Chapter 154: The Youngest S-Rank

“A month later, they want me to come to the Demon Realm.”

“What do you think?”

“If I go alone, it’s dangerous. They’d tear up the truce agreement and try to capture me. But if I go with Lord Outer, it wouldn’t be bad.”

“Are you going to tell me about the real Executor?”

“He will. Slein is a Demon of Greed. Demons of Greed would sell out their own flesh and blood to get what they want. So he knows well what we desire too.”

“That’s why you said you’d give Dielka money.”

Dielka cleared her throat while glancing elsewhere.

“Dielka has her desires too, so let’s steer her in the direction we’re going.”

“Really? Queen, you are even more merciful and beautiful today!”

“Because if you get money, you’ll pay back the loan faster.”

“Don’t worry, I’m doing all sorts of things to repay it.”

Dielka was confident.

She was juggling many tasks, most of which were either jackpot or bust, but there was no bad future in her mind.

“Are you trying to farm Anti-Magic Shell?”

“How did you know that?”

“Who wouldn’t know with all that noisy research.”

“If I announce it in advance, I’ll become more famous when I succeed.”

“And if you fail?”

“I’ll think about it then.”

“I’ll give you the research data, so do it properly. It’s a failure, but it’ll help.”

“I’m grateful to receive it. But wasn’t that an investment from you, Queen?”

“Correct.”

“Then you’re taking a loss.”

“It’s already a failure anyway.”

Iselin drank the Elf tea.

Dielca tilted her head, puzzled by her personality that was hard to understand.

“Anyway, I’ll make good use of it. The first Anti-Magic Shell farmed successfully, I’ll give it to you, Queen.”

“A lot.”

“I’ll give you enough for a lifetime!”

Clatter clatter.

Lutal, who was eating the meat Arthil had given him, poked Dielka.

He was asking for some too.

To Lutal, Elves were like protein machines that produced food when touched.

“Lord Outer, you let the people of Magrain live. What’s the reason?”

Iselin asked.

Choi Kangjoong explained that he was absorbing the devastated Demon Realm near Magrain and the Waste there.

“Absorbing the Waste will also prevent the birth of demons.”

“If it’s completely absorbed, it might turn out that way. What do you think will happen to Magrain?”

“We were heavily influenced by Light, and they were heavily influenced by Waste. If the Waste disappears, it will change. But it might take decades, maybe over a hundred years.”

“Still, I want to see how it changes.”

“I’ll set up an organization to manage Magrain.”

Choi Kangjoong ate and chatted with them before returning home.

“How far has Kai gone?”

Kai had been sent in the direction where Salika was a while ago.

He roughly pictured Kai’s location in his mind.

“He’s about halfway now. It is far.”

The distance Kai had traveled was already several times the distance from where he had eaten the 100-kilometer-long giant Dimension Kraken.

“Move everyone except Ku-eong in the direction Kai went.”

Ku-eong was still growing while swallowing nutrients.

The Claw Devourer and Swarm Lord designated as the fleet moved north.

They would follow the path Kai had marked and autonomously consume.

He had already sent relatively fast Light Titans ahead toward where mana and heat were detected.

Then, if they found a dimension to consume, Choi Kangjoong, the Outer Mind, would open a gate.

Soon, a Light Titan discovered a dimension.

It wanted to swallow the large dimension, but instinct blocked it because charging in alone was inefficient.

That conflict generated intense stress, which was transmitted to Choi Kangjoong through the two Hive Classes.

Choi Kangjoong opened a gate, and the Dark Eater fleet and countless large Apocalids moved.

It happened naturally without conscious thought.

In the sky above a dimension lush with thick vegetation, black dots soon appeared.

Flashes erupted from the black dots, and a rain of shells fell upon the dimension.

Trees that had grown to 50 meters fell, fires broke out in various parts of the forest, and black smoke rose.

Flying Apocalids descended with Walkers.

It was more efficient than Bio Pods, and Walkers alone were sufficient.

Walkers, which even decent Hunters struggled to catch, poured in by the tens of thousands.

It was a bolt from the blue for the monsters living in that dimension.

Even if Trolls and Hydras fought ferociously, they soon became one with the Soil Pit.

All dimensions discovered by the Dark Eater fleet and the Swarm Lord fleet met the same fate.

They all turned into nutrients and Evolution Points, and slowly moved toward the Union as Apocalid dimensions.

Occasionally, they encountered giant monsters like Island Whales.

Those smaller than the Dark Eater or Swarm Lord didn’t attack and fled.

Then the Dark Eater would chase and tear them apart together with the Super Titans.

Larger ones, relying on their size, attacked but were disassembled piece by piece by countless Walkers and ended up in the bellies of the Dark Eater or Swarm Lord.

“Nutrients are coming in well.”

The nutrients obtained by the two fleets and the Central Suction Giant were already enough to create one Hive Class.

“At this rate, we’ll multiply tenfold soon. We’ll soon see a scale of 100 million.”

Choi Kangjoong, imagining 100 million Walkers, smiled contentedly and adjusted his clothes.

It was the day of Choi Yunseo’s Promotion Exam, so he had taken out a suit for the first time in a while.

He touched the lapels and moved to the Hunter Association.

The square in front of the Hunter Association was packed with people.

There were many reporters, and one hundred times that many fans.

Banners and signs cheering for Choi Yunseo filled the air above the crowd.

“What’s so great about Choi Yunseo.”

Choi Kangjoong shook his head.

Thanks to Source Space Severance, he could observe the crowd without being noticed by anyone.

“She’s here!”

“She came with Han Junghwa!”

Han Junghwa’s car glided in.

It stopped in front of the Hunter Association, and Choi Yunseo got out from the passenger seat.

Choi Yunseo posed for photo time for the reporters, greeted the fans, and then entered the Hunter Association.

“She thinks she’s a celebrity.”

Choi Kangjoong secretly followed.

Unless she intentionally used detection magic, there was no way Choi Yunseo would know.

There was a familiar energy in the exam hall.

It was Joo Eun-jong.

Choi Kangjoong released the Source Space Severance.

Whether the people nearby were startled or not, he called out to Joo Eun-jong.

“Captain! When did you get here?”

“A little while ago.”

“Did you come to congratulate me? I didn’t even tell you! I’m truly moved!”

“Were you also promoting today?”

“I came to promote to A-rank! I already passed.”

“Weren’t you C-rank before? But you’re already taking the A-rank exam?”

“Of course. Who do you think I am? I’m Joo Eun-jong, the top prospect of the Carrier Guild. I got into the Hunter Academy just like that.”

“But you’re still just a fan.”

“Captain…!”

Seeing Joo Eun-jong’s aggrieved face, Choi Kangjoong laughed.

Suddenly, the exam hall fell silent.

Choi Yunseo had arrived.

The Hunter Association President Kim Kwang-shin, whom Choi Kangjoong had seen before, was personally examining Choi Yunseo.

Choi Yunseo demonstrated handling High Mana, and President Kim Kwang-shin clapped.

Others also cheered, celebrating the birth of a new S-rank.

“Then that makes six S-ranks in South Korea.”

“Five.”

“Count again, it’s six.”

“Is Choi Kangjoong S-rank? He should be SS-rank or SSS-rank.”

“That’s true.”

“And the youngest too.”

“Wow. I thought Choi Kangjoong’s record wouldn’t be broken for decades.”

“The siblings do it all.”

Choi Yunseo bowed to people congratulating her.

Then she spotted Choi Kangjoong and gave a teasing smile.

She also wiggled her index finger at Joo Eun-jong.

“Ah, I shouldn’t have told her about the Dimension System’s structure.”

“I shouldn’t have helped her back then.”

Only Choi Kangjoong and Joo Eun-jong scowled and glared at Choi Yunseo.

Choi Yunseo flew over and stood in front of Choi Kangjoong.

“You saw I became S-rank, right?”

“I didn’t.”

“You saw everything! Anyway, that means I beat you, right?”

“Yeah. No.”

“Your expression says otherwise. It’s completely twisted.”

“I was going to give you this as an S-rank gift if you didn’t act up.”

Choi Kangjoong brought out an Anti-Magic Shell through a gate.

Choi Yunseo’s eyes wavered mercilessly.

She was dying to tease him, but the temptation of the Anti-Magic Shell was also formidable.

“I went all the way near the Demon Realm to get this. I almost fought a demon for it.”

“Oppa…”

“What?”

“Thanks for helping me back then.”

“Is that so? Congratulations.”

Choi Kangjoong handed over the Anti-Magic Shell.

Choi Yunseo accepted it, drooling.

This was better than the S-rank registration certificate or plaque she would soon receive.

“But you only gave one? You have a lot, Oppa.”

“This is the only one I’m giving you.”

“The Queen gave you a hundred!”

“Are you and Iselin the same?”

“We’re similar now!”

“The weight of life is different.”

“Give me ten more.”

“Depends on your behavior.”

“Oppa.”

Choi Kangjoong scratched the goosebumps on his arm.

“Don’t do that.”

“I can’t do it either. Mom and Dad and I are planning to eat today. You’re coming, right?”

“At dinner?”

“Yeah. Should we suggest grilling this at Oppa’s place?”

“Let’s do that.”

“Okay. You contact them. My schedule is packed.”

“Nice, bossing around the person who gave you an Anti-Magic Shell.”

“Ah, just do it.”

Choi Kangjoong waved his hand in acknowledgment.

“Thanks!”

Choi Yunseo left the exam hall looking busy.

Joo Eun-jong had been silently staring at the Anti-Magic Shell throughout the siblings’ conversation.

“You eat too.”

“Thank you, Captain! I will give my all!”

Receiving ten, Joo Eun-jong looked ready to bow.

Choi Kangjoong left the Hunter Association and contacted his parents.

They had dinner together, set up a beam projector on the white wall to watch a movie, and had a few drinks.

To Apocalids, organic matter was just food, but meals eaten with family carried a different meaning.

“Once the Demon Realm disappears, you won’t have anything to do anymore, Kangjoong.”

“I won’t be idle. Gates could appear anytime, anywhere.”

“With the Demon Realm gone, I doubt there will be any gates that require your attention.”

“Still, there will be places that need me. Where else will you find a Hunter as fast as me?”

“That’s true.”

Choi Jooyoung emptied his glass with a relaxed face.

Choi Kangjoong deliberately said nothing about Salika or the Executor.

He didn’t want to create a sense of crisis by mentioning such large threats too early.

After the pleasant drinking session ended, everyone was dead asleep.

Choi Kangjoong checked the status of the Apocalids.

The Wide Sentry was doing well on its own.

He sent Light Titans to search for areas with high mana, heat, and Waste, and deployed Central Suction Giants to extract nutrients.

The two fleets had stopped advancing.

They had encountered Gratis’s grand fleet.

Originally a force under Silvius, it was now led by a new clan leader.

There were 3,000 Dimension Ships, and already 10 Light Titans had been taken down.

It was possible to win with only the Dark Eater and Swarm Lord fleets, but the damage would be severe.

“Ku-eong will have to go.”

“Ku-eong.”

Ku-eong let out a low cry.

Its 100-kilometer-long body sent chills just by looking at it.

If the enemy observed it, its very existence would be terrifying.

It could contain countless Apocalids, and even Super Titan classes could hibernate inside Ku-eong.

Choi Kangjoong opened a gate, and Ku-eong moved.