Ch.793000 Years of Friendship(?)

This is strange.

‘This can’t be right…?’

The Han Shinwoo of this time period should be the weakest version of Han Shinwoo in his entire history.

Yet even with the holy sword in hand, I’m being pushed back.

Han Jaewon couldn’t believe it and didn’t want to believe it.

Because if he was getting thrashed this badly by his past self, it meant the gap between him and his future self would be even more overwhelming.

“Damn it!”

Thrown back inside the department store, Han Jaewon quickly got back on his feet thanks to his unique regenerative abilities.

And following through the hole that had been created, Shinwoo entered the department store.

“What the hell is going on…”

As both men almost simultaneously underwent kaijufication and started fighting each other, Lia, Riverine, and Sophia could only watch in stunned silence.

“…Lia, come here.”

“…! Yes.”

He had clearly said this just moments ago.

Leave Lia behind and go, then I’ll spare your life, he had said…

That meant his objective was Lia.

Realizing this, Sophia held Lia tightly in her arms, trying desperately to protect her monster servant from the blonde boy.

“…! Mother…”

Witnessing this scene, Han Jaewon felt incredibly complex emotions.

His mother protecting his enemy.

But he couldn’t bring himself to harm his mother just to kill the baby monster.

“I… will withdraw for now.”

“Grrrk?!”

‘What?!’

“Han Shinwoo. Never change. The moment you do, I’ll come to kill you.”

Han Jaewon decided to retreat.

As if he couldn’t fight anymore, he strapped the holy sword back onto his back and turned away from everyone, preparing to disappear from this place.

“W-wait…!”

Although his mother seemed to be calling out to him.

“Goodbye, Ms. Sophia.”

“…!”

He simply turned back with a bright smile to bid farewell to the mother he would likely never see again.

“Hey!”

And despite Shinwoo calling after him, Han Jaewon leapt away and disappeared through the hole he had entered, vanishing from the department store.

***

A day had passed since the incident at the Shinsegae Department Store in Gangnam.

When news broke that another monster-like creature had appeared in Jamsil, the Korean Hunter Association went into emergency mode.

The military and National Assembly were in the same state.

They could barely handle one monster, and now another similar one had appeared.

“What about the CCTV footage from when it appeared?”

“W-well… Unfortunately, there was a power outage at the department store where it’s believed to have appeared…”

“Argh…! Just like the Hongdae incident, how does this thing manage to turn all nearby machines into scrap metal whenever it appears?!”

The black lightning that bursts out when someone undergoes kaijufication.

It was energy that was harmless to living beings but extremely damaging to machines and various systems. The leaders of each organization, unaware of this fact, could only wear troubled expressions.

And so, with heavy hearts, they gathered for a meeting at the National Assembly building.

Present were Lee Seokgyu, the Army Chief of Staff; Lee Jin-ah, the branch director of the Korean Hunter Association; Talisman, the commander of United States Forces Korea; and even the President of South Korea.

The final person to enter this gathering of Korean VIPs was:

“Thanks for inviting me to such an important meeting!”

“This is National Authority-Level Hunter Xiaoling from China.”

“A National Authority-Level from China…!”

“……”

“China, huh…”

Xiaoling, dressed in a white qipao with her fox ears perked up, was the last to join the meeting.

“Now that all key personnel are present, let’s begin our emergency meeting regarding the Jamsil monster.”

Naturally, the current President initiated the proceedings.

As he spoke and glanced around, the first to speak was none other than Army Chief of Staff Lee Seokgyu.

“Mr. President. The Gangnam street in front of Shinsegae Department Store has been completely destroyed by this incident.”

“Army Chief of Staff Lee Seokgyu…”

“Miraculously, there were no casualties this time, but we cannot continue to just watch as these creatures now appear to be multiplying in number!”

“…!”

“!!”

Multiplying in number.

This implied that the Jamsil monster was either breeding or reproducing asexually to increase its population.

That’s how the Army’s National Defense Ministry seemed to view the situation.

Especially Lee Seokgyu, who had been kicked in the abdomen by the creature during a previous battle with the Villain’s Troupe and sent flying over a mountain, harbored particular resentment.

“Mr. President! The current situation is nothing short of a national emergency! We should declare martial law and hunt down these creatures!”

“I-is that so? Then according to the Army Chief of Staff, martial law…”

“Please wait a moment, Mr. President.”

However.

Someone raised their hand to interrupt his opinion.

It was none other than the representative figure of Korea’s hunters.

“Ms. Lee Jin-ah…?”

“Of course, the Army Chief of Staff’s words have some merit. It’s concerning that a National Disaster-Level monster that we could barely handle has suddenly doubled in number. Declaring martial law wouldn’t be unreasonable… but!”

Lee Jin-ah smiled calmly in front of the President, who was nervously swallowing, and continued.

“For South Korea, a country that lives on exports, declaring martial law because of National Disaster-Level monsters—two of them—that may or may not be eliminated soon… I think it would be a long-term measure that would invite pressure from North Korea and affect aid from the United States. It’s not a good idea in my opinion.”

“…! I-I see. When you put it that way, Branch Director Lee Jin-ah’s point makes sense.”

“Indeed…”

Even Lee Seokgyu, who was listening, seemed somewhat convinced.

Thinking about it, they were dealing with not one but two such monsters, and a misstep could lead not just to national bankruptcy but potentially turn the entire Korean Peninsula into a sea of flames.

‘I guess I was being too emotional…’

Lee Seokgyu, who had recently been struck by the monster, felt embarrassed about his emotional display.

“So until there are actual casualties, I’d like our Hunter Association to take charge of this incident.”

“The Hunter Association, you say…?”

“Yes, Mr. President. I have a good ‘strategy’ in mind, so I would appreciate your approval.”

“I-is that so?”

Lee Jin-ah looked around at the others, who had no particular objections, and recommended herself as the person in charge of the Gangnam Station department store incident.

The atmosphere seemed unanimous, and naturally…

“Aid? We can provide that!”

…everything seemed like it would end well, but.

“Ms. Xiaoling?”

“Mr. President. If you’re worried about exports and imports because of martial law, China can help.”

Xiaoling spoke cheerfully, winking one eye.

“Aid from China…”

“Oh, and about tracking the Jamsil monster? There are 50,000 Chinese troops who want to come to Korea right now. If you just authorize their landing, we’ll all operate under Korean command!”

“Is that so?”

It was as if pressing a button had instantly added 50,000 more soldiers.

The President’s ears perked up at this.

But.

“Madam President… Surely you’re not taking those words at face value?”

“Chinese troops on Korean soil! What kind of disgusting conversation is this?!”

The President quickly shut her mouth, startled by the immediate outbursts from Lee Seokgyu and Talisman.

“Besides, 50,000 Chinese troops? What on earth…?”

“Madam President. Have you established some kind of military relationship with China without any consultation with us, the United States Forces Korea?”

“No, that’s not it…”

“This violates the ROK-US Mutual Defense Treaty! Fuck! I’ve heard from my superiors that China or Russia might try something after one of our USFK bases was wiped out, but…”

“Mr. President! Chinese troops of all things! No, politically we might need to cooperate, but this is absolutely unacceptable! North Korea is right above us, and they’re right above them!!”

“Ugh…”

The National Assembly session quickly descended into chaos.

Xiaoling tried to make a friendly comment to persuade the two agitated men.

“Um, historically, the country that has helped the Korean Peninsula the most is our brother nation, China…”

“Shut up.”

“Shh.”

“Eek?!”

But.

Intimidated by the two men’s forceful presence, Xiaoling curled up like a frightened animal.

Meanwhile, watching the President being interrogated, Lee Jin-ah sighed with an “Oh well~”.

‘Well, I guess this counts as handling it well, just as he said?’

At least she had achieved her goal.

Recalling the blonde boy who had visited her the previous evening, Lee Jin-ah decided not to get involved in this fight in order to help Han Shinwoo.

“J-Jin-ah! Help me out here!”

“……”

“Don’t put your earphones in!”

***

However, it was too early to feel relieved.

One week later.

The plan had been to change history and prevent Chinese troops from legally entering South Korea.

“Ms. Katarina. What we’re seeing right now…”

“Yes, it seems they’ve decided to just enter boldly regardless.”

Like an odd customer who pours kimchi soup into your rice bowl before you can even respond, saying “Just try it!”

In a similar “Just try some Chinese troops!” fashion, China’s Triad military ships were attempting to cross into Korean waters without permission.

Currently, in the West Sea bordering South Korea, there was constant tension between the Triad disguised as Chinese military and Korean marines.

“Hey! This is Korean waters from here on! What you’re doing now is nothing short of military provocation!”

“No, we’re telling you we’re here because of our new alliance!”

“Alliance…? Then please wait until we get confirmation from our superiors!”

“No, no! Why are you being so difficult? Do you treat the Americans like this too?”

Meanwhile, several military ships were trying to enter through the West Sea.

But thanks to Korean warships blocking them, prepared for collision, the situation looked extremely tense.

“I’m telling you we’re on the same side!”

“And I’m telling you we need to verify that! So wait until then!”

“Ugh… this is driving me crazy. Is this how you waste 3,000 years of friendship?!”

Meanwhile, Katarina, Han Jaewon, and Dorothy were watching the scene from a submarine beneath the surface.

“Eeeeeek?!”

With a naval battle seemingly about to break out, Dorothy was particularly terrified, curled up in a corner crying and trembling.

“H-hurry and do something…! If they start firing torpedoes at each other… we’ll get caught in it and die too…!”

“Hey, son. Can you stop this?”

“Of course. I came here precisely because I anticipated this situation.”

According to history, this standoff would continue until a Chinese Triad member accidentally fired a cannon, triggering a naval battle between the two countries.

Unaware of this, the Han Shinwoo of this time was reportedly busy flirting with Xiaoling, the Chinese hunter, trying to persuade her.

‘It’s my turn to step in.’

Han Jaewon planned to exit the submarine and immediately undergo kaijufication.

His plan was to get between the two navies about to engage in battle and cleanly deal with the Triad disguised as Chinese military.

“Then please surface so I can go up.”

“Okay.”

Following Han Jaewon’s instructions, Katarina brought the submarine to the surface.

And just as she was about to open the hatch to let the boy out.

“KRAAAAAAAA-!!”

“Huh?”

“What?!”

She was about to let him out, but.

“Huh?”

“What’s that?”

Black lightning was surging.

At the same time, something that had never happened in history occurred.

Han Jaewon’s body trembled, and simultaneously, all the Korean navy and Chinese Triad personnel were looking around, trying to locate the source of the monstrous roar that had come from somewhere.

Just then.

Thud!

“…Huh?”

“What?”

Onto the deck of the Korean warship that was facing the Chinese military ship.

“Grrrrrr…”

A monster that was supposed to live on land, only seen on TV.

“What is that?”

“J-j-j…”

“The Jamsil monster?!”

The Jamsil monster, somehow having swum quite well, appeared soaking wet right between the two nations’ ships.