Chapter 8: Monsters are enemies of Mankind

Hunter Association Headquarters.

Located in Pangyo, formerly the heart of Korea’s IT industry, an urgent discussion was taking place on the top floor.

“So, is it true? That the Seokchon Lake Dungeon inverted?”
“Yes, it’s true. It’s been confirmed that a Dungeon Break occurred.”

A staff member answered the female Director sitting at the head of the table.

She ran a hand through her long hair and sighed.

She had achieved a high position at a young age, responsible for a crucial part of Korea’s defense, but moments like these were agonizing.

‘I thought it would be safe, so I only sent a small team.’

Field personnel matters were handled by the front lines, but as the final approver, the responsibility ultimately fell on her.

“So, what happened to the personnel there?”

It was a predictable question, but she had to hear the report.

“Well, about that….”
“Tell me. It’s okay.”
“I’m not sure if it’s really okay.”

The staff member hesitated before speaking.

“All personnel stationed there are safe.”
“What?”

There were only staff members at the Dungeon Break site, no Hunters. How could they be unharmed when aquatic monsters must have swarmed out?

“Did they survive because the boss didn’t appear?”
“No. According to the report, the boss seems to have been the first to emerge.”
“What? What are you talking about?”

If the boss had emerged first, the area should have been devastated.

The strongest monster from that dungeon was a B+, and due to the lack of interested Hunters, the area was practically defenseless.
In other words, any incident would inevitably result in casualties.

However, there wasn’t much left to destroy there.

Still, it was a preposterous story.

the Director wore a bewildered expression, the staff member continued.

“The boss did emerge first, but another monster appeared and dealt with it.”
“What?”

The Director’s expression became even more incredulous.

Her eyes widened in surprise, then she frowned.

“Are you saying there was a power struggle between monsters?”
“No. The monster saved our staff and then left.”

An unbelievable story.

The Director clicked her tongue.

“Saved? A monster saved people?”

She had never heard of a monster saving a human.

“It must be a coincidence. What kind of monster was it?”
“Well, that’s the thing. It seems to be the same one from the earlier report.”

That one.

The giant monster sighted during the subjugation operation requested from the Ranger Guild to handle the potential second wave at the Cheonho Bridge, the site of a recent monster wave.

It looked like a dragon but had no wings, a lumbering behemoth presumed to be disaster-level.

The initial report was brief, and she was struggling to figure out how to investigate further, and now the same monster had appeared again.

“What is that thing?”

The first report had also mentioned the monster saving people.

She hadn’t believed it then.

Monsters wouldn’t save humans out of goodwill.

She had lost everyone she loved to them.

“Can everyone read monster psychology now? Are they empathizing with these rampaging beasts?”
“But judging by the circumstances….”
“Quiet.”

She dismissed the staff member’s opinion.

“If we let our guard down, humanity will be destroyed. Stay sharp.”

The staff member fell silent and sighed inwardly.

‘Seriously, she’s so stubborn.’

It was the Hunter Association that needed to stay sharp.

No matter how hard she tried to mobilize the staff, the Hunter Association President and most of the executive officers weren’t actively engaged in monster extermination.

They were only investing in the government’s bunker project.

To them, who profited from selling dungeon resources to the government, the Director, who sought to disrupt the current balance, was a thorn in their side.

But she wasn’t interested in politics.

It was good that she had become Director based on her abilities, but her unwavering personality made it difficult for her to climb higher and implement her vision.

“Yes, Director, I’ll stay sharp.”

The staff member replied formally and stood up.

“This concludes my report. The President is looking for me, so I’ll be going on a short errand.”
“What? After reporting about rampaging monsters, you’re going for a meal with the President?”
“Ah, haha. You know how it is. Entertaining government officials is part of the President’s job.”

The staff member offered a vague excuse, bowed, and left.

“Director, I’ll see you again if anything comes up. I’ve left the video recording, so please take care of the matters I reported.”

The Director gritted her teeth, replaying his words in her mind.

“That old geezer keeps taking my staff.”

He was undoubtedly using her staff to spy on her.

But she couldn’t confront the President.

That was just how the Hunter Association operated.

“I need to find that monster.”

Her anger was misdirected.

“If I leave it alone, who knows what kind of trouble it’ll cause.”

If it truly was a disaster-level monster, the surrounding areas would have been in ruins, and the reports would have been different.

However, a large monster had indeed appeared, so preemptive measures were necessary.

Click.

She picked up the phone and called the Ranger Guild.

“Hello, this is the Association Director. Is Han So-Yeon there?”

After a brief wait, the Ranger Guild secretary transferred the call.

–Yes, Director. This is Han So-Yeon.

“Why didn’t you answer your phone?”

She had called immediately after receiving the first report of the giant monster, but Han So-Yeon hadn’t answered.

–I was resting after a mission. I can’t sleep if I answer calls.

“You….”

–Unnie, I need to rest too.

Her tone suddenly became informal.

–I’m the only S-rank who cooperates with the Association’s missions, aren’t I?

“Han So-Yeon.”

The Director and Han So-Yeon were from the same university, only three years apart, and had become close at alumni events.

However, their differing views on handling Hunters had made their relationship strained.

“We can’t be complacent when a giant monster appears. If you’re not going to do anything, I’ll have to dispatch other Hunters from the Association.”

–You want to mobilize yourself?

Han So-Yeon replied nonchalantly.

–That giant monster seemed different from ordinary monsters. Shouldn’t we investigate further?

“Are you saying that too?”

The Director sighed.

“All monsters are enemies of humanity. We don’t know when they’ll turn on us. You have to do your part in eliminating them from this world.”

–Unnie, people will dislike you if you keep ordering them around like that.

“Even if they dislike it, it has to be done.”

–I agree that Hunters need to Awaken for humanity. But please rest. There are plenty of good reconnaissance Hunters in the Association, aren’t there?

The Director was speechless at Han So-Yeon’s words.

“…I guess you see me as an old fogey too.”

–I’d be lying if I said no. But honestly, I feel sorry for you.

The Director’s eyes widened slightly.

–The higher-ups won’t listen to you anyway, will they?

“…….”
–I understand you’re anxious, but figuring out how to persuade the higher-ups is also part of your job. Think about it. I’m really going to get some rest now. Bye.

Click.

The call ended.

The Director froze, then slowly put down the receiver.

She chuckled dryly.

“Persuade the higher-ups, huh?”

She couldn’t do that.

Not because she didn’t want to, but because they already believed humanity had lost.

They were just idiots, preoccupied with maximizing profits from dungeons before entering the bunkers.

Beep.

She turned on the TV in her office. The video the staff member had left started playing.

CRUNCH! CRUNCH!

The CCTV footage showed the giant monster tearing apart Atla’s head.

『@#%#@#$%!@.』

After finishing off Atla, the monster muttered something unintelligible to the Hunter Association staff and disappeared.

The staff stared blankly at where it had been, then hurriedly fled. That was the end of the video.

“Monsters are the enemy.”

She muttered, clenching her fists, her lips pressed firmly together.

She was determined to eliminate that giant monster.