Chapter 160

After rising from his seat, the first place Taewoon headed to was none other than the headquarters of Baran’s Guild.

“I really… can’t believe this.”

“…….”

“It hasn’t been that long since we last met, so what kind of magic did you pull?”

As expected, Hongyeon, who greeted Taewoon, reacted with shock, finding it utterly hard to believe.

However, as if she had guessed something and convinced herself, Hongyeon nodded and began to speak again.

“Forget it. What’s the point in asking? You’re just that kind of being… worrying about it will only give me a headache.”

“That is a reasonable judgment.”

“I can’t even fathom that insane growth rate anymore. Just in case, let me ask—there are no side effects, right?”

Side effects. He hadn’t found any so far, but honestly, it wasn’t as if Taewoon hadn’t thought about it.

However, that was a problem for later. As long as there were no immediate issues, he couldn’t let himself be intimidated by unnecessary worries and fail to utilize the power he possessed.

Nodding to her, Taewoon gave a light smile and answered Hongyeon’s question.

“Yes. There is nothing to worry about. At least, not yet.”

“I’m starting to feel like I won’t be able to keep up… Just how strong have you become? Don’t tell me, Level 7?”

“I’m not entirely sure, but it’s roughly around there.”

“Haha, my god.”

It was a laugh that sounded almost delirious, but at the same time, it was an action that carried a subtle sense of refreshment, as if a burden had been lifted from her shoulders.

Amidst the aura of war approaching this land moment by moment, she might have felt relief knowing there was now someone she could trust her back to in order to protect their people.

“I feel like a proper mutant has finally been born in this land. While we’re at it, do you want to be the Guild Master too?”

“I’ll pass for now. I don’t wish to increase the amount of mental labor I have to deal with.”

“Well, forget that. You didn’t come here just to give me a status report, did you? Looking at your expression, it seems there’s something you want to ask.”

That was certainly the case.

Thinking objectively, Taewoon had acquired enough power to face the forces of the Gwangseong Church, excluding those at the level of the Fingers or higher.

Thus, unlike until now, where he had merely been dragged along by the situation, he felt the need to actively gather information and take the initiative when necessary.

In other words, Taewoon wanted to gradually expand his standing within the South Korean Hunter community.

“If that’s the case… I happen to have a good proposal. I was actually thinking of making a suggestion, so this works out well.”

“What is it?”

“A few days ago, the Canadian authorities submitted entry applications for Paragon and Sharliaete, two of the Gwangseong Church’s Five Fingers. The government is stalling as much as possible, but eventually, they’ll have no choice but to let them into this land.”

The confidants of Saint Kyurihi, who held the positions of the Fourth and Third Fingers of the Gwangseong Church, respectively.

The fact that they sought to set foot in South Korea was a signal that the Gwangseong Church as a whole was beginning to move in earnest to achieve their goals.

“Because of this, most of the high-ranking Hunters currently active in South Korea have been summoned, and probably more than half of them will attend this meeting. It’s a perfect opportunity to make your face known.”

“Is it a place where I, who am officially only Level 4, may attend?”

“What does it matter? This industry is all about pragmatism anyway. I have my reputation, and if anyone tries to nitpick, you can just smoothly crush them.”

He wondered if she was being too reckless, but as long as Hongyeon, who had been active in the Korean Hunter community for a long time, was fine with it, there would be no problem.

Ultimately, after deciding to attend the meeting to prepare countermeasures against the two Fingers, Taewoon drank the tea Hongyeon served and shared various stories.

“Do you happen to know anything about Hunter Choi Seoin and Hunter Hwang Heojae?”

“Those two Level 7s? I’ve met them. But we don’t know each other well.”

According to Hongyeon, there had been no Level 8-rank Hunters in South Korea for a long time, and as a result, domestic and international interest and vigilance toward Level 7-rank Hunters who showed talent had reached an extreme.

In such a situation, the Level 7-rank Hunters chose extreme secrecy.

Because of that, it seemed there were very few people who knew detailed information about Choi Seoin or Hwang Heojae, who were currently said to be the closest to Level 8.

“Only their close aides or the highest levels of government would have meaningful information. But why the sudden interest?”

“Considering Kyurihi and the Gwangseong Church, I thought it would be better to have more detailed information about their situation.”

“I don’t know, I suspect that’s not the only reason… In the end, isn’t this what you’re curious about? Whether those two are strong enough to stop the Gwangseong Church. It’s just the two of us here, so there’s no need to play coy.”

Since she wasn’t wrong, Taewoon didn’t deny it and nodded.

It was only natural to be concerned.

For those who were supposed to be the Trump Cards against the Gwangseong Church, Taewoon actually knew nothing about them.

“That they are strong has already been proven. But honestly, I don’t know to what extent. It would be great if they exceed everyone’s expectations… but there are quite a few people who worry about the opposite.”

“…….”

“But yes, in my personal opinion… it is true that those two have extraordinary aspects hidden within them. If they succeed in their Rank-Up to Level 8, I believe they could easily stand against anyone up to the First Finger, though perhaps not Kyurihi.”

That was very reassuring news, but at the same time, Taewoon could glimpse Hongyeon’s true feelings hidden beneath those words.

“You believe… that even if they succeed in Ranking Up, they won’t be able to stop Kyurihi.”

“…….”

“Am I wrong?”

After a small, bitter smile, Hongyeon nodded slightly and continued.

“…You’re right. I think those two could reach Level 8-rank. But that doesn’t mean they would be on the same level as Kyurihi.”

“During your last contact… did you feel something?”

During the friction with the Fifth Finger, Kalliedu, Hongyeon had mentioned that she made contact with Kyurihi’s gaze.

And if she was as sharp as she seemed, she might have captured something from that contact.

At Taewoon’s question, Hongyeon began to speak with a hesitant attitude.

“I’m not certain, but… the Saint Kyurihi I felt then was truly a being from a higher plane. She wasn’t staring at me from some foreign land, but from high ‘above the heavens.’”

“…….”

“Choi Seoin and Hwang Heojae are incredible Superhumans, but at that time, I couldn’t feel Kyurihi’s gaze as that of a fellow human. Now that you’ve reached Level 7, you’ll understand better what I mean.”

Taewoon had also felt a similar sensation from Kaira, whom he encountered in the Theater.

However, that was merely a fragment; Taewoon had never felt the completely overwhelming Divine Authority of a Transcendent from her.

It meant that Kyurihi was a creature existing in a completely different realm from her.

‘As I thought, Kyurihi is…’

She might be a being who could no longer be judged by the superficial standards of an Ordinary Person.

Relying solely on Choi Seoin and Hwang Heojae, it didn’t seem like a hopeful future would come to South Korea.

“Well, I’m just an ordinary Level 6, so perhaps all of that was just my delusion. Anyway, that’s my honest impression. That’s why I’m even more pleased by the appearance of a variable like you.”

“…That was helpful. Thank you.”

“That doesn’t mean you can go around spreading rumors that I said that, okay? Regardless, it’s true that many people are pinning their hopes on those two. There’s no benefit in instilling unnecessary worry.”

“Yes. You don’t have to worry.”

Having obtained all the answers he wanted, Taewoon left Hongyeon’s office, walked the streets, and returned home.

And soon, the scheduled time for the meeting arrived.

Inside a large hall, a space adorned with neat and luxurious decorations, dozens of people filled the room.

Each one of them emitted an extraordinary aura at a glance, and some possessed a presence that even the current Taewoon could not easily encounter.

Hongyeon and Taewoon arrived and slowly took their assigned seats.

“…Is it really okay to act like this?”

“What does it matter? There are so many empty seats around. Who’s going to care about that?”

“…….”

Strictly speaking, as an uninvited guest, Taewoon had no assigned seat.

Since it was a relatively secret and serious meeting, it would have been normal for Taewoon, who was evaluated as Level 4, to not even know of its existence.

Those who had witnessed Hongyeon’s stubbornness in the lobby, as well as many Hunters seeing Taewoon’s unfamiliar face, were sending him looks filled with various emotions.

And as expected, it didn’t stop at looks; there were those who expressed it through action.

A man approached Taewoon with heavy, rough steps, glanced at him, and spoke.

“I haven’t seen that face before. Who is he?”

“Well, you’ve been shut away for years trying to grow your Guild, so there’s no way you’d know. To not even recognize the face of a rising rookie—has your intuition died off?”

“I’m not here to trade jokes! For there to be a face that I, Kang Juseok, don’t know in a place where only Level 6-rank Hunters and above are gathered—what kind of prank is this?”

As far as Taewoon knew, a few people classified as Level 5-rank Hunters were also present, but considering the aura emanating from them, the man’s words might not have been entirely wrong.

Hongyeon gave a nonchalant smile and responded to Juseok with a mocking tilt of her head.

“You’ve grown a lot. A rookie who couldn’t even look me in the eye when he was Level 5. Why, is this your seat or something?”

“Those words… are you confident you won’t regret them?”

As Juseok’s expression instantly froze coldly and he began to leak a faint aura, Taewoon sighed and opened his firmly closed mouth.