Evolution Theory of the Hunter Chapter 174

J: I got the final confirmation for the exact date at which I must go for military service yesterday. I leave on the 23rd of September. This does not mean that there will be a hiatus. Kyle will continue to translate as usual, and I will post the chapters whenever I get the chance to go to the city for a break. That means the interval between chapters might be a few months if I am unlucky. Just letting everyone know. …. Not edited.

"Thank you for fighting for America. You are America's hero. The people of the White House will most certainly be elated as well. Not to mention the citizens of America."

Jane Gray stuck her hand out after transporting the injured and organizing the surroundings.

"You aren't planning on glossing over this matter like this right?"

"Of course you will receive an appropriate reward."

"I'll look forward to it."

She seemed to be sneakily trying to end the matter about rewards by making me a hero so I specifically mentioned it.

The specifics must come later but I'm looking forward to a generous reward since it's the American government and all.

"May I guide you?"

"Guide……?"

"I have heard that Mr. Jun will be giving our country a big help. Your quarters have already been decided so I think it should be fine for you to move with us."

So it was like that.

I did feel like it was a bit weird that a battalion that was on the level of being a state defense squad would arrive so quickly. It was the same thing as people arriving in 30 minutes at Busan from Seoul after an incident.

If they were headed this way in the first place, then it made sense.

"Either way, who is this Mr. Jun?"

"Aren't you Mr. Jun Sang-min?"

"It's Jeon Sang-min."

"Jon Sang-min?"

"Please just call me Mr. Jun."

I let out a light sigh.

***

"But it's a bit weird."

"What is?"

"Why did those guys not return to the void?"

Jane Gray said so in confusion while looking around.

"I wonder why. I'm not so sure……."

"I think an investigation must be done first. I feel like it might be a new type of monster. There's also the fact that they appeared suddenly…… But there are quite a few mysterious events occurring here and there though."

"Mysterious events……?"

"The dungeons of the continent are disappearing rapidly. On top of that, there's the issue with New Alaska."

"Ah. So you're talking about that."

I nodded with a wry expression.

That all happened because of me.

If I said so what kind of expression would she have. Of course, if I let that slip out of my mouth I would definitely be treated like a r.e.t.a.r.d.

Either way, it's obvious that she would have questions about it.

Mermaids returned to the void as soon as they died and all the items and ores that dropped from them all disappeared after all.

The dropped items had all been turned into mermaids. The total number of mermaids I got like that numbered 89.

I had 60 level 7 warriors and fighters and 29 healers. In the case of the healers, they could use healing magic on allies even if they weren't mermaids on top of being skilled in close combat so they were quite useful.

By the way, the number of monsters excluding the mermaids is 300. They had decreased significantly compared to the original 2,000.

However, it couldn't be said that my overall strength has decreased much. The ones that survived were elites over level 5 and since level 7,8 mermaids were added as replacement they might be better than the previous 2,000.

I talked to Jane Gray.

"I'm not sure why they didn't return to the void. More importantly, I think we should balance accounts."

"Balance accounts……?"

"As it was a battle that occurred suddenly I had no choice but to start the battle without proper preparations. Because of that there was quite a few losses. I'm not sure if you know me well but my main force comes from the monster army that I summon. And an astronomical amount of money goes into using even one monster."

"Ah…… I see. I understand. I will give a proper report in that aspect."

It felt like she was trying to end this conversation hurriedly.

I suppose topics such as reward problems are uncomfortable for her being a soldier and all. She wasn't in a position to give a definite answer either.

However, if I didn't get a proper answer here then I might not be able to receive a proper compensation.

No matter how much more normally America runs more normally than the Korean government they still move as an official system called a government so it shouldn't be that different.

On top of that, I didn't think that they would care that much about a foreigner like me.

"The number of monsters I lost in this battle is 1,700."

"…… Yes. I will certainly include that in the report."

"Also, each monster ranges from 100m to 1b."

"Ah……."

I could feel that she was becoming more fl.u.s.tered.

"Let's talk about the details as we go."

"Sh, shall we?"

I drew out the information on the dead monsters while following behind Jane Gray who had stiff movements.

It seemed like it would take quite a while even for me to calculate so I was planning on calculating on the way.

Jane asked me to ride on the vehicle they prepared. From my perspective, the van was better but there was no need to brush aside their good intent when they prepared a limousine especially for me.

The vehicle was a top cla.s.s luxury limousine that I only ever saw in movies. The length was over 10 meters and had a high cla.s.s sheen. I didn't know where it was made but there was an emblem that I saw for the first time s.h.i.+ning on the front.

Wait a minute, is that diamond? What are you going to do if someone steals it.

As I went in after opening the door, I could smell the high cla.s.s leather that filled the inside of the vehicle. The ivory colored interior that didn't have any uselessly fancy decorations gave me a pretty comfortable feeling.

"It's the same vehicle the president rides."

Jane opened her mouth from behind.

To go so far. I was starting to think that they were scheming something. It seemed like they weren't planning on sending me off quietly.

They will try to take whatever they can.

However, I didn't have any plans on being treated so lightly. I was planning on giving what I do while receiving what I should.

I went in and Jane Gray entered after.

She started talking to the driver after refining her curt expression and posture.

"Let go."

"I didn't get on yet though."

Edward stuck his head inside the vehicle.

"Ah…… I, I'm sorry."

Her face became red as she cleared her throat.

I thought I was the only one that was nervous but it seems she was the same.

Certainly, this type of highest cla.s.s limousine wasn't something just anybody could ride. As she said, it was only for times such as the president's formalities so it can't be helped that she would be more nervous as a soldier.

"Ehem. I've shown you an unsightly side."

"Not at all. I thought you would just be stiff since you're a soldier and all but it was fun seeing an unusual sight."

Edward got on the vehicle and we got on our way. During all that, I was staring at Jane who was trying to hide her reddened face by looking out the window.

Her brown hair and pet.i.te body, as well as her soft facial lines made me feel like someone put a picture from the Renaissance period in front of me.

On top of that, her personality was pretty clumsy as well.

I thought that all the girls here would be liberal like men but it's totally cute seeing her blush like this.

– Sunbae oppa, are you alive?

Holy c.r.a.p. I was surprised at the message that came suddenly.

Why did this girl send a message at such a timing?

– Yeah, I'm fine.

– You're being broadcasted live on the news right now.

– Already?

– Yeah. What the h.e.l.l are you doing there?

– I somehow ended up doing some heroic things.

– Ahahaha. You're really funny.

I didn't say that to be funny.

– But you were still really cool. Your face came out as the size of a door you know?

– Someone was earnestly filming you see.

I feel like there were some that died doing so though.

They were people that endured to the end even after I used the monsters to make them not get caught up in the battle. Nothing can be said since they died due to their own mistake but the death of citizens is a sorrowful thing.

I continued messaging like that when I felt a piercing gaze.

I turned my head to see Jane looking at me with eyes full of curiosity.

"Is it your girlfriend?"

"N, no. I don't have a girlfriend."

"Is that so? Hm…… There's not many cases where my intuition was off."

"This guy is really just my friend."

I said so while desperately shaking my head.

Edward opened his mouth from the side.

"Is that so?"

"Y, yeah."

"Then it's fine for me to say that to Mrs. Soo-ah right?"

"I will give you a big bonus."

"An additional 100,000."

"Fine."

I felt like this guy was slowly aiming at my weak points these days.

Even so, I'm thankful that his base is shallow. If it was me, I would have called for around 1m, not 100,000.

"But isn't it hot?"

Jane who was laughing in the corner said so while pointing at the thick fur coat.

San Diego was a country that had high temperatures even within America.

The temperature didn't drop below 10 degrees even in winter and it's sometimes warm enough to wear just a t-s.h.i.+rt. Today was an especially warm day too.

It would be weird not to have questions.

"It's alright."

"You look a bit pale, are you ill somewhere?"

Jane put a hand on Edward's forehead as she said so. At that moment, Edward, Jane, and I all twitched.

A strange mood was suddenly created.

The first one to open their mouth was Jane.

"Your body is…… cold."

"Haha. The clothes this guy is wearing is clothes that make the temperature drop like a refrigerator."

"It was too cold considering that…… Should I say that it was like touching a corpse."

Jane was not a woman that didn't know anything. She was a leader that led hundreds of hunters and a level 9 hunter. Money was all that was needed for equipment but career wasn't made with money.

She probably went through many more battlefields than I think.

Also, her sharp gaze wasn't falling off of Edward.

Jane Gray opened her mouth in a low voice.

"You're not a human being I see."

d.a.m.n. I didn't think it would be blown in one shot.

I let out a sigh as I nodded.

"You are correct. He's not a human but……."

"I will speak."

Edward said so and showed his fangs. Jane's expression became even stiffer. Only the low sound of the engine could be heard.

Jane slowly opened her mouth after a long silence.

"Is he Mr. Great Summoner's summon?"

"Yes? Ah. Yes. That is so. He's one of the monsters I summon."

It would be nice if I could pa.s.s it off like this.

But the words that came after that were truly out of all expectations.

"If that's so, then does Mr. Edward only move according to Mr. Jun's commands?"

"I'm not sure what you mean."

"That is…… In other words."

Jane's face rapidly began turning red.

Figuring out the fact that the mood became weird I looked between her and Edward repeatedly with eyes full of suspicion.

Eh. There's no way that could be.

"Could you give me your phone number?"