Chapter 277: Episode 277

I called over the most senior of the mages present. The one who had tried to shoot an Ice Javelin at me earlier rose to his feet.

“Do you know where Bora is being held?”

“Yes! I will guide you.”

We took the magic circle elevator up to the Great Library on the second floor.

’It’s been a while for this place, too.’

The mages in the library were still working, even with the disaster unfolding. They didn’t seem to spare us a single glance as we passed. Seeing their glazed-over eyes from long hours of hard work, I couldn’t help but think that Jeong Seojin really knew how to work his subordinates to the bone.

“By the way, Ea,” I said, turning to her as she walked beside me. “Why were you asleep all this time? I heard you were in a dormant state.”

“That is correct. It was a forced hibernation due to the Tower Master’s prolonged inactivity. It is a system designed to prevent anyone other than the Tower Master from seizing control of the Tower by using the homunculus.”

“…So there was a system like that.”

She nodded and gave me a gentle smile. “You have grown stronger than before, Tower Master.”

“Heh, of course! I’ll have to set aside some time to tell you all about what happened.”

Our conversation made the short walk to the Sealed Library fly by. The guards posted there saw the mage accompanying us and promptly saluted, stepping aside.

“You seem to be pretty high-ranking,” I commented.

“My apologies for the late introduction. I am Shin Seongyeon, the administrator of the sixth floor.”

“Oh, an administrator? I didn’t realize.”

“Though I’m an administrator in name only, with no actual authority over the floor.”

Well, that was true. Na Daeyong might be the 15th Tower Master, but his official registered position was still just the 4th Floor Manager. An administrator couldn’t appoint another administrator and grant them authority over a floor, so this kind of empty title was the best he could do.

“When I’m officially back, would you be interested in the real 6th Floor Manager position?”

Shin Seongyeon waved his hands dismissively. “Oh, no! A position of such great responsibility would be too much for someone of my abilities.”

“I’ll keep your name in mind, just in case.”

Shin Seongyeon bowed his head, saying he was grateful for the thought. “This way, my lord.”

He placed his hand on the magic circle at the entrance, deactivating the security. We entered the library together, and I immediately saw Jin Bora.

“…Bora!”

She was in a terrible state. Her arms were bound by chains hanging from the ceiling, her feet dangling above the floor. It was nothing short of torture. Hanging there as if lifeless, she saw me and managed a faint smile.

“…Sunbae.”

Horrified, I rushed over and released her arms. She collapsed to the floor, curling up as if her arms were numb.

“A-Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I haven’t been hanging here for long. Please don’t worry too much.”

I stroked her shoulder and glared at Shin Seongyeon. “Isn’t this a bit much? Treating a colleague you’ve fought alongside like this…”

“I-I had no idea the Potion Master was being treated this way! I swear!” Shin Seongyeon looked genuinely flustered.

I let out a long sigh and looked back at Bora. “What happened?”

She explained the situation, which wasn’t much different from what we had guessed. Na Daeyong had found out I was back, and when Jin Bora tried to hide the fact, he locked her in the library. He had relentlessly interrogated her for more information, but she had remained silent. The standoff had continued until today, just before he left for the disaster site. In a fit of rage, Na Daeyong had chained her to the ceiling and left.

’Na Daeyong…’

I still vividly remember choosing him during his interview. The naive, kind-hearted person who used to follow me around, calling me “Master, Master”… how had he changed so much? Did he really not want me to return?

’Get a grip.’

My mind was a mess, but this was no time to get lost in thought. I touched my earpiece.

“Seojin, I made it into the Tower safely. I woke Ea and rescued Bora as planned.”

“Ah, you’ve been through so much, sir! I’ll have a vehicle on standby.”

I looked at Jin Bora. “The Magic Tower is dangerous. Arcane is no different, since Na Daeyong has his claws in it too. For now, go to Garam and rest until the disaster is over.”

“I can fight, too. I’m a certified rank-3 now…”

“You’ve been locked up this whole time. Even if you fight later, you need to rest for a day or two.”

I helped her to her feet and turned to Shin Seongyeon. “All of you, act as you normally would. If Na Daeyong questions you, just give him a vague answer. He’ll be too busy dealing with the disaster to notice much anyway.”

“Understood!”

“Ea, you stay out of sight as well. Just focus on supporting me.”

“As you command, Tower Master.”

Leaning on me, Jin Bora looked up. “Then, Sunbae, what will you do…?”

I grinned. “Now that Ea’s back, I think I’ll join the war.”

* * *

“Red Gate manifestation confirmed!”

“Gate opens in ten minutes!”

Leading the TOP10 guilds and countless regular army troops, Hong Yeon stood on the front lines in Paju. This was, for all intents and purposes, South Korea’s finest. If they fell, the nation would fall with them. Beyond the vast plains flowed the Imjin River, and before it, a swirling vortex of red mana raged like a typhoon. The gate would open there soon.

The situation was not optimistic. Hong Yeon had a firm grip on the TOP10 guilds, so there were no deserters there, but several other guilds ordered to participate in the Red Gate subjugation had fled overseas. Their message was clear: ’We don’t want to die a dog’s death.’ That was how dangerous conquering a Red Gate was, and now, with the Magic Tower and Garam assigned to the rear, it was even more so.

’Still, we have to do this.’ Hong Yeon exhaled slowly and closed her eyes. ’Those two would have overcome a challenge like this with ease.’

Hong Yul, who had entrusted her with the position of Association President before vanishing from the world as if erased. And Yusin, who had introduced the world to magic before falling into a coma during his battle with the Sky Castle Lord. Left alone in a world without them, she had to fight the disasters by herself, and she felt a profound loneliness. She had many people fighting alongside her, but she was always alone.

“What’s the situation with the Cataclysms?” Hong Yeon asked.

Oh Hoseung bowed respectfully and answered, “Cataclysms have manifested in three locations in Seoul and six in the provinces. The forces in Seoul have engaged immediately, and the Magic Tower’s elite mages are moving to the other provincial points.”

“Understood.”

She could trust the Magic Tower. Hoping they would perform as well as expected, given that she had deliberately excluded them from the front lines, she took a deep breath.

“The Red Gate is manifesting!”

“Brace for impact!”

It had begun. The swirling mana converged into a single point, transforming into a crimson portal. The appearance of the massive gate, stretching for several miles, made everyone swallow nervously.

The ground trembled with the sound of footsteps. From the vast portal, a countless horde of monsters began to emerge, like a black tide oozing forward. Hong Yeon switched on her earpiece.

“Infiltration teams, prepare to advance. Fire support, aim at the Red Gate, prepare to fire.”

The cannons of numerous armored vehicles aimed upward, and hunters drew their respective hunting devices.

“Fire.”

Thousands of cannons roared to life at once. With a cloud of black smoke, the area around the Imjin River was decimated, scattering chunks of flesh. In the sky, Air Force bombers dropped countless bombs. The monster horde was literally buried in an instant under the explosive power of human weaponry.

“Rank 1 to 4 monsters have been annihilated! Rank 5 and above are withstanding the firepower!”

“Next wave! Monsters are still pouring out of the portal!”

The number of monsters was greater than anticipated. The army’s ammunition was finite; the longer this dragged on, the more disadvantageous it would become.

“We can’t see an opening for the hunters to break through the gate!”

“Multiple anti-air monsters detected! The probability of a successful landing operation is less than 5%!”

Hearing the reports from her staff, Hong Yeon made a swift decision. “Prepare to launch the tactical nuke.”

The batteries armed with tactical nuclear warheads are aimed at the Red Gate. Oh Hoseung paled. “Association President! Isn’t it too rash to use a nuke at the very beginning…?”

“We brought it to use it, didn’t we?” she replied curtly, then spoke into her earpiece. “Fire.”

The nuclear warheads flew with a deafening roar and entered the Red Gate. After the launch, another barrage of firepower rained down on the monsters.

“This is the observation team! Monster emergence has decreased by approximately 70%!”

The nuke was undeniably effective. The number of monsters pouring from the gate had drastically reduced, and those that did appear were mangled and barely alive. Now, with the enemy’s momentum broken, was the chance to enter the gate.

“Infiltration teams, prepare to advance.”

At her command, the hunters donned expensive radiation-proof suits over their personal gear. The use of a nuclear weapon limited the number of hunters who could enter the Red Gate. Only the elite hunters issued these suits could proceed. Hong Yeon herself put on a radiation suit and drew her sword.

’For victory.’

She held the sword before her chest and closed her eyes. It was her personal ritual to focus her mind.

“This is the commander. Engaging.”

She kicked off the ground, shattering it as she shot forward. Red sparks flew, and the surrounding monsters were torn to shreds by the shockwave alone. She was an Official rank-1 hunter, a great hero, but when battle began, she was always the vanguard, leading from the very front. Every time she swung her sword within the enemy lines, a mountain of monsters was cleaved in two.

Im Namjin shouted into his earpiece. “Now! All infiltration units, follow the Association President and advance!”

“Uooooooh!”

The finest elite hunters, including the TOP10 guilds, charged down the path she had carved. The war was just beginning.

* * *

At the same time, in Europe, a ship was cutting through the sea at high speed.

“I’m dead tired,” a hunter sighed, looking out over the deck. Beside him, a woman who appeared to be his administrator stood with her hands clasped politely.

“So, where to this time?”

“Romania, sir. The monster situation is uncontrollable, so the Association has requested direct support.”

The hunter took the tablet PC that his administrator offered and played the video. In the middle of a city, monsters were roaming freely, indiscriminately slaughtering civilians.

“…This is serious! What was the Association doing while things got this bad?”

“It happened after the main hunter forces were dispatched to deal with the demonkin attacks on the international airports.”

The hunter clicked his tongue. “Those demonkin bastards have been getting more active lately. What’s our destination?”

The hunter asked, but his administrator didn’t answer.

“What’s wrong?”

“…S-Sir, look over there.”

The hunter stood up and scanned the sea. A short distance from the ship, the water was churning violently. The sudden natural phenomenon made his expression harden.

“What is this?”

Others on the ship began to rush out onto the deck. From the center of a massive whirlpool, something was rising.

The hunter gasped. The colossal object was rising from the depths of the sea under its own power. Water cascaded from its surface like a waterfall, a sight so surreal it defied belief.

“…What am I looking at?”

* * *

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