Chapter 53

Chapter 53

There had to be a reason the President said it like that. And there was a name that had crossed my mind too.

The one I remembered was, naturally, a bastard who deserved to die. In fact, he was someone I'd killed with my own hands.

Was this when he started acting out?

"Is the name of the transcendent coming from China Zhang Zidong?"

"That's right, Zhang Zidong. You know him?"

"I've only heard the name."

Just as I expected. If it's Zhang Zidong, he's someone I'm free to kill. He was a pain in my ass in my past life too.

The President seemed to think I didn't know the details, so he kept explaining.

"He's a young Chinese transcendent who was recognized two years ago. Thirty-seven years old, the youngest among China's transcendents. He has abundant combat experience and excellent leadership. I hear he's coming as the head of China's delegation this time."

China currently has seven transcendents, making it the country with the second-highest number of transcendents in the world. Zhang Zidong is China's youngest transcendent and the Northeast Region chief.

By raw numbers alone, that's three more transcendents than South Korea has, but Chinese territory is vast and there are many places that need defending. They're constantly struggling against monsters pouring in from all directions.

Zhang Zidong was the outstanding transcendent who appeared amid all that, and the Chinese authorities had high hopes for him. But he had one major problem.

"Zhang Zidong holds excessive Sinocentric views. He's publicly arguing that North Korean territory should be swallowed up."

After monsters appeared, North Korea collapsed without being able to mount a proper response. Over ten million people died to monsters at the time. Two-thirds of the survivors fled to South Korea, and the remaining third went to China.

Naturally, South Korea came to hold rights over North Korean territory, and the only country raising objections to this was China. Japan and Russia were watching cautiously, and the US acknowledged South Korea's rights.

But with monsters running rampant and even their own territory proving hard to defend, South Korea could do no more than hold out using Kaesong and a few cities in northern Gangwon Province as footholds.

China couldn't even dream of reaching the area near the Yalu River, let alone crossing it.

And Zhang Zidong, emerging in the midst of all this, was advocating hardline Sinocentrism and making the government uncomfortable.

"That's not all. Unofficially, Zhang Zidong is working to drive more monsters into North Korean territory so that we can't recover it. The idea being that if China lacks the strength right now, they'll at least make sure we can't recover it either."

"It's an efficient method."

"It's a disaster for us, is the problem."

The government protested, but China maintained plausible deniability throughout.

Was this what they called two-faced tactics? It was the same in my past life, but in this one too, there was a reason to kill him.

I had a connection with Zhang Zidong from when I was the Blood Lord.

It's also tied to Cheon Myeongguk here—when I was the Blood Lord, after the Grand Compromise was achieved, government Hunters and guild Hunters joined forces and pushed me north.

At the time, South Korea had advanced as far as Pyongyang, and my escape route north, fleeing the pursuit, would take me through China. But before I could cross the border, Zhang Zidong appeared.

He dumped a generous gift of monsters on me and fled.

Already exhausted from being chased, I had to struggle quite a bit against the monster attack.

Afterward, I tried to wring his neck, but he was so infuriatingly slippery that catching and killing him was a pain. The gift I obtained from killing Zhang Zidong was none other than 'Transfer.'

In this life, that bad blood was destined to continue.

But in my past life, Zhang Zidong never once left the three Northeast provinces until he died by my hand.

A bastard who should be up north hunting monsters is coming here—it's because of me, obviously.

As if reading my thoughts, Cheon Myeongguk spoke.

"Zhang Zidong is coming for you, Transcendent Choi Junho."

"For me? Why?"

"If you grow stronger, South Korea's transcendent forces will strengthen and contribute to territorial recovery, and he must see that as a threat to China's security. If Zhang Zidong comes, there's a high probability he'll request a spar at the exchange match."

Ah, so that's it.

So it's not just that I'm a threat to the nation they want killed—he's coming specifically to kill me from the start?

Wondering if I'd misunderstood, I asked.

"Zhang Zidong is coming to kill me?"

"That's correct."

Did I look that easy?

It didn't feel bad. If anything, it was good. The fact that he was underestimating me was proof that I was living peacefully. I'd caused a few incidents, but they must have been the kind of incidents ordinary people could accept.

With a happy heart, I could kill Zhang Zidong.

"Transcendent Choi Junho, can you kill Zhang Zidong? If elimination is difficult, even severe injury would do."

Someone at the transcendent level is coming at me, and he wants me to stop at severe injury? That's the harder request.

From the moment I heard Zhang Zidong's name, his fate was already decided.

"That day, I'll make sure I can't control my strength."

"Good, I'll trust you. Is there anything you want?"

"A meal made by the First Lady's hands?"

"I'll have it prepared lavishly!"

"Mr. President, at this rate you might get kicked out······."

"Hmph! I'll make it lavishly enough that I won't get kicked out."

"Sounds good."

I promised Zhang Zidong an 'unfortunate accident.'

*

Among the foreign delegations, the first to visit was decided to be the United States.

After the US, China and Japan, then the European Union, followed by the Southeast Asian Union, Mexico, Australia, the South American countries, and finally South Africa.

In effect, they were visiting every country that had the capacity.

The interest in the Nuri hunt process was far greater than I'd thought.

Among these, the countries that would include transcendents and hold exchange matches were the US and China.

With the US, it would proceed in a mild atmosphere, but with China, it seemed likely to get fairly rough.

Before the delegations visited, I went about my daily life as a transcendent. In the meantime, I received an invitation from Go Myeonghak and gave another special lecture.

But something strange happened.

"Did he eat something wrong?"

Ma Hwanggi and Yoo Miseon were still sullen, but Yang Juhyeok was obedient to a surprising degree. Even when I treated him harshly, he didn't rebel, and even when I prodded his temper, he accepted it meekly.

This was a guy who'd rampaged like an unbridled colt—did something happen to him?

He should struggle and resist more; that's what makes breaking him in worthwhile. In my past life, he was definitely the type who committed every kind of crazy act until the Hoewol Guild could no longer protect him and he became a villain. And he reforms this easily?

I wondered if I'd hit him too hard during the first lecture and felt a pang of regret.

In that regard, no one could match Yunhee's reactions. The more you roll her, the louder the screams—it's superb. When I get home, I'll grab Yunhee and roll her around.

While going out for special lectures, I also visited the Shinseong Guild and taught the Heartworker the processing method, and I was quite surprised by his obedient attitude. In all of my past life, I'd never seen him like that.

"We had an in-depth conversation about the future. That's all."

When I asked Lee Sehee, she wouldn't give me any more than that.

How on earth did she do it? Lee Sehee's taming ability was impressive.

In the midst of all this, I also met with a donation organization. The meeting with the director who'd devoted his life to serving the less fortunate was deeply impressive.

He felt like a different species from me. It was the first time I'd felt humbled. When he said the amount I wanted to donate was too much for him and asked me to reduce it, that was a shock too.

Even I, who have no greed for money, don't refuse a large sum. It was one surprise after another.

And finally, the day before the US delegation's visit, messages suddenly flooded in from Berserker.

Berserker—I heard you're meeting the foreign delegations.

Berserker—You're the only one having fun.

Berserker—[photo attached][photo attached][photo attached][photo attached][photo attached]

Berserker—Unlike you, I'm out hunting monsters.

Berserker—If I bring these, can't I get a fair price?

Berserker—We're buddies, aren't we?

Berserker—I need to raise funds to buy good armaments.

Berserker—So I can catch you.

Berserker—I'm traveling the whole country doing grunt work.

Berserker—And you're meeting all kinds of strong people from around the world.

Berserker—I'm jealous.

This bastard had sent a ton of messages.

Towing his camping car around and enjoying himself to the fullest, and he had no end of things to say.

The way I see it, that guy could never make it as a Hunter even if I got him the job. A guy who treats doing whatever he wants as the joy of his life—and he's going to be a Hunter?

If he doesn't lose his temper mid-hunt and slaughter his colleagues like rats, that'll be a miracle.

And what? Catch me?

I sent a message right back.

Me—If you want, I can make you a public service Hunter.

Me—In exchange, you'd have to come under me.

Me—I'll let you fight to your heart's content. Come to Seoul.

Me—You said we're buddies?

Me—But have you opened Immunity to All Poisons?

Me—Tell me when you've opened it.

Me—I've got a good way to copy gifts, you know?

Me—It's not about crushing your heart.

Me—Just sort of cracking your chest open a little?

Me—Hey, why aren't you answering.

Me—I saw the read receipt. Answer me.

Me—ㅡㅡ Not answering to the end.

But Berserker never replied.

He's got ghost-like instincts.

This bastard, did he actually open Immunity to All Poisons?

*

After monsters appeared, sea routes and flight routes around the world were blocked. There was nowhere in the sea or sky the threat of monsters didn't reach.

As a result, the global logistics market was thrown into extreme chaos.

They eventually pioneered routes free of sea monsters and flying monsters, but it was like a maze. Especially as distances doubled, only limited exchange took place.

So diplomacy between nations became all the more special. The cause of joining forces in the face of humanity's crisis became the mainstream.

During this period, the alliance between South Korea and the US was solid.

The reason lay in befriend distant nations, attack nearby ones—after monsters appeared, not a single pair of neighboring countries had improved relations.

As monsters caused the loss of substantial territory, the tug-of-war over pushing border monsters into neighboring countries bred resentment.

It escalated to the point of several wars breaking out, and through international agreement, it was concluded that border monsters would not be provoked, but it still happened constantly beneath the surface.

That's what South Korea was currently experiencing with China.

China was doing everything it could to recover the Manchurian Northeast Plain, and one part of that effort was the Northeast Plain Purge Operation, launched under the banner of the complete eradication of monsters.

For this, large numbers of Awakened were deployed, and with Zhang Zidong as the chief, they drove monsters out in all directions—east, west, south, and north.

From the government's standpoint, which viewed North Korea as territory to be recovered at some point, an operation that sent monsters down into North Korean territory was never welcome.

The more this happened, the closer South Korea and the US grew. They shared hunting data with each other and pursued mutual benefit through active exchange.

Even with its diminished standing, America was still America.

It had the most transcendents, had built the Smart Hunting System to minimize Hunter casualties, and accumulated diverse hunting experience to raise the level of its Awakened.

South Korea was receiving help in that area as well.

And.

This time, the US sent a delegation to receive South Korea's help.

*

The delegation the US sent was large in scale.

Led by Level 8 transcendent Macho Man James Reed, along with Succubus Anna Christine, the Vice President, senators, and a large number of America's promising talents entered the country.

It was proof of America's interest in the Nuri hunt.

The President personally went out to greet the US delegation. I'd planned to stay put and maybe show my face at the dinner, but I ended up attending.

The President shook hands with the Vice President at the front and exchanged pleasantries. I stood behind the President and found myself face to face with the blonde woman coming out next.

A woman with a lovely face and a voluptuous figure—it was Anna Christine.

She looked in my direction and beamed, so I glanced around to see what was there, only to realize she'd arrived right in front of me.

"Long time no see! Junho! I missed you."

She reacted like a lover reunited after a breakup. Why is she like this? I was about to brush her off, but hearing familiar Korean, I welcomed her readily.

If you've come to Korea, you should speak Korean, after all.

Anna Christine, wearing heels that brought her to eye level with me, hugged me tighter than necessary. Why is she rubbing her body against me? Amid all that, a sweet fragrance pierced through.

But her accent sounded like a native Korean.

"Looks like you practiced Korean."

"I practiced while waiting for the day I'd see you again. Perfect, right?"

"Pretty good."

"If I couldn't speak Korean, we couldn't even talk. I can even eat soybean paste stew. I went to Koreatown and ate it every day. Sundubu is delicious too!"

"That's good effort."

"Yes. I worked hard."

Talking in Korean is so comfortable.

Glancing around, Anna Christine leaned against me and whispered.

"Today isn't the right setting, so let's talk more next time. A deep conversation."

Is there more deep conversation to have?

While Anna Christine and I were talking, a massive figure approached.

He was a middle-aged white man over 210 centimeters tall, his entire body muscular.

"What's up, bro! Ah! I heard you won't even give people the time of day unless they speak Korean? Hello! I'm James Reed! So damn glad to meet you! I practiced Korean like hell just to meet you."

Macho Man James Reed was a transcendent called the guardian deity of California, a veteran Hunter who'd run more monster-clearing operations than anyone in the US.

A guy who shouts, 'A well-sculpted body is the greatest gift!' and is known for pouring an immense amount of effort into body training.

That guy came at me with both arms spread wide.

Is he trying to hug me right now? Is he insane? Why is his arm muscle twitching like that?

I stopped him as he approached.

"Stop. If you come any closer, I'll take it as a challenge to fight."

"What? Why?"

"Just because."

"Why are you rejecting my hug? You hugged Anna."

For the record, I have no hobby of hugging men.

And muscular ones, even less.

"Are you the same as her? If you've got a problem, go become a pretty woman and come back."

"What? This is discrimination! Total discrimination!"

"So what."

"Shit."

At my firm refusal, James Reed's face fell glum.