Chapter 229 : History's Strongest Audition (1)
History's Strongest Audition (1)
'There are so many people.'
Shin Ah-yeon clicked her tongue as she looked at the people gathered in the waiting room.
An overwhelming number of S-rank hunters—whose names everyone had heard before—had gathered here.
'Thirty-four.'
This was the number of people who had gathered simply based on Park Jung-woo's words.
Considering the total number of S-rank hunters in the world, it was almost absurd how many were gathered in this one place.
'Wouldn't it all be over if the demons just carried out a terror attack here?'
She thought that even if these 34 people were dealt with somehow, humanity would be doomed.
Of course, the "how" to deal with them would be an incredibly difficult task.
For reference, part of the audition was currently being streamed through Alencia's internet broadcast.
This was the largest gathering of S-rank hunters since the Odyssey.
On top of that, most of the hunters here were the ones who had faced off at the Odyssey, so the atmosphere in the waiting room was extremely delicate.
【Today is the safest day in Korean history】
【Wowㅋㅋㅋ, literally everyone's here. Isn't this just another Odyssey??】
【I never thought Kian Rogers would come—did the UK actually send him??】
【But what's the point of gathering everyone anyway?】
As Alencia scrolled through the chat, she spoke up.
"It's an audition; obviously we need to pick someone who's actually skilled, right?"
If other S-ranks heard that, they would be justifiably outraged.
Hierarchy among S-ranks was, in some ways, a very sensitive topic.
【Wouldn't people from other countries have something to say about that?】
"In that case, they shouldn't have participated in the first place."
Many people reacted, "Is it okay for her to say that so sharply?"
But really, if someone had a problem with it, they shouldn't have joined to begin with.
That's what an audition was in the first place.
If they were going to let anyone in, there would be no need to hold an audition.
"Still, at least someone like me should fight."
【ㅋㅋㅋ No way.】
【For real, watching her recent videos, she was literally flying around】
A recent terrorist incident in the US.
Alencia had played a major role there alongside Park Jung-woo.
It wasn't just that she fought; the fact that there hadn't been a single casualty was thanks to Alencia's presence.
【If I fight, that's enough = a level where she could crush multiple S-rank hunters alone】
"That was only possible because I was drawing power from the power plant."
Of course, even without that, she could have handled UnderStellar.
Frankly, in a battle between people, if you couldn't react to Alencia's speed, numbers didn't really matter.
While Alencia continued to film the area with her camera, Hwang Yeon-ji, who was watching the situation, asked Jung-woo a question.
"Hmmm, so, what kind of format are you planning? You're not just going to decide everything with a fight, are you?"
"It's similar, but a little different. In fact, it might be more like Super Hunter K."
At those words, Hwang Yeon-ji shrugged.
Super Hunter K—what a nostalgic name.
For her as Ji Yeon-hwa, that was when she first met him.
"If you do it like Super Hunter K, it'll take forever, you know?"
"That was only for broadcast content—to fill airtime. We just need to check a few important things."
Jung-woo checked the resumes of the hunters who had entered the waiting room.
He also reviewed their known abilities and strength.
Among them was Hunter Hugo, the one who had forced Jung-woo to reveal he was S-rank not long ago.
"But honestly, way too many people came."
At his mutter, Hwang Yeon-ji's gaze shifted.
She seemed to pick up on the nuance of Jung-woo's words.
"It sounds like more came than you expected. And not in a good way."
"You know it, too. There are S-ranks who've colluded with the demons."
It finally seemed that Hwang Yeon-ji realized what I meant.
"...... You're right. If this many came, surely the ones colluding with the demons are among them, too."
"It's hard to tell unless they use demonic energy openly."
There was no way they would just sit back and watch what I was doing.
Even if the demons were lying low, Jin Su-hyuk was not someone who would just stand by.
Without a doubt, among these hunters, there would be some allied with the demons.
'But they aren't going to try anything right here, at least.'
This is just an audition.
The real deal is the demonic zone raid broadcast.
Their goal must be to get picked here and participate in the demonic zone broadcast.
That way, it would be easier to do something, and also easier to report on what we're doing.
"However many there are... it doesn't feel like a small number."
There had been quite a few S-rankers the demons contacted so far.
To be honest, part of the reason I was holding this audition was to distinguish people like that.
'Should I just filter them all out?'
The risk of not removing dangerous elements was certainly real.
One misstep could endanger not just the broadcast but the lives of other hunters.
The enemy probably thinks the same way.
'But—'
If, on the other hand, I could identify who snuck in, I might be able to use that against them.
"All right, if everyone's ready, let's begin shortly!"
Amid these concerns of mine, the audition began in earnest.
***
An unprecedented audition for S-rank hunters.
If a Korean television station—especially just a regular entertainment program—said it was going to select S-rank hunters, everyone would have laughed them off.
That's the scale of this.
S-rank hunters are the nation's greatest power, honor, and a symbol.
Like Kian Rogers, who is called the "Sun King"—for the same reason.
But to be rejected by some ordinary TV audition?
The damage to their image would be enormous.
But all of them had come fully aware of that.
'Knowledge from another world.'
Purely to gain that.
Even their home countries allowed them to participate, just to find out what it is.
The magic power operation techniques, magic, and magic-engineering that were said to be centuries ahead of this world.
It was a valuable opportunity to get ahead of other countries in those things.
Especially for countries who had lagged behind in the competition—it was an opportunity they had to seize.
It could overturn all the previous competition and let them take the lead.
National hegemony was on the line.
That was the significance.
For an 'entertainment audition', this stage had become unimaginably grand.
"To repeat: those who participate in this demonic zone raid, I will provide them with my knowledge and equipment."
Park Jung-woo briefly explained to the watching S-ranks.
"Magic, magic power operation, magic-engineering, and artifacts. None of these exist in this world. The living proof of that is the S-rank hunters from Unique standing in front of you right now."
Ah-yeon, Soo-ah, and Yeon-ji.
And finally, Alencia.
The eyes of the other hunters seeing them now seemed to have their curiosity finally resolved.
Of course, they were talented, but becoming S-rank at around twenty? It must have been because of the other world's knowledge.
That's what they concluded.
'If we get our hands on that, our current S-rankers will be surpassed and lose prestige.'
'On the flip side, if I get this man's knowledge, I'll be able to get far ahead of the other S-rankers.'
I could feel the looks carrying those kinds of intentions.
'...... Con artist.'
Yeon-ji shot me a furtive glance.
The same look she had given during the previous orientation for new Unique hunters.
'Well, just knowing those things doesn't make you dramatically stronger.'
The knowledge was from an advanced civilization, so you would certainly get stronger more efficiently.
Circle magic was definitely superior to modern magic.
But becoming S-rank at twenty—that was a different matter.
That was only because Ah-yeon and Soo-ah possessed unbelievably prodigious talent.
Yeon-ji was never even in her twenties, and Alencia was a Saintess.
But to others, it looked as if, because of the other world's knowledge, they had become S-rank at such a young age.
'It feels a little bad.'
I had already explained things to the others, but I still felt like the efforts and talent of Ah-yeon and Soo-ah were being underrated.
But that would change once the knowledge became public.
In fact, they might become even more revered.
The methods were more efficient and impressive, but also more complex and demanding.
It would probably take years for modern hunters to properly assimilate them.
"The audition consists of three main parts. First, individual skill."
Everyone nodded—this was obvious.
"Second, fighting as a team."
Most S-rank hunters were individualists.
There was little need for parties, so apart from decades ago, most hadn't really worked in teams.
Of course, their experience working together was limited or even unmemorable.
"The third category is the Conceptualization Technique. Some people have particularly special Conceptualization Techniques beyond just strength."
On Jung-woo's side, this mainly referred to Yeon-ji.
While Yeon-ji had grown strong enough, her Conceptualization Technique could bring a major variable.
Soo-ah also had a particularly special Conceptualization Technique—although hers was a bit more lethal.
'He's looking at Conceptualization Techniques?'
'That's...'
While the hunters generally accepted the first and second categories, the mention of Conceptualization Technique clearly startled them.
That was essentially the culmination of their achievements—a secret trump card.
Revealing that was a whole different issue.
"Of course, anything related to your Conceptualization Technique will be edited out and won't be broadcast on TV. It will also take place in a separate room, so the other hunters won't see it. If you're still not comfortable, you may leave."
The hunters seemed to consider this for a moment, but none of them left.
"All right, I think that's enough explanation."
Jung-woo lightly clapped his hands to refresh the mood.
"First up, let's test your individual skills."
He didn't place much weight on the first audition.
After all, S-rankers should be good fighters.
It's just that the bar was a little higher.
"Just pick one of the hunters in front of you, fight, and if you receive a passing mark, you're through."
"Excuse me?"
"The hunters in front of us... do you mean Unique's hunters?"
It was true that Unique hunters were strong.
But to have it put this way was unexpected.
At the Odyssey, Soo-ah had beaten Kian, and Yeon-ji beat Sol Mayer, but that was the extent of it.
There hadn't been many opportunities to demonstrate their skills, so it was hard to gauge them properly.
Alencia was on another level—she hadn't really even had a fight.
She hadn't even been on the field for five minutes at the Odyssey.
She had ended things in tens of seconds.
'The hunters who participated in the rift incident must know their abilities.'
The battle at the Grand Canyon.
S-rankers who had participated in that incident looked notably stiff.
They must have witnessed something there.
"Yes, anyone is fine."
"Do we have to win?"
"No, you just need to receive a passing mark. I trust our Unique hunters."
His confident tone drew dry laughter from the S-rankers, but they were still cautious.
Some hunters were considering seriously.
'Hunter Hugo.'
He had been a participant in the Grand Canyon incident.
A hunter who had fought Unique S-ranks.
The S-rankers from the US also looked serious.
"......"
After a moment, the hesitant hunters began to move.
They ended up standing before Yeon-ji.
"... Well, of course."
Yeon-ji's gaze once again shifted to Jung-woo.
It was only natural.
If you had to fight any of them, Yeon-ji was the least intimidating.
'When else are you going to get the chance to fight so many S-rank hunters?'
Jung-woo watched Yeon-ji with those thoughts.
He had planned this for her.
Yeon-ji, who had only recently become S-rank, needed more experience fighting stronger opponents.
Jung-woo also thought using this first audition in this way was worthwhile.
"This sucks..."
Seeing the other S-rankers eyeing her, Yeon-ji could only sigh as more and more lined up in front of her.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】