Episode 173 Kyushu Crisis (5)
Korean Returnee Association, Seoul Southern Branch.
"Hmm, hmm, hmm~ Oh, a new release? I have to buy this right away."
Branch Manager Yoon Ji-yoon was humming nonchalantly, doing something else on her work computer.
It was a luxury she couldn't have even dreamed of in the past when she was busy, but it wasn't uncommon now that she had some free time.
"You seem to be in a good mood, Branch Manager."
"Ah, Secretary Kim, you're here? Of course! Life is good these days. This is how people should live. Honestly, it was a bit… you know?"
"Hahaha… I can't deny that."
The secretary smiled wryly and handed her a new report.
Naturally, he also preferred the present over the past, as he had always been busy alongside her.
"Hmm, things are really chaotic in Japan. The association president must have a headache. And the Supernatural Ability Management Bureau too."
"It can't be helped. Hahoe Mask is Korean, after all."
"Seriously, it's pointless for them to complain to us. Politicians are always looking for an opportunity to make a fuss, regardless of the country."
The branch manager stretched and leaned back in her chair, placing the document she had finished reading on the desk.
She had received the report, but there was nothing she could do about this incident, so it wasn't much different from before.
"A moderately high position is the best. There are just too many things to worry about if you're in a high position. It's the same even now, isn't it?"
"Haha… Words of wisdom from experience."
The secretary smiled awkwardly.
Actually, Yoon Ji-yoon, the branch manager of the Seoul Southern Branch, wasn't someone who should be in her current position.
She was one of the top three strongest individuals in Korea, a great hero who had ended a century-long war and brought peace to the world in the other world she had been transferred to.
Even though decades had passed since she returned because of the time difference, Earthlings who visited that world afterward could still easily find traces of her.
Not only was she prominently featured in history books, but there were also giant statues, biographies, plays, and songs about her in major cities…
And even the 'Yoon' family, which she had established by taking in war orphans and those who followed her, had already become one of the most prestigious families, so Earthlings who indirectly learned about her greatness were often awestruck when they met her after returning.
Some even came all the way from overseas just to meet her.
"But it's good that we have Hahoe Mask, crime rates have decreased, and work is easier. Well, Japan is in a different situation from us, so it can't be helped."
"Is that why you didn't personally intervene?"
"Hmm? No, I didn't think anything would change even if I did… And it wasn't just me, was it? Everyone thinks the same way. Well, there are probably quite a few who are really scared and just watching."
As she said, the investigation into Hahoe Mask was still ongoing, but there were hardly any cases where top-ranked awakened ones personally stepped forward to catch him.
And even those were mostly forced to do it because of pressure from the political circles.
And since Hahoe Mask was so elusive, there had never been a direct clash between them.
"Honestly, I wish Hahoe Mask would just sweep away all the corruption in the political circles."
But if Korea's ruling class became a direct target, the Supernatural Ability Management Bureau and the Returnee Association would have no choice but to abandon their current policy of trying to persuade Hahoe Mask and actively intervene.
Hahoe Mask was probably aware of that and was only targeting violent criminals.
Leaving the complex issues and society's self-purification to those who were part of the system.
'…I feel sorry for not meeting their expectations.'
She massaged her forehead, thinking of the politicians who were still complaining.
She subtly turned her gaze towards her secretary, who was suddenly acting urgently, while lost in thought.
He seemed to have received some news, as he was checking his tablet with a serious expression, and then he froze in place.
It seemed like something had definitely happened.
Yoon Ji-yoon, who was also feeling uneasy, cautiously called out to him.
"What's wrong? What happened? Did something happen?"
"······."
"Don't just stand there, I'm getting anxious. What is it?"
At her repeated urging, the frozen secretary silently handed her the tablet he was holding.
And at the same time, as he disconnected the wireless earphone he was wearing…
[Kyaaaaagh—!]
A roar, as loud as an explosion, erupted from the speaker, filling the office.
"Huh? What's…!"
Yoon Ji-yoon hurriedly took the tablet and checked the video again.
The video, which was playing on repeat, wasn't that long.
The empty air shattered like glass, and an ominous black pillar soared high into the sky.
A monster, which looked like something out of CGI, appeared and flew through the sky above a mountain, enveloped in dark energy.
The footage was blurry because it was filmed from a distance, but there was a figure with a familiar silhouette on its head.
"Wait, don't tell me…"
"It's footage filmed in Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan!"
"…You're saying this was filmed on Earth?"
She gaped.
Putting aside the fact that it was a monster she had never seen before in the world she had been to, how high was its level that it emitted such a presence even through a screen?
No, wait, did it even make sense for a being from another world to appear on Earth?
"This must be Hahoe Mask, right?"
"…I guess so."
"Ha, hahaha… This is bad."
She placed the tablet on the desk, leaned back in her chair, and ran her hand over her face with a hollow laugh.
"To think his debut on the world stage… would start with such a big news."
She had only seen one video, but similar videos were flooding in at this moment.
Not only those filmed directly with smartphones, an essential item for modern people, but also those captured by car black boxes and even a live broadcast by an internet broadcaster who happened to be introducing a nearby restaurant.
She was able to see what had just happened in Japan right away, even though she was in Seoul, Korea.
And as she guessed,
The incident was spreading to people all over the world at an incredible speed.
____________________
An explosive reaction.
That was the phrase that succinctly described the Bone Dragon incident in Japan.
The interest spread to both returnees who had returned from other worlds and ordinary citizens who had only indirectly experienced the culture of other worlds, and it soon became a huge trend.
-What is that? A dragon? A Bone Dragon?
-Crazy! Why is that appearing on Earth? Is this a fake?
└ There are countless videos being uploaded right now. They're all filmed from different angles.
-How can an undead from another world move so freely? How did they bypass the laws of physics? Please tell me! I can't even take out my summons because of that!
└ Hul, lol. A necromancer caught red-handed. Here, here! Catch him, quick!
└ ?? Where do you live? Hiring a hacker isn't expensive.
└ I'm sorry. Please spare me. I was wrong.
Most people didn't know, but there were actually awakened ones who could summon beings from other worlds.
But Earthlings' aptitude for that ability was terrible, and in the end, they were so rare that they had to choose other paths because they were stuck at a mediocre level.
It was even rarer than Spirit Summoners, who were known for their small numbers due to environmental issues.
And in that situation, where there was no immunity to 'beings from other worlds', a Bone Dragon, a monstrous being, had suddenly appeared.
-Those who are saying this is fake after seeing this, what's wrong with you? Even watching it through a screen is chilling.
└ Right, the people in the video are screaming and freaking out even though they're far away from it.
└ Ah, shit, I jokingly showed it to my dog, and it suddenly peed itself. Don't do it. And definitely don't show it to children.
Above all, what drew the public's attention was the overwhelming sense of reality that could be felt even through the video.
It was clearly diluted, but its vividness and chilling roar, as if it would jump out of the screen, made many people even more immersed.
In that situation, it was only natural that the videos were quickly analyzed by various people.
And it didn't take long for the identity of the 'one standing on the Bone Dragon's head' to be revealed as 'Hahoe Mask', who had been a hot topic in Korea.
-??? Is this real? I thought it was just a creepypasta;;
-Ugh! Finally! Truth prevails! You filthy slanderers!
-Ah, lol. Thinking about those who were saying 'delusional' shutting up makes me feel so good.
Those who had persistently claimed Hahoe Mask's existence, despite being ignored by many, cheered and diligently spread his achievements.
And it was naturally translated into various languages and spread throughout the world along with the videos.
…And a bit embarrassingly,
"No, to think it would become this big of a topic? I expected it to some extent, but this is too much."
Han Seong-hyeon, who was researching the data online, couldn't help but click his tongue and be dumbfounded by the development, which was practically a social phenomenon.
The existence of Hahoe Mask had been proven, but it wasn't enough to acknowledge the achievements that had been spread so far.
But the Bone Dragon video, which was deeply imprinted in everyone's minds, had become a kind of evidence, giving strong credibility to the story that had only been circulating as a creepypasta—.
And as a result, various terms were being used to refer to him.
The unofficial strongest in Korea, the ruler of Korea's night, the grim reaper of criminals, the guardian of the darkness, the eternal death that crawls in with the dawn…
'No, not the last one. Who made that up? Who's crawling?'
And the nicknames that were recently added were 'Dragon Rider' and 'Island Bomber'.
"…He's become unexpectedly famous. Well, it's not that bad, I guess."
There was no special reason why he had avoided leaving evidence of his appearance.
He had just naturally done so because he knew that what he was doing wasn't right, according to social norms.
'Come to think of it, I didn't have to hide it so thoroughly.'
It would actually be more effective to raise his reputation and presence like this, as it would act as a deterrent to prevent crimes.
It would make the villains think twice before doing anything.
But that was that, and the important issue right now was something else.
'Anyway, they're not easy. Heaven's Turn Society.'
After breaking their subspace using Heratos's abyssal breath,
Hans immediately set up a new barrier to block their escape route.
That was why the videos circulating now weren't that long, but the problem was that they had also prepared thoroughly and were ready for any situation.
'To think they would escape with teleportation. I managed to catch a few more before that, but it's not a good trade.'
It couldn't be helped, as it wasn't easy to block unique skills even with barriers.
And they were elite personnel, carefully selected, so it wasn't that difficult to understand how they were able to break through the hastily constructed barrier and escape.
The only consolation was that he had succeeded in killing the man in the suit who had used the subspace by relentlessly targeting him.
He was also a high-level individual, but his combat power wasn't that high, perhaps because most of his abilities were focused on his unique skill.
And he wasn't in his best condition because of the aftereffects of his skill being forcibly destroyed.
'…No, wait? Come to think of it, there's no need to be disappointed about losing them, right?'
Actually, Hans was the intruder who barged into their territory, and they were the interception unit that came out to protect their base.
And he had only just finished cleaning up Kyushu.
There were still many areas to clean up, they were already defeated, and the biggest factor that allowed them to push Hans back, the user of the 'subspace', was dead.
So where could they even go now?
Snicker—
"Let's see how long they can hide while their house is burning."
And so, with a sinister chuckle echoing from a corner of a room in Korea,
Hahoe Mask, Hans, quietly moved to the next region in Japan.
To set their hideouts on fire.