The Imperial Hunter Chapter 66 - The Hunters (1)

America I returned to in December suffered from different issues than China. Protests and riots triggered by racial conflicts, powerful crimes by awakeners, unstable economic conditions and fluctuating unemployment rates, and lastly the diverse biological disasters. Nationwide there were over 400 regions declared special disaster zones by the federal government, far from a picture of stability.

Utah, where we returned after almost a year, was no exception. We first had to unload in Richfield, 40 kilometers from “Trembling Giant,” because the villa complex we had used last time had long since become ruins devoured by the forest.

Currently, due to frequently changing fog, general access within an 8-mile (about 12.8 km) radius centered on the Forest of Giants was restricted. FEMA ^[1] Federal Emergency Management Agency strongly recommended citizens not approach the center of the fog.

The above were contents of the headline article from a local newspaper my subordinates had brought. Taking up half of the front page was a large aerial photograph of a bizarre mesa shrouded in an opaque ash-gray shroud within a radius of miles.

The passage described the contents of the main headline in a regional newspaper. It included a large aerial photograph that covered half of the front page, showing a mysterious highland shrouded in a thick, opaque gray curtain over several miles.

‘Well, that makes sense. The forest must endure the cold.’

December in high-altitude lands was already considered the heart of winter. Even here in Richfield, everywhere was blanketed in white snow. Therefore, the fact that the giant had covered themselves with a thick foggy blanket was a natural occurrence. The thickness and shape of the blanket changed according to the temperature fluctuations between day and night.

Most of the front-page article contained information I had already researched and anticipated before coming here. Flipping to the next page, I found this headline at the top.

「Realm of the Giant – Its bleak and eerie landscapes within」

Beneath the title spanning pages 2-3 were several photos presented with brief descriptions. Materials secured by the federal government’s investigative team of awakeners braving the danger to enter.

Most of the photos contained similar landscapes. White fog, white snowfields, white quaking aspen trunks. The short visibility also turned the canvas entirely white, making every photo feel like a fantasy painted with brushes. Aside from buildings buried in the forest, quaking aspen trunks occasionally twisted or bulging strangely, and a lake completely encircled by an aspen cluster, there seemed no difference from when I had killed the devil worshippers.

But there certainly was a difference in scale.

“…The quaking aspen forest “Trembling Giant,” presumed to be the cause of all these abnormal phenomena, has expanded a minimum of 17 times compared to last year. This abnormal rate of growth still continues today, creating 2-3 acres of new forest each day.」

「A FEMA official has stated however, that even if “Trembling Giant” continues expanding at the current rate, it will take 1,682 years for it to erase Sevier County, and 74,400 years for it to bury all Utah, and as they are continually monitoring the expansion rate of fog and forest, citizens can be at ease continuing their livelihoods.」

「Meanwhile, Governor Spencer Morris, who last November 30 declared mobilization of state national guards if needed to halt the ‘Giant’s invasion’, has….」

Everyone was going crazy.

To me, they seemed trivial worries and fears that would wither in due time. However ferociously the forest that had endured tens and hundreds of thousands of years was baring its stamina, once it secured biomass befitting a matured soul the growth rate would likely drastically decrease. As I had told Kyung-tae before, if the spirit was the tree, the biomass was the pot. Therefore “Trembling Giant” was merely doing potting appropriate for its spirit presently. Expanding biomass in excess could decrease the density of the spirit, so even the finest quality of soul that endured lengthy eras had a definite growth limit. Based on the current situation and data I had gathered, that limit looked to easily surpass tens of millions of tons at least.

Tinkle, tinkle-

A small bell rang from the entrance. It was security personnel with snow piled on their heads and shoulders entering after opening the door. I, who had been sitting by the fireplace waiting for news, folded the newspaper after Kyung-tae dusted off the snow and reached the living room, then asked.

“So, did you figure out why this place became like this?”

Among those who heard my question, there was one who shrank back – Deputy Secretary Hong Young-sik standing across from me like a student receiving punishment. Before him on the sofa was Suyeon, expressionless as the outside air, maintaining silence in perfect posture.

The cause was the residence’s condition, appearing as if a drunk driver had smashed through at full speed. The wooden walls were shattered wide enough for a pickup truck to pass through, occasionally bringing in whipping snow with the winds blowing straight through front and back.

From what I had seen en route, this building wasn’t the only one smashed either.

Kyung-tae glanced at Suyeon and then opened his mouth.

“According to the convenience store girl, it’s the work of a ‘T-hog’.”

“Who’s that?”

“T for thousand pounds combined with hog for pig – T-hog. Some call it Thog, but T-hog is more common they say. It matches the feel of T-rex better.”

Another neologism birthed by the age of magic huh. With expressions popping up and sinking every single day amidst turbulent times, there was nothing particularly new.

“So an awakened giant pig went wild?”

“Yes. Traces were left behind by a huge, heavy feral pig awakener rampaging as it was chased by hunters with similarly extraordinary physical abilities. A piping hot accident just yesterday.”

I knew it. Not only this building but traces of destruction and blood were scattered throughout town as well. I had wondered if some kind of armed riot by awakeners had occurred here since the traces resembled impacts from heavy ordnance. A combination of a circuit-frayed wild animal and hunters could leave behind chaos exceeding this.

“Makes sense.”

I nodded and spoke.

“Suyeon, stop being angry. This wasn’t what we expected right?”

“…My apologies.”

The one discomfited by me hearing about the incident, which had obviously happened overnight making prior confirmation impossible, was within the realm of understandable. Awakened giant wild animals smashing vehicles and homes had become such a common occurrence regional news no longer covered them as individual incidents but as everyday events transitioning to the realm of statistics. Each accident was passing the threshold of becoming part of daily life and tallies.

“I apologize, Chairman.”

Hong Young-sik, the deputy secretary, lowered his head.

“I tried to find alternative accommodations, as I mentioned earlier, but all the hotels are fully booked—”

I raised my hand to interrupt him.

“It’s fine. We can manage if we eat and sleep well.”

Activating physical enhancement techniques, 10 below zero cold was nothing. There would be proportional caloric consumption from the cold, but this too could not be deemed an issue. The ones pulling all-nighters would get a little less sleep.

This was afforded by circuits currently operating at far higher efficiency compared to the past. For lower occupancy techniques I could now keep them running even while sleeping, so compared to times when utmost effort had to be exerted for every small technique, it was absurd progress.

‘Come to think of it, there’s less than 10 days left until the first year mark.’

I had sensed the sudden surge of magic power on December 10 last year, so 10 more days and it would be exactly one year since the return of the age of magic. In the first few months, I had often wondered if the magic power might disappear again, but lately, the frequency of that thought had dwindled to barely countable levels. I had accepted the meaninglessness not only mentally but emotionally as well.

“Hyungnim.”

Kyung-tae called me.

“While making a full round, I got the feeling we could station personnel permanently around here now. There are so many wandering riff-raff, if we add one more office it wouldn’t stand out at all.”

“It’s that extent?”

“Yes. First, look at these.”

Kyung-tae fanned out pamphlets he had brought from outside on the table. I hadn’t paid them attention thinking they were random ads, but they were promotional material brought in rather than discarded outside for good reason. I picked one up and scrutinized it closely.

“They openly operate like this?”

“It’s just the guys who’ve filled up all three inns to the south. And, on top of that, there are so many guys camping with flags, too. Isn’t that fun?”

“Why wasn’t this information included in the report?”

When I glanced at it again, the deputy secretary, Hong Young-sik, had once again lowered his head and responded in a low voice.

“Since it was a threat assessment report, we didn’t consider them a force that would be a threat to you. They are obedient to the police and—”

Well, these guys might only be as dangerous as rabid dogs when judged by their pure threat level, but he should have included the names of guys like them in the report. 

I didn’t express this thought out loud. The reason for Suyeon’s falling temperature was becoming clearer. Furthermore, Hong Young-sik would not have known the backgrounds of these guys. They weren’t on any of the potential hostile organizations or high-risk organizations lists, and they weren’t notorious. Suyeon, who memorizes all sorts of information on these guys, was the one who was actually unusual.

So, it was a mistake, but it was within the scope of understanding. The unfortunate thing about Hong Young-sik was that two such mistakes overlapped. He hadn’t investigated these guys thoroughly, and he should have. 

I looked at the pamphlet again. Underneath a whimsical fairy character holding the Earth in both hands and laughing brightly, the name of the organization was printed in a font that would be appropriate for a fairy tale book.

「Earth Liberation Front – ELF」

The identity of this organization is condensed into the image of the fairy character holding a gun. Self-styled environmental anarchists who called themselves elves believed that destruction and terror were necessary to protect the environment.

Contrary to common misconceptions, the group responsible for the most acts of terrorism in the United States wasn’t Islamic extremists or far-right white supremacists. It was radical environmentalists and animal rights activists.

Among them, the group with the most influence was the Earth Liberation Front. Although it originated in the UK, it gained greater notoriety in the United States, where its size and influence were also larger. So much so that the FBI had singled it out as one of the most serious threats within the United States. They were even called the “Earth Liberation Army,” and the abbreviation ELF was the superior organization.

The reason Kyung-tae could recognize these guys was thanks to his memories of when he used to go on long business trips during a time when his rank was lower. These trips often involved providing “consultation.” Lessons on bomb-making, destruction engineering, effective arson techniques, how to evade tracking and investigation, and so on. We were not an organization that only profits by selling finished products.

“It seems they have quite a few supporters.”

If not, how could the FBI have designated these guys as a terrorist organization? They couldn’t possibly distribute flyers on the streets. Kyung-tae agreed with my muttering.

“It’s understandable. With the quaking aspen forest displaying tremendous presence and feral pigs using supernatural abilities, simply having faith may no longer suffice for a religion to form.”

I unfolded the pamphlet. Printed on the inside of the tri-folded mini booklet were the following sentences.

「All life on Earth has begun to rage!」

「What life should sinful humanity live henceforth?」

「What wisdom do we who live in this age need?」

「The time has come to humbly incline our ears to the gospel conveyed by magnificent nature.」

「We elves always await new friends.」

• 1. Federal Emergency Management Agency