novelraw Chapter 191 : Fake Finals (2)
Chapter 191 : Fake Finals (2)
Fake Finals (2)
It is possible to close a rift.
If someone were to say this, most people would scoff.
A small-scale black hole that turns a radius of several hundred kilometers into something that 'never existed'—that is the rift incident.
It was not a disaster that could be stopped by human, let alone personal, power.
However, if the person saying it was Shin Ah-yeon, the weight of the statement changed.
Because Shin Ah-yeon was already the only mage who had once closed a rift by herself through personal power.
"If it's already fully open, it might be difficult."
Park Jung-woo added to Ah-yeon's words.
"If it's already completely open, even Hunter Shin Ah-yeon-nim would have to risk her life. But if it's before it opens... it shouldn't be that hard."
From Jung-woo's perspective, it was not something he was particularly willing to do, but right now, only Ah-yeon could close the rift.
There was no time to ask for help from other mages, and since they had no experience closing rifts, they would more likely be a hindrance.
"Closing the rift...."
Representative Gilbert looked at Jung-woo.
'Enoch told me to get his help.'
There was no way Representative Gilbert, who was deeply connected with the United States, wouldn't know Park Jung-woo.
Enoch had even repeatedly emphasized to make sure support swung to Jung-woo's opinion as much as possible regarding this incident.
'He's said to be a returnee.'
The United States, once badly burned by James Walker, had no choice but to be cautious about returnees, but he was clearly a returnee. If not, the prudent Enoch would never have valued Jung-woo so highly.
"In the first place, isn't this incident something caused by Owen McGregor, who's an American Hunter? I don't see why we need to intervene."
Even though Jung-woo and Ah-yeon presented a solution, the reaction from other countries was cold.
Of course, some countries kept quiet out of concern for the U. S., but the negativity remained the same.
Gilbert sighed at their reaction, but Jung-woo wasn't particularly bothered.
What Owen wanted was a 'real finals'.
He wouldn't care much about the countries that had been eliminated before the finals.
Conversely, it meant that Korea and the United States needed to participate in this subjugation operation.
'... The likelihood that demons led this incident is low.'
If, in this situation where attention was already drawn to demons because of the Sol Mayer case, someone like Owen stirred up more trouble, it would only highlight the danger of demons even further.
That was likely not what they wanted.
'So, what is Owen's true goal?'
Finding that out was the top priority.
***
Grand Canyon, land devastated by the rift incident.
A hotbed of monsters, and designated as a danger zone on par with the demonic zone.
Somewhere here was Owen McGregor.
"There are a total of seventeen dungeons currently present in the Grand Canyon."
The person speaking was Adam, an agent from the Bureau of Paranormal Phenomena.
Of course, here he could only introduce himself as a staff member of the American Hunter Association.
"Of those, there are four where a rift incident could occur."
"Owen is in one of those?"
"That's our guess, but we're not certain. We haven't been able to enter the dungeons, after all."
At Adam's words, everyone nearby turned their attention to him.
Present at the scene were S-rank Hunters from Korea and the U. S., as well as S-rank Hunters from several other countries.
The remaining Hunters were here hoping to earn a favor from the U. S.
Among them was Kian Rogers from the United Kingdom.
He frowned at Adam's words.
"You couldn't enter inside?"
"The dungeon is highly unstable. Left alone, it'll likely collapse on its own. Even if a gate opens there, it'll only be after the dungeon is destroyed."
Apparently, the distortion of magic power before the gate could form was too much for the dungeon to withstand—a typical phenomenon.
If the dungeon didn't collapse despite the distortion, a gate would open and a rift incident would follow.
"... Distortion of magic power? Does the American Hunter Association have technology to detect such things?"
Adam didn't reply to Kian's question, just smiled lightly.
That wasn't what mattered right now.
"Manager-nim, why is that man taking part in this fight?"
Soo-ah spoke up, apparently feeling awkward around Kian.
After all, he was someone she had defeated.
'He came to repay a debt, he said.'
Kian mentioned that during a brief conversation earlier.
Since Yeon-ji had stopped the disaster Sol Mayer almost caused, he had joined this battle as the leader of the UK team.
In a way, he was a principled individual.
A man who was a leader to the core.
'And at this point, Soo-ah is probably fine too.'
There had been concerns about her arm injury, but because the finals had been postponed so long, Soo-ah had had plenty of time to recover. The Korean Hunters present were Ah-yeon, Soo-ah, Baek Hojun, and lastly, Yeon-ji.
Ardan had wanted to come too, but considering he might have to fight and his true nature as a demon, he had no choice but to stay behind.
The United States had brought five S-rank Hunters, and in place of the missing Owen, Ryan Knox was acting as leader.
"Hey, want me to go take a look around?"
Naturally, Alencia had ended up joining our group.
She seemed in good spirits at the thought of not having to fight against us.
"No. It's too dangerous to go alone."
"For now, let's check things carefully, one at a..."
Just as I said that—
Kuuwoong!!
The magic power in the area began to surge wildly, reacting to something.
"... I thought we could take it slow, but it seems we're out of time."
"They're giving us a grand welcome,"
Hojun muttered as if exasperated.
"It seems they know we're here. And they don't intend to wait for us."
As I said that, I glanced at the gathered S-rank Hunters.
"We'll have to split into four groups."
At my words, both the S-rank Hunters and the agents from the Bureau of Paranormal Phenomena nodded in unison.
"In the end, even if it's not as intended, we're together now."
While I was pondering groupings, Eugene Garland spoke to me.
He originally lost his spot in the finals against Korea due to Alencia, but for this incident, apparently, we would work together.
"You know Eugene Garland as well?"
"Now that you mention it... why are you just naturally following his lead?"
The S-rank Hunters from countries other than the U. S. and Korea looked puzzled at how I and Eugene seemed to know each other.
From their perspective, it must have been strange to see someone who wasn't even a Hunter participating so casually in all this.
"These are the teams I'm thinking of."
A group led by Kian Rogers; another with Soo-ah, Yeon-ji, Baek Hojun, and Alencia; another with the American S-rank Hunters; and lastly, a team made up of Hunters from other countries.
The Hunters from other countries looked like they had a lot to say, but since the U. S. and the UK—the two most influential groups—said nothing, they stayed silent.
"This seems right. But will you be here as well?"
"Yes. For now, I'll wait here with Hunter Shin Ah-yeon-nim. And Shin Ah-yeon-nim will..."
"Go to where the rift was discovered, right?"
"Yes."
"... Hm. Well, that means you'll be left here on your own."
"There will still be people here from the association, so there's no need to worry."
At my nonchalant answer, he stared at me deeply, then nodded.
"Well, they wouldn't have brought you here from above for no reason."
As Ryan Knox spoke and then disappeared, someone tugged on my sleeve.
"Aren't you coming with us?"
It was none other than Yeon-ji who tugged on my sleeve.
She looked quite uncomfortable being here.
Naturally so, since all the Hunters present were S-rank.
"Ah-yeon and I need to head to the rift."
At my words, Yeon-ji looked at the S-rank Hunters assigned to her group.
They were definitely skilled, but compared to the other S-ranks here, they did have some shortcomings.
"... I never thought I'd be evaluating other S-rank Hunters' skills."
Glancing over the S-ranks absent-mindedly, Yeon-ji smiled at me.
Still, she certainly seemed brighter than before.
Of course, her grumbling attitude hadn't changed, though.
"If there really is a rift incident, are you and Shin Ah-yeon going to stop it?"
"Yeah. So..."
"In other words, you're saying there's nothing to worry about?"
Yeon-ji cut me off and smiled faintly.
Her face had once looked childish, but now, she gave off more the impression she had during the Ji Yeon-hwa period.
"Understood. But, I have one question."
"What is it?"
She whispered quietly to me, watching the Hunters discussing which dungeon to enter.
"Three years ago, during the rift incident, Shin Ah-yeon's mana hall was shattered. Is something like that going to happen again... this time?"
She must have been worried about Ah-yeon.
Ever since Ah-yeon said she could close the rift, Yeon-ji's face hadn't looked good, and it seemed this was the reason.
"This time it'll be fine. I'm different from before too."
"... Are you sure it's really okay?"
"How many times do I have to answer?"
Finally, at my words, Yeon-ji smiled with a relieved expression.
"As long as it's really okay, that's all I need."
She said that, and then looked over at the usually quiet Ah-yeon.
Ever since she said she could close the rift, Ah-yeon had been uncharacteristically silent.
'Is she thinking of what happened three years ago?'
Maybe.
She had said it would be fine as long as they stopped it before the rift broke open, but nothing was a guarantee.
But even if it did come to that, things were different now.
As I told Yeon-ji, unlike before, I now had the Demon King's Heart.
Even if I didn't, I was strong enough to assist Ah-yeon now.
"Then, let's split into teams and enter the dungeons!"
At Ryan Knox's cry, each team's leader led their group toward the dungeons that Adam had marked on the map.
Ah-yeon and I, meanwhile, waited at the center position.
Until we found the dungeon with Owen McGregor.
***
'This doesn't feel right.'
To be honest, Ah-yeon wasn't in great condition.
Not physically—but otherwise.
'Is it because she can't use the Conceptualization Technique?'
Closing the rift didn't really have much to do with the Conceptualization Technique.
The issue was the 'dreams' she'd been having recently.
Dreams, repeating over and over.
They were different from the ones before.
For a time, she had dreamed of the moment when the demons and Estella faced each other, but now it was different.
Now, she dreamed of being alone, curled up in a dark space.
Maybe the dream isn't repeating.
Maybe she's watching Estella's days, locked away somewhere for a thousand years.
'Since the day Jung-woo oppa came to find me.'
Ever since then, she'd been having these dreams.
She didn't know why.
"Are you anxious?"
At that moment, Jung-woo asked.
He must have thought she was feeling nervous about closing the rift.
"No, it's just that I haven't been sleeping well lately."
"Really?"
Jung-woo scrutinized Ah-yeon, as if to see if she was telling the truth.
Then suddenly, he noticed the bracelet on Ah-yeon's wrist.
Estella's bracelet.
Not long ago, Ah-yeon had asked to borrow it, and he'd forgotten to get it back.
"You wore it?"
"Oh, yes. It helps a bit with using magic power."
He'd heard that it had an especially good effect for a Saintess, but for her, it didn't feel particularly effective. She thought of giving it to Alencia, but didn't like the idea.
'Even if I was the Saintess in a past life, I'm not one now?'
It felt unfair, but there was nothing to be done.
'And...'
Whenever Ah-yeon saw this bracelet, a question came to mind.
Why had Estella wanted to go to such lengths, even leaving a Saintess's authority in this bracelet, to find Jung-woo?
'Maybe she just wanted to see him again that badly.'
But maybe there was something more.
And she felt that it might be related to how she occasionally lost consciousness.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
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