With the Dungeon's master, Legia, dead, the S-Rank Gate standing in Japan's capital began to convulse violently. The dark rift that had torn the sky open visibly shrank, space-collapse flares bursting again and again along its edges.
The other Gates that had opened across the country in a chain reaction were still rampaging—but the deadliest threat was gone. The rate at which new Gates appeared would drop sharply, and Japan's Hunters could finally breathe again.
Chairman Matsumoto of the Japanese Hunters Association welcomed Scáthach and the others—fresh from clearing the Dungeon—with warmth that bordered on fawning.
He'd already heard firsthand accounts from several of the S-Ranks who'd been there, and no matter how he turned it over in his mind, he still couldn't believe it. Hunter Scáthach didn't merely possess eyes capable of observing the future—she also had combat power that completely surpassed S-Rank, and she could even teach other Hunters brand-new skills.
Right there in front of everyone, Kei demonstrated the rune he'd learned from Scáthach. The power of his ice magic was clearly stronger than before—and that still wasn't even the limit. As he grew more familiar with that rune's strength, he could become even stronger than he was now.
The value of Hunter Scáthach was simply beyond measure.
They had to do everything possible to build a good relationship with her.
And then there was Hunter Sung Jinwoo. His ability to recruit the dead as shadow soldiers was no longer a secret, and he himself possessed National Level Hunter-class combat power.
Another person they needed to win over—another person they couldn't afford to offend.
But after learning what Scáthach could do, a truly audacious thought took root in Matsumoto's mind.
Could Jinwoo's ability to create undead soldiers… have been taught to him by Hunter Scáthach as well?
"Hunter Scáthach, Hunter Sung Jinwoo—thank you for everything you've done," Matsumoto said, his tone brimming with gratitude. "By stopping the Gate from going out of control, you prevented the disaster from spreading. You kept the worst-case scenario from happening. You are heroes of Japan, and the people of Japan will surely be grateful that you came!"
Even Jinwoo could see how hard Matsumoto was trying to curry favor. He replied a little coolly, "My Shishō and I already got what we wanted inside the Dungeon. Just remember to pay us what you owe."
"Of course! Of course!" Matsumoto nodded vigorously. "Even if you hadn't said so, we would never dare shortchange you in any way. And also… the Japanese government has arranged a victory banquet for you. Please—both of you, as the greatest contributors, must attend!"
Jinwoo was impatient to grow stronger with war looming, but opportunities to power up didn't appear whenever he wanted them to. And after a battle like that, they did need time to rest. Thinking it over—and knowing there was nothing urgently demanding his attention back in South Korea—he agreed to attend the banquet.
As for Scáthach, she was fairly satisfied with today's fight. She wasn't in a hurry to find her next opponent, either… because opponents more suitable than that bone-armored giant would likely mean only the remaining Monarchs.
Now that the Shadow Monarch Ashborn had passed his power to Sung Jinwoo, and with the Monarch of White Flames Baran and the Monarch of the Beginning, Legia dead by Jinwoo's hand, and Querehsha, the Monarch of Plagues, slain by Scáthach, there were five of the nine Monarchs still alive: the Monarch of Destruction, the Monarch of Fangs, the Monarch of Frost, the Monarch of Iron Body, and the Monarch of Transfiguration.
For a Monarch to act on Earth, they had to find a human as a vessel to bear their power. Only the Shadow Monarch and the Monarch of Destruction were exceptions—because their power was so overwhelming that even the finest vessel would burst apart. By that logic, the Monarch of Destruction, Antares, shouldn't have been able to descend to Earth at all.
Matsumoto was still thinking about how to deepen ties with Scáthach and the others when a subordinate came rushing up, face pale with panic.
"What are you doing?" Matsumoto snapped, displeased. "Can't you see I'm busy entertaining honored guests?"
Was there any "emergency" that couldn't wait until after he finished hosting them? Was anything more important than welcoming VIPs properly?
"C-Chairman…" The staffer saw what Matsumoto meant with one look—and still forced himself to speak. "There… there's a call…"
He understood perfectly that bothering Matsumoto now would earn him a scolding, but the problem was… the person calling was someone they absolutely couldn't afford to offend.
A call? So what? Even if it's the Prime Minister, I'll hang up—
Matsumoto desperately wanted to say it, but with Scáthach and Jinwoo right there, he couldn't act so disgracefully. No matter how dissatisfied he felt, he still went to take the call.
"Sorry—excuse me for a moment," Matsumoto said with a practiced smile to Scáthach and Jinwoo. "Please head back with the others for now."
Then he turned and left with his subordinate.
Not long after, he understood exactly why the staffer had been so frantic.
He never would've imagined that the one calling… was that man.
Thomas Andre.
Matsumoto had been bending over backward to please Scáthach and the others—but Thomas was someone they absolutely couldn't provoke.
"Mr. Matsumoto! Keeping healthy? How've you been lately? Hahaha!"
Even through the phone, Thomas's booming voice pressed down on Matsumoto like a physical weight.
What happened in Japan had spread worldwide. There was no way Thomas, all the way in the United States, didn't already know. Yet he still asked how Matsumoto had been, all casual and friendly—so what could Matsumoto do? Complaining was unthinkable. All he could do was grit his teeth and answer in the most proper tone he could manage.
"Yes. I've been doing very well lately. Thank you for your concern."
"Oh? Is that so? That's great." Thomas sounded pleased. "Even from here in the United States, I've heard about what's been going on in Japan. But wouldn't you know it—right at a time like this, we had an S-Rank Gate appear over here too. Our Hunters really can't spare the manpower to answer your request for aid. Given our relationship, your country wouldn't hold it against us over a small matter like that… right?"
"N-No, of course not… An S-Rank Gate is a major incident. You can't exactly ignore it…"
"Actually, the S-Rank Gate over here wasn't a big deal. We handled it smoothly." Thomas laughed. "Honestly, your side sounded more fun. Hahaha!"
Even without seeing his face, Matsumoto could picture Thomas's oppressive figure with painful clarity.
Every line of conversation was an ordeal. The hand holding the phone was already slick with sweat.
"Still… Japan found an unexpectedly powerful outside reinforcement this time," Thomas said, his voice dropping lower—none of the earlier casual fluff left in it. "Hunter Scáthach… she's there with you right now, isn't she?"
Only then did Matsumoto understand: Thomas had called specifically because of Scáthach.
He wasn't surprised Thomas knew. Japan's massive Gate had drawn attention across the entire world, and Scáthach's decision to support Japan in clearing it made her group impossible to ignore.
Thomas must've learned the news earlier. It was only because an S-Rank Gate had also appeared in the United States that he was calling now.
But why?
Why did Thomas name Scáthach specifically? Did they know each other?
When Thomas had secretly traveled to South Korea, it was to find Sung Jinwoo—only to clash with Scáthach instead. The two of them had fought, and both South Korea and the United States quietly buried the incident. Naturally, Matsumoto knew nothing about it.
What worried him most was this: Thomas had clearly realized Scáthach's value too.
If the United States tried to poach her from Japan, Japan couldn't compete. In fact, the United States was the country that dug up other nations' talent the most ruthlessly—like Hwang Dongsoo, an S-Rank Hunter originally from South Korea who had joined the Scavenger Guild. Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom had all lost top Hunters to U.S. citizenship as well.
The United States was the only country in the world with two National Level Hunters—and it also had a special Awakened who could boost other Hunters' power. The latter was an especially deadly temptation; once a Hunter experienced a power boost even once, they could never forget the feeling, and many would abandon their homeland without hesitation to become a U.S. citizen.
Even with all those worries churning inside him, Matsumoto could only swallow them.
Thomas was someone they absolutely could not offend.
There were too many things in this world you simply couldn't do anything about. No matter how unwilling he was, Matsumoto could only agree to Thomas's request and let him speak with Scáthach.
When Matsumoto approached her, Scáthach was mildly surprised. She hadn't expected Thomas to call Japan now and ask for her.
"How unexpected," Scáthach said, taking the phone from Matsumoto's hand. Her tone toward the person on the other end was lazy, almost indifferent. "Didn't think you'd call me. What, you want to pick a fight again? Sorry, but I just ran into a few decent opponents. I'm not really in the mood right now. I was planning to take a short vacation."
"Hahaha! Sounds like things are lively over there," Thomas said, laughing loudly. "Opponents you think are decent? Now I really want to see that. I'm starting to regret not taking a trip to Japan."
"Relax. I'm not looking to fight you right now. Last time, you beat me so thoroughly that I'm convinced. If I came looking for trouble again, I'd just be asking to suffer. I've got enough self-awareness for that."
Still in the office, Matsumoto's legs went weak. He nearly collapsed onto the floor.
What did he just hear?
Thomas Andre—the arrogant, domineering National Level Hunter of the United States—had just admitted, with his own mouth, that he wasn't Scáthach's match?!
As a Hunter, Matsumoto's hearing was far sharper than a normal person's, and Thomas spoke so loudly—without the slightest attempt to hide it—that Matsumoto heard everything before he could get out of the room. He was left utterly shaken.
To avoid the fate of being "silenced for hearing too much," Matsumoto fled the office in a cold sweat and shut the door behind him. In an instant, only Scáthach remained inside.
Scáthach lightly turned and perched on the edge of the desk. Her long legs crossed with effortless grace, and the curve of her hips—wrapped in tight pants—pressed a soft line into the tabletop. The casual posture only made her proportions look more striking.
"Come over here to join the fun?" Scáthach drawled. "What—trying to steal my prey? That's some nerve. If you snatch all the interesting opponents from me, what am I supposed to do? You'll fight me in their place?"
"Mm… if that's how it goes, forget it," Thomas said with a wry chuckle. "I don't want to spend another few days lying in a hospital room. Way too boring."
When they'd first met, Scáthach and Thomas had clashed over Sung Jinwoo. They'd even thrown hands—hard. Yet now they chatted like old friends catching up, as if that duel had never happened at all.
Thomas had called to express gratitude—gratitude that Scáthach had spared him back then. In fact, after he woke up, he'd wanted to thank her in person—but he never saw her again, not even after he returned to his country.
"Trying to talk to you is seriously hard," Thomas complained. "South Korea's been protecting your address and contact information way too well. My people couldn't dig up a single thing."
Then he continued, "But I heard you recently joined the Ahjin Guild… that's Hunter Sung Jinwoo's guild, right? Guess next time I'm looking for you, I can just go there."
"Even if you go to the Ahjin Guild, you still might not find me," Scáthach said. "If I head back, then probably only my two disciples will be able to find me."
After all, she'd only given the key to the Land of Shadows to Sung Jinwoo and Cha Hae-In.
"Anything else?" Scáthach said. "If not, I'm hanging up."
"Don't do that. It's hard enough getting a chance to talk to you—don't end it so fast." Thomas laughed, then his tone shifted. "I do have something else. It's about Hunter Sung Jinwoo."
What Thomas brought up was Jinwoo's bad blood with Hwang Dongsoo. The last time Thomas had gone to South Korea looking for Jinwoo, it had actually been because of Hwang Dongsoo, from his own guild. Now, through the call, Thomas warned Scáthach to be careful of Hwang Dongsoo.
"If Hwang Dongsoo really comes looking for trouble," Scáthach said, unimpressed, "the only one who'll suffer for it is him. Jinwoo, as he is now… even you aren't his match."
"…Now that's interesting," Thomas said.
On the other end of the line, he wore an excited smile.
Scáthach's words made him suddenly want to fight Jinwoo himself.
Then Scáthach thought of Querehsha, the Monarch of Plagues she'd killed not long ago—and of the Ruler who had appeared to plead for Thomas the last time she'd defeated him.
"Good. Then I'll give you a warning too…"
The next sentence she spoke wiped the smile clean off Thomas's face.
"Be careful. You're being targeted."
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