In the second week of June, Kangwoo reached C-Rank. For Team Crazy, he was their third C-Rank Awakened.
As time passed, C-Rank Awakened were starting to emerge in Korea as well.
In the Link System, not only Grace, who had already officially been a C-Rank, but also the defense-type Awakened Eunseo Lee and Instructor Seo Donghyuk rose to C-Rank.
Among government-affiliated Awakened, a C-Rank Awakened also emerged. A former soldier, he was able to reach C-Rank around the same time as Instructor Seo Donghyuk thanks to various government support.
These were the C-Rank Awakened officially revealed, but there might have been more undisclosed C-Rank Awakened like Team Crazy.
Yonghoon, feeling frustrated, stood in the hallway looking out the window. The sunlight outside had already dimmed somewhat.
The scene outside the window was bustling under the early summer sun. People were already adapting to danger with surprising ease.
Before the monsters appeared, the destruction of Safe Zones overseas would have caused mass panic, but now even such incidents were met with calm. Perhaps they had resigned themselves to it to some extent.
While Yonghoon stood in the hallway looking out the window, the other team members were training their Dimensional Power in the gym.
However, stuck at his limit level, Dimensional Power training no longer helped Yonghoon at all. Using fatigue as an excuse, he had slipped out to avoid the training.
Everyone knew Yonghoon was troubled, but they didn’t know the reason. Yonghoon had no intention of telling them.
To explain that he was at his limit level and seeking a breakthrough, he would have to reveal everything about his past life in the other world.
Yonghoon let out a small sigh. The sword that enhanced growth had exposed his problem much faster than he had expected.
“Are you okay?”
From behind Yonghoon, Sunhee’s voice called out. Yonghoon turned toward her.
Although it wasn’t time for training to end yet, Sunhee had come out early, worried about Yonghoon.
“Ah, it’s nothing serious.”
Yonghoon answered Sunhee’s question calmly.
But it seemed his words didn’t convince her. Sunhee stared intently at his face.
“I don’t know what the problem is, but everything will work out. All the team members are cheering for you, so hang in there.”
She flashed him a bright smile. Yonghoon gave a bitter smile inwardly. It seemed his frustration had shown on his face.
Anyone else might have gotten angry, but the team members trusted and waited for him.
Yonghoon felt a pang of guilt claw at his chest.
Nevertheless, he nodded calmly and patted Sunhee’s shoulder.
“Then I’ll head in first. I need to get some rest.”
“Okay, fighting!”
From behind, Sunhee cheered for Yonghoon as he left.
After Yonghoon disappeared down the stairs, Sunhee’s expression turned lonely.
“Are you okay, unnie?”
Jimin asked as she came out of the gym.
It seemed Jimin had been listening from inside.
Sunhee nodded at Jimin’s question.
“I’m always okay.”
Jimin said with a pouty face.
“What’s so good about a guy that stiff? Hyangseol is still young and idolizes him because he saved her life, but you’re not like that.”
At Jimin’s words, Sunhee gave a slightly sad smile.
She briefly recalled the past. Memories of her encounters with Yonghoon flashed through her mind.
“From the first time we met, Yonghoon treated me a little differently from others.”
“Yeah, that was strange. He always made small concessions and listened carefully when it came to you.”
“Yeah, and his expression when he looked at me always seemed a little sad… I even wondered if he liked me.”
Sunhee turned her head to look out the window.
She saw Yonghoon’s car pulling away below.
“Now I know he wasn’t really looking at me, but it’s already too late.”
“Ugh, sounds like you fell for a classic bad boy.”
Sunhee chuckled at Jimin’s words.
“Yonghoon isn’t a bad guy.”
“Well, that’s true.”
Jimin stood next to Sunhee and looked out the window.
“Anyway, I hope he solves whatever it is soon. Everyone’s worried.”
“Yeah, Yonghoon will handle it. Just like he always has.”
Sunhee spoke while watching the car disappear into the distance.
“Huh? Oppa’s not here?”
Hyangseol’s voice came from behind Sunhee and Jimin.
Sunhee and Jimin glanced at each other and smiled before turning around.
“Your brother already went inside. That’s why you’re coming to the market with us. It’s time to buy dinner for our kids at home, and we need your help.”
Jimin said as she slung an arm around Hyangseol’s shoulders.
“Ack, he left me behind! I like the orphanage kids too, but I have to prepare Oppa’s meal!”
“Nope, nope, the captain can cook for himself just fine. Today you’re helping me.”
Dragged along by Jimin, Hyangseol headed toward the showers, with Sunhee following behind with a smile.
Fortunately, after a few days, Yonghoon returned to his usual self during the hunts.
Jimin gave Sunhee a thumbs-up, but Sunhee tilted her head, puzzled by Yonghoon’s behavior. She didn’t think her words had changed him.
She was half right and half wrong.
After hearing Sunhee’s words, Yonghoon had gone alone into the mountains near Seoul to hunt D-Rank monsters so the team wouldn’t worry.
Without the help of his teammates, it was quite dangerous, but eventually, Yonghoon managed to make contact with a monster’s Dimensional Core.
Unfortunately, even then, Yonghoon’s Dimensional Power could not break through his limit level.
That day, Yonghoon came to a conclusion.
To break through the limit level, he needed to make contact with the Dimensional Core of at least an equal or higher-ranked monster.
But if that was the case, there was no way for Yonghoon to break through his limit in Korea.
Yonghoon decided to wait for a monster to appear in Korea. Detection-type monsters were mostly giant types, and currently, there was no way to reach their Dimensional Cores, but there were no other options.
At the window on the third floor of a building that looked like a museum.
Director Jang Byungchul of the Monster Countermeasure Headquarters stood at the window looking outside.
Around the building, several new buildings were under construction, and behind them were low buildings surrounded by thick forests.
This was now the very center of Seoul, where the former Yongsan US Military Base had been, and where Dimensional Movement Blocking Devices were operating.
After the Safe Zone was established in Seoul, the government began relocating its facilities one by one to the former Yongsan US Military Base. Government departments started moving into the old US military buildings, and new buildings were being constructed to revitalize the economy.
They were also repurposing the nearby National Museum into a government complex.
Director Jang looked outside for a moment, then turned his gaze back into the room. Inside, there were papers scattered everywhere and exhausted men and women.
They looked like they hadn’t been home for days.
Director Jang sighed at the sight of his weary subordinates.
It had been almost a year of grueling work. He was simply grateful that everyone had stuck with him.
Director Jang clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention.
“It seems we’ve reached our limit. Let’s organize the information we have so far.”
At Director Jang’s words, everyone seemed to regain a bit of energy.
Director Jang instructed them to report in a clockwise order.
“First, the entry routes to Seoul and Busan have been rigged for emergency demolition. All roads leading into Seoul and Busan will be completely blocked. As for Gwangju and Daegu, the work has just begun.”
The first report came from an older department head. He seemed to be in charge of the military side. He had risen from a Grade 9 position but was barely holding up now due to his age and lack of stamina.
“The government-affiliated and Link System-affiliated Awakened have completed the communication network and emergency standby teams. Fortunately, the Link Corp side responded very well. Thanks to them, preparations were completed smoothly.”
The next report came from a woman in her thirties. Director Jang felt sorry for keeping a married woman with children tied up like this, but he had no alternative.
‘Did they lower their profile after failing in the UK this time?’
Director Jang summarized Link Corp’s reaction that way and turned his gaze to the next person.
Receiving his gaze, Officer Jo Hyunju sighed.
She didn’t belong here. Her rank was low, but because she was an Awakened, she had been given a seat.
Moreover, in times like these, having a high rank wasn’t necessarily a good thing. Hoping she could rest like other government-affiliated Awakened, Officer Jo began her report.
“Using my ability, I created a classification for Awakened teams and completed the communication network. In the meantime, more D-Rank Awakened teams have formed, so we have some power now. However, I can’t guarantee they’ll respond immediately when called.”
Thinking of all her hardships, Officer Jo let out a sigh. She had scoured Korea to find reputable Awakened teams.
Hearing her words, Officer Jo groaned. After all, they were civilians. If the compensation for forced mobilization was insufficient, problems would surely arise later.
If they kept applying pressure and some fled abroad, it would be a major issue. Already, rumors were circulating that Japan and other developed countries were in contact with Awakened.
“We need to study what to offer them. Otherwise, we might end up with draft dodgers. By the way, have we confirmed all the Awakened teams?”
At Director Jang’s words, Officer Jo Hyunju spoke with an expression that said it couldn’t be helped.
“We couldn’t get Team Crazy.”
Director Jang nodded at her words. He had been there himself and knew the situation.
“Well, there’s nothing we can do about Team Crazy. Still, there should be some rumors floating around from the outside, right?”
“There are rumors that they have a C-Rank.”
At her words, Director Jang thought of a man with a cold expression.
“Well, anyway, they’re one of the strongest teams in Korea, so make sure to build a good relationship with them. If it’s difficult for you, have your subordinates do it.”
“Yes, understood.”
At Officer Jo’s reply, Director Jang nodded.
After that, the reports from the others continued, and once the final person’s report ended, Director Jang looked at everyone and spoke.
“The plan we’ve made now might be criticized as the devil’s plan by future generations. But we’ve done our best to save even one more life. No one needs to feel any self-reproach.”
He looked around at his subordinates one by one.
“And the final decision will be made by the president. Besides, the likelihood of it being used is low, so you don’t need to worry too much.”
After organizing the documents in front of him, Director Jang stood up from his seat.
“I’ll head to the Blue House, so everyone else can leave work right away.”
Saying that to everyone, he packed the documents into his bag and left his office. Though he said that to the others, his heart was heavy with the documents he was about to report.
He prayed again and again that no monsters would appear in Korea, or if they did, that they would be C-Rank monsters easy to handle.
But his wish did not come true.
Morning of July 1st.
A massive dimensional tunnel appeared in the middle of Gangneung’s downtown area.
That dimensional tunnel dropped a single spider monster with a massive 20-meter diameter onto the ground and disappeared, and the spider monster began moving westward, turning Gangneung into a wasteland.
It was the second B-Rank Detection-type monster to appear in this world.