Chapter 193
Chapter 193
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 193
Chapter Title: The Supreme One Has Returned
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Royal Class hunters don't usually show themselves.
Unless a massive catastrophe threatens humanity.
But right now, neither a huge disaster for humanity nor any major threat is at hand.
So why?
"It's you, isn't it?"
Two Royal Class hunters had appeared to corner Yong-un.
At Ignito's words, Spello uncrossed his arms, and Natalia wore a worried expression.
And Gwisalhonmyeol, who had already investigated and knew they were Royal Class despite them not revealing it themselves, could only fidget anxiously in the current situation.
No matter how much of a Supreme One he was, his opponents were global heavyweights.
"What makes you so sure?"
The Demon-Slaying Sword, which had a long purple blade, had grown even longer and thinner than usual.
Whoosh.
The sharp sound of the Demon-Slaying Sword slicing through the air as he lightly swung it was keener than normal.
Not the heavy, solid sound it made when cutting through Ignito's wall of fire.
"Hah."
Now that his initial certainty had crumbled.
Ignito let out a low chuckle and raised both hands toward the sky.
"Ah~ Looks like I got the wrong guy. Sorry about that. Let's call today's business done."
Ignito, who had stormed in like he was about to start something, now raised his hands.
Spello, who had uncrossed his arms in preparation for any contingency, crossed them again, and Natalia let out a sigh of relief.
"Phew."
"Let's go."
Without hesitation, Ignito spun around.
Spello and Natalia followed behind him as he headed outside.
Swoosh.
After Ignito and his group disappeared.
Yong-un wiped the scorched mark left by the crimson flames on the floor and reverted the transformed Demon-Slaying Sword to its original form while sensing their presence fading into the distance.
Then he looked at Guihon and the Demon Dragon Squad members, their faces full of worry.
"The fact that you all came here means you've figured out who they are."
"Supreme One..."
Yong-un casually took a seat at the table.
"From your expressions, they must be some big shots. Who are they?"
Mu-hee, who had received Yong-un's order, glanced around cautiously before slowly opening her mouth.
"A hunter who uses fire... that man..."
Ignito stepped out of Yong-un's house, the sole suspect in the basement level 4 intruder case, and immediately turned to look back at the house once he exited the front door.
"Cut it out."
Spello said to Ignito, whose eyes were filled with flames as if it were his own skill.
Natalia added from behind.
"Yes, we have suspicions, but no hard evidence. Using your skill in this situation was too rash."
Snicker.
Ignito grinned like a madman at their words.
"For a guy who barged in blindly, he's got a sharp mind and keen situational awareness. Like a general who's shrugged off a war or two."
"Ignito. It seems he wasn't the one."
Spello patted Ignito's shoulder.
"Let's head back."
But contrary to Spello's words, Ignito didn't wipe the smile from his face as he spoke.
"Reverse eyes."
At Natalia's mention, Spello turned to look at her.
And sensed something off.
"See? Just like I said."
Ignito's sudden remark.
"Yes... it was similar."
Natalia, who precisely understood what that sudden remark referred to.
Something existed between the two that only he didn't know, making Ignito's smile deepen even more.
"Uncle Spello, you must have a ton of questions, but let's talk after we get away from here."
Whoosh.
"Who knows if that intruder's skill can pick up our conversation from afar?"
Sparks scattered from Ignito's casual hand gesture, hitting the alley's cement ground.
Flames then erupted with a roar on the fireproof cement, instantly engulfing Ignito and his group.
Myung-su, who had been watching the alley where they vanished, quietly closed the curtains on the second-floor window of the main house and turned away.
"They're gone."
Myung-su bowed his head to Yong-un.
"Royal Class Ignito and his group have all left."
He knew they had left from the movement of their energies and the fading of their presences.
But their identities were completely unexpected.
He hadn't thought it would be them.
"Royal Class for real?"
Yong-un's face turned serious.
Il Guihon Myung-su nodded gravely as well.
"Yes, definitely."
"This is..."
Yong-un looked deflated.
Mu-hee approached him and sat beside him.
"Don't worry. Even if they're Royal Class, with the Supreme One here, there's nothing to fear."
"She's right, Supreme One. If you command it, Royal Class or even GHO—I'd swing my sword."
"Just give the order, Supreme One!"
The voices of Mu-hee, Sword Tiger, and the Demon Dragon Squad members shook the main house.
Yong-un glanced around at his subordinates and shook his head.
"That's not what I want."
Yong-un let out a deep sigh.
"Phew, I was so excited to finally have a goal..."
"Pardon?"
His subordinates looked puzzled.
Then Yong-un's phone rang.
"It's the War God."
[Are you... alright...?]
"I'm fine."
[Sorry about that. I tried to catch him, but I didn't expect him to call in a Mind Listener. Sorry again.]
"That's not important. Can you answer the question I asked before that you couldn't back then?"
The War God sounded flustered at Yong-un's sudden question.
But only for a moment.
The War God boldly declared, owning up to his mistake.
[Ask away!]
"I asked before: Am I now on par with a Royal Class?"
It was the answer he hadn't heard back then due to the Demon Kra issue.
But now he had to hear it.
Now that he'd met Royal Class hunters.
And turned them into enemies.
From his experience with them, he needed the War God's answer, who knew Royal Class hunters well.
[A question, huh. Heh.]
The War God chuckled at Yong-un's question.
Then, with all his subordinates present, the War God's voice carried through the phone to everyone.
[You're already a Royal Class-level hunter. Even if two Royal Class came looking for you, I believed you'd come out unscathed.]
All the Guihon of Gwisalhonmyeol and the captains and members of the Demon Dragon Squad widened their eyes.
'The Supreme One...'
'Royal Class...?'
It was the testimony of the world's No. 1 S-Rank hunter, the War God, who was said to be closest to Royal Class.
"Got it. Rest up. Thanks."
As the call ended, all the subordinates swallowed the surging words from deep within.
But they couldn't dare voice them.
They knew the Supreme One was strong, but to think he was Royal Class level skies-high.
Hearts overflowing with joy and shock didn't allow any of them to speak.
"You heard that."
As everyone was still in shock, Yong-un addressed his subordinates.
They cleared their throats, trying to hide their surprise, and shouted in unison.
"Yes, Supreme One!"
Swoosh.
All the subordinates knelt and paid their respects of loyalty to Yong-un.
Yong-un, in the midst of them, stood from his seat and looked down at his subordinates.
"I thought the power I have with you all was enough strength for us to live well. But not anymore."
His gaze, looking down at his subordinates, turned toward the window.
"I need to gain a new power that no one can touch. A new power even GHO can't mess with."
The Demon-Slaying Sword in his hand reverted to its original blade form and smoothly slid into the sheath at his waist.
"To do that."
Yong-un's gaze fell on none other than...
The front door where Royal Class Ignito had exited.
"I need to become Royal Class."
Yong-un's low voice rippled quietly through his subordinates.
A calm, serene declaration more explosive than any shout.
"I will become Royal Class."
That declaration made every subordinate doubt their own ears.
The strongest hunter, world S-Rank No. 1, the War God.
Whichever country he headed to, that nation's media heated up.
South Korea was no exception.
The international airport would be jammed with reporters and fans on the day he flew in.
If even a non-Royal Class like the War God caused that, what about actual Royal Class?
'No one would dare touch them.'
Not even GHO.
Yong-un's guess was reality for Royal Class hunters.
No one, no country.
Not even the top absolute power known as the World Hunter Organization could flex before a Royal Class name.
"Royal... Class..."
In the minister's office at the top of South Korea's Hunter Management Agency.
A document in Minister Baek Myung-hee's hand made her tremble.
She had guessed GHO was up to something in South Korea since they came via Daisy's introduction.
Baek Myung-hee thought whatever it was would be like tossing a light pebble into South Korea's pond, stirring some ripples.
But peeling it back, it was no light pebble.
"Feel free to be shocked. Meeting us is a once-in-a-lifetime stroke of luck."
Ignito's words, shrugged off with a shoulder lift, didn't reach Minister Baek Myung-hee's ears.
Her mind was filled only with the words "Royal Class."
"She didn't die on the spot, did she?"
Ignito waved his hand in front of the dazed minister's eyes.
Snapping to, Minister Baek Myung-hee took a deep breath and asked.
"So, what do you want?"
"Simple. I'd like to see info on Lee Yong-un."
Information on Hunter Yong-un?
Various hypotheses flashed through Minister Baek Myung-hee's mind.
Has he crossed GHO?
Or could he be strong enough to challenge Royal Class?
"Ah~ Don't dream vainly that your buddy could become Royal Class. We're not here for anything nice."
Ignito's one line shattered all hypotheses.
Minister Baek Myung-hee bit her lip.
'A storm... is brewing again.'
One more destructive than any she'd faced before.
A raging wave even Yong-un, with power strong enough to elevate South Korea in one go, couldn't easily block.
"You're not thinking of refusing, are you?"
Ignito snickered, flames roaring up.
Ignito looked like a playful boy full of mischief.
Yet Minister Baek Myung-hee clenched her fists tight and squeezed her eyes shut.
"I'll give it to you."
Because that boy-like figure was the eye of a storm even a national minister like her couldn't stop.
"Whee! Awesome."
Ignito's index finger pointed at Baek Myung-hee.
A bullet of fire zipped past her head by her side, singeing some hair before vanishing.
"Don't move!"
South Korean hunters, thinking the minister was under attack and moving to act, froze at her command.
They weren't beings vital young hunters could handle.
Those Royal Class were six kings ruling the world.
"Ignito, was it? And Spello."
Light of Fire.
Light of Ice looked at the minister.
"See me alone. The info will be in the next room."
"No big deal. Lots of eyes around anyway."
The taciturn Spello stood, and Ignito glanced back at the minister's escorts with a smirk.
As Ignito's group, including Natalia, exited, a man appeared from behind the now-empty spot where the minister's guards had stood.
An assassin with a severe burn on his right arm from Ignito's flames.
Precisely, Mok-sal, a top-grade assassin protecting Minister Baek Myung-hee under Night Assassin Leader Mu-hee's orders.
"Urk..."
The pain of flesh searing made even Mok-sal drip cold sweat.
"Are you okay?!"
Minister Baek Myung-hee whirled around to check Mok-sal's condition.
She tore off his charred black jacket amid crackling sounds.
Revealing his red-hot inflamed arm.
"I'm... fine..."
Mok-sal forced himself upright, sweat pouring.
"Invincible, you said. You said Night Assassins and Gwisalhonmyeol's martial arts were invincible. What's this then?"
Mok-sal shook his head at the minister's words.
"The Soul-Killing Arts that Gwisalhonmyeol's Guihon train in are invincible... We Night Assassins only skimmed the surface..."
"Pardon...?"
Mok-sal stared straight at Minister Baek Myung-hee through pain-blurred vision.
His steel-gray empty pupils shook.
"Don't give in to their demands..."
"Then South Korea..."
"The Supreme One... is coming."
Minister Baek Myung-hee's clenched fist flushed red.
Just those words—"The Supreme One is coming"—but they flipped all her resolve.
'Hunter Yong-un... is coming?'
That was enough.
Her trembling hands from worry and fear stopped shaking.
How wondrous.
Even against Royal Class, one mention of Hunter Yong-un coming brought such deep relief.
Minister Baek Myung-hee smirked toward Mok-sal and rose from her seat.
Then shouted to those around.
"Take Mok-sal to the hunter emergency room!"
"Minister? What about Hunter Yong-un's info..."
"I'm not giving it."
Minister Baek Myung-hee's words ended there.
She glanced at the shocked staff and headed out after Ignito's group.
At that moment, Mok-sal's telepathic message reached her.
She halted.
[.......]
Mok-sal, lips trembling toward Minister Baek Myung-hee's back in agony, was supported by staff to the emergency room.
Minister Baek Myung-hee resumed her steps and flung open the door to the next room where Ignito and his group waited.