Chapter 96
Chapter 96
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Dragon from Jeju
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Kim Jin-ah had returned to the hotel they stayed at before with Yu Jae-eun and was assessing the situation.
As time passed, bits of information about the Jeju Island situation began trickling in.
The news was broadcasting breaking reports on the anomaly occurring on Jeju Island.
On the television screen, a flash of light shot up into the sky above Jeju Island, followed by something soaring into the heavens.
The footage was captured from such a great distance that it wasn't clear, but at a glance, it resembled a bird.
But of course, it wasn't a bird.
The fact that it appeared that large from so far away meant it was enormous.
But the truly grave details came right after.
Yu Jae-eun and Kim Jin-ah's faces hardened.
An estimated A-Rank flying-type monster.
Its projected path included Geoje Island and Busan.
An A-Rank monster was officially the highest-grade monster known to exist.
In a country short on Awakeners, it wouldn't be strange for the nation to face total collapse.
Even in Korea, while total destruction might be avoided, massive casualties would be inevitable.
Kim Jin-ah had felt relieved since Busan was quite far from Jeju, but now with such a monster heading this way, she couldn't just stay put.
At that moment, sirens wailed from outside.
Alert broadcasts instructing evacuation to monster disaster shelters echoed everywhere.
"We need to get out of Busan."
Yu Jae-eun and Kim Jin-ah hurriedly left the hotel.
The roads were hopelessly clogged with countless cars.
It was already impossible to escape by vehicle.
"Too late."
-Beep beep!
Chaotic horns blared from the car-jammed roads everywhere.
The drivers' faces were already in full panic.
And with good reason—it was an A-Rank monster, something that had never appeared in Korea before.
The terror that such a beast might come here turned Busan into utter chaos.
Kim Jin-ah decided cars were no solution.
"Better to get out and move on foot."
She considered heading to a shelter, but against an A-Rank monster, even that place couldn't be deemed entirely safe.
In her mind, escaping Busan as quickly as possible seemed best.
Fortunately, both were Body Enhancement Awakeners.
Even without a car, their movement speed rivaled or surpassed vehicles.
For the first time in a while, I was playing a computer game.
Civilization.
A turn-based simulation game perfect for killing time.
It was fun after so long.
I was lost in it, clicking turn after turn, when Hanna reached out.
She rarely contacted me directly.
She usually went through Kim Jin-ah.
With Jin-ah away at Jeju with Jae-eun, she must have called herself.
"Can we meet?"
A bit of a hassle, but I had nothing else going on.
Seeing Hanna's pretty face after a while didn't sound bad.
"I'll send someone."
Soon after, a man in a sharp suit arrived.
Hanna seemed a bit lacking in tact.
I rode in the luxury sedan he drove to Hero Friends Company in Gangnam, Seoul.
Whether briefed or just the quiet type, he didn't utter a word the whole trip.
At least that part I appreciated.
"Mr. Park Un-ho. Welcome. Sorry for the trouble."
As I entered her office, she beamed, bowing a full ninety degrees in an exceedingly polite greeting.
"...?"
Hanna was far more deferential than usual.
Not that she lacked manners before, but this was over the top.
This usually meant...
She wanted something from me.
"It seems our relationship has been exposed."
Unfortunately, not in the romantic sense.
"Rumors are flying that the support for you is outrageous, leaked from somewhere."
Fair enough.
Even I thought she'd been excessively generous up to now.
Apparently, it had been discovered within the company.
"Even whispers of embezzlement..."
Probably referring to the 10 billion she handed over as a signing bonus.
Fine by me, but from the company's view, utterly absurd.
"They say I'm smitten with you and bankrupting the company..."
What... not entirely wrong?
It was a sweet deal where I reaped all the benefits.
But from the company's perspective? If I were a shareholder, I'd want her gone and replaced immediately.
Why was Hanna going on at length about her predicament?
"So, here's the thing..."
Hanna fidgeted with her fingers, gauging my reaction.
I could guess what she wanted.
Reveal my rank and prove her judgment was spot on.
"Do the Mana Test?"
"Well... if the rank is confirmed, maybe they'll understand a bit? Hehe."
What rank would come out if I did a Mana Test now?
At least S-Rank, I figured.
"If I step down as CEO, it'll inconvenience you too..."
That wasn't wrong.
Kim Jin-ah had handled the bothersome tasks beyond expectations.
And she was a beauty.
If Hanna left the CEO position, that would vanish.
Definitely regrettable.
I owed her, and the timing felt right, so doing the Mana Test didn't seem bad.
My current power was beyond what outsiders could touch.
An S-Rank Awakener—one of the rare few worldwide—was untouchable.
As long as it wasn't mass slaughter, most moral lapses were overlooked.
Hell, even burying one person, and they couldn't hold you accountable.
A major advantage.
"Fine. I'll do the Mana Test."
"R-Really?"
She hadn't expected me to agree so readily and yelped in surprise.
How much did Hanna know about my abilities?
She had some inkling from the gate incident and Jin-ah's reports, but I wanted to see her face when it exceeded expectations.
That was when it happened.
-Knock. Knock.
A faint knock sounded.
"Huh? Sorry, I said not to disturb unless important... Come in."
A pretty secretary entered and whispered quietly to Hanna.
(CEO. Seems like there's a problem on Jeju.)
I heard it all.
"What, what!?"
Hanna shouted in shock at the secretary's report.
Kim Jin-ah was there. And Jae-eun too.
I couldn't just brush off news from the secretary.
"What happened on Jeju?"
The secretary flinched at my question but soon composed herself and replied calmly.
"A monster seems to have appeared on Jeju. Better to watch the news than have me explain."
We turned on the television in Hanna's office.
『.........From Jeju...... An estimated A-Rank Dimensional Rift Corrupted Being............currently at Geoje Island.......』
The screen showed a dark red dragon laying waste to Geoje Island in real time.
"I-Is that a dragon?"
It certainly looked like one.
The dark red skin characteristic of Dimensional Rift Corrupted Beings.
Made you think an A-Rank Dimensional Rift had opened on Jeju.
Even Yeomje Kwak Sang-hyeon alone couldn't possibly handle something that size.
'Did Jeju get wiped out?'
The thought that something might have happened to Jae-eun sent a chill down my spine.
Suni must have picked up on my worry and relayed Jae-eun's status.
Hanna was already calling Kim Jin-ah.
"S-Sis? Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I was in Busan for vacation."
"Phew. That's a relief. What about Jae-eun?"
"Right here."
Fortunate they weren't on Jeju. But unfortunately, they were in Busan.
Geoje Island and Busan were close.
Couldn't call it safe.
As if sensing my unease, the dragon on the TV screen, having nothing left to destroy, suddenly took flight.
And began heading somewhere.
Hanna screamed in horror upon seeing it.
"S-Sis! The dragon's heading toward Busan!"
"We're moving to escape Busan, so don't worry too much."
"R-Really?"
"I'll report back once we're clear. Hanging up."
"Yes. Please be careful."
The moment Hanna ended the call with Kim Jin-ah, her phone rang again.
She seemed to recognize the number, fidgeting anxiously.
But she answered eventually.
"...Mom?"
Sounded like Hanna's mother.
"Mom... suddenly telling me to come back..."
The mother and daughter conversed in English.
But I'd already bought the English language pack from the Dimension Shop.
I could easily understand what they were saying.
Basically, she'd send a private jet, so hurry back to the US.
With an A-Rank monster suddenly emerging from Jeju and no S-Rank Awakeners in the country, it was understandable parental worry.
Suni kept updating me on Jae-eun and Kim Jin-ah's positions.
They were trying to flee Busan, but the dragon would reach there faster.
They were somewhat distant from it, but it was a flyer.
Too ambiguous to declare their spot safe.
'Can Korea subjugate that thing?'
Not impossible.
Would require mustering A-Rank Awakeners and plenty of high-rankers.
But by then, half of Korea would be in ruins.
And even then, many Awakeners would die.
Of course, that wasn't my concern.
With Jae-eun in Busan, I couldn't just sit idle.
'A fine debut stage.'
An unexpected debut, but this felt better than a Mana Test.
Some people won't believe without seeing.
Had to show enough power to keep the climbers at bay.
I stood up.
"Mom, I'll talk later."
As I rose, Hanna, who had been flustered on the call with her mother, hurriedly hung up and asked.
"Where are you going?"
"Rooftop open?"
"Huh?!"
Hanna looked baffled at my sudden mention of the rooftop.