Chapter 27
Chapter 27
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Into the Demon Gate
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"I'll head in and come right back."
Park Myung-su's words after finishing his conversation made the three S-Rank Hunters from GHO show clear signs of surprise.
"Are you insane?"
Maria was the first to speak up.
This wasn't just any Gate that even S-Rank Hunters were avoiding.
Yet an A-Rank Hunter, not even S-Rank, was saying he would enter it.
"Absolutely not."
It was an idea no one in their right mind would even consider unless they had a death wish.
But Myung-su's resolve was unshakable.
"I'll just check it out and come right back."
"Don't you know why we couldn't enter? Demon Gates are different from regular Gates—the boss can seal the entrance itself."
"I know."
Myung-su pushed past the S-Rank Hunters blocking the Gate and approached it.
"Why aren't you stopping him? You're the minister, aren't you?"
Maria then turned her criticism toward Minister Baek Myung-hee.
But the minister simply watched Myung-su in silence, as if respecting his decision.
"Unbelievable..."
Maria threw up her hands at the minister's attitude.
If the nation's minister was allowing it, what right did foreign Hunters like them have to object?
They could only watch what Myung-su would do.
Clunk.
The pistol holstered on Myung-su's left thigh came loose and fell to the ground.
Then his suit jacket slipped off smoothly, revealing the sword hidden behind his back.
Shing.
With a clear ring, the sword was drawn, its tip pointing toward the ground.
Squish.
Myung-su and his sword were sucked into the Gate together.
Bzzzzzz!
"I knew it!"
At the same moment, a faint vibration spread through the entire Bupyeong Station.
The S-Rank Hunters, well aware of what it meant, immediately drew on their mana to guard the Gate's perimeter.
"What happened?"
The minister asked with a worried expression at the sudden actions of the GHO senior Hunters.
Maria scowled and shouted.
"I told you! The boss of a Demon Gate can seal it shut!"
"You mean..."
"Yes, just like I said. The Gate just locked. He's not getting out."
The vibration from the Demon Gate rippled even to the surface.
The Hunters waiting outside Bupyeong Station all jumped to their feet, showing signs of unease.
"What was that just now?"
"The Gate moved. Hunter Agency guards! Request backup!"
"Damn it."
The anxiety that had already gripped the Hunters reached a fever pitch.
Some even teared up, their hands shaking at the thought that death might be near.
The Hunter Agency guards were no different.
Even without orders from the minister, some guards radioed the Hunter Management Agency.
This led to all Hunter staff on standby at the agency being summoned to Bupyeong Station.
It took just over an hour for all the Hunters to arrive.
In that time, the area around Bupyeong Station was packed with Hunters—from those already there to the reinforcements.
All of them trembled in anxiety without exception.
Then, amid the rigidly standing Hunters, one pushed through them.
The Hunter who overtook everyone and reached the front of Bupyeong Station slipped out from between the wall-like crowd without entering.
"Huh...?"
No one dared approach Bupyeong Station at that moment.
Only the one who emerged walked casually down toward the station entrance, like a commuter heading for the subway.
"Wha—?"
But no one stopped him.
By the time their wits returned from the shock and anxiety, he was already more than halfway down.
Amid the murmurs.
One Hunter who snapped out of it tilted his head upon recognizing the descending Hunter's face.
"Isn't that... Yong-un?"
"Yong-un?"
No matter the situation, Yong-un's divine feats from the World S-Rank Tournament were etched in the minds of Korean Hunters.
"The one who talked about the Path of Supremacy?"
"Nah."
But the surprise was short-lived.
The words of the Hunter who recognized Yong-un were buried under disbelief from those around him.
And understandably so.
A Hunter who had finished the opening ceremony just hours ago couldn't possibly be here.
Common sense dictated he wouldn't arrive until tomorrow at the earliest, so no one believed it.
At that moment, an unbelievable scene unfolded in front of the Demon Gate.
"No way..."
Everyone's eyes had been fixed on the Gate for over an hour, unable to look away.
The firmly sealed entrance remained unchanged.
Which meant...
Myung-su was still inside, facing off against the boss!
Maria, who had expected him to be dead, glared at Minister Baek Myung-hee with wide eyes.
"Looks like GHO wasn't told everything."
Though Maria's words cut straight to the point, everyone present understood their implication.
How could they not?
An A-Rank Hunter—not even S-Rank—had survived inside a Demon Gate for an hour.
The minister, grasping the meaning well, responded calmly despite Maria's accusatory tone.
"I'm not hiding anything."
"Then how do you explain an A-Rank Hunter still being alive in there?"
The hot-tempered black Hunter from GHO glared sharply at Minister Baek.
Yet the minister maintained her composed expression.
"I value Korea's high-rank Hunters dearly. In a country already mocked as weak in Awakeners, would I send one of our precious 13 A-Ranks to certain death without reason?"
"Then explain this situation."
The previously silent third S-Rank Hunter finally spoke, curiosity getting the better of him about the unbelievable scene.
Only then did the minister tear her gaze from the Gate amid the persistent questioning.
"Just chalk it up to a skill. And GHO Hunters should know it's poor etiquette to pry into skills."
Skills were the miraculous, randomly assigned powers that defined each Hunter—their core, unchanging strength.
Asking about a Hunter's skill was like probing their weaknesses, an unspoken taboo considered rogue behavior among Hunters.
"Tch."
Thus, no matter how suspicious, the GHO senior Hunters couldn't press further.
The quiet one lost interest, and the black Hunter clicked his tongue before looking away.
"Still, thanks to me and Mr. Myung-su's plan, we figured out the demon's rank."
As Maria finally disengaged, the minister tapped her standing leg and spoke.
It sounded like a victor's declaration.
"Viscount-level, right? Isn't that what you said, Maria?"
"Yeah, thanks to you."
But the GHO senior Hunters couldn't refute her claim.
Maria's mocking tone dripped with defeat.
It was inevitable—their stance of avoiding risks, enduring losses, and waiting for reinforcements had been shattered in one move by Myung-su.
'Viscount-level.'
A single vibration.
That alone revealed the identity of the demon they'd been hiding from.
For a brief moment, the dark mana that spread with the vibration allowed the S-Ranks to pinpoint the demon's rank instantly.
'Good.'
Unlike the Hunters, the minister was an ordinary person.
Her legs ached from standing so long, so she massaged them.
Then, flashing a satisfied smile, she called out to the S-Rank Hunters.
"Three hours—that's the optimal timing you mentioned, right?"
"Yes, we're planning to enter right on cue. Just don't tell us what to do this time. You can't give orders in combat."
Maria shrugged dismissively, her words laced with condescension toward non-Hunters.
But the minister didn't retort.
The worst scenario had flipped into the best.
Her gaze shifted from the whispering Hunters to the Demon Gate.
"Focus a bit more. It'll be over in three hours."
Someone once said it.
Life doesn't always go as planned.
Just as they began to relax into the improving situation...
Footsteps approached from within the sealed space.
Step. Step. Step.
"So this is it."
Yong-un slowly descended the subway stairs.
The stairs were eerily silent and empty, but Yong-un could see it.
Threads of incomplete demonic energy starting from the bottom of the stairs.
Swoosh. Whoosh~
As Yong-un reached out, the threads of demonic energy writhed, following his hand.
He traced their path around the corner to the base of the final stairs.
There, he locked eyes with the being looking up at him.
"A Colorblind Demon?"
"Minister, didn't you say this place was sealed? What's this guy?"
Maria's sharp voice echoed.
Minister Baek Myung-hee emerged from between the three S-Rank Hunters.
"Mr. Yong-un...?"
Her face stiffened in shock.
'How?'
Seeing Yong-un's face froze her mind.
"I clearly told you to stay hidden..."
The startled minister realized her slip mid-sentence and clamped her mouth shut.
But Yong-un had heard everything. He nodded and began descending the stairs.
"I see. That's why you acted that way."
Maria took a step up the stairs at Yong-un's sudden move.
She extended her hand toward him and shouted.
"Stop! This is a danger zone!"
Her fluent English scattered past Yong-un's ears.
Of course, he didn't understand and merely scratched his ear.
"What a noisy voice."
"I said stop! Minister! We can't guarantee what happens if he messes with the Gate!"
Realizing Yong-un didn't understand, Maria looked down at the minister.
The minister, snapping to at the warning, reached out toward Yong-un like Maria.
"Don't come down! It's dangerous!"
But Yong-un ignored her and kept walking.
"It's a Demon Gate! I said it's dangerous!"
The minister's voice failed to halt him again.
"Mr. Yong-un! That's an order from the minister! Stop!"
Even invoking her authority had no effect on Yong-un.
No matter who shouted, his gaze had already passed them, fixed on the Demon Gate.
"Mr. Yong-un!"
Yong-un drew on his demonic energy.
As he reached toward the sealed Demon Gate, Maria screamed.
"He's touching the Gate! Fireball!"
Grasping his intent, Maria swiftly gathered mana and thrust her hand at Yong-un.
A red fireball shot from her palm straight at him.
Boom!
It was an attack from an S-Rank magic-type Hunter.
A massive explosion rocked the area where Yong-un stood, sparks flying everywhere.
The fireball's remnants scorched the stairs and ignited flames around them.
"Minister, sorry, but it was urgent. If he's dead, it's on him."
The sudden devastation made everyone imagine Yong-un's death.
However...
Just as Maria apologized to the minister.
A voice came from the roaring black flames.
"Impressive. But..."
Whoosh.
"We'll talk about that technique later."
The black smoke cleared, revealing Yong-un unscathed.
"...!?"
The GHO senior Hunters, who knew Maria's power well, scowled.
But it was only for a moment.
Crackle. Crackle.
"...!?"
Sparks began flying from the Demon Gate everyone had been wary of.
All eyes turned to it.
Maria shifted her gaze from the Gate to Yong-un, her mouth agape.
"No way... You did this? You mad bastard!"
"What happened?!"
The minister grabbed Maria's arm urgently at her furious shout.
Maria shook her off and yelled.
Glared at Yong-un with killing intent.
"We're screwed now. I don't know how, but that bastard... forced the Demon Gate open."
"What? How is that..."
"Want it simple? We're done for! Gate overflow!"