After the whole world experienced all kinds of chaos due to the sudden gate incident.
Ability users who are the main force of each country faced an incomparably greater workload than before.
First, personnel organization for gates and monsters had to be completely redone.
The decisive cause was that monster levels had risen incomparably to before.
Originally, it was normal for each rank to handle monsters according to their rank.
But now the situation was completely different. Thinking like before could lead to big trouble.
The possibility that ranked monsters aren't actually that rank became very high.
For example, B-rank ability users struggling with B-rank monsters became frequent.
Until now, they would have suggested ability user training deficiency or mutant hypotheses.
Not anymore. Everyone clearly learned from the recent incident.
That monster levels have improved overall. That they've grown like humans!
- From now on, when dealing with ranked monsters, deploy more than double the existing personnel. -
- In preparation for contingencies, have ability users one rank higher standby nearby. -
Countermeasures from each country were largely divided into these two.
Either prepare for contingencies with more personnel. Or restrain danger with stronger personnel.
Among these, the second countermeasure was used more than the first.
Higher-rank gate appearances are relatively infrequent compared to lower ranks.
So they took out higher-rank ability users to operate as reserve teams...
"Ah! What the hell kind of situation is this! Unni. Is this right? Is this right!"
Naturally, those who expressed dissatisfaction with that countermeasure emerged.
Irina, who always wants to fight strong opponents, was one of them.
"We're on standby at A-rank gates!? End times, end times! Embarrassing, fuck!"
Irina keeps grumbling while thumping her chest.
Her heart feeling like it's bursting with frustration is clearly visible.
Then Han Jiyoon standing next to her shrugged once.
"Can't be helped. Even A-rank monsters are acting strange right now."
"No. Then A-rank ability users should work harder. Why mobilize us too!"
"Be quiet and stay still. I'm getting a headache from the noise."
Despite Han Jiyoon's warning, Irina's grumbling didn't stop.
"Annoying, annoying. Annoying!"
Rather, Irina's grumbling only got stronger.
Han Jiyoon watching that let out a 'Eoh' sigh.
"Stop it. You crazy thing."
"It's not something to just get over!"
"Stupid. Then what are you going to do? If A-rank ability users get swept away again, next time they won't have us standby as reserves but tell us to subjugate A-rank monsters. Is that okay?"
At Han Jiyoon's sharp point, Irina bites her lips going 'Kkeung.'
She's right. If A-ranks get swept away once more, things will get more complicated.
If A-rank ability users, who can be called each country's main force, suffer great damage, it becomes troublesome.
As a result, S-ranks like herself would have more work to do.
"Bear with it. You get rotated in the afternoon anyway, so your position changes too."
"That's even worse! What are we, bodyguards?! Why suddenly make us guard VIPs!"
"What can you do? The higher-ups got scared from what happened in Britain."
Fuck. Irina spits out a short curse at Han Jiyoon's words.
What happened in Britain. The unprecedented incident where S-rank Bernard Shaw was killed.
Elders who had no intention of forming proper alliances until now caused trouble.
They say not all Elders moved, but it was still a shocking incident.
At most, about two moving together was the limit.
Even those two would immediately abandon cooperation and fight if they felt slightly displeased.
This time they suddenly formed a large alliance and finally caused trouble.
"Even if I say it's just temporary setback. Really."
"You can't be certain. Like the monsters changed, those traitors might have changed too."
"No way. Unni. Do you think those crazy bastards would change? It's very temporary. Rather, they're probably biting and tearing at each other more. Why did they do such things, why did they make people who were staying still tired when this side will start moving properly now."
"They're fighting among themselves, I'll bet all my fortune on it. If they don't fight, I'll put my hand in fire."
Han Jiyoon was quietly listening to Irina's sharp words.
Actually, she also thought Elder alliances were impossible.
Rather, she was more worried about gate and monster changes. The so-called 'great catastrophe' part.
'The boss monsters I saw when I was in Incheon. Each one was too different from before.'
I thought it was an ordinary A-rank boss. But that was my mistake.
I realized while dealing with them. If an A-rank had been here instead of me.
They would have struggled greatly or in serious cases might have been defeated.
'A-rank ones are already like that. Thinking about S-rank ones...'
Han Jiyoon was slightly biting her lips.
If an S-rank gate had appeared in Incheon this time.
Could she have prevented this incident with minimal damage, called the Miracle of Incheon?
Could she have fought well against monsters incomparably stronger than those she'd faced before?
She wouldn't have been defeated. She would have ultimately dealt with all monsters.
But she couldn't guarantee there would be no obstacles in that process.
'Have I become too dull lately? I might have been complacent without knowing.'
Due to academy professor work, clan master duties, and various activities as an S-rank.
Making such excuses, my training for myself had become quite dull.
That was definitely her past actions that couldn't be denied.
At this time, Irina, who had been quietly watching Han Jiyoon, lightly tapped her shoulder.
"I can clearly see what you're thinking, unni."
"Are you stupid? It's not like unni fell into narcissism like that water ghost bastard thinking 'I'm pretty amazing.' You were just resting briefly because you had so much work."
This time not the shoulder but the back, and not lightly tapping but openly hitting.
Not just anyone but that 'Irina' hit her back. It can't not hurt.
"Ow! It hurts, you crazy thing! Why hit me! I said it hurts!!"
"Yes. Like that. You should be like that to be our unni. Don't be depressed even you. Everyone's already drooped like the world's ending, and it's so annoying to watch."
At those words, Han Jiyoon let out a 'Hah?' sigh.
In her own way, she seems to want to tell her to cheer up.
Couldn't she do it nicely if she's going to encourage?
There's no reason to hit her back this hard.
"...Thanks, you damn bitch."
"Huh. For someone thankful, your words are strange, don't you think?"
"Your hands are so harsh, that's why."
Pak ssi. Even so, hitting unni's back?
When Han Jiyoon raised her hand, Irina screamed exaggeratedly.
Actually comparing the two, Irina would be stronger.
"Ah, they're so damn nagging!"
"Association alarm message again?"
"Obviously. Ugh! I'll be going then, unni. These bastards keep nagging about when I'm coming."
"Go well. Don't cause trouble again."
"If they don't listen, they need to be hit, what choice is there? Whether young or old, whining guys need beating as medicine."
It's very funny that you of all people are saying that.
With Han Jiyoon's words as the last, Irina got in the secretary's car and headed somewhere.
'What kind of important people are they to make me do escort duty? Really annoying.'
I heard they're some high-ranking officials from an important research facility.
What does that have to do with villains anyway? Fucking bastards.
Did they do strange research? Some secret research that deserves social criticism?!
'Anyway, everywhere I go, they're all sons of bitches.'
Irina cursed crudely in her mind once more.
"...Ah, thinking about it makes me angrier? If I leave now to do escort duty, that means working overtime too?! These fucking damn bastards! You should protect my off-work time!!"
Sitting in the back seat, she keeps hitting the seat angrily.
The secretary watching from the front sighed inwardly.
That overtime, doesn't she feel guilty about the fact that she herself does it like eating meals thanks to someone?
She wanted to say that, but she didn't want to get hurt, so she barely held back.
"Ah! Ahh!! I left, I left! Why are you nagging so much..."
Irina, who had said that far, went 'Huh?' and looked at the phone screen again.
It wasn't content from the government asking where she was, when she was coming.
Nor was it from the association saying people are waiting so hurry up.
The person who sent a messenger at this late hour was none other than...
Right. The one who sent the messenger at this time was none other than Kim Suhyeon.
'Why is she suddenly messaging me?'
Did something happen to Seojin oppa?
So I was the only one she could contact?
When that thought reached her, she couldn't not check the content.
So Irina unlocked the screen and checked the content.
Is she crazy? Why is she suddenly sending a meaningless 'ㅋ' out of nowhere?
[ What's with you? Why suddenly send one 'Lol' and that's it? Did something happen? ]
A moment later. Another reply came from Kim Suhyeon.
For a moment, Irina considered. Should she throw away association work and everything to go find Kim Suhyeon?