Chapter 430

What the hell is this all of a sudden? I had just come all the way out to this vast sea to clear that "Elixir" Gate, and now a dungeon of the exact same type had been discovered right in the middle of South Korea?

"The prophecy book... Did you happen to have, like, twenty copies of this thing scattered around the world or something?"

Of course, on second thought, that possibility wasn't entirely zero. But a special mechanism capable of predicting the future appearance of "food boxes"... Even from the Gisimche's perspective, it must have been a highly experimental attempt. Honestly, I didn't get the slightest impression that there would be many copies of the scroll.

"Besides, it's strange for something like the Elixir to appear in two separate places so easily."

At this point, it was fair to say that humanity's interpretation of the "dungeon shock" as something resembling a game wasn't entirely wrong. Gisimche, those cosmic creatures, selectively experienced pain, and most of the trials humans faced were essentially warm-ups designed to maximize a being's emotions. Cosmic invaders were never merciful.

The otherworldly materials they occasionally tossed out were, in the end, nothing more than bait meant to lure humans in. If they handed out too much of that bait and the "fish" grew full and satisfied, it would be a disaster for those cosmic parasites. So, to borrow the sort of terminology used by a company like Pixy, the Gisimche did at least make an effort to maintain balance in everything.

"Sometimes they fail at that, which is the problem. But stupidity itself isn't a crime, so let's let that slide."

In short, the items they had designated as 'rare' consistently followed that principle...

"What on earth is going on?"

Was the Gate that had appeared in South Korea really a parallel world containing the Elixir?

"Could I be mistaken?"

Or perhaps the loot currently in my hands was a different product from the one those elderly patients were said to have drunk. In any case, having just obtained the "Incredible Elixir of Health," the message in front of me looked absurd in more ways than one. Still, this human, Seonwoo Yeon, apparently had plenty more to say. They continued sending one message after another through their phone.

***

About 24 hours before the government official's urgent report. 8:00 a.m.

At that ordinary weekday hour, perfectly suited for heading to work, someone appeared with a lively expression.

"Good morning, again today."

The guild master had arrived at the Korean Magic Tower.

"All right, first, take this before we start working."

"Is this a fridge magnet?"

"Probably. It's a souvenir I bought during a business trip abroad."

The S-rank hunter named Esther had come to Seoul for the first time in a while because of her schedule. As a result, she was finally able to meet the Chief of the Secretary's Office, who usually remained at headquarters.

"By the way, do you know what happened to me in Switzerland last time?"

The purple-haired woman started talking as though catching up after a long absence. She recounted how she'd sold the [Hydra] at the auction and nearly had to deal with a refund dispute, as well as the commotion involving the fiancé she'd somehow managed to break things off with. She shared all of it with an employee who had been familiar with the earlier circumstances for quite some time.

"Anyway, it's a good thing this situation worked out. If it hadn't been for Kim Giryeo's decisiveness, I would've had a hard time handling it alone."

"Now that I think about it..."

"Using [Fairy's Promise] isn't exactly a trivial matter. And on top of that, to involve a third party in the contract like that..."

"It also felt like he had quite a lot of nerve..."

"But I wonder... what would that person have done if I'd been lying from beginning to end?"

"That must mean they trusted you that much, Director."

"No, I thought that for a moment too, but the Kim Giryeo I've known all this time is far from innocent."

"Hmm."

"But how on earth could an Awakener like that trust someone else?"

For reference, having one's direct superior arrive early at the office wasn't exactly something subordinates welcomed. And yet, in this case, Esther had shown up diligently before even 9 a.m.—what a thing.

"That's just how I see it, but it seems like that Awakener was subtly showing their naturally bulldozer-like personality."

"Bulldozer?"

"It simply means that it's the result of pushing ahead without ever doubting one's own instincts."

"Ah."

"There are plenty of people with that kind of personality in the world. The problem is that unless they're elites whose abilities actually back them up, they end up being nothing more than an eyesore."

The secretary, who had been dragging their feet about getting started with work, nodded with a face that still looked half-asleep.

"Anyway, thanks to Hunter Kim Giryeo, it seems your business trip to Switzerland went smoothly."

Seeing the secretary's face, Esther smiled and started brewing the coffee herself.

"Don't even get me started. Anyway, if the rumor keeps spreading that I use [Curses] indiscriminately..."

Shhhhh...

The purple-haired woman poured coffee beans into the grinder for the hand-drip coffee.

"Seriously, just how much trouble must that have caused? Thinking back on it, I nearly died of frustration this time. I stopped doing those fun little psychic pranks ages ago, you know."

"Yes, well... you said you wanted to prevent people's perception of Awakened individuals from deteriorating in advance..."

"You can't abuse your skills. I've grown up enough to know that by now—especially for mutants like us who are in the minority. If we live like that, it'll eventually cause serious problems in society."

Their conversation continued.

"But, Director, didn't you recently use [Curses] on an ordinary person as well?"

"That was for the sake of maintaining an incorruptible civil-service ecosystem..."

"Oh my."

"To be precise, it was merely a small act of talent donation for young people in modern society who work diligently instead of playing political games."

"I've heard there have been some mysterious dismissals happening within the Hunter Association lately."

"They're all just rumors. Pure rumors."

At that moment, Seo Esther cupped both cheeks in her hands and put on a slightly coquettish expression. Certain psychics had a tendency to make a fuss like this at the slightest opportunity. In fact, she really did look quite cute, which made it all the more troublesome, the secretary nearby thought. The conversation was peaceful enough for such trivial thoughts to cross one's mind.

Beep, beep, beep.

But around that time, an email arrived on Esther's newest computer.

"What the...? Right as I get to work."

The operator of the Korean Magic Tower was one of the rare people capable of viewing the dungeon shock in a positive light. The emergence of psychic powers had finally put an end to her long, secluded lifestyle. She had always been fascinated by all sorts of fantastical settings. Naturally, she became genuinely interested in the hunting grounds that had appeared in modern society, and for the past few years she had been providing substantial support for various reports.

"It was an email reporting a Gate."

To be precise, that was exactly what the email that had just arrived contained.

"Hmm?"

However, the moment Esther checked the email on her computer, curiosity filled her expression.

"What is it?"

A report had come in claiming that a monster carrying an [Elixir] had appeared on a hill in South Korea... To put it in terms of the era before the dungeon shock, it was like receiving an emergency bulletin that said, "Oil has erupted in your backyard." It would be amazing if it were true, but the potential gain was so enormous that it was difficult to believe.

"Is this real?"

"What's going on?"

If that was the case, she couldn't simply leave her doubts unresolved. Barely ten minutes after swiping her access card and entering the building, Esther had already arranged a meeting.

"I need to step out for a bit. Since investigative skills are required, I think we should bring someone from the appraisal team right away."

"I'll relay the instructions to the department."

"But tell them to go by company car. I'll head there first on the [White Bird]."

"Yes."

The White Bird was said to be capable of getting its rider to a destination even faster than a supercar. Using it carelessly abroad could result in unexpectedly skimming past a military zone, making it dangerous. But the coordinates that had just been sent in the email were unmistakably within the nation's capital.

"Well, at least it's better than winter."

She didn't have to endure the blazing sun for long. Before long, the S-rank curse psychic arrived at the newly reported Gate.

"A hunting ground for the panacea, and it appears right here in our nation's capital."

But even as she entered the forest, she still didn't stop doubting it.

"Phew, no way."

Yet soon, after checking the monster inside the Gate with her own eyes...

"Huh?"

Her attitude changed in an instant.

"There really is a monster here that's exactly the same species as the [Elixir] one?"

My goodness. So there hadn't been a single false detail in the informant's email.

***

The surroundings were pitch-black.

Zzzzzz...

A pure white projection screen descended from one wall. At the same time, an ordinary projector placed on the long table cast its light onto it.

A body as round as a water balloon. Several limp legs dragging across the ground like those of a snail. And spots scattered across its body like the markings on a hyena's coat.

Everyone in the room was currently looking at the same image of that creature.

"Huh?"

But the moment the familiar image appeared on the screen before them, everyone's mouths fell open.

"S-so... you're saying that thing is a monster that actually says, 'Is this Alice?'"

"No, it's an [Elixir]. [Elixir]. Depending on the country, it's also called an elixir or an alchemical potion, but anyway..."

"Confirmed effects include curing diseases, rejuvenation, and especially treating magical intoxication."

"Exactly as the person ranked number one just said."

Setting aside the complete outsider who didn't even know the item's name despite heading a department at the association, the rest of those gathered in the room included the vice president of Neo Sisters, the guild master of the Korean Magic Tower, and the still-active young Director of Garion, among others. In short, they were all fairly prominent figures in the domestic hunting industry. How could such a group not be interested in an [Elixir]?

"Something even more precious than a gold mine has appeared."

The legendary elixir of health had, of all places, reappeared in South Korea. Upon hearing such unexpected news, everyone in the room instinctively straightened in their seats. But to be clear, it wasn't exactly the kind of news they could simply celebrate without reservation.

The days when tribes fought with spears to seize resources were long gone. This was modern South Korea now.

"Anyway, first of all, I'd like to discuss ownership of this Gate..."

Seo Esther spoke while looking directly at the new association president.

"Please listen carefully."

Normally, Gates with "rare rewards" that hunters tended to avoid were handled by the state, which allocated a budget to deal with them by force if necessary. But when an Eldorado that everyone coveted appeared, the Hunter Association often took the lead and set people against one another in competition.

[68th Dungeon Auction]

The bids generated through such proceedings were, of course, collected as tax revenue. In today's world, monsters without even basic liability insurance constantly smashed everything in sight. As a result, government spending on national restoration costs was naturally astronomical, so every country tried to plug holes in its budget through the dungeon industry as much as possible.

But that was merely how things had been handled until now.

"Honestly, if we're being precise, Gates don't belong to the state, do they?"

Esther began making her argument.

"Even this land itself isn't simply owned by the state. The association selling dungeons isn't much different from someone selling water from the Daedong River."

"No, we're not that much of a bunch of swindlers..."

"That's why there are rules preventing dungeons above a certain risk level from being sold to private parties."

"Ahem."

"Gate transactions led by the state are only permitted under the principle of reducing the tax burden on citizens."

Excluding the representative from Neo Sisters, there were two S-ranks present here representing the state. As a result, a subtle sense of pressure hung in the air.

"So, I'd prefer the association not to involve itself too deeply in this matter. This is my sincere opinion as an S-rank hunter."

"The newly appeared monster is C-rank... so technically, according to regulations, it can be put up for auction, but..."

"If that happened, the already complicated domestic situation would only become more troublesome. Phew."

Around that point, an S-rank hunter dressed in a spotless white designer suit let out a sigh.

"Even if the auction were held, there probably isn't anyone in this country who could pour more money into a dungeon than I could."

"What about Neo Sisters?"

"Why don't you ask the vice president over there? I've actually spoken directly with the president of Neo Sisters, so I know for a fact..."

The one who cut him off was an elderly Earthling sitting in one corner of the dim room.

"Ah... we, Neo Sisters, aren't an independent company. We're a fully affiliated guild funded by one of South Korea's leading corporations."

"Is that so?"

"Therefore, under the circumstances, it's difficult for us to arbitrarily invest company assets solely for the sake of one cure-all drug. Especially if the President were to use that drug herself, it could even be regarded as a form of breach of trust..."

"Ah!"

"So, on our side, we'd like to focus as much as possible on what happens after the item appears."

"After all, rather than bidding under the guild's name, it would be quieter if the conglomerate simply handled the transaction privately."

But Esther regained control of the conversation within a matter of seconds.

"Anyway, among for-profit companies capable of entering dungeons—that is, at the guild level—there's no one with more money than me. Holding an auction would only create tedious complications."

"Hmm."

"Besides, there aren't many people in South Korea stronger than me either."

"Of course, the government wouldn't sell a Gate like this to a foreign country."

"All of that is true. So, in the end, what exactly are you trying to propose, Hunter?"

They had exchanged quite a few words by this point, but in reality, her request was surprisingly simple.

"Let the hunters of South Korea take turns using this Gate fairly!"

The new president flinched at the unexpected proposal.

"Lately, the hunting industry as a whole seems to have gotten a little lax, so I think it would be good to distribute entry rights to this Gate according to rankings!"

Moreover, from a political standpoint, there was little reason to reject such a proposal. Dungeon disaster-response capability wasn't merely a matter of national pride—it was an enormously important field. And if that idea were actually implemented...

"In this age of dungeon shocks, we could probably even hold the Olympics safely."

The new association president's eyes sparkled as they imagined a hopeful future.

Click.

Bam.

But at that exact moment, a strange noise suddenly cut through the dim room. This [Elixir] meeting was supposed to be held under the utmost secrecy. Moreover, she was certain that several guards had been stationed near the hallway—so how could she be hearing the sound of a door opening...?

"[Treasure of the Dimension], [Dragon's Nest]."

It was then.

The person who appeared through the back door of the conference room calmly spoke his first words.

"Usually, I understand that hunting grounds where hunters above a certain level gather are allocated through public auctions as a matter of custom."