Part 1, Chapter 9, Section 7

I was well aware of the public’s interest in the Monster Pilot.

I had created that situation myself, and through my acting, I had raised my own value.

On top of that, there were two SS-rank ability users. Although they were engaged in a pointless pride battle over who was stronger, the world had already elevated them to the ranks of humanity’s strongest.

Cheonghwa. Seok Harang. Xiaolin.

Seok Harang and I were to participate in the event as state guests, and Xiaolin as my bodyguard. I had been reassured by the Chairman’s mention of “modest,” but the magnificent spectacle before my eyes instantly intimidated me.

“Wow. This is too much.”

Even Seok Harang, who rarely got intimidated, seemed dumbfounded. Only Xiaolin calmly nodded, as if accustomed to it.

“This is already scaled down to avoid burdening you. Originally, they intended to mobilize everyone.”

“This is scaled down?”

I couldn’t help but scoff. A fleet of luxurious double-decker limousine buses slowly advanced down the middle of an eight-lane road, and the three of us sat together on the open upper deck, receiving the cheers of the crowd.

“Just by glancing, it looks like over twenty thousand…?”

The crowds, parted like the Red Sea on both sides, were all dressed in matching blue and white. Considering that red is the color Chinese people love, the sight of the entire street awash in blue-for Cheonghwa-and white-for Seok Harang-was quite unusual.

“And there are… Hey. You know who all those guys are, right?”

“Yeah. They’re Heroes. All of them are ability users.”

Before Seok Harang and I began mass-producing ability users, the number of registered ability users in the Korean Association was 600. But now, about 30 times that number of ability users had voluntarily come out. To welcome Seok Harang and me.

“Were they mobilized?”

“No way. Heroes are autonomous beings. There aren’t even a thousand Heroes directly affiliated with the Party.”

Xiaolin pointed to their faces. All 20,000 Heroes had their eyes fixed on our movement, waving blue and white flowers they had brought, welcoming us.

“So all those people are….”

“Yes. They are ability users who came to welcome you.”

“Haha. Ha.”

There were 20,000 ability users alone. If ordinary citizens had also come out, this car parade would probably have been paralyzed by the crowds.

“Wow. Amazing. Hey, look at this.”

Seok Harang shared a photo sent to his watch with me. The photo, sent by Eun Yuha, was an aerial shot of Beijing, with nearly half the city dyed in blue and white.

“These people now… they say there are 2 million of them.”

“Haha, ha.”

Laughter naturally escaped me. We used to joke about the spirit of the continent, but I never imagined they would welcome us to this extent.

“Because they owe you a debt of gratitude.”

Xiaolin spoke for the feelings of his countrymen, understanding their sentiments.

“Right now, Seolhwaryeong-nim defeated the Black Flame Dragon. And even the SS-rank monster, Chaos. Just the Black Flame Dragon alone could have devastated Beijing, but you suppressed a monster of an even higher rank before it could rampage, so the entire nation feels grateful.”

“Th-that’s true….”

Seok Harang awkwardly smiled and waved to the people. Perhaps because they were ability users, they didn’t scream and cheer, but they greeted him with disciplined postures, raising their white flowers high.

“””Seok Harang!!! Seok Harang!!!”””

“‘”Seolhwaryeong!!! Seolhwaryeong!!!”””

“Eek.”

Even without mana, just their raw voices were enough to shake the vehicle. Seok Harang let out a shrill scream, trembling, and clung to me, as if frightened by something.

“It’s hot. Get off me.”

“Aren’t you, aren’t you scared of this?”

“Not at all.”

Honestly, I wasn’t nervous at all. It was just absurd that they were coming out to welcome me like this when I hadn’t even done anything yet. After 17 final battles, this was nothing.

“Seok Harang.”

“Why?”

“What are you going to do when you have to fight later with the support and expectations of 6 billion people?”

“……Why is the scale getting so big?”

“Because the battlefield changes, of course.”

I slowly rose from my seat. Xiaolin, surprised, moved to my side, and I, supported by Xiaolin, bowed to the ability users on both sides as a greeting.

Waaaaaaah!!

Cheonghwaaaaaa!!

“It’s a shame.”

I turned to the opposite side and bowed. Xiaolin also turned and bowed with me.

“What’s a shame?”

“That Cheonghwa is being welcomed. It would have been better if it were Changyeom or Phoenix.”

“Does that even matter?”

“Yes. A lot.”

It was regrettable in many ways, but life as Cheonghwa was absolutely necessary. I waved appropriately to those who welcomed us, then sat back down.

“It’s a shame I can’t openly search for it.”

“Search for what?”

“People’s reactions.”

“That will be difficult.”

“Why?”

Xiaolin tapped his watch and gave an awkward smile.

“They say the servers are down right now. All the broadcast stations.”

“…….”

Was the spirit of the continent amazing, or were we, who were receiving such a welcome, amazing? Either way, we had already crossed the point of no return.

“I guess I’ll have to quickly clear out the monsters and return to Korea….”

If I stayed here any longer, I might not even be able to leave the country.

***

At the same time Phoenix and Seok Harang were receiving the welcome of the ability user groups, public opinion in New Seoul was also heating up. People felt a sense of pride that they were being treated as state guests in a foreign country, China, which had previously disregarded them for not having a Round Table.

-But what if they naturalize in China because of this?

The excitement quickly died down. And that excitement began to boil in a new direction. The veto against the Association and the government, who had sent Phoenix and Seok Harang overseas, grew uncontrollably.

“This is a big problem.”

The Prime Minister watched the flickering video, sweating cold. The roar of just 20,000 people was so immense that it caused static in the broadcast video.

“Mana is unintentionally imbued. They’re excited.”

Praetor Yoo Young-ho calmly nodded. As the representative of the Association, he felt proud to see Seolhwaryeong, a member of the Round Table, being welcomed by another country.

“You saw how the Black Flame Dragon was defeated, didn’t you? And how SS-rank Chaos was defeated. …I truly think it’s amazing.”

A girl with short black hair, sitting next to Yoo Young-ho, added. Since Kang Soyeon was sent to prison for personal corruption and unethical research, the Association had put the girl-the Executor-forward as their representative.

“Executor. Will Seolhwaryeong and Beast Tamer really return without any problems? Right?”

“Yes. Seolhwaryeong is scheduled to return to the country by flying today, and Cheonghwa-yang will probably be going around subjugating monsters in various regions.”

“……Can’t we also lend a hand?”

Jang Hu-jeong, the director of the Monster Countermeasures Department, took the lead and brought up what had been quietly discussed. Cheonghwa had gone through the Association in a personal capacity; no government officials had accompanied her.

“Even now, sending an escort….”

“Then you’ll be criticized. Isn’t public opinion already boiling over, saying the Prime Minister is incompetent?”

“Th-that… Executor. No matter what, your words to your grandfather are too….”

“That’s why I told him to quit being Prime Minister quickly and just write books at home. Tsk.”

The Executor openly showed annoyance. People were uncomfortable with her reckless words, which were beyond spitting in someone’s face and directly hitting a nerve, but the Prime Minister, who heard them, sighed deeply and asked back.

“So, how should this old man solve his incompetence?”

“There’s only one way. You have to send people. To pick up even the crumbs.”

“You just said that sending an escort would lead to criticism….”

“It’s fine if they’re people sent by the Association, not the country. If the image is really that bad, then have the government officially request the Association. That you’d like the Association to dispatch personnel to accompany Cheonghwa-yang. Then we’ll send them right away.”

“Who would be good to send?”

“When Seolhwaryeong returns, there’s one person left, isn’t there?”

The Executor pulled out the profile of a young man whose hair had now turned white.

“He’s just loafing around, so send him. To China.”

***

“Welcome to the heart of China. I am the Chairman who leads 1.3 billion people, Cheonja.”

“…….”

It was jarring. I quickly hardened my expression, which was about to contort, and bowed my head.

“I am Cheonghwa, the Beast Tamer.”

“I am Seok Harang, the SS-rank Hero Seolhwaryeong from the Republic of Korea.”

“I am Xiaolin, Unjang of the Round Table. …It’s my first time meeting you face-to-face, Chairman-nim.”

Seok Harang, Xiaolin, and I got off the event bus and entered the banquet hall. In the banquet hall were Cheonja and the female Hero assisting him, Yu Hwang-suk, the Twin Sword Rabbit. Cheonja sat at the head seat, and we sat in the seats next to him.

“…….”

Cheonja’s mouth opened and closed, unable to speak. Cheonja, sweating cold and flustered, looked for salvation. Towards the man sitting opposite me-Mao Zeping.

“Huhu.”

Mao Zeping, with a detached expression, raised his tea. After taking a sip to wet his throat, he bowed to Cheonja for permission, then turned his gaze to us.

“You must have had a difficult journey. Although the path here was arduous and there were many problems, I am deeply moved that you have come. As the director of the Monster Management Bureau, and as a citizen of this nation, I express my deepest apologies and gratitude.”

“Oh, no. It’s fine. It’s something we naturally had to do.”

Seok Harang waved his hand, flustered. Xiaolin’s gaze, glaring at Mao Zeping, gradually grew colder, and I subtly smiled and responded to him.

“Thank you for the grand welcome.”

“Don’t mention it. Huhu.”

Mao Zeping and my eyes met. Mao Zeping smiled with a meaningful voice, acting relaxed, but I knew the true nature of that smile.

-Ah, I really don’t want to do this….

It was a hollow laugh. I clasped my hands together, subtly touching the gray ring on my left index finger.

[Straighten your expression. Aren’t you focusing?]

Mao Zeping closed his eyes for a moment, then similarly pressed the blue ring on his own finger with his thumb.

[Annoying. I don’t want to. I won’t do it. Let’s finish quickly. And then sleep.]

“Huhu.”

He wasn’t smiling meaningfully. He was sighing with laughter.

Mao Zeping (Hwanryong) was just letting out a hollow laugh, wishing for time to pass quickly.

[This is really annoying…. Ah. I want to quit. Should I just die? Maybe I should leave a will and commit suicide….]

[Just bear it for 5 years. Just 5 years. After 2026, I won’t bother you no matter what you do.]

[……I should have just kept sleeping there.]

“Huhu.”

“…….”

“Haa.”

Seok Harang sighed and lowered his hand. Perhaps frustrated that Hwanryong and I were communicating with mana, he pressed the ring on his own hand, trying to join in.

[What are you two doing right now? Can’t you see everyone else is flustered?]

[Flustered or not, what can we do when the person in charge is like this?]

“Huhu.”

So, I wished he would stop that meaningful smile. I finally realized I had to lead the conversation and turned my gaze.

“Ah.”

Cheonja hastily turned his head. Before I turned my eyes, Cheonja had been staring intently at this side.

“Chairman-nim.”

“Yes.”

“Before we begin our discussion, I must congratulate you. To awaken both Fire and Illusion attributes to A-rank simultaneously, I am simply envious.”

“No! I just…. Just….”

Cheonja was startled and tried to say something, but quickly became timid and looked at Mao Zeping for approval. Having been suppressed by Mao Zeping for a long time, his deference was almost excessive.

“Huhu [I’m sleepy].”

Of course, Hwanryong, who had taken over his body, was simply wishing for the conversation to end, without any other thoughts. Xiaolin gave him a warning look, but it was useless, and Yu Hwang-suk, who was opposite Mao Zeping, seemed to be agonizing over his knowing-yet-unknowing smile.

What is it? Does he think Dongchang’s tail has been stepped on too much, so he’s putting Cheonja forward? Or does he have another agenda? Is he trying to withdraw from being the main character of this banquet? Or is it a meddling attempt to link Cheonja and Cheonghwa?

It was obvious. I couldn’t hold back my laughter at the Twin Sword Rabbit’s twitching ears.

“Puhuhu.”

“……Ah.”

“Ah. I’m sorry. I wasn’t laughing at Chairman-nim.”

“No. It’s fine. …Cheonghwa-yang, your smile is truly beautiful.”

“…….”

Cheonja’s compliment made me laugh naturally.

“Thank you.”

Personally, I am confident. There is no one in the world who smiles as beautifully as Changyeom’s Phoenix.

“Then, Chairman-nim. I would like to get to the main point….”

“Ah.”

I pressed the ring firmly and rubbed it gently. I pressured Mao Zeping (Hwanryong) with mana, delivering an ultimatum.

“Do you know where the S-rank monsters are?”

“……Huhu.”

Mao Zeping raised his hand and pointed at Yu Hwang-suk.

“Would you explain, Hwang-suk gong?”

“……Yes.”

Ultimately, the Twin Sword Rabbit stood up. I glared at Mao Zeping until the end, but Mao Zeping deflected my killing intent by sipping his tea.

“Huhuhuhuhu [Passing it on is so easy. Ah, I miss Gaeul.]”

“…….”

Should I just kill Mao Zeping?

I should seriously consider it.