Chapter 19.1: Hunting the Spider (2)
The suggestion of the association’s president, Oh Kang Hyuk, was a pleasant one for Leon.
An impregnable gate that no one has been able to close in a year and two months, if he could capture such a place, he would be able to spread his reputation quickly.
Leon would gladly accept the offer.
“But, old man, I heard that this gate has been abandoned for a long time, so why are you suddenly interested in it?”
Leon thought about the prestige he would gain by taking on the impregnable gate, but he weighed the situation calmly.
It’s a special gate that won’t cause a dungeon break so there should be a reason why they wanted to resume their assault on such a place.
“It’s not uncommon, isn’t it, to take a risk and attack a gate because it’s worth it?”
“Think about it.”
Oh Kang-hyuk smiled bitterly at Leon, who was clearly looking down on him.
He was the head of the Hunter Association and the first generation S-class Hunter representing Korea, a living legend.
But Oh Kang-hyuk, who had been observing Leon for a while, knew that Leon was treating him very well.
The way he treats the so-called “commoners” like Han Ha-ri or Mr. Park of Doojeong Group who approached him was different and considering Leon’s high-handed attitude towards them, even this was pretty good.
‘The unfortunate ones have to bend.’
Because of Leon absolute value is in his ability to cleanse the land of miasma contamination, Oh Kang-hyuk is willing to bend over backwards for the sake of the country.
“The condition for closing the dungeon, the Grail of Wisdom, has been found in America. It was the reward for a recently cleared Vermilion Gate.”
“It must be of considerable value.
“Yes, it is. The Tower studied it and proved that it contained tremendous power, which encouraged the higher-ups of the Association.”
In short, they wanted to secure this treasure trove of wisdom, no matter the cost.
“Who is accompanying me?”
“There will be contingents from the Golden Lion Guild, one of the Ten Guilds, and from what I’ve heard, the Tower has decided to send a mage of their own.”
“The Ten Guilds… are they like the knights of this country?”
“They’re not affiliated with the country, so… they’re more like mercenaries.”
“Hmm. I see. Protecting the people is a knight’s duty and honor.”
President Oh didn’t bother to point out Leon’s mentality since authoritarians like him are always outraged by disagreements.
They are so sure of their point of view that they ignore everything else.
If they don’t have the ability, they won’t recognize it, and if they do have the ability, it’s not something that can be fixed by a third party.
“Okay. On two conditions.”
“You can tell us anything. As long as it doesn’t violate our principles… we’ll support you.”
“Well, that’s not much of a condition. First, I need you to spread this king’s name after this battle is won.”
“We haven’t announced your existence as a survivor yet, Your Majesty. We were planning to do so after you’d sufficiently adjusted to life on Earth…….”
“I have a general idea of the situation on this planet and your ecology.”
Leon, who had lived in a world so anachronistic and different, was hard to understand, even with the flexible mindset of Earthlings, but would it be easier the other way around?
“The second is…….”
Leon’s gaze traveled beyond the Association’s headquarters, where the Association’s staff… Han Ha-ri… was also present.
“Here I am!”
Ha-ri rushed over, holding out a prepared notepad.
“What is this?”
“A list of cadets to be trained by your majesty guild. It’s a bit of a mishmash, but it’s good enough for now.”
It contained the names of several hunters, including D-rank Hunter Koo Dae-sung.
Leon had noticed one thing in common among the hunters he watched during the test.
“Most of them are D-rank…C-rank at best. I don’t think anyone would stand out in front of a powerhouse like Your Majesty.”
Oh Kang-hyuk mentioned that he could assign more promising hunters to Leon if he wished, but he shook his head.
“I’m not looking for a knight. This is enough for now.”
“We’ll look into it, Your Majesty, but the choice is theirs, so we won’t be able to force them all to join.”
Even as he said that, Oh Kang Hyuk was confident that they would not refuse his offer.
All of them were low-ranked Hunters who couldn’t even get into a decent small or medium-sized guild, let alone one of the Ten Guilds. Would they turn down an offer like that?
Oh Kang-hyuk didn’t think so.
“If they refuse, they’re out of luck.”
Leon decided that it didn’t matter if they refused. Rather, he was confident in how generous and blessed my offer was.
“When will it be?”
“In three days, we’ll meet in front of the Cheongju Sports Complex.”
“Good. I’ll show you the Dance of the Lionheart King.”
President Oh Kang-hyuk smiled bitterly and eagerly agreed.
I’ll have to give Miss Ha-ri a nice year-end bonus, he thought.
* * * *
The attack on Cheongju Gate has resumed and the indefinite suspension of the Cheongju Gate, which has been elevated to a red gate, was a high-profile event in Asia.
It was a special gate where three raid groups were wiped out by one monster.
Unable to overcome that single Yakt Spinner, countless Hunters turned Cheongju Gate into a graveyard.
As a result, Cheongju Gate has become a nuisance in Cheongju City and has been a source of unrest for the people of Cheongju City ever since.
-Ahhhhhh!
It was then. Citizens gathered at the Cheongju Sports Complex began to cheer.
“The Golden Lion is here!”
As the crowd cheered, reporters fired off flashes at the black vans entering the stadium.
While the association’s staff fends off the crowd, people start to get out of the 20 black vans one by one.
“Golden Chul! Golden Chul!”
The man who stepped out to the cheers of the crowd was over two meters tall.
At first glance, he seems intimidating, but he looks like a successful rapper with gold necklaces and bracelets, just like black rappers in the United States. In fact, he was one of the top rappers in Korea.
“I’m here, citizens of Cheongju!”
Golden Chul, one of the hippest hunters in the media, smiled and enjoyed the cheers of the citizens.
“It’s embarrassing, can’t you stop doing that?”
“Fanservice~ fanservice~ record and sell t-shirts.”
Golden Chul smirked at her sister who was hanging a t-shirt. She complained about him taking time out of his walk to pose for photos with fans and sign autographs.
“If you’re going to do that, why not just be an entertainer? You’ve got a lot of douchebags listening to your shitty rap. Give up the guild and start an entertainment agency.”
“My dear Sister, being a Hunter is more profitable.”
“Love you.”
That was it. Fans flocked to his sister, who was famous as an A-rank hunter even though she was never in the entertainment industry.
“Kaaaahhhh! Hwang Yeonha is here, too! Sis, look at her!”
“Is that so, dear My Sister Geum Soon?”
“I told you not to call me Geum Soon, you golden pig.”
When the name change was over… Hwang Yeon-ha headed for the Cheongju Gate, which was set up by the Association but there was more.
“Mage Gil Tae-sung, I’ll escort you inside.”
“Hmm, thank you for your guidance.”
Under the polite guidance of the Association’s staff, Mage Gil Tae-sung appeared with his chin held high.
He’s a promising member of the Korean branch of The Tower, a combat mage who’s almost a quasi-S in the hunter world, where mages are rare.
He was followed by dozens of foreign Hunters.
“Black Mamba?”
“The mercenary hunters who are said to be charging over two grand per head?”
“Is he really that serious?”
A wizard is at his best when he has a bodyguard and with The Tower full support, Gil Tae-sung mobilized the Black Mamba, a mercenary group of B and A-ranks hunters.
“Uh, there’s another vehicle coming in.”
“An Association vehicle?”
Stepping out of the last Association vehicle to arrive was a female with braided red hair.
Straightening the lapels of her suit, she was the most talked-about recruit in last year’s Academy Draft.
“Han Ha-ri?”
“Oh no, the Association is putting Hanhari in?”
Well, yes, it makes sense. She’s known for being one of the best hunters in the country.
There are quite a few A-grade hunters in the country, but it’s her age that makes her stand out.
She awakened at the age of fourteen, activating her unique skills while training at the Academy and became the youngest A-class Hunter ever.
She was approached by the top 10 guilds in Korea with huge contracts, but she turned them all down and joined the Association.
Everyone naturally expected her to participate. But…….
“Your Majesty, we have arrived.”
She bowed and guided someone from inside the vehicle and it was a blond foreigner, unexpectedly.
“Who is this foreigner?”
“I don’t think he’s with Black Mamba…”
Reporters and onlookers alike were curious about the man’s identity.
* * * *
