Gate in just three minutes!"
"This is huge!"
It wasn't just the reporters. The Chinese personnel excitedly took photos and posted to social media.
The news.
Spread like wildfire across the internet.
Chinese social media.
Korean Hunter Kim Hyun Clears Beijing S-Rank Gate in 3 Minutes!
The post hit a million views in just ten minutes.
Comments exploded.
3 minutes? What kind of joke is this?
I was there on site, it's real!
Impossible! How do you clear an S-Rank Gate in 3 minutes?
Got video?
Of course there was.
Video of Kim Hyun emerging from the gate.
Video of the gate closing.
Video of the baffled Chinese officials.
Everything was uploaded in real time.
Chinese internet was instantly flooded with stories about Kim Hyun.
And that fervor soon spread to Korea.
Republic of Korea.
"Huh?"
"What's this?"
"In three minutes?"
The news from Chinese social media was translated and exploded across Korean communities.
The portal site's real-time search rankings changed in an instant.
#1: Kim Hyun
#2: Beijing Gate
#3: 3 Minutes
#4: S-Rank Gate
#5: China
Major news channels aired breaking reports.
[Breaking] Kim Hyun Clears Beijing S-Rank Gate in 3 Minutes!
World's Shortest Record Shattered Again... From 5 Minutes to 3!
China On-Site: "Unbelievable" Shock
The news anchors delivered the reports barely containing their excitement.
"We have breaking news. Hunter Kim Hyun has cleared China's Beijing S-Rank Gate in a mere three minutes!"
"Three minutes! Her previous record was five minutes—set by herself—and now she's shattered that!"
"Reactions on the ground in China are pouring in, saying it's simply unbelievable."
Naturally, the online communities were in absolute chaos.
You guys know Kim Hyun cleared a gate in 3 minutes, right? Go ahead and gal around.
[Weibo capture]
[On-site video link]
lmao so much lmao
3 minutes lmao
???
Yeah, 3 minutes
5 minutes was insane, 3 minutes holy shit
She broke her own record lmao
Kim Hyun vs Kim Hyun
Kim Hyun wins
And more posts like that.
China's mentality is shattered lol
[Video of Kim Hyun exiting gate]
[Chinese officials panicking]
[Gate closing]
lmao Chinese reactions are hilarious
"Already?" lol
Look at the officials' faces lmao total meltdown
S-Rank Gate = stroll in the park
World reactions to Kim Hyun's 3-min clear....jpg
[CNN breaking capture]
[BBC news capture]
[China CCTV breaking]
Whole world losing it lmao
CNN front page
BBC prepping special broadcast
China aired it as emergency news
Liu Guoliang couldn't do it but a foreigner did lol
Japan's reactions hilarious lol
"Jealous of Korea" "We need a National Power-level too"
Is 3 minutes even possible for real?
S-Rank Gate in 3 min? Physically possible?
Possible cuz it's Kim Hyun
Feels fake but it's real lmao
Kim Hyun = cheat code
Agreed
???: Hey sis
[Kim Hyun photo]
Sis clears gates while boiling cup ramen lmao
She's too OP for real
God must've glitched making her? How is she that pretty AND strong?????
Needs balance patch
Nah keep her OP
She's so overwhelming I don't even feel jealous
Just awe at this point
Mommy I wanna grow up to be Kim Hyun!
Kim Hyun is world's strongest now, right?
Stronger than Sergei?
Already is
Sergei S-Rank fastest 4h29m
Kim Hyun 3min lmao
No comparison
Who wins Kim Hyun vs Sergei?
Kim Hyun obv
How dare you compare that Northern rebel scum to Lady Kim Hyun??? Begone!!!!
Korea safest country now
Director gonna cream his pants??????
Lmao
A high-end restaurant in downtown Beijing.
Kim Hyun sat at a table with Chae Seol-ah and Liu Guoliang. Golden-roasted Beijing duck adorned the table.
"Oh."
Kim Hyun's eyes sparkled.
"Looks delicious."
"This is the most famous spot in Beijing. It boasts over a century of tradition."
"Nice. Anyway, it looks tasty."
Kim Hyun took a bite of the Beijing duck. The crispy skin and tender meat harmonized perfectly in her mouth.
"Damn, this is good."
Kim Hyun looked satisfied.
Chae Seol-ah tentatively tried some too.
"Wow, it's really good!"
"Right?"
Kim Hyun kept devouring the duck.
Meanwhile, Liu Guoliang stared at her intently.
'Three minutes...'
Liu Guoliang swallowed dryly in admiration.
'Clearing an S-Rank Gate in three minutes.'
For him, even at his fastest, an S-Rank Gate took half a day—and only when he was in top condition. Normally, it took over a day.
Yet Kim Hyun had done it in three minutes.
'At this level...'
Liu Guoliang nodded.
'She really can handle two gates at once.'
Kim Hyun undoubtedly had the skill for it.
No, it was beyond skill—it was overwhelming dominance.
Liu Guoliang hesitated for a moment before speaking up.
"Ms. Kim Hyun."
"Yeah?"
Kim Hyun looked up from her duck.
"I know it might be pointless to ask, but... do you plan to clear the Shanghai Gate as well?"
"Obviously."
Kim Hyun answered without hesitation.
"I told you. I'll handle both Beijing and Shanghai."
"...I see."
Liu Guoliang nodded.
Then he slowly opened his mouth.
"In that case, I'll head to Chengdu."
"Chengdu?"
"Yes. The Chengdu Gate was assigned to our country's S-Rank Hunters, but if you're taking Shanghai, it makes sense for me to take Chengdu."
Liu Guoliang said with a serious expression.
"While you're clearing two gates, I need to do my part."
"Gotta do your part, yeah. Mmm."
Kim Hyun chuckled softly.
"Not my business anyway. Go for it."
"...Yes."
Liu Guoliang bowed his head.
His eyes burned with determination.
'I need to get stronger too.'
Watching Kim Hyun, Liu Guoliang felt it acutely.
His own limits.
And the necessity to surpass them.
After the meal.
Kim Hyun and Chae Seol-ah boarded a car heading to the airport for Shanghai.
Beijing's streets whizzed by outside the window.
Gazing out, Kim Hyun suddenly spoke.
"Seol-ah."
"Yes?"
"For the Shanghai Gate clear, what do you wanna do?"
"Huh?"
Chae Seol-ah's eyes widened as she looked at Kim Hyun.
"Gonna wait outside again?"
"W-well, yeah?"
"Wanna come in?"
"B-but an S-Rank Gate is too much for me to handle..."
Chae Seol-ah hesitated.
S-Rank Gates were dangerous.
She'd managed A-Rank ones somehow, but that was thanks to Kim Hyun's help—controlling the monsters to only what she could face.
Could she do that in an S-Rank Gate?
One wrong move, and she could lose her life.
But.
'If it's with Kim Hyun...'
Chae Seol-ah bit her lip.
Kim Hyun must have something in mind to say this.
And above all.
'I want to get stronger too.'
With a resolute expression, Chae Seol-ah nodded.
"I'll go in."
"Okay."
Kim Hyun smiled in satisfaction.
"Won't let you regret this choice."