Chapter 159. Show & Prove
Chapter 159. Show & Prove
[ "Reckless bravado, or a new kind of challenge?" - Unknown Hunter Song Hoon announces S-rank Gate entry with fellow streamers ]
The challenge sparked a flurry of speculation.
Articles poured out, claiming that the Unknown Hunter, having exhausted all worthy opponents, had finally resorted to a reckless challenge with civilians in tow.
On anonymous communities, the commentary was even more incendiary.
[ Author: Anonymous ]
[ Title: dude's just a psycho, right? ]
[ Content: i get that streaming makes bank, but gambling with people's lives? sure, no matter what happens, you'll survive, but what about everyone else? ]
└ they call it an observation trip, but nobody actually knew what's gonna happen in there
└ lmao he already laid the groundwork, saying they could give up
└ isn't that just an unblockable? "you may give up" = if someone dies in the middle, it's your fault for not giving up lol
Then an interview resurfaced with a professor widely considered an authority on Gates.
"Of course, the existence known as Song Hoon is extraordinarily exceptional. But, I say this with caution... this is arrogance."
The professor took a sip from a water bottle beside him before continuing.
"An S-rank Gate is not a space for 'sightseeing.' It is a place where everything spirals beyond control. And he intends to bring dozens of civilians into such a place?"
He clenched his fist, trembling faintly, then shook his head.
"...I deem it one hundred percent impossible. There will inevitably be casualties."
Beneath the surface, some quietly hoped for his failure.
A man who possesses too much was bound to attract envy.
'No way he actually clears it with those people along?'
'Sure. I admit he had no equal... but did he really have to go that far?'
'Isn't just fighting and actually protecting people two completely different things?'
Those who worried for him,
and those who privately anticipated his downfall.
Naturally, various nations also chimed in on the matter.
An American national security advisor cautiously told the press:
"If he succeeds, South Korea will undoubtedly enter a new phase."
A Chinese official simply smiled and evaded all diplomatic questions.
"Ah, it is a fine challenge. However, everyone's safety must be the priority."
Russia offered only a brief comment, calling it "a most intriguing experiment," while Japan drew a line, stating, "The matter was a domestic issue for South Korea."
On the surface, all seemed to quietly bless and cheer him on, but at the very bottom of their diplomatic reports, the same sentence was inscribed.
- Response scenarios toward South Korea in the event of a worst-case outcome.
He was simply too powerful.
He could not be controlled.
And so, there were those who wished for his failure.
'A single overwhelmingly powerful existence had shaken the stability of the international order...'
They silently, fervently hoped he would be broken, that he would fall.
Yet no one ever spoke that aloud.
Because international relations have always been that way.
---
Amid all the swirling controversy, I continued streaming steadfastly.
Whenever sensitive questions like those appeared, I ignored them entirely.
No matter what I said, those words would only become more kindling for the fire.
'Show & Prove...'
There was no need for pathetic excuses.
I just had to prove it.
"Won't you have plenty of time to curse me out after you see it for yourself?"
The date approached faster than expected.
And so, Laila and I arrived at the S-rank Gate.
"As expected, there's no one else here."
"Makes sense. We kept it hidden, after all."
I had told the streamers it was fine to reveal it was an S-rank Gate, but I asked just one thing of them.
To prepare for chaos, please keep the Gate's location a secret.
Fortunately, everyone kept their promise to me.
[ World's Strongest Hero : Show & Prove ]
[holy shit that title is cool as fuck lmao]
[Kh— I prove it through skill]
The viewer count was exploding.
Media outlets from every nation, government agencies, and even ordinary citizens around the world were all watching this broadcast intently.
"If I fail, feel free to string me up, or do whatever you like."
I paid no mind to the provocative comments rising and falling in the chat window.
Right then, Laila, who was beside me, tucked some hair behind her ear and asked.
"Hoon, how many do you think will actually come?"
"Well..."
I had sent the same blanket text to all the streamers.
That it was fine to give up. That there were probably many people around them who would oppose it.
That there would be no disadvantage whatsoever if they dropped out midway.
Yet, I always used the exact same line at the end.
- If you do join, I promise you will return safely... without a single scratch.
That was when it happened.
In the distance, a cloud of dust rose as a single car roared closer.
The car stopped, the door opened, and two familiar figures stepped out.
"Hoon, if you come back with even a tiny scratch, the wife's not gonna leave you be."
"Hehe, I'm a model too, you know~ I'd be in huge trouble if I got a scar, right?"
I cracked a smile.
"No surprise there. You two were the first to arrive."
[Keuh... that's loyalty for you, Nudungji and Lucia Whoa]
[T_T Infinite gratitude to the two who looked after our streamer even when he was a total loser...]
It had been a prediction with no solid basis.
Yet I believed that at the very least, these two would never give up.
Nudungji and Lucia squatted down beside us, looking around.
"Aigoo... I'm curious who else will show."
At Nudungji's words, I gave a slight nod.
"I'm curious too."
I checked the time.
Still about thirty minutes left until departure.
But in this vast staging area, there were only four people.
Myself, Laila, and just Nudungji and Lucia.
'Sssip... what if this was really it...'
My mouth went dry for nothing.
All that big talk about 'Show and Prove' and whatnot...
If it ended up being just the four of us...?
'Hoo... they'll come...!'
Time continued to flow.
Only about fifteen minutes left until departure.
"..."
[fuck lmao did they all actually chicken out?]
[this is legendary in its own way holy shit lmao]
[a true shelter for fucking cowards]
"..."
Was nobody really coming?
Just as that thought crossed my mind.
'Ha... only ten minutes left?'
The moment I started chewing on my lip nervously.
The sound of another vehicle came from the distance.
And a single man staggered out, limping.
His eyes were swollen shut, and there were clear bruise marks on his cheek.
"Wahahahaha!!! I'm not late, right?"
He grinned brightly, bowing his head deeply in greeting.
"Hoo, my father absolutely forbade me to go... so we argued... and I got thoroughly beaten up!"
"Huh, seriously..."
But I could understand.
If I had been his father, I would have tried everything to stop him too.
How could any father simply stand by and send his son into the jaws of death?
"So how did you make it here?"
"Hehe... there was a window in my room. Luckily, our house is only three stories high."
[there really was another crazy bastard willing to risk his life for Neotube content]
[he jumped from the 3rd floor??]
[wasn't this guy definitely a regular civilian?]
"Pfft... seriously..."
Laila also burst into laughter and approached to heal him.
Overcome with emotion, he simply closed his eyes.
"Ahh... is this the healing of the Saintess?"
[Fuck!!!!]
[I'll jump from the 5th floor, so heal me too!!!]
[i feel like i could worship a devil...]
After that, people arrived one by one, and then another.
Familiar streamers.
Some dashed in as if being chased by someone.
Others glanced around nervously with tense expressions.
"Huh... this is actually the outcome I didn't expect."
An S-rank Gate.
A Gate upon which the very fate of a nation could hinge.
I naturally hadn't assumed everyone would come.
"So, everyone's here except for those two?"
Except for two people, everyone had joined.
[do you guys all have some kind of save point or something?]
[holy shit lmao this is what comrades are about lmao]
[Let's all meet again in 2 years! In front of an S-rank Gate!]
And then, one minute before the appointed hour.
"Huaaak...! I, I made it!!!"
"Hoo... we really almost cut it close..."
A woman with a refreshing, bubbly voice raised her hand high as she spoke.
And another woman with a chic voice quietly exhaled a deep, labored breath.
"Everyone's arrived."
[Alright, let's go!!!]
[Keuh... why is this giving me chills lol]
Then, from far in the distance, I spotted reporters with fire in their eyes, chasing toward us—though how they'd figured out the location, I had no idea.
Some jumped out and sprinted the moment their vehicles stopped. Others rushed over with mics in hand before they'd even finished setting up their communication gear.
"How the hell did they find out about this place?"
But there were some people running toward us at an incomparable, overwhelming speed.
Max and Emir.
Max, pounding the earth with every stride, and Emir, flying soundlessly like the wind.
"Wahahaha!!! Sorry! We're a bit late!"
"Boss, my apologies!"
Now, truly everyone had gathered.
The thought brought a smile to my face.
"Wouldn't it be fine to do the interviews to your heart's content after we come back from clearing it?"
"Indeed!"
"Let's go!"
"Uugh... I'm seriously entering a Gate...!"
The moment I confirmed everyone else had entered, and it was my turn to step through.
— Grrrrrrrr...!!!
Dozens of monsters were already on alert, wary of us intruders.
Writhing flesh, black smoke, eyes glinting in the darkness...
"Huk..."
"I-I'm going to die..."
"...!!!"
All the streamers held their breath, trembling badly.
No matter that the Unknown Hunter and S-ranks were here, instinctive terror was unavoidable.
"What is everyone doing?"
I looked at them and tightened my fist.
"Just think of it as a little trip you all came on."
The muscles in my forearm swelled as if about to burst.
The ground beneath my feet began to crack and split apart.
Just like that, I thrust my fist forward.
— Woooong...
The entire atmosphere in front of me came rushing toward my fist.
Then, exactly three seconds later.
— FWHOOOOSH!!!
I tore every single one of the dozens of monsters ahead to utter shreds.
Chunks of flesh began to rain down everywhere.
I turned back around, wearing a refreshed expression.
"If you're on a trip, you should at least take home some souvenirs, right?"
The streamers all tilted their heads as if they didn't understand.
"Those are all souvenirs for you. Go ahead and pick them all up."
They had bet their lives boldly, trusting in me.
And that bet had just paid off spectacularly.