novelraw Chapter 60
Chapter 60
Chapter 60
Han Sang‑ah and I crossed Siberia again, took a ship out of Vladivostok, and arrived at the port of Donghae.
“Wow.”
To be honest, even when the world was normal I don't think Donghae was ever this crowded. Standing at the bow and looking at the sea of people thronging the far pier felt strange.
“What are you doing?”
Han Sang‑ah called from behind me. I clicked my tongue and answered.
“Are you done puking? You handle a blade like a demon, so what is with the seasickness?”
Wiping the corner of her mouth, Han Sang‑ah replied.
“There was nothing in my stomach, so nothing came up. I am fine.”
“Keep that up and you will collapse.”
“There is an IV on the ship. I will take that.”
People are supposed to eat food, not stick a tube in a vein and call it a meal.
“Looks like you are already striking a celebrity pose huh?”
At Lee Se‑eun’s teasing, I gave a thumbs up.
“What is wrong with a competent guy acting like that?”
With arms folded, Lee Se‑eun shot back.
“So today’s concept is obnoxious huh. We will dock soon. Don't strut in front of me. Save it for them.”
Fair enough. Gagging once more, Han Sang‑ah spoke with her face a shade pale.
“When we get to Seoul… we will have to go straight there.”
The Geumyang Group chairman said he would buy us a meal. I could think about that later though. Han Sang‑ah slipped away again to retch up an empty stomach.
Meanwhile, the ship kept drawing in toward the harbor.
“The press room is prepared. The Association President is providing a car, so you can head there directly.”
“Huh? You are not coming with us?”
At my question, Lee Se‑eun shook her head.
“I am busy. Besides, I am not someone who has to be at this particular briefing anyway.”
“No need to be so hurtful, you know. Anyway, understood.”
“Alright. We’ll grab a meal later.”
After saying goodbye to Lee Se‑eun, Han Sang‑ah and I disembarked and got straight into a car. The Association President was already inside. Feels like it has been a while since I saw the bald old man. Wait, it actually has.
“You are about to be flooded with questions.”
As we drove, the President filled us in.
“You are not just a super rookie anymore. No Hunter has cleared a class one Erosion Zone this fast since debut.”
Staring through the dark tinted window, I asked,
“Including that so‑called Grand Senior?”
“Yes.”
The guy at the very top of the so‑called List of Hope. The first Hunter to appear in the world, and the only reason Korea stayed intact while other countries did not.
“He will probably come up at the press conference too.”
“Makes sense.”
You can talk freely about anyone else, but you choose your words very carefully with the Grand Senior. You never speak carelessly about him. It would cause a bigger uproar than pissing on a cross at a church rally.
If Lee Se‑eun is a respected Hunter, the Grand Senior is venerated. As in, godlike.
“I am not going to say anything provocative. I am not some maniac itching to set the world on fire.”
“Most people would be nervous in a situation like this. But neither of you shows any sign of it.”
I was pretty relaxed, and as for Han Sang‑ah… nervous or not, she looked like her usual self. I turned my eyes to the President.
“If I were just an average Hunter, how would I be riding to the conference in the same car as you?”
As we talked, we arrived at the venue.
“Let us have a meal sometime.”
The Geumyang chairman, then Lee Se‑eun, and now the Association President asked me the same question.
What am I, some walking MSG? I guess eating with me makes the food taste better.
Once inside, Han Sang‑ah and I went up to the prepared podium. I brought the mic to my mouth and kept it short.
“I am Yoo Chan‑seok.”
“I am Han Sang‑ah.”
After the greetings, I continued.
“We have plenty of time today, so ask everything now if you’re curious about anything. We will be busy going forward, so it may be hard to attend things like this again.”
One of the reporters raised a hand.
“Hunter Yoo Chan‑seok. When you say you will be busy, does that mean your next steps are set? Are you perhaps joining a company?”
I shook my head.
“I am not joining any company. I don't plan to in the future either.”
“Is that true for Hunter Han Sang‑ah as well?”
“Yes. I plan to stay that way until I achieve my goal.”
Her answer drew another immediate question.
“Can you tell us what that goal is?”
I glanced at Han Sang‑ah and whispered.
“I will take this one.”
“Sure.”
With her nod, I spoke.
“From here on, I plan to work in a small team with a handful of capable Hunters. The goal is to eliminate every remaining class 1 Erosion Zones on Earth.”
Every reporter readying a question turned to me, and a silence heavy enough to hear a swallow settled over the room.
“Hold on, what are you…”
I spoke into the mic again.
“We don't do anything else. Corporate, government, or private contracts. Ads and TV appearances… We know most Hunters earn in many ways, but Hunter Han Sang‑ah and I am not interested in those.”
Just one thing. We will smash the Erosion Zones. That is why we are together, and we will do nothing else.
“That’s a statement that could be taken as saying other Hunters are not staying true to their essence as Hunters.”
Good grief. Reporters can mangle even the plainest words, but this is a stretch.
“I never said that. There are many areas where Hunters are needed. However, we are choosing to focus on Erosion Zone elimination.”
I finished and looked over the press. This is Korea, where the infrastructure still works. The conference is probably live on the internet and TV.
“We recognize the efforts of other Hunters who keep daily life running. But nothing truly changes unless the Erosion Zones are removed. We will work hard to pull out this cursed weed by the root.”
In the end, if Erosion Zones and their zones don't disappear, nothing does.
“May I ask one more question?”
“Yes, of course.”
“You said you will focus on class one Erosion Zones. Does that mean… Well, um.”
Every other reporter looked at the one speaking. They had figured out what he was about to ask.
“Does that include the Great Eight?”
“Hunter Han Sang‑ah has agreed to work with me at least until we take down Club Shaddai, one of the Great Eight. I cannot speak to her path after that, but my goal is to eliminate all class one Erosion Zones, the Great Eight included.”
One reporter muttered, “Insane.”
“Do you think that is achievable?”
I smiled and replied.
“Do you think what I just said is something that can be said while considering the possibilities?”
“So you are putting forward an impossible goal?”
I glanced at the one who asked and answered.
“If you want me to guarantee success right now, I cannot. I know what I am saying can sound grandiose. But I even turned down an offer from Taebaek to pursue this goal.”
This is where dropping Taebaek’s name helps.
“Taebaek?”
“Yes. I cannot disclose terms, but they were kind enough to offer me a Partner Hunter position.”
Turning down a Taebaek Partner position does not prove I will succeed, but it does make my resolve clear.
“If we are not talking about probability but resolve, then yes, my mindset is set on achieving it.”
“It has been confirmed that you and Hunter Han Sang-ah cleared the class one Erosion Zone Bratsk’s Refrigerator. But the Great Eight are in another league.”
I know that obviously. Canada’s Winter Closet, which is similar to Bratsk’s, stops most Hunters at the boundary because the zone temperature is too low.
“That is why we are looking for other strong Hunters who share this goal to move toward it together.”
We need more people. Han Sang‑ah and I cannot clap hands and skip around breaking class ones. This is not a children’s game.
“I’m not saying that we would tackle the Great Eight right away. That is the final goal. For now we will focus on other class ones, build strength, and find Hunters who share the same goal.”
Basically, I was trying to say, if you are interested, apply. I would plaster a hotline number like a shopping channel if I could, but that would look tacky here.
“That is what I wanted to say today in this place.”
Questions kept coming after that.
“What is your relationship with Hunter Han Sang-ah?”
What a strange question to ask here.
“We are married. My wife is already eight months pregnant.”
There, chew on that nonsense. Han Sang‑ah questioned me after hearing my response.
“Really? I married you? And when did I get pregnant?”
It was just to mess with them, and she goes and responds like that. She is fine in every way except for these occasional swings.
“Does your belly look like a pregnant belly? Don't tell me the seasickness still has you out of it.”
“Ah, true. I am a bit out of it.”
She muttered that and faced forward again. We had done what we came to do.
“If there are no more questions, we will end here.”
That ended the briefing. As we stepped out, Han Sang‑ah tilted her head and spoke.
“You know I am not good at these things.”
“What things?”
“Your jokes.”
“You are good at self‑assessment. Don't cling to your weak points. Build your strengths.”
“Thanks for the advice. Anyway, was that last line okay?”
I looked at her for a moment and answered.
“See? Trying to patch up your flaws half-heartedly just makes it even weirder.”
They are not idiots. No one will take that seriously. I already said it, and she still didn’t get it.
“And if anyone does take it seriously, it is a huge win for me.”
I would suddenly have Geumyang as backing. Han Sang‑ah let out an “ah” and nodded.
“True. But I withdrew from the succession fight. It’d be better for you to aim for my older sister. She owns the Artois hotel chain and is still going for the heir’s seat.”
“What are the odds your sister inherits Geumyang?”
“I put it around 35 percent. Once the heir is set, it will either lose its appeal or be out of reach, so now is the right time.”
What an encouraging plan.
“So after marriage, I spike her meals with a little antifreeze, let her die, and take the inheritance?”
Han Sang‑ah answered.
“Ethylene glycol, the antifreeze component, tastes sweet. She’ll probably notice if you mix it in rice.”
“Then I will put it in coffee.”
“She doesn’t put sugar in her cof…”
Mid reply, she shot me a look.
“I’m asking just in case, but are you joking right now?”
“Then do you think I was being serious this whole time?”
The Geumyang son‑in‑law poisoning his wife? That was nonsense. Han Sang‑ah made a glum face after hearing my reply.
“Sigh, my progress is still painfully slow.”
“Reading my jokes? Just give it up.”
We left the conference hall while having that conversation.