Chapter 478 – Dusk and Dawn (4)
The constantly flowing time is made up of large and small chunks.
A section that covers a certain period of time for each characteristic.
We call this an era.
And in each of these times, there was something that definitely existed.
It is none other than a person.
I don’t mean ordinary people.
A person that naturally comes to mind when you think of a certain era.
In other words, it means a symbol representing an era.
“Everyone, are you scared of Cerberus? I’m scared. It’s an EX-level dungeon boss, right? It’s natural to be scared. Furthermore, it’s the boss of an unattackable dungeon recognized by the World Association. Then aren’t we all dead? That’s not true.”
In this conference room, only such symbols are gathered.
To be precise, those who were once symbols and those who are symbols.
The hunter society that began after the crack appeared.
This society is divided into two eras.
This is the era of the first generation hunters, that is, hunters who were active in the early days of society, when criminals ran amok and monsters poured out of dungeons that they failed to conquer.
And the second generation started after all the first generation hunters died or retired due to old age.
“Now, if we want to conquer Hellgate in Greece, we have to kill the boss, Cerberus, right?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“But since there is absolutely no way to catch him, the strict World Association said that you should not enter that dungeon because it is EX level, right?”
“Yes…, I guess so.”
“Then let’s see. Why did the party that entered the dungeon earlier fail to attack Cerberus?”
“Yeah… “Isn’t it because Cerberus is strong?”
“Ah, teacher. If I was going to answer that way, I would have just asked a kid walking down the street.”
“Hmm…”
Haha!
A burst of laughter revives the extremely heavy atmosphere inside the conference room.
The Prime Minister did not get between them, but took a step back and looked at Kim Do-jin.
And one more person.
He turns his head and looks at Son Si-woo, who is sitting in the nearest seat and watching the situation.
“…”
That’s it.
A person who symbolizes the second era of this hunter society.
Of course, Han Joo-hee and Nam Goong-hyuk sitting here are also enough to be called symbols.
But if you had to choose just one person, the answer would be Son Si-woo.
This is an issue that not only you, but anyone in Korea can sympathize with.
If it was natural, it was natural.
How many dungeons were conquered by him, and how many criminals were there?
Even in times of crisis for the country’s survival, he risked his life to protect the country and its people.
It would be strange if a person like this did not become a symbol of Korean hunter society.
“Hellgate’s Cerberus is such a crazy monster. The leather doesn’t even scratch unless it’s black, and the fire emitted from the three heads can instantly melt even a decent amount of iron. Is that true for humans? Just disappear from this world.”
Son Si-woo is, in name and reality, a symbol representing the current hunter society and, by extension, the Republic of Korea.
The 3040 generation that leads this country.
And all the 1020 generation who will lead the country in the future believe in and rely on him.
Perhaps, even if you compare the President and Son Si-woo, the votes will overwhelmingly go to the latter.
He was grateful and relieved that Son Si-woo was from this country, but at the same time he was always anxious.
Just as there are no humans who can live forever, there are no eternal symbols.
When an era comes to an end, the symbols of that era are also recorded in history.
“Seriously, how scary are that bastard’s claws and teeth? Once you get bitten anywhere, that part no longer belongs to you. Toenail? If you are in a scratch position, then you become Kim/Do/Jin respectively.”
So I feel anxious.
Son Si-woo is ultimately a human being, and humans age with the passage of time, and as they age, they become weaker.
Son Si-woo, an overwhelming symbol that is difficult to compare to any era.
When he steps down, who will be able to succeed him?
No, could such a being ever appeared in the first place?
Wouldn’t it be too greedy to hope for such a being to be born twice in a row on this small piece of land?
“But, do you know what?”
“… ?”
“Such boss monsters often exist in S-class dungeons.”
It is clear that it is too greedy.
But it seems like my desire has come true.
“Kids with hard skin, sharp teeth, and strong ability to breathe fire? If you go to the top S-class dungeons, there are quite a few. But that was a strategy, right? But why was only Cerberus ranked as EX level and left unattackable?”
Throws up an important topic.
People worry.
In that silence, Kim Do-jin continued speaking calmly.
“It’s not just the boss monster that’s the problem, there.”
I am sucked in.
“You know that saying? Even mutts eat half of their food when they fight in their front yard.”
The eyes of these people, who were symbols of the old era and symbols of the present era, are focused only on one person, Kim Do-jin.
Like a person possessed by something.
I am curious about his backstory.
“Hellgate Dungeon is a dungeon only for Cerberus. What does that mean?”
Control your pace and concentration through one breath to further enhance your concentration.
When you reach the end of your concentration, only then do you continue speaking.
“The surrounding environment is all structured to benefit Cerberus.”
“Ah… !”
“That means… ?”
People who are realizing it one by one.
To prevent them from breaking the pain, I open my mouth in a hurry, but with a relaxed attitude.
“Rough terrain with bulging huge rocks, temperatures so hot that even hunters who are immune to freezing or heat can’t handle it, thick darkness that limits visibility, etc. The environment, which is both unfortunate for us and beneficial for Cerberus, makes it stronger. “That’s too much, to the point where it’s a bit harsh.”
As he continued his explanation in a serious manner, he spread his arms slightly and spoke in a cute tone.
“But voila, where is Cerberus now?”
Although it is an EX-class boss monster, it is emphasized that it is not an impossible opponent.
And that becomes hope.
A small expectation arises that perhaps the work may not be as difficult as I thought.
And these expectations lead to fraud.
It makes the shoulders of those who were scared and rolled up due to the fear given by the name EX class spread wide.
“This world is not a very favorable environment for Cerberus. That means.”
A young man grabs all the veterans and shakes them.
“It means that he is no longer unattackable.”
His eyes turn to Son Si-woo at the familiar sight.
‘You took it out and put it back in.’
Looks similar.
Son Si-woo in his youth.
That’s exactly what he looked like when he was less refined and more free-spirited than he is now.
With a moderately confident appearance, he raises the morale of his allies and brings the impossible down to the realm of the possible.
“So, all you have to do is follow me. Okay?”
Sometimes he’s overly confident, and sometimes he even looks cheesy.
The resemblance is so striking that for a moment I have an unreasonable suspicion.
‘An illegitimate child born secretly from others… I guess not.’
It’s not anyone else, it’s Son Siwoo.
A man widely known as an icon of upright living and a loving wife.
Not only did he cheat on his wife, but he also had children?
It was a statement harder to believe than saying that the world would end tomorrow.
He stopped his vain thoughts, looked at Kim Do-jin again, and thought.
‘… ‘It wasn’t just ability.’
The world is full of talented people.
However, not all of them remain as symbols representing the era.
We need more than that.
What is visible, what is invisible.
Only when you are fully equipped and able to stand above, and lead people can you finally establish yourself as a symbol.
But that guy has it.
He even handles it so skillfully that it’s hard to believe he’s so young.
Seeing this, he finally realizes.
A moment that I had only vaguely thought about and was rarely able to draw, so I was always anxious.
A new era.
The dawn that opens the curtain is gradually dawning.
‘I’m curious.’
What will the new era he will open look like?
What name will he be called by people, and what will he be remembered as?
This is a tip to watch slowly.
With the opening of a new era, behind the closed door, from afar.
A faint smile appeared on his face, which had maintained a stern expression throughout the meeting, but quickly disappeared.
* * *
It wasn’t difficult.
It’s about cooking for the people gathered in the conference room.
These are people I already know well.
What do you like, what kind of tone should you use to persuade people so that you don’t get caught in any trouble, etc.
Sort out the situation by encouraging and soothing them in a confident and somewhat cheerful manner in the way they like.
“Great. “The composition of the offensive line will follow Hunter Kim Do-jin’s instructions.”
“Thank you for your trust.”
“Not much to say.”
An industry senior with a reputation as an S-class hunter in the past.
A man with strong patriotism who was once the first hunter that comes to mind when thinking of a hero in Korea.
And a big-time politician who, unable to shake off the injuries he received in a life-and-death battle with a villain, resigned from the front line, entered politics, and achieved success.
Prime Minister Lim Seung-wook.
Even the approval of the strictest people in the world fell.
I guess I liked the way I was leading the meeting.
Thanks to his help, I reveal to people the offensive line composition I came up with.
People who get upset over just one name.
“The composition ends here.”
As soon as he finished talking, Lim Seung-wook asked with a sharp look in his eyes.
“The composition… “Is it really possible?”
“Yes. “We already finished talking on the way.”
“… It must not have been easy to convince them.”
No?
It was easy.
Contrary to his true intentions, he puts on the most negative expression on his face and shakes his head with difficulty.
“But what can we do? “South Korea is in crisis.”
“Uhm… !”
That guy’s favorite method is easy.
All you have to do is look like a patriotic person.
I still see it now.
When I told him that I worked really hard to convince him of the national crisis, he looked very moved.
“Great. Then, let’s form the offensive line like that…”
It was about time to end the meeting after completing the formation of the offensive line and the people who would support it.
Rattling!
A man opened the door arbitrarily and appeared.
Looking at the sweat on his forehead, it looks like he came running here from quite far away.
“Huh…, Sorry, sorry! I have something to report in a hurry, so if you’ll excuse me… !”
Lim Seung-wook, who looked displeased for a moment, suppressed his anger and spoke.
“Okay, take a breath and speak.”
“Well, that…” !”
However, as if he didn’t have time, he poured out his words without taking a single breath.
“Changes were observed in Gwanghwamun… !”
People are very surprised by this.
“Change… “Has Cerberus started to move?”
“In that case, hurry up… !”
In between the words of the people who start making a fuss, the man’s words cut in.
“Well, that’s not it. Cerberus still hasn’t moved a single step.”
People who are relieved by this.
But his words did not end there.
“An investigator at the scene said that the huge door guarded by Cerberus was opening slightly, little by little… !”
“… !”
A danger much greater than when Cerberus began to move began to tighten around his neck.
