The Time-Limited Leader Makes the Raid a Success - Chapter 398



Only Noblemtl

Episode 398

#398. Paying off a debt.

Kang Moo-hyuk joined Slayer’s rescue team and headed to the Bukaksan Gate.

Since the last communication reported that the raid team was on the verge of a gate explosion, Deputy Team Leader Dojinsan immediately dispatched the team, judging that the hunters would not be safe either.

Kang Moo-hyuk went to the scene using Do Jin-san’s name and witnessed a terrible scene.

A huge hole had opened up beneath Mt. Bukak, where about 40% of the peak had disappeared, and the surrounding trees were all burned or broken, resembling a battlefield.

Thanks to this, it was easy for the helicopter to land, but it was difficult to guarantee that the hunters on site would be safe.

Kang Moo-hyuk saw the scene unfolding below the helicopter and felt a glimmer of hope.

‘The gate hypocenter is smaller than I thought. It got blocked midway. Did Thomas Hunter do it?’

Just by looking at the fact that the gate exploded but no EMP occurred, I could tell that Thomas’ method worked.

As soon as the helicopter landed, Kang Moo-hyuk circled around to find any traces of the Iron Will Hunters.

Fortunately, the Seodaechi party was unharmed. They were able to avoid being hit directly by the explosion because they were located slightly away from the epicenter.

Seo Dae-chi recognized Kang Mu-hyeok while he was being treated with potions and reported.

“Although most of the bodies are in shambles, none of the party members are in danger of dying.”

Kang Moo-hyuk examined Seo Dae-chi, Gyeong Su-hyeok, and Baek Sol. They had many wounds here and there, and there were also quite a few burn marks.

Among them, the only serious injury was that Baeksol’s arm was broken, but because the rescue team was busy treating urgent patients first, it was classified as a minor injury and treatment was delayed.

When Kang Moo-hyuk examined her injuries, he saw that the broken bones were poking through her skin. If she were a normal person, he would have taken her to the hospital right away, but as a hunter, she was just using a pressure bandage to stop the bleeding as if it was nothing serious.

As Kang Mu-hyeok carefully examined the injury, Baek Sol shrugged and said.

“It’s nothing serious, so just do something about him. He’s not someone who should die like that, but he was injured pretty seriously this time.”

There was a lump of charcoal lying where Baek Sol pointed. It was Baek Seong Bin, his whole body blackened.

I was about to rush out to find Thomas because I was worried, but when I saw Baek Seong-bin, I couldn’t just pass by.

Kang Mu-hyeok asked Seo Dae-chi about the situation.

“What happened? Was there a fire magic user here?”

“For some reason, right before the gate exploded, his eyes returned. That guy acted as a shield as the explosion struck.”

Kyung Soo-hyuk was a tank so he could block the explosion with his shield, but the other two had to be hit with his body.

The gate explosion was so destructive that even Hunters would have a hard time withstanding it unless they had high elemental resistance.

Considering the distance from the epicenter, it was absurd that two dealers, not even tanks, ended up with only these injuries.

If so, it meant that Baek Seong-bin had done something. Seo Dae-chi and Baek Sol were mentioning this part.

Then a sooty, murky voice was heard.

“But, blind… … .”

Kang Moo-hyuk barely suppressed his impatience toward Thomas and approached Baek Seong-bin. There was something he needed to find out.

Baek Seong-bin’s crushed face was visible. One side of his torn abdomen was bubbling and regenerating. The healing factor’s power seemed to be focused on this wound, and the burns showed no signs of improving.

Kang Moo-hyuk addressed him in a dry voice.

“Are you in your right mind?”

“I had a nightmare.”

“It’s not a nightmare, it’s reality.”

“Then I must have sinned.”

It was unclear whether something that had been controlling Baek Seong-bin’s mind had been blown away by the impact of the explosion, or whether there had been a problem with the safety of the illusion that had possessed him, but it seemed that the brainwashing that had been a concern had been lifted.

Kang Moo-hyuk thought it was the former.

If it was a skill that was released due to the caster’s anomaly, Illusion would not have directly participated in the battle. There would be nothing more regrettable than an organization that was created with such brainwashing ability being destroyed in a single battle.

Illusion’s actions have also been telling. There have been many clashes with S-ranks all over the world.

‘The gate explosion caused mana to fluctuate drastically. Since all skills are affected by mana, it’s quite possible. Besides, I’ve never experienced a gate explosion up close. Illusion probably didn’t take this into account.’

As Kang Mu-hyeok stood there blankly looking down without responding, Baek Seong-bin opened his mouth, unable to bear it any longer.

“It’s so embarrassing. It looks like this… I feel sorry for everyone.”

“I know it wasn’t intentional. But you still have to pay the price for what you did. I won’t take revenge by shedding blood, just to remember the old relationship. Let’s meet after you serve your sentence in Ujungdo. It’ll be a long time.”

“Thank you for your generous treatment… Hehe. Hehe… Hehe. My life as a hunter is over. Am I a villain now? Hehehe… Am I no longer able to hunt monsters?”

Kang Moo-hyuk understood Baek Seong-bin’s sense of loss. A man who became a hunter to avenge his family. It was a common story in this industry, but the sadness and anger each of them experienced was not something that could be easily seen.

The determination was also extraordinary.

It was clear how miserable and mentally broken he was, when his conviction to fight monsters at the risk of his life was shattered by the rule of the strong, not by his own will.

Kang Moo-hyuk couldn’t find words to comfort her.

Who would I be without hunting in a life filled with revenge against monsters?

He had experienced the frustration of being unable to work in the guild anymore due to mana addiction, but he still found it difficult to express his sense of despair.

“You threw yourself at the last moment to save your comrades. There is no villain like that in the world.”

That was all Kang Mu-hyeok could say.

* * *

Kang Moo-hyuk received a call from the Guild Cooperation Office about Thomas and headed to the Blue House.

The place where Thomas crashed was near the checkpoint at the main gate of the Blue House.

Most of the Blue House staff, including the President, had been moved to a secret security facility due to the Gate alarm that went off in Seoul, but the security guards who had been guarding the Blue House were still stationed inside the facility.

As soon as Thomas, who appeared to be a hunter, fell there, the guards immediately contacted the Guild Cooperation Office.

Luckily, Thomas was wearing an armor coat with Iron Will’s logo on it, and Iron Will was the most popular guild in South Korea that had recently been featured in the media.

Thanks to this, everything from contact to meeting was accomplished in a flash.

Thomas was lying in the medical room within the guardhouse.

The infirmary was empty, whether it was out of consideration for the Hunters who had protected them from the gate or because of the value of the guild that Jusea belonged to.

Kang Moo-hyuk looked down at Thomas, who had now turned white. His expression didn’t change, but his eyes held many questions.

But he didn’t ask first. Kang Moo-hyuk just watched.

Thomas soon came to his senses with a rustling sound, as if he sensed his presence. He turned his head toward Kang Mu-hyeok and opened his mouth with his eyes closed.

“Are you Captain Kang?”

“Can you see it with your eyes closed?”

“There are many things you can know without seeing them.”

“If you knew it was me, why do you keep it closed? Is there something wrong with your eyes… .”

“If it’s weird, then it’s weird. Do you think there’s still a gold color in my eyes?”

Thomas opened his eyelids dimly and then closed them.

Kang Moo-hyuk noticed what Thomas had done.

“Have you met the ruler of the Golden Eye?”

“I didn’t meet him, I just borrowed his strength.”

“It was a dangerous thing that could have resulted in death.”

“I had no choice but to stop the exploding gate. So what happened to the city? Judging by the atmosphere, I think there will be some good news.”

“I’m safe. Thanks to you.”

“That’s fortunate.”

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“Well, nothing much, except being sleepy.”

“Take a deep breath.”

“You’re going to be out of your mind from now on, so you can’t just lie down. There’s still the illusion.”

“The guild master will take care of that. Thomas Hunter, get some rest.”

There were many things he wanted to ask. Why did the ruler of the Golden Eye lend him his power? Why did the being he said he would never see again respond to Thomas’ call?

I also wanted to ask about his gray hair, and while I was at it, I wanted to send him to Paju and ask his father to look after his body.

But looking at Thomas’ tired face, I couldn’t say anything.

“Then, call me whenever you need.”

“Yeah.”

Kang Moo-hyuk left Thomas behind and went outside.

Now it was time to check the results of Seoul Forest.

‘The crisis is over. Now it is time for those who deserve to be punished to be punished.’

* * *

Illusion sat up, spitting out thick black blood from his mouth.

A familiar face appeared next to him.

“Doris… … .”

“I came to find you because you didn’t come.”

“There must have been Slayers guarding outside?”

Doris waved a scroll of metallic paper.

Illusion laughed in vain.

“We’re going to blow close to 30% of our organization’s budget today.”

“I lost one sheet of Bubagla at Mungyeong Pass, and I’ll need to use another sheet to get out of here, so I’ve thrown away 70% of it.”

The global terrorist organization Mirage was involved in many illegal businesses as well as its reputation. In the end, money was the key to running the organization, so they were involved in anything that made money.

Since it was illegal and didn’t even have taxes, astronomical amounts of money were exchanged that easily exceeded the budget of a guild of average tier, so it goes without saying how terrifying the price of the teleportation scroll was.

Illusion looked at the place where Joo Se Ah had flown away with a haggard face. His eyes were filled with regret.

Doris noticed this and asked.

“Do you want to end it?”

“Honestly, I’m scared to meet you again. I think it’s better to end it here.”

“Give up. The energy over there is still strong.”

“I know that too. It’s just that I can’t move and won’t attack this side.”

“That’s why Illusion-nim is still alive despite fighting countless battles. It’s better to avoid reckless challenges.”

“This is a country I don’t want to look back on for a while, or even in the future.”

Illusion’s words were in fact no different from saying that he would give up on advancing into Korea.

Doris said.

“The escape route has been prepared. Would you like to return to France?”

“If news spreads about what happened in Korea, people in Europe will be looking for me. I’m going to Africa.”

“Yes. Then, I will take you there.”

Soon, Doris tore the scroll while supporting Illusion, and their figures disappeared.

After that, some of the Slayer’s raiders entered what used to be Seoul Forest.

“Look for Team Leader Seong Seon-je and Joo Se-ah Gilma. Keep an eye out for them and call the rescue team.”

* * *

Joo Se-ah was sitting on the floor, hugging Seong Seon-je in front of her.

Her hands were placed on Seongseonje’s forehead and heart.

The gentle mana was transmitted to Seongseonje through the palm. Seongseonje was completely relying on Joo Seah’s mana and was able to continue breathing weakly.

‘It was helpful to have experience handling Team Leader Leopard’s mana in Russia. If I hadn’t had experience controlling other people’s mana, it would have been difficult to keep Team Leader Sung alive.’

The problem was that Seongseonje showed no signs of waking up. I had already fed him the potion. The Slayer Guild’s potions were top-notch, so there was no way the healing effect would be lacking.

But seeing as there was no difference at all, it seemed like it wasn’t just because of injuries.

“You always say things about me. You’re just as reckless as me. You’re thinking of attacking an S-rank without fear.”

I understood Seongseonje’s feelings. I had experienced it myself.

An S-rank clue that seemed so close to being caught that it was barely there. A wall that seemed so close that it couldn’t be overcome. It was truly a borderline that drove people crazy. If you weren’t careful, you would feel such impatience that it wouldn’t be strange if the devil came looking for you.

Joo Se-ah was even more distressed at this time as she was also appointed to the Taesung Guild.

At the time, she was barely able to avoid it by just giving up. S-rank? It will happen someday. If not, then there’s nothing she can do. When she gave up like that, everything came to her in an instant. And then, while fighting the tyrant in Russia, she made a drastic turnaround.

‘You must have taken my example as a reference. Hunters rank up in times of crisis. The surest way to become S-rank is to fight S-rank. That’s what you must have thought.’

How much impatience must that careful King Seonje have felt to make such a choice?

Many hunters have failed to overcome the S-Rank barrier and have collapsed. Hunters who have seen the vision have been ruined by this impatience.

It would have been difficult for Seongseonje to resist that temptation. No, rather, after enduring it for so many years, he may not have had any more patience left.

‘If this person had become an S-rank, he would have brought forward the plan to make the Slayer Guild one of the best guilds in the world by more than 10 years. He has the ability to do that. That kind of person let me go when I left the guild. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t regret it.’

Even Slayer’s guilderman, Samunhyeok, was desperate to catch Joo Se-ah. In that sense, Joo Se-ah could be said to be indebted to Seong Seon-je.

“So this time, I’m going to repay that debt, Team Leader Sung. I’m going to repay it by waking up safely and becoming an S-rank.”

That was the reason why Joo Se Ah gave up on even delivering the final blow to Illusion and clung to Seong Seon Je, holding on to his life.

Soon, voices could be heard from afar. The sound of helicopter rotors echoed through the air, and the morning sun rose high, casting shadows on Joo Se-ah and Seong Seon-je.

Monsters occasionally jumped out of the still intact gate, but hunters joined in and blocked the entrance.

Now it really seemed like it was over.

Joo Se Ah looked down at Seong Seon Je and muttered as she looked at the place where the illusion had disappeared a moment ago.

“Let’s settle that debt later.”