Chapter 173

〈Chapter 173〉 Part 1, Chapter 9, Section 7

The world’s attention on monster tamers is something I’m already well aware of.

I orchestrated the situation like this myself, using acting to boost my own value. And there are two SS-Rank Special Ability users. Though they’re engaged in a pointless battle of pride over who’s stronger, the world has already placed them both among the ranks of the strongest humans.

Cheongnyeon. Seok Harang. Xiao Lin.

Seok Harang and I were invited as state guests, while Xiao Lin attended the event as my personal guard. I was reassured by the mention of an “intimate” gathering by the Emperor, but when I saw the grand scene before me, I couldn’t help but feel deflated.

“Whoa, this is intense.”

Even Seok Harang, who rarely feels intimidated, seemed taken aback. Only Xiao Lin nodded calmly, as if it were all familiar.

“We’ve already scaled it down considerably out of concern for your burden. Originally, we planned to mobilize everyone.”

“Is this scaled down?”

I couldn’t help but let out a sarcastic laugh. In the middle of an eight-lane road, luxurious double-decker limousine buses slowly moved forward, and the three of us sat on the open-air second floor, receiving cheers from the crowd.

“Glancing at it, there must be more than ten thousand people here…”

Crowds parted like the Red Sea on either side, all dressed in coordinated blue and white. Considering that the Chinese love red, the sight of the entire street waving in blue—representing Cheongnyeon—and white—representing Seok Harang—was quite unusual.

“And look, kid… Hey, do you know what all these guys are?”

“Yeah. They’re heroes. All special ability users.”

Before Seok Harang and I started mass-producing special ability users, there were only six hundred registered in the Korean Association. Now, about thirty times that number had voluntarily gathered to welcome us.

“Did they get conscripted or something?”

“Impossible. Heroes are autonomous beings. There aren’t even a thousand directly affiliated with the Party.”

Xiao Lin pointed at their faces. The twenty-thousand heroes all had their eyes fixed on our movement, waving blue and white flowers to welcome us.

“So these people…”

“Yes. These are the special ability users who’ve come to welcome you.”

“Ho ho… really.”

There are twenty thousand special ability users alone. If regular citizens had also shown up, this car parade would have been paralyzed by the massive crowds.

“Wow, incredible! Hey, check this out!”

Seok Harang shared a photo sent to his watch with me. The aerial photo of Beijing sent by Yun Yuhwa showed nearly half the city dyed in blue and white.

“They say there are two million people here now.”

“Ho ho, ha.”

Laughter naturally bubbled out of me. People often joked about the “grandeur of the continent,” but I never imagined they’d welcome us to this extent.

“It’s because we owe them a favor.”

Xiao Lin spoke with a tone that understood the sentiment of her compatriots.

“Right away, Miss Settlehua eliminated the Black Flame Dragon and even took down the SS-Rank monster Chaos. Even just the Black Flame Dragon could have devastated Beijing, but suppressing a much stronger monster before it could run rampant made the entire nation grateful.”

“That, uh…”

Seok Harang awkwardly laughed and waved at the people. Since they’re special ability users, they didn’t scream wildly, but instead greeted him with disciplined posture, holding their white flowers high.

“SEOK HARANG!!! SEOK HARANG!!!”

“SETTLEHUA!!! SETTLEHUA!!!”

“Kyaa!”

Even without using magic power, their sheer vocal force shook the vehicle. Seok Harang let out a bird-like shriek, trembling, and clung to me as if afraid of something.

“It’s hot. Back off.”

“You, aren’t you scared of this?”

“Not at all.”

Honestly, I don’t feel any fear. It’s astonishing that they’re welcoming us so warmly when we haven’t even done anything yet. We’ve gone through the final battle seventeen times; this is nothing.

“Seok Harang.”

“What?”

“What will you do later when fighting while receiving support and expectations from six billion people?”

“…Why does the scale keep getting bigger?”

“Well, the battlefield changes.”

I gently rose from my seat. Xiao Lin quickly moved beside me, supporting me as I bowed to greet the special ability users on either side.

WAAAAAAAH!!!

CHEONGNYEONNNN!!

“A pity.”

I turned to the other side to greet them. Xiao Lin followed suit, bowing together with me.

“What’s so pitiful?”

“If it were Chang-yeom or Phoenix being celebrated, it would have been even better.”

“Does that matter?”

“Yes. Tremendously.”

Though it’s somewhat disappointing, living life as Cheongnyeon is absolutely necessary. After waving appropriately to those welcoming us, I returned to my seat.

“It’s frustrating not being able to openly search.”

“What?”

“Their reactions.”

“It’ll be difficult.”

“Why?”

Xiao Lin tapped her watch, wearing a troubled smile.

“They’re saying the servers have crashed. All broadcasting stations.”

“……”

Is it the grandeur of the continent that’s amazing, or are we, the ones being welcomed, truly extraordinary? Either way, we’ve already crossed a river that can’t be reversed.

“I should return to Korea quickly after dealing with the monsters… Staying here any longer might make leaving impossible.”

***

At the moment Phoenix and Seok Harang were being welcomed by crowds of special ability users, public opinion in New Seoul also heated up. People felt pride seeing them treated as state guests in China, a country that had previously disregarded them due to the absence of a Round Table.

“But isn’t this just them naturalizing to China?”

The fervor quickly cooled. Then, it began boiling again in a new direction. Criticism against the association and government for sending Phoenix and Seok Harang overseas grew uncontrollably.

“This is serious.”

The prime minister wiped cold sweat as he watched the crackling video. The roar of just twenty thousand spectators was loud enough to cause noise interference in the live broadcast.

“Without realizing it, magic power seeps into their voices. They’re excited.”

Chief Administrator Yu Yinghuo calmly nodded. As the representative of the association, he felt proud watching Settlehua receive foreign hospitality as a member of the Round Table.

“You did see how the Black Flame Dragon fell, right? And how SS-level Chaos was defeated. …I genuinely think it’s remarkable.”

A dark-haired girl sitting next to Yu Yinghuo added. Since Kang Soyeon was imprisoned for corruption and unethical research, the association had put this girl—the Executioner—front and center as their representative.

“Uh, Executioner, will Settlehua and Beast Tamer return safely?”

“Yes. Settlehua plans to fly back today, and Cheongnyeon will likely travel around eliminating various monsters.”

“……Can’t we assist in some way?”

The director of the Monster Countermeasures Department, Jang Hujung, finally voiced a whispered suggestion. Cheongnyeon went purely as an individual through the association, with no government officials accompanying.

“At this point, shouldn’t we send an entourage…?”

“Then we’d get criticized. Isn’t public opinion already raging about how incompetent the Prime Minister is?”

“That… Executioner, even so, that’s too disrespectful toward Grandpa…”

“That’s why I’ve been telling you to step down as Prime Minister and write books at home. Tsk.”

The Executioner blatantly expressed her annoyance. Her rude words and actions, going so far as to spit in someone’s face, made others uncomfortable, but upon hearing them, the Prime Minister sighed deeply and asked,

“So, how should we resolve this incompetence of mine?”

“There’s only one way. You need to assign someone. Even if it’s just to pick up crumbs.”

“But you just said sending an entourage would invite criticism…”

“If they’re sent by the association rather than the state, it’s fine. Since the image is already tarnished, the government should formally request assistance from the association. It would be great if the association could dispatch personnel to accompany Cheongnyeon. Then we’ll send them immediately.”

“Who should we send?”

“When Settlehua returns, there’ll be one person left over.”

The Executioner pulled out the profile of a youth whose hair had already turned white.

“Send him since he’s doing nothing. To China.”

***

“Welcome to the heart of China. I am the Chairman leading 1.3 billion people, known as the Emperor.”

“……”

Phew. I quickly stiffened my distorted expression and bowed my head.

“I am Beast Tamer, Cheongnyeon.”

“I am Settlehua, the SS-Rank Hero of South Korea.”

“I am Yunjang of the Round Table, Xiao Lin. …This is the first time meeting you face-to-face, Chairman.”

Cheongnyeon, Settlehua, and I stepped down from the ceremonial bus and entered the banquet hall. Inside the hall were the Emperor and the female hero standing beside him, <Dual Sword Rabbit> Yuhwangsook. The Emperor took the head seat, and we sat beside him.

“……”

The Emperor struggled to continue speaking, breaking into a cold sweat and looking for rescue towards the man seated opposite me—Mo Taegyeong.

“Ho ho.”

Mo Taegyeong lifted his teacup with a serene expression. After taking a sip and clearing his throat, he bowed slightly to the Emperor and then turned his gaze to us.

“You’ve endured a long journey. Although your path here was fraught with difficulties and numerous problems, we deeply appreciate your arrival. On behalf of the Monster Management Bureau and as one of this nation’s people, I offer sincere apologies and gratitude.”

“Oh, no, it’s fine. It’s something we naturally had to do.”

Settlehua waved her hands nervously. Yunjang’s gaze, which was glaring at Mo Taegyeong, grew increasingly icy, and I smiled faintly in response.

“Thank you for the grand welcome.”

“Not at all. Ho ho.”

Our gazes met. Mo Taegyeong chuckled meaningfully, pretending to be relaxed, but I knew the truth behind that smile.

-Ah, I really don’t want to do this…

It was a forced laugh. I crossed my fingers, subtly fiddling with the gray ring on my left index finger.

[Relax your expression. Focus.]

Mo Taegyeong briefly closed his eyes, then pressed the blue ring on his own finger with his thumb.

[Irritating. Don’t want to. Won’t do it. Let’s finish quickly. Then sleep.]

“Ho ho.”

It wasn’t a meaningful laugh—it was a sigh.

Mo Taegyeong (Illusion Dragon) merely chuckled emptily, hoping time would pass quickly.

[So annoying… Ah. Want to quit. Just die. Should leave a will and commit suicide…]

[Just endure five more years. After 2026, whatever happens, no one will touch you.]

[…Should have stayed where I was.]

“Ho ho.”

“……”

“Haa.”

Settlehua sighed and lowered her hand. Frustrated that Mo Taegyeong and I were communicating with magic power, she pressed the ring on her own finger to join the conversation.

[What are you two doing now? Can’t you see everyone else is confused?]

[Confused or not, what can we do when the responsible party looks like this?]

“Ho ho.”

So please stop with those overly significant laughs. Realizing I had to take the lead in the conversation, I shifted my gaze.

“Ahh.”

The Emperor hastily turned his head. Before I looked away, the Emperor had been staring intently at me.

“Chairman.”

“Yes.”

“Before we delve into conversation, allow me to congratulate you first. Achieving A-Rank awakening in both Fire Attribute and Illusion Magic simultaneously is truly admirable.”

“No! I… I’m just… just…”

The Emperor startled, attempting to say something but quickly shrank under Mo Taegyeong’s gaze. Having been suppressed by Mo Taegyeong for a long time, his cautiousness bordered on excessive.

“Ho ho [I’m sleepy].”

Of course, the Illusion Dragon possessing Mo Taegyeong’s body was thoughtlessly waiting for the conversation to end. Despite warnings from Yunjang, it was useless, and Mo Taegyeong’s rival, Yuhwangsook, seemed troubled by his cryptic smile.

What’s going on? Is he thinking the tail of his classmate was stepped on too hard and pushing the Chairman forward? Or is there another plan? Is he trying to avoid being the main character at this banquet? Or is he planning to connect the Chairman with Cheongnyeon?

It’s obvious. Watching the constantly twitching rabbit ears of Dual Sword Rabbit, I couldn’t suppress my laughter.

“Pu hah.”

“……Ah.”

“Ah, sorry. I wasn’t laughing at the Chairman.”

“No, it’s fine. …Cheongnyeon’s smile is truly beautiful.”

“……”

I couldn’t help but smile at the Chairman’s compliment.

“Thank you.”

Personally, I’m convinced. There’s no one in the world who smiles as beautifully as Blazing Phoenix.

“Then, Chairman. Let’s move on to the main topic…”

“A.”

I firmly pressed my ring, subtly massaging it. Using magic power, I pressured Mo Taegyeong (Illusion Dragon), issuing him an ultimatum.

“Do you know where the S-Rank monsters are located?”

“……Ho ho.”

Mo Taegyeong raised his hand and pointed at Yuhwangsook.

“Could you explain, Director Yuhwangsook?”

“……Yes.”

Ultimately, Dual Sword Rabbit stood up. I glared at Mo Taegyeong until the end, but he ignored my killing intent by sipping tea.

“Ho ho ho ho [Dumping responsibility is sweet. Ah, I miss Gaeul.]”

“……”

Maybe I should just kill Mo Taegyeong.

I should seriously consider it.