My Catastrophic‑Level Summon Devours Gates - Chapter 81

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 81

A press conference hall wider than a school auditorium.

The reporters who had packed that vast space.

All turned to look at me at once.

【Haha! Look! Everyone is gazing upon my Lord!】

【To recognize who the star of this stage is. They all have good judgment.】

That’s not it.

I never agreed to be some kind of protagonist!

“Please welcome Hunter Park Min-ho, selected as Ranger No. 1, with applause.”

Clap clap!

Thunderous applause echoed loudly throughout the press conference hall.

“Hunter Park. Please come forward.”

“Boss?”

“Wasn’t it strange from the start that the meeting location was a press conference hall?”

Wait a minute.

What you’re saying is.

You anticipated this situation.

President Baek smiled broadly.

You deceived me!

Selling me out to the Rift Bureau!!!

“I didn’t know either. I only caught on right before coming up.”

Please wipe that smile off your face when you say that!

There’s no one I can trust.

Sob sob sob.

As I walked down the central aisle toward the front, I received plenty of skin massage from the click― click― flashes.

At this rate, I might end up getting a tan from all the flash lights.

Hmm.

Seeing that nonsense was flowing through my head as usual, I wasn’t too nervous.

Seeing dozens of reporters has become routine for me lately.

Let’s stay calm.

When I reached the front of the platform, Director Jung Seung-il approached.

“Welcome, Hunter Park Min-ho.”

“I don’t think I was told about this kind of situation.”

“CEO Baek probably guessed.”

Yes.

He knew all along without even telling me.

“Please go up.”

He pointed to the stairs with a polite gesture, which was quite gracious.

I went up to the platform first, and Director Jung Seung-il followed and stood beside me.

“There are reasons why we recruited Hunter Park Min-ho as Ranger No. 1.”

The Chief’s voice spread throughout the entire press conference hall.

The shutter sounds stopped abruptly.

Sparks flickered in the reporters’ eyes.

I could feel their determination not to miss a single word.

Ugh.

Facing the shining gazes of hundreds of people, even indirectly.

My stomach feels queasy.

“Hunter Park Min-ho is a promising talent who reached S-rank in just 5 years.”

【This Chief fellow has an eye for people.】

【That’s why you’re an iron head.】

【Why are you picking a fight, mage?】

【What do you mean promising? Master will become the world’s strongest Hunter.】

【Hmm. That’s true, so I can’t argue this time.】

I’m glad the telepathy exchanged in Death Space doesn’t leak outside.

Otherwise, I might have wanted to bite my tongue from embarrassment.

“He played a major role during the Guui-dong Break incident, and accomplished twenty over-grade conquests solo in one month.”

“Over-grade?”

“That means he conquered C-rank gates alone.”

“Come to think of it, the gate where he competed with Mir Guild was also C-rank.”

“Is that announcement really true?”

Murmur murmur―

The conference hall, which had been quiet for a moment, once again became like a marketplace.

Someone suddenly raised their hand.

“Twenty over-grade conquests in one month, can we verify the data?”

“We’ve posted the relevant materials on the Rift Bureau headquarters website. Feel free to check for yourself.”

“I question whether he conquered all those gates alone.”

“A support team participated, but they were all D-rank Hunters, so it’s fair to consider it outside the main force.”

“I’d like to confirm evidence that Hunter Park Min-ho proceeded solo.”

“There should be body cameras worn during the conquests. For that part, it would be better to inquire with Seungcheon Agency later.”

Several more questions came up asking about the records the Chief mentioned.

“The domestic average for Hunter gate entries is sixteen times.”

“That’s correct.”

“Hunter Park Min-ho entered more than the average. Are you saying he succeeded in all conquests despite that?”

“The data shows he cleared them all with SSS-rank.”

Wow.

I don’t even remember all of that.

The Chief knows it better than I do.

“Twenty over-grade conquests in one month?”

“All SSS-rank too?”

“That’s impossible.”

Twenty over-grade conquests in one month.

Looking back, it really is an incredible record.

Though it became a promising profession after the Great Catastrophe.

The essence of being a Hunter was the same then as now.

Risking your life to hunt monsters.

Even veterans face life-or-death situations if they let their guard down as Hunters.

Because of this, the mental and physical fatigue accumulated from each conquest is extremely high.

I realized anew that achieving twenty conquests in a month, all with SSS-rank, was truly remarkable.

【Haha. My Lord has us, so what is there to worry about?】

【Master doesn’t need to lift a finger in the gates.】

Yes.

Please carry me like that in the future too.

I’ll just wiggle my fingers.

One reporter raised their hand.

“I have a question for Director Jung Seung-il.”

“Please go ahead.”

“Director Jung, aren’t you the only SS-rank Hunter in the country?”

“That’s correct.”

“What do you think are the chances of Hunter Park Min-ho reaching the eleventh S-rank?”

President Baek, who was standing in the distance, slightly frowned.

This.

That’s crossing the line with questions.

“Talking about S-rank is a bit difficult.”

“Ah. I see.”

“Though SS-rank would be a different story.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m confident that Hunter Park Min-ho will become Korea’s second SS-rank Hunter, following in my footsteps.”

What?

What did he just say?

“S, SS-rank?!”

“Director Jung Seung-il! What do you mean by that!”

“Exactly what you just heard. That’s all.”

Director Jung Seung-il shut his mouth tight as if he was done talking.

The press conference hall became noisy as if a bomb had gone off.

* * *

Heart-pounding, chaotic press conference hall!

Even after Director Jung Seung-il’s statement, various questions were exchanged.

Honestly, I couldn’t remember any of it.

【Get a grip.】

【Are you alright?】

No.

I’m not alright at all.

The eventful press conference passed by in an instant.

I shook hands with high-ranking officials who appeared at the announcement besides the Chief.

I think we also took photos together and exchanged pleasantries, but I couldn’t remember any of it.

“You did well.”

Boss, who came after the press conference ended, rubbed his hands together.

“You, no. Boss, geez.”

“You can curse at me.”

“Really?”

“No.”

Grind grind.

“How much did you make by selling me out?”

“I’m about to go collect the settlement now.”

Settlement.

Now that’s a word I like.

After finishing the commemorative photo session, we moved to the Chief’s office.

Rift Bureau Chief Choi Ji-woong.

Response Department Director Jung Seung-il.

CEO Baek.

And lastly, me.

Unlike during the press conference, the quiet atmosphere put my mind at ease.

Even yesterday’s grilling session was better than the press conference.

“I should have given you advance notice. I’m sorry.”

Rift Bureau Chief Choi Ji-woong.

An S-rank Hunter who was active in the early days of the Great Upheaval alongside Director Jung Seung-il.

Names that regularly appear in middle school history textbooks.

I never thought the day would come when I’d meet these legendary people face to face.

“I trust you won’t let this pass without any compensation.”

CEO Baek, the only Non-Awakened in this room.

He tried to lead the conversation without being intimidated by the presence of the two men.

“Of course.”

“Something trivial like tax exemption won’t do.”

“CEO Baek. How much budget do you think government agencies have, that you’re already thinking of fleecing us?”

“It would be troublesome if you used our Hunter Park as a poster boy for the Ranger launch and then wipe your mouth clean afterward.”

“We intend to pay fair compensation, so don’t worry.”

“So what exactly have you prepared…”

This is totally grilling session season 2.

【This person called CEO Baek. If he could sense mana, he would have achieved greatness.】

【Amazing. A human without mana isn’t intimidated by the opponent’s presence.】

Perhaps it was CEO Baek’s boldness, acknowledged even by the Two Vassals, that shone through.

The negotiation ended faster than expected.

“We’ll lend you one of the Rift Bureau’s equipment free of charge for three years.”

“Anything at all?”

“Let’s say it’s limited to armaments that currently have no assigned user.”

Whoa.

The Rift Bureau possesses armaments on par with the Domestic Big Five, or even better.

Divine weapons that emerged during the early Great Upheaval.

All ownerless armaments were recovered by the state.

I heard they’re stored somewhere in the Rift Bureau headquarters.

Though there’s a restriction that equipment currently on loan or in use can’t be borrowed.

Since the Rift Bureau has so much equipment in storage, it didn’t even feel like a disadvantage.

My goodness.

To obtain that through negotiation.

Amazing.

“That’s too short. Ten years would be just right.”

Ah.

It’s not over yet.

“Are you aware that Director Jeong, the face of the Rift Bureau, borrows weapons on a five-year cycle?”

“Then please make it seven years.”

The two people who were bickering.

Eventually adjusted the loan period to five years, the same conditions as Director Jeong.

“Thank you.”

Boss smiled brightly at Chief Choi’s final words of approval.

“Well now. You have a good agency.”

“I think so too.”

“For the item loan, just speak to Director Jeong when it’s convenient.”

The compensation discussion for the press conference incident ends here.

The Chief’s atmosphere changed.

“First, I want to thank you for accepting the Ranger proposal.”

“The honor is mine.”

That’s not empty words.

These two are heroes who were active in the early days of the Great Upheaval.

Great figures who made you think ‘Ah, I want to become like this person’ at least once while studying them in social studies!

It feels a bit strange to call people who are perfectly alive ‘great figures.’

Anyway, when I heard the Rift Bureau’s proposal, I felt moved regardless of the benefits.

“People say we’re living in a stable period after the Great Upheaval.”

That’s true.

An era where a Gate Break occurring in Seoul after 3 years becomes a hot topic.

The monsters that threatened daily life during the Great Upheaval are.

The perception changed to see him like a cornucopia spitting out magic stones.

“But things seem to be changing these days.”

“Hunter Park might not know, but variant monsters have increased significantly lately.”

Director Jung Seung-il added his remarks.

I’d seen it on the news too.

And I’d experienced it directly myself, so I didn’t deny it.

“I think the Rangers will have a lot of work to do going forward.”

“That’s quite a mission you’ve taken on.”

“I didn’t say that to burden you.”

Chief Choi shook his head from side to side.

“I just said it hoping that Hunter Park would take pride in his activities.”

“Understood.”

“Since you might become the second SS-rank, the Rift Bureau should make a good impression.”

Ah.

Ahahaha.

To think that two Hunters who were active in the early days of the Great Cataclysm were showing such expectations.

For some reason, my shoulders straightened up slightly with pride.

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