A little while back, when Aika was about to break the barrier.

Outside the gate, chaos erupted immediately.

Physically, the place became a mess due to the storm Aika caused....

"What's happening?! The awakened ones blocked the view, who the heck..."

"Forget that for now, just get this on film! Cheonhwa is entering!"

Awakened ones rushed in all at once as if they had been waiting, followed by the porters behind them.

What they carried...

Loads of equipment assuming the annihilation of civilians.

It was a sight enough to predict a tragedy.

"Wait, in the hands of the porters... Oh my god. How many stretchers are there?"

"Isn't the number of porters insane?"

"Are they expecting almost everyone to be dead?"

Hundreds of civilians were caught up in an A-Rank Gate, and rescue was delayed by a full hour and a half.

The likelihood of the victims' survival was extremely low.

Even the number one clan, Cheonhwa Clan, expected that most of them were dead.

The deaths of hundreds of civilians and Seo Yu-jin, who was renowned as Korea's next S-Rank.

Just imagining it was horrific.

It was natural for the atmosphere to become as gloomy as a funeral.

However, 

"The strongest awakened nation, Korea, is now a thing of the past..."

-Swoosh.

"..What!!!?"

"A survivor!!!»

A bright light appeared on the outskirts of the gate.

It was the return of the director of the advertisement Yu-jin was set to film.

-Muttering

"No, this isn't a drama. Seeing this in real life... Wow, if they make a movie out of this, it would easily surpass ten million tickets..."

-Swoosh.

"Actually, my underwear... huh?"

Another person. A pink-haired girl. Alice.

Known to be filming a commercial with Yu-jin...

She was the only other awakened one caught in the gate.

People's eyes widened at the sight of the two survivors.

"A civilian and an awakened one? What kind of combination is that?"

"No, more than that. If they returned... does that mean the gate has been cleared? Already!?" Having survivors was definitely a good thing.

But, it had only been five minutes since the attack team entered.

Wasn't it too early for the gate to be cleared?

No matter how strong Seol Ha-yeon was, it didn't make sense.

 

And yet, survivors were appearing?

What the hell happened in there?

Curiosity exploded.

"Hey, hey!! What's the situation inside..."

...!? Uh, well, right now, it's a bit, um..."

"Sorry! We look like this right now, so let's discuss it later!! Alice, come with me!!"

-Rush.

But Alice and the director dodged the cameras and escaped to a nearby building.

Though it seemed a bit harsh, everyone understood.

One was wearing an ill-fitting tracksuit, an embarrassingly awkward outfit.

The other was in an unintended underboob state.

They didn't want to be in front of cameras in that condition.

Besides, there was no need to hold them back.

"If those two are already out..."

"Could it be that Seo Yu-jin cleared it first?"

Logically, the probability of the newly entered attack team clearing the gate was zero.

It made sense to think that someone who was already inside had defeated the boss monster.

And, there was only one person capable of doing that.

It wasn't the time to worry about a student and a director.

They'd soon return.

The hero who single-handedly conquered an A-Rank Gate.

Seo Yu-jin.

-Swoosh.

"Please move! Pregnant woman coming through!!"

 

"......Honey!!!!"

What cemented the change in mood was a pregnant woman being carried out on a stretcher.
Followed by a string of civilians.

"Yeon-hwa!! Are you hurt anywhere..."

"Ah, mom! I got Seo Yu-jin's autograph! I even took a picture?!"

«.....?"

They were all unharmed.

The civilians who were expected to be annihilated were all safe.

"Phew. That's a relief."

"I thought we were going to see a field of corpses."

Porters followed.

The loads they carried were almost untouched.

It was as if there hadn't been any casualties.

In the midst of everyone being shocked by this miracle overturning the tragedy...

Awakened ones began to emerge from the gate....

-Bright flash!!

"It's closing!!"

Eventually, with a bright flash, the black curtain receded.

At the same time, a group of people was summoned.

A-Rank awakened ones of Cheonhwa.

S-Rank 4th. Seol Ha-yeon.

Lastly,

"Seo Yu-jin!!!"

A robust young man.

Those who had been waiting rushed forward immediately.

Grabbing cameras and microphones, determined to document this historic event.

"Awakened Seo Yu-jin!! What exactly happened inside!!"

"Did you really clear the gate alone!?"

"What kind of gate was it..."

Naturally, chaos ensued.

The chairman tried to intervene, frowning.
"He is tired now, please later.."

"It's alright. Chairman."

..Oh? In that case. Bring a microphone here."

"Hold on a moment!"

Who was Yu-jin?

An S-Rank before the regression. A man who knew that flaunting right after clearing a gate was the coolest.

Seeing the opportunity, Yu-jin stepped up quickly.

"First of all, 1 didn't clear it alone. My dear friend, Alice Littlewood, a student, and I cleared it together."

"That Brit? How could a mere freshman be of any help in an A-Rank gate.."

"I'm a freshman too."

"Well, that's true but..."

First, he gave his wife some face.

"Can we interview you about the inside of the gate, or how the actual battle unfolded!?"

"You can see that in the advertisement for Pine Leaf's Eye!"

".....?"

A surprise pre-advertisement.

Everyone's eyes widened.

"What is this?"

"The director filmed it all. Us fighting. Every bit."

«.....!!!!?"

"Then we'll go in for now. Please support the world's best drink, Pine Leaf's Eye!" But Yu-jin quickly ran off without further explanation.

A perfect handling, knowing exactly when to strike and retreat.

Thanks to this, the media's attention turned to the director.

Show us what you filmed!

It was natural that such requests flooded her agency and the beverage company.

The director was in hot water.

"Edit quickly! Focus on the editing points I marked!"

"What about sound effects and stuff..."

"Don't skip anything, just cut and upload it immediately!!"

To the director, this was already a proper short film.

An unprecedented portfolio showcasing her sense.

Besides, wasn't everyone eager for its release?

So, she decided to first release the director's cut.

The official CF could be refined and released later.

With this in mind, a video was uploaded at an unprecedented speed.

A video of Yu-jin and Alice clearing the gate, The public reaction was explosive.

([Korean Awakened Minor Gallery]

Title: Is this awesome? From today, it's 'Great Awesome' Title: What is it with Hypnosis Guy reading all the patterns?

Title: Boss fight cut in 5 minutes, crazy

Title: How did he stay fine after getting hit by that massive bat?

Title: What's with the surprise PPL at the end = = = -

Yu-jin's intact brainpower and sense.

Alice's timely firepower support.

A real situation where lives were at stake, showing a weak person using wisdom, strategy, and skills to fight.

It was exactly the kind of video the public craved.

Typically, videos of awakened ones' battles were mostly promotional clips showing overwhelming strength by clans.

Not to mention, if it was about breaking everything with force, Aika had already shown a lot.

This type of battle was rather refreshing and appreciated.

[Korean Awakened Minor Gallery]

Title: It's literally a hero's story

He trembled with fear in the unexpected gate

Called solo clearing 'suicide'

But when he heard there was a pregnant woman, his expression changed instantly (Yu-jin meme saying 'Actually, I'm quite strong')

Issued 'Win'

And really succeeded in the attack

Why is something that seems like it should be in a biography a true story

Ah, is it you again

'This guy just loves humanity'

 A robust young man.

The story was perfect too.

Yu-jin did it just because he thought he could.

But, to others?

He was a hero who risked his life for the citizens.

It was a video with no elements that people would dislike.

Heroic tales were popular regardless of the country.

-Crack.

"Those bitches, why didn't they just die instead of getting caught. Should have crushed them when they talked shit."

"What should we do, Winterer? Those bitches will spill everything under hypnosis."

"We'll ambush before they're discovered. Prepare now." To those who refused to be human, it didn't sound good.

Meanwhile, Yu-jin and Alice's gate-clearing video became hugely popular overseas.

 

Meanwhile, Yu-jin and Alice's gate-clearing video became hugely popular overseas.

Britain puffed out its chest seeing Alice's performance.

Vietnam cheered for Yu-jin's battle, friend of Bojji Kkong It received positive reactions worldwide...

—Japan went wild for a different reason.

(Thread discussing Aika-chan]

(Yu-jin and Alice's gate-clearing video)

Don't you think Yu-jin-kun's swordsmanship looks like Aika-chan's?

>>82

Didn't notice in the video, but it does look similar up close

>>84

I've been doing kendo for 10 years, and that level is clearly Aika's direct teaching.

>>91

What?!

During the entrance exam, reporters couldn't see them fighting clearly due to the barrier.

But on closer inspection, it was identical.

Japan's pride. S-Rank 1st, Ninomiya Aika's swordsmanship.

[Thread discussing Aika-chan]

>>91

Isn't it just that he learned by watching Aika-chan's kendo?

>>95

Just to be sure, I showed it to my 7th dan kendo master. He said it's definitely Aika's direct disciple, even down to the smallest habits.

>>108

A hidden disciple!?

A topic that suddenly surfaced.

The possibility that Yu-jin was Aika's hidden disciple.

It stirred up a controversy unlike any before.

Japan's pride and walking strategic nuke, teaching a Korean awakened one recklessly.

Even those who supported the fictitious marriage of Yu-jin and Aika raised objections.

There's this controversy, what should we do?"

"Tch. Summon Miss Ninomiya. Let's hear her side first." The Japanese government quickly summoned Aika.

To understand the situation...

-Panting.

"Prime Minister!"

"Hmm. What is it?"

"Ninomiya Aika is nowhere to be found!!"

What?"

 

"About six days ago, she left saying she was visiting family... but we can't locate her at all!!"

"......!!!!!!?"

Only then did Japan realize that their strategic nuke had gone rogue.