Chapter 30
“Did you have a pleasant time with the reporters yesterday?”
Saebyeok replied with a rather artificial smile.
“How could I? That so-and-so who was supposed to give me credit made such a flashy mess that no one bothered to compliment me.”
“So you didn’t manage to make those 2.1 billion won worthwhile?”
“……”
Kim Ihan didn’t answer.
The moment a faint victorious smile appeared on Saebyeok’s lips—knowing full well that he had more than done enough—Lee Pado nudged Kim Ihan aside.
“This is the one? The one who saved my daughter?”
Speaking in a thick Gyeongsang dialect, Lee Pado strode up energetically.
“Well, well, so this is her at last! Nice to meet you, real nice!”
He grabbed Saebyeok’s hand with a wide grin and shook it up and down vigorously.
He wasn’t much taller than Saebyeok, but with his bulky frame he looked at least three times bigger.
With his sharply defined muscles and rigid build, it was as if he spent every hour he wasn’t sleeping inside a gym.
It was a completely different type of physique compared to Hwang Taesan.
If Hwang Taesan’s muscles were forged through countless battles, Lee Pado’s were the kind you’d expect to see on a bodybuilding stage.
And he proudly displayed them by wearing a sleeveless shirt.
“Thanks to you, my girl really came to her senses! Hahaha! I ought to treat you big time. What would you like?”
“Hunter Lee Pado.”
The one who placed a restraining hand on his shoulder—because his enthusiasm was overwhelming Saebyeok—was none other than Association President Yoon Byung-geun.
“I understand you’re happy to meet your daughter’s benefactor. But Hunter Han Saebyeok came here today for her assessment. Please, rein yourself in for the moment.”
He pressed firmly on Lee Pado’s shoulder. He didn’t seem to be applying much strength, and his expression remained kind.
Yet the gorilla-like Lee Pado faltered and backed down.
The pressure that only the Association President could emanate was enough to make even an S-rank hesitate.
Passing him, Yoon Byung-geun approached Saebyeok.
“I’ve heard about you from Captain Park Woojun. It’s an honor to meet you, Hunter Han Saebyeok. I am Yoon Byung-geun, head of the Korean Hunter Association.”
He extended his hand with a gentle smile.
The deep wrinkles on his face betrayed his age, yet his upright posture and well-maintained physique made him seem much younger.
He was Korea’s very first S-rank hunter, and still the strongest among the four registered today.
The Sword Emperor, Yoon Byung-geun.
He was also the most respected hunter in the nation.
When he had first awakened, Japan had tried every scheme to naturalize him. But he ignored them all and chose instead to become the president of the Korean Hunter Association—a source of national pride.
Saebyeok clasped the hand of the man who had once been her superior.
“It’s an honor to meet you.”
The hand, calloused and rugged, pulled her briefly into memories.
‘Hunter Han. No matter how despairing things get, never let your spear stop moving. Only if your spear keeps moving will the hearts of those left behind not break.’
He had always left her with difficult requests, asking her to protect the Association if anything ever happened to him.
‘I’m sorry for burdening you with such requests. But please, bear the weight. You know there’s no one else I can ask but you.’
At the time, she had resented him for placing such heavy responsibility on her.
Now, thinking back, she only felt guilt. She had failed to protect the Association, Korea, the world—any of it. She hadn’t fulfilled a single one of his wishes.
“I’ve come full circle, and at last, I’m ready to bear that weight, President.”
She swallowed words she could never speak aloud and instead smiled faintly.
Escorted by Yoon Byung-geun, she headed to the testing chamber.
On the way, every Association employee’s gaze followed her. Some stole quick glances, pretending not to look, while others openly stared.
Saebyeok ignored the familiar stares and kept walking.
“Han Saebyeok!”
Arriving at the chamber, she saw Park Woojun waving both hands brightly. He had been inside already, inspecting the equipment.
The testing room, underground and windowless, spanned two floors with a high ceiling.
Besides the measuring device, the control panels, and a CCTV camera in one corner, the room felt empty.
“There were reporters swarming outside. How did you get past them?”
“I had some help.”
She tapped her hood lightly and gestured behind her at Hwang Taesan.
When Park Woojun saw him bow politely, he returned the gesture stiffly.
Then, noticing Kim Ihan’s snake-like gaze and Lee Pado puffing air through his nose for some reason, he leaned close to whisper in Saebyeok’s ear.
“So it’s not just Kim Ihan, you’ve even gotten close with Hwang Taesan? When did that happen?”
Saebyeok tiptoed to whisper back in the same manner.
“Met him yesterday at the Dragon’s Den.”
Of course, S-rank hunters with transcendent senses would hear them regardless of how quietly they spoke.
“Why didn’t you mention it when we ate yesterday?”
“There wasn’t time for that kind of story.”
“You should’ve squeezed in something that important.”
Saebyeok honestly didn’t see why it was so important.
“You’re the one who left in the middle, saying you were busy.”
She protested, feeling slightly wronged. He flustered, stammering.
“T-that couldn’t be helped.”
As a member of the Association’s Strike Team, sudden deployment orders were part of the job.
With only one strike team, all the heavy work fell to them, leaving no rest days.
That was why, though they had once been inseparable throughout school, after Park Woojun joined the Association they barely saw each other.
Sometimes weeks, even months, would pass without meeting.
Even when they did, sharing a meal or drink, he would often be called away mid-conversation.
“It was always work.”
He knew it himself and felt guilty.
Saebyeok scrunched her nose as if to say she understood.
“Who said otherwise? I just meant we’re too old now to share absolutely everything with each other.”
They were adults now, each with their own life and profession. Things couldn’t be the same as before.
She said it lightly, as if it were only natural.
But at that moment, Park Woojun’s expression wavered greatly.
He opened his mouth, ready to argue, but no words came. Instead, he swallowed hard.
Saebyeok tilted her head, puzzled, but there was no time to wait for an answer.
“Ahem.”
The Association President’s clearing throat cut their exchange short.
All the S-ranks of Korea were waiting for her test; she couldn’t waste any more time.
With a complicated look, Park Woojun stepped back.
“This chamber is reserved for the next hour. Once the assessment is over, you’ll have time to talk.”
Yoon Byung-geun apologized for interrupting, then stood at the control panel.
“The assessment is simple.”
“I just place my hand here, right?”
She pointed at the large black slab connected to the panel.
Bigger than an ordinary door, it gleamed like polished onyx, reflecting her faint image. It emitted an aura that pricked faintly at her skin.
“Yes. There’s no need to exert strength or use mana. Just place your hand on it.”
His courtesy felt almost excessive, but Saebyeok showed nothing as she placed her hand on the smooth surface.
Wooong, wooong—
The familiar vibration entered her palm, sweeping through her whole body.
Though the device had no eyes, it felt as if it could see right through her. Just like in her past life, it wasn’t a pleasant feeling.
She waited impatiently for the reading to appear—when suddenly…
!! Notification !!
Connected to the System Core of <Server: Earth (S3-EH)>.
※ Connection Node: AS-KOR1
Instead of test results, a bizarre system message appeared in her personal window.
“System Core…?”
She had never seen such a window in her past life.
And it wasn’t just one.
!! Notification !!
Updatable regional data detected: Asia
Beginning update.
She didn’t know what it meant, but instinctively she realized it was tied to her Server Administrator title.
As if answering her realization, the system poured more messages at her.
!! Warning !!
Do not disconnect until update completes.
If the connection is severed, all downloading data will be lost.
Verifying required operations…
Downloading files…
Installing packages…
As she watched the flood of windows flash by, she remembered the time she had activated Hour of Guardianship.
And her sense of déjà vu was confirmed by the next message.
!! Notification !!
One untransferred unique skill has been restored.
Activating <Skill: Cleopatra’s Insight (EX)>.
It was one of the Server Administrator’s unique skills, saved here all along.
!! Notification !!
Regional data update complete: Asia.
All data in the Asia region can now be accessed at any time.
Just when she thought she had grasped most of Atlas’s Safehouse, another mystery appeared.
Her heart pounded wildly.
How crazy would this new skill turn out to be? She couldn’t contain her excitement.
<Skill: Cleopatra’s Insight (EX)>
Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. Knowledge is power—whether of ally or foe. So then… shall we peek, just a little?
※ Asia regional data update complete
※ Updates required for: Europe, Africa, North America, South America, Oceania, Antarctica
As always, the description was vague and poetic. She was just taking it in when—
Beep!
“Target cannot be identified.”
“Subject not measurable.”
Instead of a rank, those words appeared on the testing device.
Then—
CRACK! CRASH!
With a horrid screech like nails on a chalkboard, the measuring device shattered into pieces.
