"What the hell is this?!"
Finn was flustered.
Elental power was the symbol of a Two-Star Player.
It was a superior counterpart to most skills—stronger in both performance and power than anything else.
And yet, the man before him was lting his prized signature move, Frozen Crash, with nothing more than a surge of heat.
Then—
Flash!
A burst of light.
Was it a cara flash?
No.
It was the trail of a blade cutting through the air.
To be precise, the blood sword.
By the ti Finn realized what it was, he felt a searing heat erupt from the arm holding his shield.
"AAAAARGH!!"
The burning pain was from his severed arm.
"Captain!!"
"Sir!!"
His teammates shouted when they saw Finn’s state.
But Su-ho rely dismissed the system notifications with an indifferent expression.
[ Heart Slash has been activated. ]
[ Enhancent is applied. ]
[ The power of Heart Slash has increased significantly. ]
The notification showed the upgraded Heart Slash.
Thud.
The severed arm was still holding the shield.
It fell along with the shield.
Of course, the shield wasn’t cut.
Only the arm had been severed.
Thanks to Heart Slash’s unique effect of slicing the inside without damaging the surface.
"AAAAAGH!!"
An enraged Albert raised his sword and charged at Su-ho.
Su-ho’s expression remained detached as he slashed upward from below.
[ Cloud Severance has been activated. ]
A blinding flash.
And Albert’s movents stopped.
Slice.
A clean cut.
Albert’s arm, just like Finn’s, was severed.
"AAAAARGH!!"
"ALBERRRRRT!!"
Albert collapsed, clutching the stump where his sword arm had been.
Another teammate cried out as they looked at Albert.
anwhile, Su-ho, still unconcerned, pointed his blade at the last remaining spellcaster and asked Finn:
"The healer's probably too busy maintaining the barrier to join in. So? Is this enough proof? Or do I have to cut that guy down too to earn your recognition?"
"......"
Finn, clutching his stump, glared at Su-ho.
Seeing that look, Su-ho picked up Finn’s severed arm and approached him.
Then he held the arm against the stump and activated several skills.
[ Heal has been activated. ]
[ Recovery has been activated. ]
Flashes of light erupted from his hands.
Finn’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Because the severed arm reattached as if nothing had happened.
"H-How...?"
Su-ho didn’t respond.
Instead, he walked over to Albert and repeated the process.
Albert, who had just been screaming, now sat in stunned silence as he watched.
After all, he had just witnessed Finn’s arm being reattached with his own eyes.
Once Albert’s arm was restored, Su-ho also canceled Guiyeong Spear.
He healed the archer’s puncture wound as well before turning back to Finn.
"So? Your answer?"
"...We lost. Completely and utterly."
"You used your elental power, too. You’re not going to say you held back because this was a sparring match, right?"
"Of course not."
After answering, Finn examined his shield—then made a face of disbelief once again.
His arm had been severed along with his armor, but the shield itself—despite being at the forefront—was sohow untouched.
"...Sein."
At Finn’s call, the tense-faced Sein released Valkyrie’s Battlefield.
The factory’s original interior returned, and the UN players finally let out a breath.
Su-ho offered a light nod.
"Thank you for your efforts."
"Haah... yeah. You too, Mr. Su-ho."
"Shall we talk now?"
"...Sure. But I think I’m going to need a drink."
"Yes, it does look that way. Then let’s head back to the place from earlier. I’ll drive."
"N-No, it’s fine. Sein, would you drive?"
"Yes, sir."
And so, they returned to where they’d been just a short while ago.
*
"Khahhh...!"
Now seated at a regular table, not the bar, Finn drained an entire beer bottle in one go and set it down.
Albert and the archer Max did the sa.
Su-ho smiled as he watched.
"Feeling a bit calr now?"
"Yeah. The drink helped settle down."
"That’s good. If you hadn’t, I would’ve had to take other asures."
"asures? What, you’ve got sothing special for that too?"
"ntal healing is also one of my specialties."
"...Hah."
Finn clicked his tongue.
He already knew Su-ho was a healing class, but having now experienced his swordsmanship firsthand, his healing ability suddenly felt even more incredible.
Su-ho continued.
"Then shall we get back to the main topic? Or do you still have more tests to run?"
"Haha, no. That was more than enough. You singlehandedly neutralized and my team. What more proof do we need? It might sound a bit odd coming from , but I’m considered one of the top rankers in the U.S."
Is that so?
He couldn’t quite recall.
But judging by his level, it seed plausible.
Su-ho nodded.
"Besides the people here, are there any others who entered the country secretly?"
"None. This is all of us."
"That makes talking easier."
"Indeed. I’m the highest-ranking official of the current UN delegation. With that in mind, there’s sothing I’d like to ask you."
"Feel free."
"Thank you. Mr. Su-ho, what is your ultimate goal as a player?"
A cautious question.
Yes, even in a casual conversation, one couldn’t just ask that outright.
Su-ho answered without hesitation.
"If you’ve read my interviews in Korea, you’ll know—my final goal is the eradication of all Gates."
The eradication of Gates.
At those words, Finn’s face brightened.
"The UN shares the sa vision. We’re an organization that strives for global peace, more than any other. In light of the cataclysm, we’ve implented many changes. For instance, the restructuring of the Peacekeeping Forces."
"I know a bit about the Peace Corps. And what kinds of missions the UN undertakes. Are you trying to recruit ?"
A direct question.
It caught Finn off guard, his eyes widening slightly.
But Su-ho didn’t feel the need to beat around the bush.
The things they were trying to say were already obvious.
Hearing Su-ho’s bluntness, Finn leaned in and clasped his hands in a very Arican gesture before speaking carefully.
"To get to the point, yes. I hope Korea can beco a new non-permanent mber of the UN Security Council. And more specifically, that you yourself can operate on behalf of that position."
"Let’s be clear. Do you want Korea to beco a non-permanent mber, or do you want that status in order to use ?"
"Is that distinction important? Do we really have to choose one?"
"Yes, it’s important to . After all, the final say on that non-permanent mbership lies with , doesn’t it?"
An answer full of confidence.
And impossible to refute.
Because the man before him had that much influence and power.
Finn nodded carefully.
"Of course, what we want is you, An Su-ho."
"And what if I refuse?"
"...Are you planning to?"
"Who knows?"
"Hmm."
The word refuse clearly unsettled Finn.
Honestly, he hadn’t considered the possibility.
Becoming a non-permanent mber ca with responsibilities—but also trendous benefits.
Finn asked,
"Why would you consider refusing?"
"Let ask you in return—why do you assu I’d accept? Because it offers benefits? Because it raises the country’s global standing?"
"Well..."
Truthfully, yes.
Why else would countries vie so desperately for non-permanent mber status?
Su-ho continued.
"I understand that the UN's goals are admirable. But from my perspective, it’s all just a pretty facade. In the end, it’s the players who are thrown into the field. And if a player joins under the UN, they’re obligated to participate in the Peace Corps per terms negotiated between the UN and the mber state. No matter how many benefits the Corps may offer, does it give more than a top-tier private guild?"
"So it’s about money for you?"
"No. Money and benefits are just one of many factors. But I don’t need money. If I truly wanted it, I’d have made a guild, not worked as a state-employed Hunter."
"Then what’s the issue?"
"I hate compulsion. Yes, I share the UN’s goal of ending the Gates. But if Korea becos a non-permanent mber because of , then ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) the burden of that status falls on alone. I’d be carrying the entire nation’s obligation."
"From a grander perspective, it’s for humanity."
"I know. But that’s why I want to move more efficiently. If I may ask—if the UN is so devoted to peace, why did it neglect North Korea?"
"That’s..."
Finn had no answer.
Because North Korea was a UN mber nation.
Even if it was inevitable, the truth remained—they had been abandoned.
Finn responded in a hesitant voice.
"At the ti... the new UN was still in its early stages."
"So timing is the excuse? But North Korea began collapsing after the UN restructured and turned the Peacekeepers into the Peace Corps. I don’t know the full political story. But even if North Korea is a special case, can you really say there were no political calculations in ignoring one of your own mber nations?"
"......"
Silence from Finn.
And from everyone else.
Did he push too hard?
Probably ruined the mood.
But it couldn’t be helped.
Even if they’d spoken diplomatically, the atmosphere would be the sa.
This wasn’t about scolding the UN.
And the man before him didn’t make those decisions.
Su-ho pressed on.
"I don’t particularly want Korea to beco a non-permanent mber. Especially not if it’s being proposed just for . How many people would be forced into the Peace Corps because of that? How many things would be sacrificed?"
"Then are you rejecting the offer entirely?"
"Why do you think there are only two options?"
"Huh?"
"Is it really necessary for Korea to beco a non-permanent mber for to work with the UN?"
"What are you saying?"
"I’m saying there are other ways. You could hire as a rcenary, for instance. Or request volunteer work."
"rcenary? Wait, volunteer?"
"Yes. In the end, the UN’s role is to deal with Gates, right? Volunteers could do that work too. For example—, acting as an individual."
Volunteer.
At that word, everyone at the table stared at Su-ho in disbelief.
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