WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B.

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 134: 134

──────

“They’re lifting the Hunter General Mobilization Order?”

I got to my feet and immediately turned on the living room TV.

A news broadcast appeared.

[Emergency Address to the Nation by the President of the Republic of Korea]

“Oh. Is it really happening?”

“Jiho, what is it?”

“They’re lifting the General Mobilization Order.”

“What?!”

Hyeji, who had been playing with Iing Iing, startled and rushed into the living room. Choi Yejin, who had been working on a map, also quietly came over and sat beside me on the sofa.

The three of us sat side by side and watched the broadcast.

-My fellow citizens.

On the TV screen, President Jang Daehan stood at the podium in the Blue House press room.

He continued in a low voice.

-For the past several years, the Republic of Korea has suffered from a severe Point shortage...

He was talking about Korea’s reality.

More precisely, he was talking about what everyone in this country had painfully experienced for years.

-We repeatedly faced situations where the lives of our citizens were threatened because the Points required each month could not be secured.

-In order to preserve the nation, the government had to sell what it possessed.

-Businesses were handed over. Technology was handed over. Even the operating rights to ports and power plants were handed over.

-And even that was not enough. Capable Hunters left their homeland in search of better conditions, the national treasury was drained, and some public officials privately sold off national assets and information.

-As a result, the Republic of Korea... came to the brink of destruction.

-To prevent the nation’s collapse, the government was forced to enact the National Emergency Hunter General Mobilization Order. It was an emergency measure that compelled every Tower climber, including reserve Hunters, to enter the Tower...

The President’s voice grew heavy.

He fell silent for a moment before continuing.

-Many people were sacrificed.

-Some Hunters set out on climbs they never wanted and never returned, leaving behind their families. On behalf of the government, I offer my deepest apologies and gratitude.

“...”

Hyeji’s expression was complicated as she watched the screen.

Of course it was.

Hyeji had originally been an inactive Hunter, forcibly dragged away and subjected to the state’s kidnapping, confinement, and forced Point extraction.

If she hadn’t met me, she would probably still be crammed into a university dorm, forced to climb the Tower.

If she had been unlucky, she might have died.

The President continued.

-And today, I wish to deliver some news to the public.

-Over the past month, Korea’s Point reserves have recovered rapidly. This is thanks to the dedication of domestic Tower climbers and the recent acquisition of a large quantity of Points.

-In addition... improvements in our energy supply situation, including the Extreme Lunatic Hell Power Plan, have greatly reduced the overall burden of running the country.

-After reviewing our future supply and demand outlook, the government has determined that there is no longer a need to maintain compulsory mobilization.

The President paused for breath.

The Blue House press room fell silent.

Then, at last, the President declared it.

-Effective today, the government is lifting the National Emergency Hunter General Mobilization Order.

-!!!

A rough murmur rose from the reporters beyond the screen.

Click-click-click-click!

Camera flashes went off like mad. Buried beneath the flashing lights, the President continued.

-Hunters may now freely decide whether to climb. Measures to return detained Hunters home will begin in the near future.

-The Republic of Korea will return to everyday life.

-And things will only get better from here.

-I offer my deepest gratitude to every Hunter who has devoted themselves to the Republic of Korea.

The President bowed.

Unlike before, the TV screen clearly caught the thick hair covering the crown of his head.

Then...

Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!

Thunderous applause erupted.

It was the reporters in the press room applauding.

They were citizens of Korea too, so seeing their country overcome the threat of collapse must have moved them.

The applause went on for a long while before the national address ended.

“...”

“...”

“...”

The three of us said nothing for a moment.

Then I slowly rose to my feet and spread both arms wide.

“Applaud me.”

“?”

Hyeji and Yejin looked at my sudden behavior with puzzled expressions.

I made an even grander gesture, threw my arms open, lifted my chin, and shouted.

“Applaud this great me, the Extreme Lunatic Hell Patriotic Admiral Yi Hunter who saved King Korea!!!”

Who did they have to thank for lifting that General Mobilization Order?

Me.

I climbed the Tower every day and earned hundreds of thousands of Points.

I built the Extreme Lunatic Hell Power Plant and solved the electricity shortage.

I drove out every invading Chinese, Russian, and Japanese bastard.

I even went to Beijing and taught them a proper lesson.

Thanks to me, the exchange rate crashed, industry revived, and even Korea’s international standing changed.

...So who had saved King Korea?

Me.

Me, I said!!!

“Thanks to me, lives were saved, the economy was saved, industry was saved, and national defense was saved! And now the Hunter General Mobilization Order has been lifted too! Can you see it? My influence? My sal-va-tion power? So hurry up and praise me, worship me, respect me, and applaud me!!!”

-Iing Iing!!!

When I raised my fist and shouted, Iing Iing responded by shooting her adorable little fist into the air!

So cute!

Hyeji nodded.

“...Well. The way you’re saying it gives me cognitive dissonance, but... you’re not wrong. The order probably got lifted because you brought in so many Points, Jiho.”

“Fuck. A crazy bastard like this saved our country. What a joke.”

“Applaud me!!!”

Hyeji and Yejin readily acknowledged my achievements.

That was right.

Overwhelming accomplishments could earn recognition from others despite attention-seeking antics!

Hyeji muttered.

“Still, Jiho, can’t you act a little more normally? You really did something incredible, but... you keep acting like that, so I can’t feel any respect for you at all...”

“Nonsense! Judging someone by their outward behavior and words alone is a terrible habit! Look inside, not outside! Can’t you see the patriotism and love for the people pulsing in my heart? Open your mind’s eye!”

-Iing iing iing iing iing!!!

“Iing Iing... what does it even mean to look with fairy eyes...?”

How could Hyeji say it was hard to respect me over something as trivial as my appearance?

This was the harm caused by a society obsessed with appearances.

People were supposed to value what was inside, not outside. Tsk, tsk, tsk...

Anyway!

‘Hunter Gallery must be going crazy by now, right?’

The Hunter General Mobilization Order had been lifted.

Korea had finally escaped the threat of collapse, and an inhumane measure that had restricted citizens’ rights was coming to an end.

All thanks to me.

So Hunter Gallery had to be flooded with posts by now!

This... was something I had to check.

I pulled out my smartphone, logged into Hunter Gallery, and saw it.

[Breaking) Hunter General Mobilization Order lifted lololololol]

[It’s all thanks to Shining Blue Dot and King Dot]

[Whoa, is the exchange rate dropping again? Why’s it doing this, it’s dropping even more?]

[Feels like the country’s slowly coming back to life, feels good]

[The Hunter General Mobilization Order got lifted? For real? Does that mean I can go home?]

[Glazing Blue Dot is legal today]

...

Countless posts were pouring onto Hunter Gallery.

I read through the ones that caught my eye.

[Post Title: It’s All Thanks to Shining Blue Dot and King Dot]

Honestly, we have to admit it today.

He deserves credit for electricity bills dropping.

He brings in hundreds of thousands of Points every day.

He brought back Hunter Kim Taeseok too.

And today, he earned 3.45 million Points on Floor 42 lol.

The government itself says Point reserves have stabilized, and they’re even lifting the General Mobilization Order.

Normally, I thought he was a mentally ill weirdo who spewed nonsense on Hunter Gallery...

But when you list everything he’s done one by one, he really is saving a whole country.

I’ll give him credit for today.

But tomorrow, he’s Blue Dot again...

[Post Title: Whoa, Is the Exchange Rate Dropping Again? Why’s It Doing This, It’s Dropping Even More?]

I thought it was temporary because it had been falling for the past few days.

But the moment they announced the General Mobilization Order was being lifted, it crashed again?

It was 2,300 won, and now it’s hit 2,000 won. Damn.

At this rate, we might get to see a 1,000-won exchange rate again.

Do foreign countries think Korea’s situation is improving?

[Post Title: Feels Like the Country’s Slowly Coming Back to Life, Feels Good]

It’s really nothing huge, but the news has been making me feel kind of good lately.

Just a few months ago, whenever you turned on the news, it was always:

Not enough Points.

Not enough electricity.

Industry is dying.

Hunters are leaving.

When is the country going to collapse...

There was nothing but this fucking garbage.

But these days, electricity bills are dropping.

Point reserves are recovering.

And today, they’re even lifting the General Mobilization Order.

There’s been lots of good news lately haha.

It feels like we’re gradually going back to being a normal country like before, and I like it.

Honestly, Blue Dot deserves a lot of credit for this.

I used to think he was funny because he only wrote weird posts, but looking at it again, he’s a truly incredible person. I’m grateful too...

[Post Title: The Hunter General Mobilization Order Got Lifted? For Real? Does That Mean I Can Go Home?]

I’m kind of weak-nerved.

Fighting really doesn’t suit me either.

That’s why I was originally an inactive Hunter...

But after the General Mobilization Order came down and I was forcibly dragged away, every day was terrifying.

I was always scared I’d die, so I couldn’t even sleep.

Whenever I entered the Tower, I kept thinking, Is today the day I really die?

I got seriously injured a few times, and after that I started having something like panic attacks. I held on with medication.

Just because someone has Hunter aptitude doesn’t mean they’re all good at fighting and mentally tough.

I really wasn’t meant for this path.

But I cried when I saw that they were lifting the General Mobilization Order today.

I can really go home now, right?

I heard the order is being lifted because Blue Dot brought in so many Points.

Whenever I saw that asshole’s posts before, I thought, What kind of lunatic is this?

But today, I’m truly grateful.

You saved my life.

Really.

...

The posts went on and on.

Quite a few Hunter Gallery posts praised me and expressed their gratitude.

Well, the lifting of the Hunter General Mobilization Order was practically my accomplishment.

I grinned.

“Hehehe. The praise and respect of the common masses is as sweet as always. You cute little things! Keep praising and respecting me! In return, I’ll save King Korea for you!”

“You look excited, Jiho.”

“Of course I’m excited! How could I not be when I get to farm this much praise and attention?”

“Such an attention seeker... What’s so great about attention...?”

Hyeji grumbled.

Apparently, watching me bounce around while staring at my smartphone didn’t sit well with her.

Still, I had saved the country. Wasn’t I allowed to get this excited?

Anyway.

I put my smartphone in my pocket and said, “Phew. I farmed up a fat haul of attention for once. I’m going to wash up and sleep right away. I’m going to sleep like a baby tonight.”

“Huh? You’re not going to write a post, Jiho? You looked so happy earlier, so I thought you were going to post on Hunter Gallery.”

Hyeji looked at me with surprise after I declared that I was going to sleep well.

What was with that look that said, ‘Did he finally grow up...?’

I clicked my tongue.

“Hyeji, this is the kind of situation where it’s cool to stay quiet and not react. People are already praising you behind your back, and if you jump in because you like it and start puffing out your chest, do you know how pathetic that looks?”

“...What?”

No, think about it.

Everyone was already going,

‘Wow, Blue Dot is amazing!’

‘Shining Blue Dot! King Dot!’

Then the actual person suddenly popped up and said,

‘That’s right! I’m amazing! Praise me more!’

Wouldn’t that be incredibly lame?

I spoke with a solemn expression.

“A true powerhouse accepts applause in silence...!”

“...”

“Letting others realize my achievements on their own, respect me on their own, and praise me on their own. That is the dignity of the Extreme Lunatic Hell Wizard Hunter.”

“But earlier, you openly told Yejin and me to applaud you.”

“I don’t have any dignity to maintain in front of you and Yejin, so I just directly asked you to praise me.”

“Ugh.”

Anyway.

I felt good!

Hunter Gallery was overflowing with Hunters celebrating that they could return home, and many people were happy that the country seemed to be recovering.

Point shortages, the electricity crisis, the Hunter General Mobilization Order...

Until recently, every one of those problems had weighed heavily on Korea.

Yet all of them were being solved, one by one.

If I kept climbing through Floors 43 and 44, bringing back Points as I went...

Maybe Korea really could return to how it used to be.

No.

It was sure to become even better than before!

I nodded in satisfaction.

‘As expected, King Korea’s future is bright!’

* * *

At the same time.

The Blue House presidential office.

After finishing his address to the nation, Jang Daehan returned to his office.

Thud.

He sank deeply into the sofa and loosened his tie.

“Whew...”

“You worked hard, Mr. President.”

The Chief of Staff handed him a glass of water.

The President took the glass and drank before smiling faintly.

“It’s been a long time.”

“Pardon?”

“Since I’ve been able to undo something.”

The Hunter General Mobilization Order.

It was the heaviest measure he had enacted since becoming President.

It had effectively forced civilians into the Tower.

And today, he had withdrawn it himself.

“...We’ve cleared one hurdle.”

“That’s right. Point reserves have entered a stable range, and Hunter Baek Jiho has entered Floor 43... The outlook is bright as well.”

“The Highest Floors. Three million in a single day...”

President Jang Daehan shook his head.

Only a few months ago, Korea’s monthly Point income had been 37 million.

They had been running a monthly deficit of 14 million Points.

To endure those massive deficits, they had sent Hunters overseas, sold businesses and technology, and handed over various rights and interests.

But now, one Hunter was bringing in several million Points in a single day.

3.45 million Points per day.

That would be over 100 million in a month.

Did that make any sense?

“He’s an absurdly talented person. Thanks to him, we won’t have to watch our homeland collapse.”

“We were fortunate.”

“Fortunate...”

Well, if you called it fortune, it was fortune.

An unbelievably capable Hunter had appeared in Korea, and that Hunter was even fiercely patriotic.

It was an enormous stroke of luck for Jang Daehan himself.

And for Korea’s 51 million citizens.

Glance.

The President’s gaze suddenly shifted toward the dark monitor.

His reflection showed on the black screen.

“...”

Not long ago, the crown of his head had been completely barren.

Now it was covered by a decent amount of thick hair.

The President brushed his hair back with satisfaction.

‘Nice.’

Like his abundant hair, Korea’s future was gradually becoming more abundant as well!

“Hehehe...”

“Mr. President?”

“Ahem! It’s nothing, Chief of Staff.”

Jang Daehan cleared his throat and straightened his posture.

Perhaps because the tension had faded, he had unconsciously acted a little silly.

Could he have been influenced by Baek Jiho, even a little?

As he rested...

“Mr. President!”

Bang.

The office door flew open.

It was the National Security Adviser.

“What is it?”

“The White House has requested an emergency video conference.”

“The United States?”

The President tilted his head.

Today was the day Korea announced that it was lifting the Hunter General Mobilization Order.

Were they calling to offer congratulations?

“A video conference... When should we schedule it?”

“Now. President Trump himself has placed the video call. We are connecting the conference room now.”

“...Right this moment?”

* * *

The Blue House video conference room.

-You’ve arrived.

A familiar face appeared on the video conference screen.

It was none other than the President of the United States.

Donald Torumph.

Jang Daehan sat down and said, “It’s been a long time, Donald Torumph.”

-Congratulations, Daehan.

Torumph grinned and raised a thumbs-up.

His Freedom Blonde swayed beyond the screen.

-I heard the Republic of Korea has completely solved its Point shortage. Very great!

“Thank you. We lifted the Hunter General Mobilization Order effective today as well.”

-A great decision. With Jiho around, there’s no need to keep forcibly mobilizing reserve Hunters. That guy earns several million Points by himself every day, so there’s no need to mobilize those fake-news Hunters. More casualties only hurt your approval ratings.

As expected from Torumph, who took a special interest in Baek Jiho, he even knew Jiho’s Point income.

Torumph pursed his lips.

-I’m still disappointed that Jiho is in Korea instead of Great America. So disappointing... Daehan, if I sent bikini beauties over to Jiho and tried to persuade him, could that become a diplomatic issue?

“Please don’t. If you truly do that, the government will lodge a strong protest.”

-Hahahaha! It was a joke. A joke. What a shame.

Jang Daehan and Torumph chatted for a while.

Then, at some point, Jang Daehan was suddenly struck by a strange feeling.

He was smiling and talking leisurely with the leader of the world’s strongest nation.

Only a few months ago, that would have been impossible.

At the time, Korea had been a country suffering from Point shortages, a country expected to collapse.

Most countries had turned their backs on it.

It made Jang Daehan keenly realize how much Korea’s position had changed.

As the two leaders continued their casual conversation...

-This is good news.

President Trump nodded with a satisfied expression.

-The Republic of Korea now has the ability to secure the Points it needs without outside assistance.

“That’s right. We are not at the stage where we can be completely at ease yet... but I believe the outlook is quite bright.”

-I think so too. Korea can survive on its own now.

A smile formed on President Jang Daehan’s lips.

That was right.

At last, this country could stand on its own feet!

All thanks to Baek Jiho.

Then, at that moment, Torumph spoke in a low voice.

-At least... in peacetime.

“...In peacetime?”

President Trump’s expression hardened.

He looked deadly serious.

-That crisis you think you’ve overcome hasn’t even begun.

“...”

-The Great Cataclysm is coming, Daehan.

Footnotes:

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