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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Schemes and Reinforcements
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A large helicopter was flying across the sky over Oda, Shimane Prefecture, Japan—the point of origin for the Calamity-grade Gate.
Inside the helicopter were the S-rank hunters from Korea, dispatched as reinforcements for the Calamity-grade Gate in Oda.
"This is taking longer than I thought."
At the Ice Witch Seol Eun-bin's quiet remark, Jeong Yun-chan nodded once and replied.
"It's probably because we had to detour around the typhoon."
The distance from Seoul to Shimane Prefecture was short enough that even a helicopter, which couldn't pick up much speed, should have arrived in about two hours…
But due to the violent typhoon raging around the Gate's origin point, they had no choice but to take a roundabout route.
"I think we're almost there…"
Seol Eun-bin's voice trailed off as she peered through the helicopter window at the 'Gate', faintly visible over the water in the distance.
"It's as massive as they say…"
The Calamity-grade Gate, as if boasting a presence worthy of its name, simply undulated with an air of nonchalant calm.
And…
From beyond the rift, an indescribably ominous energy was pouring out.
"So, you know…"
Seol Eun-bin began cautiously, glancing around at the faces of the hunters on board before asking.
"I was thinking, what if we politely requested 'his' help, even now…?"
It seemed no one failed to realize who she was referring to as 'him'…
But for some reason, the moment she finished speaking, the atmosphere inside the helicopter grew as quiet as if doused with cold water.
"Well…"
The first to speak was Go Du-yeol.
"In my opinion, even if we were to ask my junior for help, it should be after we've at least tried to face it ourselves…"
An aura so menacing that it made one's hair stand on end and sent a cold sweat down their spine was already palpable.
Go Du-yeol, too, had felt a flicker of intimidation upon seeing the sheer scale of the Calamity-grade Gate…
But he judged that asking for help before even trying to fight was against reason.
"First, we face it like men…"
Kang Seong-hyeon chimed in.
"I agree."
He then added.
"Besides, if this is a Gate we can't handle with our own strength, he will step in voluntarily, even without us asking."
Kang Seong-hyeon recalled the conversation he had on the day he returned to Korea after his schedule in New Delhi, India.
That is to say…
He replayed the conversation he'd had while inadvertently attending the entrance ceremony of a child he had never met before.
"I'm curious about the 'direction' your power will take."
To that question, Kang-jun had replied.
"My power will be used for my own self-interest."
Then he had added calmly.
"Protecting the peace that lies before my eyes is also a part of my self-interest and desire."
He remembered the look in Kang-jun's eyes as he watched his daughter.
He had the eyes of a fierce beast doting on its young.
The moment he saw those eyes, Kang Seong-hyeon was certain.
Peace would be maintained by that child's existence alone.
‘Right…’
If the Calamity-grade Gate they were now facing was a disaster of such magnitude that it truly threatened peace…
The man who claimed to have no interest in playing the hero would surely make a move, if only to protect his own peace.
"We have arrived."
Just then, the pilot's voice announcing their arrival came through the headsets worn by the hunters in the helicopter…
Having entered the airspace of their destination, the large helicopter began to descend, lowering its altitude with a roar as it prepared to land.
* * *
At the same time.
"I cannot comply."
Inside the barracks designated as the temporary headquarters for the Emergency Response Committee, a sharp conflict of opinions with no end in sight continued.
"I believe it is right not to enter the Gate until all the hunters from the allied nations have arrived, as the Minister of General Affairs said."
The words came from 'Genji of the Shadows', Japan's rank 3 S-rank hunter, in a tone that was nothing short of resolute.
At his words, the Nuclear Samurai, who was leading the emergency meeting, furrowed his brow and retorted.
"You must be well aware that we don't have the time to sit around and wait for reinforcements to arrive, don't you?"
The Calamity-grade Gate, situated over the sea, had already expanded to the point where it wouldn't be strange if it started pouring out monsters at any moment.
The 'second assault team' needed to enter and begin suppressing the Gate immediately…
But a few hunters, entangled in close interests with the Ministry of General Affairs, were finding fault with every little thing under the pretext of national interest.
"No, we must wait."
Genji of the Shadows replied firmly, then looked around as if to persuade all the hunters present before posing a question.
"According to the footage of Minami the Ghost right after her return, the boss monster of this Gate appears to possess intelligence."
"Yes, probably…"
"It was even desperately searching for someone. Personally, I believe there might be room for negotiation."
All the hunters currently stationed in the barracks had seen the footage of the scene immediately following Minami the Ghost's return.
"Where is ■■■?"
Even through the recording, the voice was overwhelmingly menacing.
"I will grant you some time."
It was a voice that perfectly suited a top predator reigning at the apex of the food chain.
"If you fail to find '■■■' and bring him before me before my patience runs out, I will obliterate this entire dimension without a trace."
The words—that if they failed to bring him, he would annihilate the dimension without a trace—
Could also be interpreted to mean that if they did find and bring him, he would leave without causing any harm.
In contrast, despite Genji's persuasion, the Nuclear Samurai merely let out a scoff, "Hmph," and countered aggressively.
"So you're saying we should try to 'negotiate' with the boss monster of a Calamity-grade Gate? Is that what you're suggesting?"
To that, Genji of the Shadows replied.
"Shouldn't we at least try?"
He immediately added.
"Your plan is far too reckless."
"In times like these, the usual term is 'realistic'."
As the two men's sharp gazes locked in mid-air for a moment.
"Even if we successfully stop the Calamity-grade Gate, it is clear that the national power of the Great Empire of Japan will decline if we lose a large number of our own hunters."
"Why is everyone so worried about what happens *after* we clear the Gate, when we haven't even entered it yet?"
"If the situation is truly that critical, then you and the hunters of the Shogun Guild, who are always burning with a sense of justice, can go in and buy some time."
Having finished, the rank 3 hunter, Genji of the Shadows, added with a sneer and a smirk.
"I'm sorry, but I have no intention of volunteering to be a moth flying into a flame, walking into my own grave…"
He then glanced around at the other hunters and slowly drew out his next words.
"I believe it would be more efficient and rational to use the hunters from the allied nations, who will be arriving soon, as 'meat shields' before we launch our suppression."
At those words, the ever-composed Nuclear Samurai slammed his hand on the table with a "Bang!" and muttered.
"In such a critical situation, how could you…"
He then looked around at the hunters of the Shogun Guild and spoke in a solemn tone.
"Prepare for sortie."
He then added.
"We will go and buy time, if no one else will."
At his command, the hunters of the Shogun Guild rose from their seats in unison, responding with a resounding, "Yes!"
"Tch, I wish they'd all just drop dead…"
Muttering to himself, 'Genji of the Shadows' stuck a cigarette in his mouth.
A majority of the hunters with close ties to the Ministry of General Affairs utterly despised the Nuclear Samurai.
They saw the Nuclear Samurai, who monopolized the public's attention and affection, as a thorn in their side.
It was the same now.
Minami the Ghost, who had led the first attempt to suppress the Gate, returned a broken woman, and her Demon Slayer Guild was completely annihilated.
Even so, the sight of him telling their own country's hunters that they should enter first to buy time was nothing short of infuriating.
"Oh, wait a minute…"
A brilliant idea struck him, and he grinned.
'Minami the Ghost, the rank 2, is out of commission. If the Nuclear Samurai dies too…'
Wouldn't that naturally make him the number one ranked hunter in Japan?
"Then let's do this."
He suddenly spoke up and added.
"The rest of you hunters will wait for the 'reinforcements' dispatched from the allied nations to arrive…"
His voice trailing off vaguely, he quickly turned to the Nuclear Samurai and said in a magnanimous tone, as if doing him a great favor.
"In the meantime, I will enter the Gate with the justice-burning Nuclear Samurai and the hunters of the Shogun Guild."
"Then…"
"It means that I and the hunters of my guild, the Shadow Brigade, will also enter the Gate and help buy time."
Feeling a sense of unease at his sudden change in attitude, the Nuclear Samurai, unable to shake his suspicion, asked about his motive.
"Why the sudden change…?"
Genji of the Shadows lit the cigarette in his mouth, exhaled a cloud of acrid smoke, and added softly.
"I was simply moved by your fiery sense of justice."
Having spoken, 'Genji' smirked, thinking of the Return Stone in the inner pocket of his coat.
'Killing Awakeners also raises your level.'
His plan was to enter the Calamity-grade Gate with them and wait until the Nuclear Samurai and the Shogun Guild hunters were exhausted.
Then…
When the opportunity arose, he and his guild members could snuff out their lives while they were weakened, allowing him to raise his level significantly without much difficulty.
'Deaths inside a Gate are common, so there won't be a separate investigation…'
Moreover, this wasn't an ordinary Gate, but a Calamity-grade one, which often guaranteed the annihilation of not only the country of origin but also neighboring nations.
'There's no way they'd conduct an investigation…'
After finishing the job, he could simply use the 'Return Stone' he always carried for such occasions to escape with just his guild members.
'After returning, I'll just squeeze out a few tears in front of the cameras, sob about what fine hunters they all were, and the whole thing will be swept under the rug…'
Just as Genji of the Shadows was feeling quite pleased with the plan he had formulated in his head, chuckling vilely, "Heh heh…"
*Swish-!*
An official from the Ministry of General Affairs suddenly entered the barracks and spoke to the hunters present in a tone that felt quite urgent.
"The hunters from Korea have arrived."
At those words, Japan's rank 1 hunter, the Nuclear Samurai, who had been leading the meeting, nodded once and replied.
"They've arrived at a good time."
He then added.
"Would you please escort them in?"
The one whose face lit up at those words was none other than 'Genji of the Shadows', who was secretly plotting his scheme.
Before long, the S-rank hunters from Korea began to enter the barracks one by one…
Genji of the Shadows, puffing away on his cigarette, observed their faces and thought.
'If I can persuade them well and manage to bring them all inside the Calamity-grade Gate…'
Swallowing dryly, he continued to organize the chaotic thoughts in his head for a moment.
'Not only will my share of experience points increase immensely, but Korea, having lost its high-ranking hunters, will see its national power hit rock bottom…'
If that happened, they would not only lose their diplomatic leverage but would also have no choice but to rely on their neighbor, Japan, for Gate suppression.
'Good…'
Genji rose from his seat and, as if putting on a sheep's clothing, greeted them with a perfectly gentle smile.
"Thank you all for coming such a long way. It must have been a difficult decision, and we are truly grateful for your support."
In Genji's eyes, the S-rank hunters from Korea were nothing more than 'experience points'.
