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You Know (6)

It was the second time an SSS-class gate had opened on earth. Shin Eunah had also been on the scene the first time it happened. Of course, she was a little younger, and she couldn’t do much because she couldn’t skillfully handle her power. Another top ranker ended the situation: the number 1 in the current international ranking, the New Sword Oh Joo-young. He was already in his fifties at that time, yet he maintained the appearance of a man in his early twenties as he waded through the frontlines with Vanguard’s elite fighters. His trait was to embody the power of the most famous sword passed down through history…that was [Excalibur (SS+)]. His ability, which was known to be the highest rank, imparted upon him strong light magic and increased his weapon’s cutting power. It was easy to understand and extremely strong.

Yet, when Shin Eunah looked at his back when he fought, she could only think of one thing.

‘The sword made by grandpa is much better than that.’ That thought hadn’t changed even today, ten years later. That thought was once more in her head as she watched Oh Joo-young, still youthful as ever, block the SSS-class gate with Vanguard’s high-rankers.

“Chairman, how’s your condition!”

“I’d rather you not call out like that, but I’m fine!” Charlotte Jad Macon, the retired superhuman serving as chairman of the conference, shouted with renewed energy. Her ability was [Super Regeneration (SS)]. It was a trait that was the higher form of regeneration, a special ability Kang Shin-hyuk once possessed, and it was a cheat-like ability that allowed her to quickly recover and even grow her resistance unless she was killed in a single blow. What was truly surprising was that she, despite already gaining a high level of resistance to poison in the past, suffered a great deal of damage this time. The attack from Jormungand had definitely been designed to be fatal.

“How about rankings?!”

“We don’t need to measure right now, push!” Vanguard was building a barrier right in front of the gate, but what had happened at the gate right below them was also happening there. Monsters were appearing everywhere in that environment that was completely changed from erosion. It was fortunate that the people on the fourteenth floor were mainly top-ranking superhumans, yet that was also the problem. All of them were people with important statuses; if even one died, it would be hard to replace them.

“Guys who surpass SS-class are pouring out… damn, it’s erosion. Catch and kill them so they can’t escape!”

“Leave it to me!”

“Don’t let them come this way! Focus on the detoxifying magic!” It wasn’t just Vanguard, however. The world’s rank two and three guilds, Stone Ground and Dark Curtain, were gathering to block the gate. Thanks to that, they were able to establish at least some semblance of order.

‘Is it alright yet?’ The moment she saw the message announcing the SSS-class gate, Shin Eunah had abandoned all notions of hiding her power. It was no exaggeration to say that the people in charge of the planet’s future were gathered around her right now. She couldn’t let them die, even if it meant revealing her power. However, she needed to find the traitor who would surely be somewhere in this venue. She focused on protecting the civilians with her magic while she looked around.

“Claire, can I ask for that potion first?”

“I’ve made it for you.” Claire had been waiting with her as she was going to update her rank today as well. She was also caught by the gate’s erosion, but her combat power wasn’t on the level of the high-rankers around her.

“Here. It won’t only increase the quality of your magic power… it’ll protect your body no matter how much you use.”

“Thank you.” Shin Eunah noticed the trembling in Claire’s hand as she handed her the potion. Even though she always smiled brightly and joked around, she was frightened. Shin Eunah held her hand tightly.

“I’ll protect you, don’t worry.”

“Wow, how cool.” Claire giggled a bit before her smile became uneasy.

“Thank you, but that’s not it… Shin-hyuk is worried…”

“Huh.” Shin Eunah frowned at that. She wanted to get out of there and go down to save Shin-hyuk on the thirteenth floor, but she wasn’t able to. She had no way to get out of the gate, and even if she could…

“These people can’t leave here…”

“What should I do…? he’s worried about this side. Shin-hyuk is intuitive, so he knows… ah…” Claire tangled her hair, her frustration growing. Shin Eunah watched her blankly.

“Not the first one he loves…”

“Hm?”

“Because I’ll be his first love.”

“Hey…!”

“Oh, Claire.” When Claire inadvertently shouted out loud, a man called back out. It was Juno Valentine, the man who had spoken during the conference.

“Claire, you’re still pretty! It’s a bit unlucky to meet here, but?”

“Ah, Eunah, something strange came because of what you said.”

“What, you’ve been making fun of me since the old days, so it’s returning.”

“Well…” Claire ground her teeth at Shin Eunah’s reply. She had certainly made fun of her this way in the past, but that was to take Shin Eunah’s mind off of her grandpa. Ultimately, the two’s situation hadn’t been all that different. Claire, who had awoken an SS-class trait, was isolated from the general public without much chance to interact with others.

“Oh, you’re nervous? You’re saying something I can’t understand.”

“It’s Korean. I don’t want to talk to you right now, so go, Valentine.” The main difference between the two was that Shin Eunah was a noblewoman who couldn’t easily talk to anyone because of the oppressive atmosphere she emitted. Not that she was unhappy with that, personally.

“Don’t do that, it’s an SSS-class gate. How about a kiss for the brave knight who’s protecting you, right?”

“I don’t need it, so go kiss an ogre.” Juno Valentine had persistently chased Claire in the past. It was a pain for her, as he had made such a big show of it that most had mistaken them for being in a relationship. Shortly before his persistent and irritating courtship could reach an illegal level, Claire had mobilized Shin Eunah to defeat him. Their friendship had deepened as a result, and Juno Valentine became one of the few humans who knew of Shin Eunah’s true powers. It had all been quietly covered up, however.

“Even with the SSS-class gate, you’re doing this? Is it you?” At Claire’s question, Shin Eunah focused on Juno. What she meant was ‘Is the traitor you?’ But Juno only shrugged, not understanding.

“Don’t go too far, honey. I just thought it was nice to see you after a long time. I might want to go see what the hell is in Korea…”

“…”

“But, well, there was a guard already here.” Juno became calm as Shin Eunah’s eyes narrowed at him. It hadn’t been so long that he could forget about her abilities.

“I always mean it. If you want me…”

“I don’t. If you’re a superhuman too, why don’t you hunt the guys showing up? Ah…” Just before Claire could finish her sentence, a loud popping sound filled the air. It was the sound of Samuel Joiner’s head bursting. He had been a part of the UN Gate Countermeasures Organization.

“Aha! Now you know it’s not me, right?”

“Shoot a gun if you have time to talk, idiot!” Juno fired his double pistols. The person who had popped the civilian’s head quickly evaded, unable to continue their assault due to the gunfire.

“If I were hunting monsters, I wouldn’t have been able to stop them so quickly.”

“If you were more vigilant, he wouldn’t have died!”

“Your reaction speed is fast, Juno, but still! Too clumsy!” The woman was moving through the air by exploding off the floor. It was Yuki Mizushima, the Bomber Girl, ranked sixth in the international rankings. She was the strongest female superhuman with the SS-class [Magic Alteration] trait. There was some talk that, after ten years of stagnation, she might hand over her seat to the Thunder Empress, but she was still incredibly strong. She, who had such a dangerous ability, had betrayed humanity.

“That woman…!” Claire bit into her lip. Magic alteration changed the nature of magical power under one’s own influence. It could be used to negate the opponent’s magic, twist the flow of power inside of a gate, and, most simply, create explosive bursts of magic. In the confined space of the gate, she was one of the most dangerous enemies to watch out for.

“Bomber Girl betrayed us and killed Samuel Joiner!”

“I told you that nickname is too cartoonish!”

“Ahahahaha! Since the first goal has been achieved… let’s make this a grand scene!”

“Don’t laugh so disgustingly, you fifty-year-old lady!” The only one who could laugh was Bomber Girl. Her magic power began to encircle the gate, spreading its magic throughout the inside.

-It opened.

-Is it open now? It’s slow, that’s no good.

-But…that’s enough.

Originally, erosion took a considerable amount of time, but Bomber Girl had drastically accelerated the process with her trait. The bullets Juno fired honed in after her, but by the time they reached her, there were already several monsters there to protect her.

“Shall we start?”

Only

-It’s good.

Humans and monsters were conversing on the same side. The agenda that had been covered at the meeting before was so neatly summarized. Oh Joo-young, the New Sword, smiled bleakly as he pointed his sword at her.

“That’s why Japan should’ve been thrown out.”

“The nation and individual should be viewed separately, right?” More SSS-level monsters appeared around them. Claire instinctively clung to Shin Eunah, and even Juno backed up closer to her.

“Eunah.”

“Huh.” Shin Eunah nodded, biting her lip.

“They’ll have to start updating the rank.”