Ch.197. Security Dispatch Mission (2)

# Security Dispatch Mission

Unlike ordinary hunter guilds, which have an image no different from organized crime syndicates in the public eye, Hunter Association certified guilds maintain a heroic image among the general public.

‘Association certified guilds take on the work of police and military personnel.’

Even in a democratic country like Korea, this is why the Hunter Association holds more power than public authorities like the police or military.

Gates and dungeons. The magical beasts that emerge from those places are completely immune to conventional firearms.

As is typical in academy or hunter settings, in the world of Acahunter, mana is the only power that can eliminate magical beasts. Therefore, generally only awakened ones can face them.

“That’s why certified guilds like Flame are obligated to participate in security dispatches. Not just raids.”

Yuri explained. Ordinary hunter guilds dislike security dispatches. It’s similar to police officers or private security guards making their rounds.

They consume a lot of standby time while being boring, and they don’t generate as much profit as dungeon rewards.

‘But it’s important to me.’

Currently, security dispatch missions focus more on anti-villain operations than anti-magical beast operations.

In populous metropolitan areas, multiple atmospheric MCI measurement centers are secured, and they prevent most gates and dungeons from appearing in advance.

Therefore, security dispatch missions that prevent villain threats or respond to their terrorism are suitable for tracking the Red Lake, a villain organization.

‘Since villains have their own community, even if they seem unrelated, if we trace their actions…’

Meanwhile, Yuri’s briefing continued.

Unlike Soso, who was the field team leader but left most explanations to Team Leader Seo due to his reticence, Yuri’s explanations were extremely neat and easy to understand.

Her typical office attire contributed to an atmosphere of a highly competent CEO.

‘She really suits being a leader.’

A calm demeanor befitting her nickname “Snow Woman.” That natural air of authority was one reason why Yuri was famous beyond Ains at other academies during her student council president days.

‘But I never imagined Yuri would create her own guild like this.’

According to the original story, Siwoo and Mina were supposed to create their own guilds, while Yuri was supposed to join the Snow Field Knights, the order of Grand Duke Andrei of the Slavic Kingdom.

‘And she would have become a high-ranking officer immediately upon joining.’

Not just because of her father’s background, but through her own abilities. The Snow Field Knights are not comparable to an ordinary hunter guild.

They are a massive legion with the power to stop both magical beasts and humans—power that modern Earth nations don’t possess.

‘Did Yuri give up even that power? Because of me.’

Although Yuri hates her father, Grand Duke Andrei, she had lived with the goal of seizing control of the Snow Field Knights with her own strength and ultimately taking away the Grand Duke’s power.

But now, instead of joining the Snow Field Knights, Yuri created Flame. Or more precisely, the Phoenix Flame.

I recalled Yuri’s words that she named it that way so she wouldn’t forget me.

I felt strange seeing Yuri taking a completely different path from the original story. No, to be honest, I was grateful to her.

‘She’s doing what Siwoo was supposed to do.’

Yuri must have been desperate to turn an unknown guild into an S-rank guild in just two years.

And the AA-rank dungeon, the Uiryeong Maneater. If Flame hadn’t conquered that place, who knows how the butterfly effect would have played out.

Since it was a main episode in Part 3 of the original story, the aftermath of conquering that dungeon must still be flowing beneath the surface of the world.

‘That means the secretive Red Lake must have left traces somewhere.’

The Uiryeong Maneater. It was a hidden dungeon influenced by the Red Lake. In the original story, Siwoo traces the Red Lake through what happened in that dungeon.

While I was lost in thought, Yuri’s briefing came to an end.

“Now let’s move to our assigned security patrol area for the Phoenix Flame.”

***

The interns, along with Yuri and Team Leader Seo—everyone from Flame boarded a van and headed to their destination.

“Keep your earpieces in and continue to check Team Leader Seo’s situation reports. You can move around relatively freely within the designated area. Just keep your intuition sharp.”

The group nodded at Yuri’s words. Then all four members except Team Leader Seo and the information team staff got out of the van.

“Good luck everyone. See you later.”

At Yuri’s words, Uncle Donghyuk bowed his head. Security dispatch mission. Specifically, the mission assigned to the group was patrol duty.

Patrols were conducted in pairs of two. Unexpectedly, I was paired with Yuri. The two of us walked side by side toward the patrol area we were assigned.

Walking beside me, Yuri said:

“The information team doesn’t usually participate in patrols directly. They need to compile real-time information distributed from the Association’s control center.”

“Then shouldn’t I stay behind and help Team Leader Seo?”

Yuri looked at me intently at my question. But she soon shook her head.

“Although an operator’s job overlaps a lot with the information team’s domain, you’re essentially part of the raid team. So even if it’s dangerous, it’s right for you to be on the field to get a feel for the atmosphere.”

Yuri was right. I also wanted to be on the field directly.

‘To release the first stage of Hong-ok’s seal, I need to get used to the field.’

In my current physical state, I’d probably get my neck cut off immediately if I encountered a villain, but that would be the same in a dungeon.

An operator needs to be able to secure their own safety in any dangerous situation.

‘And with Yuri as my partner, I should probably worry more about the villain’s life than my own.’

But Yuri seemed to prefer that I stay in the van. Although her expression didn’t change, I saw her eyelashes tremble when she made the decision as the intern supervisor to send me to the field.

‘Unnecessary worry.’

She must be concerned knowing that I can’t properly use mana right now.

“Um… Minsu. Using the earpiece will consume mana too. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Guild Leader. The earpiece doesn’t consume that much mana.”

At my words, Yuri unconsciously let out a sigh of relief.

“Phew. That’s good. According to Dr. Seong Chaerin’s diagnosis… if rehabilitation proceeds smoothly, you’ll definitely be able to return to your previous state, right?”

And Yuri’s expression as she said this was quite bright.

Unlike her usual cold expression, it contained honest emotion—just like the expression I saw after the advanced training during winter break of our second year, when she and I had grown much closer.

‘Yuri probably doesn’t know that I have limited time.’

That’s right. Professor Seong Chaerin had created a false diagnosis for me.

The current awkwardness in my mana usage was just an aftereffect of serious injury. The positive diagnosis stated that as I became more familiar with the field and mana, I could return to my previous state.

‘Otherwise, I couldn’t have joined Flame.’

While the information team might be different, an operator who needs to be deployed in the field would be disqualified from the field team if they couldn’t use mana at all.

Fortunately, the fabricated diagnosis was perfect.

Considering Professor Seong Chaerin’s status in the hunter world, even someone as cool-headed as Yuri would find it difficult to doubt its authenticity.

‘And that’s for the best.’

If Yuri were to learn the truth about my physical condition, judging by her reaction just now, she might never let me go into the field. That couldn’t happen.

“Yes. My condition seems to be improving faster than expected. Would you like to see?”

I summoned a small fireball in my palm. Of course, it was only about the size of a tennis ball, much smaller than a conventional fireball.

“Right now I can only use it as a lighter substitute, but it will get better gradually.”

“A lighter? That’s too self-deprecating.”

Saying that, Yuri smiled pleasantly. Come to think of it, before the advanced training, when Yuri and I were constantly bickering at Ains, she often teased me by calling me a lighter.

‘And I retorted by calling her dry ice…’

I think that’s what happened. To suppress old memories that were trying to surface, I deliberately made a frivolous comment to Yuri.

“Well, it’s true. It’s probably more useful than a convenience store lighter. If you need it, Guild Leader, when you light a cigarette…”

Then I inadvertently noticed the necklace around Yuri’s neck. That moon-shaped mana stone I had given her. I had seen her using that fire-attribute necklace as a lighter substitute before.

‘She didn’t wear it at Ains. Was it useful enough as a lighter?’

Yuri noticed my gaze.

“Um… this… wait a moment!”

Then Yuri looked at my neck area. She looked flustered and quickly tucked her necklace inside her shirt.

As it happened, I was also wearing the mana stone necklace she had recently given me.

Although it was a low-purity stone with the side effect of raising MCI, that side effect didn’t matter to me.

‘And since it has the effect of amplifying mana, it’s quite beneficial.’

So Yuri’s gift was quite a necessary item for me. Without this necklace, the fireball I summoned earlier would have truly had only the power of a lighter.

‘But why is she so embarrassed?’

Come to think of it, they were similar in shape. And since the two were disguised in casual clothes for patrol, in this crowded downtown area, she might have been flustered thinking people might mistake them for couple necklaces.

‘No way. That can’t be it.’

Although we were once close, Yuri and I are now just a company president and her subordinate.

“W-well, let’s continue to our destination.”

I followed Yuri, who suddenly started walking ahead at a quick pace.

***

Yuri drew mana into her palm.

From her fingers, the S-rank Ancient Gear Nivis emitted a white and blue light. Yuri’s mana resonated with Nivis, creating a swirl of ice.

*Crack*

And the pitch-black mist in the corner of the alley disappeared.

“Team Leader Seo. Atmospheric MCI 72 mist. Elimination complete. Please report to the Association control center.”

Team Leader Seo’s acknowledgment came through the earpiece.

“That was quite a high atmospheric MCI mist. If we had discovered it later, it might have developed into a small gate.”

Minsu responded to Yuri’s words.

“That would likely have been the case. The concentration was higher than expected.”

And Yuri was inwardly surprised.

Areas with high atmospheric MCI concentration have a higher risk of gates forming.

Usually, the Association’s control center informs patrol hunters of predicted points. If black mist exists at those points, as it did just now, it’s the patrol hunters’ duty to eliminate it.

But this alley was a place that even the Association’s control center hadn’t predicted, yet Minsu found it directly.

‘Although the density was high, the scale of the mist was so small that even my intuition couldn’t immediately detect it.’

But Minsu had found the preliminary gate, the black mist, using equipment he had received from the Association during the last business trip.

‘That equipment. Its detection range is narrow, but its precision is high.’

And Minsu spoke casually:

“This equipment the Association gave as a reward is quite useful. I can find black mist with precision without relying on intuition.”

But watching from the side, she could tell. Even with a high-resolution precision telescope, making meaningful discoveries depends on the skill of the astrophysicist handling the equipment.

‘He’s really… amazing.’

And even after accomplishing such an impressive feat, his attitude of treating it as nothing special hadn’t changed from his days at Ains.

Minsu had been calm even at the moment he defeated her, who was ranked first among the cadets. Seeing that same demeanor now, Yuri’s heart suddenly raced.

‘No. We’re on a mission now. And I’m here as the person in charge of this field. Focus on the mission.’

The two left the alley. Still in the downtown area, there were many people nearby.

“That’s already five black mists eliminated. Even for an S-rank hunter, destroying so many so relentlessly will drain your stamina. Let’s take a short break.”

Yuri, who had been unconsciously following Minsu’s eyes even at that moment, hurriedly turned her head.

“Y-yes. Let’s sit on that bench over there.”

The two soon sat on a bench. Yuri removed the sunglasses she had been wearing and tucked them into her shirt.

Seeing this, Minsu casually said to her:

“Come to think of it, the hat and sunglasses I bought you last time are being used so effectively. The design might be a bit off, but they’re good for disguise like now.”

At those words, Yuri touched the cap. Now her hair color was disguised as black through special equipment.

And unlike her attire at headquarters, with ordinary casual clothes plus a hat and sunglasses, considering Yuri’s usual appearance, it was sufficient as a disguise.

“Yes. For surveillance or guard duty it might be different, but when patrolling, standing out would be distracting— huh?!”

It was at that moment. Yuri, who had been answering without much thought, suddenly recalled the contents of the guidebook she had re-read thoroughly this morning.

– When your ex-lover uses a gift received from you, it means…

– And when your ex-boyfriend recently gave you even a small gift, its meaning is…

– And when using that gift in front of your ex-boyfriend, points to be careful about are…

Minsu looked strangely at Yuri, who was suddenly flustered.