Leveling Up Alone

Han-Yeol was currently on a video call with the president of the United States.

Even the president of South Korea usually only talked on the phone when it wasn’t a formal meeting, but Han-Yeol was on a private video call with the president of the United States. This showed Han-Yeol’s global stature.

In fact, the United States was one of those countries that wasn’t too upset about Han-Yeol’s disappearance. Of course, the United States didn’t have a bad relationship with Han-Yeol—it was rather a friendly one. However, the United States didn’t have many regrets about losing Han-Yeol.

Han-Yeol's presence was beneficial, but even if he wasn't around, it would still be advantageous for the United States because the most powerful Hunter unaffiliated with them would be absent. So, when the news of Han-Yeol’s disappearance broke, they didn’t make a big fuss or go out of their way to actively search for him, although they did search for him slightly for show, of course.

In a way, the United States might have not welcomed Han-Yeol’s safe return because they had failed to recruit a genius mechanic named Yoo-Bi while he was gone. However, the United States wasn’t stupid enough to let that show.

[So, when are you planning to come back to the US?]

“Well, probably not for a while because there’s no guarantee that I won’t get into another accident, and there are surprisingly a lot of forces out there trying to get me.”

If the forces pursuing him had been ordinary humans, Han-Yeol wouldn't have been so concerned. However, the issue was that they were angels who worshiped the god named Kubera.

He couldn’t understand why they were after him.

However, the angel named Iloa obviously wanted to take his life, prompting Han-Yeol to remain cautious for the time being.

‘With Tia and Stewart next to me, I’m not too worried, but I’m still not going to give them an opportunity to strike.’

Korea and the Atarinia Archipelago were under Han-Yeol’s control, and with the assistance of the Arc Lich and Dellchant, numerous safety measures were in place, providing him with some reassurance. However, Han-Yeol was hesitant to move freely over international waters or oceans because he wasn't sure what the angels of Kubera would do.

[Hmm...]

The president of the United States looked a little uncomfortable as Han-Yeol refused. Recently, he had been up for re-election and his approval rating wasn’t very high at the moment.He thought that having a strong Hunter like Han-Yeol by his side would be a good way to get through this uncertain time, but Han-Yeol wasn’t going to go to the United States.

“I apologize.”

[No, I understand, so you have nothing to apologize for, Mr. Lee.]

“Sorry?”

The president of the United States paused for a moment, hesitated, and then spoke as if he had made up his mind regarding something big.

[...Then would you come if it was possible for you to get here instantly without getting on a plane?]

‘What the hell? What is he up to?’

Han-Yeol couldn’t answer the president’s question right away. How could he get to the United States without getting on a plane?

‘Wait, no way!’

For a moment, Han-Yeol thought the president was crazy, but then he suddenly thought of something.

‘That’s right... A rumor has been going around for a long time that Hunters or capable people from other nations who have joined sides with the United States have been vanishing like smoke, even under their country’s close surveillance, and defecting to the United States. Some even said that they were possessed.’

For these reasons, the United States secret intelligence services received extreme praise for their operational excellence. Han-Yeol also believed this because this was none other than the United States, but after what the president just said, he realized that this might not have been the case.

‘What if the United States has someone who can use teleportation?’

Han-Yeol secretly smiled so that the president wouldn’t notice.

‘If that’s the case, then this is a golden opportunity.’

People might not remember, but Han-Yeol had obtained a set of two swords right after he had awakened as a Hunter. However, he could only use the swords when he was able to manipulate time and space, so the two swords were kept in the subspace storage.

This meant that he might be able to meet someone who had one of the keys to unlocking his swords.

Han-Yeol continued to talk to the president without changing his expression.

It seemed like Han-Yeol didn’t care that much about what the president was saying.

Tia, Stewart, and others around him had criticized his facial expressions in the past, so he had grown accustomed to maintaining a poker face.

"Well, if that’s the case, then I guess I could.”

‘Show me what you’ve been hiding!’

Thump thump!

Han-Yeol honestly believed that the vibration ability he had acquired from Craspio could serve as a substitute for his spatial control ability. So when he obtained the vibration skill, he anticipated it would function similarly to the spatial attribute. However, he soon realized they were unrelated. Han-Yeol then had to invest a considerable amount of money to task his intelligence team with finding the spatial attribute.

However, he’d finally found the key to the spatial attribute that even the intelligence team couldn't find.

‘Hahaha...’

Not knowing Han-Yeol’s true intentions, the president thought about it till the end and finally sent someone to his mansion the next day.

[Nice to meet you, Hunter Han-Yeol-nim. It’s an honor to meet a Transcendent Master-Rank Hunter.]

The man who came to Han-Yeol and greeted him was a bald black man.

He had a long scar over one eye and was missing an ear. He looked to be in his forties, and next to him was a young, teenage black boy who was interpreting for him.

“Haha, nice to meet you too. My name is Lee Han-Yeol.”

[Please just call me P.]

‘P, huh...’

It was clear that the United States cherished him dearly, as he used a code name even in a private meeting.

“So how are we planning to get to the US?”

[I can leave right away as long as you’re ready, Hunter Han-Yeol-nim. But my superiors don’t like me being away from the US too long, so I’d like to get back as soon as possible. Haha.]

Han-Yeol didn’t know what was so funny, but the man who introduced himself as P talked and laughed to himself.

“Okay then.”

Han-Yeol didn’t have much to prepare anyway, so he told P that he’d be ready in a minute. Heleft P in his room and went out to the living room.

All he had to do was pick someone to bring with him.

He already had everything he needed in the subspace storage anyway. Han-Yeol was the type of person who put everything in his subspace storage, and after this accident, this habit of his became worse. So he stocked the subspace storage with items that would sustain him for ten years, ensuring he'd be prepared even if he found himself in an unfamiliar location.

In other words, he didn’t have to worry about packing items. He just needed to decide who to bring.

“Haha, sorry master, but I’ll have to pass this time. I need time to adjust to the changes in my body ever since I evolved into a queen, so I’m going to take it easy here.”

“Well, if that’s what you want, Tia, I guess it can’t be helped.”

With that, Tia rejected Han-Yeol’s request.

“Khu...”

“Khu...”

“Huh, you guys too?”

The two dragons unexpectedly rejected him as well.

White Dragon hadn’t been doing so well lately. For some reason, she was lethargic and unable to move at all. Mavros had much affection for White Dragon, so he was nursing her with great care. Therefore, they couldn't join Han-Yeol either.

[I apologize.]

“Huh?”

[Yeah, I’m sorry, I have to get used to this special training this time...]

“What?”

Kandir, Riru, and even Barshell all rejected Han-Yeol.

Alone in the mansion's backyard, Han-Yeol sat helplessly with his shoulders slumped.

‘No one wants to join me...’

Han-Yeol’s disappointment was indescribable—he wanted to go to the United States with at least one other person, but they all rejected him.

Step.

“What are you doing here?”

“Ah, Stewart!”

Han-Yeol looked up at Stewart as if he was looking at a savior sent from heaven.

Grab!

He hugged Stewart as if he was reuniting with a separated family member.

“Ugh, what are you doing?”

It wasn’t just humans who disliked being touched by the same gender. Demons did too.

“Stewart, I have to go to the US soon. Can you go with me? Or, actually, you need to go!”

Han-Yeol rarely used such forceful language or tone when giving orders to his subordinates or monster pets. Because even if he said the same things, different people could interpret his words differently. However, now was not the time for Han-Yeol to be picky.

After his mother left home, he spent a lot of time alone and struggled to fit in well at school, so he was almost an outsider until he started trying to make friends in high school. Consequently, he especially hated being lonely, which was why he was obsessed with trying to make friends in high school.

After he graduated, he lived alone for nearly eight years due to his father’s illness, so his aversion to solitude was almost like an illness on its own.

Unfortunately, it seemed like he would have to go to the United States alone this time.

“Ah, I’m actually here to talk about that.”

“Huh?”

“I think I need to go to the demon world for a while.”

“Why?”

Stewart sternly answered, “Something urgent has come up in the demon world, so I’ll be gone for about a month.”

“R-Right now?”

Even though he could see Han-Yeol’s desperate eyes, Stewart did not budge from his position.

“Yes.”

“Ugh... I can’t believe it.”

At this point, Han-Yeol was really going to have to go to the United States alone. Scarlett had already left on an overdue mission, and the Egyptian trio were busy in Egypt. His best friend as well as his childhood friend, Sung-Jin, was spending his days as if he was at war as a member of the Gurkhas.

‘I can’t even afford to summon one more monster pet...’

He couldn’t summon a demon to accompany him to the United States either.

Unless they were high-ranking demons like Stewart, there were rarely any demons that looked like humans.

In the end, Han-Yeol would have to go to the United States alone.

‘Haaa, should I just not go...’

One might say that he shouldn’t go back on his word, but Han-Yeol didn’t care about breaking such honor.

Updat𝒆d fr𝑜m fr𝒆ewebnove(l).com