Chapter 173
Regret washes over him like the tide.
However, he had no intention of dwelling on the past.
'All of this stemmed from my own choices. I must take full responsibility.'
No excuses were necessary.
No, no excuses should be made at all.
'Though it's a bit late... I need to quickly accept and acknowledge the reality now.'
With a hardened expression, Nakamoto gives orders to the secretaries standing beside him.
"Prepare for talks with Korea as quickly as possible."
Even if it meant giving up his position as Prime Minister, he needed to apologize to Korea, provide compensation, and restore relations.
That was the best course of action Nakamoto could take at present.
* * *
News of the eradication of Japan's Black Gate, the demon beast army, and the demons quickly spread worldwide, causing shock and disbelief.
The news was so shocking that some people who heard it couldn't even accept it.
└He hunted alone the monsters that Daniel Graham couldn't defeat even with Japanese hunters' help? That's nonsense.
└This seems a bit exaggerated.
└No matter how I look at it, isn't this just inflated news from Korea?
└This makes sense. Japan received help, so they have no choice but to keep quiet about the situation.
Just as doubts started spreading across the internet, the Japanese government announced that Prime Minister Nakamoto would hold a press conference.
Naturally, journalists from around the world gathered.
They thought Nakamoto, who was far from having a good relationship with Korea, would make some bold statements about the Black Gate's elimination.
However, contrary to the journalists' expectations, Nakamoto bowed his head as soon as the press conference began.
[If Hunter Lee Seong-jun hadn't helped us, Japan would have perished. Therefore, all our citizens must never forget the kindness of Korea and Hunter Lee Seong-jun.]
Prime Minister Nakamoto's sincere expression of gratitude to Korea was unprecedented, leaving all the journalists at the interview stunned.
However, Nakamoto's words and actions were soon forgotten.
To be precise, they had to be forgotten.
The moment Nakamoto finished the interview, the Japanese government released footage from the action cameras worn by Japanese hunters on the battlefield, showing the fierce battle between Lee Seong-jun and Arabis.
└The battle's aftermath changed the terrain itself. This is truly on a different level.
└What's that fluttering like flower petals at the end? Is that all the energy Lee Seong-jun is controlling?
└If that's all the energy Lee Seong-jun is controlling, it's an unbelievably insane level.
└He's completely overwhelming the monster that even Daniel couldn't defeat.
└Where's the guy who said Hunter Lee Seong-jun's skills weren't at Guardians level yet?
└Does this mean Korea is essentially the strongest in Asia now?
└Since China also has a Guardians member, it might be too early to call them the strongest in Asia.
└Don't be disrespectful, how dare you compare a Guardian to Hunter Lee Seong-jun?
└Forget strongest in Asia, at this rate, we might soon be able to aim for strongest in the world.
└It's been a long time since I felt my chest swell with pride just for being Korean.
Those who watched the video poured out admiring praise.
No, when the Japanese government initially released the video, there were reports of astonished gasps and screams of admiration erupting from all over the world.
It was truly an overwhelming display of power.
In fact, it was already an incredible feat to have repelled the Black Gate that appeared above Seoul with Korean hunters, who had recently been considered from a weak country.
However, single-handedly facing the entire Black Gate, the demon beast army, along with the named monster and boss monster Arabis, was on a different level entirely.
Especially considering that Daniel Graham, a member of the Guardians who had fought earlier, had been defeated, this fact became even more prominent.
Articles about Lee Seong-jun erupted from all corners of the world, and the response was not just heated, but blazing.
Nicholas Holt, a member of the Guardians who had been collecting information about Lee Seong-jun recently, couldn't possibly miss this.
As soon as he received the news, he immediately obtained the video and personally verified its authenticity with his own eyes.
After completing all verifications, Nicholas immediately ran to a nearby Guardians member and played the video.
"Could that be...?!"
On the top floor of the Cosmos Guild.
Nicholas smirked at Victor Wiseman, who was staring with wide eyes, and nodded.
"Victor, what you saw is correct. It's the Ultimate Aura."
Ultimate Aura or Extreme Energy - it was called differently in various regions or countries, but the important thing wasn't the name.
"Lee Seong-jun can handle power beyond limitations, just like you and me."
At Nicholas's firm and confident words, a wry smile appeared on Victor's lips.
"Heh heh..."
As a hunter and a member of the Guardians who had overcome numerous hardships and difficulties, he no longer showed agitation at ordinary events.
In fact, Victor Wiseman was known in the world as the Iron-Blooded Master, a person who showed no emotional fluctuations.
However, this was literally in a different league.
'... Is this even possible?'
He, Victor Wiseman, had trained for over ten years to handle the Ultimate Aura.
Even then, it could be said that he was lucky to be able to handle it.
He had barely managed to handle it through a sudden realization that came while training inside a gate recently.
Yet Lee Seong-jun was handling the Ultimate Aura in less than a year.
Therefore, just being able to handle the Ultimate Aura was astounding in itself.
But what gave the strongest shock was something else.
'It's not just brute force.'
He possessed excellent techniques and combat instincts as well.
In fact, saying they were excellent wasn't enough.
'... Arabis is the same type of monster I hunted in the East.'
A high-ranking demon, one born with the blood of the Krux clan.
It meant a monster with special abilities that could impose very annoying and troublesome restrictions.
Even he, Victor Wiseman, ranked 3rd in the Guardians, would have had considerable trouble if he couldn't receive help from the Cosmos Guild members and American hunters.
Yet Lee Seong-jun overwhelmed Arabis alone.
'Perhaps... was Arabis an individual unable to use special abilities?'
That was currently the most logical explanation.
But Victor shook his head after a short while.
'That can't be.'
The information related to the demons who invaded this time was obtained by the United States, considered the world's strongest country, using all their resources.
In fact, to get information about the demons, they had mobilized not only dozens of monster experts but also hunters with special abilities related to memory.
'Arabis must have had special abilities too.'
In other words, Lee Seong-jun had broken through the demons' special abilities with pure skill alone.
He couldn't even guess what method or technique was used.
At present, only one thought crossed Victor's mind.
'Lee Seong-jun is... a monster beyond standard.'
Now he understood why the Vice Master, James, supported Korea even at a loss, and why he went to the inside of the gate, disobeying his orders.
'If we could work with Lee Seong-jun... we could place the Cosmos Guild at the top position in America!'
As he confirmed Lee Seong-jun's true nature, it felt like a dream was shimmering before his eyes.
Naturally, a strange light gleamed in Victor's eyes, and a deep smile curved his lips.
At that moment, as if he had been waiting for this chance, Nicholas asked a question.
"You wouldn't object to recruiting Lee Seong-jun as a member of our Guardians, would you?"
As it was an issue that didn't require even a moment's consideration, Victor immediately nodded.
"Object? I strongly support it. And if any other members raise objections, let me know. I'll do whatever it takes to get their agreement."
As Victor spoke, his gaze remained fixed on the image of Lee Seong-jun engaged in fierce battle with Arabis in the video.
* * *
I returned to Korea.
Perhaps because I had experience blocking a Black Gate before, I, the person involved, didn't feel any particular sense of excitement.
But from my family's perspective, it was completely different.
"Brother! Brother! Did you see this article? The Japanese Prime Minister personally apologized and paid reparations."
"They even completely changed their attitude about disputes related to the East Sea, and acknowledged it as originally Korean territory?"
"They even apologized for all past war-related issues, I heard."
Perhaps because Japan's acknowledgment and apology for the past had been a long-cherished wish of Koreans?
All the family members gathered for dinner were speaking joyful words.
"Well... I saw it briefly on the news."
As Lee Seong-jun swallowed the rice he was chewing and nodded, Lee Seo-yun immediately held up her phone in front of him.
"According to what's written in this article... experts say this is all due to your deterrence. Isn't that amazing?!"
"I saw that article too, and it seems our son's influence is truly enormous."
"Just yesterday when I went to work, people were praising me so much. Thanks to my great son, it's a pleasure to go to work now! Hahaha!"
The family members speaking couldn't hide their excitement.
They had considerable anxiety about the hunter profession, and even now, they couldn't help but worry.
As family, it was unavoidable.
But seeing such dazzling achievements, they couldn't help but feel swelling expectations.
In fact, hadn't he achieved results that no one could have imagined, like Japan's official apology?
They couldn't help but feel proud.
"That's..."
Feeling embarrassed by his family's endless praise, Lee Seong-jun tried to quickly change the subject.
But he closed his lips that were about to move, pondering the questions in his mind.
'Come to think of it, Japan's change in attitude is because of me, isn't it?'
If he, Lee Seong-jun, hadn't been there, would Japan have apologized?
'There's no way.'
The current Earth could be called a world where the strong absolutely dominated.
This meant that nothing written in the articles was false.
'Moreover... when all my family members are so happy, there's no need to pour cold water on it.'
Having quickly organized his thoughts, Lee Seong-jun slowly moved his lips.