Crossing and Accelerating (6)

[Therefore, the Korean superhuman Shin Eunah is now recognized as number one in the international rankings, and the Korean superhuman Shin Eun-hyuk is now recognized as fifth in the global rankings. If you have any objections, please raise your hand and speak.]

Through the monitor, Charlotte Jad Macon, chairman of the World Superhuman Conference, was calmly speaking. Despite being poisoned to the point she was spewing blood days before, there were no signs of injury on her. No doubt, the conference had resumed in an attempt to show off the power of the superhumans, including her.

‘Charlotte Jad Macon. She was quite active at the gate.’ Kang Shin-hyuk and Shin Eunah were the ones who mainly dealt with the worst of the enemies, but most of the high rankers had been there to fight, including her.

[Shin Eun-hyuk, the Death Puppeteer.]

[You have to admit his power.]

[After seeing it, I wouldn’t dare.]

[Fifth seems too low.]

[Two top rankers from Korea alone.]

Of course, all those attending the conference had been sucked into the SSS-class gate. Some had been rescued by him, and some had fought beside him. It would be absurd for them not to acknowledge his ability at that point. At least, that maintained that attitude on the surface. No one could interfere with Shin Eunah; she had already been proven to be a force far beyond Joo Young-oh.

[Then, this concludes the fifteenth World Superhuman Conference. With all these events in mind, each country will have to work closely together to protect humanity from the threat of Jormungand.]

Charlotte’s dignified voice carried throughout the conference hall. Kang Shin-hyuk applauded with everyone else on the thirteenth floor. Lee Na-hee, standing beside him, suddenly tapped on the floor and muttered.

“It’s great to restore a building like this in just a few days.”

“Most of the materials were mostly intact. Even so, it’s great.” Kang Shin-hyuk looked around. They were once again in the HQ of the French Superhuman Association, the same one that had collapsed a few days ago in the raid. The association had restored it in that short amount of time.

“Though it cost an astronomical amount.” Siara Bertrand added with a tired look.

“It was difficult. Every famous production superhuman they could find was brought into France… we got a lot of help from the Alchemist too.”

“So…” In fact, he hadn’t seen her face to face since that shocking kiss. Kang Shin-hyuk had too many other surprising things happen immediately after that, so he hadn’t been able to follow up.

“I’m also a strong production superhuman.”

“They don’t know your trait evolved.” Lee Na-hee’s trait [Enchant (A+)] had evolved into a unique characteristic called [Sprout Rune (S+)]. The sight of Lee Na-hee bragging was both infuriating and cute. She burned with enthusiasm, saying that she would reach the SS or even SS+ rank by evolving her trait once more. She was completely different from the dispassionate senior he had first met. Kang Shin-hyuk, aware he had been the one who helped light that fire, wondered if he should be happy or embarrassed.

“Soon, everyone will know of my abilities, and the first glorious step will be with you.”

“You are raising those flags by yourself.”

“I like the sight of you two.” As always, Siara Bertrand was misunderstanding what was happening. Eleanor was watching them with sharp eyes.

“The meeting must be over, so I’ll head back now.”

“What about the party?”

“I’ve already taken care of all those who needed it. Will you come play?”

“No, it’s no fun without you. Let’s eat together.”

“Yes, then me too.” Lee Na-hee grabbed Kang Shin-hyuk’s arm with her bold declaration. Eleanor grabbed onto his other arm as if it was only natural. Meanwhile, Karen stepped back with an unpleasant face as she snorted at them. Several people’s eyes were on them now.

“…What?”

“Sir, please die. Die!” Kang Shin-hyuk sighed at the curses naturally flowing out from the observers and removed the two from him.

“I want to be alone.”

“Are you going to see Claire?”

“No.” Kang Shin-hyuk’s immediate response surprised Lee Na-hee as she withdrew.

“If so, then what? …No, I’m sorry.”

“There’s no need to apologize.” Kang Shin-hyuk bitterly smiled at her words. She always knew the right timing to retreat from a subject. Perhaps she could intuitively examine the nature of a person, just like he could with spiritual power.

“Huh…? Shin-hyuk, what happened?”

“Nothing much. Then, I’ll be off.” Kang Shin-hyuk waved at them and walked out of the hall. Most of the people were excited for the party to start after the meeting, but Kang Shin-hyuk had no intention of matching that atmosphere. He returned to the hotel and checked the time. He had about fifteen hours before check out.

“That is… twenty-two and a half hours in Mirotoz.”

-Would you like to go to Mirotoz?

“Yeah, I need to meet Halo in person.” First, he went to his My Room and then to Mirotoz from there. When he arrived, Halo’s voice greeted him from the leaf that lay by the side of his bed.

[Anvil, you’re here.]

“I wanted to talk to you, Halo.”

[It’s difficult to say, but I was of the same mind.]

-Master Halo…

[It’s a joke, administrator.]

Kang Shin-hyuk took the leaf and left the room. The elves were out in the field created by Kang Shin-hyuk, working hard. They had already completed one harvest, and now a second one awaited them.

“Master Anvil!”

“Anvil is here!”

“You look better.” The elves noticed that Kang Shin-hyuk had grown stronger and awakened a new skill. Although it was possible that they might just be saying that to curry favor with him.

“Did you come to make the shackles?”

“Yes, there is that too. I’ll get to it after chatting with Halo for a minute.” After greeting the elves, he took out the blue cow and headed straight for Halo. It would be enough to talk to him through the leaves, but he felt like facing him in person. If he wanted to converse, the Hero Universe’s whisper system would’ve been enough.

“I’ll sit down here.”

[Okay.]

Kang Shin-hyuk put the blue cow back in his inventory and sat down on a branch protruding from the middle of the tall tree.

“You know about Janus.”

[Can’t you get in touch with him? I thought he would have left a word for Anvil…]

Although he had been expecting it, Halo also seemed unable to contact Janus. Kang Shin-hyuk heaved a sigh.

“Instead, a guy wearing the armor that Janus had made for him arrived on Earth.”

[Huh? Is that so?]

Halo didn’t seem all that surprised by the fact.

[To tell you this, maybe Janus is too healthy. He won’t die.]

“Is Janus a traitor?”

[You shouldn’t judge the situation too quickly, Anvil. Trust in the Janus you know.]

“The only thing I believe in is myself.”

[I see.]

“By the way…” There was something he couldn’t even ask the administrator about, but perhaps he could ask Halo.

“That guy in armor called me his father. To be precise. He called Anvil his father.”

[From before your lifetime… the countless weapons you have made in that past life, and the seeds of their potential, have had a significant influence on not only those in the Hero Universe but also our enemy, Jormungand.]

“You mean that’s enough to call me father?”

[Hmm, right… Anvil… do you know of the conditions under which monsters are born?]

Kang Shin-hyuk’s heart began to pound just with those words.

“The conditions…”

-Master Halo.

[Administrator, in my opinion, Anvil has already made his decision. He is finally taking the Hero Universe seriously and is trying to move forward. That is why you came to find me, isn’t that right?]

He was right. The relationship Kang Shin-hyuk had maintained with the Hero universe so far was too passive. He had only completed a few dimensional quests, and most of them were related to Shin Eunah and Claire. It was partly because he had yet to recover the skills of his previous life to make the armaments the other members were used to. But now, it was a little different. Although he couldn’t dare compare himself to a tremendous presence like Halo, Kang Shin-hyuk had directly obtained the minimum qualifications by acquiring Soul Poison. Now was the time for him to learn about the Hero Universe actively. It was necessary to learn about what was going on on Earth right now.

[Sure, so…but that is wrong.]

“Well?”

[Isn’t metallurgy what brought you into the Hero Universe?]

“That’s…”

[Your combat power is still… I apologize for saying, but it’s nothing much to see. But that’s not true of metallurgy. So, if you want to be deeply connected with this… you have to use your metallurgy.]

Only

Halo was able to ruthlessly say that Kang Shin-hyuk’s combat abilities, which had reached the SSS-rank, were only that much. But he was right; he was still inferior to the members of the Hero Universe in that regard. He had just thought he was barely qualified to step in.

[You don’t seem to understand how great the armaments you made are.]

Halo laughed bitterly.

[First, let me tell you the correct answer. Monsters are mirrors that reflect our existence.]

“Well?”

[A mirror, us and monsters, Hero Universe and Jormungand.]

[You have created weapons that have changed both histories and worlds, causing countless monsters to be born. In that sense, you can be said to be the father of many monsters, perhaps more than anyone else.]

Kang Shin-hyuk was learning something he had not been prepared for, of a scale much more extensive than he anticipated.