Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: World S-Rank Hunter Competition
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The World S-Rank Hunter Competition drew even greater attention from people across the globe than the Olympics.
Unlike the Olympics, which rotated host countries, the World S-Rank Hunter Competition was held in the same nation every year.
The United States, the world's strongest hunter power.
With the event underway, Washington Dulles International Airport teemed with crowds.
Forcing his way through the masses and clearing immigration with his hunter license, he encountered an unexpected figure at the exit.
"I've been waiting for you."
"You..."
It was someone Yong-un had met before.
Even Sword Tiger greeted the man's arrival with a surprised smile.
"What brings you out here in person?"
"The moment I saw the roster, I had no choice but to come."
It was Park Myung-su, the special examiner who had urgently issued Yong-un's A-Rank Hunter license.
He bowed his head with a smile.
"If you'd called using the business card I gave you, I could've assisted without Sword Tiger having to visit the agency."
Yong-un offered an awkward smile at Park Myung-su's regretful tone.
"I forgot."
"No problem. Just having you participate in the S-Rank event is enough to satisfy me."
He beamed as if he were the one competing.
Was there something off about Park Myung-su's smile?
Sword Tiger stared at his boyish grin and hardened his expression.
"I didn't know you were capable of smiling like that."
"You have to smile when you're happy."
"I thought you were a robot. How many people have even seen you smile?"
"I haven't had much to be happy about. Sorry."
Park Myung-su erased his smile and bowed his head.
Sword Tiger waved him off like swatting a fly.
"You're no fun, tsk tsk. More importantly, when are you joining the S-Rank competition?"
"I'm A-Rank. S-Rank isn't in the cards for me."
Humble words from Park Myung-su.
But Sword Tiger snorted in response.
"Who else but you for the next S-Rank event? Humility taken too far is just an illness."
"I'm still not ready."
"If the top A-Rank isn't ready, those snotty brats behind you might as well pack it in."
Sword Tiger's gaze shifted past Park Myung-su to the exit.
Beyond the airport's glass doors.
A few hunters laughing heartily came into view.
And the Korean Taegukgi badges pinned to their clothes.
"They're not my responsibility, so I'm not interested."
Park Myung-su coolly averted his eyes.
Sword Tiger clicked his tongue and turned to Yong-un.
"Shall we have Myung-su here guide you?"
Park Myung-su's eyebrow twitched at Sword Tiger's polite address.
"Someone you know would be preferable. I'll guide you."
"Then allow me."
Park Myung-su flashed Yong-un another bright smile.
"Treatment still varies by national strength, I see."
Sword Tiger tsked as they entered the hotel under Park Myung-su's lead.
"They booked an entire floor, yet we're stuck in this shoebox? Tsk tsk."
Park Myung-su managed a wry smile.
But contrary to Sword Tiger's grumbling, Yong-un set down his bag without fuss, headed to the bed, and lay back.
"A warrior needs only a comfortable place to sleep. Enough complaining—rest up."
"Yes..."
Ring ring. Ring ring.
As Sword Tiger sullenly unpacked, Park Myung-su's phone blared.
"Sorry."
His face grew grave upon checking the caller.
Too urgent to step out, he answered on the spot.
"Park Myung-su speaking."
The conversation drifted unintentionally into Yong-un's ears.
[You need to return home now! The minister...]
'Noisy.'
This was a warrior's time for rest before battle.
Yong-un blocked it out and closed his eyes.
"Yes, yes? Yes... Understood, I'll head there immediately. Stall for me a bit."
Yong-un's eyes snapped open at the raw emotion in Park Myung-su's voice.
He couldn't ignore the man's deeply troubled face.
"Something the matter?"
Park Myung-su, still clutching his phone in a daze, forced his expression to ease.
He spoke awkwardly, as if concealing something.
"Noth... nothing at all. I just need to fly back to Korea soon."
"If it's minor, I won't pry. Go."
"Yes, then..."
For once, the composed Park Myung-su bolted, yanking the door open.
But he paused, gripping the closing door, and turned to Yong-un.
"You... don't have to forgive me."
Cryptic words.
Yong-un started to rise.
Yet Park Myung-su slammed the door shut, fleeing the hotel at full speed—as if dodging the question.
'Unsettling.'
Park Myung-su's presence faded from the hotel.
In such haste, he didn't even take a car.
Soon, he slipped beyond Yong-un's senses.
'Should've eavesdropped.'
The nagging doubt lingered.
That awkward final look—like hiding vital information.
It stuck in Yong-un's mind.
'Grab him and ask?'
Yong-un sat up fully and swung his legs off the bed.
Sword Tiger, mid-unpack with a puzzled frown, stood as well.
"Uncomfortable, sir?"
Then Yong-un spotted it: Sword Tiger's bag held clothing bearing the Taegukgi mark of a Korean hunter.
He halted and shook his head.
"No. Probably none of our business."
It had taken ages to reach here, after all.
He reclined once more.
And strove to banish those words.
'You... don't have to forgive me.'
Slowly closing his eyes.
The very moment Yong-un touched down in New York.
Catastrophe struck Korea.
"Emergency countermeasures meeting commencing."
Every TV channel cut programming to broadcast Minister Baek Myung-hee's briefing.
"An S-Rank Gate—confirmed demonic—has appeared. Occurrence: 11:33 AM. Location: Incheon Bupyeong Subway Station interior. Evacuation orders issued across Incheon, Seoul, and greater Gyeonggi Province."
Minister Baek's grim face cut to chaotic streets.
Police, soldiers, hunters—all mobilized. Pedestrians streamed toward shelters.
Minister Baek reappeared.
"Seoul and Gyeonggi guilds rallied on short notice; confirmed on standby near Bupyeong Station. Gate mana scan complete—report imminent."
She pulled back from the mic.
A hunter staffer rushed up, whispering urgently.
"Gate mana results: Demonic-level confirmed, and..."
She exhaled sharply.
Drew a deep breath.
"Time to Gate Over: 20 hours."
20 hours.
Four hours shy of a full day—yet too long to call it less.
To those in Seoul and Gyeonggi, it felt brutally short.
A demonic Gate.
Even civilians grasped its horror.
Precedents abounded.
Cities razed by demons. Nations scarred, recovery stalled. Their ghosts haunted the world.
"Knew it'd happen eventually... but now? Damn it!"
A hunter near Bupyeong Station shuddered in terror.
No one rebuked his curse.
Demons writhed below their feet.
Death's shadow gripped them all.
"If only Sword Tiger were here..."
"Forget it. Minister said at the guild meet: no calling him unless it's apocalyptic."
"So call him already! For some S-Rank tournament? Fuck, really?"
"Damn right!"
A voice nearby echoed the staffer's frustration.
"Spot on. Skip one event every two years—who dies? Without Sword Tiger, we're mass graves."
All nodded gravely.
And wondered why the minister overlooked what they all knew.
Then.
A sleek black foreign van screeched to a halt.
Roads sealed—yet here it came. Gutsy driver.
Hunters stared as one. The door flew open.
Minister Baek Myung-hee emerged.
"The minister... personally?"
"Insane. She's no hunter. Suicidal?"
"Hold up—more getting out?"
Three followed her.
"Foreigners?"
"Two whites, one black?"
Hunters gawked.
But the minister offered no words, silently leading the foreigners into Bupyeong Station.
Into the forbidden zone.
Minister Baek and the foreigners pressed from entrance to tracks near the Gate.
Dozens of hunters stood guard—yet none barred the agency head.
Save one, right at the Gate mouth.
Park Myung-su, fresh off a frantic return flight.
"You can't proceed."
The minister scanned the area at his block.
Then commanded.
"Evacuate all nearby hunters upward."
"You're priority one, Minister. Too dangerous."
His gaze shifted past her.
"Sharp-eyed fellow."
"Ignores the boss? Cull the mutt, Minister—what's the holdup?"
The foreigners behind unleashed English barbs.
Assuming incomprehension, they smirked through insults.
But.
"Fancy becoming rat pups mauled by the hound?"
Near-native English poured from Park Myung-su—provocative as hell.
Shock at his accent faded fast.
Their faces darkened.
"To us?"
"Who else trash-talks like that? Rats?"
"This prick..."
The black man advanced on Park Myung-su.
Mana surged; killing intent flared. Hunter, clearly.
Park matched it—hand drifting to his holstered pistol.
Fight imminent.
A hand intercepted before the black man.
The minister's voice: ice.
"Didn't Damon brief you? My authority activated your support—I'm your superior till it ends."
Her slim hand pressed his chest.
He scowled, hawked a glob of spit.
"Fucking pest."
He wheeled, smashing a fist into the wall.
Boom!
The impact quaked the structure.
'S-Rank at minimum.'
Not just Park—nearby hunters reeled.
He lowered his hand from the gun, eyeing the minister.
"You can't..."
"Damon's name dropped—you get it. Classified."
She pivoted pleadingly.
Park raised a hand high, bellowing for all to hear.
"All personnel—withdraw to surface!"