# 61
061
Crack-crack- It’s late at night
when it’s normal to go to bed.
Go Han-cheol, an employee at a small and medium-sized company, remained at the company and worked overtime.
“Huh…”
How many hours had already passed since I was left alone in an empty office, glaring at the computer screen and tapping on the keyboard?
Slowly, my eyes began to sting and my fingers began to tingle.
I felt like I would sell my soul if I could get rid of everything like this and sleep well until morning.
“No, no, no…”
He repeated to himself as he patted his sore back and pinched his eyebrows.
Sigh –
He held in his hand the photo that was attached to the desk partition.
In the photo, a girl who looked like she had just graduated from kindergarten was smiling brightly.
It was none other than Go Han-cheol’s only daughter.
‘Just to see this guy’s face, I have to go through some trouble.’
Two years ago.
When the gate fracture exploded and the monster materialized outside, his wife lost her life.
From then on, Go Han-cheol felt guilty for not being able to save his wife and decided that as the head of the family, he would take full responsibility and protect his daughter to the end.
‘If only I had awakened and become a hunter, I would have been able to provide a better environment than I have now…’
However, contrary to my steadfast determination, the reality was extremely harsh.
An era where superhumans and monsters run wild.
He was just a powerless ordinary person, and he was so helpless.
It wasn’t the monsters that were the problem right now, but the temper of my boss, and just working overtime like this was draining my energy.
Every time I look at my daughter’s picture, I think of her face and desperately try to gain strength…
‘I shouldn’t hit my limit at least until I see this girl graduate from college.’
Go Han-cheol, who even thought of such a thought, shook his head violently.
It’s already hard and I’m dying, so it’s best to get rid of these negative thoughts quickly.
He left his seat for a moment and headed to the bathroom
.
I wanted to have a cup of coffee to shake off the fatigue.
But then.
Tirin- Tirin-
“…Huh?”
As he grabbed the doorknob at the entrance to the office, he suddenly felt something strange and looked up.
The light on the office ceiling was blinking.
“Mr. A, did the light go out?”
It was like adding insult to injury.
If I keep going like this, I end up working overtime all night in an office with the lights off.
But it’s also a hassle to change the light yourself…
‘Let’s shake off the sleep first and think about it.’
First of all, he was desperate for a sip of coffee, so he looked again at the hand holding the doorknob.
On the back of your hand.
Another hand was folded.
“….”
The hand was as black as a shadow.
People who see a sudden scene do not immediately feel fear, but rather their thinking and rationality become paralyzed.
“….”
Go Han-cheol, whose head had stiffened, turned his head to follow the black hands and black arms.
Pod –
An enormous darkness filled Go Han-cheol’s field of vision.
The light in the office, which had been blinking intermittently, went out completely.
And Go Han-cheol saw it.
Goowooung –
The sight of vertically slit pupils scattering blood-red light in the darkness.
“I’ll give it to you if you want.”
The voice, as if the voice modulation had been turned down to the maximum, resonated softly.
Pot-
The light came back on and the office became brighter as if it had never happened before.
And Go Han-cheol was nowhere to be seen.
***
[Han Dae-seong, the sixth S-class hunter! Clearing the level 2 gate in the shortest time in world history!]
[The level 2 survival gate that occurred during the same time period was also closed safely. Hunter Seo-yeon Ryu is scheduled to return within today.]
[Unusual situations occurring one after another! Is Korea finally becoming a hunter powerhouse?]
Even though it had been two days since the Level 2 gate was cleared, the media was still abuzz with the incident.
But it was worth it.
It is surprising that level 2 gates occurred simultaneously in the same country and at almost the same time.
However, even in world history, there has never been a case where both gates were cleared safely without any damage.
“In less than a year after emerging from a vegetative state, you have become a celebrity whose name the entire country knows. “How do you feel, Daesung?”
“Well, if you become famous, you become famous.”
“If I were you, I would do interviews all the time and enjoy some training. He must have enjoyed a life like a Hollywood celebrity to the fullest. “Just enjoy it a little bit, my man.”
A tavern.
Daesung and Seong Chan-ho clinked clear drinking glasses with the blue river flowing.
Seong Chan-ho eagerly shoved the fried food that came as a snack into his mouth while looking intently at an Internet article on his smartphone with his other hand.
“You too, but this woman, Ryu Seoyeon, is no ordinary woman. I can’t believe I was able to successfully attack a level 2 survival type by uniting with only two clans. And there are only 10 casualties.”
“Is Ryu Seo-yeon strong?”
“Except for Lee Chang-sik, who is on a different level, he can actually be said to be Korea’s top hunter along with Seo Dong-cheol.”
“Hmm…”
Daesung narrowed his eyes and looked down at the glass filled with alcohol in silence.
Seong Chan-ho, who missed the sight of him looking like he was sulking somewhere, asked.
“Are you upset because I called Ryu Seo-yeon the top without you?”
“no.”
“Then why?”
“I don’t like it.”
When asked what he didn’t like, Seong Chan-ho gathered his eyebrows together and asked only with his facial expression.
“If it wasn’t for Ryu Seo-yeon, I would have taken the remaining 2nd grade gates.”
“Are you saying that again? No, I asked it back then too, but do you have two bodies? How can one person clear two level 2 gates at the same time?”
“I can do it.”
“Well, it looks like he can use self-immolation like a ninja.”
“Just let my summons enter the other gate while I’m there.”
The moment the answer came out of Daesung’s mouth.
Seong Chan-ho was eating fried food and looked at him as if it was absurd.
But no matter how much I looked at his expression, it didn’t look like he was joking.
I’m not the type of person who knows how to joke in the first place, but…
“You’re letting your summons in through a different gate?”
“uh.”
“No, that’s uh…”
“Anyway, the summoned beast is mine. “Then it means that all the income earned by the summons is mine.”
“No, that’s true, but… Isn’t that true? “Can this story be like this again?”
Summoned beasts and all.
It was truly a story that only Daesung could tell, and that is why Seong Chan-ho could not easily follow the topic that was so far off the mark.
“But um… is that legally possible? Not the hunter himself, but the hunter’s summons also enter the gate. I think it might be a bit difficult. “There will be a lot of controversy.”
“are you okay. No problem.”
“On what basis….”
“I have already received a confirmation from the president of the association.”
“What…”
Unsurprisingly, when the title ‘association president’ was mentioned, Seong Chan-ho was speechless.
Daesung drank his drink indifferently and thought about the past.
-Is there anything in particular you would like us to do?
-Is everything really okay?
-Yes, anything I can do for you.
The day you were promoted to S class.
Park Jeong-ho said that apart from the promotion, he would provide additional benefits to compensate for the Dogok-dong incident.
And the benefit that Daesung requested after accepting the offer was
– Please add a provision that the summoned beasts I created can also enter the gate.
This is it.
And it was clearly within the authority of the president of the association to add or subtract additional provisions from the regulations related to hunters in Korea.
I still can’t forget Park Jeong-ho’s surprised expression upon hearing the completely unexpected request.
-…Are you talking about summoned animals?
-….
-If it’s a summoned animal, it’s like those zombies that the hunter dealt with back then…?
-Yes, similar things. Is it possible or impossible?
-Well, well… I don’t think there’s anything that won’t work, but… to be honest, I’m embarrassed. Hehe. This is my first time hearing a story that deviates from common sense…
It was a suggestion from a hunter who was evaluated as trying to overtake Lee Chang-sik’s stronghold.
Even as Park Jeong-ho, it would have been difficult for him to say things like ‘difficult’ or ‘difficult’.
At that time, it was necessary to somehow capture Daesung’s heart, even if it meant being somewhat convenient.
And two days ago, on the day Daesung attacked the level 2 gate.
Good news came to him at perfect timing.
-Hunter. Ah, first of all, congratulations on conquering the gate. The request you made to me back then was successfully passed at the board of directors meeting today.
It was a call from Park Jeong-ho that a rule had been added to include summoned beasts in the gate attack force.
In this way, the inherent limitation of having only one body and being able to attack only one gate was overcome.
‘The yolk like this 2nd grade gate is for me and my summons to ourselves.’
There are two things left.
First, there was no need to doubt Sung Chan-ho’s sales ability to secure the yolk.
In fact, about 6 large clans participated in the competition for admission tickets to the second-grade standard gate, but thanks to Seong Chan-ho’s quick response, he succeeded in winning the higher bid.
The last thing left.
‘It is an expansion of the number of summons.’
It was a matter of obtaining a summon that could attack any gate as if it were natural.
Valarke and Iron Sentinel met the conditions, but they were not enough.
There is nothing wrong with having more strong summons.
While Daesung was quietly organizing in his head what to do in the future.
< This is already the sixth disappearance case this month alone. Even this time, as many as ten people disappeared at the same time, causing a great shock... >
The announcer on TV read the report in a heavy voice, and the inside of the bar was in commotion.
“Wow this is crazy. “Ten people at once?”
“Have you been kidnapped by aliens?”
“Eh, just seeing monsters makes me tremble to death, so how can I live when I’m scared of the world?”
“just in case? “Monsters could also be the culprit.”
“Why do monsters kidnap people? “They will either kill you on the spot or eat you.”
Disappearance cases were not limited to any region and occurred all over the country.
Even this time, not one, but ten people went missing at the same time, so people couldn’t just ignore it.
This is because the fear of the unknown, whose cause is unknown, has always been an object of fear for people.
“The real world is going crazy.”
Seong Chan-ho also clicked his tongue while watching the news.
On the other hand, Daesung.
‘If you’re going to come, come see me.’
Unlike others, I wasn’t worried at all.
I didn’t know who the main culprit of this large-scale disappearance of unknown causes was.
But it didn’t matter whether the main culprit came to him or his family.
If it comes to you, then just throw away the slaughter and that’s it.
‘No one can touch my family.’
Because he had already prepared a powerful defense called Balark’s Iron Castle.
Of course, even if that were the case, I couldn’t completely shake off my worries.
‘We need safety measures so that Mom and Jisoo can be safe in places other than home.’
This is because families are not confined to their homes 24 hours a day.
There was a need for something to be the shadow of the family and protect them anytime, anywhere.
‘There is a proper way.’
Daesung thought this as he sipped his last drink.
***
As soon as Daesung broke up with Seong Chan-ho, he went straight to a store that was still open and bought a necklace and a watch, one by one.
The necklace was a gift for Hyejeong, and the watch was a gift for Jisoo, who will devote herself to her studies from now on.
But it wasn’t just a gift.
Rather, it would be more accurate to say ‘insurance’.
“The implementation of the Sentinel of the Annihilation Dragon Knight Valarc Iron Fortress.”
A dark alley with no visible eyes.
Daeseong stretched out his hand with the seal of embodiment engraved on it and summoned Valarc and Sentinel.
A firework brightening the dark night took shape, and two demonic beasts appeared, bending one knee and paying homage to Daeseong.
After completing the implementation safely, Daesung looked at the necklace and watch he had just bought and gave one more command.
“road.”
[Load ‘Annihilation Dragon Knight Valark’ to the target recognized by the Absolute.]
[Load ‘Sentinel of the Iron Castle’ to the target recognized by the Absolute.]
At that moment.
Hwaaak –
The new forms of Valarc and Sentinel condensed into a small fireball and were sucked into the necklace and watch in Daesung’s hand.
Ballark on a necklace.
Sentinel on watch.
‘The load was done safely…’
It was confirmed that the external appearance of the summoned animal could be hidden through the load.
This means that the identity of this seemingly ordinary necklace and watch is actually Ballark and Sentinel.
then.
‘Will it be installed safely?’
To immediately check, Daesung put the necklace around his neck and the watch on his right wrist.
There were no problems.
Both the necklace and watch could be worn normally, and there was no change in weight or texture at all.
‘It’s a little different from loading items.’
Unlike the item load, which literally only overwrites the skin and preserves the weight and texture, the magic beast load is, to put it simply, infusing the magic beast into a specific object.
Like an object imbued with a divine spirit.
Daeseong gave a command to the necklace and watch that contained the main body of the demon beast.
“You guys can protect my family like this at any time.”
-I will follow your orders, my lord.
-Ugh….
Valark and Sentinel accepted the command of the Absolute without hesitation, which they could not refuse.
After completing the necessary checks, Daesung went straight home and handed the necklace to Hyejeong.
Hyejeong, who was preparing dinner for Jisoo, opened her eyes wide and looked at the necklace.
“Oh my son. “What is this?”
“gift.”
“gift? Why a gift all of a sudden?”
“I just feel like that.”
“No, he too… I bought him a handbag last time, but he’s doing something like this again… Aren’t you putting too much of a burden on Mom? Ho Ho.”
“Promise me one thing.”
Daesung said as he hand-wrapped a necklace with small jewels embroidered on it around Hyejeong’s neck.
“Never take off your necklace. When I sleep, when I wash, and when I eat. always.”
“…Ugh.”
“I think I got another wedding ring.”
Hyejeong blushed and burst into laughter, probably thinking that the expression “wedding ring” was just a joke.
In any case, since it was a promise to her son, she would never take off this necklace.
Daesung hugged Hyejeong once and then headed to Jisoo’s room.
In a brightly lit room, she was sitting at her desk, concentrating on her studies.
After entering the most famous academy in the area thanks to Daesung, she spent much more time concentrating on studying in her room than coming out to the living room.
Daesung felt a little proud at that sight and handed the watch to Jisoo.
“what’s this?”
“gift. “Take this and study hard.”
“Why is this happening so suddenly… I can see the time on my phone too. “Your brother is really weird too.”
After receiving the watch, Jisoo put it on her wrist and smiled brightly.
“thank you. “I will study hard.”
“And promise me one more thing. You must always wear this watch. “Not only when I go out, but also when I’m home.”
“What is that… Oppa, you probably don’t have a surveillance camera on your watch, right?”
“No way. “Hurry up and make an appointment.”
“Okay, okay. I bought you an expensive gift, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep that promise. Now, let’s put our fingers on it. This is enough, right?”
Daesung linked his fingers with Jisoo and made a thumb stamp.
Immediately after, he left the house and entered the alley, making the excuse that he had another urgent appointment with Seong Chan-ho.
It was an alley that I always used because there was no CCTV and no one passed by around here.
‘As long as Balark and Sentinel are always watching, your family will be safe.’
Protect your home through iron fortress.
Protect your family through magical beasts.
In fact, all possible measures have been taken.
The family’s safety was fully secured, and now it was time to put the next plan into action.
“Pantheon.”
The task was to secure more summons.
Grumble –
Daeseong entered the wide open gray stone door in pitch darkness.