episode_0084

#19

We continued to move, chasing after Jinbada and the senior hunter Yangachi.

According to Bada, a monster appeared in Baekdu Mountain. To be more precise, he said he was going to subdue the monsters of Heaven and Earth. Since he was doing a joint operation with the Chinese hunters, he thought it wouldn’t be that dangerous, but he was still worried because they were blood relatives.

So, I also follow that guy secretly like this.

Maybe the sea would be really angry if it found out?

I think she’ll ask me why I’m doing something I wasn’t told to do, since I know I’m a little kid.

Well, if you get caught, you should answer like this.

If our positions were reversed, you would have followed me.

If you refute me like this, I guess I won’t be able to say anything?

You could practically call it a prepayment. Hehe.

However, if there was a problem, it was my stamina.

Compared to Bada, who was a top student at the current Hunter Academy, my physical strength was really poor, and in order to keep up with the movement speed of Bada and his senior, I had to gather up every last bit of my stamina I had and move hard.

“Haah. Haah. This is so hard.”

My stamina was depleted, my speed was gradually decreasing, and the distance between me and the sea was gradually increasing.

If it weren’t for Suho, who was silently placing his hand on my back and gently adding strength, I would have fallen long ago from exhaustion.

“Sister. Are you okay?”

“Ugh. Ugh.”

I didn’t have the energy to answer, so I nodded my head with difficulty to answer.

“I’ll keep pushing from behind.”

Thank you, Suho. Thanks to you, I think I’m able to keep up somehow.

So, Suho, Hinamori, and I, who had been climbing for quite some time, chasing the back of the ocean that was becoming increasingly hazy, suddenly stopped walking not far from the top of the mountain without anyone saying anything.

It wasn’t because the sea caught him.

The guys had already disappeared from sight a long time ago, and I was almost following them out of sheer determination.

Then why did you stop your busy steps?

That’s right, it was because of the aura of the monster.

A slight frown appeared on Hinamori-san’s face, which was always expressionless and blunt.

Is it fear? Or is it worry? Or is it surprise?

I don’t know.

Her face is so hard to read, that’s for sure.

The current situation happening in heaven and earth is not simple.

because….

Because a huge amount of mystery was spreading out, enough to make my whole body tingle.

The concentration was so thick that it could be clearly seen with the naked eye.

And… as if to prove it, my, Hinamori-san’s, and Suho’s cellphones all rang alarms at the same time.

A monster of at least Class 1 scale has appeared in the northern part of the Korean peninsula, more precisely in the area near Mt. Baekdu.

I felt as if all my blood had drained from me.

With my face turned white, I looked up at the heavenly land of Baekdu Mountain, the famous mountain of national spirit that towered high above.

Woof woof woof―!!!

It was a monster that was dyed red and had great mysterious powers. It was a monster that engraved great rules and shackles on the world itself.

Even at this very moment, the laws and providence created by that unknown monster were weighing heavily on me, a witch and a vampire.

Even under that pressure, the life and death of the people I care about came to mind first, rather than the fear of death.

“Jinbada!!”

“Hey, sister!”

“Suho, you too, get down quickly. It’s dangerous here!! Hinamori-san, can you take Suho and get out of here??”

“Calm down, Jin Ha-neul.”

Hinamori gently grabbed my shoulder with her small hand.

The little bit of bloody mystery flowing from her hand calmed my heart that was beating like crazy.

Her blood magic must have gently enveloped my beating heart.

“Hinamori-san. I, I. This is the first time I’ve seen such a strong monster since the Happy Virus. No. Maybe it’s even stronger than the Happy Virus.”

At least, if we were to judge by the energy felt at the top, it was definitely on a scale that surpassed the Happy Virus.

Ms. Hinamori calmly held my hand and consoled me, who was very excited.

“It’s not dangerous yet. It seems like a monster that just woke up.”

“That, but still… .”

“Act like a veteran. The first thing you need to do now is to analyze the monster. If you don’t figure out what laws and providences the monster used to twist this world, you won’t be able to save your brother even if you go up.”

It was a valid statement that left no room for argument.

I kept silent and somehow calmed down my heart, which was beating like crazy even at this moment.

Thanks to Hinamori-san’s blood magic, my mind quickly stabilized and I began to do my best to interpret the immense mystery now emanating from this summit, as she had said.

“What do you think, Hinamori? If it’s at least a level 1, wouldn’t it be a monster that could affect the entire Korean peninsula?”

“Yes. If we just estimate the total amount of mystery currently being released… . It could be equivalent to a special class.”

Special monsters are those that transcend national boundaries and have an impact on a continental scale.

For example, things like ‘chain letters’.

“Do you think the Baekdu Mountain monster could cause continental-level damage?”

“At least on a measurable scale.”

“… … .”

According to the sea guy, it was a training and dispatch to subdue the monster of Baekdu Mountain.

The magical power of the guy who was in second place is said to have now surpassed that of first place.

In short, it was expected that the monsters of the world could be easily subdued by first-class hunters, so they were dispatched… .

I guess it was an unexpected situation.

In that case, we should also consider the possibility that the premise assumed by the hunters was wrong.

There is a possibility that it is not a monster from heaven and earth, but some other monster.

“If I had to guess, it doesn’t seem to be a conceptual or abstract type of monster.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes. You can feel it too. The vibrations that are felt throughout this entire mountain. If it were a conceptual monster, I don’t think it would be necessary to exert such physical force.”

“That’s true… .”

I can’t guarantee it, but her words certainly made sense.

Well, let’s assume that the monster that has settled on the peak of Mt. Baekdu is a monster in the physical sense.

I feel like I’ve said this several times, but monsters exist in this world using ghost stories and rumors as armor.

What are some ghost stories related to Baekdu Mountain?

The first thing that comes to mind is the monster of heaven and earth. The monster that lives in Baekdu Mountain’s heaven and earth is such a famous ghost story, so the Hunters also assumed that ghost story.

“What else is there besides the monsters of heaven and earth, Suhoya?”

“Hmm… . Ah. Baekdu Mountain is a volcano.”

“… Right?”

I think it was a dormant volcano.

There were scary rumors going around that the time was approaching when it would explode…

omg!

Then, surely…?

Volcanic eruption horror story…?

I remember saying that if Mt. Baekdu were to erupt, it would be a huge event that would affect not only our country but also our neighboring country, Japan.

“Volcanic eruption… ?”

“Can a monster cause a volcanic eruption, Sister?”

“I don’t think there’s anything you can’t do… .”

It’s weird to twist the order of the world.

Isn’t a volcanic eruption something that is definitely possible?

But… if there is a problem, the question is how can we solve it?

“It seems like we have a rough idea of what the ghost story is about.”

“Ah, yes. Probably… , one of the two. The famous ghost stories related to Baekdu Mountain are monsters or volcanic eruptions.”

“Then shouldn’t we remove the core hidden under that rumor?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

If only to save Jinbada, who is struggling above.

“Let’s make it move.”

“Will Hinamori-san come with you too?”

“Yes. Let’s go together until the end.”

“… Thank you.”

He looked at her with moved eyes as she said she would stay with him until the end, even though it might be dangerous.

And behind him was Suho, his fists clenched and his face filled with determination.

We continued walking towards the summit.

#20

Park Jeon-bo and Jin Bada arrived at Cheonji.

The scenery of the large caldera crater lake, which they had only seen in pictures, was certainly magnificent and gave off a majestic vibe, and they naturally exclaimed, “Ah.” and held their breath.

“This is heaven and earth.”

“Wow. It’s really high. Don’t you have any breath? Senior?”

“A little bit. By the way, when did the Chinese hunters say they would join?”

“Thirty minutes later. We’re checking the equipment first, senior.”

“Yeah.”

A monster that appears in heaven and earth.

More precisely, it was a business trip and training to subdue monsters.

Recently, Jinbada’s ability, which had risen to the top, was enough to subdue the monster on his own, so it could be seen as an operation that invested an excessive amount of force.

“By the way, a monster from heaven and earth? I think it was a rumor I heard when I was really young, but there are monsters that disguise themselves as such.”

“It’s a famous ghost story, so it’s likely to happen.”

“That’s true.”

That was when.

An ominous feeling passed through Jin Bada and Park Jeon-bo’s five senses as they were checking the status of their hunter-only weapons and equipment.

That feeling was too strong to laugh off, and it was like a trigger that a hunter had to be aware of.

Since they were hunters who fought monsters with their lives on the line, they couldn’t help but pay more attention to the animalistic instincts of humans. They naturally adjusted their equipment, narrowed their eyes sharply, and scanned their surroundings.

and.

The fog began to settle across the earth.

They looked at each other with dumbfounded faces, as if the world was being isolated by an overwhelming strange mystery.

“Seo, senior. Can you feel it?”

“… It’s at least a 1st grade measurement. Maybe it could even go up to special grade. The Hunter Association really messed up the measurement. ”

“… … !!!”

“This could be dangerous. Let’s retreat for now… .”

“Senior. The way back is cut off.”

The area had already been consumed by the providence of the monster and transformed into a separate world.

Like a little ant stuck in an ant pit.

They were left with only one choice.

Fight and get out of here.

“The situation is critical, so support will probably come from headquarters. Let’s hold out until then. It’s too late.”

“Fuck… I finally reunited with my sister. Why is this happening.”

Along with Jinbada’s lament mixed with injustice, a strong heartbeat was felt from inside the foggy heaven and earth.

They swallowed.