Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Gates Already Cleared
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"I was hoping it was just a device malfunction..."
The hunters arriving in front of the Pocheon Red Danger A-Rank Gate grimaced.
Under an unnamed overpass in Pocheon, they had rushed here on an emergency dispatch order.
Vast mana, utterly mismatched with the label of an A-Rank Gate, undulated wildly around it.
"At minimum, it's a Viscount-level demon."
A man who appeared to be the leader of the group stepped toward the gate.
The bold letters "GHO" on his left chest swayed with every step.
The GHO leader halted and scanned the surroundings, now dominated by the gate's mana, with a grave expression.
"If it's this bad here... then Daegu must be in chaos too."
The leader, a South American with thick eyebrows, furrowed them deeply.
Exactly thirty minutes earlier.
Chaos had erupted at the GHO South Korea branch.
In every GHO branch worldwide—even in major powers—devices constantly monitored gate mana levels inside to protect staff and hunters.
But those devices had begun flashing red alerts with warning sirens.
At the same time, high-ranking hunters nearby received orders from Branch Chief Daisy on their phones.
Coordinates in Pocheon and Daegu were marked.
Unusual mana reactions detected—investigate immediately, per Daisy's command.
"This is serious."
The South American hunter at the Pocheon coordinates clenched his fist.
One of the hunters behind him approached the leader.
"It's strange, though. The gate overflow happened quite a while ago, but no lifeforms have emerged from it yet."
"Someone must be holding them back inside."
"You think you can actually hold that back?"
It felt like a snarling beast with its jaws wide open.
The leader shrugged at the hunter's words.
"If it weren't possible, we wouldn't be the only ones here, right? But why aren't you guys asking me anything? Don't you sense anything off?"
At his words, the group behind him looked around.
The gate had been there for a long time and was properly sealed—no people in sight, measures taken correctly.
But that was it. Nothing unusual.
Then one member spoke up loudly, overturning everyone's thoughts.
"Come to think of it... not a single Korean hunter has come for support."
"Huh?"
Indeed.
The complete absence of people was highly suspicious.
If GHO had detected it, Korea's hunter management agency would know too.
This was a crisis that could engulf the entire region in demon territory.
Yet no reinforcements?
"Yeah, and there aren't even guards at the gate."
"This is really weird."
The GHO staff hunters shook their heads, inwardly scorning Korea.
True to their status as world-roaming GHO elite hunters, they naturally evaluated Korea's capabilities based on the situation.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk."
But the leader clicked his tongue and shook his head at their attitude.
"Don't forget, kids—this isn't a hunter weakling nation anymore. It's a global powerhouse in the top ranks, with two ranked hunters."
He jabbed a finger at the group, then gestured around.
"You think I'd walk here with zero precautions if I were crazy?"
They were just ten steps from entering the gate.
Only then did the group realize the leader knew something they didn't.
Noticing their changed demeanor, the leader shook his head again.
"Branch Chief's orders changed. We're not here to clear the gate. We're here to clean it up."
Isn't that the same thing?
Some in the group surely thought that.
But his next words unified their minds.
"They're inside. The world's hottest ranked hunters. Yong-un Hunter's subordinates."
"You mean..."
Boom.
At that moment, as if answering their curiosity, a massive reverberation echoed from the gate. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Thud.
The twin Viscount-level demon giants that appeared in Daegu and Pocheon fell identically.
The difference in combat styles between the Demon Dragon Squad and Ghost Soul Annihilation was evident from how the Viscount-level demons died.
The one in the Demon Dragon Squad's gate died torn to shreds, not a single intact part left even in death.
The other was cleanly killed, save for patches of blackened, dead flesh—no other wounds.
Regardless of the differences, the new Demon Dragon Squad member Jin-mo and the new Ghost Soul members Seong-min and Kim-gu were utterly shocked—this was their first battle alongside them.
"What... is this..."
From battle's start to end, their gaping mouths said it all.
Their trembling hands shook worse than when they first saw the Viscount-level demon.
Their pounding hearts differed vastly from the fear at the battle's outset.
The trio's emotions surged explosively.
But not one of the rookies wanted to leave their group.
They wanted to cling here somehow.
Whatever these people asked, they wanted to grow strong here.
Instead, an inexplicable lump in their chests twisted their stern faces into irrepressible grins.
"The Supreme One is truly amazing. How does He make anyone who joins wear that expression? It's downright admirable."
Jeong-won chuckled at Jin-mo's face.
Jin-mo hurriedly schooled his features.
"How's my face?"
"Electrified. I know the feeling—I went through it. You think we're badass, right? You wanna stick here and become like us, yeah?"
The profanity fit perfectly—no other word captured the intensity.
"Yes..."
"I get it. Seeing the Supreme One's divine might once, the Sword Tiger Captain once—I've felt it twice total."
Jeong-won nodded, patting Jin-mo's shoulder like a good senior.
Feeling anew how elite the Demon Dragon Squad was, Jin-mo asked curiously, innocently.
"The Sword Tiger Captain truly is the strongest hunter. Even Royale-class hunters couldn't stand against him. So I've got a question... between the Captain and the Supreme One—Yong-un Hunter... who's stronger?"
Having witnessed transcendent divinity, Jin-mo voiced a question no one in Yong-un's forces would dare.
Innocent as it was, it stunned the Demon Dragon Squad.
"Crazy bastard."
"Must be out of his mind."
Jin-mo blinked in surprise at Jong-hyun and Jeong-won's wide eyes and head-shakes.
"Why... what's wrong?"
Jin-mo's genuine confusion.
Unable to hold back, Jeong-won raised his hand as if to smack him.
"Ask the right damn questions. Even if you haven't seen the Supreme One, you're the first to ask that."
"Ah... so the Captain is stronger..."
Smack!
Jeong-won's hand, descending slowly, finally struck Jin-mo's head.
"Ow! Ouch... why'd you hit me?"
"He's the Supreme One."
"Huh?"
"The Supreme One is stronger. I'll say it once—listen well."
"Yes..."
"The Supreme One could boldly claim victory even against the Demon Dragon Squad, Ghost Soul Annihilation, Unwoo Guild—no, the whole world."
"Yes...?!"
Each "yes" carried different emotions.
First surprise, then calm relief at getting an answer.
Last, jaw-dropping shock.
"Stronger... than the Captain?"
"How many times? The Captain's strong, but can't touch the Supreme One. Captain! Tell him yourself. He doesn't believe me."
Jeong-won shot an irritated glance at the Sword Tiger.
The Sword Tiger, extracting a massive mana stone from the Viscount demon's head, looked over.
"What're you on about?"
"He won't believe the Supreme One's stronger than you."
"Huh? Isn't that obvious?"
Shing.
The heavy-looking mana stone floated lightly from the Sword Tiger's hand, then dropped with a thud— all while he sheathed his sword leisurely and approached with a smirk.
"The Supreme One is stronger. And the swordsmanship and martial arts we use? All taught by Him. Not just that—the Ghost Soul Annihilation and Unwoo Guild? All His direct handiwork."
"So that means..."
"No matter how we fly, we can't reach His waist. Hey, catch."
The Sword Tiger tossed the Viscount mana stone lightly.
After glancing at Jong-hyun catching the boulder-sized stone, he stepped beside shocked Jin-mo.
Smiling, he said,
"Our goal is the same: grow so the Supreme One can trust us with His back."
"At this level..."
"Still far. A year ago, maybe not—but now everyone knows."
The Sword Tiger's gaze shifted from Jin-mo to the Demon Dragon Squad.
Jong-hyun and the others smiled and nodded.
"The Supreme One is far higher than we thought." ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Secluded training for one year.
The gains of the Demon Dragon Squad and Ghost Soul Annihilation were anything but light.
They had always sensed it, but this battle made every member under Yong-un realize it clearly.
The manuals Yong-un taught had transformed them completely.
"What the hell is that?"
With intense sparks flickering blackish-red, the gate vanished.
The emerging Demon Dragon Squad and Ghost Soul Annihilation eyed the foreign hunter group curiously.
The first English words they heard upon clearing:
"You actually... cleared it? With that group?"
Demon Dragon Squad: 4 members.
Ghost Soul Annihilation: 7 members.
The GHO elite parties marveled in English at the scant numbers.
But upon receiving Daisy's orders from the elites, the groups departed without much interest.
Chatting and laughing as they vanished.
Two GHO elites watching closely murmured their true thoughts.
"Monsters are breeding monsters."
The GHO elites' view of tiny Korea—long thought misguided in global rankings—flipped completely. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Haa..."
Returning home, Seong-min collapsed onto a blanket spread on the floor without changing.
Staring blankly at the ceiling for dozens of minutes.
His lips slowly curled up.
"Fucking awesome."
It wouldn't leave his mind.
His first gate—and Ghost Soul Annihilation's overwhelming divinity inside.
For Seong-min, newly resolved on the hunter path, it left an indelible impression.
Jingle.
Lost in thought for another dozens of minutes.
In the silent, empty room, a bell rang.
"Ah!"
Chilling for an ordinary person, but for Seong-min, it signaled his next task.
He flung his bag aside, grabbed a painting and a rod strung with bells from the floor.
"He said to pray every night to that one, right?"
Skip even a day, and the god he believed in would abandon him.
His divine artifacts would dwindle, karma piling up to curse him and his family.
Snatching the bells, Seong-min unfurled the painting.
One might expect a portrait of the god.
But oddly, the hanji-like paper bore no image—just a single Hanja character in the center.
'Fortune'
The unknowable Hanja glowed brightly, urging the bell-holding Seong-min.
Of course, no one else could see it.
Except Seong-min, servant to that Hanja's god.
Jingle.
He'd never been taught how.
Yet Seong-min knew this was right.
Jingle.
Shaking the bells, he closed his eyes quietly.
Sensing something, he shook them for hours—eyes shut, wordless.
Unaware of the faint light emanating from his body, alone.
In the semi-basement home empty save for him.
The all-night bell tolls ceased.
Chirp. Chirp chirp.
Sparrows twittered as Seong-min's eyes fluttered open.
Sunlight filtered through the half-window into the dim room.
No sleep after praying, yet entranced, he rose from the blanket.
"Ah, slept well."
Seong-min stretched.
Evidently forgetting his night's work.
"School! I'm late!"
Glancing at the wall clock—ten minutes fast—he slung his bag and bolted out.
Seong-min remained oblivious until school.
The changes in him—and how they'd soon turn his dreaded school upside down.