Chapter 115
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After ending the eting with Kim Sun-Ho, Sae-Jin headed off to a famous restaurant with Hazeline who was waiting for him outside. Each of the tables were partitioned off in this restaurant, which ant it was perfect for soone like Sae-Jin who was just too well known by pretty much everybody.
"Excuse ? You’re going to participate in the boss raid? But why?!" (Hazeline)
In the midst of having a quiet al, Hazeline suddenly let out a loud cry as her eyes went extra round.
To show how shocked she was, she even ended up inadvertently squashing the at of a fish she had been carefully cutting into.
"I thought that it might be for the best." (Sae-Jin)
"No, wait, why does Mister Sae-Jin have to go? Besides turning into Monsters, you aren’t that good at anything else, though." (Hazeline)
"...What do you an by that? Haven’t you seen that video of fighting all those Doo-Urk-Shi-Nees online? Hell, the number of views for that is already past ten million now."
Hearing Hazeline’s words that could either be interpreted as words of worry or a barely disguised insult, Sae-Jin’s eyes narrowed to a slit.
"No, that’s not it. What if you encounter a situation where you can’t deal with it as a human? Your Trait might be revealed to the rest of the world!"
"Sothing like that won’t happen, so don’t you worry about that. Besides... You know, I got this feeling that, even the current as a human can easily defeat you, Miss Hazeline," said Sae-Jin, while smiling brightly.
Hazeline reciprocated his smile with her own for a short while, but then, her expression hardened very soon as if her pride had been damaged by his claims.
"It’s nice to be treated as a damsel in distress, but... You won’t even last ten seconds against ." (Hazeline)
At Hazeline’s cold voice, this ti it was Sae-Jin’s pride that got wounded.
"Ten seconds?! Hmm. Back then, when you got ambushed, just who was it that ca to your rescue... If I rember correctly, a certain soone was just standing there, lost and confused - did I see that wrong, I wonder?" (Sae-Jin)
Kwajeek-
Chopsticks in her hand suddenly snapped in half.
"Back then, that weird barrier prevented Mana from following my orders, didn’t it? Don’t you know that Mana is more important than life itself for a Wizard? If they didn’t deploy that stupid barrier, I wouldn’t have needed your help in the first pl..."
"Yes, yes. I got it. You’re indeed the A-class Wizard, Shenarine."
"Please don’t push my buttons and make my old temper to flare up. Even though I look like this, as an Elf Wizard, my pride knows no bounds."
One could say the true essence of the modern day Wizards consisted solely of stubbornness, ego, pride and unshakeable confidence. In other words, a Wizard was incredibly proud of her abilities, but if one considered that said Wizard to be an Elf on top of it all... it didn’t take a genius to figure out how crazy stubborn she would be.
"Okay, fine. However, just what kind of work did you do in the past? I heard you ntion the Mafia, the Triads, etc, etc, back then." (Sae-Jin)
Hearing his question, Hazeline narrowed her brows as she picked up new chopsticks. Her hand movent was quite rough, her desire to warn him off the topic rather apparent in her mannerisms.
"You’re better off not knowing." (Hazeline)
"..."
Kim Sae-Jin’s expressions hardened. It sure didn’t feel good to be treated as a weakling, unfortunately.
"If you’re like this, would you like to spar with after the al’s over?" (Sae-Jin)
He suggested as he sipped the cold water. anwhile, Hazeline had to lower her head to make su
re he didn’t see her lips trying to curve upwards in a grin.
"...But what will you do if you end up getting killed?" (Hazeline)
"Hah. Wow. I don’t even know what to say to that."
"Okay, then let’s et up again tomorrow. I shall take a look whether you have the qualifications to participate in that boss raid or not." (Hazeline)
"Yes, fine. We’ll see. We’ll see."
Sae-Jin replied back bluntly, while Hazeline was laughing inside her mind. She was pleased by the fact that they were able to smoothly (?) plan out yet another appointnt, just like that.
****
In order to counter all the chaotic Monster incidents happening lately, the Korean governnt temporarily created the ’Monster-related Disaster Managent Task Force’. And currently, inside the briefing room located within the Task Force’s HQ in the main city of Gangwon Province, a eting was taking place.
"This Boss Monster is a brand new type that hasn’t appeared before until now. Its outer appearance resembles a cat with a big 5-tre body, but it seems that the Monster’s specialty lies in its ability to manipulate minds. It has sohow gained control of many Monsters within the Monster field and has created an army."
The identities of those in the eting were who’s who of the Knight society. Kim Yu-Rin from the Raven Order, Vice Order Master from Goryeo, Daebaek, etc, etc - all of them were individuals wielding trendous influences.
"In order to combat this enormous army, unlike the last two Boss raids where only the Knights with Tiers higher than Mid, upper Mid had participated, this ti we are going to call on the Knights with lower Tiers, as well as Hunters with upper Mid Tier rankings."
"Ah, hang on for a second there. It’s related to what you just said... Is it true that ’person’ is also going to participate in this boss raid?" (Oh Jung-Hyuk)
The Vice Master of the Daebaek Order, Oh Jung-Hyuk, carefully tested the waters. After becoming a Highest Tier after his achievents got publicly recognised, he was walking around lately with his shoulders and back stiff from ego. Obviously, he was busy showing off, with the excuse of this being the resulting pride of a Highest Tier or so such.
"Yes, he said he will."
"Huh-uh. That ans we must be especially considerate towards his needs. If, for so reason, sothing untoward happens to him, that will be a great misfortune for this nation..." (Oh Jung-Hyuk)
This was an expected response from the Daebaek Order - after all, they were able to rise up through the rankings solely due to The Monster’s generosity and support.
"What do you all think?" (Oh Jung-Hyuk)
Oh Jung-Hyuk took a glance at Kim Yu-Rin. His eyes told her to follow up on his words, but she could only avoid his gaze while looking decidedly embarrassed.
"...Still, as a High Tier Hunter, it’s only right for him to participate. I think it’s already a show of consideration from our governnt by requesting him to join in this raid. Besides, didn’t he say he’d participate with his own mouth?" (Kim Soo-Hoh)
It was then, Vice Master Kim Soo-Hoh from the Goryeo Order let his displeasure known. It seed that, since the Trilogy’s founder, Kim Yak-Sahn, was the Order’s Master, and that the ’negotiation’ with The Monster had collapsed so ti ago, they were planning to be in an openly hostile relationship now.
"How the hell do you refuse such a request? From the beginning, they should have excluded him because of his circumstances. It’s not always the best to stick to the conventional rules all the ti. If the Guild Master of The Monster is going to join in this raid, what would other countries think of us?" (Oh Jung-Hyuk)
"Obviously, they would go, ’what a fair-minded and advanced nation’. What do you think?!" (Kim Soo-Hoh)
"What did you say? Is it ’fair’ in your country if your president enters the battlefield personally?" (Oh Jung-Hyuk)
"What a strange example. Is Kim Sae-Jin a president already? Obviously he’s not! Also, since he’s no longer active in the front lines, and he’s a Hunter only in na now..." (Kim Soo-Hoh)
"Uh-huh!! You’re being too careless with your remarks!!" (Oh Jung-Hyuk)
A sudden outburst of arguent over Kim Sae-Jin beca incredibly heated in the blink of an eye. There were quite a few mbers of the Trilogy present, so the two sides were split equally down in the middle. And so, the briefing room had beco the ground for the totally-unnecessary factional infighting.
"...Everyone, just stop what you’re doing, right now. Didn’t mister Kim Sae-Jin say he will participate?" (Kim Yu-Rin)
Finally, unable to endure it any longer, Kim Yu-Rin shouted out.
"Huh-uh. Even the Knight Kim Yu-Rin is saying such a thing?" (Oh Jung-Hyuk)
Was this a display of over the top near-religious fervor? Oh Jung-Hyuk slamd his palm down on the table and clicked his tongue.
"Mister Kim Sae-Jin did so many good things for you guys, yet you’re acting so ungratefully..." (Oh Jung-Hyuk)
"What do you an by that!! I shall call him right now and confirm his intentions, once and for all!! Will that be fine?" (Kim Yu-Rin)
"...Keheum."
At her declaration, all the others kept their mouths shut. So of them even looked at Kim Yu-Rin with eyes of undisguised envy. After all, being able to call Kim Sae-Jin on a personal level ant that she was that close to him.
*SFX for continuous ring tones*
They could hear the sounds of the phone’s ringtone over the speaker. Everyone tensed up and waited - and waited, and then, waited for so more. Unfortunately, what greeted them at the end of all that waiting was a voice of a woman saying...
[The person you wish to call is busy. Please call again later...]
"..."
A loud chuckle broke all that graveyard-like silence pervading the briefing room.
"...With you acting like that, obviously he wouldn’t answer your call." (Oh Jung-Hyuk)
Oh Jung-Hyuk’s lips twitched in a barely-contained satisfaction.
"I, I shall call him one more ti." (Kim Yu-Rin)
"No, that won’t be necessary. He isn’t going to answer it anyways."
"No, no. Wait a minute..."
"For now, let’s postpone that discussion after confirming with him at a later stage, and resu the rest of the eting."
For so reason, the mood inside the briefing room turned for the better at the expense of Kim Yu-Rin’s embarrassnt.
And as the eting resud, she continuously glared at the phone while carrying a sullen expression. But by the ti Sae-Jin called her back, it was one hour after the eting had co to an end.
*
1st of February.
The defensive line was constructed on the passage lying between Seoul and the Gangwon Province. Because of the Boss’s ability to mind control many other Monsters, there were nurous Knights, Hunters and Wizards gathered up by the line this ti.
And, if one were to pick soone rather special amidst them... Then, it would be a certain soone who was neither a Knight nor a Wizard, but a asly Hunter.
"W, wowsers. Isn’t he that Kim Sae-Jin?"
"It’s my first ti seeing him in the flesh... He’s really as incredible as rumoured, right?"
Almost everyone gathered by the defensive line continued to glance at the High Tier Hunter Kim Sae-Jin’s direction, but none dared to approach him.
And as he stood there, being on the receiving end of all those envious stares, out of the blue, four Griffins flew in the sky above his position. Even though they carried riders on their backs, these creatures temporarily ignored their commands and circled above Sae-Jin as if to give their greetings.
"Oh! So this is where you were, Guild Master! I was looking for you just now."
Not only that, many high-ranking governnt officials, as well as Vice Masters of well-known Orders and several Highest Tier Knights ca over, bowing their heads and requested for a handshake, too. One or two of them suffering from lack of patience tried to talk to him about this and that business-related matters, but Sae-Jin politely told them such things should be discussed after the current calamity was addressed first.
It sure was an awkward spectacle that didn’t fit the description of a battlefield.
’...And as expected, he is surrounded.’
Hazeline was loitering on the background, unable to find a good timing to get a word in. As she was in a dilemma, wondering whether to swallow the brave pill and step forward or not, Yu Sae-Jung appeared out from sowhere and occupied a place right next to Sae-Jin.
When Hazeline saw the two of them together, a sigh from the depth of her heart automatically leaked out. She forced herself to show up here because she was worried, but now, seeing the two of them together, it was likely her heart would ache bitterly for a long ti.
"Excuse . Which Wizard Tower did you co from?"
It was then, Hazeline heard a really familiar voice from her back, and her scalp tingled in coldness. It was just a simple voice, but still, she could feel her temperature rise up, and cold sweat began forming on her forehead.
"Hello?"
Kim Yu-Rin spoke again as she tapped on the thick-robe wearing Hazeline’s shoulder. Hazeline’s breathing quickened. Sensing a strange change in atmosphere, Kim Yu-Rin tilted her head, and then...
"Miss Yu-Rin!! We’re ready to start the operation, ma’am!"
"...Understood!"
...At the call of her subordinate, she quickly returned to her original position.
"Whew..."
Hazeline did her best to rein her wildly beating heart and let out a long sigh - before falling into yet another dilemma. Should she go away now, or should she stay and take a look for a bit longer...?
Lantably, it proved to be too late to escape from this place.
That was because, in the far off distance, the marching army of the Monsters could be seen.
Small and dium sized Monsters such as Gnolls, Hoggs, Trolls, Orcs were being accompanied by larger lifeforms such as Ogres, Wyverns, and Basilisks; it was truly a once-in-a-lifeti spectacle, seeing so many Monsters working together to form an army and marching forward like that. (TL: I’ve no idea what a Hogg Monster is. Did a bit of research, but the closest I could find was so character from Overwatch. I never played that ga before, so totally no clue whatsoever. Shrugs shoulders.)
’There’s more than expected.’
Kim Sae-Jin lightly bit his lower lip at the sight of the five thousand-strong army of Monsters. The front of the marching pack consisted of weaklings, but the nurous Boss-level Monsters such as Basilisks, Three-Headed Ogres could be seen in the distance as well.
’...This won’t turn out to be more difficult than the Flesh Golem, right?’
Although there were a lot of enemies, almost every single Highest Tier in Korea had gathered here. As long as there were no unforeseen events, like the Red Moon suddenly occurring or sothing similar, they should be able to overco this crisis relatively safely.
*SFX for a sword being drawn out*
Kim Sae-Jin unsheathed his sword from his hips. A pure-white scabbard, and the jet-black blade that perfectly contrasted it - a sword so beautiful and intricately crafted, all the surrounding Knights froze in their tracks, totally forgetting the current situation and dazedly staring at it.
"Don’t tense up, let’s do this thing properly now." (Sae-Jin)
Sae-Jin took a glance at the female Knight next to him who was staring at his sword, and lightly tapped on her shoulder while chuckling slightly to himself.
"Ye, yes? Oh, yes. That’s right!"
The Knight of Eden, Yi Yu-Jin, shouted out in her frozen state. To run into a familiar face here, although he wasn’t Jin Seh-Hahn currently, Sae-Jin still found it rather a welco coincidence.
Kkwahang!!
<
It was then. The cannons fired Mana projectiles and signaled the beginning of the battle. With a loud explosion, projectiles accurately slamd into one of the faces of the Three-Headed Ogre.
"All personnel, charge!!"
And with that loud roaring, the entire world seed to bathe in the blue hues of Mana.
< 33. Heroic (1) > Fin.
(TL: There will be one extra chapter this weekend. Actually, the funny thing is, the donation amount was t, but PayPal decided to charge a buck and a few cents (again), making it around $1 and sothing-sothing short. So I said, screw it. You are getting a chapter!! You are getting a chapter!! You all are getting a CHAPPPPPTTTTEEERR!!)
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