Chapter 525 – Association President, Hanbyeol (1)

―King’s Tower, consecutive assault failures. Estimated 470 casualties… ‘Worst in history’
―“Implementing the ‘Tower Attack’ is for the future.” Condemning statement by Mayor Lee Myeong-ho.
―‘Deterioration or Reform?’. Relentless casualties lead victims’ families to… “Appeal to the Association”

‘There are far too many fools in this society.’

―Korea Hunter Management Committee Representatives Seong Ho-jun and Shin Hwan-soo. “Hanbyeol Association President. Lacks qualifications.”
―Angry citizens. Protests for reinstatement of former Association President Mugung.

‘To think I’m racking my brain to secure my livelihood even in this situation.’

Is there not a limit to what one should do?

‘Feigning righteousness, pretending to be above reproach.’

Searching for a way to survive when losses must be endured, hastily fastening buttons when the situation calls for shedding the suit. How can this nation function properly?

[Considering the current external circumstances, isn’t it necessary to attack the Star Association’s tower?]
[Hmm. I’m not sure. Wasn’t that decision too hasty? Haven’t we actually achieved nothing? From last year to this year, we’ve lost over a hundred domestic talents. Taking into account the unique nature of the Hunter profession, it’s directly connected to the weakening of our national defense.]

‘Ugh.’

[Unlike the former President Mugung, who prioritized national interests, we’re only experiencing increasing losses due to excessive changes. This could be seen as a problem with the qualifications of the current President Hanbyeol…]

– Clang!

The thrown remote control shatters the TV screen.
Crackle-
The irritating noise dissipates, but the commotion isn’t over. Outside, a group of protesters made up of bereaved families has gathered. Hanbyeol suppresses the anger welling up inside her and regains her composure.

– Knock, knock, knock.

Hanbyeol swept her heated forehead with her hand, revealing the result of three days without self-care. The ensuing dark circles only served to heighten her air of decadence.

The door opened, and a white wheelchair, led by a bodyguard, came into view.

“Hanbyeol.”

“… Mr. President of the Association.”

“Considering your position as the president of the association, you are now responsible for this country, aren’t you? How are things?”

“You already know.”

Hanbyeol gestured with her chin, pointing towards the protesters. Mugung kindly smiled, clasped his fingers, and placed his hand on his lap. The wheelchair he sat in creaked.

Mugung’s body had significantly declined compared to three years ago. The old white tiger was rumored to still make occasional appearances on the front lines, but to Hanbyeol, who remembered his past self, it seemed like he had lost much of his former vitality.

“So, what about the Demon of Trials? Do you have any intention of revealing it to the world?”

“It’s still too early to show its face.”

The demon bore a striking resemblance to Lee Si-heon. Byul dismissed the initial thought that crossed her mind and responded composedly.

“It is powerful.”

“More so than you?”

“Yes. Undoubtedly.”

In the past, Byul had quelled countless catastrophes under Mugung’s command. Mugung stroked his long beard and guffawed.

“Hehehe, if only my body weren’t in this state, I might have felt the desire to engage in battle. Have you prepared sufficiently?”

“Far from it.”

“Even if you employ every method I’ve taught you?”

“Yes.”

Byul’s response was resolute. Mugung tapped his wrinkled neck with his hand and readjusted his gaze.

“Ah, you must still harbor resentment.”

The fact that he had killed Lee Si-heon weighed heavily. He had been Byul’s lover, and her sole source of pride.

“I’m not foolish enough to be unable to distinguish between professional and personal matters, Mr. President.”

Mugung grinned delightfully. It was a mystery what could be so amusing in such dire circumstances.

The nerves were agitated, and heat surged within, but Byul managed to restrain it and spoke earnestly.

“The situation is quite dire.”
“It seems so.”
“…”
“Byul.”
“Yes.”
“Do you know why I entrusted my back to someone as young as you?”
“What is it?”

Mugung took out a bottle of finely brewed liquor and poured it into a glass. His arms were weakened, but the still-bunched muscles served as proof that he hadn’t yet lost his strength.

“It’s because you understand my intentions well.”

The nation.

“What is most important is this country and my son… something that cannot be replaced.”

It was thanks to Mugung’s accomplishments that a small peninsula nation, once plagued by external strife, could rise to prominence as a representative of the world-friendly faction.

An entity that even the World Tree was wary of. In South Korea, the cradle of democracy, only Mugung’s existence had come close to that of a king.

He truly considered this place his own.

“Great Korea.”

From a place where not even a single grain thrived, a decaying land, it rose to become a nation that encompassed the world. Mugung devoted all his years to this cause.

“Choose wisely.”
“…”
“And nurture it.”
“I just had a moment where I thought this country had no solutions.”

Mugung’s eyes trace an arc.

“Then what will you do? Overturn it swiftly.”

The star, taken aback, halted in its movement. How could a man who cherished and loved his country so much say he would overthrow it?

“What do you mean?”

Mugung did not reveal his intentions until the end.

How would the country be overturned if it were? It might end with a change in government. Or perhaps even a transformation of ideology. In today’s world, where history could be changed by information alone, nothing was impossible.

-Kiririk.

A wheelchair approaches the door. Mugung, silent for a moment, turns his head and speaks to the star.

“Oh, right. Is the little one doing well?”

“…You mean Shiba.”
“Is graduation still far off?”
“Before graduation, the academy might collapse first.”

The situation in which the man who killed Lee Si-heon speaks of his daughter.
It has only been a few years since Mugung learned about Shiba.
Although reluctant, Byul calmly replied.

“Many World Trees have taken notice. Especially the esteemed elder of justice.”
“…!”

Words that could cause a headache.
Upon hearing Mugung’s words, Byul’s expression finally twisted.

Byul couldn’t understand why he was helping to protect Shiba, but the information needed to be heeded, regardless of his intentions.

Mugung had always been an inscrutable man.

“Why teach her that?”

An apology for killing his former lover?
Unlikely.
He had always acted for the sake of his nation.

Byul stared intently at Mugung’s retreating figure, clenching her teeth and tightly gripping her hands.

“…Is it Shiba again this time?”

– Crisp.

A hazy noise clouded my vision.

Would it dare to trespass upon my sole treasure? Incredulity prompted an involuntary chuckle.

-Kwaaaak.

From my tightly clenched fist, magical power resembling the hue of blood flowed out. As the coarse, crimson magic swelled like thorns, I steadied my breath and retracted it.

-Tiririririk.

The ringing of the phone echoed through the silent room. No doubt the protestors had grown more aggressive, or there had been a hunter’s exposé. That must be the story. Expressionless, I stood before the mirror and answered the call.

“Association President, this is Hanbyeol.”

The information received via the interdimensional phone – a connection only an extremely select few across the world could establish – was a transmission of confidential content from the church, an entity representing the will of the World Tree.

“Yes. Is that true?”

News that the devil of trials had begun to move. Bowing my head, I closed my eyes, then opened them once more.

“I will take responsibility.”

* * * * * * * * * * *

“Damn it, what a mess.”

The dried asphalt beneath their feet had melted into a sticky ooze, clinging stubbornly to the soles of their shoes. The oppressive atmosphere offered no reprieve, as the tension was palpable on the battlefield, poised on the brink of gunfire.

– Clop.

A man clad in a robe caught sight of a celestial being and came to a halt amidst the labyrinth of streets.

– Clatter.

The king’s gaze turned toward the star.

Countless jewels cascaded from the star’s embrace, swaying in a hypnotic dance around the hem of the celestial being’s garment. Intricately crafted artifacts adorned its form, while crude daggers were clasped in both hands. Its eyes, tinged with an otherworldly yellow hue, did not reflect the celestial radiance.

“…”
“…”

The man who had entered the sight of the celestial being bore the ravaged form of a human body, with wounds and scars etched in a grisly tableau. Despite the man’s apparent suffering, the star could not help but perceive a certain sentiment emanating from him.

It was Lee Si-heon.

“Ugh. I’m in an absolutely terrible mood right now.”

In Star’s eyes, past connections seemed to drift by.

“Since I’m on the verge of going insane, can’t we just tear that face off? It’s someone I used to really like, you know?”

Her voice trembled and shook.
Star lowered her head and held back her quivering breath. Though she had always strictly adhered to her self-imposed rules regarding work, for the first time, she teetered on the edge of crumbling.

It was a face she loved.
It was only natural, having fallen for that face.
The face of the endearing young man with whom she played games, inquired about each other’s well-being, and attended reunions together.

Her upper and lower teeth clashed against her faintly trembling jaw.
The King of Trials remained unresponsive. Clutching her sword tightly, Star raised her head.

-Flash!

A malicious aura saturated the space.

Screeeech!

It moved.
Her body snapped sharply, and Star’s dagger slipped from her grasp.

Crimson magical energy surged like a torrent along the blade.

-Paang!

A straight dagger that extended through the wind. As the king twisted his head, the stellar dagger flew past him, its extraordinary speed rendered irrelevant.

Evaded. Sensing hostility, the king advanced, and the star’s body seamlessly transitioned into the next move.

The blade of the rearward-reaching dagger abruptly bent, targeting the king’s back.

-Click!

A translucent chain grasped in the star’s hand. The chain, forged from tendrils that melded with her arm, connected to the dagger and coiled around the king’s right arm.

-Pajik!

A pace so swift that it was impossible to discern what transpired.

The chest-stricken king retreated, shifting his gaze to the right. His right arm had been completely severed, now rolling on the floor.

The star, wielding the dagger, aimed the tip of the blade at the king and pronounced judgment.

-Ugh!

A distortion of the ensuing dimension. In the surrounding space, the two became wholly separate.

Upon the star’s cheek, bark akin to that of a king’s material sprouted.

【 Liberation 】

Summoning all available strength, the body was reconstructed. As the deity drew closer to the World Tree, the star at last achieved equality with the gods.

【 Oryeomja (五斂子) Bangchuk (枋畜) 】

The two bound ponytails were released. The hair shortened, becoming a bob, and the body shrank. In exchange, the branches of the tree, split into five parts, stored the distorted power behind the star’s back.

“Still the same, I see.”
“What?”

A fractured voice leaped from the king’s lips—a horrifying sound of blood boiling. It was as if molten iron had been poured into living wood, haphazardly destroying the vocal cords.

The moment the king’s body was about to surge forward, he lowered his gaze to inspect his rigid form.

Neurotoxin. Karamboxin. A unique poison found only within the star fruits. Of course, there was still much more to reveal.

Cornus flicked the crimson dagger she held in her grasp.

* * * * * * * * * *

If there was anything that concerned her, it was undoubtedly the person she had left behind.

Her emotions had only grown stronger since meeting A.B. Recently, while amassing her power, Cornus would occasionally seek out the sages to inquire about their well-being.

A promise with the sages that had lasted for three years: she would immediately inform them if anyone she knew was in danger. Trusting in the sages’ abilities, she had made this decision, and indeed, the sages used to inform her when trouble arose.

“The demon of trials has stirred,” they said.
“What?” she asked.
“I have come to tell you that today.”

Thus, Melia’s message, delivered by A.B., could not help but be received with heightened sensitivity.

“They told you to protect someone dear to you.”
“Is that true?”
“Yes.”

A.B appears to have conveyed precisely what Melia said.
If indeed the devil of trials has set his sights on my family, Alba should have informed me of this fact.

– Sudden heat.

The pen I was holding swirled in the air before falling to the floor.

‘What am I thinking?’

If A.B’s words are true,
it would mean that Alba knew the truth but chose not to inform me.

Should I return to Seoul?
Suppressing the turmoil of anxiety within me, I rose from my seat.