Chapter 376, Raid Prohibited (3)
"I've got nothing but a bad feeling."
"Did that Korean hunter think our abilities weren't enough to handle the dungeon?"
The S-ranks on the street showed fear, worried they might end up following the sa fate as the unfortunate hunting dog.
"At this rate, won't you guys in Imabaet get taken down? We went out of our way to overlook those annoying ones, but if your skills keep looking inferior over ti, this could beco a real problem."
"Ta, taken down? Haha... no way, no way that could happen..."
The woman listening had originally intended to chide him with sothing like, "Haven't you read too many comics?" But the things her industry colleague was muttering were too serious to dismiss as re jokes.
[I'll let it slide this ti. Japan still needs to have personnel left to manage the gate.]
There was sothing that weighed on her mind. No, not just a little—there were a lot, seriously. Above all, Kim Giryeo possessed an unnaturally terrifying appearance.
"_ _"
The physical traits of a certain Korean were, at the very least, a universally intimidating threat within the Asian region. So a hunter in Japan soon thought to themselves.
"If it turns out I'm not particularly helpful to world peace... would it at least be made to pay property for my sins, even belatedly?"
And at this mont, the ones feeling even more anxious were Ion's side. They had gone through all that chaos to protect the civil rights of the awakened, and now the consequences they had long forgotten were about to catch up with them.
"All right. Calm down. I'll first ask Kim Giryeo exactly what his intentions are."
The young man, who was currently the most uneasy in the room, watched as Ion spoke and lifted his cellphone. It was to reply to the hunter from the neighboring country. Being from a generation accustod to handling electronic devices, he quickly began typing the ssage with his thumb.
[Send to: Hunter Kim Giryeo]
[Hello. I've seen your ssage.
First, I would like to sincerely apologize once again for what happened during the Kagoshima raid.
I completely understand and respect Hunter Kim Giryeo's judgnt that you cannot trust this situation to be handled.
However, if the events in Kagoshima have suddenly left you feeling unsettled and you wish to punish the criminals again, could I be excluded since I wasn't an accomplice?
[And of course, at a level like yours, most awakened would probably seem insignificant. The ones who gathered for that raid were elite superhumans from Japan, so if all of them were punished, honesty, it would create difficulties in maintaining public order.
Therefore, if you could direct your anger at just the ringleader, Moritaka Ito, I would be truly grateful.]
So, what was the reaction of the person who received the ssage?
...
...
Tiring.
A few seconds later, Kim Giryeo in Korea was marveling at the technology that allowed him to converse with soone across the sea. But just as he was enjoying the civilization of another planet, a long ssage arrived on his cellphone, causing the alien to tilt its head.
"What?"
Why did such a long-winded ssage co back? Judging by the context, it seed the Japanese hunter had misunderstood Raid Prohib. So it was strange way. But there wasn't enough ti to correct the confusion, especially since they didn't even know where things had gone wrong.
"What a hassle at this hour, just six in the evening."
For reference, Kim Giryeo had co straight to the nearby Hunter Association imdiately after finishing his al with Ahn Yoonsang. The branch of the Hunter Association that handles interdinsional disasters always had staff on night duty due to the nature of the organization. Therefore, he ca here to urgently discuss the newly appeared dungeon and knocked on the door.
"Heuk! H, Hunter Kim Giryeo?"
"If you've confird my identity, let in quickly. Otherwise, at least contact the person in charge of the association directly."
But it wasn't even in South Korea. Moreover, why had the archmage taken an interest in a certain dungeon that appeared all the way across the Pacific? There was one reason that could not be ignored.
"There was a ti when precisely that kind of floating territory appeared in Alphaut as well."
He knew the full story from mories of his past life.
[BREAKING NEWS] Unprecedented, Severe Dungeon Phenonon Occurs in the Pacific Ocean near Minamitorishima.]
The report that had first appeared on the small monitor inside the restaurant was explained in greater detail: at the easternmost edge of an Asian country, an unbelievable sight was now unfolding.
"Anyway, whether this is the start of a cataclysm or sothing..."
Just like when monsters first appeared on Earth, a mysterious light—so vivid it could be called an aurora—rose from the shoreline. From that very spot, a dungeon suddenly revealed itself. This ti, however, the dungeon didn't go through the cumberso "gate" straw at all.
"I'm not sure, but roughly speaking, it's comparable in size to an island called Yeongyeongdo... maybe?"
A rocky nest for monsters, tangled with red or jet-black stones, appeared in the far-off sky. This is, in other words, the arrival of the Heavenly Palace Island—a place only ntioned in fairy tales. What's more, that island-shaped anomaly was gently floating in the atmosphere, its location shifting even at this very mont, despite the fact that it had no wings.
"Is it being drawn toward the land where humanity gathers?"
To think a nightmare could suddenly take form like this... However, the island dungeon that had just appeared was, in fact, a poor fit to be called a "feeding box" for the core beings.
"Most importantly, it's not a square."
A certain cosmic parasite prefers angular, perfectly rectangular tables. But that island was sohow round, and on top of that, it even moved for no reason...
Then, what is the significance of the island that has just appeared?
"This ti, it probably isn't related to a al."
The archmage instantly grasped the situation, drawing on the mories accumulated over his past life.
"They're just showing off. Those insects are flaunting their creation abilities for no reason!"
The creation magic that just occurred is none other than a planetary modification 'practice' for the cosmic parasites. T he [Descent] that the great mage always worried about also entailed a serious disaster in which the entire planet would be changed into an environnt favorable to the enemy. To think they could change an alien space to be suitable for them to live in. This process was often called terraforming on Earth. Of course, for now, rather than worrying about such linguistic differences, my focus should be on sothing else entirely.
"Fortunately, the toy they've created this ti doesn't seem to be an environnt where humans would die just by touching it..."
Sigh.
The alien, who bore the appearance of Kim Giryeo, casually scanned the sky before stopping abruptly.
"The problem is that the magnificent creation will collapse as soon as the dungeon is cleared."
Exactly. Here lies the critical dilemma. Just like the leaders of all Blue Gates, which always carried the keys to the exit, the core of the Gisimche's frequent spatial intrusions was always the boss entity. This island surely had a creature far stronger than the surrounding minions. Once that dungeon's master fell, the island's entire energy would plumt. With the leader dead, nothing would remain but the dungeon's collapse.
"Oh my. Why did a brilliant mage like forget about that?"
The blonde alien lanted his mistake deeply. Honestly, in the binary star system where he was first born, such creations losing their power would have posed no problem at all. After all, buoyancy was far too common there. Therefore, the old mage of Alphaut could not easily remain on guard against the current phenonon.
"This was an event that was bound to happen eventually."
So what should we do?
On a map, it would barely register as a tiny dot. If that creation made by the Gisimche were ever cleared, it would inflict irreparable damage on humanity.
"Hmm."
If it falls into the water, it's a tsunami. If it falls on land, it's a teor strike... There's no more technical way to put it, but one thing's certain: it's definitely a disaster.
"To the locals, a teor strike and that are pretty much the sa thing."
For now, Kim Giryeo judged that preventing reckless attempts to clear the dungeon was the best course of action. The monsters occasionally spilling from the island were only B-rank, aning that even a single competent A-rank could likely handle that gate. So it was best to outright declare—whether through the association or the international community—that no one should lay a hand on the island.
"As expected, I guess I'll have to handle the attack myself."
In an instant, the thought flashed through his mind.
"Well, since this is the first ti Earth is experiencing sothing like this... it wouldn't be bad for to step in while also collecting data."
The alien Archmage wanted to deal with the island safely before the situation grew worse. Since an otherworld had already been brought into reality, there was now only one way left to remove the island.
"With overwhelming physical force... well, sohow, one way or another, it has to be done..."
Surprisingly, that dungeon was sothing that would just fall if we dawdled and exceeded its break ti limit. But just imagine what would happen if that giant, rocky nest flying around in the sky just so happened to stop over a densely populated human area.
"Judging by its speed, it might even end up stopping near the Korean coast."
The more he thought about it, the more disastrous it seed. Kim Giryeo clutched his head as visions of catastrophe flashed through his mind. This one thing was certain in this situation: Earth had no one capable of handling that island.
"Or maybe not? Could it actually be possible to shoot it down with sothing like a nuke?"
He corrected himself. More precisely, it wasn't that the world lacked scientists or weapons, but that among the psychics there was no real problem-solver to be found. And when he considered what might happen if technology alone tried to intervene, the outco didn't seem to be the best. So, for the sake of the planet's safety, he made up his mind. Better for soone powerful to step in from the beginning than to let the humans blunder into chaos.
"This ti, it's obvious things are going to get troubleso."
To safely eliminate that enormous floating island—large enough to hold an entire village—was no easy feat. For an ordinary human on Earth to attempt such a terraforming-eraser spell would an a guaranteed, catastrophic collapse of their lungs.
"If you pretend to be ignorant when you're perfectly capable, there will surely be consequences..."
Kim Giryeo was about to think that he felt uneasy, but then he paused for a mont.
"If it's discovered later, there will definitely be repercussions. In any case, it's certain that my honor will suffer a negative impact."
And then he turned away. Around that ti, he even found himself censoring expressions that no one else could possibly hear.
"Hunter Kim Giryeo! The Association President just replied. He's connecting via video call now, so please check your phone."
At last, he had made contact with the person in charge.
***
But now, after he had gone out of his way to show the generosity of the strong...
"What the heck?"
About three hours later. Republic of Korea. Seoul.
I stood outside, eyes dry and wide open even in the deep of night. It was all for the purpose of eliminating the floating island that kept drawing closer by the mont.
But the mont I said I'd be heading out to the Pacific Ocean, that so-called association president imdiately started making frantic calls sowhere...
[International Hunter Federation: That dungeon, handled by a single Korean? That wouldn't work, would it?]
Soon enough, such a ridiculous reply arrived. Here I was, a great archmage offering to use my sorcery for the good of the world. Yet to the high-ranking leaders of Earth, my offer seed like nothing more than an attempt to monopolize a valuable dungeon. One after another, nations raised their unexpected concerns.
Well, only Alphaurins would recognize such an island as nothing more than a toy. Earthlings, it was simply a new hunting ground... Gates had always worked under a certain logic—the stranger the form or the higher the difficulty, the greater the reward. And so, every ti Blue Gate collapses into ruin the mont its boss is slain, so was the first point of ergence had been the sea.
"I didn't know that. To think the vast Pacific Ocean doesn't have an owner, but belongs to everyone."
The sight of sharing the most beautiful region so harmoniously. To a forr marine creature, it was truly touching, but...
"Damn it! Why do these b*stards only bring up public territory when it suits their needs?!"
"Gasp! P, please calm down, Hunter."
I wondered if they had already forgotten when the very first monster in the world had appeared near the Mariana Trench. Back then, everyone had delayed their response, insisting that the Pacific wasn't under their jurisdiction. Only after the creature traveled through the waters and threatened Hawaii did the U.S. governnt finally scramble into action. But moving only after casualties had already occurred was aningless.
Of course, the most important thing in a disaster is to suppress it early.
"I guess there's nothing I can do."
Therefore, I quickly made the information public so that no more ti would be wasted.
"Even if it ends up sounding sowhat like a threat, he would just have to endure it."
From that floating island, at best only B-rank monsters were spilling out—what kind of glory or fortune would he gain from hunting such things? And every Blue Gate collapses into ruin the mont its boss is slain, so was it really unreasonable to worry about what might happen after that island was conquered, and so on.
"Just listen for once, you blockheaded bipeds."
I revealed a few truths on my end and added one final remark.
"If you try to block from taking on the raid again, I'll just wash my hands of it completely. Forever.
A threat that if they ignored the warning, he wouldn't intervene no matter what—whether it was a tsunami rising or a city being shattered.
If I were to safely deal with the island that appeared this ti—no matter what—whether it was a tsunami rising or a 100% explode, I'd shatter completely, like a phone screen falling edge-first onto asphalt, crunching to pieces. So, to be honest, having them continue to oppose was actually more beneficial...
[International Hunter Federation: Our apologies. Then please proceed with the raid imdiately.]
Fortunately, the negotiations went smoothly. Not only the troubleso international border, but even the neighboring country, whose airspace was on the verge of being violated, willingly allowed the Korean S-rank hunter to enter.
Then, from this point onward, it's ti to safely dispose of the toy that the Gisimche created to show off their powers.
Ding
[New ssage]
[From: Seonwoo Yeon]
At that mont, a ssage arrived.
"Ah, that's right. Now that I think about it, I vented to this person out of boredom while waiting for the association president's reply."
It was a ssage from an acquaintance.
[Seonwoo Yeon]
[Regarding the matter you just ntioned, how did it turn out? I'm sorry I couldn't be of any help.]
[]
[No, it's fine now. I just got the approval.]
[Seonwoo Yeon]
[Oh, really?]
She had even considered borrowing the authority of a governnt official just in case...
"Well, really, what kind of power could you expect from just one person?"
I held onto my phone and got lost in thought.
[Seonwoo Yeon]
[Then that's really great. By the way, I was personally quite moved by this. Mr. Kim Giryeo is willing to risk getting hurt for our sake.]
anwhile, a new ssage arrived from an acquaintance, but this story was sowhat far from the truth.
[]
[I'm just doing what I have to do...]
The reason I was rushing around in the middle of the night was actually due to a personal matter as well.
[]
[If that island happens to stop in the East Sea, my mansion would take a direct hit!!]
[Judging by the angle at which the dungeon is moving, the calculations are exactly like that!]
[Seriously, how have these humans been living all this ti in such a weak, flood-prone place?]
[A country surrounded by the sea on three sides...]
For so reason, no reply ca from Seonwoo Yeon after that. Then now, it's truly ti to head out to the sea and get to work.
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