I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 222

222.

Sunday Midday.

The news about the Legend Gate could no longer be hidden. It was affecting daily life.

Citizens mostly stayed indoors due to the frequent earthquakes and continuous emergency alerts. They focused on the news screens that ran day and night.

“The epicenter of the recent frequent earthquakes has been identified as the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The problem is that these are not earthquakes caused by typical tectonic shifts. Let’s take a look at the scene.”

While Geon-woo was lounging on the sofa watching TV, Seo-ah washed some strawberries and sat next to him, placing them on the table.

“This footage was taken from a great distance using a special hunter helicopter. An island that doesn’t appear on any maps has emerged in the middle of the Pacific.”

But something was strange. The island, which had just appeared, was teeming with vegetation. There was a pristine white sandy beach, and palm trees stood in rows.

Seo-ah was inwardly startled.

It was exactly the same as the island she had seen in Yoo Ji-an’s [Future Sight ability] shown by Camilla.

“It is said that a gate that emerged from the deep sea caused this phenomenon. The island already has lush vegetation due to the mana, making it look like a peaceful island at first glance. Now, let’s watch the press conference of Hunter Association Chairman Cha Tae-woon.”

Seo-ah put a strawberry in Geon-woo’s mouth as he stared blankly at the screen.

“Watch while you eat.”

“…Oh, okay.”

Seo-ah glanced at Geon-woo, who was now focused on the TV. Living in a house frequented by S-class hunters, it seemed this was something he was worried about too. It seemed like an explanation was needed.

“Geon-woo.”

“Huh? Just a minute. The Association Chairman is on.”

“That’s the person who came to our house the other day.”

“Oh, really? Right. Still, I want to hear what he says.”

“……”

Seo-ah was about to explain in detail but held back. She was also curious about what Cha Tae-woon would say on the broadcast.

Soon, Cha Tae-woon appeared on the screen, standing at the podium and opening his mouth.

“Hello, this is Cha Tae-woon, Chairman of the Hunter Association. As mentioned in the press release, the current earthquakes and the island that appeared in the Pacific are indeed caused by a gate. The gate is expected to be far beyond S-class.”

The press conference hall fell silent. The reporters heavily weighed the meaning of a gate surpassing S-class. One of them mustered the courage to ask a question.

“Could you be more specific? What we really want to know is whether the gate can be stopped. And if it can’t, what will happen?”

“Yes, I will explain now.”

Camera shutters clicked incessantly, and the reporters remained silent, not wanting to miss a single word. They realized that this was not just a matter of a scoop, but a matter of life and death for humanity.

“In the hunter community, we have named this an L-class, or Legend Gate. Please remember that 11 S-class hunters and 2 A-class healers entered to handle the S-class gate that occurred in Japan.”

“So, Legend class is more than that…”

“That’s right. More than the number of S-class gates will be needed. However, since it is a grade that has never been experienced before, we do not know how much more will be needed. What is clear is that it is important to have as many people as possible go and stop it quickly.”

“If we can’t stop it…”

“If we fail to stop it, and the hunters dispatched there are annihilated, then…”

Cha Tae-woon paused before making his final statement. His eyes and breath revealed the heavy truth he was about to reveal.

“The monsters pouring out of the gate will become a disaster for humanity. At that point, there will be no hunters left to stop them, so we will be helpless.”

“Are you saying… humanity will be destroyed?”

“That’s right.”

Cha Tae-woon’s firm answer caused the reporters to buzz. After stating the seriousness of the situation, Cha Tae-woon continued to give even a glimmer of hope.

“Therefore, hunters from all over the world are planning to gather now.”

“Really? Is that possible? Even the World Hunter Association hasn’t done such a thing…”

“You may remember the alliance that Hunter Park Seo-ah created some time ago. More than 40 guilds have joined it, and there are 55 S-class hunters. They will gather to stop the L-class gate.”

Upon hearing those words, a slight glimmer of hope appeared on the reporters’ faces.

“Therefore, the association will spare no support for the alliance… and other countries’ associations have also promised to cooperate. The departure time is probably around six o’clock the day after tomorrow…”

Geon-woo, who had been staring intently at the TV screen, turned to Seo-ah.

“…Noona.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you have to do it? Do you have to go there?”

“Huh?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Seo-ah couldn’t answer right away. Seo-ah hesitated for a moment, then sat closer to Geon-woo.

“Geon-woo, it’s just that. My ability…”

“I know, I was just saying. Just… but that’s really dangerous, isn’t it? I’m worried.”

As he said that, Geon-woo shyly avoided eye contact. Seo-ah looked at Geon-woo with an affectionate expression and ruffled his hair.

“Ah, stop it!”

“I’m going to be safe. We’re all going to be safe.”

At Seo-ah’s words, Geon-woo muttered.

“Well, they say the world will end if they can’t stop it…”

“If you’re scared of being alone or if something happens, go to the Taeyang Guild.”

It was said that if a Legend Gate occurred, lower-level gates would also be generated more frequently due to the ripple effect. With that in mind, this place couldn’t be considered completely safe either.

“Okay.”

She thought he would grumble about being treated like a child, but unexpectedly, Geon-woo readily agreed. It seemed he realized that this was no ordinary situation.

“Still, be careful.”

She knew very well that Geon-woo was trying not to whine. Seo-ah patted Geon-woo lightly.

“Okay, I’ll be careful.”

***

The private plane carrying the S-class hunters was scheduled to depart from Gimpo Airport. The airport lobby was crowded with people from early morning.

But an unexpected figure appeared there.

“Jackson?”

“It’s been a while, Hunter Park Seo-ah.”

Jackson approached Seo-ah with his signature bright, angelic smile. As always, Mila, Ruben, and Jose were by his side. They also greeted her happily.

“Hello, Seo-ah. Long time no see.”

“Shouldn’t there be a plane departing from the US side too?”

Of course, it wasn’t just departing from Korea. Although Korea was the main gathering point, there were also teams departing from the US, Australia, and Europe.

After arriving at Honolulu Airport, they would transfer to a ship and move from there.

Not only S-class hunters were going; A-class hunters were also appropriately mixed in depending on their position.

The monsters pouring out of the Legend Gate started from B-class, but because there were so many of them, even a few dozen S-class hunters might not be able to handle them.

“But Hunter Park Seo-ah is here.”

As Jackson smiled, Yoo Ji-an approached.

“Seo-ah.”

Turning around, Yoo Ji-an pointed to where other hunters were gathered.

“I’ll introduce you.”

“Ah, everyone’s here. Okay.”

“I’m going too.”

Yoo Ji-an showed clear signs of dislike, but Jackson shamelessly smiled and followed. Several Asian hunters were gathered where Yoo Ji-an went.

“This is Wang Cheon-yu. We met at the Chinese gate before.”

“Yoo Ji-an? That was quite fun back then. I’m looking forward to this time too.”

Wang Cheon-yu freely greeted Yoo Ji-an. She was the world’s second-ranked Chinese female hunter. With her short hair, youthful appearance, and small stature, it was hard to believe at first glance that she was a strong hunter.

Seo-ah had seen her on media, but she had also encountered her as a monster in a temporary gate, so she recognized her immediately before the introduction.

‘Come to think of it.’

Seo-ah looked at Jackson, Wang Cheon-yu, and Yoo Ji-an in turn. The world’s top 1, 2, and 3 were all gathered here.

“Shouldn’t we take a commemorative photo or something? It’s a big deal to have them gather like this.”

“Hunter Park Seo-ah is amazing for bringing them together.”

Jackson said, and Wang Cheon-yu stared at Seo-ah.

“Hello, you’re Park Seo-ah, who I’ve only heard about. They say you’re so amazing?”

Seo-ah responded in kind to the informal tone coming through the translator.

“Yeah, I’m Park Seo-ah. Hunter Wang Cheon-yu, thank you for coming. I look forward to your performance.”

Wang Cheon-yu didn’t come alone; she came with three members of her guild, the Invincible Zone Guild. Two S-class and two A-class.

The cruise ship that would carry them arrived, and Korean S-class hunters such as Baek Eun-hee and Choi Eun-gyeol, as well as foreign hunters from Japan, Russia, and other countries, arrived one after another.

As she made eye contact with each of them, Cha Tae-woon, who had been moving busily since earlier, approached.

“Hunter Park Seo-ah. You’ll need to do a short interview before you go.”

Seo-ah readily agreed and moved with him.

“Yes, I understand.”

Soon, Seo-ah appeared at a temporary press conference hall set up near the departure hall, and a tremendous flash of light and shutter sounds erupted.