Solo Leveling Chapter 169

Chck out ltst vl on n/o/v/l/bin(.)c//m

In the venue for the press conference held by the Arican Hunter Bureau.

The United States of Arica had opened her mouth to make her statent.

Were currently gathering Hunters to one location.

Was Arica finally revealing her hand in order to save Japan?

Reporters had all rushed to attend this press conference after the Hunter Bureau announced that they would clarify their position. They all cried out in elation from this announcent as if this matter concerned them personally.

No one alive would wish for tens of millions, no, hundreds of millions of people to die a grueso death. That was why these reporters were so enthusiastic about this announcent.

As the atmosphere within the press conference venue heated up to an astounding degree, the spokesperson ruefully shook his head.

However, its not for Japans sake.

What was that?

The gathered reporters began exchanging glances as hushed murmurs grew louder. It seed that no one present here had received any prior warning about this as they were all cautiously looking at each others reactions right now.

The spokesperson pointed to the giant screen behind him.

.Heok!!

What the hell

The mouths of the reporters were clamped shut by the image now shown on that screen.

The chaotic atmosphere cooled down in an instant and it was replaced by deathly silence instead. And then, as this weighty silence persisted, shocked gasps could occasionally be heard in between.

The prepared footage indeed carried that much of an impact.

This is the image of the Gate discovered earlier today in eastern Maryland.

The size of the Gate was not normal. It was smaller than the one in Japan, but still, its sheer scale was uncommonly massive.

The rank of a Gate didnt always match up to its size. But then again, a Gate with an enormous size never led to a low-ranked dungeon, either.

The spokesperson continued on with his explanation.

According to the asurent taken by our investigative team, this Gate is also a rank S, exactly like the one that has appeared in Japan. This nations top Hunters will focus all their efforts in closing this Gate, instead.

So reporters covered their faces, so shook their heads in helplessness, so spat out pained sighs to display the despair each of them felt in that mont.

An unprecedented event of two rank S Gates being generated close to one another had taken place.

Of course, the United States of Arica wasnt worried in the slightest. It was now ti for the dozens of rank S Hunters she had reeled in from all over the world to step forward and easily take care of this Gate.

The problem was with Japan.

Arica doesnt have the spare manpower to aid Japan.

When this horrifying piece of news finally made its way over to Japan, the Japanese people desperately praying for the Aricans aid all cried out in despair.

Japan was finished.

The Giant-type monsters were advancing south as it destroyed everything in their path. People escaping up north were slowly but surely being forced onto a cliff, as well.

In this situation, Korea finally broke her silence over the matter and clarified her position as well.

Goh Gun-Hui stood in front of the reporters and spoke up.

We will not get involved in Japans matters.

***

A day before the press conference.

Just like any other day, the wide-open office space of the Ah-Jin Guild was occupied by only two people Jin-Woo and Yu Jin-Ho.

The latters eyes sparkled brightly.

Hyung-nim? A rank B Gate just beca available. Should I book it?

Is it within the Hunters Guilds jurisdiction?

Pardon? Oh, yes it is, hyung-nim.

In that case, dont.

Oh. okay. I got it, hyung-nim.

Having sacrificed a lot of her elite Hunters, the Hunters Guild would be going through a seriously hectic ti now. Itd not look good if Jin-Woos Guild swooped in to take advantage of the situation and stole a Gate from under their noses.

Yu Jin-Ho scratched the side of his head before shifting his head over to Jin-Woo.

Hyung-nim? What have you been you looking at so intently like that?

Jin-Woo tore his eyes away from the computer screen and leaned his back against the chair.

Hey, Jin-Ho?

Yes, hyung-nim?

Should I go over to Japan for a while?

Excuse ?

Yu Jin-Hos expression hardened.

Of course, he hadnt forgotten just who was saying those words. He had seen hyung-nims amazing feats closer than anyone else out there.

However, common sense simply didnt apply to rank S Gates. It was impossible to asure, to begin with. Didnt that imply such a Gate was beyond the scope of whats considered normal?

Just like how there was an unscalable wall even among the rank S Hunters, no one could tell just what kind of dangerous monsters would pop out from a Gate that was impossible to asure.

And that was why Yu Jin-Ho simply couldnt think of Jin-Woos words of going to Japan as him simply kidding around.

Abruptly, his head shifted over to the computer screen Jin-Woo was looking at.

Ah.

It was filled with the breaking news regarding Japan.

Hyung-nim was worried about them.

Unlike Yu Jin-Ho, hyung-nim possessed incredible powers. It was quite obvious that hed also suffer from the distress that the responsibility of his power level brought along.

Hyung-nim, hold up.

Mm?

Jin-Woo only lightly threw that suggestion out but Yu Jin-Hos reactions were rather serious.

Yu Jin-Ho vacated his spot and hurriedly extracted a photo album from the file cabinet before bringing it over. When he flipped that thick book open, all sorts of newspaper articles were clipped onto its pages.

Whats this.?

All of them were articles related to Jin-Woo.

From the incident of the Red Gate which the dia still didnt know that Jin-Woo was a part of to the raid of Jeju Island; when he solved the issue of the traffic jam; and even when he took care of the strange, unidentifiable stone statues alongside the Hunters Guild recently, too.

Jin-Woo was dumbfounded by this spectacle and asked Yu Jin-Ho.

You were collecting all of these?

Yes, hyung-nim.

Yu Jin-Hos face was slightly flushed red.

Okay, fine. But, why are you showing this all of a sudden?

You know what the common the among these articles is, hyung-nim?

I wonder.?

.Surely, hes not trying to say that Im involved in all these incidents.

A short while later, Yu Jin-Ho spoke with a voice softer than the buzzing of a mosquito.

Its that Im nowhere to be found in all of them, hyung-nim.

If it werent for Jin-Woos high Perception reinforcing his hearing, hed have missed that voice.

What?!

Jin-Woo looked back, and Yu Jin-Ho raised his drooped head and stared straight into the forrs eyes.

Hyung-nim. If youre planning to go to Japan, please take along with you.

.??

Jin-Woo was baffled here.

He expected Yu Jin-Ho to either stop him or cheer him on when he said hed be heading over to Japan, but never did he imagine the kid would say Take with you!

However, Yu Jin-Ho was being dead serious.

Although it is embarrassing to say this out loud, hyung-nim, youre my pride. Youre the only thing that I can proudly boast about to other people, you know.

But, you.

Jin-Woo quickly shut his mouth up.

Yu Jin-Ho looked outwardly as if he had possessed more than anyone else in the world. According to his own words, however, all of those were shackles that only managed to tornt him, and to him, they were nothing to be proud about.

But then, it was Yu Jin-Hos own decision to stick around Jin-Woo, and then to continue developing the Ah-Jin Guild. All his, and no one elses.

Jin-Woo could more or less understand where Yu Jin-Ho was coming from when he said this was his sole source of pride.

That is why Id like to be there where you are, hyung-nim. Please, please take with you, hyung-nim.

You, you havent forgotten where I want to go, right?

Even if Yu Jin-Ho was a nave, immature kid, he surely would have heard about what was happening in Japan.

That place was currently a true hell on earth. Demons called Giants were judging mankind in the most grueso manner imaginable.

Even then, Yu Jin-Ho nodded his head with a determined expression on his face.

As long as youre unhurt, hyung-nim, Ill be alright as well. If you get hurt sohow eiii, I dont wanna even think about that.

Yu Jin-Ho looked back with a strong light of trust burning in his eyes.

The feeling youd get from soone trusting you to such an extent certainly couldnt be described as bad in any shape or form.

Jin-Woo felt this strange warmth tickling him in his chest and he happily ruffled Yu Jin-Hos hair. The latter was flustered but he didnt withdraw his head.

H-hyung-nim?!

I was only joking, you know? Why would ever I go to Japan when tis are like this?

Jin-Woo stood up from his spot.

Hey, thats enough for today. Lets just go ho. You worked hard anyway.

Uh? Youre going ho already, hyung-nim?

Jin-Woo stepped outside the office door while waving his hands. Yu Jin-Ho bowed his waist deeply to send him off.

Ill see you tomorrow, hyung-nim!

Clunk.

Jin-Woo stepped into his house.

A truly mouth-watering savoury scent of stew tickled his nostrils. He stood on the spot and soaked in the evenings sll.

This is so good.

One of the great things about mom being discharged from the hospital was that now, he had soone to welco him back ho every day. The dark and quiet ho of the past no longer existed in his life. Not anymore.

Son, youre ho?

He heard his mothers voice coming from the kitchen.

Yes, Mom.

He took off his shoes and neatly arranged them before walking into the kitchen himself. His mother was looking behind her and he sent her a smile as a greeting.

Im ho.

Will you eat dinner?

Yes. What about Jin-Ah, though?

She says shes got no appetite.

Jin-Woos hand suddenly stopped before it finished pulling out his chair.

Even now?

She couldnt get a wink of sleep last night. She only fell asleep not too long ago.

Jin-Woo hid his presence and cautiously opened the door to his sisters room.

Mm Mm..

Jin-Ah was rolling around in her bed, struggling to fall into a deeper slumber. She normally maintained such a bright appearance, but it seed that she hadnt gotten over her ntal trauma yet.

Then again. She had to go through such an experience, didnt she.

His rage towards monsters boiled over whenever he saw how much his sister was struggling like this.

Why were those things endlessly tornting humanity?

It was then, Jin-Woo recalled the sight of those silver-clad winged soldiers pouring out from the Gates in the sky to sweep away the monsters. The army with its unfathomable size, burning with clear animosity against the horde of monsters. If such an army actually existed, then.

Are they our allies?

Wasnt there an old saying about an enemy of an enemy being a friend?

Jin-Woo studied his sleeping sister quietly for a little while, before closing the door behind him.

*

Thank you for the al.

After finishing his dinner, Jin-Woo headed off to the Associations gymnasium to get a little bit of exercise in. It indeed proved to be really convenient to have a Shadow Soldier stationed inside the gymnasium.

Sweating a lot was the best cure when ones head beca clogged full of complicated thoughts. And so, he wanted to sweat buckets for the first ti in a while.

Jin-Woo summoned Beru out.

As he began to lightly loosen his body, the forr king of the ants politely knelt before him and lowered his head.

Oh, my king

Beru was the sole soldier among Jin-Woos Shadow Army that could withstand his attacks, at least for a little while. But even he flinched grandly after sensing the extent of Jin-Woos change and shuddered where he stood.

I offer my unreserved congratulations, my king. I sense from you a far greater amount of power than ever before.

Beru sensed an electrifying shiver run down his body after sensing that incredible amount of magic energy oozing out of the Black Heart. His head, still lowered to the ground, was trembling noticeably now.

Jin-Woo didnt summon his Shadow Soldier out to boast of his growth, though. He gestured to Beru to stand up.

The forr ant king tilted his head after picking up Jin-Woos worried eyes, which would be the first ti he had sensed such a thing ever since becoming a part of the Shadow Army.

Jin-Woo spoke under his breath.

Attack with everything you have.

Oh, my king. How dare I even..

Its fine. I just want to shed so sweat for a little while. And you know no one else besides you can do that.

I I am truly honoured.

Feeling touched, Beru was about to kneel down again, but then, Jin-Woo glared at him with a pair of very sharp eyes.

Hang on a minute. You know, your vocabulary seems to be increasing every day. You havent devoured soone else sowhere, have you?

Berus shoulders flinched sowhat, but Jin-Woo soon let go of the matter. He clenched his fists and issued his order again, instead.

Rember to hit with everything you have.

If my Sovereigns wills it, then I shall follow.

Beru raised his head as his claws lengthened.

Kiiiieeehhk-!!

There was no burden on Beru as he knew that his claws would never touch his Sovereign. Jin-Woo grinned after seeing that and nodded his head. This was what he wanted, anyway.

Kiiieehhk!

Along with the thunderous roar that shook the interior of the gymnasium, Beru pounced on his master.

Boom!

Beru slamd down on the floor and was laid out flat on his back.

K-kiiieck.

127 tis fought, 127 tis defeated.

Indeed, even though he threw everything he had, he failed to touch even the hair on his masters body. In the last few days that Beru didnt see his king, Jin-Woo had beco far stronger than ever before.

The display of power today only deepened the level of respect and loyalty Beru held towards his king.

While the forr ant king remained sprawled on the floor unable to move, Jin-Woo settled down next to him. There were a few strands of sweat on his forehead. But this was as far as he could take it.

If he moved any harder than this, then this gymnasium would have been demolished in no ti at all.

Jin-Woo remained seated and stared into the far distance.

Beru silently sat back up and knelt down before asking him.

Oh, my king Is there a matter thats troubling you?

Troubling , is it?

A portion of our consciousness and the Sovereigns are connected as one. The kings troubles are transmitted as pain to us, the subjects.

To think, hed get consoled by a Shadow Soldier. Not only that, from a dude who originally was an insect, too. Jin-Woo couldnt help but form a wry smirk.

Now normally, hed simply chuckle and put the matter to bed, but this ti, things were a little different.

Theres sothing I want to do, but Im not sure how I should go about doing that.

The events taking place in Japan were, strictly speaking, soone elses troubles.

Who knew what kind of dangers were in hiding and waiting for him there? Besides, it wasnt as if he could resolve every single incident that happened in the world, either.

And not to forget, there was that resolved emotional baggage between the Korean Hunters Association and its Japanese counterpart to consider, as well.

All these thoughts only served to make the inside of his head more complicated than ever before.

It was then, Beru suddenly raised his head.

Oh, my king!

Jin-Woo looked at Beru with surprised eyes. This was the first ti this guy expressed his thoughts this strongly ever since becoming a Shadow Soldier.

Nothing must beco a hindrance in the path of my king.

Berus voice filled with conviction made him sound more like a close aide that stayed by Jin-Woos side for a long ti rather than a monster that got turned into a Shadow Solder recently.

The one that does what he wants to. That is what it ans to be a king.

Hold on. I keep telling you, Im not a king.

Indeed, the Class he got coincidentally through the System just so happened to be the Shadow Sovereign. That was all.

However, Beru strongly denied Jin-Woos assertion.

That is incorrect, my king. My king, you possess the power to achieve anything you desire.

Jin-Woos eyes shook around heavily.

Ba-thump.

For so reason, his heart began pounding away rather violently.

You are, without a doubt, a king.

That stuff about being a king again.

However.

However, his heart that began racing on its own didnt want to calm down that easily at all.

Anything I desire, is it..

Jin-Woo shifted his gaze back to the distance, but his eyes were gleaming with a cold light now.

Next day.

The United States of Arica made her announcent, and the Association President Goh Gun-Hui also clarified the position of the Korean Association.

Click, click, click, click!!

Cara flashes ceaselessly exploded all around him.

The Association President then proceeded to reveal every little detail of what the Japanese Hunters were trying to do back then to these reporters. The proofs he presented only solidified the inscrutable truth even further.

The CCTV footage of the President of Japanese Association, Matsumoto Shigeo, brazenly yelling at the top of his lungs at his Korean counterpart even after he put into motion such a dastardly sche left a serious shock to all the reporters watching on.

And the Japanese reporters, hoping for South Korea to co to their aid, could only watch the footage with utter devastation.

Before long, their hands holding the caras were pointing down to the floor.

Only a short mont ago the Aricans said that they couldnt help Japan. In such a situation, the explosive revelations from the Korean Hunters Association were no different from passing a death sentence to the Japanese people.

Thick, burning tears began falling from the eyes of the Japanese reporters.

..This is everything I wanted to say.

The Association President Goh Gun-Hui finished saying what he ca to say.

Normally, this would be the ti when countless questions started inundating him, but no reporter present here could unshackle their mouths from the nasty shock and astonishnt to do so.

The poor atmosphere of the press conference was broadcast live to the rest of the country through the various TV caras. Only then did the viewers watching on realise why the Koreans had maintained their silence over the crisis unfolding in Japan.

But then.

However.

Goh Gun-Hui looked as if hed be turning around to leave as the press conference had co to an end but then, he continued to speak on.

This is the decision of the Hunters Association, and ours alone. We wont stop any individual Hunters from doing what they wish to do.

What was he even talking about now?

Noisy, noisy.

Like animals lazily waking up from their winter hibernation, the reporters still frozen in shock began slowly exchanging glances with each other again.

There is one such person. There is one Hunter who wishes to go to Japan and get rid of the Giant monsters.

Who could that be?

Who wanted to head to Japan under the current situation all by himself?

The bottod-out atmosphere of the press conference venue suddenly began boiling over. Even the Japanese reporters shedding tears raised their caras with their trembling hands.

Please Please.!

The lone strand of hope was busy hamring away in their hearts now.

One of the Korean reporters raised his hand up. The Association President pointed to this man. Perhaps fearing that his turn would be snatched away from him, he quickly asked his question.

Just who is this Hunter?

The attention of everyone present in the venue was directed to Goh Gun-Hui. He took his ti for a mont or two, before pressing his lips as close to the mic as possible.

Its Seong Jin-Woo Hunter-nim.

Click, click, click, click, click, click!!

That one sentence caused hundreds of caras to explode in a wall of blinding flashes.

< Chapter 169 > Fin.