Chapter 384: Chapter 384

“What the... are they really proceeding with the raid?”

“Yes...”

The staff members’ expressions changed as though Choi Yeonseung’s attitude was unusual.

“...That’s not bravery. That’s just stupidity. I’ll contact them myself.”

Choi Yeonseung knew that the situation wasn’t great. The hunters from all the other countries were retreating, and only the US raiders were being stubborn.

Of course, the US raid group was on a different scale. There were dozens of clans mobilized and several A-grade hunters participating, so it was inevitable that they would be brimming with confidence.

However, this wasn’t actual confidence, but arrogance. The boss monster was going berserk and would soon destroy the whole area, so why were those hunters still advancing?

***

“Hunter Choi Yeonseung?”

Russell Landon, the deputy secretary of Homeland Security, had a stiff expression after hearing his subordinate’s report. He normally wouldn’t have to comply with every single hunter’s request, but...

This particular person wasn’t just a hunter, but the most active A-grade hunter out there. In addition, he was the leader of a famous company in the United States.

“I’ll talk to him myself.”

Russell sat down in front of an artifact. In the ever-changing land of the Abyss, magic was more convenient for communication than wireless or wired communication.

‘What does he want to say? Is he trying to join us now? If so, I won’t refuse, but I’ll keep him on a tight leash for sure.’

However, Choi Yeonseung’s words subverted Russell’s expectations.

“...Are you telling me to retreat?”

-Hunters from other countries are also retreating. Why are you being so stubborn?

“Well, the rest of the hunters are retreating because they don’t have enough power. They, too, wanted to raid this realm, but they didn’t manage to mobilize enough hunters. That’s why they’re retreating. As for ourselves, we don’t see any reason to retreat.”

-......

Choi Yeonseung cursed in his mind as he was listening to Russell. Wasn’t it true that those who couldn’t be reasoned with were just overly-confident imbeciles?

-Retreating when the boss monster goes on a rampage is the most basic principle of raids.

“I’m sorry, but I have no reason to listen to you, Hunter Choi Yeonseung. Besides, I’m not the one leading this offensive operation.”

-I guess so, but if there is damage, someone else will be held accountable.

“Yeah? Well let me ask you this. If we retreat and then you slay the monster, who will be responsible then?” Russell asked coldly.

Russell had been a public official for a long time, not at some random department, but at the Department of Homeland Security, a huge intelligence organization that dealt with everything. Thus, Russell was very suspicious of hunters.

Even the hunters within the government were assholes, so how much worse were those that worked in clans? Of course, Russell knew that Choi Yeonseung was a relatively good hunter compared to everyone else, but that was only up to a point.

Russell couldn’t tell when Choi Yeonseung would reveal his true colors.

-Forget it. It seems that I’m wasting my breath trying to convince you. I’ll act on my own.

“Hunter Choi Yeonseung, I’m warning you. Officials like us might not seem like much to the top hunters, but it’s us officials who clean up your mess after you fight. Just think about how bothersome we can be if we put our minds to it.”

-Your attempt to intimidate me is laughable. I’ve dealt with Korean officials before, so I won’t budge against people like you.

“...What did you say?”

Russell raised his head, bewildered, but Choi Yeonseung had already cut off contact.

***

“I don’t know how many will hear it, but I’ll send a message to as many clans as I can.”

However, Choi Yeonseung didn’t stop there.

[The ‘Undefeated Incarnation of Training’ warns that it will be dangerous if you don’t retreat.]

As a constellation, he contacted and warned other constellations as well.

[The ‘Fighter of Sweat and Flesh’ is deep in thought after hearing the incarnation’s words.]

[The ‘Monk Pursuing Glory’ is surprised that it’s that dangerous.]

Some constellations didn’t completely ignore Choi Yeonseung's warning, but many did...

[The ‘Iron-Blooded General Who Shakes the Battlefield’ says that he is willing to take some risks.]

[The ‘Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood’ insults the general by calling him a dumb idiot.]

[The ‘Arrogant Light Elf’ warns you to shut up...]

[The ‘Endless Gourmet Seeker’ says this monster must be killed right away...]

[...]

[...]

‘I don’t know how effective it will be, but I’ve done everything I can.’

“No way!”

“...”

Han Seha literally dropped flat on the ground, and Choi Yeonseung was speechless. The other hunters present murmured to each other with bewildered expressions as if they hadn’t expected Han Seha to act like this.

“Uh... Hunter Han Seha, there are many people here. You should get up...”

“Shut up! Don’t butt in!”

“Sorry...”

Han Seha, who was lying down like a starfish, started cursing when she heard the other hunters. She would crush anyone who tried talking to her...

She was acting like this for one reason only—Choi Yeonseung was about to attack the mechanical dragon.

“I won’t go!”

If Choi Yeonseung wanted to attack the mechanical dragon out of greed, Han Seha would’ve said, “Yeah, sure. Let’s try it.”

However, he wasn’t doing this out of greed. In fact, Han Seha wasn’t sure why he was doing this. It was absolutely unacceptable by her standards.

“Excuse me, Hunter Han Seha,” Adaquaniel said reluctantly. She was always outspoken, but she knew that Choi Yeonseung cared about Han Seha, so she also cared about her quite a bit.

“We’re not going to try and kill it. We’re just going to attack so we can distract it. I can shape the future with the power I received from my master...”

“No! I don’t wanna!”

“...”

“...”

Han Seha wouldn’t normally back away from a fight even if she had a broken leg, so it was ridiculous that she was throwing such a tantrum.

When it seemed that nobody could persuade her, Choi Yeonseung nodded and said, “Alright.”

“Ah, so you’re not going?”

“No, you stay here. I’ll go and come back...”

“...”

At that, Han Seha pouted, stood up, and brushed the dust off her. Then she held her spear and said reluctantly, “Let’s go together...”

“Thank you.”

“I’m going to write down the names of all the hunters over there who didn’t listen to you and scream at them the first chance I get.”

“Suit yourself.”

Choi Yeonseung’s goal was simple—he would provoke the mechanical dragon and get it to attack a different location. The damage would be significantly reduced if he could manage to redirect the dragon’s attack away from the US hunters.

‘Sigh... Sometimes I miss just wandering around in the Abyss,’ Choi Yeonseung genuinely thought so. Everything had been more simple when he had been roaming through the Abyss. Back then, he didn’t have to hide his true power, and everything was decided through duels to the death.

After returning to Earth, there were many things to pay attention to and people didn’t listen when he tried to help them... Still, what could he do?

Choi Yeonseung didn’t run away from his responsibilities, no matter how infuriating it was and how much he wanted to swear.

[The realm of nobility is vibrating.]

[Your existence is changing!]

“...?”

Choi Yeonseung was taken aback by the sudden world message. He knew that the Seed of the Realm was engraved with ‘nobility.’ ‘Despicable’ had also been engraved on it, but that didn’t matter...

-Goddess of sloth, what does it mean that my existence is changing?

Choi Yeonseung asked the goddess of sloth because she was one of the most experienced and knowledgeable constellations in the Abyss. She knew a lot more than him, a young constellation.

-...I don’t know either.

-Huh?!

Choi Yeonseung was shocked that the goddess of sloth didn’t know either.

-There’s no way that the existence of a constellation can change...?

The goddess of sloth was also very confused by this.

A constellation was the limit, the absolute form of existence itself. That was true for any constellation, no matter how weak it was.

Just as an incredibly high mass distorted space, the limit of existence itself could distort things on a metaphysical level.

It was hard to believe that such a being could undergo any sort of transformation. It was as absurd as the goddess of sloth suddenly becoming the goddess of diligence.

However, Choi Yeonseung wasn’t shocked like the goddess of sloth.

‘Doesn’t everyone change throughout their lives?’

-...How can you say something like that so easily?

-No?

That was his genuine opinion, but it didn’t really matter as long as he could continue fighting as usual. He decided not to worry about it any longer. As long as his martial arts weren’t suddenly suppressed or anything like that, Choi Yeonseung didn’t really care if his existence changed a bit.

“Thank you all for coming.”

The gathered hunters looked at Choi Yeonseung as though they had nothing to say. They were the most elite hunters involved in this raid, all of them B-grade or higher. The A-grade hunters, Han Seha and Kwon Yeongseung, as well as Antony, were also participating.

All of the Mount Hua Sect hunters above B-grade were taking part in this. In addition, all the Icarus clan hunters who knew Choi Yeonseung were in this as well.

Normally, an S-grade monster would have to appear in front of the White House for someone to be able to mobilize this many powerful hunters. But despite that, the hunters at the scene didn’t seem particularly dissatisfied.

Sure, some hunters had a few differences of opinion, but they all admired Choi Yeonseung for the type of person he was and had utmost faith in him.

“Thank you for having me,” Antony greeted the other two Korean A-grade hunters. He had just recently become an A-grade hunter himself.

In response, Kwon Yeongseung greeted him warmly.

“Antony Schneider, it’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“...I knew it!”

Antony looked delighted. As expected, Korean people knew to appreciate great hunters!

Unfortunately, Han Seha quickly dispelled his sweet illusion. She cocked her head and asked, “Who are you?”

“...”

***

“The mechanical dragon has been taken away! Move to the scene!”

“!”

The moment they received news that a raid team led by Choi Yeonseung was approaching the mechanical dragon, the US raiders were baffled as though they were caught in a beehive.

“Would Hunter Choi Yeonseung actually do something like that?”

“He sent a warning telling us to retreat. Did you receive it too?”

“I got it, but...”

Some of the hunters were angry at Choi Yeonseung for having stabbed them in the back, but a few clans hesitated to condemn him. They were the clans who had met Choi Yeonseung a few times.

“We will stall for time here.”

“!”

“Can we do that?”

“We can’t start moving because we’re not ready. They can’t reproach us for that.”

Surprisingly, some clans disobeyed the order to move immediately and instead stalled for time. They believed that Choi Yeonseung had warned them for a reason.

Not even Choi Yeonseung himself would’ve expected them to heed his warning and refuse to advance.

“Some clans are refusing to move...”

Isabella Meyer was briefed on the situation, but she didn’t care. She exclaimed fiercely, “We don’t have time to worry about them right now. Order the others to keep moving!”

“I understand.”

Even if around one third of the total number of hunters hesitated, it wouldn’t change the raid that much.

‘These cowards!’

Isabella Meyer strode forward akin to an angry lion.

[The ‘Iron-Blooded General Who Shakes the Battlefield’ says he wants to make you one of his household members.]

[The ‘Warrior with a Hammer’ wants to bring you in...]

[...]

“Piss off, aliens!” Isabella bellowed.

No sane hunter would dare insult a constellation like that. Those beings could torment mortals in unimaginable ways if they so desired.

However, the constellations excused Isabella’s impudent behavior because they were desperate to recruit her into their households.

[The ‘Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood’...]

“I told you to shut up!”

[The ‘Warrior Stained with Madness and Blood’ is furious and tells you to listen to the end!]

The berserker constellation had come to her to deliver an important message, and he was furious that she wasn’t listening. No matter how much attention she received from constellations, this was too much!