After taking a few days of proper rest, I received a message from the nurse at the desk.
"She said Hunter Han Sang-ah will be waiting at the rendezvous point."
As if to prove that she wasn't working in the VIP ward for nothing, the nurse's demeanor was extremely calm.
But other people weren't the same. Turn on the TV and all you heard was talk about me.
"You'd better brace yourself before going out."
The one who came to greet me in person was none other than the head of the Korean Hunters Association. I'd already met him before—the man who had said he'd introduce me to some work.
"You're dressed quite nicely."
"It's the kind of occasion that calls for it. You should change clothes too and come out."
The association head handed me a shopping bag with clothes inside. He really went all out.
"Was it sponsored?"
"Do you think I'd buy this with my own money? It's rare to wear expensive clothes while getting paid, but you'll need to get used to it."
If it's expensive and good, I'll take it. After changing, I headed down the hospital building together with the association head. In front of the elevator, he spoke again.
"From now on, you'll need to be careful with what you say and do. You're practically a public figure. What you eat, how you spend your free time, what car you ride, even the way you speak—everything will be under scrutiny."
"Handling a Grade-2 Incursion alone really is different from Grade-3, isn't it?"
Honestly, I'd already sensed that while dealing with the core inside the Incursion. The gap in difficulty was enormous. I'd even heard that Daemado had only recently been promoted to Grade-2.
"Of course it's different. Expectations have turned into certainty. The Association will do its best to guarantee your freedom of activity."
"Thank you."
As I replied, I glanced sideways at the association head. Descendants of Dangun, huh. I wondered whether he knew about them. And if he did, how would he react?
Did the heads of the Hunters Association want this crappy reality that had descended upon Earth to continue, or did they hope it would someday end?
What about the media and reporters waiting for me below the building?
"I even saw private streamers. Damn it, they've had to mobilize riot police to hold them back."
"Private streamers? Looks like they still have the luxury for that."
At my words, the association head nodded.
"Korea still has enough leeway for those kinds of professions to survive, one way or another."
But as people's wallets grew thinner, donations and revenue were shrinking too, pushing content in increasingly extreme directions in more ways than one.
Media and private broadcasts… I didn't know what they were expecting from me.
But whatever they imagined, they'd see something beyond that.
The moment the elevator doors opened, an overwhelming crowd came into view, along with police officers struggling to hold them back.
The so-called guardians of the people were really having a hard day. They all looked utterly exhausted from keeping that crowd at bay.
"He's out!"
"Please look this way just once!"
"Don't push, you bastards!"
As soon as the association head and I stepped out together, the crowd surged forward as if they were about to break through the police line.
Just as it was about to collapse, I accepted mana, manipulated it, and released it.
"..."
In an instant, a sensation like terror crawling up the spine spread through the area. The people rushing forward—and the police holding them back—froze in place.
"Sorry, but we need to get through."
At my words, people flinched. Some call this charisma or presence, but honestly, it's nothing special.
And besides, I had no intention of doing interviews today. I've got way too much to do—why should I satisfy people's curiosity? What am I, some kind of errand boy?
"Alright, everyone, calm down."
The association head quickly stepped in to settle things. I naturally walked forward through the cleared path.
"Wait just a moment!"
Wow, someone actually had the guts to talk to me in this situation. When I stopped, a question immediately flew at me.
"We understand you accompanied Hunter Han Sang-ah during the Daemado operation. What is your relationship with Geumyang Group?"
That was the level of question he worked up the courage to ask. Probably because Han Sang-ah is part of the Geumyang Group's owner family.
"Geumyang Group, you say? I'm using their refrigerator quite well."
If it's a low-quality question, it deserves an answer of the same caliber. It was a short remark, but now it was the reporters' job to stir it up and turn it into something.
"Have you already decided on your next objective?"
I didn't answer that question and got into the car that had been prepared.
"You did great."
The moment I heard the voice, I was slightly surprised.
"Hunter Lee Se-eun."
At my words, Lee Se-eun—sitting in the driver's seat wearing sunglasses—turned around and lifted them slightly.
"Hey. You're looking bright."
"Your arm's injured."
At that, Lee Se-eun let out an "ah" and lightly tapped the bandage on her arm.
"A bunch of monsters suddenly swarmed Cheorwon. I've been fighting nonstop for a whole week."
A whole week? From what she said, the number of monsters was so large it had to be counted in the tens of thousands. It sounded like undead. The lingering resentment in the wounds was interfering with recovery.
"I can help with the healing."
Back when I'd passed the hunter exam and had no suitable requests, she'd been the one to offer help first. There was no way I'd harbor any ill feelings toward her.
"…You can?"
Instead of answering, I ignited the Paradox Hellflame and brought it to the wound. Black-burning flames consumed the lingering resentment.
Lee Se-eun stared briefly at the fire clinging to her arm, then withdrew her gaze and gripped the steering wheel again.
"Where are we heading?"
"Osan Air Base."
I let out a small "Ah."
"You mean the air base in Songtan? Why there…?"
"The request for this Embargo Tower will involve the ROK military as well."
Damn. Sounds like a bigger job than I expected. Then again, if it's a barrier-generation device, it'd be rarer for a nation not to show interest.
If it succeeds, dependence on hunters for national defense would decrease.
Honestly, Korea probably wouldn't like that very much. The more the country relies on hunters, the stronger its bargaining position becomes.
"Do you happen to know about those guys called the Descendants of Dangun?"
At my question, Lee Se-eun slightly eased off the accelerator before answering.
"If you mean that ultra-nationalist terrorist group, yeah, I know them. I'm more surprised that you know about them."
Right now, my access to information is extremely limited. The only people I can really trust are Lee Se-eun and Han Sang-ah.
"I ran into them while handling the Daemado request."
"Did you?"
Lee Se-eun sounded casual, but she wasn't brushing it off.
"Honestly, don't you understand what they're trying to say?"
"Well… yeah."
"It's not like I can't understand that way of thinking. At least… for now."
Suddenly, Lee Se-eun rummaged through the console beside the driver's seat and handed me a small piece of taffy. Not candy—what was that supposed to mean?
"The Descendants of Dangun, made up entirely of Koreans, keep popping up all over the place. Their specialty is barging in and interfering while hunters are in the middle of clearing Incursion Zones."
She then added, as if just remembering—
"Oh, right. Not 'Koreans.' 'One people' would be more accurate."
So it's not nationality—it's race.
The car continued on before finally stopping in front of the B1 bunker she'd mentioned.
After completing the necessary security procedures, Lee Se-eun and I passed the guard post, parked in front of the main building, and got out.
"I've got something to take care of for a bit. See you later!"
She waved lightly and headed off somewhere. Right then, my phone rang.
"Ah. I'd forgotten about this guy."
Choi Seung-gi, the legendary junk dealer.
— I heard you were discharged from the hospital.
"I wasn't seriously injured or anything."
At my reply, Choi Seung-gi burst out laughing—euhihihik!—before continuing.
— I already sent people to Daemado and swept the place clean. Looks like organizing the secured materials will be finished by tonight. How would you like to handle it?
"The shoulder guard you gifted me before got completely wrecked."
At that, Choi Seung-gi let out an "Ah," then replied—
— Sounds like you'll need some protective gear. I can't exactly let my cash cow die screaming, can I? I'll prioritize selecting materials and make you something nice. What kind of budget are we looking at?
I'd already confirmed the amount the fishermen were going to pay me for dealing with Daemado while I was hospitalized. After a bit of thought, I made my decision.
"Please make it within a budget of about fifteen million won."
— Yep. Let's see… at that price, I can probably make a full set with plate inserts.
If better-quality byproducts show up later, the plates can be remade and swapped out.
Making and wearing something like plate armor in the 21st century would be ridiculous—and inefficient anyway.
"Then I'll leave it to you."
— Don't worry. Our craftsmanship is pretty solid.
Wait. But I'll be flying to Vladivostok soon, then taking a train to Europe. When I explained the situation, Choi Seung-gi replied in an awkward tone—
— Then, uh… would you like to borrow some armor you can use right away? We don't usually do rentals, though.
"If possible, that'd be great."
I checked the quoted prices and picked out the items I thought I'd need.
***
After parting ways with Yoo Chan-seok, Lee Se-eun was in conversation with a middle-aged man in military uniform.
"Hello, Director Ahn Hoon-seo. I'm Lee Se-eun, partner hunter of Jannabi."
"I've heard a great deal about you. It's an honor to speak with someone of such renown."
Two stars gleamed on Director Ahn Hoon-seo's shoulder insignia—he looked close to sixty—but he maintained a respectful attitude in front of Lee Se-eun.
"What brings you here? I understand you're extremely busy."
The military doesn't move in small numbers. To move many people requires time—and a commander capable of controlling the process. That was why Director Ahn was here.
"Regarding this matter… an order came down from higher up."
As he spoke, Director Ahn pulled out a cigarette from his pocket.
"What kind of order would require you to call only me in for a discussion? From what I understand, at least thirty hunters are participating in this request."
At Lee Se-eun's words, Ahn shrugged. The company that developed the barrier generator wanted to analyze the deployed equipment using the Embargo Tower's measurement techniques to collect data.
"They don't seem particularly enthusiastic about it. So instead, they chose to cooperate with this operation."
Lee Se-eun replied immediately.
"Jannabi accepted the request. Our job is to carry out the request we were given."
Nothing else matters.
Hearing her response, Ahn laughed—haha—and quickly continued.
"Of course, I know that. It's not like we'd ever ask you to half-ass the job. However…"
For the Embargo Tower, while the Korean military would assist with escorting the transport train, full authority over the barrier generator itself had been handed over entirely to Jannabi, including Lee Se-eun.
"We would like the Korean military to have a look at the barrier generator."
Naturally, they wouldn't just look at it. Whoever issued the order, the Korean government didn't seem keen on seeing a fully functional barrier generator in action.
After listening to everything, Lee Se-eun smiled brightly, reached inside her sleeve, pulled out a pipe, and began tamping down the tobacco as she spoke.
"I understand what you're asking. That's not difficult at all."
"Right? If you cooperate with us on this, something good will come Jannabi's way soon."
With a chik sound, Lee Se-eun struck a match. Amid thick tobacco smoke, she gave her reply.
"Kill me.
If I succeed, you'll get access to the barrier generator you want."