Episode 112. Scavenger (1)

You got here earlier than I thought.

I was working nearby. I came as soon as I got your text.

Lee Hyun-seung looked exactly the same as I remembered. His wolf-like appearance and imposing physique, the huge bag on his back, and the old coat he was wearing. His attire symbolized the man who was called the strongest hunter.

Of course, he looks the same.

Seeing him, I sighed to myself. The reason why the Lee Hyun-seung in my memory and the Lee Hyun-seung now were the same was simple.

Lee Hyun-seung dies while preventing the Fourth Disaster, -The Returnee Situation-. He turned over the strongest hunters title to the Martial God and unfortunately passed away from the world.

Good, you move quickly. Shall we get to the point?

Yes, sounds good.

This way.

Lee Hyun-seung turned around. I didnt bother to ask where we were going and followed him.

Mr. Jeong Si-woo, you shouldnt fall off the grid like that.

I was in a Rift. Im sorry I didnt tell you in advance.

If you made us do these things, you should be reachable Phew, it doesnt matter. You probably had a good reason for your actions.

Zhang Wei, who was sitting on an installed chair, started scolding me when he saw me. But he soon shook his head and stopped. His cheeks were hollow. He looked as if he had gone through a lot.

I asked Lee Hyun-seung, who is walking ahead.

You said they were caught up in one of the recent incidents I guess there was a great deal of damage. Its been a long time since I saw Mr. Zhang Wei look so tired.

Yes, there was damage. If it werent for hunters Zhang Wei and Kim Seung-hyun, everyone here would have died. And nearby civilians would have suffered greatly. They did a tremendous job.

By the way, where is Seung-hyun Hyeong no, hunter Kim Seung-hyun? I should say hello.

He was taken to a nearby hospital.

What?

His reply was unexpected. I spoke, full of doubt.

He was taken to the hospital, although Mr. Zhang Wei is here? Why? No matter how many doctors, they wont be as good as Mr. Zhang Wei.

Thats true in the case of physical wounds. He can make your severed arms grow just by breathing in the back. But hunter Kim Seung-hyun was wounded inside, not somewhere in his body.

Lee Hyun-seung tapped his chest.

They say he died dozens of times to protect people. His neck was broken more than five times, and his limbs and chest were torn and penetrated more than ten times. Nevertheless, he endured all the pain and attacked with all his might.

!

Thats why when I arrived, he was a complete mess. He was out of his mind, no strength in his arms and legs, and said Thank you over and over. Ive never seen a hunter like him. I cant believe a hunter just slightly beyond mid-level 2nd class can sacrifice himself to save people. His sense of justice is no less than any 1st generation hunter.

Oh.

I made a dazed sound.

For the first time, I felt proud of my hunter. Having the hunter I trained be recognized by the greatest hunter felt extremely good.

Seung-hyun is indeed remarkable. Hes fit to be a hero more than anyone else.

But what immediately came to my mind afterward was not good.

The guy who messed up Seung-hyun Hyeong Did he get away? If you subdued him, where is he restrained? I would like to pay him a visit right now.

Anger. It was anger at the fact that he hurt one of my people and broke his strong mind.

You want to visit him? I guess you and I are on the same page.

Lee Hyun-seung answered calmly. It looked like he felt the anger in my voice.

We are on the way to the place he is right now.

* * *

When I arrived where Lee Hyun-seung led me to, I could see an unrecognizable lump of meat lying on the floor. Numerous hunters and analysts were busily moving about. And amid the chaotic atmosphere, I asked Lee Hyun-seung a question.

What is that?

What are you talking about?

That piece of meat in between the hunters. Is it a human corpse?

Yes.

Whose corpse is it? Dont tell me.

Didnt I tell you earlier that we were going where the Returnee was?

And Lee Hyun-seung motioned towards the group of analysts. The people who were holding various appliances to the body stepped back.

Oh, my God. This is the Returnee? The Returnee was torn to pieces, without a single intact area. In comparison, Lee Hyun-seung wasnt even scratched the slightest.

Was Lee Hyun-seung this powerful? I barely held back from letting out an exclamation.

Lee Hyun-seung was the only person I couldnt wholly analyze. He had died before I could work with him, and hence the 1st generation legend had suddenly disappeared. So, I didnt know exactly how strong he was.

But was he this strong? Strong enough to instantly kill a Returnee as powerful as a 1st class Awakener, giving him no time to resist?

The Analysts say they cant find anything by looking at this body. But youre different. Would you take a look?

How did such a powerful man die in vain after being caught up in a Returnee Situation incident? Since I didnt know the full story of his death, I couldnt help but wonder.

Yes, I will.

I swallowed all the questions I wanted to ask, nodded, and walked toward the body of the Returnee. Seeing it again, I could tell it was indeed a badly broken corpse. It was smashed to pieces so badly that ordinary analysts wouldnt be able to figure out anything from it.

Do you want to hear the explicit information first, or do you want me to explain everything one by one?

You knew as soon as you saw? Thats a lot better than all the elite Analysts here. We dont have a lot of time, so give me the important information.

Okay, I understand.

But I wasnt an ordinary Analyst. And in fact, I didnt even need to look at the corpse. In fact, I could list the Returnees specifics and the information left in his body with my eyes closed.

There is no particular organ inside the body that controls mana. This means that he doesnt have any characteristics or skills. So, at the very least, he isnt an Awakener by our worlds standards.

.

The clothes hes wearing are made of materials that do not exist on Earth. Also, the concentration of mana in the area has increased exponentially. So, we can infer that this man appeared along with a sort of Dimensional Distortion Phenomenon. Therefore, we can think that this man has fallen from a different place, the way monsters pour out of Rifts.

He fell.

And considering that the individuals who appeared in similar ways asked what year it was and such, we can come up with the idea that people originally from this world were caught up in a Dimensional Distortion Phenomenon, sent to a different world, and have now returned.

Lee Hyun-seung nodded. He seemed to think it was a reasonable idea.

Wait, that is an absurd argument.

However, the so-called elite Analysts immediately refuted my claim. They never liked me. They always criticized me for overreaching as an Analyst when I had graduated from the hunting department.

You lack evidence to call this a Dimensional Distortion Phenomenon. They are more likely mentally disturbed individuals or members of a terrorist organization.

Mentally disturbed? How many worldwide cases are there of 1st class Awakened people being mentally ill? And, does it make sense for them to appear regularly?

W Well, thats true. But it is a lot more likely than what you are claiming. And if they are members of a terrorist group!

The Analyst became flustered at my sharp attitude. I sighed and continued to answer him.

Yes, it doesnt matter if they are a terrorist group or anything. Whats clear is that given the increased concentration of mana in the area, this event is related to a Dimensional Distortion Phenomenon.

.

And if related to Dimensional Distortions, those individuals can, in any way, facilitate the formation of Rifts. Even now, Monsters Fields are occurring all over the world because we cant handle the influx of monsters. If we dont solve this, humanity will face a huge crisis.

Yes, thats right.

At my firm tone, the Analysts voice faltered.

I didnt make my claim because I havent thought of terrorist organizations. I am aware that my words sound a bit absurd.

.

But either way, I know this can cause serious damage. Thats why I want to classify it as a Dimensional Distortion Phenomenon.

.

To request support from the Association headquarters and each guild. To remind people who are sick of Rifts of the seriousness of this situation. And to tell those who are unwilling to act on terrorism that this incident is related to a crisis that threatens humanity as a whole.

Few guilds are willing to act in response to terrorism. No one in the hunting industry has such a useless sense of justice. But what if its a Dimensional Distortion?

For those who experienced Disasters firsthand and knew how terrifying the incoming hordes of monsters were, the word was sort of a trigger. Even guilds who didnt know the fear would join in if their surroundings jumped to action.

I was about to light the fire. If we moved at a leisurely pace, it would be too late. So, I was going to inform people of this crisis myself.

W Well youre right.

The Analyst stammered but soon admitted I was right. I turned my head and was about to share some more information about the Returnees corpse. But then

Hmm?

At that moment, the cell phones of all the hunters in the area rang loudly. Without missing a single beat, all at the same time.

Whats going on?

Some of their faces hardened. Not just anyone, but only the hunters cell phones rang at once. What it meant was simple.

The occurrence of a Great Rift. The occurrence of an event that would cause numerous casualties. Or an order to move because such an event was about to happen.

It looks like we should get going.

Lee Hyun-seung, who was looking into his cell phone, said indifferently.

And Zhang Wei looked at me and spoke urgently.

Mr. Jeong Si-woo, it says that five Returnees showed up at the same time.

Five?

I frowned. The appearance of five Returnees. I know this incident. It happens when the Returnees begin to seriously run wild. But it was a little early. Its not supposed to happen now.

Where did they appear?

Thats.

Seoul.

Instead of Zhang Wei, Lee Hyun-seung answered. My face stiffened. Seoul. That cant be true. Originally, it was Daegu where the five Returnees appeared.

A place that wasnt highly populated and had no tall buildings in one place. Which was why we could stop them while suffering less damage. But Seoul? Why? Why did things change from the past?

I was thinking about it when Lee Hyun-seung lamented.

So, a nuclear bomb will fall on the safest city in South Korea.