“It’s just an interview. What’s your favorite food?”

“You’re asking something like that?”

Kim Songcheol slumped his shoulders.

He had prepared himself mentally when he heard he was from the Special Security Department, but all his energy drained away.

“I told you, it’s an interview, haha.”

“You’re not a reporter, are you?”

“Absolutely not.”

Peter waved his hand emphatically.

This was a place where one had to sign a confidentiality agreement to even enter.

If Peter were a reporter, it would mean he had infiltrated the Special Security Department, which made no sense.

“Favorite food… just Korean food.”

“Doenjang-jjigae, Kimchi-jjigae?”

“Yes. And side dishes, and it would be nice to have a fried egg too.”

“What about hobbies?”

“Hmm… walking?”

“What about hobbies you can’t tell others about?”

“I don’t have such a hobby.”

“Haha, that’s a relief. When you first became a Hunter, what was on your mind?”

Kim Songcheol’s eyes briefly looked upwards.

He recalled the first time he met Kim Myeongju.

He vividly remembered the top of Kim Myeongju’s head as she bowed, asking for his help.

“Should I sue the Nation and tell them to go to hell…”

“What does ‘go to hell’ mean?”

“It means, ‘I can’t do it, so do whatever you want, kill me or let me live,’ something like that.”

“I understand, haha.”

“But I thought about it a lot, and in the end, it was my choice. To become a Hunter.”

“Was there a decisive reason?”

Kim Songcheol rested both hands on his knees, gazing at a distant point.

His eyes deepened slightly.

“…I wonder if I can be confident I won’t regret it.”

“About what?”

“When my family was harmed by a Gate.”

…

“While Korea hasn’t had any casualties due to Gates, it’s quite common globally, isn’t it? And we don’t know what will happen to Korea in the future.”

“Were you confident you could protect Korea safely if you became a Hunter?”

“Nah, I didn’t have that confidence then, and I don’t now. Because we don’t know the future. That’s why I became a Hunter. With the hope that an accident I could prevent wouldn’t happen. And that such an accident wouldn’t take my family away.”

“Oh, that’s a very warm answer. It’s unexpected.”

“Is it? What did you expect…?”

“Money, honor, things like that. They’re good, aren’t they? Haha.”

“They’re not bad.”

Kim Songcheol also grinned and nodded.

“Then, are you considering a transfer?”

A rather sudden question.

It was like being asked if he wanted to buy a watermelon at the market.

But it was also a weighty question.

Kim Songcheol answered without much hesitation.

“To be honest… I don’t necessarily want to move, but I also have no reason not to move.”

“What do you mean?”

Peter asked.

His eyes sharpened for a moment, but Kim Songcheol didn’t see it.

Because he was looking elsewhere.

“If I don’t have to go into a dungeon, I’d be willing to move. Otherwise, I don’t see the need to move. It would be a loss to move.”

“What kind of loss? Like being banned from entering Korea?”

“Yes. I can never go to Korea again. And my remaining family will be pointed at. The media will make a fuss about it. Then I’d have to take all my family and leave the country… My grandmother and grandfather are still alive, you know? Even if their children want to take care of them, they don’t want to leave their hometown, they’re people who live where they’ve always lived. If I were to transfer, I don’t know what I would do about that.”

Money was not a big problem for Kim Songcheol.

From the moment he first heard 10 billion, he thought he wouldn’t have to worry about money for the rest of his life.

But now, he doesn’t even know what his annual salary is.

He heard talks of 100 billion, then 200 billion, and then that he would be informed after further discussion.

That was already a month ago, and he hadn’t asked separately.

So he was unaware.

The Republic of Korea Government would also be in a very difficult situation if Kim Songcheol left, so they would try to accommodate him no matter what.

As long as he was given a clear policy, there was no great loss. From 10 billion, Kim Songcheol’s personal standards were already far exceeded.

“Do you value honor more than money?”

Peter asked.

“If I had to choose, yes, but more than that, it’s the safety of those close to me. If I can truly become that strong, I think protecting the people around me comes first.”

“I see.”

Peter smiled contentedly for some reason.

It was a smile that even made Kim Songcheol laugh along.

“Why are you smiling like that?”

“I laugh a lot normally.”

“Is it because you’re in a service job?”

It was a sarcastic joke about Peter’s true identity.

He thought he was a guide, but he was originally an agent from the Special Security Department.

“For now, yes? Haha. Anyway, you have a strong desire to protect the people around you.”

“That’s right. What if I hear news that a friend or remaining family member died because a gate burst after I left? Just thinking about it is horrible, isn’t it?”

“I understand. Many people don’t move for similar reasons. But… you’re different from what I imagined, Mr. Kim Songcheol, haha.”

“I don’t know what you thought of me. Anyway, if I don’t have to go into a dungeon, I’ll put up with all those losses… But the United Kingdom has no reason to take me, do they?”

Kim Songcheol asked.

Taking Kim Songcheol would mean getting a lot of points, but the United Kingdom didn’t need that.

“Hmm… probably not, haha.”

“It really was an interview. Then please spread the word to other countries too. That I’ll go anywhere if I don’t have to enter a dungeon.”

“No country will accept that condition, haha.”

Peter laughed as if he had heard a funny joke.

Kim Songcheol did too.

“It’s practically an indirect refusal, isn’t it?”

“Is magic fun?”

“Yes. Among the things I’ve gained as a Hunter, it’s my favorite part.”

“That’s good.”

It was when Peter nodded.

Footsteps were heard, and then Cha Sehyeon appeared.

“What are you two talking about?”

She asked, taking drinks out of the refrigerator and putting them into an ice bag.

“We were having an interview.”

Peter said first.

“An interview? What kind of interview?”

“About Kim Songcheol.”

Cha Sehyeon narrowed her eyes, looking at Peter.

She snapped the ice bag shut and lifted it with her telekinetic magic.

“Brother, Peter didn’t say anything strange, did he?”

“No. There was nothing you’d be worried about.”

“What is it that I’d be worried about?”

“Me going to another country.”

That wasn’t wrong.

The United Kingdom had not suggested a transfer to Kim Songcheol.

Peter had genuinely just interviewed Kim Songcheol.

“You know it well. Everyone, be careful. I’m watching everything.”

Cha Sehyeon glared at both of them once and then walked back to the beach.

There was no real sign of her suspecting Peter.

If she had suspected him, it wouldn’t have ended like this.

“I almost died just now? Phew.”

Peter exhaled dramatically, pretending to wipe sweat from his brow.

***

The outskirts of London.

A light drizzle fell from the cloudy sky.

A male staff member sat on a bench overlooking the river.

A leather jacket and jeans.

Short-cut brown hair.

He had long legs and a sturdy physique. He looked to be over 190 cm tall.

Next to him, a longsword lay diagonally on the bench.

It was quite an attention-grabbing sight, but the people around him paid him no mind at all.

There wasn’t even anyone looking at him as if they didn’t perceive him at all.

His identity was Ocean Winslow.

The world’s strongest male staff member.

Ocean, with his arms crossed, gazed at the flowing river.

A male staff member walked up next to him and sat down on the edge of the bench.

It was Peter.

Did you kill them?

Ocean asked.

Haha, no.

Peter said in his usual overly cheerful voice.

You said you might have to kill them.

There was nothing, to the point of being boring.

Didn’t I tell you? The people on our Earth are different from yours. Very few have experienced war.

If there was any room, I would have killed them. They are stubborn about defection. I didn’t feel the need to kill them at all. As the Korean proverb goes, there’s no point in making gruel for a dog, haha.

Ocean nodded silently, and Peter pulled out bagels one by one from the paper bag he brought.

But it seems your influence is quite strong here? I didn’t expect you to open such a large rupture.

The Forum is an event influenced by Ocean.

Part of the purpose of the Forum was to curry favor with Ocean.

Was it fun?

Sort of? The Guide role seems to suit me, and acting as a special Agent too… Wow, this is really delicious.

Peter wiped the cream cheese from the corner of his mouth with his thumb and exclaimed.

Of course, Ocean looked at him with a hint of disdain.

…Let’s talk after you finish eating.

Shall we?

The two of them watched the flowing river in silence for a moment. Only the sound of Peter munching on his bagel filled the air.

Soon, Peter, having finished an entire bagel, gulped down his coffee and then spoke.

Getting back to the main point, where were we?

Did you see ‘The Source’?

Ocean asked.

The Source is something that only a very small number of Mages possess.

Without it, the limits of magic were as good as set.

Ah, The Source. I don’t see it.

What about their Magic ability?

It’s at a seriously good level. It’s strange that they don’t have The Source.

Ocean raised an eyebrow, which was unusual for him.

It was the first time Peter had praised someone like that.

Then?

It’s either truly absent, hasn’t blossomed yet, is too faint, is a Source I cannot perceive, or is too vast to encompass in my sight, among other possibilities. The exact truth is unknown.

There’s no need to approach hastily. They’re still just a child.

But there are also prodigies, aren’t there? Is that a bit much? They’re older than us.

…

Ocean turned his head away completely and spoke.

But if it’s not visible yet, it’s better to assume it’s absent. The connection between Magic ability and The Source isn’t that strong anyway. Without The Source, they won’t be able to learn 1st-tier Magic.

So you won’t hold onto false hope?

“Better a Scythe than a Thread failing.”

“My thoughts are a bit different. I have a feeling. Kim Songcheol will become the best Mage.”

“Are you sure?”

“No.”

Ocean, who had asked seriously, tightly closed his eyes and swallowed a curse.

“…What are you trying to say?”

“Kim Songcheol is worth it. Let’s check.”

“How?”

Peter raised a finger and spoke like a show host.

“The cheapest, most effective method! Introduce 2nd-tier Circle theory!”

Ocean crossed his arms and leaned back on the bench, as if asking if this was another Beginning.

His unenthusiastic expression was evident.

2nd-tier Magic should only be taught after confirming The Source.

The conditions for 1st-tier Magic were two: 2nd-tier Magic and The Source.

However, ironically, there’s a high probability that a Mage with The Source might not be able to learn 2nd-tier Magic.

This is due to an innate physical problem, not a magical ability.

But Peter was arguing to give some of it in advance.

“Just trust me this once. When you Beginning to learn 2nd-tier Magic, The Source gets stronger. If there’s The Source, it’ll be easier to recognize.”

“I didn’t know that. But if there’s no Source and they can’t learn it, it’s a waste of Points.”

“That’s why I said to invest only a part. If it’s not visible now, who knows when it will be. If there’s The Source, the sooner you know what kind of The Source it is, the better, right? Of course, you’d have to ask to know the exact kind.”

Quite a serious tone for Peter.

Ocean, after much thought, opened his mouth.

“Then what about the Points?”

“Of course, you have to pay. You’re from Earth, aren’t you? You just need to buy the Circle theory set, so a few million should be enough?”

Peter took out another bagel, tore it in half, and offered it to Ocean.

“But this time, since I insisted, I’ll bear a portion of the cost. Haha.”