Requiem Of A Failed Hero

The morning of the summit was expected to be rowdy. The streets of Beijing were filled with cars from all sides. The sound of horns polluted the air and deprived it of its usual peace.

Yet, there was a serene atmosphere that settled on the scene as each car slowly proceeded forward and was navigated by the police. Everyone was obedient.

Be it civilians or hunters, there was an uncanny maintenance of dignity.

Suddenly everyone became mature.

Come to think about it, seven disaster-ranked hunters are gathered. Some of them with very nasty personalities. Even reporters who would usually be reckless, gently gathered in front of the conference all, at the base of its wide magnificent stairs.

As cars stopped they began to run forward pointing mics to the mouths of hunters that dropped from their cars. That would never change about them.

Facing reporters is always bothersome for Mok Jae-Hwa, and it will be even more bothersome today because Raith didn't come. He didn't expect them to not ask about Korea's only catastrophe-ranked hunter.

"I suppose Korea's catastrophe-ranked hunter couldn't make it huh?"

He also didn't expect the first person to ask to be Turner.

"Hunter Turner."

He bowed his head slightly. Forget about the ranks, Turner was older than him and even bigger. He might look like this and be arrogant like a child but he was in his late thirties.

With his thick intimidating voice, he proceeded, walking closer to Mok Jae-Hwa who was in between coming down from his rented car and the approaching reporters. The latter stopped the moment they saw Turner.

"I had expected to see him. What is this? Did he choke on his breath and couldn't make it?"

Mok Jae-Hwa still does not understand what was the cause of the bad blood between Hunter Turner and Raith. To his knowledge, he had been on Raith's tail since news about Raith clearing gates started going out.

Still, it made no sense, every hunter cleared gates. Why was Raith's case special?

Thinking about it was beginning to give him head splitting headache. Besides, it'd be disrespectful of him to continue this train of thought in front of 'The Kylan Turner'

"I honestly have no idea what was going on in his mind but he sent a representative."

Turner turned to the other door of the car, where a black dude with red hair was standing.

'Not only did he decide that he wasn't going to attend, he had the guts to send someone in his place.'

Turner's shoulder began to shudder, and soon a raucous laughter escaped his mouth.

After a few seconds, he stopped and switched his demeanor as though he didn't just laugh like that just a second ago.

"That old hag will go crazy today."

He turned away shaking his head. Remnants of the laughter from before reappeared on his face as he walked away ignoring both Mok Jae-Hwa and Balam.

-sigh

Mok Jae-Hwa exhaled, not only had he managed to escape any needless friction with Turner. Right now, as he was looking, the reporters who were coming for him had been stopped and told to come closer by Turner.

He didn't care about what the hunter was telling them, Mok Jae-Hwa was just happy he could escape this phase.

He hurried forward with Balam.

Balam however, was angry.

'He is strong, he is a very strong one for a human… but how dare he…he… he ignore me'

Balam clenched his fist tightly trying his best to suppress all the fiendish energy that rose within him. A slight leak could give his identity away. They might not know he is a demon, but they would definitely know that he isn't human.

Right behind was another familiar hunter who called out to him as he got down from his car.

Kaiser ran up the stairs. He and Mok Jae-Hwa had become friends over his little time of being in Korea after the incident. Besides, he was the only one in this world that probably knew an extent of Raith's power. After all, he witnessed Raith's battle with the demon king.

He was also the one who gave Mok Jae-Hwa the gist in full. Mok Jae-Hwa had thought he was exaggerating when he kept trying to use figures here and there to describe how powerful Raith was at that time.

Now, his mind was beginning to slowly realize Kaiser might not be lying.

"Hunter Raven couldn't make it?"

"Yes"

Compared to other hunters who kept asking. Kaiser seemed like he was saying it more than he was asking. As though he had expected that Raith wouldn't make it.

"Did you know he wouldn't?"

"Well, from my little time with him in Therut, he seems to be one hell of a cocky person. And he has the power to back his cockiness."

"I see…"

Mok Jae-Hwa smiled.

"But what is this thing about the flying empress?"

He asked.

Kaiser stopped at the entrance and tucked his hand into the pocket of his brown coat.

"Well, the old lady is known to be very thorough. She hates indiscipline and since she is the second strongest amongst all of them, she can be very bothersome and strict."

Mok Jae-Hwa slightly frowned as he looked into the wide door beyond the array of colossal pillars that held the roof of the building against the ground.

"Do you think she will go to Korea to bring him?"

Kaiser looked at Mok Jae-Hwa's eyes before responding:

"To be truthful, it is something she can do. But you don't have to be worried about anything, it's Hunter Raven we are talking about. Let's go attend the summit. There's an important moment ahead of us."

He patted his shoulder and walked inside.

Even after Kaiser's words, Mok Jae-Hwa was worried.

'Should I make a call and ask him to come?'

"Don't worry yourself. I don't understand why you have that dreadful expression on your face. I guess you don't know him as much as you are supposed to."

Of course, he could testify to how powerful Raith was but this is the unranked we are talking about. If the three of them were to gang up on Raith due to his arrogance, there's no telling what will happen.

Then again… Mok Jae-Hwa's mind remembered the wyvern's battle, and how helpful his summoned soldiers were. Thinking about that time, he regained his confidence.

He wasn't sure what exactly might happen should they decide to confront Raith. But he was very sure Raith couldn't die.

'I will not lose another guild member.'

Mok Jae-Hwa walked forward into the sky-high building.

—

The car scribbled into its parking point in a drinking stride. The doors shot open and two individuals ran out, making their way to the hotel.

It was a guy and a girl. All the guy had to do was flash his ID and the employees of the hotel backed down. The girl just followed closely behind no matter how fast the guy was, she was always behind him.

At some point when he got into the elevator, he thought he had lost her, he didn't remember her entering with him. But the moment he turned his head back, his body almost flew out of his clothes. He then calmed down and did a few seconds of breathing exercise before the elevator opened.

Where it opened to was the penthouse of the hotel. They were welcomed by the scarred man.

His greeting was short, he moved quickly and led the lady alone across the polished marble floor into the heavenly-furnished bedroom.

The young boy was there on the large bed, wrapped in white sheets.

"He's too deep."

A glance at him and she could tell. She turned and tapped the buds in her ear.

Then she said a dozen seconds later:

"He's in too deep."

She turned back to the scarred man,

"She'll be here soon."

"Alright…"

He nodded and turned his gaze towards the young boy that was deeply asleep, his eyes were almost squirming.

"I have a question."

"I know what you are going to ask. You should already know."

"I do know that he has a curse of sleep for the tremendous power he carries at a very young age. What I don't know is his awakening. His class? There has never been any record of him entering a gate."

The scarred man sighed.

"He doesn't need to."

The lady narrowed her pupil-less eyes:

"Sorry, what do you mean?"

"Young lord Rizo can close and open a gate at will. Of course, he has enough strength to enter the gate and defeat the monsters. But he is always tired and is too lazy, so he would just close the gate."

"That makes no sense… how?"

"I don't know too. What I do know is, that Lord Rizo is the strongest human in the world."

"Hmm, you can't be too sure…"

Hearing the grating voice, the two of them bowed their head.

"Ma'am"

"Mama"

"You never know, there might be someone out there, undiscovered who could be stronger than Rizz"

She said as she stepped forward, walking towards the head of his bed, she leaned over him and placed four fingers on his head.

"Now come awake baby boy."

His eyes shot open immediately.