Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Dan-gun's Descendants
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Having confirmed that speaking Korean posed no issues, I immediately said,
"Please connect me right away."
— Yes, understood.
A moment later, a ringing tone echoed through the line, and the call was swiftly transferred to the Japanese Association.
— Japan Hunter Association speaking! Are you a hunter from South Korea?
The pronunciation was a bit off, but it was clear enough for communication. Unlike the Korean side, though, the voice carried a frantic urgency.
"This is Yoo Chan-seok, the hunter who received the emergency request from Fukuoka City."
— Yoo Chan-seok... Yoo Chan-seok? Hold on a second. I'll transfer your call. Please wait, just a moment!
The line switched again, and almost instantly, a new voice came on.
— This is Kondo Tetsuya, president of the Japan Hunter Association. Is this Hunter Yoo Chan-seok himself?
"Yes. I got a call regarding Fukuoka."
Before I could say more, the guy named Tetsuya jumped in anxiously.
— We know you're in the middle of a commission! But please, consider our situation and prioritize the request, if you would. We're desperate for every single hunter right now. Your help would mean the world!
Since I'd already used eating as an excuse to brush off the request earlier, there'd be no penalty for skipping it due to my commission. The association president seemed most terrified of that scenario.
"About that request... It seems connected to the commission my team and I are currently handling."
I quickly explained the situation and my suspicions. President Kondo swallowed hard as he listened.
— You're saying you're going to clear the Grade 2 Erosion Core on Tsushima Island right now?
His question dripped with heavy skepticism, which I totally understood. Strictly speaking, my track record was just one Grade 3 Erosion Core cleared.
So yeah, announcing a Grade 2 out of the blue must've sounded ridiculous.
"Do you really think my showing up would make any real difference?"
— ...
No response. The reason this guy was so worked up wasn't because he expected miracles from us.
To borrow a Japanese proverb, they were in a spot where they'd borrow even a cat's paw—and that's why he was begging like this.
"Instead of me showing up and being useless, why not roll the dice and bet on me taking out that Grade 2 Erosion Core?"
— You're putting Fukuoka City up as stakes?
What a harsh thing to say.
"Stakes or no stakes, we're not going unless you agree, Mr. President."
Han Sang-ah opened her mouth to say something, but I raised a hand to stop her. Stay put, heiress.
Adults are handling the negotiation here.
— Then why contact us at all?
A perfectly predictable question.
"If you agree, we'll give it our all to clear the Grade 2 Erosion Core. And naturally, that accomplishment would count as responding to Japan's emergency request..."
— You're asking for the reward fee?
Were you planning to let us do it for free?
"Fine if you don't. We'll just kill time here and head home."
— You little...
Truth be told, I couldn't actually do that. I had plenty of reasons to smash that Grade 2 Erosion Core on Tsushima myself. But he had no way of knowing that.
So this bluff would land. In the end, President Kondo had only one choice.
— Understood. Hunters Yoo Chan-seok and Han Sang-ah—your commission will be considered as fulfilling Japan's emergency request.
"Is this call being recorded?"
A shout of "Got it!" practically exploded through the line. As we wrapped up, Han Sang-ah looked at me.
"You could've just done it for free, you know."
"There's a difference between doing a good deed and doing something stupid without compensation."
If my actions benefited someone, then a fair share of that benefit was mine.
Failing to claim your rightful cut from the bowl isn't kindness—it's idiocy.
"Well, you're rich, so you can afford to let it slip away everywhere."
Han Sang-ah shot back,
"I am rich, sure, but that doesn't mean I lack a sense of money. I've studied a lot."
"I said it doesn't matter—not that you actually go around wasting it."
She nodded. Sure, some might scoff that a rich girl’s book-smarts on finances couldn't be that impressive.
But not everyone who hates Japan lived through the colonial era, right?
"No monsters tailing us."
"Looks like every monster on this island headed straight for Fukuoka."
If so, things might actually get easier. With Han Sang-ah's terrifying driving skills, we shot like an arrow toward Tsushima Airport.
"That must be it."
Without a single interruption, we pulled up smoothly to the airport entrance. The monsters really must've cleared out entirely.
An entrance to the Erosion Core gaped open in the center of the airport. And right in front of it...
"A kid."
A striking woman in pitch-black taekwondo robes embroidered with a golden dragon leaned against a car.
"Lord almighty. Did they staple that face together with a sewing machine or what?"
Good grief, she just had a bunch of piercings. Ten in her ears alone, four on her lips, two on her tongue, two on her nose...
Counting roughly, there were about thirty piercings studding her face.
Moderation's a thing, you know. Exaggerating a bit, those piercings must weigh a full kilo. She looked human enough, but staring at all those piercings made her seem... not.
"What a potty mouth, fucker. Nice to meet you anyway. Name's Kim Ji-hyun. Here's your greeting."
No weapon in sight. Looked like her specialty was beating people barehanded. Unhappy with my comment, she smacked the car she was leaning on—thwack—then hoisted it up and hurled it straight at me.
Who throws a car like a soda can?! I dove aside to dodge it, then let out a hollow laugh as the vehicle tumbled across the ground.
"You've got some general-level strength there."
A seriously tough opponent.
"That general-level strength is gonna capture you alive. Guess sacrificing a few normies didn't spawn enough monsters to satisfy it."
"You... human?"
Grinning at my words, Kim Ji-hyun wiped her mouth.
"Human as they come."
"So you're saying humans are sacrificing other humans to squeeze out more monsters. Heartbreaking stuff."
She flipped me the bird in response.
"Necessary business. The elders said to explain the situation to you sacrificial lambs for the greater good."
The piercings embedded in her body hummed lowly and gleamed. Not just for show, then.
As Kim Ji-hyun clenched her fist, her knuckles cracked menacingly.
"We're the descendants of Dangun. United for one purpose, we act."
Not that I cared. But she seemed intent on monologuing regardless.
"Our goal: Preserve and strengthen Korea's dominance, forging an unbeatable superpower no one can fuck with."
Yeah... the whiff of nationalism hit hard the moment she said "descendants of Dangun."
"Just as my body can't become another's, this nation can't become another. Nothing eternal like a people bound by blood and history."
She jabbed her chest and laughed.
"Words of Kim Gu, the patriot."
"Korea's already a superpower."
The won was the world's second-most trusted currency after gold. Foreigners were desperate to get in. Hunter association staff worldwide were learning Korean as a must, and it probably extended to other fields too.
Isn't that superpower status already? Kim Ji-hyun's eyes flashed at my words.
"Not enough. We'll make this proud nation an immutable golden pagoda of a superpower—unyielding and overwhelming."
She spread her arms wide and continued.
"Think about Korean history. Groveling to China for even a country name, paying tribute, bowing to envoys from those Chink bastards! The Gate of Meeting Virtuous Men, the whatever...
"Studied your history hard, huh. Why not take a certification exam?"
She fixed me with a chilling stare.
"Enlightenment era? Western pricks threw tantrums, cannons and armies forcing unequal treaties, plundering our resources. Colonial period? Need I say more?"
Anger twisted her clenched-fist face. What a hothead.
"We'll give it all back, every last bit."
Forcing unequal treaties to loot resources, forcibly conscripting women into comfort stations, human experiments, invalidating foreign elections without Korea's say-so...
Kim Ji-hyun rattled off her bucket list. I got the gist.
"So, crush other countries with overwhelming power and repay every humiliation from the past?"
"Got a problem with that?"
Nah, not my business. If their goals don't clash with mine, no reason to interfere. But I had another question.
"What put Korea in its unrivaled position? Erosion Cores and hunters."
She nodded.
"If all Erosion Cores vanished, Korea couldn't hold its spot."
"Exactly."
So these Dangun's Descendants...
"Have no intention of ending this."
"Right."
Our views might conflict here.
"The world's falling apart. Don't you know what to prioritize?"
"No issue. We've found a way to control Erosion Cores—and it works."
"Wait, really? That changes things."
If they could control and wield Erosion Cores, great. Earth was crumbling after my return; taming them meant stable life for me too.
Hell, I'd actively cooperate. No reason to fight them.
But first, verify one thing.
"So, how many successes?"
"...None of your business."
More failures than wins, huh. Otherwise, she'd brag proudly. Pity.
"At least beat coin-flip odds, then come asking for cooperation. I'm all in."
But not now. Preaching superpower revenge with tech still in early trials? Like dreaming of nukes after launching a bottle rocket.
As if I'd cooperate on that. Kim Ji-hyun looked incredulous.
"Why the fuck would we need your cooperation? You're both monster fodder here anyway."
"All hot air, even that."
Who said anything about being fodder? Facing her, I ignited Paradox Flame at my spear tip.
"Get ready. Sewing-machine face."
Everything you've built your whole life could vanish.
"Ready my ass, you cocky little—"
Bang! Air exploded as I charged at Kim Ji-hyun.