Chapter 36 : Prelude (1)

Though I didn’t pay much attention to it, passing it by without much notice, the world was showing signs of imminent, drastic change.

“Unni. Haa. I don’t know why so many Gates are opening lately. It’s overtime every day.”

Han Sol, visiting my house after a long time, sighed and complained. I responded nonchalantly.

“Still, nothing above A-rank is opening, right?”

At least the Hwaryongjeomjeong one in North Korea was handled by Caspar.

“…Originally. Even two A-rank Gates opening in a year is a lot. Unni. Even just B-rank ones incur enormous infrastructure restoration costs.”

Hmm. I thought it was fine as long as there were no casualties. Seems the perspective of a civil servant is a bit different.

“Aah~. Still, it’s a relief things have improved greatly thanks to you, Unni. Since we can handle the minor ones immediately just by giving you the coordinates. Gate forecasting is a different story, but that’s originally the Meteorological Administration’s role, so it can’t be helped…”

At those words, I glanced sideways at Caspar sitting next to me.

While using Magic Bullets to destroy Gates this time, I also shot several Magic Bullets at Caspar. Honestly, it was incredibly mentally taxing.

Plus, we even switched to informal speech. The guilt and transgression I felt were beyond imagination.

If there was a problem, it was perhaps that the feeling of transgression excited me, and from some point, I lost hesitation in firing Magic Bullets.

Like the dizzying, thrilling sensation I felt when secretly sitting on the former king’s throne, I felt that same sensation every time I shot a Magic Bullet at Caspar.

Something… Something felt strange.

My mental structure had definitely changed. My self-esteem had indeed lowered to the point where I felt guilty treating Caspar ‘normally’…

Why are the resulting actions the same? This way, nothing has changed at all.

Even Caspar, who tormented me at night finding fault with every little thing, remained silent on this important issue. Thanks to that, I became even more arrogant, insolently crossing the line.

Of course, of course, I know.

This was all Caspar’s intention, and thanks to it, our relationship was gradually changing towards equality.

But still-

“Unni? Are you okay?”

“Ah. Sorry. Was just lost in thought for a moment. So. Gate subjugations have become much more frequent lately?”

Han Sol looked at me with concern for a moment, then finally nodded.

“Yes. Actually, the frequency of Gate generation hasn’t increased much. But the number of subjugations has increased significantly. I don’t know what the Association is thinking… but lately, they’ve been pushing subjugations excessively hard.”

“I see.”

Mmmhmm. What kind of play would be good tonight? I haven’t tried the maid outfit yet. Should I try that this time?

No, maybe something normal is better. Since we always do unusual things, I kind of want to do something normal too.

“I see-? This is quite an important issue, you know. Besides, it’s not just the Association; worldwide, it’s like some Gate boom has reignited, and everyone’s conducting massive subjugations.”

“Yes. Must be a big problem. Must be tough.”

Should I not have called Sol? Ah. I need to visit Bari sometime soon too.

Since I’ll need childcare tips when I eventually have a baby. Is having twins perhaps easier for raising kids? Seeing how Bari struggles, maybe not.

“That’s right! Like. Everyone seems possessed by something. Even major corporations are crazily manufacturing Hunter gear, and dozens of A-rank Gates are being subjugated daily.”

Ah. I want to get pregnant.

Once I confirm Enhen is alright, there’s really nothing holding me back. Maybe Enhen will target Caspar too, so should I establish the fait accompli first?

“…Unni. Are you actually listening to me?”

No.

“Yes.”

Then Caspar cleared his throat and asked Han Sol.

“Ahem. Bureaucrat lady. There’s something I want to ask.”

“…Ah. Yes. Please speak.”

Caspar’s way of addressing Han Sol, still unfamiliar with modern government, was slightly amusing, but the question contained within wasn’t amusing at all.

“Then the subjugated Gates, does that mean they were safe ones normally left alone? Correct?”

“That’s right. Gates used for research purposes, and Gates determined to be safe are also being subjugated. I have a relatively high rank myself, but my superiors won’t tell me the reason. Haa.”

“Another question. How has the Association you’ve observed so far been? Though I wasn’t from here, by my standards, I think it’s sufficiently trustworthy.”

Lady, huh. I glanced sideways at Han Sol.

Quite decent looks. Voluptuous figure, younger than me too…

Looking now, she seems to be wearing makeup too. Her clothes are strangely well-put-together too.

…This won’t do. Next time I call Sol, I’ll have to tell Caspar not to come. Repaying my friendship like this.

I pulled Caspar’s arm, linking mine with his, and stared blankly at Han Sol. To express that I was his rightful lover.

But she showed no reaction.

…What’s this. Why, no reaction at all?

Wasn’t wearing clothes emphasizing her chest meant to seduce Caspar? Strange. Any woman should inevitably like Caspar.

If not, I might actually feel offended. How dare she not like Caspar?

“Hmm. Yes. That’s true. The Hunter Association has certainly been thorough in these aspects. Though there are many suspicions about private use of government budgets or public funds, and people have been caught using inside information for stock trading… Still, regarding Gates, they are trustworthy.”

“…If you don’t use inside information for stocks, what do you use to invest in stocks? Weren’t budgets originally something the king could use freely?”

Caspar seemed briefly confused by the ‘common sense’ of this other world but soon demonstrated sharp insight.

Haa. That look is cool too. Should I take a picture?

Acting quickly, I immediately took out my phone, adjusted the angle well, and took a picture of the intellectual-looking Caspar.

-Click.

“Anyway. Let’s assume the Association’s judgment is sound. I may not be smart, but I think I know this field well at least.”

“Well. It certainly seems the Association has some hidden objective. Can we agree on that?”

“…Yes. There are many things that can’t be revealed externally for security reasons, so I can understand that. But it’s not just the Association, right? That’s my thought too, and many people just believe the Association has crossed the line and forgotten its duty. Trying to gain popularity by jumping on some ridiculous trend.”

Wow. So handsome. Need to take another picture.

-Click.

Caspar grabbed my phone with one hand, threw it onto the bed, and focused back on the conversation with Han Sol. The way he didn’t even glance at me was shocking.

Surely. Surely already… Ugh, to think he’d try to have an affair so openly.

“What trend? Originally, a true leader doesn’t care about trends or public popularity. That’s something only seen in foolish political systems like tyranny or democracy.”

“Wow, what is this Platonist… Um. Well, I am a relatively high-ranking civil servant of a democratic republic.”

“The Association seems closer to a monarchy. Anyway. The important thing is, the Association President isn’t someone who would change the Association’s policy over trivial matters.”

Han Sol reluctantly nodded.

“Yes. Seems so. Then why would he?”

“Well… There are many possibilities one could speculate. But honestly, isn’t there a more certain method than speculating through such discussions?”

Saying so, Caspar looked at me.

“…?”

“Agathe. What do you think? You know Association President Saradoryeong better. Why would he be so focused on Gate subjugation?”

Ugh.

I don’t want to think about such headache-inducing topics.

“…Uh. I, I don’t really know. Ah! It must be because many Gates are occurring. I saw it on the news.”

“……Unni. You weren’t listening to me at all. I told you at the beginning, the frequency of Gate occurrence hasn’t changed much.”

A look of exasperation was shot my way.

“Why. Why only pick on me…”

Dejected, I squatted down and hugged my legs.

And secretly sent a text to Yulha via phone. Asking what the Association was plotting regarding recent policies and Gates.

The reply came quickly. Putting on a confident expression, I interrupted Caspar, who was engaged in a complex discussion, and answered.

“Me! I know the answer now!”

Han Sol didn’t seem particularly convinced, but Caspar took my words rather seriously.

“Right. What do you think it is?”

I recited the answer Yulha sent me verbatim.

“The reason for subjugating Gates is because the Gate is there. That’s the answer.”

Of course, it wasn’t taken seriously at all.

“W-Wait. Here, there’s evidence too. It’s true.”

Then, feeling wronged, I showed the text message I received from Yulha, and thanks to that, Han Sol expressed astonishment at the lack of security awareness from an Association department chief level figure.

A 10-minute nagging session followed. Saying that no matter how much I trusted her, I shouldn’t show such things carelessly.

Well, I showed it because I was confident I could just kill everyone if betrayed. Seeing that sounded a bit psycho, I kept silent.

Until finally confirming the message Yulha sent was just a copy-paste of the 6th line of the Association’s founding principles from the Association website, which nobody reads.

I had to taste the feeling of being an uncultured person, trembling at Caspar’s ruthlessness for distracting my mind with his handsome face and preventing me from focusing on the conversation.