In the end, I couldn't take the evening flight as scheduled.
The reason was simple. Beef and abalone packed tight up to my throat, and on top of that, a mountain of fruit mercilessly piled on.
If I'd laid down in an airplane seat, it felt like a catastrophe would ensue, so I notified the old man and pushed the flight schedule all the way to dawn.
Since the operation couldn't even start without me anyway, no one complained.
"Entry is at 1 PM. Preparations must be completed and on standby by noon."
Inside the darkened limousine, a Japanese government official in the passenger seat poured out a briefing.
Instead of answering, I just nodded. The food in my stomach was still tap-dancing.
If I opened my mouth, stomach acid would probably come shooting out.
Negotiation details between nations, equity ratios, future directions.
The lullaby-like explanation continued, and before I knew it, we'd arrived at the VIP hotel inside the controlled zone.
I dragged my heavy body and collapsed onto the plush bed.
[Family Group Chat]
Mom: Puppy, did you arrive safely in Japan?
Me: Arrived. Stomach about to burst. Sleep.
Ha-eun: LOL the pregnant lady's down. Don't forget my elf photos ㅡㅡ
I didn't even have the energy to type a reply. I tossed my smartphone aside and passed out without even taking off my outer clothes.
* * * * *
—Beep beep beep!
The blaring alarm. My eyes snapped open.
I sat up in bed. Light.
After hours of deep sleep, my overworked stomach had finally regained peace.
"Phew. Now I can finally breathe."
When I opened the door and stepped out, a waiting government agent bowed at the waist.
Following his guidance toward the center of the control base, the air grew noticeably heavier with each step.
"Kid, you little punk. Running off all by yourself."
A familiar voice. Park So-jin, looking far more aged than when I'd last seen her, approached.
If I let slip "Noona, why do you look so old?" a fireball would get lodged in the top of my head, so I obediently swallowed my words.
"Haha... How have you been, Noona?"
"Ugh. Can't even see my daughter's face doing this nonsense. Those arrogant foreigners are already unbearable to look at."
"Are they causing trouble?"
"Outright disrespect. Acting like their country's top forces are the best, strutting around. Completely out of control."
"You should've come to Korea with me back then, Noona."
Park So-jin narrowed her brow and approached.
Then her two hands mercilessly grabbed both my cheeks and stretched them out to the sides.
My soft cheeks stretched like rice cakes.
I endured her touch with an expressionless face.
I swallowed my words, worried my pronunciation would leak out through my stretched cheeks.
"That kind of reckless stunt only works for you. Let's go. Everyone's waiting."
Park So-jin added "Go put them in their place" as she reluctantly released my cheeks.
* * * * *
The large conference room in the underground of the control base.
I opened the heavy door and entered.
"Oh, c'mon. Are you kidding me?"
The moment I opened the door, a large white Hunter scoffed.
"That tiny silver-haired kid is Earth's representative?"
Dozens of pairs of eyes fixed on me all at once.
The air in the room was stale.
Wariness. Suspicion. And displeasure.
Is that tiny kid really Earth's strongest? Isn't it just exaggerated rumors?
Blatant killing intent and distrust radiated from all directions. Meanwhile, the East Asian Hunters who'd witnessed my power with their own eyes were busy frantically dropping their gazes to the floor.
What a truly foolish sight.
Idiots who only believe what they see with their own eyes.
They must have been warned and cautioned countless times before coming, yet they still radiate killing intent like this, insisting on confirming my real abilities.
The way to handle such people is very simple.
Just show them the overwhelming difference in class.
"Hey, kid. If you're lost, go back to mommy's—"
"Haha."
With a short chuckle, I drew up my mana.
I mercilessly pressed down on the entire conference room space.
—CRASH!
An invisible massive gravity poured down to the floor.
The head of the large Hunter who'd been holding his head high and mocking me slammed straight into the floor with a thud.
"Kugh!"
"F... Fuc... Huk, khuk...!"
Hunters flailing on the floor with their faces crushed down.
Joints twisted and veins swelled as if about to burst.
The East Asian Hunters who'd bowed their heads and avoided my eyes from the start were fine.
They trembled, faces pale, watching the foreign Hunters flopping around like frogs on the floor.
A time when even breathing required permission.
When the conference room filled only with beast-like rough breathing, I slowly withdrew my mana.
I leisurely crossed between those sprawled on the floor and walked up to the podium in the center of the conference hall.
Looking down with murky red eyes, I parted my lips.
"Let's do well."
The white Hunter who'd been shedding bloody tears with his face smashed into the floor nodded his trembling head like a beast, panting.
No lengthy explanation needed.
This short phrase would be enough to penetrate to the bone.
* * * * *
12:45 PM.
With only 15 minutes left before Gate entry, a strange current flowed among the group.
Those excited about the unknown of another world crossed gazes with greedy eyes determined to somehow gain profit and return to their countries.
Of course, it had nothing to do with me. I killed time in front of the Gate exchanging trivial jokes with the old man.
"I heard you caused quite a scene in the briefing room earlier?"
"A scene? It was just a light exchange of greetings."
"With one greeting, the American representative's ribs cracked, you punk."
The old man clicked his tongue, but a smile he couldn't hide hung on his lips.
He must have secretly found it satisfying that those high-nosed foreigners got knocked down.
"Don't cause trouble inside."
"When have you ever seen me cause trouble?"
—As of this moment, Gate entry is approved.
An announcement broadcast echoing throughout the entire base.
I stepped into the massive vortex.
This was my second entry. My vision flashed white, and when I opened my eyes again, the scenery that unfolded was still the dazzlingly verdant forest of another world.
After confirming everyone had entered, I pulled out the mana stone communicator I'd received from the captain elf. I placed the mana stone on my palm and gently pushed mana into it.
—Buzz buzz.
The mana stone vibrated, emitting blue light.
Ignoring the foreign Hunters exclaiming in admiration while looking around, I gazed into the depths of the forest.
Shortly after, with the sound of rustling leaves, the elves revealed themselves.
"Elves!"
"They're real! Hey, photos! Take them quick!"
Government officials and Hunters made a commotion, fussily holding up smartphones and cameras.
One of them tried to break formation in excitement.
—Tap.
My outstretched hand lightly stopped him.
When I narrowed my eyes and gave him a once-over, the marketplace-like atmosphere instantly settled.
Hands that had been holding cameras slowly lowered.
[I missed you!!!!]
That's when it happened. A small bundle that had been hiding behind the captain elf's shoulder popped out.
I'd forgotten. This creature's existence.
The spirit flew over like an arrow and stuck right to my face.
More annoyance than joy came first, but the creature didn't care and showered my cheek with kisses.
[Smooch smooch! Why did you leave me behind! You meanie!]
"..."
To remove the soft sensation touching my cheek, I grabbed the spirit's scruff and lifted it up.
Beyond the creature flailing in midair, the captain elf was holding her head and sighing.
[What's with that expression! Don't tell me you forgot about me?!]
"Uh... a little. Sorry."
[What?! How could you forget me! I was so good to you!]
The spirit shouted indignantly.
[And you think I'm some easy spirit who forgives everything just because you say sorry?]
Suddenly, the creature's face twisted strangely.
An expression like a sleazy old man having dirty thoughts.
[That's right! I am an easy spirit! Smooch smooch! How can I hate someone with such pure and delicious mana!]
The creature slipped through my hands again and stuck to my cheek.
At the mana-addict-like reaction, the captain elf finally approached and snatched the creature away.
[Ahem. I got too excited. But it's not my fault. Who told you to smell so delicious!]
Leaving the protesting spirit behind, the captain elf opened her mouth with a serious face.
[Did you finish talking with the human leaders? But... why did you return so quickly?]
I frowned at the captain's question conveyed through the spirit.
"? From our perspective, we thought this was already late."
[Even across worlds, humans are always hasty.]
"Then ask how long the elves thought it would take."
At my question, the captain elf pointed to a leaf in the forest and answered matter-of-factly.
[I thought you'd come back around when the leaf color changes.]
"Leaf...?"
[Hmm, so in human terms...]
The spirit spun around in place, pondering, then gave an answer.
[About the time for one season to change? They thought it would take at least a year?]
"What...?"
I let out an incredulous laugh.
Since they were creatures with lifespans measured in thousands of years, their sense of time was completely shattered.
These pointy-eared creatures apparently thought I'd spend at least several years fiercely fighting to achieve a grand unification between nations before returning.
One thing was certain—this alliance with them was mismatched from the start.
[Ahem. In any case, since you've made the precious journey, we'll escort you to the capital. This way, please.]
The captain elf, coughing awkwardly, turned toward the depths of the forest and took the lead.
The elf soldiers standing guard moved in unison to open the path.
The massive trees twisted their branches as if alive, revealing a wide hidden entrance.
"Let's go, everyone."
I led the hesitating foreign Hunters and government officials, following behind the elves.
Passing through the dense forest path, the moment the view opened up, the elven capital embracing the massive World Tree poured into view before our eyes.
"Oh, my God..."
"Crazy, that's all built from wood?"
"Good heavens..."
The Hunters and officials following behind stopped in their tracks all at once.
They stood with mouths hanging open like idiots, unable to close their jaws.
The World Tree soaring as if to pierce the sky, and the white structures intricately intertwined layer upon layer along its massive roots and branches.
It was the dazzlingly brilliant and majestic grandeur of a high fantasy empire.
But the real reason Earth's delegation froze in place wasn't just the city's beauty.
In the capital's plaza, elf children were laughing innocently playing tag, and sweet fruit scents wafted peacefully from street stalls.
The faces of elves walking the streets overflowed with elegant leisure, without any desperation or fear.
The eyes of Hunters who'd solemnly written their wills before departure, thinking they were about to face a world on the brink of destruction by monsters, shook mercilessly.
No matter where you looked, this wasn't the tension of a world facing extinction.
"..."
I alternated glances between the humans standing dumbfounded and the captain elf gracefully smiling while guiding the way, muttering quietly.
"These bastards weren't in a hurry at all."
The clumsy solemnity from before departure was completely shattered.
The curtain rose on an interspecies diplomacy with zero sense of urgency.
