Chapter 132

Three days had passed since the end of the overwhelmingly one-sided confrontation that couldn’t even be called a Sparring Match.

Eleven S-Rank Awakeners gathered in the lodging provided by the Korean Association.

The S-Rank Awakeners, who had rushed to Korea bearing the honor of their respective nations, simply faced each other without a word.

It was understandable.

Outside, similar videos were still being played.

Videos of the eleven of them being taken down in a single blow.

How many people had watched that live broadcast again?

Including the ones that had spread on YouTube, it was probably seen by more people than the World Cup final, at the very least.

It felt like everyone had a lot they wanted to say but were holding it in.

After some time had passed like that.

“I think we need to get our story straight.”

At someone’s words, the Hunters snapped to their senses.

“That’s right. We need to get our story straight. The reporters are waiting outside like snakes, telling us to release a statement. We can’t delay it any longer. We have to say something before more strange rumors spread.”

“What are you going to say?”

“…We have to have something to say. Should we say we gave it our all but couldn’t help it?”

“Did we really give it our all?”

“?”

“I mean, isn’t that right? It was over before we could even try anything. In boxing terms, isn’t it like we lost to a lucky punch in the first round?”

As one person agreed, similar remarks spread from various places.

“To be honest… it’s not like there isn’t a part of it that feels unfair.”

“R-right. It’s not like it doesn’t feel unfair. It was like a lucky punch, wasn’t it?”

“He could have used poison.”

“He might have pulled some trick we don’t know about.”

“If only this had happened somewhere other than Korea…”

Henry Povil, who had been listening to the conversation in silence, scoffed.

He crossed his legs and spoke.

“If you feel so wronged, why don’t you request a rematch?”

The voices died down in an instant, as if a fire had been extinguished.

“Oh, right. When you fight him again, count me out. I don’t want to be humiliated twice when once was enough.”

“…Henry.”

“What. Does it seem unbelievable to you guys too? That we were so miserably defeated by Choi Gi-woong? It’s the same for me. It just doesn’t make any sense.”

Henry Povil trembled.

“I haven’t been able to sleep for three days. Whenever I close my eyes, I remember the look in Choi Gi-woong’s eyes. That… horrible memory of him looking at me.”

“……”

“Don’t you get it? This time, Choi Gi-woong gave us a chance. To come under him. If we had resisted with our vain pride…”

People swallowed hard.

“Admit it. Accept it. He is someone we cannot defeat. That man. Ever.”

He rose from his seat.

“Now go out and tell the reporters. That you will submit. Or else, charge at Choi Gi-woong one more time and get your heads cleanly chopped off.”

Then he opened the door and walked out.

A few of the Hunters, who had been glancing at each other, hesitantly got up and followed Henry Povil.

The remaining three or four Hunters once again just stared at each other in silence.

-This is insane. What did we just watch?

-Alright, everyone admits it now, right? Earth’s number 1, Choi Gi-woong. No one can touch him.

-But isn’t this fake? I mean, does this even make sense? Eleven S-Ranks get completely demolished without a chance? They’d get flamed even if they made a movie out of this.

-That’s why a lot of people are saying it’s fake.

-Even if it was fake, why would they fake something like this lol. Haven’t you seen the interviews? They admit it cleanly. Link.

In the video at the link, the eleven, including Henry Povil, were stating that they cleanly admitted their defeat.

-When asked what they thought about a rematch, did you see Ying Xin trembling and saying he wasn’t even considering it? The 1.3 billion people of his country fell into despair hearing that answer.

-Did you know? The Japanese President couldn’t even attend lol.

-Wait, wait. I think everyone’s getting too drunk on national pride and getting excited… this isn’t a situation to be so happy about.

-For real. It means if Choi Gi-woong just decides to, we’re finished too, so what’s there to be so happy about?

-These kids have no sense. From now on, innocent citizens could die at a single word from Choi Gi-woong.

-The start of a dictatorshipㄷㄷ

-But unlike the dictatorships of old, a coup d’état is completely impossible. You can’t even attempt it.

Just as this uncomfortable public opinion was forming.

-Link. Haven’t you seen the announcement from the International Awakener Association?

Another video blew up.

It was the official channel of the International Awakener Association.

Jeju Island. A giant beast was visible.

On the subtitles, an explanation of the Seven Demon Kings was scrolling by.

And the fact that the beast was one of those Demon Kings, Entesto, and that in terms of Rank, it was above S-Rank.

The highlight was the scene of Choi Gi-woong killing the beast.

As Entesto vanished into particles, the camera zoomed out on Choi Gi-woong’s impassive face.

[The establishment of the International Awakener Association is solely for the purpose of defense against Extraterrestrial Monsters.]

A link to a research paper appeared in the video.

Evidence of the existence of other dimensions, evidence that Monsters are aggressors from other dimensions invading Earth, and so on.

[Above all, we desperately need the help of you, the citizens. Please join the Association. We are recruiting Warriors to fight alongside us.]

-It’s not… a composite, right?

-If it were, graphics experts would have already chewed it up, torn it apart, and savored it.

-Wow, I almost pissed myself just making eye contact with the Monster? Demon King? in the video.

-Where did all the bastards who were slandering Choi Gi-woong go? If Choi Gi-woong had bad intentions, he would have blown everything up long ago. Why has he left us alone until now?

-For real.

-Anyway, a Demon King. It doesn’t feel quite real.

-Because of this, the researchers who were studying Gates are on high alert right now lol.

-That’s me… My lab professor is making a huge fuss, telling me to come in right away even though it’s the weekend.

-Before killing the Demon King, can’t he get rid of the Gate in front of my house? I can’t live in peace these days because I’m so anxious.

-Even if you clear them, they just keep reappearing. Like cockroaches. Just as Lee Seok-jae said, we need to get stronger, quickly.

-Fck, so we can’t attack and can only be attacked? That’s so unfair.

-I don’t know, I’m going to join the Association right now. They say if you join now, you get a free beginner’s weapon set.

Clank— Clank—

A small mechanical device whirred in my hand, making a loud noise.

The mana stones embedded in various places activated the machine, letting out a scream.

When the light flickered and died, it was designed to automatically switch to another mana stone.

Even after devouring this much, the machine was still far from being fully operational.

After staring at it for a while, I went outside. Lee Seok-jae, who was on standby, acted as my secretary.

“The response is overwhelming.”

“Is that so?”

“Especially thanks to the video of you, Chairman, personally killing the Demon King, the negative reactions have completely disappeared.”

That was a relief, as it was something I had been secretly worried about.

To bind and control humanity in one place, you have to use two strategies simultaneously.

In front of the public, I must appear easygoing and approachable, and in front of my inner circle, I must be, above all else, terrifying.

So far, that strategy was working well.

“Two of the U.S. presidential candidates have sent invitations. It seems an analysis came out that they’ll likely win the election if they just hold your hand, Chairman.”

“Is that so? What a bunch of clowns.”

“It seems they still haven’t grasped the situation. I will refuse. I’ll send a warning message along with it.”

“You should.”

The order was wrong.

The one left standing after they both beat each other to a pulp would be given the chance to kneel before me.

To reiterate, to those who would become my inner circle, I must appear, above all else, terrifying.

Henry Povil was like that, and the politicians of each country would be like that in the future.

The atmosphere on the streets was desolate.

Barricades and yellow safety lines were visible everywhere.

And there, without fail, Gates were forming.

For some reason, the sight brought me a sense of relief.

It was proof that the Demon Kings were running rampant, and it also meant that I was doing my job well.

“You go on ahead.”

I sent Lee Seok-jae ahead and entered the luxurious hotel restaurant.

“Welcome…”

Crash.

The sound of a dish shattering was heard.

The hotel employee, who had been kindly raising their voice, had dropped a plate the moment they saw me.

The attention of everyone inside instantly focused on me.

The eyes of the people who had been frowning widened.

They all had expressions similar to the employee’s.

A look that said, Is what I’m seeing right now real?

“Are you okay?”

I said as I helped clear the broken shards around the employee. The sound of camera shutters clicked from here and there.

Right. Take lots of pictures. Go on.

This was all part of the plan anyway.

“I made a reservation under the name Han Seung-hoon. Where should I go?”

From behind the still-dazed employee, a middle-aged man hurriedly approached.

“I was told by the Chairman. I am Jung Woo-seok, the General Manager of JW Hotel. It is an honor to serve you.”

The manager, bowing his head deeply, led me to a private room. Gazes from people in the hallways met mine.

Each time, I smiled and even took pictures with them.

What should I say? It feels like I’m acting with a mask on, but I have to get used to this sort of thing.

Inside the private room, Han Seung-hoon was sitting crookedly.

He looked like he had a lot to say. And a lot he wanted to hear, too.

“Please let me know if you need anything at all.”

After the General Manager left, I naturally sat down and drank some water first.

Han Seung-hoon spoke with a displeased face.

“Why bring me to a place like this? We could have just gone to a gukbap place.”

“I came to eat gukbap. The gukbap here is delicious.”

“…Ah, is that so?”

Ahem,* Han Seung-hoon smacked his lips and looked at me again.

“You punk. What’s with the good manners? It doesn’t suit you.”

Han Seung-hoon picked up his phone and opened his social media.

A video of me asking if the employee was okay while picking up the broken plate was being shared in real-time.

I knew this would happen, but I didn’t think it would be this fast.

After checking even the comment reactions, I looked back at Han Seung-hoon.

“I knew I was going to beat you.”

“I think you had your doubts.”

“If I had, I wouldn’t have made such a fuss. You have no idea how hard I worked to throw bait to the media, do you?”

So it was Han Seung-hoon who had fanned the flames in the media.

“I know. I’m buying you this meal to thank you.”

“I just can’t predict you at all. What are you planning to do now?”

“Can’t you see my future?”

“No. I can’t. My divine sense hasn’t been working at all lately. Maybe I should perform a ritual or something.”

Han Seung-hoon, who spoke the truth as if it were a joke, changed the look in his eyes.

“Tell me now. What’s the plan?”

It was about time I told him.

“What did you say your wish was last time, Head of department?”

“My wish?”

Han Seung-hoon said indifferently.

“For the Gates to disappear, of course. We have to put out the fire in our own house before we can even think about a counterattack or anything, right?”

“Yes. I’m going to grant that for you.”

“…What?”

Han Seung-hoon tilted his head.

“You’re going to do what?”

“Should I repeat myself?”

“……”

Han Seung-hoon stared at me intently.

A moment later, he opened his mouth, stammering.

“So, you’re saying, you’re really, truly going to… all the Gates on Earth…”

Stopping mid-sentence, Han Seung-hoon gulped down the water in front of him.

“You shouldn’t joke about things like this.”

“Have you ever seen me joke about something like this?”

Han Seung-hoon was right.

It was time to put out the fire in our own house first, and then think about a counterattack.

Yes. The point is the counterattack.

Humanity has been on the receiving end for 40 years.

It’s our turn to launch a counteroffensive.