The SS-Rank Magic Stone

"Whew. That was rough."

Thud.

Do-ha dropped onto the ground and wiped the sweat streaming down his face. In the final stretch, he had poured every last drop of his internal energy into freezing the Manticore's wings. His legs were still trembling from it.

"Do-ha! Hahaha, you mad emperor bastard! You killed the Manticore!"

Canteas burst out laughing and ran over to him.

To take down that Manticore even in this weakened state… Honestly, when Do-ha first lured the creature, Canteas had thought Baek Do-ha had completely lost his mind. And for good reason — this wasn't the old Do-ha. He was far too weak now. Yet he had set those worries aside and actually killed the Manticore.

"I was a little skeptical when you told me to lay a trap with about a thousand Bone Spears… I wondered if something that simple would even work."

"When your own power is weak, using the terrain is the basics."

"So the rumors were true? The Ghost of the Battlefield."

Long ago, Canteas had heard that when Baek Do-ha was still weak, he had rampaged across battlefields with incredible results. But he had always assumed those stories were exaggerated. How impressive could someone without real power really be, no matter how much they ran around a battlefield?

"But seeing you today, you're clearly exceptional."

"I wasn't strong from the start."

When he had fallen into the world of Belhart, he had possessed nothing. In the early days he had survived through terrain, traps, and schemes.

"You worked hard too."

"…"

"?"

Seeing Canteas's expression, Do-ha tilted his head. He'd just said the guy worked hard — why did his face darken like that? It wasn't as if he'd insulted him.

"What's wrong?"

"No… can we skip it this time?"

"Skip what?"

Skip what, out of nowhere? Saying thanks for the hard work? Or the hunt?

"If you mean the monster hunting, it's almost done."

As he'd said before, the reason Paju had been left alone for so long was the Manticore. But that thing was dead now. Plenty of monsters remained, sure, but they were only A-Rank and B-Rank at best. At this rate, they could clear them all within a few days.

"No, not that."

"Then what are you talking about?"

"The mana substitution."

"?"

At Canteas's words, Do-ha rolled his eyes. Mana substitution?

"The Manticore's magic stone… you're going to use it for mana substitution, right?"

"Ah… so that's why you're looking so gloomy?"

Only then did Do-ha snort out a laugh.

"Don't worry. I'm selling that one."

It was SS-Rank, after all. An SS-Rank stone worth ten billion won — who in their right mind would burn that on mana substitution?

"It's worth ten billion. No way I'm feeding ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it to you."

"…No. Give me the mana substitution."

"What is wrong with this deranged bag of bones? You just said you didn't want it!"

"When you put it like that, I suddenly want the mana substitution."

"Shut up before I substitute you with death."

What was he, a contrary little brat? Had a crack formed in his skull during the fight? The nonsense was getting out of hand.

"Stop the useless chatter and go pick up the magic stones. I'll handle the Manticore byproducts."

"I'm getting mana substitution, I said."

"Canteas."

"Yeah!"

"Shut up and pick up the magic stones before I blow up your studio apartment."

"Yes, sir."

Seeing Do-ha's icy expression, Canteas spun around at once.

Thud.

"What's this?"

The Association President, dark circles hanging down to his jaw, looked up at Roseina. As ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠if he didn't already have a mountain of paperwork — what was she handing him now?

"A petition, sir."

"A petition?"

"Yes. From Goyang, Gimpo, Yangju, and other areas surrounding Paju. Residents have been filing continuous reports, and since the Association has been ignoring them, they've submitted a formal petition."

"Haa…"

At her words, the Association President pressed his fingers hard into his temples. Reports had been coming in without fail every single day for the past month. But because of the agreement he'd made, he couldn't stop it — he could only issue guidance to the residents.

"Tell them Association Hunters are gradually clearing the monsters."

"We've already said that. But we've hit our limit. With no official announcement, citizens are worried monsters might break out. Reporters keep swarming us, demanding to know what's going on."

"Haa… this headache…"

The Association President looked up at the ceiling and let out a deep sigh. Should he just go meet Hunter Baek Do-ha and talk it over? Back then, he never imagined this many reports would come in.

"Is the noise… that bad?"

"…Yes."

Roseina nodded slowly. So many reports had come in that she'd gone to check just how loud it really was — and she'd been genuinely shocked. It sounded like a war had broken out. Roars and monster shrieks echoed from every direction.

"I thought it was Cheorwon from seven years ago."

"…That bad?"

The Association President was startled by her words. Cheorwon seven years ago was when monsters and Hunters had fought at their fiercest. To stop the monsters pushing down from North Korea, military units and countless Hunters had joined forces. Low-rank monsters were handled with conventional weapons; the stronger ones were fought by Hunters.

And the noise is as loud as back then…

Just what kind of fighting was going on in there? No — more importantly…

Hadn't he gone in alone?

"Hunter Baek Do-ha… he went in alone, right?"

"Yes. Strictly speaking, he went in with a skeleton."

"The skeleton was just a summon, so effectively he went in alone."

The Association President glanced at the calendar on his desk. Two days until the holiday. He was busy, but he'd make time to visit Paju.

"I'll go check it out myself…"

Knock knock.

"?"

"?"

At the sound of knocking, the Association President and Roseina both turned their heads. It was eight in the evening. No one should be coming all the way to the Association President's office.

Creak.

"Just when do you ever leave work, Association President?"

"H-Hunter Baek Do-ha!"

The Association President shot up from his seat with wide eyes as Do-ha opened the door and walked in. Why was the man who usually hunted in Paju until late hours visiting the Association today?

"Do you have a moment?"

"Yes, of course. This way."

When a Cheon-oe-cheon came calling, you made time even if you didn't have it.

"What brings you here today?"

"Lately, a lot of reports have been coming in because of me, right?"

"Ha… haha…"

The Association President laughed awkwardly. He'd been about to bring up the reports himself, so having Do-ha raise it first left him a little flustered.

"I've caused you a lot of trouble."

Do-ha looked at the Association President with an apologetic expression. He knew full well how much abuse the Association was taking right now. Just opening the internet brought up countless articles about the roaring noise coming from Paju.

"Why don't you put out an article?"

"Pardon? What kind of…"

"No. Just call a couple of reliable reporters. I'll do an interview."

"?"

"?"

At Do-ha's words, the Association President and Roseina both tilted their heads.

Twenty minutes later, the two reporters Roseina had called practically flew into the Association.

"Huff… huff… S-Senior, you're here too?"

"Whew… so you came as well. I nearly died running."

The two reporters looked at each other, gasping for breath. They'd come home from work, showered, and lain down when Roseina suddenly called — a Cheon-oe-cheon wanted an interview. After that, they'd bounced out of bed, thrown on whatever clothes were at hand, grabbed their recorders, and sprinted over.

"You've arrived."

"Miss Roseina!"

"Does a Cheon-oe-cheon really want an interview?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Whoa…"

"Let's hurry upstairs, Senior."

The two reporters followed her to the reception room.

Knock knock.

"The reporters are here. We'll come in."

Gulp.

As Roseina gripped the reception room doorknob, both reporters' hearts pounded wildly. They were about to face Korea's first SSS-Rank Hunter.

Creak.

So this is Korea's first SSS-Rank Hunter…

The much-rumored Cheon-oe-cheon… he's wearing a mask just like the rumors said. No hat, though.

The two reporters entered the reception room with tense expressions, looking at the masked Do-ha.

"Welcome. I'm A."

"I-I-I'm Kim Young-min from the social affairs desk at Hunter Daily!"

"I'm Choi Ji-man from the social affairs desk at Citizen Daily!"

"You can speak more quietly."

As they greeted him like soldiers under military discipline, Do-ha calmed them down. This wasn't the army — there was no need to greet him like that.

"I-If we made you uncomfortable, we apologize!"

"We'll speak quietly from now on, so please, we beg you not to be angry."

"?"

Bewildered, Do-ha looked at the Association President. What on earth was wrong with these two?

Twitch.

When a voice sounded in his head, the Association President flinched slightly.

It was actually Sound Transmission, not telepathy, but it didn't matter if he thought otherwise.

As national-level strategic assets, Cheon-oe-cheon received VIP treatment wherever they went. No — not just VIP. Far more lavish treatment than even the president. As a result, every last one of them was arrogant beyond measure. To be precise, seven of the Cheon-oe-cheon were gentlemen; the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠other ten acted like kings. If reporters rubbed them the wrong way, they'd destroy the reporter's company building, or bring a few monsters and release them nearby to scare people.

Hearing Do-ha's blunt assessment, the Association President bit his lip hard. He'd nearly burst out laughing.

"I'm different from the other Cheon-oe-cheon. I have no intention of harming any of you, so don't be afraid."

"Ah…"

Only then did the two manage faint smiles.

"Please, have a seat."

Scraping chairs.

"Before you ask the questions you've prepared… may I say a few things first?"

"Yes. Please speak freely."

Kim Young-min and Choi Ji-man both set up their stands, connected their phones, and began recording video.

"First of all, there have been loud noises coming from Paju recently."

"Are you… related to that, Mr. A?"

"That's correct. I've been going into Paju and clearing the monsters. The reason the Association couldn't issue a statement is that this wasn't an official operation."

"When you say it wasn't official…"

"This purge was purely a personal request from the Association President, which is why I took action."

"!!!"

Everyone in the reception room was stunned by Do-ha's words. Among them, the Association President's face showed the greatest shock. He'd wondered why Do-ha suddenly wanted reporters called in — and now he was saying this.

Do-ha smirked and sent a Sound Transmission to the Association President. After more than a month of protection, this much of a gift was the least he could offer. Once today's words hit the articles, the Association President's standing would pierce the heavens.

The Association President who moved even an SSS-Rank Cheon-oe-cheon.

That phrase would appear in countless articles. And once the Association President's prestige rose, the government would have to watch his face carefully.

"Th-Then, how is the purge progressing?!"

"Do you two know why Paju has been left alone all this time?"

"There were a lot of monsters, and…"

"I understand an SS-Rank monster, a Manticore, nested there, making a purge difficult. And when they tried requesting help from other countries, the costs demanded were outrageous."

Zip.

At the reporters' answers, Do-ha opened his bag and pulled something out.

Thud!

"I'm sure you know what this is."

"Don't tell me this is…?!"

"An SS-Rank magic stone…"

"Correct. An SS-Rank magic stone. I obtained it from Paju just a short while ago."

"!!!!!"

Understanding what Do-ha's words meant, everyone present gaped, their minds completely blank.