Infinite Evolution Hunter - Chapter 48

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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48
“Lee Ji-seok….”
“Yes.”
“You said you discovered Paul Alexis committing an act of terrorism inside the Gate by chance, didn’t you? Why didn’t you report it sooner?”
Baek Young-shin, the Director of the Awakener Management Bureau, asked from across the table in the interrogation room.
“If I had reported it, wouldn’t you have detained the otherworlders based solely on my word, without any evidence?”
“Even if we had believed you, there wouldn’t have been much we could do anyway. I understand. Sigh….”
Director Baek Young-shin looked aged by years from recent stress.
“But the situation is not favorable.”
A single hunter had killed a state guest who had commanded the world’s attention—it was understandable.
“I’m aware. But the evidence should be sufficient, shouldn’t it? That they’re deliberately causing Gate Break incidents. That it will endanger not just Korea, but the entire world.”
Paul’s testimony and the item had already provided overwhelming information.
“Other governments believe we’re manipulating information and trying to monopolize the otherworlders.”
“Then, wouldn’t you just release the information you obtained?”
“We did. The problem is they don’t believe us. Or perhaps they’re pretending not to. They’re demanding we hand over the item and Paul.”
“That’s something your government will have to handle. But aren’t you going to close the Gate?”
“The Gate…. We have to close it….”
“Then, I can leave, right?”
The Awakener Management Bureau couldn’t keep me detained for long. The reason was that Jae-in, who understood the item capable of closing the Bridge Gate most thoroughly, and Bae Na-young, who could operate the item through delicate mana control, had declared they wouldn’t work while I was imprisoned.
But entrusting the Bridge Gate generator’s operation to Paul would make the government extremely uneasy. If he harbored ill intentions and caused trouble, everything would be over.
“Yes, you may leave. But there are a few things I’d like to tell you first. The Awakener Management Bureau has decided to commend Lee Ji-seok for preventing the catastrophe. We’ll contact you about the schedule later.”
Director Baek Young-shin closed the document file in front of him and looked at me.
“I apologize for saying unpleasant things due to my position, but I hope you understand that I and many Awakener Management Bureau officials are deeply grateful to you, Lee Ji-seok.”
“I understand.”
“We’ll also raise your hunter rank to A-Class in accordance with your achievements. Finally, Lee Ji-seok. Please… next time, tell us first. We’ll believe everything.”
The Director spoke as if he were about to cry. He must be truly exhausted.
“Yes. See you again, Director.”
I stood up from my seat.
* * *
“Oppa!”
Bae Na-young, who had been waiting outside, rushed over and embraced me as I emerged.
“Thank you. For worrying about me.”
“What kind of thing is this, when you risked your life to protect us!”
Now that I had come out, she seemed relieved and directed her anger at the Awakener Management Bureau.
“It’s fine. The Director was just doing his job.”
“Hyung, if you’d been held any longer, I might have stormed in there myself.”
“Haha.”
“Hyung, I’m not joking. I was actually planning it.”
When I laughed, Yang Sang-heon’s expression turned serious.
“Hmm…. Na-young, that’s not right, is it?”
Bae Na-young nodded.
They say good people are terrifying when angry, and it seems that when they lose their temper, the brakes don’t work. Given my memories from my past life, I think if I’d held back just a little longer, I might have actually charged in.
If that had happened, we’d be nothing but fugitive villains. I could picture it in my mind—Bae Na-young and I as the world’s villains. My dark outfit certainly looked villainous enough.
“Let’s go close the Gate now.”
“Why are you so eager about this?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“You seem overflowing with a sense of mission to save the world.”
“I just want me and the people around me to live happily.”
“You don’t need to work that hard. With your abilities, you could already live comfortably, couldn’t you?”
Bae Na-young, unaware of the future, might think so. I’m already an S-rank Hunter, and Rigen, which I founded, is growing by the day.
But I can’t be satisfied here. I mustn’t be satisfied. Everything I’ve accomplished so far is merely a sandcastle that will crumble easily before what’s to come.
If I hadn’t stopped Helen this time, Earth would have no future. A single event can produce such consequences, which is why I must keep moving forward.
“I’ll take it easier from now on.”
Since I had no intention of discussing the future anyway, I just brushed it off.
“Jae-in, let’s go close the Gate now.”
“Yes. But let’s not close it.”
“What? What do you mean?”
What is she talking about? I thought I’d explained sufficiently what would happen if we left it open.
“Instead of closing it, let’s reverse it.”
“Reverse it?”
“Thanks to Paul explaining how it works, I finished analyzing the item quickly. According to the theory, we can reverse the one-way Gate from Earth to Telus into a one-way Gate to Telus.”
“So instead of Telus monsters coming to us, Earth monsters would go to Telus? That’s possible?”
“I’ve checked with the Awakener Management Bureau’s research team twice, three times. It’s possible.”
“If that happens… the burden on our Gate would decrease significantly.”
“Exactly. And since Telus will be busy, we can also reduce any potential additional threats from Telus.”
“But if we reverse it, won’t they just reverse it again on their end?”
“They can’t because they don’t have the item. According to Paul, there are no more master-class spatial teleportation mages capable of creating items or magic like this. Even Helen said it felt like she just lucked into it.”
Jae-in’s idea was conveyed, and heated discussions followed among the Awakener Management Bureau and representatives from various nations. Opinions clashed between those who insisted it must be blocked for safety and those who argued we should return what was done to us.
Then someone suggested that closing this Gate might completely block the path to Telus. Telus is a golden land from Earth’s perspective. They coveted the technology of that place, where magical techniques were far more advanced.
In the end, the consensus shifted toward reversing it—ostensibly to protect Earth, but in reality, for profit.
And finally, the day came to reverse the Bridge Gate.
Among the Bridge Gates scattered across the country, we selected one whose reset was imminent.
Everyone was surprised at how many Gates Helen’s group had tampered with, more than expected. They had already completed much of their work before contacting the Korean Government, and once they became visible to people, they contacted the government themselves to avoid suspicion.
In case Telus soldiers or monsters emerged from the Gate, Korea’s main forces and two S-rank Hunters from the World Hunter Alliance participated.
“Excuse me.”
The interpreter approached Baek Young-shin, the director.
“Our Hunter is asking when we’re starting?”
The interpreter pointed behind him, where Takahashi, a Japanese S-rank Hunter, stood with one leg bent, leaning his weight to one side.
With his bangs covering one eye in a way that screamed middle-school syndrome, he wore two pistols—his beloved weapons—at his waist.
“We’re starting soon.”
The director dismissed the bothersome interpreter and looked at Bae Na-young.
Bae Na-young nodded and extended her hand toward the item installed on the floor.
“I’m starting now.”
Mana was drawn out like thread and connected to the item.
Now I could see it. I hadn’t been able to perceive it before, but after receiving an explanation from Paul and training over several days, the flow of mana became visible to me.
I had learned the method of mana manipulation from Paul and taught it to dozens of Hunters, but only Bae Na-young, Jae-in, and Hunter Jung Min-gi possessed the precision to control mana finely enough to adjust the Bridge Gate generator.
Several other Hunters, myself included, knew how to release mana and energy crudely, but we couldn’t expel mana as delicately as thread.
Earth and Telus have different mana concentrations. Paul had said that people raised in high-mana environments have different internal structures and varying degrees of talent. It’s an area requiring further research.
Ultimately, among the three capable of mana control, Hunter Jung Min-gi had to provide protection, and Jae-in was excluded because although she could control mana, her reserves were insufficient. In the end, Bae Na-young, who was best suited for this mission, was chosen to operate the item.
Light shot from the item Bae Na-young activated and was drawn into the Gate.
Dozens of elite Hunters quietly watched the Gate with their hands resting on their weapons.
Then the Gate lurched violently once, and the light ceased.
“Did it… work?”
“Doesn’t look like anything changed?”
The Hunters murmured among themselves. The light shooting from the item had stopped, but the Gate’s appearance remained unchanged.
“It should have worked. In theory.”
Jae-in spoke with confidence in her voice.
“We have an hour until the Gate resets, right? If no monsters emerge after the reset time passes, we’ve succeeded.”
The people who had been waiting in considerable tension, anticipating what might happen, felt their nerves suddenly ease at Jae-in’s words.
Now we just had to wait one more hour.
That’s when Hunter Jung Min-gi approached.
“I heard you fought an elf named Helen?”
“Yes.”
“They said Helen is comparable to an S-rank Hunter? To defeat such an opponent is quite impressive?”
“My opponent underestimated me and let their guard down.”
“Drawing out that carelessness is also skill. Truly impressive. Shall we have a sparring match sometime?”
“I lack confidence in evading the blade that severed a troll’s neck, so I’ll have to decline.”
“Hmm… It seems your true strength is more than what’s visible.”
Hunter Jung Min-gi looked at my face with some burden.
“You don’t have a Guild, do you? Would you like to join ours?”
“The Rose Guild?”
Many people question why the Guild is named Rose, but Hunter Jung Min-gi’s daughter is Jung Jang-mi. The anecdote about how Hunter Jung Min-gi, famous for being a devoted father, threatened his colleagues that he wouldn’t establish a Guild unless it had this name is quite well-known among Hunters.
“Yes.”
“Well… I’m sorry, but I must decline.”
“Why?”
“I already have friends I’m with.”
I gestured toward Bae Na-young, Yang Sang-heon, and Jae-in.
“I’ll have them all join too.”
Hunter Jung Min-gi glanced at the three of them and spoke as casually as if buying items at a convenience store.
“That’s quite generous.”
“Finding work for Hunters these days isn’t difficult. Especially not for talented ones like yourselves.”
It seemed he’d already sized us up to some degree. As Korea’s strongest Guild, if we joined the Rose Guild, we’d undoubtedly receive the best treatment in the country.
“I’ll have to decline. I prefer to move freely.”
While a Guild offers considerable assistance with growth, I already know my path forward. With Jae-in crafting items for me, a Guild holds little significance.
“If you change your mind, let me know anytime.”
“Thank you for the offer.”
Regardless of the reason, having an S-Rank Hunter regard me favorably was hardly a misfortune.
Suddenly, a memory from my past life surfaced. I never witnessed it directly, but I’d heard that in my previous existence, he fought on the frontlines until the very end and fell in battle. This time, we would fight together, watching each other’s backs, and both of us would survive.
An hour passed as I exchanged various conversations with the others.
“Beginning reset countdown. 10…9…3…2…1!”
The Awakener Management Bureau official’s countdown ended, but nothing happened. Everyone glanced around nervously.
“D-Did it succeed?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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