Chapter 147
Chapter 147: Summons
After moving to a different location, Yoo Ji-han explained to Nirochi the mysterious phenomenon he had experienced.
Listening quietly to his explanation, Nirochi’s eyes sparkled as she spoke.
“To summarize, you glimpsed memories from the past through the magical power of another being.”
“Glanced at past memories… I see, that’s a way to put it.”
“That’s definitely the effect of the sampling you possess. There’s no other way to explain it. But it’s concerning that this phenomenon occurred after the Sylph consumed a magic stone.”
Nirochi looked up at the Sylph hovering above Yoo Ji-han’s head.
“The Sylph seems to recognize your power for sure. It might even know how to utilize it. That’s probably the reason it formed a contract with you thanks to the sampling.”
After sleeping for several years in Kim Si-hu’s staff, the Sylph suddenly jumped out and formed a contract with Yoo Ji-han, and Nirochi speculated the reason to be the sampling.
“You haven’t checked on probabilities lately, have you?”
“Not at all.”
“Because of that, it seems changes are happening. But this is just the beginning. The power I caught a glimpse of was very different.”
While the exact prerequisites were unclear, the ability to glimpse fragmented past memories through magical power was astonishing.
However, when Nirochi sensed the sampling through her unique skill, the fear and overwhelming feelings she experienced were severely lacking in description.
“Aargh, so frustrating! Even if I wanted to explain it, I can’t! Anyway, if any changes occur in your unique skill in the future, make sure to let me know. Promise?”
“Got it.”
“…By the way, Korea is going to get extremely noisy. It seems like you’re caught up in this too, so it’d be wise to brace yourself.”
*
Yang Ji-cheol convened an emergency meeting at the Hero Department.
There was a surprised atmosphere as news spread that they had found a clue regarding the recent incident.
“Is this really reliable information?”
“I verified all information through Nirochi.”
“I can’t trust that mixed-race.”
“Her ability has been thoroughly vetted already.”
“It might just be a ploy to create confusion in Korea.”
“…”
Yang Ji-cheol silently gritted his teeth at the remark from the older executive.
To engage in conspiracy theories about someone whose ideological and ability assessments had been meticulously completed was foolishness.
If one thought that way, they couldn’t trust anyone, not even their own kind.
“The untrustworthy ones aren’t the mixed-race, it’s my fellow humans.”
Despite his thoughts, Yang Ji-cheol wore a slight smile as he spoke.
“Please keep in mind that the source of the information ultimately comes from Korea’s hero, Yoo Ji-han.”
“Hmm…”
“We need to declare a state of emergency at the earliest!”
“I completely agree with Ji-cheol. This is not the time for us to be relaxed here.”
“So, in what way…”
Although the Hero Department had already started preparations for action following the disappearance of the Rank 1 heroes, the information brought by Yoo Ji-han gradually altered those responses.
That day, after several hours of meetings in the afternoon, the Hero Department released an official statement to the media while sending collaboration requests to all guilds in South Korea.
Sweet Fun was no exception.
A notice requesting cooperation regarding this incident also arrived on Kim Si-hu’s mobile phone.
<……and for these reasons, we wish to summon heroes, so please cooperate.>
A request for cooperation written in a gentle tone.
However, looking closely, it was clear it contained a summons order that implied the urgent gathering of heroes ranked 3 and above.
Meanwhile, breaking news began to mention humans from another world.
[Hero Department: The disappearance of Rank 1 heroes is due to humans from another world.]
[Increased occurrences of monsters outside the barrier, especially in the southern regions…]
Despite the Hero Department’s official announcement, many netizens voiced that the Hero Department was using humans from another world as a scapegoat to evade responsibility.
It still felt like most people didn’t believe in the existence of otherworldly beings.
Min Yu-ri spoke with a slightly stiff face.
“It’s all unfolding just as Ji-han said it would.”
“We need to head down soon,”
The locations where the Rank 1 heroes had disappeared were Mokpo, Goheung, and Yeosu, mainly situated in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula.
Accordingly, the Hero Department requested heightened vigilance from heroes active in those areas and planned to send heroes concentrated in the metropolitan area down as well.
‘I can’t pull back now.’
While it wasn’t feasible to summon all heroes since basic public safety also needed attention, Yoo Ji-han, who had grasped the circumstances of the incident, had to participate.
The small-numbered Yoo Ji-han’s party had already promised to join the Dice guild through an arrangement with Park Jae-kyung.
“I hear if there’s a loan at the guild, we don’t have to pay interest during the summons period, and we’ll even receive a compensation fee.”
“They aren’t going to exploit us for free.”
Heroes ranked 3 and above generally commanded high prices.
So appropriate compensation plans were being established since they were being summoned almost forcibly.
‘They’ve even issued evacuation recommendations.’
In certain areas, the population had diminished to the brink of extinction due to sharply declining birth rates.
Immediate recommendations to evacuate to other areas were issued to citizens living in that vicinity.
“What should we say to Ho-yeol?”
“Since the Dice guild can lend a mobile makeshift blacksmith, just ask if he’s willing to accompany us.”
An expedition force centered around the teenage guild that had lost its leader in an instant was being organized.
Considering the situation could take longer than anticipated, support teams including blacksmiths would accompany them.
Nam Ho-yeol, being the one most familiar with the currently utilized equipment, would be a great help if he decided to come along.
“The date of the summons hasn’t been set yet, right?”
“Even if it’s late, it should be within 3 days.”
“Right after leveling up, and this is the kind of mess we’re dealing with.”
“Chirp, chirp…”
“Make sure to inform your family beforehand when you get the chance.”
Kim Si-hu left the office immediately to contact his father, Kim Geon-oh.
Following him out of the office, Yoo Ji-han dialed his aunt.
—Hello?
“Aunt, it’s me.”
—Oh, what’s up?
It was a phone call made after several months, contrasting the occasional messages exchanged.
Still, his aunt reacted quite coolly.
“Have you heard about the monsters appearing in the provinces?”
—I just heard.
“I think I’ll have to head down because of that.”
—If it’s for the country, then you should definitely go.
His aunt, who had served in a special unit comprised solely of elite female soldiers, viewed the efforts of heroes for the nation as a given.
—You haven’t neglected your training, have you?
“Of course not.”
—Make me proud. I should see the results of the training I put you through.
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll come to visit after things settle down this time.”
—Alright, I’ll head your way soon based on the situation.
*
After the summons order was issued to various guilds in Korea, many active parties came to a halt.
Among them, the Rank 2 parties noticeably reduced in number on-site.
The reason was simple.
“This is an opportunity given by the heavens.”
“Finally, it’s time for us to rise to Rank 1.”
“It’s been a long wait!”
They viewed the recent incident as a chance for their party to ascend to Rank 1.
If the Hero Department had proclaimed a summons order directly, it indicated an undeniable national crisis-level disaster.
For heroes who had been stagnating at Rank 2 while eagerly awaiting a rank-up for a long time, this exceptional situation was a welcome change.
The national crisis had ironically turned into a golden opportunity for them to level up.
Thanks to that, the Hero Department faced a new dilemma.
“Over 72% of the Rank 2 parties based in Seoul have expressed their willingness to respond to the summons.”
“We received news that there are too few heroes in the MA around Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.”
“I didn’t expect them to be this proactive…”
“At this rate, too many heroes will head down to the provinces.”
Despite the promise of compensation, the amount was paltry compared to their usual earnings, yet heroes showed remarkable enthusiasm.
As the public safety of the metropolitan area began to be compromised, the Hero Department had no choice but to select heroes among the Rank 2 parties to summon separately.
“What about these folks?”
“No, that’s a party that’s hardly been active in the last month.”
“What about these?”
“That one had their party leader recently arrested for drunk driving.”
The Hero Department rapidly evaluated parties in real-time, pulling all kinds of basic skills and minor assessment factors.
They felt sorry for the parties that weren’t selected, but they could not take everyone along.
However, among them, there was a party that was chosen with special consideration, not needing any extra evaluations.
“Passed without issues.”
In the office of Keroes’ CEO.
Guild Master Park Joong-seob had called in the hero representing their guild, Kim Hyun-tae, to converse.
“Just as we expected. If they have eyes on their face, they wouldn’t refuse us.”
Kim Hyun-tae, with his legs crossed casually on the guest table, exuded immense confidence.
They had anticipated a situation where Rank 2 parties flocked to this incident.
Thus, through mutual connections with the Hero Department, they had already secured Kim Hyun-tae’s participation.
“As you requested, the other Rank 2 parties will continue their activities as usual.”
“Good job. It’s enough for us to stand out there.”
Kim Hyun-tae ensured that other Rank 2 parties in Keroes did not respond to the summons.
They didn’t want the attention divided by several parties of the same rank coming out of the same guild.
Though it was a request greatly influenced by personal ambition, Park Joong-seob accepted it.
He thought it was indeed better to focus on just one party within the guild.
“How about the director for the movie?”
“The director who won the grand prize at the hero movie awards two years ago agreed to take it on.”
“Just as expected, Guild Master! If you’re going to film me, it needs to be someone of that caliber.”
“We need to discuss the filming plans… Hyun-tae, what do you think about taking this opportunity to shoot something?”
“Funny enough, I was thinking along the same lines.”
Not just filming scenes of monsters being hunted in the MA.
Capturing the moments of overcoming the crisis that occurred in Korea as a film.
The two, who had the same thought, exchanged knowing smiles.
“If we play our cards right, this movie could be the ladder that helps us reach Rank 1.”
“That’s definitely going to happen.”
Kim Hyun-tae lifted his mobile phone.
And as he looked at the screen, a sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.
‘A masterpiece will be born that surpasses this trash.’
On the screen was information about the movie filmed by Yoo Ji-han’s party.
*
The Yoo Ji-han party received a call from Ha Seong-tae, who had produced their previous movie, during their light training.
—The view count of the cookie video featuring the Sylph was higher than expected!
“That’s a relief.”
After revealing his identity as a Spirit Master, Ha Seong-tae had uploaded unreleased footage featuring the Sylph onto the VTube platform.
Yoo Ji-han’s party’s first movie had maintained decent popularity but was gradually losing interest.
However, thanks to the video showcasing the spirit’s appearance, the declining view count briefly saw an uptick.
—I heard a summons order has been issued to the heroes.
“We plan to participate as well.”
—I figured as much, so I contacted you ahead of time.
Ha Seong-tae proposed the idea of filming a second movie centered around the current incident to Yoo Ji-han’s party.
—This will not only be an entertaining movie but also a significant record in history.
Rather than aiming for profit by making a movie, the idea was to create a historical document that would be remembered in Korea.
Ha Seong-tae had high hopes for Yoo Ji-han’s party, which had shown extraordinary potential since their first work.
—What do you think?
“Sounds great.”
Yoo Ji-han readily agreed to the movie shoot.
The intention was not bad, and experiences typically become easier after the initial one.
“Seong-tae.”
—Yes?
As the conversation continued with Ha Seong-tae, Yoo Ji-han added another declaration.
“Let’s make a masterpiece if we can.”
