Returnee's S-Rank Management Guide

Demonic Zone Raid Broadcast (2)

"I am a returnee."

When Park Jung-woo first called a press conference, people wondered what it could be about.

They simply thought, since it had recently been revealed that he was an S-rank awakener, he was going to talk about his plans from here on out.

But then, suddenly, a bomb was dropped.

'A returnee?'

'No way, that's impossible.'

'But does Park Jung-woo, of all people, have any reason to lie and claim he's a returnee?'

The reporters gathered at the press conference exchanged glances, murmuring incessantly.

Camera flashes went off continuously, capturing Jung-woo as he stood at the podium.

Whether it was true or not, for the next few days, the internet would be plastered with articles about Park Jung-woo.

'Until now, the only person to openly claim to be a returnee was James Walker from the U. S.'

But even that turned out to be a fake.

The prevailing theory is that, effectively, returnees do not exist.

After all, to be sucked into a rift and then survive to come back...

Anyone who's seen even a little footage related to rifts would think that's impossible.

"Three years ago, I was caught up in a rift. You all remember, don't you? The rift that Great Mage Shin Ah-yeon, stopped three years ago."

The incident was so famous that there wasn't a single reporter who didn't know it.

The day Shin Ah-yeon, practically a rising star of Korea, lost everything.

"I did hear that there was one missing person at that time, but..."

Could it have been Park Jung-woo?

No way, surely not.

As if understanding the reporters' confusion, another person stepped up onto the podium.

It was Shin Ah-yeon herself, one of the central figures of the rift incident three years ago.

"Three years ago, when I closed the rift, I was with Manager Park Jung-woo. While I succeeded in closing the rift... I was unable to save Manager Park Jung-woo."

Although he had returned, for Ah-yeon, the memory from that day were still vivid before her eyes.

As she recounted the events, the reporters found themselves unable to doubt the truth of her words.

Park Jung-woo was a person of considerable credibility as well, but Shin Ah-yeon was different.

She was practically the representative mage of Korea.

Naturally, her words would be careful, especially since she was a mage who sought truth above all.

For someone like her to declare that Park Jung-woo was a returnee...

"If Manager Park Jung-woo is a returnee, then where have you been for those three years?"

"What kind of place is a rift?"

"It's known that you were originally unawakened. Did becoming an awakener suddenly have something to do with your return?"

The moment Ah-yeon finished speaking, the reporters swarmed like piranhas.

This was something to shake not just Korea, but the entire world.

A returnee.

It wasn't just about surviving a rift. Perhaps it meant even more than that.

"After being swallowed by the rift, for three years, I was in another world."

The very possibility of a world entirely different from Earth.

"A world where magic is as advanced as—no, more advanced than Earth's. And..."

Jung-woo grinned towards the cameras aimed at him.

As if he were addressing someone watching the broadcast right now.

"A world ruled by demons."

In an instant, the noisy press conference room froze over.

Within that uncomfortable silence, Jung-woo continued to speak.

"All these truths will be revealed through the upcoming assault on the demonic zone."

He also mentioned the recently hot topic of the 'demonic zone raid broadcast'.

The revelation that he was a returnee, and the subsequent mention of demons—it was all connected.

"Even if I explained now what I saw there and why they appeared in this world, it wouldn't feel real to you, I think."

As Jung-woo said so, he scanned the reporters.

Those who would have normally bombarded him with questions were now silent.

As if they shouldn't interrupt his words, just quietly waiting for him to continue.

"You'll find out everything in this demonic zone raid. Ah, of course..."

Jung-woo signaled to Ah-yeon with his eyes.

Upon receiving the cue, Ah-yeon raised her hand.

A black space opened up, and then, with a clatter, various items tumbled out.

It was obvious at a glance that these were artifacts that couldn't possibly be recreated in the modern world.

"I said it earlier. That world is one of magic, not science. A world that has developed its magic far longer—and of course, not just modern magic knowledge, but even the use of mana halls has advanced further."

The information held by the returnee.

And his power.

All of it was being revealed right here and now.

"I plan to provide a small amount of this as support to the hunters participating in the demonic zone raid."

No sooner had Jung-woo finished speaking—

The world was, quite literally, turned upside down.

***

What would happen if I officially revealed myself to be a returnee.

And the aftermath was far beyond anything I could have imagined.

No matter which channel in the world you tuned into, talk of my announcement would come up.

People compared me to James Walker, debating whether this was a scam or not.

But most had concluded I was the 'real deal'.

That was because, right beside me, was indisputable proof.

"In the end, circle magic becomes useful in a situation like this."

Ah-yeon said, drawing a magic array in the air.

At some point, her skill as a mage had reached the threshold of the 8th circle.

She might even reach the 9th circle, something that had never been achieved even in the other world.

A talent bestowed by the gods.

It felt as though it were a gift for having saved the world in her previous life.

'Though honestly, I doubt Estella would've desired such genius skills herself.'

But having ability is certainly better than not, even if it invites the envy of all and robs you of the joy of effort.

"But, will this really be alright?"

Soo-ah asked, looking slightly uneasy.

She seemed to be thinking that things were getting too big.

"Inevitably, once the demons move into the open, something like this was bound to happen."

They were the ones who dropped the bomb first.

If we wanted to oppose them, we had no choice but to respond in kind.

The trust Jin Su-hyuk had built up over decades.

The recent publicity and the strong impressions that Shin Ah-yeon and I had left on the public.

And the demons caught in between.

"Hmph, it's not like the world hasn't burned over something before."

Yeon-ji looked unconcerned, relaxing back into the sofa, as if wondering what all the fuss was about.

At present, we were in a hotel room provided by the Hunter Association.

They'd asked all the members of Unique to stay there until things settled down a bit.

Unsurprisingly, it wasn't just us—every member of Unique was included.

If we ran into a reporter outside, people would swarm us like bees.

"For someone so indifferent, haven't you been glued to internet articles all day?"

Alencia tilted her head as she called out to Yeon-ji, who was gazing out the hotel window over the city.

"You've been searching news all day, with such a complicated expression. I can see your search history, you know."

"A-Are you crazy? Why are you snooping in someone else's private life!"

Yeon-ji looked flustered, but aside from that, you could tell Alencia's precision with her abilities had increased.

When it came to handling electricity, indeed, she really could do anything.

As we watched the situation unfold—

The hotel room door opened and Gong Do-yung came in.

"First off, Grand Nova is insisting it's a lie."

"About me being a returnee?"

"No, they're acknowledging that part. They're just saying that the part about demons is mixed with falsehoods—is a misunderstanding."

So they accept the returnee part, but deny the existence of the demons.

It looked like they'd chosen this tactic to avoid public backlash that could result from complete silence.

"They must've decided it was too hard to deny the returnee aspect now."

"Well, my being a returnee was already something of an open secret in some circles."

While the masses were in chaos, guilds and groups with resources had already investigated me—most reacted with little surprise.

In fact, even Yeon-ji had suspected that I was a returnee before.

"So now... it's on to the next stage."

At Gong Do-yung's words, I nodded.

"The demonic zone raid broadcast, and the audition for it."

But an ordinary S-rank wouldn't be enough.

Now that I'd revealed myself as a returnee, this broadcast absolutely had to succeed.

To show the world, live, what was inside the demonic zone.

"We posted the announcement today, so we should get responses soon."

All three broadcasting companies would participate, as well as the Korea Hunter Association.

Plus, there was support from the American Hunter Association.

It had to be a success, at all costs.

And the results were there the very next day.

***

Kian Rogers.

The hunter representing the United Kingdom.

The Sun King.

Once, alongside Sol Mayer, he'd enjoyed unmatched popularity, but after Sol Mayer's death, he became truly unrivaled.

He lacked nothing, but Kian still felt a stubborn resentment lingering within.

'Lee Soo-ah.'

He'd utterly lost to a hunter who'd only been S-rank for a year.

There was no disgrace greater.

He'd been crushed in every aspect, and even his Conceptualization Technique couldn't affect Lee Soo-ah at all.

'If it'd been a fight to the death—'

Kian knew.

Lee Soo-ah had been in a position to kill him at any time.

Her Conceptualization Technique was specialized solely in killing her opponent.

That meant that in a fight where killing was not involved, her power was effectively halved.

And yet, she had still overwhelmed Kian.

Not just with her conceptual technique, but her swordsmanship and control of magic power as well.

He couldn't understand it then, but now he realized.

"Another world..."

Kian looked up at the warm sunlight before lowering his sunglasses.

The moment he saw Jung-woo's interview, he'd booked a flight for Korea.

He thought he recognized some familiar faces on the plane, but didn't bother acknowledging them.

"So... an audition, huh."

Kian went back over the details of the "demonic zone raid broadcast" in his head.

All these S-ranks, acclaimed as the world's best.

They would compete in auditions to be selected for the raid broadcast.

It was an unprecedented event.

S-ranks were welcomed with open arms anywhere in the world.

But selecting among those S-ranks in an audition?

"They said, since it's a broadcast, those with potentially dangerous situations in their background wouldn't be picked."

Jung-woo had replied to such doubts that way.

Even in the past, raids on the demonic zone with dozens of S-ranks had resulted in numerous deaths.

But here they were, vowing to complete the demonic zone raid for a mere broadcast, without a single casualty.

'There probably won't be many other S-ranks...'

Kian wanted to take part in this broadcast for only one reason: Soo-ah.

To understand how she became so strong at such a young age.

He believed it had to be related to mastery and swordsmanship from another world.

Other prideful S-ranks probably wouldn't participate.

Or even if they wanted to, their governments would stop them.

No country would let its S-ranks risk their lives in the demonic zone, and for "an ordinary"

TV broadcast in Korea, no less.

But that belief was instantly shattered the moment Kian arrived at the building hosting the audition.

"... Eugene Garland?"

A man was swaggering by the entrance.

Kian knew him well.

Eugene Garland, America's S-rank hunter.

Perhaps hearing Kian mutter, Eugene stopped walking.

"Well, a big shot turns up. But aren't you rather late?"

"What?"

As Kian looked at him in confusion, Eugene raised his wrist.

He wore a bracelet with a number written on it.

The number was '1'. In other words, he'd been the first to arrive.

"If you sign in now, you'll be about the 30th."

Thirty.

At those words, Kian's ears were in disbelief.

Officially, there were 57 S-rank hunters worldwide.

And that number had recently gone up by 5 new ones in the last year.

So that meant that nearly half of all the world's S-rank hunters were gathered at this audition site.

'My god...'

Even though Kian had taken the very next flight after the interview, this was the result.

It was possible that more than half of all S-rank hunters would turn up.

Realizing this, Kian concluded he'd been far too complacent.

Anyone who didn't understand the value of knowledge from another world could never make it to S-rank in the first place.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】