Episode 34

3.

100,000.

When the number was revealed in the conference room, the representatives of each guild let out a sigh.

I can understand their reaction, because the number of 100,000 was quite a concern to me, who had already dealt with countless orcs in Eden.

The number 100,000 is by no means a number that can be ignored.

Especially in the case of orcs.

“As you know, orcs have tribal tattoos on their arms. However, the number of tattoos on orcs that our informants have confirmed this time alone exceeds 7 types.”

On the screen were pictures that seemed to have been taken from quite a distance away with a high-performance camera, and as Minister Yoo Seon-ho said, seven clearly different tattoos were arranged.

Based on what I didn't remember, they didn't seem to be the Orc tribes I knew in Eden.

However, those orcs didn't seem to have very different habits from the orcs of Eden.

“Orcs are basically classified as a sub-race that lives a tribal life. Even if they are of the same race, they have a habit of being completely hostile towards people of different tribes. This is a sub-race that has shown a fairly consistent appearance since the opening of Dimension. But for some reason, this time the seven tribes came together. “It is extremely unusual.”

As Minister Yoo Seon-ho said, Orcs are a sub-race with extreme exclusivity and belligerence.

So, although it was a sub-race that could not easily come together, there was only one case where such Orcs came together as one.

“According to confirmed information, a special entity appears to be leading the orcs.”

“You mean a special object?”

"her."

Judging by the delegates' reactions, it seems that it has never appeared on Earth before, but I knew what this special entity was.

I've faced him a few times in Eden.

Born to have the power to rule over the orcs.

A monster that draws on the reckless fighting spirit of the orcs and creates the tragedy of war.

"In the world I came from, it was called the Overlord."

Overlord.

I furrowed my brows, and all eyes on the screen turned to me.

"He's an overwhelming difference from the other orcs in every way, and he's a tribal breaker. The moment the Overlord appears, the orcs instinctively pledge allegiance to that entity."

I didn't know I'd encounter the Overlord again on Earth.

Compared to the four orc overlords that appeared at that time, Earth seems to have only one, which seems to be a good thing.

"Siu, can you give us a brief explanation of that?"

I shrugged my shoulders slightly at Minister Yoo's request and continued.

"Well, nothing out of the ordinary. Compared to the other orcs, he has overwhelming strength, and he has the ability to rally the orcs by his presence, isn't it?"

Minister Yoo Seon Ho tried to listen to my answer, but Representative Lee, who had fought with Representative Choi the other day, turned on the microphone and said,

"This is the Earth. There could be orcs in the world where the awakened came from, but could they be a completely separate species from the orcs on Earth?"

It's just a nuance that they're going to openly argue with me.

I looked at him, smiled, and folded my hands lightly in response.

"I suppose so. But the habits they were exhibiting didn't seem to be much different."

"In preparation for this situation, the major guilds have set up their own research institutes to support research on monsters. I know you've just returned to Earth, and it's best to leave this to the experts."

In short, this is an area in which they are confident, so don't get caught up in the topic of returnees.

It sounded pretty funny, so I decided to play along with it.

"You like to leave it to the experts, so it seems like you left it to the experts at Ground Zero, too? But the experts are really poor."

“…… What are you talking about?"

"I'm going to tell you to shut up if you know the subject, but don't you understand?"

If this wasn't the Ministry of Talent Management, and if it weren't for Minister Yoo Seon-ho, it would have been a farce long ago.

"It's nice to have some personal things to say, but I want you to focus on Monster Wave first."

He nodded obediently to Minister Yoo's restraint.

Despite this, I am a person who knows how to distinguish between public and private affairs. There is plenty of time to continue the bad relationship with them, so let's put that aside for a moment.

"It seems that Siu is familiar with this unusual entity, so do you know how to solve it?"

"It's simple. We only need to kill that overlord."

If you kill only the overlord, who is the focal point, the forces under the overlord will split up on their own.

Dealing with a large army of orcs is quite gritty. They boast overwhelming strength and combat power compared to other races, so they are bound to struggle when they are faced head-on.

It was a strategy chosen because not a single soldier was enough in Eden, and it was more effective than I thought.

As soon as the overlord's head was smashed, the orcs went on a rampage and began killing each other.

"Hmmm."

Minister Yoo swallowed his sobs at my words.

"That anomaly sits at the heart of 100,000 orcs. Even if you kill that unusual entity and the monster wave ends, you still have to break through to get to the center, right?"

"If you get there by land, yes, but you don't have to get there by land."

Advancing while squeezing the orcs was pretty tiring for me.

"You can use the sky. It just so happens that there is a very good tool on Earth: helicopters."

"Are you saying you're going to form a special squad to conduct an aerial assault operation by helicopter?"

"Exactly."

At that, a man who had been silent looked at me and asked, "What are you doing?"

"I'm not sure that killing an unusual entity will stop the monster wave, so can we take that as an indication that we're putting our Hunters into an uncertain possibility?"

Judging from the silence in the conference room where the man's words had made me feel sick, it seemed that he was the one who had the strongest voice in the room.

A man who looks to be in his early 30s at most.

But the tiger-shaped badge on his suit gave a rough idea of who he was.

The representative of the Daeho Guild, which is the number one guild in Korea.

I replied firmly, looking at the face of the man I was going to see for a very long time.

"When did I say I was going to send your Hunters in?"

"The government will not be able to afford it because of the contingencies that have happened at the same time. That's why Minister Yu ....... here."

"I'm the only one going."

Was it an unexpected development?

Silence fell once more in the room, and I concluded with a smile at the shit-chewing guild representatives.

"I've heard that I've deliberately exaggerated or manipulated my strength. I'm going to take this opportunity to prove it to myself. If you have any complaints, please let me know now."

You can't afford to miss out on the sales opportunities that have crept in.

4.

Two plans were drawn up at the meeting.

"Plan A. Awakened Kim Si Woo will conduct an aerial assault operation to eliminate the Unusual Overlord and destroy the Monster Wave. 」

"Plan B. In case Plan A fails, large guilds, including the Great Lakes Guild, will form a defensive line along the former armistice line and work with the reorganized 30th Mechanized Infantry Division to fend off the monster wave. 」

Without me, things probably would have gone according to Plan B.

In the old days, that mechanized infantry division would have been enough to be reassuring, but most of the modern weapons that the Republic of Korea had were destroyed > the opening of the Dimension.

Moreover, he said that the compatibility was not very good.

The reason for this was that the monsters that appeared through the gate had an unknown resistance to Earth's modern firearms.

At that point, it was likely that the dimensional system was involved in some way.

Otherwise, it wouldn't happen.

Anyway.

The situation was so urgent that as soon as the meeting was over, I headed straight to an aviation battalion in Paju.

Everything was already ready at the site.

The helicopter I was going to take had finished refueling, and the nervous-looking drivers were ready.

"Are you sure you're okay with yourself?"

"Don't worry. It's been a long time since I've been in high air."

By the way, in Eden, instead of helicopters, dwarves flew in griffons trained by dwarves.

It was quite rough, so the ride was not very good, but the helicopter was very sensible in comparison.

I nodded lightly and placed my hand on the helicopter's body.

Then, the pure white flame that rose from my hand covered the body in an instant.

Woooo

[Active Skill Sanctification Lv. ??? Use >.] [The object is infused with a powerful blessing for a period of time.]

"Is that really enough to drive away the flying monsters?"

"It's going to work pretty well. Even the most hungry monsters don't come in looking for a place to die."

The reason the pilots were so nervous was surprisingly simple.

This is because beyond the old armistice line, that is, in the lost land, various flying monsters, including wyverns, were active.

"Siu, this old bastard is asking you to do me a favor again. Please stop the monster wave."

Anomalies are occurring all over the country, but the Ministry of Talent Management considers Monster Wave to be the number one threat.

It meant that I had to clear this place quickly so that the large guilds waiting in the back could distribute it to other areas.

I feel like there's quite a lot of weight on my shoulders, but that's okay with this level of pressure.

"I'll be right back."

At least it's lighter than carrying the fate of a dimensional plane.

I said a few words to Minister Yoo, and then looked at the cameraman of the day, who was waiting behind me with a flushed face.

"Three brothers. Are you ready?"

"Yes, yes! Pope Francis! I'll make sure I capture it on camera!"

Seol Se-myung, who is part of Min-so's filming team.

You'll be the lucky one who first encountered you in the Abyss Dungeon a long time ago, and who was naturally resistant to Magi.

In the case of Ground Zero >, filming was not possible due to mana pollution, but it is said that it is possible to film the Lost Land >, the area north of the ceasefire line.

It's not because of the Gate's magical power, but because it's a barren area due to the monsters that flowed out of the Gate.

So I just brought three people with me.

You don't have to give up on being able to shoot.

When the competition is about to begin, publicity is very important.

I've taken on 100,000 orcs on my own> I've taken a helicopter ride into the Lost Land> How can you put up with such a provocative title?

I spoke to the three of them, who were trembling.

"You don't have to worry too much."

"I know it's safest to be at the Pope's side!"

"But why are you shivering like that?"

"It's because I'm a part of this glorious ministry! I can't control my excitement. Thank you so much for this opportunity! Even if I have to give my whole body to Limen......."

…… Was he shaking in a different way?

Even Min-so, who had a slight taste in the Abyss Dungeon, seems to have a reason for expressing that "the three of them are not in their right mind right now."

"Limen will be greatly pleased with the voluntary service of the three brothers. Now, let's go."

"Yes!"

So I boarded the helicopter with the three of us.

A helicopter that had been shown a few times in movies and dramas that I had seen in the past.

Earlier, the battalion commander here had told me the name of the UH-60 or something, but it was a helicopter that I was more familiar with as the Black Hawk >.

The interior of the helicopter was much more spacious than I thought.

Maybe it's because there are only two duffles in the cockpit.

Let's see, I had a conversation with those pilots earlier...... What was his name?

Oh, that's right.

"Brigadier General Han Seung-woo? Lieutenant Kyung-seok?"

“…… Yes."

"Yes."

In a way, the atmosphere is like that of a person walking on a limb on his own.

Moderate tension is fine, but too much tension always leads to anger. So I asked them a question to ease their tension.

"Do you both have children?"

Soon they both nodded at the same time.

"I have a son who is in elementary school."

"I ....... daughter who just started kindergarten"

It seems that the story that soldiers marry quickly is true.

I nodded slowly to their answers, then gently lifted the corners of my mouth.

"Tell me in advance that Dad is leaving work early today. 20 minutes to go, 3 minutes to process, 20 minutes to return. One hour is enough. They are suffering for the country, and sometimes there should be something comfortable."