NOVEL WEB Chapter 79 - 3000 Years of Friendship(?)
Chapter 79 3000 Years of Friendship(?)
It was strange.
‘This shouldn’t be happening…?’
Han Shin-woo of this time period was supposed to be the weakest Han Shin-woo in his history.
Yet, even with the Holy Sword in hand, he was being pushed back.
Han Jae-won couldn’t believe it and didn’t want to believe it.
Because if he was getting beaten up this badly by the past version of himself, it meant the future version would be overwhelmingly stronger.
“Damn it!”
Han Jae-won, who had been forced back into the department store, quickly stood up again thanks to his unique regenerative ability.
And following him through the hole created, Shin-woo entered the department store.
“What the hell is going on…”
Watching the two transform into monsters and start fighting each other, Ria, Riverine, and Sophia were simply dumbfounded.
“…Ria, come here.”
“…! Yes.”
He had clearly said this a moment ago.
Leave Ria behind, and I’ll spare your life, he had said…
That meant his target was Ria.
Realizing this, Sophia held Ria tightly in her arms, determined to protect her familiar from the blonde boy at all costs.
“…! Mother…”
Watching this scene, Han Jae-won felt a complex and subtle emotion.
A mother protecting her enemy.
But he couldn’t kill the young monster while harming his mother.
“I… will retreat for now.”
“Krk?!”
‘What?!’
“Han Shin-woo. Never change. The moment you do, I’ll come to kill you.”
Han Jae-won decided to retreat.
With his Holy Sword strapped to his back, he turned his back on everyone and began to leave.
“Wait…!”
Though his mother seemed to be calling him.
“Goodbye, Miss Sophia.”
“…!”
He just smiled brightly and said goodbye, knowing he wouldn’t see his mother again.
“Hey!”
Ignoring Shin-woo’s calls, Han Jae-won leaped through the hole he had entered and disappeared from the department store.
***
A day after the incident at Shinsegae Department Store in Gangnam.
Another monster appeared in Jamsil, putting the Korean Hunter Association on high alert.
The military and the National Assembly were also on edge.
They were already struggling with one monster, and now there was another similar one.
“What about the CCTV from the time of appearance?”
“Well… there was a power outage at the department store where it appeared…”
“Damn…! Just like last time in Hongdae, how does this thing turn all surrounding machinery into scrap metal when it appears?!”
The black lightning that erupted from the caster’s body during monster transformation was harmless to living creatures but extremely harmful to machines and various systems, leaving the heads of various organizations at a loss.
Thus, a meeting was convened at the National Assembly with heavy hearts.
Present were the current Army Chief of Staff, Lee Seok-gyu, the head of the Korean Hunter Association branch, Jin-ah Lee, the current commander of the USFK, Talisman, and even the President of South Korea.
The last person to enter this gathering of Korean bigwigs was…
“Thank you for inviting me to such a prestigious event!”
“This is Xiao Ling, a state-level Hunter from China.”
“A state-level Hunter from China…”
“……”
“China, huh…”
Xiao Ling, dressed in a white cheongsam with fox ears perked up, was the last to attend the meeting.
“Now that all the key figures are here, let’s start the emergency meeting on the Jamsil monster.”
Of course, it was the current president who initiated the meeting.
As he spoke and glanced around, the first to speak was Army Chief of Staff, Lee Seok-gyu.
“Mr. President, the incident has completely devastated Gangnam Street in front of Shinsegae Department Store.”
“Lee Seok-gyu, Army Chief of Staff…”
“Although there were miraculously no casualties this time, we can’t just sit back and watch as these things increase in number!”
“…!”
“!!”
Increasing in number.
It implied that the monster in Jamsil was either breeding or reproducing asexually, increasing its species.
This seemed to be the Army’s assessment.
Especially since Lee Seok-gyu, who had been kicked in the abdomen by the monster during the previous battle with the Monster Group, had a grudge against it.
“Mr. President! This situation is nothing short of a national emergency! We must declare martial law and pursue the monster!”
“Is that so? Then, according to the Army Chief of Staff’s suggestion, we should declare martial law…”
“Please wait, Mr. President.”
But.
The one who interrupted his opinion and raised her hand was none other than the representative of Korea’s Hunters.
“Miss Jin-ah Lee…?”
“Of course, there is some logic to the Army Chief of Staff’s argument. It’s not unreasonable to declare martial law since a single state-level disaster monster has increased to two. However!”
Jin-ah Lee continued with a relaxed smile in front of the president, who was gulping nervously.
“Declaring martial law due to two state-level disaster monsters, which could be defeated at any moment, is not a good idea for an export-driven country like South Korea. It would likely last a long time, and there’s the issue of North Korea and US aid to consider. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“…! You’re right. Miss Jin-ah Lee’s argument makes sense.”
“Indeed…”
Even Lee Seok-gyu seemed to be somewhat convinced.
Upon reflection, dealing with two such monsters could potentially lead to national bankruptcy or turn the entire Korean Peninsula into a sea of fire.
‘I guess I was too emotional…’
Thinking he had shown an embarrassing side due to his recent encounter with the monster, Lee Seok-gyu felt a sense of shame.
“So, until there are actual casualties, we would like the Hunter Association to handle this incident.”
“The Hunter Association, you say…?”
“Yes, Mr. President. I have a ‘brilliant plan’ in mind, so I would appreciate it if you could allow us to handle it.”
“Is that so?”
Jin-ah Lee, looking around at the silent assembly, nominated herself as the chief responsible for the Gangnam department store incident.
The atmosphere seemed unanimously in favor, and so naturally…
“Help? We can provide that!”
…everything seemed to be going well.
“Miss Xiao Ling?”
“Mr. President, if you’re worried about exports and imports due to martial law, we in China can assist.”
Xiao Ling cheerfully suggested, winking one eye.
“Chinese aid…”
“Oh, and the monster in Jamsil? We have 50,000 Chinese troops eager to come to Korea. If you allow them to land, we will all operate under Korean command!”
“Is that so?”
Almost like pressing a button to increase the number of soldiers by 50,000.
The president’s ears perked up at this.
But.
“Miss President… You aren’t seriously considering that, are you?”
“Chinese troops in Korea! What kind of absurd conversation is this?!”
Thanks to Lee Seok-gyu and Talisman’s outburst, the president, who had been about to speak, fell silent.
“No, what on earth are you…?”
“Miss President. Are you establishing a military relationship with China without any consultation with us USFK?”
“No, that’s not it…”
“This violates the ROK-US Mutual Defense Treaty! Fuck! I heard from the higher-ups that something might happen with China or Russia because one of our USFK bases was wiped out, but…”
“Mr. President! Chinese troops, really? We can cooperate politically, but that’s just not it! They’re right above North Korea!!”
“Ugh…”
The National Assembly hall quickly descended into chaos.
Xiao Ling tried to speak amicably to calm the two agitated men.
“Well, historically, China has been the biggest helper to the Korean Peninsula…”
“Shut up.”
“Shhh.”
“Eeek?!”
But.
Under the pressure from the two men, Xiao Ling curled up like a frightened animal.
Meanwhile, watching the president being cornered, Jin-ah Lee sighed.
‘Well, even so, I guess I’ve done well considering what he said.’
Because the goal was achieved.
Recalling the blonde boy who visited her the previous evening, Jin-ah Lee decided not to interfere in this fight to help Han Shin-woo.
“J-Jin-ah, help me!”
“……”
“Take out your earphones!”
***
However, it was too early to be relieved.
A week later.
Although the plan was to legally prevent the Chinese troops from entering Korea…
“Miss Katarina, is that…”
“Yeah, they seem determined to come in without permission.”
Like an annoying guest who throws kimchi into the soup without asking and says, “Just try it~”.
The Chinese Triad ships disguised as Chinese troops were trying to cross the Korean sea without permission.
In the Yellow Sea, on the border with Korea, there was a constant standoff between the disguised Chinese Triad and the Korean Marines.
“From here on, this is Korean waters! What you’re doing is military provocation!”
“No, we came because of our new alliance?!”
“Alliance…? Then wait until we report to our superiors!”
“No, why are you so stubborn? Are you like this with the US troops too?”
Meanwhile, some ships tried to enter the Yellow Sea.
But thanks to the Korean warships determined to block them, the situation seemed tense.
“We’re on the same side!”
“So we’ll confirm! Wait until then!”
“Oh… This is driving me crazy. Are you really going to waste 3,000 years of friendship like this?!”
Meanwhile, watching this scene from a submarine, Katarina, Han Jae-won, and Dorothy were…
“Eek?!”
Seeing the tense situation, Dorothy curled up in a corner,
crying and trembling.
“P-Please do something…! If they start firing torpedoes, we’ll get caught up and die too…!”
“Hey, kid. Can you stop that?”
“Of course. That’s why I came here.”
In history, this standoff would have led to a mistake by the Chinese Triad, resulting in a naval battle.
Unaware of this, Han Shin-woo was said to have been flirting with Xiao Ling to persuade the Chinese Hunter…
‘It’s my turn.’
Han Jae-won planned to go outside and transform into a monster.
He intended to get between the two navies about to engage in battle and cleanly deal with the Chinese Triad disguised as the Chinese troops.
“Let’s go up.”
“Okay.”
Following Han Jae-won’s words, Katarina raised the submarine to the surface.
And now, ready to open the hatch to let the boy out.
“Kraaaa-!!”
“Huh?”
“What?!”
They were about to.
“Huh?”
“What is it?”
Black lightning surged.
Simultaneously, something unprecedented in history happened.
Han Jae-won’s body trembled, and all the Korean and Chinese Triad members looked around at the sudden monstrous roar.
At that moment.
Clack!
“…Huh?”
“What?”
On the deck of the Korean warship facing the Chinese warship.
“Grroar…”
A monster, known to live on land, appeared soaked and wet in the middle of the two nations.
“What is that?”
“W-Wait a minute…”
“The monster from Jamsil?!”
The monster from Jamsil, apparently having swum quite a bit, appeared drenched in the middle of the two navies.