SHOWR 14

Chapter 14

Recently, the hottest topic in the Hunter community was undoubtedly the order in which countries would support Hunter Kang Jin-seo’s conquest.

[NEW: Which gate do you think Kang Jin-seo will go to next?]
I’m definitely looking at Japan; upvote if you agree.

Comments:
└ I think Germany might bring legacy items; I hope it’s Germany.
└ Obviously Japan, O Hyung-taek is trapped there.
└ Please, someone save our Hyung-taek ㅠㅠ
└ I hope it’s not the Anglo-American region; they didn’t even come to the Hunter Association themselves.
└ They’ve already selected their gate raid teams.
└ But a day has passed and no announcement… they’re not planning to abandon O Hyung-taek, right?

As always, the comment section had become a battlefield. Users argued over which country’s rewards were best, which raids would give Korea an advantage later, and all sorts of analyses were flying around.

Amid all this, a new post appeared:

[NEW! Official announcement released — it’s Japan]

Comments:
└ I knew it.
└ Ahㅠㅠㅠ Hyung-taekㅠㅠㅠ
└ What comes after Japan matters. Germany or France, I wonder?
└ Thank you, thank you!
└ What’s the reward for Japan again??

Back at the shop, while hastily extracting oils, I checked the community and saw news about my senior. It had only been about two hours, but by now he had already finished the press conference and even scheduled his departure.

Given the importance of the matter, things seemed to be moving smoothly.

“My oil is almost ready.”

The more lavender essential oil gathered in the flask, the more I kept checking the time. My senior had promised to stop by the shop and pick up his items before departing for Japan.

Ding-dong.

“Ah.”

Perfect timing — the shop door opened.

I left the workshop and glanced at the entrance. It wasn’t who I expected.

“Ah, hello.”

It was the man who had been next to my senior at the hospital.

Slender, wearing a sharply tailored suit, his hair neatly combed back, round metal-framed glasses — just looking at him, I could guess his personality.

“Sorry for the late introduction. I’m Ian from the Hunter Association. I also serve as Kang Jin-seo Hunter’s chief secretary.”

He walked in steadily and handed me his business card with a completely professional demeanor.

The man who had wailed “Hyeoong!” just moments ago had vanished; in front of me now stood a professional office worker.

“Kang Hunter is busy, so I’ve come to receive the items on his behalf.”

“Everything’s ready.”

“Before that…”

“Yes?”

Suddenly, he placed a thick suitcase on the table and began pulling out all sorts of miscellaneous items.

“Excuse me, but may I conduct a few tests? I must ensure Kang Hunter’s safety.”

He pulled out a lie detector plastered with rabbit stickers. Looking at this customized device, I immediately knew which enchanter had made it.

“Thank you for your understanding.”

“Yes, well…”

Being suspected wasn’t exactly pleasant, but considering his position, it was understandable. I placed my palm on the device without a word.

“Is it true that this can relieve magic addiction?”

I had never tried it myself, but Mimi said it was true. I answered, “Yes.”

Ding-dong.

The device confirmed it — truth. Ian’s straight eyebrows shot up like mountains.

“…You have no intention of threatening Kang Jin-seo Hunter?”

“Yes, of course not.”

Ding-dong.

Same result. Ian retrieved the device, looking thoughtful.

‘Is it over now?’

Not yet.

This time, he pulled out a gun-shaped item and brought it to the mouth of the oil bottle I had made. Again, it was covered in rabbit stickers.

“It looks weird, but this is an item appraisal machine.”

“Oh, this must be from Enchanter Shin So-hee.”

“Yes, as you can see.”

Bang!

With a strange sound, the item appraisal began. Curious, I looked at the status window — it was astonishing.

…In a slightly different way.

[Grade: Unreadable Item!]
[Could be an extremely rare item?]

“…”
“…”

Ian cleared his throat and collected the item, but I could feel it: he was suspicious of me.

“Thank you for participating in the test.”

“Is it over now?”

“One personal question remains.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Have you used this item before?”

Strictly speaking, no. When I fell into the gate, I used ordinary oil.

Ian studied my face carefully as I hesitated for a moment, then adjusted his glasses.

“Pardon my asking, but would you accompany the Japan gate raid? I trust Yebinna, but as you know, gates are unpredictable systems.”

Suspicion plastered all over his gaze — trust, my foot.

“There’s also the risk that the item may not function or could be lost or damaged.”

A fair point, but I had no intention of entering the gate again. That was why I had hired a part-timer.

“Perhaps you’ve heard, but that’s a contract…”

Just as I was about to firmly express my stance:

^[Sub-Quest Activated!]^
^[Accompany the Japan Maze Gate Raid]^
^[Completion Reward: Stat Skill Tree Open, 1 Stat Point]^
^[Failure: Time Limit Halved]^

“…Mimi, I swear, you better watch yourself.”

Meanwhile, in front of the Tokyo Gate in Japan, the emergency operations room received good news.

“Waaah!”

Hunter Kang Jin-seo had chosen Japan as the first raid target.

Officials and families of victims lit up with smiles.

“Awesome!”

Amid the cheering, someone spoke in perfect Korean. It was the Silla Guild Master, Nara.

“Pretending no one would help! Ugh, we’re saved. Hyung-taek! Just wait a little longer.”

Nara dashed off somewhere — to the headquarters operations room, no less.

“Give that here!”

She snatched an item from a high-ranking Japanese hunter.

It was the latest creation of ‘Revive,’ developed by the world’s top researchers — the Teller.

The Teller allowed two-way communication inside and outside the gate. Not anyone could get it, even with money, but Revive had specially lent it to a few countries for this global crisis.

“Hyung-taek! Can you hear me? Kang Jin-seo is coming! Hang on just a little longer!”

Shouting harder didn’t make him hear better, but Nara poured all her energy into the Teller.

“Ha… this tin can, is it even working?”

Hours of shouting yielded no response. Unfortunately, the Teller was still incomplete. Communication had been announced for only certain gates as a test.

Just as confidence in Revive sank to rock bottom:

• Wave… terrain maze, fish monsters…

A faint voice came through the Teller.

Everyone in the operations room held their breath, focusing.

• …Healer needed, hypothermia, save Hyung-taek…

A heavy silence fell. A rescue signal from an S-rank hunter meant the situation was dire.

Brief relief that O Hyung-taek was still alive was fleeting. Nara bit her lower lip.

“This is insane. Wave terrain maze… what kind of maze is that? No healer, and no other hunters can enter now.”

At that moment, Jin-woon, her secretary standing silently behind her, grabbed her wrist.

“You can’t go.”

“I know. If I go in, it’ll be chaos. Still…”

As she tousled her hair in frustration and pouted, the loud thump-thump of helicopter rotors echoed.

“The Korean support team is here!”

Nara sprang to her feet and rushed out of the operations room.

Walking into the strong wind, she looked up at the open door of the helicopter.

Through the cloud of dust stood Kang Jin-seo, like a hero straight out of a movie.

Soon, Kang Jin-seo leapt from the helicopter.

Thud.

As he hit the ground, a roar erupted.

Nara tried to hide her overwhelming emotions and took a step forward — and spotted someone cradled in Kang Jin-seo’s arms.

“Bi… Bit-na…?”