Chapter 265: The President’s Special Address [R-18]

• * *

At that same moment, in a building where he had hastily taken cover, the boss of the Black Star Society, Chunwon, was staring at the wound in his stomach.

“Keoheok!”

When his subordinate carelessly poured disinfectant on it, Chunwon immediately grabbed him by the throat and started choking him.

“You son of a bitch! Are you trying to get yourself killed?!”

“N-No, Boss! You told me to pour it!”

“Dammit. All because of that damn academy bitch…!”

Chunwon was so furious that the veins on his forehead were bulging.

He ground his teeth, puffing on a harsh cigar while his subordinates tended to his wound.

Her name was Yuuna, wasn’t it? I’ll kill that bitch, no matter what.

She wasn’t even a famous S-rank hunter.

The fact that he’d been wounded by some nameless girl made his blood boil.

“She must be pretty skilled to leave a wound like that on you, Boss.”

“As the Lord says, there’s no hero against a mob.”

“So, are we going to mob them?”

“We’ll have to. Hmmm…”

“What about the Saintess?”

The subordinate’s question sent Chunwon deep into thought.

Where did she run off to?

There shouldn’t have been anywhere for that bitch to run.

The only place a wanted Saintess could possibly go would be to a hidden family…

But if she had one, he would have dragged them out and used them long ago.

He had confirmed time and time again that Syns Beje was an orphan with no living relatives.

He had killed every last person who approached her, claiming they wanted to help.

He had to make Beje completely alone. Only then would she depend on their organization.

He’d gone so far as to set up an “orphanage” to use the children as her shackles, but to think she’d actually run away with all of them…

“Let’s find a trace of her.”

“Uh, Boss.”

“What is it?”

“The monsters are getting stronger, and most of our members are either seriously injured or have deserted.”

Ssk.

Chunwon rose to his feet, draping a black coat over his muscular frame, which was impressive for his age.

“Then we’d better find her fast, right? Our cash cow. In the Lord’s name, Amen.”

“Yes, sir…!”

“As long as we have that bitch, we can rebuild as much as we want. Once we get out of here, your position will be much higher, too.”

“I’ll find her, Boss!”

Beje. There’s no life for you if you abandon the organization. No matter what’s helping you.

Chunwon coolly snipped the end off his cigar.

While the Black Star Society was tracking Syns Beje, a strange change was also occurring within the Universe’s Domain.

『Black Crystals』 had appeared in various locations.

They were granting the magical beasts a sense of organization, stymieing the hunters’ advance and making progress difficult.

Hilaria and Kibelle’s team was no exception.

“Hilaria. They say a commander-type has appeared.”

Kibelle adjusted her glasses and read from the newly updated hunter guidelines.

“Looks like the danger level just went up a notch. Should we pull back soon?”

“But my husband seems to have gone deeper in.”

“…That seonbaenim’s party has a strange growth rate. It must mean they have more potential than us.”

Hilaria stared into the depths of the dungeon.

“Let’s rest and then go a little further, Kibelle.”

“Do you like Sang-hyeok-seonbaenim that much?”

“What do you mean, ‘like’? He’s my husband! My husband, I tell you!”

“Ugh. Of course, he is…”

• * *

Eirin, the black-haired and busty receptionist, tapped at the panel displaying the new hunter guidelines.

Hunter Kim Sang-hyeok… I wonder if he’s okay…

It was well past lunchtime, but he still hadn’t returned.

On the hologram panel, weather forecaster Im So-hyun’s commentary was playing.

“…While many high-rank heroes and hunters are currently fighting for the safety of our citizens in the deeper levels, the thick fog is spreading even wider. Could this be a repeat of that day? Is the 『Universe’s Domain』 sending us some kind of warning? This has been Im So-hyun, your weather forecaster.”

Nam Su-won, who had just gotten out of his hospital bed, was also watching the broadcast.

He was the independent S-rank hunter who had been instrumental in updating the hunter guidelines when the Galaxy Soldiers first appeared.

I knew this was a dangerous Domain, but this is no ordinary event…

The identity of the thick fog was the 【Universe’s Domain】.

At first, the disaster phenomenon within the Forbidden Zone was described simply, and not much information was available.

But now, nearly every citizen was focused on the reappearance of the Universe’s Domain in Korea.

It was all thanks to the sensational headline:

「The Domain That Killed the Sword Saint」

People’s anxiety instantly ballooned. A photo of a magical beast, its origin unknown, was doctored to look like a “monster that escaped the Forbidden Zone” and started trending in real-time. All sorts of conspiracy theories spread like wildfire. On TV, self-proclaimed experts appeared on panels, urging a swift government response and claiming that “a great disaster will befall Korea without prompt action.” Clickbait YouTubers were busy spreading it all.

Weather forecaster Im So-hyun’s aggressive coverage of the gravity waves also became a hot topic in online communities.

For instance…

[Weather Forecast Gallery]

Author: WFGalleryUser2
Title: Weather Forecaster Im So-hyun Underwear Pic

(Image of Im So-hyun fighting hard in her underwear)

So-hyun’s tits are fucking insane lolololol
I can’t even see the monster lmao

> lolol Her contract renewal antics are on another level
> Holy shit, is she a person or a dairy cow?
> Her boyfriend is one lucky guy
>> So-hyun doesn’t have a boyfriend
>> Bullshit lol how would you know
>> They all have boyfriends they hide from the public
> Isn’t she doing this on purpose? This is uncomfortable.
>> If you’re uncomfortable, sit up straight.

Author: WFGalleryUser11
Title: Weather Forecaster Im So-hyun, what is this?

(GIF of So-hyun moving)

Isn’t that a bunch of condoms under her flare skirt??
Oof…

The comments went on and on…

> …said the retard, imagining things.
> Fuck off, don’t mess with real people.
>> Retard.
>> You’re a retard too.
> I get that her tits are amazing, but is she a whore or a weather forecaster?
>> What’s not to like?
>> A world where you can comfortably sit and watch a weather forecaster’s tits is the world as it should be, right?
> But for real, it does look like something’s in there.
> So what if they’re condoms? What can a pathetic loser like you do to So-hyun?
> Lmao, she just came back from having sex with her handsome boyfriend~
> It’s probably just a decoration. It’s too bulky for condoms, right? Is it a balloon?
>> What kind of decoration do you dangle from your panties? It’s definitely condoms.

…Of course.

Most of the discussion was about So-hyun’s “aggressive body.”

But among them were people who watched her broadcast with genuine seriousness.

Author: WFGalleryUser5
Title: lol but for real, isn’t Korea fucking screwed?

I’m a fan of So-hyun, so I watch her forecasts often.
Before, it was basically a live broadcast of her slaughtering monsters.
But this time, she’s struggling to take down even one.
If a former S-rank hunter says they’re tough, how strong are they? If those things are swarming everywhere, aren’t we totally fucked?

> Stronger ones have already appeared.
>> For real? S-rank?
>> At least S-rank, maybe higher.
> I’m already preparing to leave Korea.
>> Is there any country safer than Korea?
>> That’s ancient history now that S-rank monsters are strolling around like it’s a walk in the park.

Author: WFGalleryUser9
Title: I’ll predict the future.

Korea can’t stop the Forbidden Zone at its current level.
You all know the Sword Saint Justia died trying to stop this thing in the past, right?
From now on, the hero bubble is gonna pop,
and the Villain Alliance will rule the world.

> Go back to the Villain Alliance gallery.
> There are always fuckers like this everywhere.
> Do you think Master Hunters are a fucking joke?
> Lmao Zenobia is locked up in the Correction Bureau~ She’s not getting out~

As content related to the fog and predictions of disaster exploded in a single day,

Korea’s largest corporation, SD, released a press statement that they were considering dispatching their squads after internal discussions.

Everyone began to pay close attention to the government’s response.

And…

“Evangeline! It’s an emergency patient.”

“President?!”

Isabella appeared at the base camp, carrying a blood-drenched Quintia.

“Stretcher!”

Quintia was quickly moved to a temporary sickbed.

“How is she?”

“It looks like she met an enemy with incredible sword skills. The wound… it’s a very clean cut.”

“What do you mean?”

“It means even the cells weren’t damaged. Once it heals, there probably won’t even be a scar. What in the world did she fight?”

“…”

Isabella remained silent.

Even though she had seen the opponent with her own eyes, there was nothing she could say.

A Red Swordswoman…

She had appeared like a heat haze, attacked Quintia, indiscriminately laid waste to the surroundings, and then vanished somewhere.

Should I have chased her?

She seemed too dangerous to attack recklessly. But she couldn’t just be left alone, either.

“It’s done. I don’t know if she was lucky or if she twisted her body herself, but she managed to avoid a fatal wound.”

“Thank you.”

“Now, can you please tell me what happened?”

“I found her wandering inside.”

Quintia stirred, grabbing Isabella’s hand.

Flinch.

“…Mom…”

“…She’s calling you Mom, President.”

Isabella turned her head away, ignoring it.

“Don’t mind her. She’s hallucinating. Anyway…”

“If you’re asking about Sang-hyeok, he’s out on a mission.”

“I don’t know if he’ll be alright. The magical beasts have gotten quite strong.”

The sight of the cool Student Council President fidgeting with worry over her man was a rare spectacle for Evangeline.

“…Why are you smiling like that?”

“Oh, nothing~ Just thinking what a lovey-dovey couple you are.”

“Did you see or hear something?”

“If it’s about Sang-hyeok, his growth rate has been great lately, and, ah, it seems he’s been doing plenty of naughty things, too~”

Isabella cleared her throat, trying to change the subject.

“…I was asking about the situation here. Not the latest on my boyfriend.”

“Ah!”

Evangeline smiled mischievously, as if she finally understood.

“We can hear about who he did those naughty things with later.”

“What would you do if he did them with me?”

“…”

“…”

A strange, lukewarm tension filled the air between the two women.

“Evangeline. We are on a mission right now.”

“The situation isn’t much different from yesterday. With the Domain spread out like this, we’re too busy treating the flood of injured people to even think about searching for the Villain Alliance.”

“Any clues about the Domain?”

“Other than the fact that it’s an incredibly dangerous Domain? Honestly, I think it’s time for us to pull back and let the professional corporate hunters take over.”

Just as Evangeline said that,

two nurse’s aides from the Angel One squad peeked their heads in.

“Excuse us. You have a visitor.”

“Oh my, who could it be while I’m speaking with the President?”

“Well… you should see for yourself…”

Pushing past the hesitating nurses, Eunseo appeared.

With her indigo hair tied in a half-up style, the arrival of the elegant, aristocratic-looking Eunseo instantly transformed the atmosphere of the temporary sickbay into that of a noble’s social gathering.

“Your Excellency!”

Isabella quickly turned around.

Evangeline was also quite flustered by the appearance of the President, Go Eunseo.

“My apologies for the sudden visit, my dear student council juniors. I happened to overhear a bit of your conversation…”

“Are we pulling out now?”

Eunseo shook her head with a bitter smile.

“No. I need you to do a little more. The truth is…”

[The President’s Special Address will begin shortly.]

[00:24:32]

A message scrolled across everyone’s hologram panels like a public announcement.

“…we’ve decided to set up the command center here.”

“Ahaha…”

Evangeline was smiling, but she couldn’t feel happy on the inside.

She had a premonition of even more grueling work to come.

Eunseo seemed to know it, too, and wore an apologetic expression.

“I’m sorry. I don’t want to ask this of my academy juniors, but we need to get a firm grip on this Domain and handle it well so that people can feel at ease.”

“And the compensation?”

“Evangeline.”

Evangeline placed a hand on her hip, not backing down an inch, even before the President.

“President, you stay out of this. It might be fine for you to work for free, but the people under you will be worked to death, you know?”

“A hero should save people without expecting anything in return…”

Eunseo chuckled.

“Of course, we plan to prepare appropriate compensation. For each and every one of you.”

“We will help to the best of our ability, Your Excellency.”

“Thank you, Isabella. People will be greatly reassured if they know that you, whose reputation is soaring after capturing Zenobia, have taken charge.”

Nod.

The shrewd Isabella already understood her role.

“Before you deploy the squads, no… if I can resolve this before that, I would like to try.”

“Excellent. By the way, what about your assistant? Is he not here?”

“Ah, yes. He seems to be inside at the moment.”

“…Isn’t that man D-rank? It must be dangerous…”

Eunseo was slightly surprised.

Kim Sang-hyeok is exploring the interior of the Universe’s Domain…?

Although she hadn’t fought a Galaxy Soldier herself, Eunseo was still an S-rank hunter. She could tell that Kim Sang-hyeok and his companions were not at a level where they should be exploring the interior.

“He’ll be fine,” Isabella said.

“He’s stronger than he looks.”

That single sentence was deeply imbued with her trust in Sang-hyeok.

“Sang-hyeok isn’t the type to die in a ditch somewhere~~”

“Is that so?”

What was it that made them believe in him so much?

Eunseo felt a flicker of curiosity.

“In any case, I will be here to help you all.”

“You, Your Excellency? It could be dangerous.”

“A command center needs a commander.”

“…”

It was then that a commotion erupted outside.

“Magical beasts!”

“The beasts are swarming the camp, Your Excellency!”

“Oh, are they?”

Despite the news of a monster attack, Eunseo remained calm and turned around composedly.

“Shall we go, Isabella?”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“We can set a good stage before the address.”

When the three women stepped out of the temporary medical container,

soldier-type entities, commanded by the waves of the 『Black Crystal』, were swarming the base camp.

Bodyguards surrounded Eunseo to protect the VVIP.

They were like a black fence protecting her.

Within it, Eunseo, dressed in white, was the only one who seemed to sparkle.

“Now, let’s fight.”

Returning to her main profession, she smiled in the face of the monsters.

---

Translated By: Meher (RaidenTL)

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