Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Ark Shandy Rendezvous (8)
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Despite suffering massive damage from the terrorist attack, the commercial district of Academy City was still functioning.
Lee Gyeo-ul and I headed to District 15, which had suffered the least damage in this terrorist incident. Unlike other districts that looked like construction sites with excavators and heavy machinery mobilized everywhere, this place felt like a proper downtown area where people actually lived.
Following Lee Gyeo-ul, we entered a rundown cafe she was operating, where we spotted the Hound Dogs drinking coffee.
"Ah, my body aches like hell."
"You guys seen Pyamo? Planning to watch it when I head to Korea next week. Anyone know the plot?"
"Can't you see we're working... Shut your trap."
They were filling the air with noise like a group chat full of guys talking about whatever they wanted, but quieted down the moment they spotted Lee Gyeo-ul and me.
Just like a classroom that falls silent when the teacher walks in. Lee Gyeo-ul let out a sigh, apparently exasperated by their lack of decorum.
"You guys haven't changed a bit even after all these years. You really live young."
"Thanks for the compliment."
It didn't sound much like a compliment.
Lee Gyeo-ul and I took seats.
Not in the mood for more idle banter, the Hound Dogs got straight to the point.
Their leader-like figure, Han Ga-eul, spoke first.
"We're planning to return to Korea and report the truth about Han Cheong-ah. She commanded numerous Dimensional Beasts. Though it wasn't a direct attack, their movements were clearly hostile."
They had successfully suppressed Han Cheong-ah before any real disaster struck, but that didn't justify letting a demon run loose just because there were no casualties.
"The way she evolved those Dimensional Beasts... Han Cheong-ah is dangerous. Honestly, we should eliminate her right now. It looks like her powers are out of control, and the leader agreed during the meeting too. If there's any sign of her causing harm, we take her out immediately."
"Exactly."
"But why are you still protecting that girl? I can understand your other actions, but not this one. Think about all the judgments you've made up until now."
Lee Gyeo-ul, called the coldest hero in the world, was letting trivial emotions cloud her judgment. That seemed to be Han Ga-eul's take—and she was none too pleased about it.
Han Ga-eul's words were perfectly reasonable.
Sacrificing the few for the many was something Hunter Lee Gyeo-ul had always done. For her to now shield Han Cheong-ah felt like a contradiction.
Han Ga-eul was an extremely rational person. To her, emotional appeals could never serve as grounds for judgment. The same went for every other hunter present besides Lee Gyeo-ul.
Lee Gyeo-ul glanced at me.
Lee Gyeo-ul and I had already discussed beforehand how to handle this.
My silent mouth finally opened.
"Han Cheong-ah will definitely be useful to us."
"On what basis?"
"If Han Cheong-ah can control her power over Dimensional Beasts, wouldn't that become a powerful weapon for humanity?"
"And how do you plan to handle all the potential downsides until she reaches that level?"
"We can handle them. With me and Hunter Lee Gyeo-ul by her side..."
"Ha!"
Han Ga-eul looked utterly exasperated.
"If the world worked on such optimistic hopes, wouldn't all the monsters and rifts have been wiped out by now? If Han Cheong-ah could control that power, she'd have done it already. Why do you think they talked about disposing of her at the research lab where she was?"
It was impossible to convince the hunters here with optimistic interpretations and methods.
I knew that. So what this situation called for...
"Han Cheong-ah's survival and growth aren't a choice—they're a necessity."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Because the power of the queen is an essential element for slaying the god of the Dimensional Beasts beyond the rifts."
The atmosphere froze over like thin ice.
I hadn't used any ability. The heavy silence was generating its own chill.
A flicker of curiosity seeped into the hunters' skeptical eyes.
It might sound odd coming from me, but the provocative words from a powerful oddity named Baek Do-hyun were enough to grab their attention.
"AOD plans to ultimately close the rifts."
It was an utterly absurd story.
Though various hunters and researchers had taken interest, it had failed, and for humanity, who could barely maintain the status quo, it was an impossible final trial.
"I know how to kill the god of the Dimensional Beasts."
The Progenitor's eyes, which pierced through all things, began to emit an eerie glow.
Before I knew it, I had become an actor on stage.
There were no curtains or fancy decorations here, but there was an audience.
Skeptical and rational as they were, the audience had become captivated by me, listening intently before they knew it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Cheong-ah."
"Yes."
"Just in case—though I doubt it—call me if anything happens."
The day of departure for Korea had finally arrived. I stood at the entrance, dragging a suitcase stuffed full of luggage with one hand.
"Those sunglasses suit you well."
"I think so too."
The world was darker than usual, like a landscape overlaid with 50% black tint.
My appearance drew eyes. Walking the streets of Academy City, people would glance at me without fail, showering me with massive attention.
Not wanting that kind of spotlight, I'd prepared some countermeasures.
You know those airport thief stereotypes? I was rocking that exact fashion: a tacky beanie and an airline jacket. On top of that, sunglasses covering a third of my face.
This should do the trick.
I tied my long, flowing hair back with a band.
This damn hair regenerated to its original state within a minute no matter how much I cut it. Honestly, I'd half-given up on short hair because of it.
Anyway, I waved to Han Cheong-ah. She waved back.
"Have a safe trip, Do-hyun."
"Yeah."
"And thank you."
"For what?"
"Just... a lot."
Han Cheong-ah smiled faintly.
"It's still a bit early for thanks."
I had a lot more to show Han Cheong-ah.
She could save her gratitude until after I'd shown her everything I could do.
Satisfied to see the girl's usually stiff expression soften, I stepped out the door.
"What the hell."
Yubyeol-ha, waiting out front, stared at my outfit in horror. She grimaced like she'd just seen a gruesome corpse.
"What do you mean? It's airport fashion."
"It's so tacky."
"Doesn't matter if it looks that way. Trust me, going out normally dressed would be exhausting from all the stares."
"You could just dress normally like me."
Yubyeol-ha hadn't tied her hair in her usual twin tails either. She had a baseball cap pulled low and was wearing sunglasses just like me.
"A plain baseball cap and sunglasses won't hide my handsomeness."
"You're so annoying."
Chatting idly like that, we headed to the airport. Fortunately, the terrorist aftermath hadn't reached there. The airport was one of the most security-focused places in Academy City, after all.
Plus, it was far from the outer prison and well outside the Irregulars' activity range in the city center, which helped keep it safe.
The artificial rifts were spawning far away anyway, so the Society had no reason to target the airport.
The airport was packed with people. Many students were heading back to their home countries due to the terrorist incident.
"Wonder when this emergency break ends. Ugh... A whole year would be nice."
"Even if it ends, I won't come back unless security issues are fully resolved."
"Psyker mandatory education means jail if you skip. What about that?"
"Jail's way better than dying. And public opinion is in total uproar this time."
"Yeah, I get it. External intrusion is one thing, but imprisoned criminals breaking out and rampaging? That's too much."
"With things like this, what are we supposed to trust to keep attending classes in Academy City?"
Students' voices brimming with complaints echoed here and there.
They'd all nearly died. In the original story, casualties were even higher. The students' and parents' discontent erupted like a volcano, and combined with the Experimental Awake incident, Academy City's trust had hit rock bottom.
"Wonder what happens next."
"It'll work out somehow."
Leaving the chaotic Academy City behind, Yubyeol-ha and I headed to Korea.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Republic of Korea.
My birthplace, where I'd lived my whole life.
But it was a bit different from the Korea I knew. This was the Republic of Korea from Red Ark, created by Han Seo-ah, not the one from my world.
I set foot on my homeland after a long time.
According to Red Ark's lore, Korea's upper echelons were practically eaten up by the 21st Century Secret Society. Every congressman had taken their money, and their oddities held significant shares in major domestic conglomerates.
Gazing at the heart of Seoul, where humanity's modern skyscrapers towered high, I fell into thought.
The dark shadows of the looming buildings felt just like the Society.
I looked at the one building untouched by the Society's shadow.
A mark of a sword and shield intertwined on the upper exterior caught my eye. That must be the headquarters of the Korean Hunter Association.
"What are you staring at? Let's hurry up and check into the hotel."
Yubyeol-ha rubbed her eyes tiredly. I tore my gaze from the logo and nodded.
"You booked the Shilla Hotel, right?"
"That place went bust ages ago."
"!?"
As expected, it was a bit different from the Korea I knew.