Chapter 78
I was lying on the bed in my Home Base, rolling around and watching short-form videos as usual.
Ding!
Suddenly, an alert rang from the System Window.
[Title: I have urgent news for True Ancestor-nim.]
[Sender: Kim Tae-Seong, Korean Hunter Association President]
‘Huh? It’s the Association President.’
As I wondered what it was, it was a message from the Association President after a long time.
Curious about what was going on, I checked it immediately.
[True Ancestor-nim. I hope you are well.]
[I am reaching out, risking impoliteness, because I have urgent news to convey.]
[Saintess Cecilia of the Church of Light is scheduled to enter Korea on an Unofficial Schedule in the near future.]
[As it seems highly likely that her purpose is to track True Ancestor-nim, I am reporting this in advance before anything occurs that might offend you.]
“…”
Reading the message, I blinked blankly.
“What is this about? Why is the Saintess coming to catch me?”
I was well aware of the Saintess of the Church of Light, an S-rank Hunter representing Italy and a figure respected by countless Followers around the World.
Why would that famous Saintess suddenly come for me…?
In my momentarily confused mind, thoughts suddenly pieced together like puzzle pieces.
“Wait a minute. Saintess Cecilia… Church of Light… Light… Apostle of Light…?”
Could it be?
“Eek?! The Apostle of Light was the Saintess?!”
I had been having a keyboard battle with the Saintess herself in the Community…?!
It was a shocking truth.
‘Hah. To think I’d live to have a keyboard battle with the Saintess.’
I suppose this is a Life Achievement in its own way.
Anyway, it was unexpected.
The Saintess. I thought she had a very benevolent image.
But in the Community, she was always throwing a fit and writing Sniper Posts whenever my posts went up.
Then again,
Considering that the Climber Community Users must all be big shots in real life, yet they always write weird posts about me… it might not be that strange.
Anyway, I had to send a reply to the Association President.
[True Ancestor: This one was already aware. There is no way a Saintess of Mortals could be a threat to this True Ancestor.]
[True Ancestor: Well, still, it is commendable that you reported this to avoid being a nuisance.]
Transmission Complete.
Outwardly, I sent a reply full of bluffing.
“Ugh. My heart is trembling.”
Honestly, on the inside, my heart was pounding.
This is exactly like when you have a keyboard battle in a game, and the opponent gets so pissed off they actually come to your neighborhood for a real-life fight!
“It really is a scary World.”
After being scared for a moment, I soon regained my peace.
Because, come to think of it, there was no need to be scared.
“Even if the Saintess comes to Korea, what can she do if I just quietly stay holed up in my Home Base?”
The Republic of Korea is so vast; how on Earth would one find my house?
Besides, I rarely go outside.
because my Retainers take care of everything.
There is absolutely no chance of running into her or fighting her.
Whether she comes for a real-life fight or not, I just won’t open the door.
After I reached that conclusion, my mind felt very much at ease.
Bzz, bzz.
Just then, the Smartphone I had left at the head of the bed vibrated.
This time, it was a Game Messenger alert.
[Ice Coffee: What are you doing right now?]
[Ice Coffee: Do you happen to have time?]
It was a message from my game friend.
“I have all the time in the World.”
I sent a familiar reply.
[Jin-Yu: Yeah]
[Jin-Yu: Wanna play duo?]
[Ice Coffee: Duo is good too, but actually, I have a bit of a concern.]
A concern?
Did something happen?
I tilted my head and waited for the following message.
[Ice Coffee: There’s someone I’m really grateful to, like a benefactor to me.]
[Ice Coffee: But if someone were trying to harm that person… what would you do?]
“What? You have a benefactor, and someone else is trying to harm them?”
Then I’d be super mad!
If someone messed with a grateful benefactor who helped me, of course I couldn’t just stand by.
I typed a message right away without hesitation.
[Jin-Yu: For real?? Then of course you have to stop them.]
[Ice Coffee: But the problem is that the opponent is a really high-ranking person.]
A really high-ranking person?
I rubbed my chin.
Ice Coffee said she worked as a Hunter.
If so, it seemed that 'benefactor' had gotten into friction with someone like a High-ranking Senior in the Hunter Industry or an Executive of a Large Guild.
Like an A-rank Hunter or something.
Or maybe an S-rank Hunter? Nah, it couldn’t be that high, right?
Anyway. If the opponent were someone with such a solid position and power, getting angry or acting aggressively could backfire instead.
As a result, it could cause even greater harm to that benefactor.
In a situation like this…
[Jin-Yu: Then rather than hastily counterattacking the opponent, wouldn’t it be better to help that Benefactor?]
Wouldn’t helping them directly with their work, or if you can’t do that much, just staying by their side, be good?
After I sent the message, my friend was silent for a moment.
A long while later, a reply came.
[Ice Coffee: …I never thought of that.]
[Ice Coffee: Because I thought that person was much more amazing than me, I thought they wouldn’t need my help.]
“Aw. What are you talking about?”
No matter how amazing someone is, they can’t be perfect.
Everyone is bound to face a moment in life when they need someone’s help.
[Jin-Yu: Even in games, a duo is more reassuring than solo play, right?]
[Jin-Yu: It’s just like that, yeah]
[Jin-Yu: So if your concern is resolved, are we playing duo or not?]
[Ice Coffee: Lol okay. I’ll log in.]
[Ice Coffee: Thank you so much. I feel like I’ve found the answer.]
I was glad my friend’s mood seemed to have improved a bit.
I turned on the computer with a light heart.
* * *
Korean Hunter Association President, Kim Tae-Seong, was out on the Airport Runway with a stiff face.
An Unofficial Schedule completely undisclosed to the outside
The stairs of the private jet, which had glided to a stop on the runway, slowly descended.
Soon, the closed door opened, and a woman revealed herself.
Long silver hair cascaded down to her waist.
Narrowed eyes held a faint smile.
Although she was at the tender age of twenty, a Sacred Aura overflowed around her as if a halo were shining.
“Saintess, Cecilia.”
Despite her young age, she possessed an elegance that reflected the dignity of having served as the Saintess, revered by Followers worldwide since childhood.
Next, Kim Tae-Seong’s gaze naturally turned to the two men following behind her.
One was a blonde Knight with a sharp impression and a faint scar on his face.
The other was a Knight with a massive physique who looked well over two meters tall.
Both men were wearing the pure white uniforms unique to the Church of Light.
‘The Church of Light’s most elite, the Temple Knights…’
Kim Tae-Seong’s eyes narrowed.
The two men merely bowed their heads bluntly toward Kim Tae-Seong and took no other action.
However, the suffocating Intimidation they exuded proved that they were by no means ordinary hunters.
“Buon giorno, Association President Kim Tae-Seong.”
The Saintess lightly descended the stairs and politely offered a greeting in Italian.
Kim Tae-Seong also bowed his head respectfully.
“Hello, Saintess. You must have had a hard time coming all this way.”
Although the two used different languages,
They communicated naturally because they had activated the System’s Interpretation Skill.
“Thank you for coming out to meet me in person despite such a sudden visit, Association President.”
“Not at all. A World-renowned Distinguished Guest has visited Korea; this much is only natural.”
On the surface, a highly Peaceful and Ceremonial Conversation went back and forth.
The Saintess explained that it was a light pilgrimage schedule to tour the cathedrals of the Asia Branch.
“She should say something that makes sense.”
Kim Tae-Seong swallowed a chuckle inwardly.
There was no way someone coming for a pilgrimage would make their schedule completely private and enter the country accompanied by a top-elite Escort.
Kim Tae-Seong glanced again at the two knights standing behind the Saintess.
The Saintess alone was already at a level capable of shaking a nation.
But on top of that, two members of the Temple Knights, each said to rival an S-rank Hunter, had tagged along.
It was truly a Force that could be called National Power Level.
‘It’s war.’
Cold sweat ran down Kim Tae-Seong’s spine.
Their target was undoubtedly the True Ancestor residing in Korea.
Fortunately, when he contacted her a while ago, the True Ancestor didn’t think much of this situation and showed a relaxed response.
Her attitude was that the Saintess wasn’t even a threat.
However, he couldn’t just stay relieved.
If they were to clash with the True Ancestor right in the middle of Seoul,
The damage and chaos that would occur from the aftermath would be impossible to even estimate.
“I just hope nothing happens.”
While maintaining a gentle smile on the outside, Kim Tae-Seong resolved firmly inwardly to devise every possible measure that could be mobilized at the Association Level.
He had to prevent the clash between the True Ancestor and the Saintess at all costs…!
* * *
[Jin-Yu: Hah… No. How is this a 4-game losing streak?]
[Ice Coffee: The games just aren’t working out today…]
“Foolish humans are holding back the True Ancestor. This one must hurry and get to Platinum!”
I looked at the Match History window dyed in red and got extremely grumpy.
‘Ugh. I’m so pissed. Should I just go fight the Saintess?!’