Chapter 138. Kagoshima Dragon Raid

A community site in Japan.

(I think South Korea has too many S-ranks)

The netizen, with a bored expression, placed their hands on the keyboard and typed.

(Is there something flowing in the groundwater?)

(There's no way)

(Since Korea is a surveillance state, they immediately detect awakened individuals.)

Recently, South Korea has been in an uproar with the appearance of its fourth S-class. However, from the perspective of neighboring countries, this was not something to celebrate.

(They caught up.)

Because of the birth of the fourth S-class, Japan and South Korea now have an equal number of S-class hunters.

(There's a population difference of twice as many between them. So why is the number of S-ranks the same?)

(It seems that only Japan lacks S-ranks.)

(We are advanced in gate management. Since we are good at this, we don't have to worry about the rest.)

Even though there were no particularly negative feelings toward South Korea, it was true that when a neighboring country tried to break their records, it naturally stirred up a sense of hostility.

[Breaking News]

However, the troublesome matters didn't end there. One day, a new problem arose in this island nation.

"This is a gate report. After sending an investigation team to the dungeon that appeared in Kagoshima Prefecture, it has been revealed that the gate's rank is S-class..."

The appearance of an S-rank dungeon that hadn't appeared for a while since the Hawaiian raid four years ago!

(S-rank appeared www)

(I didn't ask for this S-class laughs.)

The Japanese people couldn't help but feel quite confused at that news.

***

(Hey, that S-class thing isn't such a big deal. Why is everyone making such a fuss?)

Some might think this way. Isn't it just a matter of catching it?

In particular, Korea didn't have a sense of crisis about the S-class because they had safely dealt with the inevitable M alice incident that occurred not long ago. Some people simply thought, "Oh, it's just a rare dungeon," and moved on.

(What year were you born? Are you saying that because you're in elementary school?)

However, the situation in Japan was very different. The unexpected and malignant threat was a monster that had barely reached S-class through artificial means. In other words, it was a being with the strength of an S-class 'normal monster'.

"That giant snake that devastated Seoul was just a trash mob?"

Four years ago, during the S-class dungeon break. Because of that incident, the United States lost half of their top-tier hunters. The massacre was carried out by the leader that emerged from the dungeon, [Nuclealave], who slaughtered those so-called S-class hunters. So in a situation like this, who would willingly offer to help Japan?

Because of the damage the United States suffered at that time, they were still heavily focused on scouting foreign hunters. Moreover, even without the U.S. as an example, no country wanted to see its own S-class hunters die.

[Japan, "International Community Help Desperately Needed"... Desperate Request for Support]

Therefore, it was only natural that Japan's request would be ignored.

"Ahem."

An S-class gate. Looking at the precedent in Hawaii, S-class monsters had an enormous influence. Perhaps neighboring countries like South Korea could also be affected. So, if the dungeon is going to explode anyway, wouldn't it be better to collaborate with Japan and reduce the risks in advance? But...

"Isn't prevention the most important thing?"

Contrary to the wishes of the political world, this wasn't an easy task.

[Free Bulletin Board]

• They'll just turn their backs on us later if we help! Why should we help Japan? What's so great about them!

• Serves you right~

• Everyone, please help me. Korea's S-class Hunter, Kang Changho, assaulted me and used medication to cover up the evidence. The police are also siding with the Hunter, as if they've been bribed. What should I do?

• Wow, this person's comment history is legendary. They've been bashing Hunters all the time.

• Seems like an attention seeker.

Putting aside the anti-Japanese sentiment in some parts of Korea, the real issue is whether the S-rank hunters will even go to that gate.

"You saw what happened in Hawaii. The S-rank monsters are beasts that can kill even the highest-ranking awakeners in an instant. Is there any hunter willing to step forward for something like this?"

"Ahem."

"Jung Haseong isn't the same as before. He's not someone who will just do whatever they're told from above."

The Korea Hunter Association's worries deepened day by day. However, even in the midst of this, Japan was already in a state of urgency.

***

The so-called Kagoshima Gate. Internal magical energy measurements have confirmed it's an S-rank dungeon. According to the investigators, there was a dragon in that dungeon. This dragon appears to be a new species, so its exact abilities remain unknown. However, given the poison swamps scattered throughout the dungeon, it's highly likely that the creature is a Poison Dragon.

However, even after three days since the dungeon's appearance, Japan had yet to take any action. After all, even powerful nations like the United States had suffered great losses. There was no guarantee that they, with only four S-classes, would succeed in conquering it.

"Hmm."

However, I actually had a slightly different perspective on this incident.

"Let's see."

First of all, the Gaimche in question are surprisingly low in intelligence. To the point that sometimes they can't communicate smoothly. However, they're not stupid enough to destroy the very home they rely on. Like most parasites, they only drain as much energy as they need, ensuring their host planet doesn't collapse.

"If the S-rank hunters were unnaturally killed during the dungeon break in Hawaii four years ago..."

I tapped the armrest of my chair and pondered.

"Gaimche must have adjusted the difficulty. The S-rank dungeon in Japan is likely to be weaker than the previous one."

It would be a problem if the upper-level awakened people defeated all the dungeons so that humanity would no longer suffer, but it's not like they want too many hunters to die and the food chain to collapse, right? After all, the death of strong beings doesn't necessarily result in more psychic energy being generated. In the end, for the sake of maintaining the balance of the ecosystem, adjusting the difficulty is essential.

Moreover, this newly appeared gate is said to have an environment with poison attributes. Luckily for me, I had recently gained a strong resistance to poison. Even if I inhale toxic vapors, I won't easily die from it.

So, I have the answer.

"Whoo."

After much contemplation, I decided to participate in the conquest of this S-rank gate.

"I can't just stay like this."

This was the alternative plan I had in mind. If the dragon's lungs didn't come up for sale, I would have to start looking for other options soon.

"I thought I wouldn't get into trouble if I declared myself an S-class hunter..."

As expected, when the repair of my lungs was delayed, troublesome incidents began to occur around me. The backlash from carelessly starting things with the mindset that I could just switch bodies when necessary gradually began to catch up.

So now, I have to catch the dragon myself and urgently acquire its organs. Rather than sitting idly, taking action will at least increase the chances of obtaining the [Dragon's Lung].

"I'm just struggling like I'm grasping at straws."

Of course, since I am a barely awakened, low-grade individual with barely any magic, facing the dragon in a full-on battle is impossible for me.

"Dragon hunting."

I have my own role to play. That's how the world works. Even insignificant bugs are ultimately necessary for the ecosystem when viewed in the big picture.

***

Monday morning. The Japanese side made a huge request to the South Korean government. And the reason they were offering an amount of money equivalent to the national budget was for one single purpose.

"Dispatch an S-class hunter."

Chairman Go Byeongdo had always believed that there were money that couldn't solve. However, experiencing this situation firsthand, he truly realized that there were values that money could not buy.

"Oh, really, this is difficult."

S-rank hunters. Are they truly beings that cannot be replaced by anything?

"Have the meeting invitations been sent out to all the S-rank hunters?"

"Yes, Chairman."

"Any replies?"

"There's been no response from anyone yet..."

However, just because he had come to recognize their value, it didn't mean that figures like Kim Giryeo or Kang Changho suddenly looked any more appealing. Because he still had the same thoughts.

"A time when the fate of a country is determined by supernatural abilities..."

A hunter's value is only fulfilled when he listens to the words of the mountain master. But how can society trust and accept a hunter who runs wild with a gun in his hand?

"It's the end of the world. The end of the world."

S-rank hunters who don't follow orders are nothing more than troublesome ticking time bombs. As irreplaceable forces, they are arrogant beings who, no matter how many benefits are given to them, will easily run rampant.

Go Byeongdo walked down the corridor, unable to shake off his gaze towards the high-ranking awakener.

"Chairman! I just got a reply from an S-class hunter."

Just then, before he could even reach the association president's office, an employee brought him some good news.

"Ah, my apologies. I just checked with the secretary's office again, and it turns out it's not just a reply... they're already in the conference room."

The association had called in the top-tier hunters to prepare for the gate that had appeared in Kagoshima. But someone had already arrived here just 15 minutes after receiving the message?

"I'll go down right away, so have the staff hand over the materials first."

"Yes."

It must be Jung Haseong. The association president was certain about the identity of the hunter who had responded to the call. That S-rank was known for his diligent personality and, moreover, his strong tendency to serve the country.

Go Byeongdo recalled the image of a young man with an upright demeanor as he stepped into the elevator.

"Yeah, as expected, the only one I can trust is Haseong."

But how did this happen?

As he reached the conference room, he turned the door handle and stepped inside. To his surprise, an unexpected figure was sitting across the table.

"Huh?"

Dull blonde hair.

Pale skin.

And, a sharp gaze that showed no emotion at all.

"..."

The cold-looking man, who had been reviewing the documents, greeted the association chairman.

"Hello."

Kim Giryeo. This was the identity of the hunter who had responded to the summons. But what on earth was going on...?

***

Come to think of it, he had always been like that.

"Huh."

The Labyrinth of the 13th Month.

Mermaid Pass.

Strangely, Kim Giryeo had always fulfilled his duties as a hunter so perfectly. Contrary to his initial declaration that he would ignore the association's orders, that S-rank hunter would often be the first to show up whenever a troublesome incident arose.

"What is it, does he have a dual-personality?"

Thanks to this, the association president was on the verge of losing his mind from the confusion. However, the person across from him didn't seem to care and continued speaking without a second thought.

"Yes, I understand. I will go to the Kagoshima Gate as the representative."

"What?"

"Why are you so surprised? You just asked me to go."

He continued the conversation while looking over the documents that the association had handed him.

"But there is a condition."

The hunter's proposal was this. In fact, he could attempt a restraint strong enough to tie up the dragon that appeared in Kagoshima. However, he didn't want to reveal his full strength to a foreign country, so he planned to discreetly support Japan from behind using this skill, or something along those lines.

"Support role?"

However, the following statement made even the indifferent association president's eyes widen in surprise.

"I'll neutralize the dungeon's boss 100% with that skill. It's possible."

"Huh...?"

"So, I would like the association to relay this to Japan in advance."

"It, relay it?"

"Excluding the basic distribution, this is the additional compensation I must receive."

Tuk.

Giryeo threw a familiar item onto the table—a thick parchment imbued with magical energy.

[Knight's Oath?]

Isn't this a device for making an absolute promise? The association president, having bad memories associated with the item, found his hand stiffening involuntarily. However, he knew he had to verify the contents written on it.

"Once the dungeon is cleared, you will receive one item of your choice from the loot dropped by the monster...?"

Giryeo nodded.

"Whether they're regular or boss-level, all the dragons that appear in the S-rank gate will be included in the range."

When he heard that, the first thing that came to mind was the internal organ items.

The eyes and heart. These crafted items, which don't come from harvested from corpses but appear in the form of items, are considered the best rewards that can be obtained by killing dragons.

"I've heard the chances of it appearing are low."

However, if what Kim Giryeo said is true, and he can definitely subdue the S-rank boss...

"Still, it's cheap for the price of saving the country!"

Honestly, even a dragon's heart was something worth handing over. Of course, the Japanese Hunter Association probably wouldn't have thought much differently.

"I, I understand. We'll... explain this well to them."

Go Byeongdo cleared his throat and organized his documents.

It was surprising—no one expected a top-tier hunter to agree so readily to head to Kagoshima.

"I don't know what his real intentions are, but accepting is in our best interest. Besides, getting the top two hunters involved in another country's affairs was always difficult due to security concerns."

What kind of reaction would Japan have if they offered to send their precious S-rank hunter?

The association president stood up, dumbfounded. Now that the hunter to be dispatched was decided, he needed to quickly get in touch with Japan.