Chapter 186
Since the emergence of Fissures, every year on September 6 at precisely 5 PM, a phenomenon called the “Star Shower” occurred in certain Fissures. During this event, one shooting star fell every minute for sixty minutes. Soon, rumors spread that wishes made during this time would come true, attracting many people annually.
In Seoul, the event could be seen from an F-rank Fissure located in Han River Park, Ichon-dong. Six years ago, the Seoul City Hall’s Culture and Arts Festival Promotion Team began hosting an annual festival to promote the city.
Naturally, being responsible for the Fissure, the Fissure Management Division helped with the festival each year. Their preparation included securing the Fissure days in advance and gathering monsters to prevent any possible accidents. With Seoul’s mayor and other distinguished guests in attendance, the festival prioritized protocol above all.
The Fissure Management Division was partially responsible for ensuring the event's success by conducting thorough safety inspections. On this day, the Division operated a temporary command center inside the Fissure. Despite it being only an F-rank Fissure, the high number of civilians attending required the presence of civil servants and contract Hunters stationed at the command center to handle emergencies.
Spanning over nine hundred thousand square meters, the Fissure was a vast, grassy plain devoid of trees —a typical landscape for a Fissure inhabited by goblins. However, today the Fissure had a new look with various tents and a stage set up.
The Festival Promotion Team had divided the event into two sections: the first included stargazing and a wish-making event where participants released wish balloons, while the second featured performances by invited singers, followed by a fireworks display.
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“Agh, my back!” Cheol-Soo exclaimed as he collapsed dramatically into a plastic chair at the command center after finishing his report.
Though he had been working the festival every year, the physical toll on his aging body seemed to worsen each year.
“You’re doing great, chief,” Do-Jun said to Cheol-Soo, handing him a bottle of water.
Cheol-Soo quickly unscrewed the cap and gulped down half of it. Having arrived early in the morning to conduct final safety checks with the Hunters and report the event’s readiness to the Chief of Staff, Cheol-Soo seemed completely exhausted.
“Next year, I’m transferring somewhere else. Seriously,” Cheol-Soo declared.