Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: Echoes of Devastation
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KABOOOOM!
"......."
The ground trembled, and a massive explosion roared through the heart of the San Marino Demonus.
Even from quite a distance, the shockwaves and noise reached the GHO Italy branch, a testament to its sheer destructive power.
"Impossible......."
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Breaking the silence, the first to speak was Branch Chief Pamellino of the Italy branch.
No matter where you went in the Italy branch, the first thing you'd see was the wall-mounted TV in Pamellino's office.
It displayed an infrared map tracking the number of monsters inside the Demonus, along with mana levels.
But in the wake of that explosion, the dots clustered around the central area—the highest concentration of mana—had vanished en masse.
What that meant was clear.
"J-Just now, at least dozens of monsters disappeared!"
As the monitoring staffer said.
Dozens of monsters inside had been killed instantly on the spot.
Beep...
The relentless warning alarms fell silent.
The graph spiking with mana levels stabilized, dropping back to previous readings.
The monitoring agent, comparing it to past records, shouted to Pamellino.
"It's not just monsters, either. Judging by the mana drop, at least ten or more demons were caught in it too!"
Once the analysis of the explosion wrapped up, every staffer and agent was left speechless.
They could only stare out the windows at the towering plumes of smoke billowing skyward.
For decades, Pamellino had served as chief of the GHO Italy branch, dedicated to the Demonus.
This was the first sight of its kind, and he couldn't tear his eyes from those roiling clouds.
'This.... all from one person...?'
His mind felt like a jumbled mess.
It invalidated everything he'd done from the branch toward the Demonus.
To create a scene like that, Pamellino had poured in endless effort.
Dozens of missiles alone, funded by massive budgets.
But zero hits.
That was why hunters were essential.
Modern weapons couldn't touch the monsters' lair.
Yet the very spectacle Pamellino had longed for unfolded before him.
And incredibly, a single person had made it happen.
'This... this is a top-ranked hunter...?'
Thud.
It was then, as Pamellino and the agents struggled to regain their composure.
A sound like something heavy dropping outside, followed by a radio crackle.
Static.
[Hunter Yong-un has returned. No need to open the gate. He's scaling the barricade. Bringing him up now.]
The Yong-un they'd been waiting for had come back.
= = =
Returning to the GHO Italy branch, Yong-un clenched and unclenched his fist repeatedly.
In the attack moments ago, more than half the violet special mana gathered in his dantian had been expended.
For scouting purposes, he'd used it generously to prepare for any contingencies.
But it had taken far more than expected to achieve the desired result, leaving Yong-un swallowing his regret.
'If only I had the Demon-Slaying Sword...'
The sword he'd sworn to forget, tried so hard to erase from his mind.
Yet this was the first time using this special energy without it, and its absence hit harder than he'd imagined. He couldn't help thinking of that long-discarded companion.
'No, I don't need it. I'll never go back to a life of slaughter.'
Squeeze.
As he clenched and released, missing the sword's grip, Yong-un suddenly gripped his fist tight.
Revenge had lost all meaning to him now.
The Demon-Slaying Sword, tainted by blood and vengeance, no longer suited him. Shaking his head firmly, he resolved as much.
Now, more precious than the sword was his new reason for living.
'Family.'
Creeeak.
"Sorry. I'm late."
Pamellino entered the office where Yong-un sat.
He quickly took a seat across from him and slid over a box.
"What's this?"
"A gift from us."
Yong-un eyed Pamellino with a puzzled look.
The man's face, unlike before, brimmed with excitement and joy.
Gazing at the offered box, Yong-un said,
"Do you give these to everyone who comes here?"
"No. This is special, just for you, Hunter Yong-un."
At Pamellino's completely changed demeanor, Yong-un furrowed his brow.
Sensing trouble, he started to refuse.
But Pamellino beamed a bright smile and pushed the box closer.
"Please accept it. There's something I'd like to ask of you in return."
As expected, strings attached.
His resolve to decline hardened.
He moved to push the box back.
"Please join the Demonus weakening operation."
His hand halted abruptly over the box.
"That's it?"
"Yes, that's all."
It was what he'd planned anyway.
He would've come here in five days regardless.
Why turn down a gift on top of that?
He's sincere.
After staring long into Pamellino's eyes, Yong-un pulled his hand closer to the box.
"I was going to join anyway."
"Ahh!"
Pamellino's eyes widened, his joy even greater than before.
At Yong-un's consent, he stood and bowed ninety degrees toward him.
"Thank you. Truly, thank you!"
For a major power, joining the Demonus weakening op was obligatory.
Just doing what was expected—why the excessive delight?
As that doubt arose, Pamellino sat back down and explained.
"The reason for the gift? Because you gave us hope."
Hope?
"In decades as branch chief, it was the first time. No one had ever dealt such damage to the Demonus."
Yong-un glanced at the box Pamellino had given him.
'I see.'
He'd signaled the end of scouting and his retreat with that strike.
Killing demons and monsters along the way was just a bonus.
But to them, that "bonus" was their long-cherished dream.
Enough to celebrate like this and offer gifts.
Yong-un picked up the box, looking at Pamellino.
"Won't the weakening op show the same results once it starts?"
"Right. Every op kills droves of monsters and demons, slashing mana levels."
"Then isn't this just what happens in five days? Why so thrilled now?"
At Yong-un's puzzled question, Pamellino smiled softly.
"No one died."
Seeming embarrassed even as he said it, he scratched his head and gave an awkward smile.
"I mean the people. Every op, at least dozens came back as corpses."
The awkward grin faded into a somber, shadowed expression.
"Sorry. It's our job to handle it, but when we can't and call for support... aren't we the reason they die? Every time I saw them, I felt so guilty."
Listening, Yong-un replied,
"Someone once said Demonus is a global catastrophe. No individual, branch, or guild can handle it alone."
"Exactly. That's what people say. But..."
Pamellino looked up at the ceiling.
His gaze went beyond, to somewhere far off.
"As the branch chief tasked with monitoring and containing it, I felt sorry. If I'd been stronger, smarter... maybe no one would've died."
A faint sadness tinged his awkward smile.
No one blamed Pamellino for deaths in the ops.
They admired him for holding the line against Demonus rampages for decades.
But he lost sleep for days after each op.
Sorry for those who'd died.
Some call people like Pamellino "weak."
How could someone leading a force, guarding the world, be so soft?
Gain outweighs small losses—toughen up, ditch the frailty.
Mourn the dead by remembering them as stepping stones to grow stronger.
But.
Yong-un always thought whenever he heard that,
'That's not the answer.'
Life has no clear-cut right answers.
One person might gain profound insight from those words.
To another, they might ring utterly hollow.
No absolutes.
Life's a chain of choices and outcomes.
If your choice yields satisfaction, isn't that the truth?
"Thank you."
Pamellino was that sort of person.
Not weak, but resilient—growing through deep insights and emotions.
Not stepping over the dead.
But mending his own emotional cracks by mourning them, emerging stronger in his own way.
That was Pamellino.
"Truly, thank you."
He bowed deeply once more.
Yong-un stood like him and said,
"Is it that joyful for you—no one dying?"
Pamellino answered without hesitation.
"Yes. What could be better? Hurting the enemy without a single loss... it's hope that we can wipe them out someday."
Yes. That's Pamellino.
Not a steely leader, but one who accepts emotions and hardens through them.
Yong-un extended his hand.
"Thank you. Don't change."
"Pardon?"
Pamellino shook it, puzzled.
He couldn't grasp Yong-un's sentiment, but the pure kindness lifted his spirits.
Releasing the hand, Yong-un turned without another word.
"This place stands intact because of that heart of yours. Thanks to it, my family lives in a safe, harmonious world. Thank you."
Pamellino stared blankly at Yong-un's words.
Clutching the gift box, he stepped out of the office.
A faint smile crossed his lips.
'During the time I was missing, one reason my family stayed safe and happy was someone like this outstanding leader toiling unseen.'
Seeing Pamellino made him think.
Even now, somewhere, people silently and steadfastly hold their posts against Gate catastrophes.
'I feel it again. Murim and this reality I'm in... no different.'
The warmth from those Murim days filled Yong-un with joy.
"Time to head back."
Stepping out of the office and into the GHO Italy branch grounds, he gazed at the sunset sky.
The warm feeling from Pamellino was fleeting.
Yong-un gathered his mana, sorting thoughts from inside the San Marino Demonus.
One lingering question despite scouting complete: the demon in that mansion.
He kicked off lightly toward it.
'Is that guy the only one to watch out for?'
Not the time for greed.
Any remaining mysteries, he'd uncover clashing head-on during the Demonus weakening op.
With the powerhouses of the ten great nations.