Chapter 174
"Yes, it is thanks to me."
"Wow, you blocked the Black Gate alone? That enormous monster? It looks like there were hundreds of them at a glance!"
"That wasn't even a difficult task."
"This is insane! Brother, have you seen these articles and comments?"
"Which ones?"
While the reactions from internet articles, comments, and excited public were amusing, there were also many embarrassing parts, so he had deliberately avoided checking them.
But Lee Seong-jun turned his head, curious about Lee Seo-yun's excited behavior.
└I sincerely thank Hunter Lee Seong-jun for correcting the wrong history. You are the true hero of this era.
Determining superiority, judging right and wrong, and so on.
The comment section, which had always been a battleground for various reasons, was filled with surprisingly warm content unlike usual.
Moreover, the following comments were all expressions of gratitude.
A smile unconsciously formed on both Lee Seong-jun and Lee Seo-yun's lips.
Despite not feeling significant changes in their actual lives, everyone was expressing sincere gratitude.
Although unintended, each of these grateful comments was giving considerable satisfaction.
Of course, Lee Seo-yun's excitement wasn't just because of the people expressing gratitude.
"Look at this too."
As Lee Seo-yun touched her smartphone, articles about rankings that could be considered hot topics came into view.
└Now Hunter Lee Seong-jun is undoubtedly a Guardians-level powerhouse.
└It was clearly proven in this battle with Arabis.
└Wasn't Daniel Graham just caught off guard?
└Honestly, he was defeated too easily.
└That's also skill. Be alert and prepared, it's the most basic of hunter basics.
└Forget about being caught off guard or whatever. I once participated in the Korean Black Gate Subjugation Team and watched him fight directly. Hunter Lee Seong-jun is simply in a different league.
└Are you really a hunter?
└You're lying. If it's true, prove it.
└I'll prove it.
Below the controversial comments were verification posts with hunter registration cards (with faces and names covered) along with nicknames written.
The issue was that there wasn't just one or two such hunters.
Numerous hunters were revealing their identities and continuously leaving testimonies and praises about Lee Seong-jun's skills.
└I've even joined Hunter Lee Seong-jun's fan cafe.
└I submitted an application to Infinity Guild this week.
└Why is the guild suddenly being mentioned?
└You're slow on the news, friend. The identity of Infinity Guild's major shareholder is now common knowledge in the hunter world.
└Don't tell me it's Hunter Lee Seong-jun?
└Act like you know.
└I'll just tell you that if you get hired, you'll be working under the strongest.
└I'm going to submit my application right now.
The conversation that started with Lee Seong-jun naturally moved on to Infinity.
This was information that wasn't particularly significant to Lee Seong-jun himself.
But Lee Seo-yun, who was looking at the smartphone together, had wide eyes.
"Brother is Infinity Guild's major shareholder? Is this true?"
"Yes, I bought and merged guilds to establish it before."
"Good heavens, if you're running a guild too, you're a CEO! No, since it's a large guild, are you a chairman?!"
"You've seen even more extraordinary things, why are you so surprised by this?"
He had not only saved Korea and Japan from the brink of destruction but also shown prowess comparable to the Guardians, who are called the world's protectors.
Compared to the achievements he had accumulated so far, business wasn't such a big deal.
"That's true, but... I didn't know you were running a business like a guild."
It wasn't just Lee Seo-yun's personal opinion.
Their parents sitting across from them also couldn't hide their surprise.
"To think you were even doing guild business... Our son keeps surprising Mom and Dad."
Although the parents looked somewhat bewildered, it was actually a good situation.
'I was wondering when to talk about this... This worked out well.'
Lee Seong-jun nodded once and brought up the conversation he had been putting off.
"So... I'll need to stay in Paju for a while to handle guild matters."
Lee Seong-jun's declaration of independence was natural for an adult.
But the eyes of Lee Su-hyeok and Kim Ji-young sitting across from him were full of worry.
"Won't you be lonely?"
"Will you be okay by yourself?"
In fact, it was an unreasonable worry.
Lee Seong-jun was a hunter with skills among the best in the world and an incredible businessman capable of running a large guild with considerable wealth.
But parental worry was unavoidable.
Don't they say that no matter how old children get, they still look like babies to their parents?
Understanding his parents' feelings and sentiments, Lee Seong-jun spoke in the brightest voice possible.
"I'm a proper adult now, not a three-year-old child. So don't worry unnecessarily."
Although Lee Seong-jun spoke as confidently as he could, the worry in Lee Su-hyeok and Kim Ji-young's eyes remained.
But they didn't voice those emotions.
They just calmly nodded.
Because they knew and recognized that this was the best thing they could do as parents.
"Right, that's true."
"You're an adult now."
For a brief moment, Lee Su-hyeok and Kim Ji-young made eye contact, nodded, and then opened their mouths with smiling faces towards Lee Seong-jun.
"No matter where you are or what you're doing, Mom will always support you, so if you ever have any difficulties, feel free to tell us."
"Dad will support you with all his might too!"
"...Yes, I will."
The warm words and support from his family - in reality, there might not be much practical help he could receive.
But it felt as if he had thousands of troops at his back.
In fact, just his family's feelings were enough to make his heart swell.
'People who are on my side... without any ulterior motives.'
From the Thousand Continent to the Immortal Realm, he was feeling the true happiness he had always yearned for.
Perhaps because he clearly felt the happiness filling his chest?
Lee Seong-jun's will was burning even hotter.
'No matter what happens... I will protect them.'
Lee Seong-jun's eyes were shining brighter than ever as he made his personal pledge and vow as a demon god.
* * *
The internet, newspapers, and news media were all plastered with stories about Lee Seong-jun.
Moreover, this situation wasn't limited to just Korea.
Stories about Lee Seong-jun were constantly flowing from countries all over the world.
Through this recent Black Gate incident in Japan, Lee Seong-jun had definitely imprinted his skills and presence on the entire world.
Naturally, the national benefits that Korea could gain from this were immeasurable.
From the standpoint of Ko Tae-hyun, the vice president of the Korean Hunters Association, he couldn't help but feel immense gratitude for Lee Seong-jun's achievements.
"Heh heh, to think those high-nosed countries would bow their heads and come to us first."
It was no exaggeration to say that Korea's status was soaring to unprecedented heights.
The country that had been looked down upon and ignored was no more.
Korea was firmly establishing itself as a rising power.
The world was even calling Korea the 'Miracle Country'.
But what made Ko Tae-hyun happiest wasn't just the immediately visible results.
'Hunter Lee Seong-jun is someone who will rise even higher.'
It wasn't just his own delusion.
He could assert this because he had observed and experienced Hunter Lee Seong-jun with his own eyes all this time.
'He's someone of a completely different caliber.'
He was someone who couldn't even be measured by current human knowledge.
'I dare say that Hunter Lee Seong-jun is someone who will soon reach the pinnacle, and beyond.'
And along with him, the status of Korea as a nation would soar as well.
It meant they could reach the position of the world's strongest!
Perhaps because a miraculous story that he had never even imagined was becoming reality?
Strength naturally surged through his body.
In fact, although various tasks were pouring into the Hunters Association, he didn't feel any fatigue.
Rather, he felt as energetic as if he had returned to his 20s, his younger days.
"Are the projects in Paju progressing without problems?"
At Ko Tae-hyun's question, the dedicated team leader Cho Kang-hyun immediately spoke up.
"Yes, the current hunter force gathered in Paju is on par with Seoul, and all the gates that could pose a threat near the city are being cleared step by step. In fact, experts in various fields are openly saying that Paju will establish itself as the safest city within this year."
"As you know, since Paju is nominally managed directly by Hunter Lee Seong-jun and Infinity Guild, there shouldn't be even the slightest flaw. So please continue to pay close attention as you have been."
"We will manage thoroughly to ensure that there's absolutely nothing that could tarnish Hunter Lee Seong-jun's honor!"
Just as a satisfied smile was forming on Ko Tae-hyun's lips at Cho Kang-hyun's consistent attitude, it happened.
Ring ring ring- Ring ring ring-
The phone on the desk in the vice president's office rang loudly.
The phone number appearing on the screen was from his aide, Secretary Kim Min-hyuk.
Considering that he had never called during a meeting time, it was quite an unusual occurrence.
'Is something wrong?'
Ko Tae-hyun tilted his head slightly and picked up the receiver.
-Mr. Vice President.
As soon as he answered the phone, Kim Min-hyuk's voice came through as if he had been waiting.
"Is there an urgent matter?"
-We've received a call from the American Hunters Association.
"America? Suddenly?"
A call from the country known as the world's strongest - as it was something he had never received even once while working as the vice president of the Korean Hunters Association, he couldn't even guess the reason.
Naturally, Ko Tae-hyun's curiosity grew.
"Connect me right away."
No sooner had he finished speaking than the call was immediately connected, and the voice on the other end of the receiver changed.
-This is Mark Austin, the president of the American Hunters Association.
"This is Ko Tae-hyun, vice president of the Korean Hunters Association."
Having met numerous foreign dignitaries, English flowed smoothly from Ko Tae-hyun's mouth.
"May I know why the American Hunters Association has called us in Korea?"
At Ko Tae-hyun's direct question, Mark brought up the main point without hesitation.
-Early next month, we plan to hold an emergency meeting where the Guardians will gather in one place here in America.
"...What does that have to do with us in Korea?"
-The Guardians would like to invite Hunter Lee Seong-jun as a new member to fill the vacancy left by Daniel's death. That's why we contacted you.