“It’s going down!”

Thud! The monster’s four legs, each bound by several strands of special wire, lost their balance and it toppled sideways. The SS-rank monstrous bird that had tormented hunters for so long was driven low to the water’s surface by Evelyn and Blue’s relentless guidance. At the same time, the surging water froze one of its wings in place.

“I owe you so much, Saint sister.”

Upon learning of Emily’s arrival, Riette fought without restraint. She was always sturdy, and in dragon form she was all but unkillable. With a healer who could restore her completely as long as she lived, nothing could stop her.

She rammed into the ground until it glowed red, slammed her foreleg into the creature’s maw, and poured her venom directly into its throat. As a result, she both received the most healing skills here and slew the most monsters.

“The sun is setting.”

I looked up at the sky. Violet darkness was creeping around the crimson clouds. Kieek, another monster let out its death throes. We heard ragged breaths everywhere. Not only A-ranks but even S-ranks exhaled heavily. Yet none had fallen.

Unlike my team, hunters who had never cooperated or received our teacher’s skills had struggled at first. Especially S-rank hunters, who hesitated to synchronize with fellow S-ranks. But when my teammates moved as one and quickly downed SS-rank monsters, those watching began to change.

Paparazzi P’s decision to keep broadcasting to the end played a big part. The whole world was watching—no one wanted to embarrass themselves or weaken their influence as S-rank hunters. Even when P’s camera battery died, he pretended it was still rolling.

“I’m exhausted!”

Yun-yun groaned, rubbing her face with both palms. She hadn’t fought directly, but staying on this blood-soaked battlefield was tiring for goblins.

“How are the goblins doing?”

“The rest are all strong! It’s our job to help the Kims, and monsters are dangerous to goblins too, so we’ve been pushing through. Everyone wants to go home quickly, though!”

“All right. You can go now—everyone but you, Yun-yun.”

“Okay!”

Yun-yun swept her arms wide, calling the goblins. Goblins who had flown in from all over London chattered as they returned through the Goblin Gate. Meanwhile, the last SS-rank monster fell. Silence descended on the city, now a ruin of nearly one-third by the dungeonification.

‘The final SSS-rank monster.’

Most system windows before me shut down. Only two remained: the full London map and the SSS-rank monster appearance warning. Mana began to gather in central London.

“Gather in front of the Goblin Gate.”

I sent the global message, then tried to grab Seong Hyunjae from my shoulder—but he darted away. Where are you running off to!

“You’re not going far anyway—come here!”

“So I’m useless now. How sad.”

“No, it’s because it’s dangerous.”

“How cold.”

“Hey, cut it out!”

He was too quick! I jumped to avoid him as he vaulted onto my thigh then spun behind me. Just when I thought I’d sprain my back trying to catch him, Yun-yun jumped in to help and we finally captured Seong Hyunjae. I tied him by the necklace cord; he dangled, crackling with disgruntled electricity.

“It’s safe for you to be away from me for about thirty minutes, right? Stay with Yun-yun. You can’t vanish—your body would be lost forever. Though this is fine too.”

Honestly, seeing him helpless in my grasp felt pretty good. Shall I give him a shake?

“You seem to enjoy this state quite a bit.”

“You’re safer like this.”

The Crescent Moon seeks only the powerful Seong Hyunjae. He would leave a powerless fragment alone. Seong Hyunjae ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) spun to look at me.

“At the time to finish everything and walk by my choice—being raised by Han Yujin would be fun, wouldn’t it? Would you treat me with care?”

“I’ll fry the crust into snacks for you.”

“I’ll do the cooking.”

“At that size?”

Even tiny, he’d manage somehow. But this odd rambling Seong Hyunjae spoke of the future—he planned to keep living, even in this form forever.

“You must have enjoyed yourself.”

“Pardon?”

“With Han Yujin and Director Song Taewon beside you, it must have been fun.”

Seong Hyunjae spoke in an uncharacteristically sulky tone. He must have sensed something.

“Well, who told you to have your body taken? I was married once.”

“You don’t mean… in the end…”

“To an octopus. You brought the bouquet, Seong Hyunjae. And you married a crab.”

Let’s just assume it happened. His expression grew even gloomier. He must be dying to have seen it.

“Congrats on the wedding, Kims!”

Yun-yun clapped beside him. She really has no prejudices. With all kinds of goblins around, I suppose. Hunters from across London quickly gathered toward the Goblin Gate. I checked the system window again: about ten minutes left.

“All right, Yun-yun. Hide him well and keep him with you. If anything goes wrong, take him and Noah away. He might be fine here, but still.”

“Don’t worry, Chief Kim!”

Yun-yun tucked Seong Hyunjae into her wide sleeve. I worried she might drop him. I should ask Noah to watch over him. I signaled Peace and descended. Hunters’ gazes turned to me.

“Darling~.”

Thud, with a roar the massive Black Dragon lifted into the air. Its shadow fell over the hunters, who recoiled—then it shrank, and Riette, carrying Kang So-young, landed lightly in human form.

“That was fun!”

“Me too!”

Some hunters looked appalled, others nodded in approval. Yuhyun, who had approached beside Peace, and the muddy Sisi-O guild master cast bright smiles. I hadn’t seen Guild Master Han in a while; her defensive skills left her battered but uninjured. She held something like a shopping bag—maybe souvenirs.

“Uncle!”

Yerim flew over lightly, still full of energy. Comet and Evelyn, Blue and Emily and Hwang Lim joined us. They all gathered before me.

“London will be taken.”

I addressed them.

“But Britain will be saved. Even if another country faces a new crisis.”

The shattered buildings and cracked roads bore deep scars of destruction. Yet.

“We have lost no one, and we will lose no one.”

We could not entirely defeat the outside forces. We must yield London as it is. Yet we survived—every single one, with no stragglers. I smiled.

“No matter how many times the Gate opens, we will fight together again, and someday we may reclaim it. This is just the beginning.”

Well begun is half done. The first is the most important. People saw it. Hunters felt that we could protect and be helped. Some may still hesitate, some may take what they want and leave—but more will stand and defend together.

Because we already have.

“Now then.”

Ahem, I cleared my throat.

“You all know the skill from Japan, right? After I use the skill, leave London immediately. The Goblin Gate leads to Korea—if that’s closer or your family fled there, go through it. The airports outside London are still available, so those nearby should move to the nearest airport. Our team has… about seventeen hours left. If you have business, do it now, then stand by.”

I’d already notified everyone about the SSS-rank monster—no one else would be much help, so everyone should evacuate. Yuhyun, Noah, Yun-yun and I were the last team. Since we aren’t airborne monsters, Noah and Yun-yun would wait in the air.

“I’m still full of energy! I’ll wait in the air too!”

Yerim raised her hand and shouted.

“And there’s the river. Plenty of water left!”

“No.”

“Uncle, I can just support.”

“Still no. Yerim, go ahead and wait. We’ll be back soon.”

She complained, but nodded. Too much energy can be a problem. Well then—humph. Embarrassing again, but…

“My brother is really amazing, isn’t he?”

Yuhyun smiled at me. Ah, embarrassing. Even stating the fact sounds awkward.

“No matter what anyone says, he’s a kind, dependable, adorable brother to me. He thinks of me so much. And as a hunter, he’s the best. It’s embarrassing to say in front of so many hunters, but he’s number one in the world to me. My brother, Yuhyun. I love you. Please stay by your hyung’s side.”

“Yes, hyung. Forever.”

…Sisi-O, stop clapping. Why are you so moved? His passionate applause made a few others clap unwittingly. Don’t do that. Hwang Lim whistled—almost considered sewing his mouth shut.

“Please return safely! We’ll wait in Korea!”

I nodded. He probably has many things to do in Japan, so he could go first if needed. Anyway.

“Dismissed! Peace, you go with Yerim! Noah!”

“Yes!”

Noah transformed into a dragon and descended. Hunters began to run out en masse.

“Take care, Director Han!”

Emily waved from Hwang Lim’s arms. Yuhyun climbed onto Noah’s back. The mana distortion at London’s center became visibly clear.

“If monsters appear, use the Nest skill immediately.”

—How about Forced Blessing?

“It might change the target. Even with Yun-yun, better to be cautious. Please focus on healing and support. Yun-yun, stay right next to Noah.”

“Okay! I’ll stick with the angel.”

“Ah, Yun-yun, the Sesung Guild Master is in your sleeve.”

—…What?

Noah was startled. He hadn’t noticed? Well, he wasn’t near me earlier. Yun-yun shook her sleeve toward Noah. Seong Hyunjae peeked out.

—Y-yes, the Sesung Guild Master.

“Yes. Keep him from falling. Yuhyun, let’s go.”

Yuhyun nodded, scooped me up, and leapt from Noah’s back. A blue willow leaf gently cushioned his feet. As we landed, the distorted space before us shimmered red like a massive dungeon gate.

I inhaled deeply.

‘Yuhyun’s final achievement reward is Composite L-rank.’

It was higher than expected. The current Han Yuhyun had amassed great achievements, but compared to pre-regression Han Yuhyun, it was lacking. Though he’d slain many SS-rank monsters, I’d guessed he’d only reach Composite SSS at best.

[Sealed Black Dragon (L) – Reseal (SSS)]

Persuading the Black Dragon and implanting its heart fragment in my body counted as an achievement. Thus I gathered every SS- and S-rank and combined them to reach L-rank.

“Show me your hand.”

Yuhyun held out his left hand. Embedded on its back was a small red fragment. Flames wrapped around his wrist and forearm from it. To anyone not an awakened, and even higher awakened without opening their mana seal, it would be invisible—but I saw it clearly.

[Primordial Flame Fragment ? L-rank

A remnant of the very first heat condensing under the first light.

Stats vary with assimilation rate.]

The Primordial Flame Fragment. Ambiguous as equipment, but an apply-to-body item.

“…Are you okay?”

“Yes. It doesn’t affect me. But more than my hand—”

“No.”

Yuhyun wanted to implant it where it wouldn’t easily sever, not in his vulnerable hand. But I opposed it. The term assimilation rate bothered me. With its L-rank status and origin as the first flame, it might consume Yuhyun instead. Safer to place it where it could be removed if needed.

“It’s powerful, but unsettling.”

Even though Yuhyun was fire-attribute, just implanted it boosted every fire skill one rank for an hour and converted absorbed fire to mana. He could replenish mana almost infinitely.

—Rin doesn’t like that either!

Rin grumbled, having tried to swallow the fragment at once and burned his mouth. If even a fire spirit was scalded, it was no ordinary flame.

“If it seems dangerous, I’ll cut it out.”

Yuhyun said calmly and offered his hand. I took it, ate a mini cookie, then shrank at once. Yuhyun tucked me into the small pouch at his waist. Rin scurried over and grumbled again—maybe a little jealous.

“One minute.”

The distorted space began to open. Crimson flames shot up around Yuhyun. Mana spread fiercely as the last gate melted open. Then—

Clack, click, wham—

Swords drawn from inventory stabbed into the ground around us. Among them was an SS-rank greatsword, one of the lower-stat weapons from the Chatterbox warehouse.

Flames licked everything, melting S- and SS-rank weapons red-hot. In one hand I held the Devourer’s Blade; in the other, molten metal swirled at my fingertips.

And then.

“Noah!”

Under golden wings, orbs of light poured down in unison.

—Grrr—

Thud. A colossal foreleg stomped onto the burning earth.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep