Meanwhile,
"…What's that?" Exclaimed the Hunters of the Korean Association, who were wandering around North Korea hunting magical beasts,
The same unreal scene unfolded before Association President Woo Jinchul. But despite the surprising situation, he calmly reported to the Association and assessed the situation. And learning that this phenomenon was occurring worldwide, he nodded in a business-like manner.
"Hmm. More things to take care of."
Beyond his black sunglasses, his hawk-like eyes gazed at the desolate land stretching endlessly before him. The alien trees that suddenly appeared amidst the blue mist and the echoing roars of magical beasts and spirits occasionally rampaging on the ground… were an event that might require them to completely revise their plans.
"Trees we haven't seen before appeared on the path we already passed. Did they just appear now, or did we really miss them?" S-rank Hunter Choi Jong-In of the Association approached Woo Jinchul and spoke.
He observed the numerous trees soaring high into the sky with interest. Although it was quite surprising, it wasn't something to panic about. No matter what happened, his job wouldn't change.
Flare—
Crimson flames flickered in Choi Jong-In's hand. Clenching the flames tightly, he pushed up his horn-rimmed glasses and grinned, revealing his teeth.
"I vote for going back the way we came and burning them all."
"Hmm."
Association President Woo Jinchul pondered for a moment at the suggestion to retrace their steps. They had already been sweeping up magical beasts along the way. So the decision to go back just to burn those trees was a bit inefficient. Because those alien trees existed not only on the path they passed, but also on the other side. The north side. In fact, there were more trees visible at the end of their current path. So, in terms of efficiency, it would be much better to continue in their current direction, burning the trees and sweeping up magical beasts along the way. Then what was the problem? Actually, Woo Jinchul's gaze had been fixed on something particularly noticeable beyond the north.
"Is it just me, or are those trees strangely concentrated towards Russia?"
"Hmm, you're right."
Choi Jong-In also nodded, following Woo Jinchul's gaze and checking beyond the Russian border. Beyond the distant blue mist, numerous alien trees that soared over Russia unfolded like a landscape painting. Could it be just his imagination that those suspicious alien plants seemed to originate from Russia?
'No way.' Woo Jinchul muttered as he glared at Russia.
"Speaking of Russia… it's Yuri Orlov's country."
"Yuri Orlov? Are you talking about the Prime Minister who was elected two years ago?"
"Yes, he's an S-rank with powerful barrier abilities."
Choi Jong-In unconsciously observed Woo Jinchul's expression at his suggestive tone. From the side, he could see Woo Jinchul's eyes gleaming seriously behind his black sunglasses.
Gulp.
Seeing that gaze, Choi Jong-In couldn't help but swallow dryly.
'…That expression again.'
Association President Woo Jinchul occasionally had that expression. A gaze that was nostalgic, as if reminiscing about the past, yet at the same time, extremely rational and meticulous, as if planning the future with certainty. Although it was a bit strange to say this, Choi Jong-In felt a chill when he saw that expression. Sometimes, he felt like his gaze wasn't on the reality before him, but on a completely different world. As if there was something beyond his gaze that ordinary people couldn't see.
'…He had that expression when he first offered me a position at the Association.'
– For this country, for justice, to protect the world, will you become my colleague?
Two years ago, Woo Jinchul's eyes were like that when he politely handed him his business card after he awakened. Overwhelmed by that confident gaze, he couldn't help but accept the card. And from that day on, Choi Jong-In began working as the S-rank Hunter representing the Korean Hunter Association, earning the somewhat embarrassing nickname 'The Ultimate Weapon of Mankind.' He was embarrassed when he was first called by such a childish nickname at his age, but at the same time, he devoted himself to the Association with the determination to live up to that label. Two years passed like that. But now, looking back on Association President Woo Jinchul's actions, which he observed from up close, he sometimes had this absurd thought.
'Could it be that the Association President already knew that I would awaken as an S-rank?' It was a truly ridiculous idea, but he couldn't help but think that Woo Jinchul might have actually known.
"Association President. Are you thinking that Prime Minister Yuri Orlov might have been hiding those trees with his barrier ability?"
"It's certainly possible."
"But the scale of the barrier is too enormous. Even though I know that there are differences in level even among S-ranks, isn't there a limit? I can't burn that many trees at once with my ability."
"He might have received outside help. And especially… Yuri Orlov's ability is optimized for being supported from outside. If there's enough magic power, he can easily cover an entire city with a barrier."
"…?"
Choi Jong-In had a puzzled expression at Woo Jinchul's confident tone. Not much information about Russia's new Prime Minister, Yuri Orlov, was publicly known. It was partly because Russia became a dangerous place after the Cataclysm, but the closedness intensified since he became Prime Minister.
"Did you secretly plant a spy in Russia without my knowledge?"
"No. At least not yet. But I know what kind of person Yuri Orlov was."
"Was?"
Past tense? Choi Jong-In tilted his head at the strange tone. Even less was known about Prime Minister Yuri Orlov's past.
"Have you ever met Yuri Orlov before?"
"Well. I haven't met him directly, but… I know one thing. No matter how old a person gets, their true nature doesn't change much. Good people age well, and bad people eventually age badly…" Woo Jinchul adjusted his black sunglasses and smiled confidently.
"Of course, this is often a prejudice, but I trust that prejudice quite a bit."
"We have a social consensus to call that a 'boomer'."
"Haha, is that so?"
Woo Jinchul chuckled as if he had been hurt by Choi Jong-In's joke. But what did it matter if he was a boomer? At least in the two lives he lived, prejudice was ultimately the result of collecting and analyzing untold amounts of data.
"Association President. We have a message."
The secretary handed Woo Jinchul a walkie-talkie.
"It's from the Shadow of Paradise."
"Ah! That's good timing."
Woo Jinchul gladly received the walkie-talkie as if he had been waiting. But the voice from the speaker wasn't Hasul's, but Sung Suho's. He listened attentively as Sung Suho explained the situation in detail and nodded.
"…I see. Thank you for sharing."
The Apostle of Paradise and Alfheim.
Elvenwood and the high elves.
And the apostle of Itarim. 'And Russia…'
Thanks to Suho, numerous pieces of information were piling up in Woo Jinchul's mind, forming a picture, having organized his thoughts, he spoke to Suho in a serious tone through the walkie-talkie,
"Hunter Sung Suho. It seems like the repercussions of the Apostle's of Paradise death will be much greater than expected."
– I agree. – Suho also concurred in a serious voice from the other side.
As he said, even as they were speaking, the Apostle's of Paradise death was already causing tremendous repercussions worldwide. He had been creating and hiding his flowerpots all over the world, and the moment the perception-impairing magic hiding those places disappeared with his death,
Whoosh—!
People around the world were shocked.
– What's that?
– What are those trees?!
Alien trees that soared as if to pierce the sky. In the eyes of people around the world, it looked like countless alien ecosystems had suddenly covered the Earth. The size and scale were enormous, and the simultaneous appearance was enough to cause panic. And with China's numerous drone cameras and America's satellite images, all those scenes were broadcast worldwide. As a result, The whole world was thrown into chaos overnight.
– No, really, what are those?
– Where did those trees suddenly come from?
– Could it be a new type of dungeon break?!
– Don't tell me Gates are now appearing underground?
– Oh my god! That's terrifying!
– If Gates appear underground, Hunters can't stop them!
It was an extremely unusual situation.
It was natural for people to be shocked by the absurd scale of the situation.
It wasn't a Gate opening.
It wasn't a dungeon break.
And 'those trees' didn't suddenly sprout from the ground. Alien trees that appeared naturally all over the Earth, as if they had always been growing there. That absurdly large scale made the viewers feel a sense of tremendous pressure and strangeness at the same time. And that wasn't all. It didn't take long for the fact that not only strange plants but also magical beasts, spirits, and even cities of villains hidden within those trees existed to be revealed to the world. This was a surprising situation for both those outside the barrier and those hiding inside, and it wasn't something anyone planned. Naturally, a fierce battle suddenly broke out between the two sides without any prior warning. This wasn't just happening in North Korea, Russia, and China. The Apostle of Paradise had been diligently increasing the number of flowerpots everywhere, so there were also some in other countries. But…
"People's reactions don't matter."
At least for Woo Jinchul, who had experienced the near end of the world, it didn't matter how many Elvenwoods appeared. They weren't Rulers or Monarchs, just a few trees. It was the Hunters' job to take care of such things. So the fact that people around the world were shocked to see the appearance of Elvenwood, which was revealed overnight, was meaningless information to Woo Jinchul. But at this moment, The most important problem that he was truly worried about was something else.
– …The problem is that because of this situation, other apostles of Itarim will also realize that the Apostle of Paradise is dead.
"Yes, that's certain."
– There will be a response in some way. Maybe even an all-out war.
"…That's quite possible."
As they conversed, Woo Jinchul was quite impressed by Suho's words, accurately grasping the core of the issue. In his early twenties. Compared to him, who had lived two lives, the person on the other side of the walkie-talkie was still a very young man. But what did age matter? Woo Jinchul already knew 'him.' The man who already saved the world alone at that age.
"In that sense, Hunter Sung Suho."
– Yes?
And as he listened to the voice from the other side of the walkie-talkie, he realized once again. That Sung Suho was 'his' son. Especially since they were only talking without seeing each other like this, it felt like he was speaking directly to Sung Jinwoo. With that strange feeling, Woo Jinchul couldn't help but be excited about what kind of actions his son, Sung Suho, would take from now on.
"…What are your plans from now on, Hunter Sung Suho? We'll decide our next steps according to your plan."
Woo Jinchul agreed with Sung Suho. Because of this incident, all the apostles of Itarim scattered around the world would have realized that someone killed one of their kind. So, as Sung Suho said, there would definitely be a response from them one way or another. A sudden all-out war could break out.
'…Just like back then.'
Woo Jinchul couldn't help but swallow dryly as he recalled the tragedy he experienced a long time ago. The apocalypse always came suddenly. And Woo Jinchul had prepared for that moment, but he still couldn't help but feel uneasy. Because Sung Jinwoo wasn't on Earth this time. But… That's why he couldn't help but have even greater expectations. For his son. And Sung Suho answered,
– Let's join forces first. I'll be there soon.
Rumble—!
Crash—!
Just then, Woo Jinchul saw giant trees falling in the distance. Like dominoes.
"…Haha." Woo Jinchul burst into laughter at the sight.
And a plan suddenly came to mind, he made a suggestion to the walkie-talkie still held to his ear,
"Hunter Sung Suho. Would you be interested in going to Russia?"
– Ah, isn't that illegal?
"Well, yes, it is. Of course, our Association knows nothing about this."
– …Secret friends? – Woo Jinchul facepalmed at Hasul's voice that suddenly came from beside him.
"Forget about secret somethings, there are other good expressions like an agent!"