The purified blood of the demon monarch...
I finally have all the ingredients.
The success rate and quantity depend on my intellect ability?
Are you all right, Sir Jinwoo?
Craft it.
I've got the Elixir of Life.
But will this really be enough to cure Mom's Eternal Sleep?
That's unusually considerate of you, Iron.
Arise.
A name, huh?
Kaisellian? Karkalin? What was it again?
You're not very good with names, are you, Sir Jinwoo?
Eh, doesn't matter.
Your name...
is Kaisel.
With his help, we'll be able to head back in no time!
We should celebrate at the castle!
I'm sure Father will be thrilled!
Excuse me? Hey!
I want to head back as soon as possible to test the Elixir.
Are you listening?
Actually, wasn't this quest supposed to reward a rune stone?
We could have a party! A fun, lavish party!
Not those.
Not that one, either... Let's see...
There it is!
Shadow Exchange...
So I can use this to swap places with a shadow soldier, no matter where they are?
That simplifies things.
Sorry, Esil, but you'll need to head back on your own.
Huh? What about the party?!
The Radisu manor is on the 80th floor. That's a bit out of the way for me.
Really?!
I'll see you again, if I get the chance.
Look after yourself.
Sir Jinwoo, I...
I really did trade locations with the shadow I had on patrol.
If it's got three hours of cooldown time,
the best way to get home from here would be...
Kaisel!
The magic power of their hunters will act as bait for the ants,
at which point we will use a special signal to disrupt their hive mind.
In the meantime, a detachment of hunters will enter the colony
while its soldiers are away and take down the queen, eh?
The question is whether or not the signal will work the way it needs to.
I can't deny I have some doubts about this plan,
but our analysts have signed off on it. Everything seems to make sense.
And in the event that the signal doesn't work,
withdrawal was included as a contingency plan.
All we can do now is make sure that our hunters are prepared when we send them in.
Yes, sir.
On that note...
Were you able to reach Hunter Sung?
Not yet.
Yoonho!
Getting drinks is supposed to be a chance to relax, y'know. Smile a little!
I know that story I just told you was funny.
Byung-gu. I just don't get it.
If you keep frowning like that, you're gonna get wrinkles.
Mind your own business!
This is Min Byung-gu, an S-Rank healer.
He's unique in that he managed to retire at a young age without any significant injuries.
We also used to be comrades.
He hasn't changed. His sense of humor is just as weird as the rest of him.
I appreciate it.
Yoonho.
Are you serious about going?
Yeah.
Even after seeing what happened to Eunseok?
That's why I'm going.
If we don't do something about those ants,
that kind of thing is going to happen all over the country.
You never struck me as the patriotic type.
Well, if I'm going either way, I figured it'd make a cool-sounding excuse.
He did say something like that, didn't he?
Well, I'm not going. No matter what.
If you're here to convince me—
I just wanted to let you know.
Since this might be my last chance.
Y'know, I'm taking the public service exam.
You are?
I just can't deal with that stuff anymore.
Blood... and all that.
So I'm gonna get a government job.
Not too sure how good I'm gonna do in any subject but history, though.
That's always been your specialty, hasn't it?
Well, you know how I love period pieces, right?
And that helps?
Like... This is the way it oughta be, y'know?
Leave the wars and such in the past.
Agreed. You're exactly right.
We hunters are the ones who are unusual.
Now that I think about it,
I don't know if I've ever met another that dislikes fighting magic beasts.
Combat becomes part of their routine. Some of them even enjoy it.
Maybe that trait is one of the requirements for awakening?
Yoonho. Your forehead! You're gonna make yourself look old.
Shut up and drink!
You do indulge your vices, don't you?
What's that supposed to mean?
She got those burns because of me.
She might not be able to swallow it.
And even if she does, there's no guarantee what might happen.
But...
I've seen the kind of miracles that the system is capable of.
It brought me from E-Rank all the way to here.
I'll have to have faith.
Mom...
Please... You've gotta wake up!
All of my fighting to get stronger... It was all for this.
Please wake up, Mom.
I just can't focus today. What's going on with me?
That's a warm breeze.
Is that you, Jinwoo?
How long was I asleep?
Four years. It's been four years...
And Jinah?
She's doing well.
Thank you, Jinwoo.
You kept your promise, didn't you?
You look so grown-up now.
But you're hurt. You must've been pushing yourself.
You've been through a lot, haven't you?
It's... It's...
okay...
Thank you, Jinwoo.
Yeah.
An Eternal Sleep patient woke up?!
As hard as it is to believe, yes.
And all of her vital functions are operating normally,
so she and her family are both asking for her immediate release.
You're such a fine young lady now, Jinah—
Mom!
I'm sorry I worried you.
It was all worth it.
This is the reward I really wanted the entire time.
Thank you all for assembling.
As you're aware, the flying ant magic beasts from Jeju Island
are starting to cause damage in the surrounding areas.
In response, the Hunter's Association has announced the fourth raid on Jeju Island.
This time, the operation will not only include our own S-Ranks
but ten of Japan's, as well.
Additionally, hunters of A-Rank and below will be protecting the waters and the mainland
to ensure the safety of the public.
This time, we are prepared to see this through!
Eunseok...
I'm honestly terrified.
I feel the same way.
But the people who can't fight at all must be hundreds of times more scared.
We need to end this. That's something that only we, with our powers, can do.
We can't let them turn our country into one big anthill, can we?
Dumbass!
I'm gonna stomp out their little nest...
You know how Yoonho can be unpredictable.
Both his personality and his powers.
When he needs help, you and I are the only ones who'll be able to do it.
Unbelievable. I leave you alone for one week...
I guess I can start making up for all the housework I missed.
We'll take care of it together.
The apartment's certainly starting to show its age.
It's hard to get some of these stains out.
I mean, we've lived here since I was born, so...
I guess that's true.
I've wanted this for so long...
but I'm still feeling anxious.
In my time as a hunter,
I've ended up crossing a line that I don't think there's any coming back from.
Jinwoo.
What's up?
Have you heard from your father at all?
Come to think of it, I saw the news.
You became a hunter.
Yeah.
Remember how your father was a firefighter before becoming a hunter?
I married him because the way he wanted to help other people was just so impressive.
It looks like you've inherited that part of him.
I wanna help people, too! That's why I'm gonna become a doctor!
That's true. You're also your father's daughter, Jinah.
Yeah! I know, right?
Hello?
Good work with the press conference, sir.
Right. I appreciate your joining us.
Of course.
I didn't expect to see him right afterward...
Thomas Andre.
An S-Rank hunter under America's jurisdiction with enough power to rival a country.
I had hoped he intended on joining the mission.
I can't blame you, considering the timing.
But someone with enough strength to go toe-to-toe with national militaries
can't casually intervene in foreign affairs.
True.
But then why come at all?
Maybe he meant what he said about popping in while he was in the neighborhood,
maybe he came to warn us about Hunter Hwang...
or perhaps something else entirely.
Have you been able to contact Hunter Sung yet?
Just a moment ago, actually.
He should be arriving shortly.
The operation launches in four days.
This raid has been long-unfinished business of ours.
Would you be willing to lend us your strength?
This is a perfect opportunity to level up.
I'd hate to let it go.
Or I would've hated to... until recently.
I...
Magic wavelengths?
I'm impressed you could sense that at such a distance.
Our S-Rank hunters are getting some exercise in the gymnasium.
If you're curious, we can go take a look.
Master Baek... You really ought to train your lower body more while you're still young.
My job mostly keeps me in the office, Master Ma!
For so many S-Rank hunters to gather in the same place is rare indeed.
The two of them were probably the source of the magic wavelength from before.
Hunter Baek is being pushed pretty hard.
That said, I doubt Hunter Ma would stand much chance if President Baek got serious.
Hello.
The fellow in the gi is Ma Dongwook of the Fame Guild.
Why hold back against him, then?
He doesn't seem like the kind of opponent you'd want to do that with.
He can't really cut loose around other people.
He turns into a monster when fighting with all his power.
Then the rumors about him transforming in battle are true?
And over there, from the Knights Guild, we have...
Oh, and here are our guests.
The S-Rank hunters from Japan.
Including their guild master, Goto Ryuji.
Who's that?
That's Hunter Sung Jinwoo. He was just named S-Rank.
He's supposed to be a strong assassin type.
No, I'd heard he was a mage type.
Him?
Hey, if it isn't Sung, the guy who made a mess of Minsung's big stunt.
That explains the change in atmosphere.
If this is the best this country has, I'm a bit disappointed.
After watching you fight so often,
other S-Ranks hardly even look like S-Ranks at all.
I don't know if I agree.
I don't like the sound of that.
Miss Interpreter, you were makin' fun of us, right?
I could tell from yer tone, if not yer words.
That's amazing, Master!
And you are...?
You're lookin' at the guild master of the Knights Guild, Mr. Park Jongsoo himself!
Park Jongsoo? I'm not familiar with a hunter by that name.
Y-You might not've heard of him before 'cuz he's an A-Rank instead of an S-Rank, but...
We're still one of the five biggest guilds in the country!
We'll be actin' as security on this—
What are you doing?
I'd advise against making a scene.
Yer got it all wrong! These folks said we were a buncha weaklings!
Doesn't matter. Chill out.
Actually, this is perfect.
Let's take this rare opportunity...
...to engage in some friendly sparring between S-Rank hunters.
So I hafta sit out?!
Feel free to set the rules yourselves.
Sounds good to me.
I say we exclude any mage types or noncombatants,
since it's difficult for them to compete individually.
That's fine.
Combat hunters only, then.
You lose if your wrist is grabbed, you're tagged on the back,
or any part of your body touches the floor besides your feet.
As for the format...
Instead of one-on-one, why not make it a free-for-all?
The raid is bound to be just as chaotic.
Understood. Let's go with that.
Our representatives will be Hunters Cha, Lim, Ma, and Baek.
Then we'll be sending Hunters Tawata, Kumamoto, Hoshino, and Tanaka.
Now then, let us commence the bout.