#282. Maybe It's Not a Disease.

Once Lee Kang-san had left, Seong Seon-je recalled the time earlier that year when he'd taken charge of the national unified strike team. More precisely, it was the private meeting he'd had with Kang Moo-hyuk.

At the time, Seong Seon-je had revealed to Kang Moo-hyuk the grand plan he'd harbored in his chest for eleven long years.

While Joo Se-ah, now an S-rank, drew all eyes, he would challenge for S-rank himself.

Korea would have two S-ranks then, striking a delicate balance even against Japan with its trio. It would create a situation where Japan could no longer meddle in Korean affairs—that was his goal.

In other words, it meant using Joo Se-ah as a shield, but Kang Moo-hyuk had welcomed the idea.

Afterward, the three-headed evil dragon Zmei Gorynych had appeared, and the two had met several more times to devise contingency plans.

Then, at their final meeting one day, Kang Moo-hyuk had left him with these words.

'Rank inflation is occurring across the hunter world at large. High-level gates are appearing more frequently, and sightings of Unknown monsters are on the rise. I can't shake this unease that we might need even greater power ahead. Become an S-rank as soon as possible. Before it's too late.'

That memory was etched deeply into Seong Seon-je's mind.

He alternated between thoughts of Kang Moo-hyuk's warning and Japan's interference, letting out a sigh laced with lament.

'Guild Leader Kang Moo-hyuk, you might fall to humans before the monsters even get a chance. If you want to hunt monsters your way, clear out the obstacles first.'

After ending the call with Seong Seon-je, Joo Se-ah approached and pointed out the window.

"Care to step out for a private word?"

Quick on the uptake, Jang Deok-gu rose from his seat.

"Looks like you've got something important to discuss. We'll step out."

Everyone left the room, leaving only Kang Moo-hyuk and Joo Se-ah behind. Go Eul-ji glanced back curiously, wondering what they might talk about, but No Song-rin caught her immediately.

"Hey, kiddo. No eavesdropping with your powers. This is grown-up talk."

"Can't you tell me, mister? Aren't you curious?"

"Well... no can do."

"Tch! You were this close to spilling."

"Can't let my guard down around you, huh."

No Song-rin appointed himself her minder and dragged her as far from the room as possible.

With the surroundings quiet, Joo Se-ah scanned for any signs of eavesdroppers. Confirming no one was around, she cautiously opened her mouth.

"The Thomas hunter thing. When are you gonna tell me? I've been holding back till you spill, but I can't anymore."

"So you noticed."

"Noticed? It's obvious when he's right in front of me, struggling to rein in his aura and keep quiet. How could I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠not know? You think hiding an uncontrolled power makes it hidden?"

"He became S-rank too suddenly and hasn't adapted yet. But you figured it out because you're guild master. The rest of the team has no clue."

"That's not the point."

"I know. I planned to tell you after handling the urgent stuff first."

"You saying there's something more urgent than that?"

The "that" Joo Se-ah referred to wasn't Thomas himself. She was talking about the unknown entity that had possessed his body—the Golden-Eyed Ruler.

Of course, she hadn't heard a thing about the Golden-Eyed Ruler from Kang Moo-hyuk yet.

But she vividly remembered the dangerous aura it exuded. It felt eerily similar to the ominous figure she'd glimpsed in North Pocheon, little more than a sinister geometric shape back then.

The mere fact that an S-rank felt fear from it made it top priority.

Even the queen bee had seemed threatened by it at the time. Joo Se-ah had ignored it to focus on Thomas.

An existence that instilled terror in both monsters and hunters alike, yet Kang Moo-hyuk acted unfazed—it was driving her mad.

"I'm worried too, you know."

"Is that the face of someone worried?"

"See these wrinkles between my brows? All from worrying."

"Not from age? You're in your thirties."

"Guild master and I are only five years apart. You don't look a day over thirty forever, huh?"

"Five years is a huge gap. Look at my smooth skin. Yours is all dry and rough. Hunting monsters is great, but take better care of yourself."

"Go Eul-ji hunter and guild master—you're seven years apart, right? Must feel like a massive difference."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"......"

"Wanna die?"

"Sorry, got sidetracked. About Thomas hunter—"

"No changing the subject."

"My apologies."

"Okay. I'm cool, so I'll let it slide."

"Guild master's behavior right now doesn't quite scream 'cool'..."

"Wanna die?"

"My apologies."

"If you weren't so silver-tongued, you'd be the perfect leader."

"You know that's why I got kicked out of Titan."

"Sorry. I poked a sore spot."

Joo Se-ah scratched her head in apology, but Kang Moo-hyuk brushed it off.

"Anyway, enough joking. Back to business. I'll tell you everything from back then. But you have to keep it secret, just like that entity from North Pocheon."

"Obviously. Who'd I even tell? The Federation? You planning to hide it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠from them too?"

"No choice. It's not confirmed yet, but it seems deeply tied to mana addiction. If the Federation finds out, who knows how they'll react. Worst case, they round up every mana addiction patient worldwide. All in the name of uncovering the unknown entity's true nature."

Joo Se-ah took it another way.

"You don't trust Aila?"

"Even good people change their sense of justice in an organization. The group's interests often trump the individual's. Whether I trust Aila or not, blindly trusting a massive institution like the Federation is foolish. Especially now, when it's hard to tell friend from foe."

"Man, I handed off all that Federation stuff to you. Feels kinda guilty lying about it."

"No need to feel bad. Like I said before, I'm a Federation member now."

"Right, that fancy commander title or whatever."

"It's legitimate compensation. Gotta make use of it."

Joo Se-ah apologized to Aila on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Kang Moo-hyuk's behalf.

"Fine. Our little secret. Now explain what happened."

Kang Moo-hyuk gathered his thoughts, blending facts with his own insights, then began slowly.

"Mana addiction... maybe it's not a disease at all."

After finishing her talk with Kang Moo-hyuk, Joo Se-ah stepped out and flinched.

Thomas was leaning against the wall opposite the door.

"Discussing me with the leader?"

"Not a fan of eavesdroppers. You're adapting fast, huh? Already controlling your power?"

"Just hiding it. It's applied magic too. I can't wield it freely yet. Mess it up, and it hurts like hell."

"Hurts? Because of the illness?"

"Who knows. No other explanation, so probably."

Joo Se-ah pointed out his seemingly lax attitude.

"An S-rank spilling secrets like that? Shouldn't you be more careful?"

"I'm Iron Will now too. Figured the leader and guild master should know."

"Good. At least you get that you're guild now. We'll figure out how to handle it step by step. Go talk to Leader Kang if you need to."

"We're communicating constantly. No solid conclusions yet—lack of info. The rest will sort itself with time."

"Then why wait? Got business with me?"

When Joo Se-ah pointed to herself, Thomas nodded slightly.

"Yes. A request for guild master."

"Request?"

"Actually, a proposal from the leader."

"What'd Leader Kang suggest?"

"Training to get used to this power. Please."

Aila handled the delivery herself—a certain item flown from New York HQ to the LA Federation branch.

The airport was crowded, and revealing her identity would be trouble, but Kang Moo-hyuk had requested it personally. She couldn't ignore that.

Unintentionally, she owed him one.

Plus, he was a Federation commander now. She could requisition support formally.

He just wasn't familiar with the system yet, so Aila stepped in.

She watched the operation from a secret Federation spot in the airport corner.

Aila, listening to the transport pilot's report, gave the order.

"Queen-Bee transport approved per C004 request."

Soon, the Federation transport plane took off.

Aila stayed until it shrank to a dot, then headed straight back to HQ.

Nikola Tarabik—codename Thousand Eyes—had summoned her.

"Sorry. Had something to handle, ran late."

"No, my fault for calling without notice."

"So, what's the reason?"

"LA matter."

"Still on that? As far as I know, it ended without incident."

Thorns laced Aila's voice. Understandably—Tarabik had forced her recall to HQ, even dragging in Mother Tree Council and Round Table Chairman Ekhisar.

However well-intentioned out of concern for her, sensing a prophetic danger and ordering withdrawal for her safety alone...

It betrayed the Federation's founding purpose.

For Aila, who yearned for this world's peace above all, everyone involved grated on her.

Her tone couldn't help but carry irritation.

"The raid succeeded. Minimal sacrifices. Sure, people and hunters died or got hurt, but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠compared to past prophecies, isn't this a win?"

"Of course. I was relieved too. Thought we'd averted it well. But it wasn't the end."

"Not the end?!"

Aila's eyes narrowed sharply upward.

Tarabik's face darkened.

"The prophecy has already come true. The world just doesn't know yet."

"It happened as foretold?"

"Yes. There must be traces left somewhere. We need to find them. Or they could return as a greater disaster later."

Aila shook her head in disbelief.

"You told us to abandon a city of millions, and now go find it? Can't fathom Thousand Eyes' standards."

"I weighed priorities. The Federation needs you. Without you, it wouldn't run as smoothly."

"Plenty better than me. Don't let personal ties cloud judgment."

That personal tie was Aila herself, but she had to warn him.

Having watched her own world perish once, protecting her current home was her utmost duty as an elf.

"I'm human too—can't stay detached before a friend's death. But with the immediate threat gone, we must act before the next."

"Agreed. But I'm worried you'll make the same call next crisis."

"......"

Aila stared long at the speechless Tarabik, then sighed without pressing further. Her nature wasn't that harsh.

She decided to let his mistake slide this time.

"I understand your concerns, Tarabik. I'll assemble a team. I'll move once everything's clear."