LTTH C30

Chapter 30

“I am grateful, of course, but why…?”

“Instead, come with us.”

“I spoke first.”

To think that after vehemently trying to dissuade him from going to such a perilous place, they now wished to accompany him to Britain? Why? Of all things?

Hansol tilted his head slightly. The mediocre cannot comprehend the genius. Was that it?

“There is no clause in the association’s contract forbidding accompaniment by others. One must act alone. Such terms would only serve their own benefit, and they would welcome any unsought allies joining the effort.”

“I do not know about the Korean association, but whatever anyone says, we must go together.”

Their earnest arguments for why they must accompany him felt awkward, and Hansol could only stare at the two.

These were neither idle men nor those careless with their lives. They would not be.

“…James, do you not plan to return to America?”

A fundamental question struck him anew. Usually, nations possessing rankers urge them swiftly home after clearing a gate. Should such elite hunters naturalize elsewhere or cause trouble, it would be a burden to their homeland.

Surely, James faced even greater scrutiny as world’s number one. Yet no impatience stirred in him.

“It’s fine. A delay of a month or two will not harm.”

‘A month or two, not a day or two?’

Hansol wondered if this, too, was a flaw from his imperfect Korean lessons.

The serious mien James had worn earlier now gave way to a playful grin, slightly undermining his trustworthiness.

“Then shall we go to Britain first, then America?”

“Since when do you decide such things?”

“That would be better, wouldn’t it, Darling?”

Ignoring the Tower Lord’s blunt defiance, James fixed his gaze solely upon Hansol, cheerfully organizing the impending itinerary.

“Hmm, I wonder if time will suffice. What do you think, Darling?”

From America to Britain—should they accompany him, the journey would be safer. Needless to say, gaining such allies was a boon. Yet,

No kindness is ever without cause.

One truth learned painfully through his brief hunter life was this.

The Tower Lord gazed askance at the rakish James, who smiled broadly—Hansol had no clue what scheming lay beneath. At least the Tower Lord disfavored James, and James was blissfully oblivious.

“Britain… need not be reached immediately. We have perhaps two weeks.”

“Hmm, that should be enough time to visit America, then.”

“Perhaps before going to Britain, you should test our Mage Tower’s safe magic circle.”

“We did not invite you.”

“Why send Hansol-nim alone? America may harbor ill intentions.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Even if you do not intend harm, nations might pressure Hansol-nim.”

Again it began. That familiar quarrel. Hansol cast his gaze elsewhere briefly.

Had they been married in a past life? They say married couples’ fights last only briefly like water struck by a knife.

Amused by his idle thoughts, he withdrew a pocket watch from his inventory. Mana? Half remained. In about two weeks, he might travel. A moment of escapism.

“You should inform the American side you intend to visit via the dimensional magic circle.”

“…Very well.”

The Tower Lord, having emerged victorious in their dispute, pointed at James as if commanding, yet the carefree rogue acquiesced promptly. Some secret bargain must have passed between them.

While Hansol processed the brief exchange, James stepped away, tasked with delivering the news, and the Tower Lord issued orders there. Within minutes, Hansol found himself standing atop the magic circle.

‘…Is using a magic circle always this simple?’

Was it truly so swift as catching lightning in a bottle?

He regarded the intricate blue patterns beneath his feet with awkward eyes. They shimmered mysteriously, appearing magical in their own right. Of course, their power must be as well.

In this world, magic circles were perhaps more useful than healers. Defense, offense, simulation—real-world convenience paired with gate management. Capturing two dozen birds with one stone.

Yet unlike the widespread use, even hunters rarely accessed magic circles easily. Perhaps the Mage Tower mages’ exclusivity led to this guarded control.

“You may become dizzy for a moment.”

Watching the geometric patterns anew, the Tower Lord softly cautioned.

At that moment, a cerulean liquid leaked carefully from his hand into a groove. The once-still magic circle began to glow faintly there, soon shining so brightly as to whiten Hansol’s vision.

“It would be best to close your eyes.”

A gentle hand rested atop his furrowed brow. Though his sight slightly improved, brightness strained his gaze, and Hansol shut his eyes tightly. Counting silently for five seconds, he slowly raised his lids.

Less time had passed than with dimensional teleportation. Before him lay America.

“Oh, Messiah!”

Before he could acclimate to the sudden change, a heart-heavy salutation greeted him.

How far had that title spread? Greeting several approaching men with a faint, awkward smile, Hansol steadied his heart. Those bearing distinctly Western features were clearly not hunters. They were middle-aged men in impeccable suits, as if suited for negotiation tables.

Among them, a middle-aged man who seemed their leader advanced with a broad smile, extending a hand. A handshake upon meeting—surely a culture unlike Korea’s.

Hansol hid a slight awkwardness as he offered his hand. The rough grasp met his lightly before releasing.

“First, we express our gratitude again for choosing such a difficult challenge.”

“Ah, yes.”

A challenge? What challenge?

Hansol’s gaze turned to James, wearing an ambiguous smile.

“We heard time is tight. If you would permit, may we guide you directly to the Dark Zone? Of course, if rest is needed, we shall prepare accordingly.”

The unusually respectful, almost deferential tone drew Hansol’s attention firmly to James.

‘What on earth have you told them? Does something feel amiss? Everyone’s so strange.’

‘We said nothing. Only that Darling would be coming.’

‘Can that alone cause this?’

‘Indeed.’

They exchanged looks as if sharing such words yet none bore much meaning.

Hansol shot James several glances, but received no reply. Thus, with the mystery unresolved, they embarked upon their migration to the Dark Zone as if part of a grand journey.

The American Dark Zone lay not far from where the magic circle deposited them.

The Dark Zone itself rose imposing, steadfast. Like a coliseum, thick outer walls concealed the inner space from view.

“Hope flourishes only where sight is.”

One official muttered, observing the unbroken gaze they cast upon the wall. Indeed, true. Yet also the sense of confinement, of hopelessness. Life within, they felt, was bleak.

“Soon, that wall shall fall.”

Hansol echoed the mid-aged man’s wish as he stroked the outer stonework. He hoped it would be so. By the time they left America, may that wall crumble into ruin.

“This way, Messiah.”

The man, still uttering that weighty appellation and caressing the wall, led the party aside.

Ahead lay a small gate set into the outer wall, likely used to transfer medicine and provisions. Two guards, clad and armed as hunters, bowed slightly upon noticing them.

‘Sentinels to prevent escape from within.’

Hansol corrected his earlier assumption. The gate, only large enough for two at a time, was surely the closest link to the Dark Zone—and the only passage. Their vigilance was thus understandable.

Yet Hansol entered the heavy door with a bittersweet taste. By his side, the Tower Lord and James assumed protective positions.

The Dark Zone appeared as a tourist site at first, widely filmed, studied, and exposed to media when it first appeared globally. But following the <100,574 Incident>, such exposure ceased abruptly. Korea held no Dark Zone; it had suffered the Great Catastrophe instead. Whether that was fortunate was arguable. Regardless, this day marked his first face-to-face encounter.

Upon passing through the small gate, darkness engulfed his vision. Had James, the Tower Lord, and the officials not accompanied him, Hansol might have mistaken it for closing his eyes.

Towers reached skyward, remnants doubtless of buildings. Shadows of beings, not human, lurked intermittently between. Fortunately, they made no attempt to leave the Dark Zone, yet their very presence bore menace—at least to Hansol.