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Episode 30
“Did you have a good time with the reporters yesterday?”
Saebyeok answered with a rather forced smile.
“Not at all. Those who were supposed to give me credit made such a flashy mess that no one praised me.”
“So, you couldn’t get the 2.1 billion prize?”
“…….”
Kim Ihan didn’t answer.
As a faint victorious smile appeared on Saebyeok’s lips, Ipado suddenly nudged Kim Ihan aside.
“The girl who saved my daughter—that girl?”
Ipado approached, speaking in a thick Gyeongsang-do accent.
“Ah, finally seeing you! Nice to meet you, really!”
He grabbed Saebyeok’s hands, shaking them up and down with a big, friendly grin.
Though his height wasn’t much different from Saebyeok’s, his bulky frame made him look three times bigger. His defined muscles suggested he spent every waking hour at the gym. Unlike Hwang Taesan, whose muscles were honed for combat, Ipado’s physique looked like a bodybuilder’s, proudly displayed in a sleeveless shirt.
“Thanks to that girl, my daughter came to her senses! Ha ha ha! I want to treat you—what would you like?”
“Hunter Ipado.”
It was Chairman Yoon Byung-geun who held Ipado’s shoulders, making him step back just enough.
“I understand your joy in meeting your benefactor. But Han Saebyeok Hunter is here today for evaluation. Please hold yourself.”
Yoon pressed down lightly on Ipado’s shoulders. It wasn’t forceful, yet the aura of authority alone was enough to make even a furious Ipado step back.
Yoon then approached Saebyeok.
“I heard about you from Captain Park Woo-jun. Nice to meet you, Han Saebyeok Hunter. I am Yoon Byung-geun, overseeing the Korea Hunter Association.”
He offered a firm handshake, his warm smile complemented by well-maintained posture, making his age appear younger than his deeply lined face suggested.
The first S-rank in Korea, and the strongest among the four registered S-ranks.
“<Swordmaster> Yoon Byung-geun.”
A man deeply respected by the public. When he first awakened, Japan attempted to naturalize him through all kinds of schemes, which he ignored to become chairman of the Korean Hunter Association—a point of national pride.
Saebyeok shook the hand of someone who had once been her superior.
“It’s an honor to meet you.”
The rough, calloused hand triggered a flash of memory:
‘Han Hunter. No matter the despair, never stop the spear. Your spear must move continuously so the remaining hearts do not break.’
She remembered the impossible tasks he had entrusted her with, apologizing silently:
‘I can only entrust this weight to you, and you know that no one else can.’
At the time, she had resented the burden. Now, she felt regretful, having saved neither the association, Korea, nor the world.
‘After all this time, I will finally bear that weight properly, Chairman.’
Saebyeok smiled faintly, swallowing her thoughts.
Guided by Yoon Byung-geun, she headed to the evaluation room.
The entire association staff’s eyes followed her. Some glanced discreetly, others stared openly. Saebyeok ignored them.
“Han Saebyeok!”
Park Woo-jun, already checking the equipment, waved energetically. The underground room had high ceilings and sparse furnishings: measuring instruments, dashboards, and a CCTV in one corner.
“Reporters were all outside. How did you get through?”
“I got some help.”
Saebyeok nudged her hood, gesturing to Hwang Taesan behind her, who nodded slightly. Park Woo-jun reluctantly nodded as well, scanning Kim Ihan and the fuming Ipado before leaning toward Saebyeok.
“Not only Kim Ihan knows, but you met Hwang Taesan too? When?”
Saebyeok whispered back:
“I met him at the dungeon yesterday.”
“Why didn’t you tell me during dinner?”
“There wasn’t time.”
Saebyeok didn’t understand why this mattered. Park Woo-jun argued lightly, but understood that their jobs in the association’s attack squad meant sudden dispatches, leaving them little free time.
“Who says? We’re adults now. Each has a life and job. We can’t always tell each other everything.”
At that, Park Woo-jun’s eyes trembled, unable to retort.
“Ahem.”
The chairman’s cough interrupted their conversation. The country’s S-ranks waited for her evaluation, so time could not be wasted.
“This evaluation room will be free for an hour. Once finished, you can continue your conversation.”
The chairman moved to the control panel.
“The evaluation is simple. Just place your hand here. No force or magic required.”
Saebyeok placed her hand on the smooth, black onyx-like surface. A familiar vibration traveled through her palm. The sensation of being completely seen by a featureless machine was unnerving.
Suddenly, notifications appeared instead of results.
“!! Alert !!”
<Connected to Server: Earth (S3-EH)>
※ Connection point: AS-KOR1
Several system windows appeared at once—something she had never seen before.
“!! Alert !!
Updatable regional data available: Asia
Starting update.”
She instinctively sensed this was related to the <Server Administrator> title.
“!! Warning !!
Do not disconnect until the update is complete. Data may be lost.”
The system downloaded files and installed packages rapidly, reminding her of activating <Time of Protection>.
“!! Alert !!
Unique skill of Mi-i has been retrieved.
<Skill: Cleopatra’s Insight (EX)> activated.”
“!! Alert !!
Asia regional data update complete.
All information in Asia can now be monitored.”
Her heart raced as she realized a new mystery awaited.
<Skill: Cleopatra’s Insight (EX)>
“Know yourself and your enemy, and you will be invincible. Knowledge is power—whether ally or foe. Shall we take a little peek?”
Suddenly, the measuring device displayed:
「Target cannot be identified.」
「Target is not measurable.」
Then—
The machine shattered with a horrifying screech, like a chalkboard being scraped!
