The Dangerous Beast

『……?』

The bastard seemed stunned that I’d actually slapped him across the face. He froze for a moment before suddenly bursting into mad laughter. 『Haha…… hahahaha! Hahaha!』

I was just as surprised as he was.

『Not an Awakened?』

I couldn’t help but be shocked by the status window floating before my eyes. The man I’d analyzed through physical contact was a non-Awakened.

『A non-Awakened playing hunter?』

While I stood there dumbfounded, the man who had been laughing for a long while fixed his dark-circled eyes on me and spoke in a chilling voice.

『I’ve changed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my mind. I’ll kill you as painfully as possible.』

He drew the pistol holstered at his waist. But what he pulled out wasn’t an ordinary pistol. It was a Japanese military-issue pistol with a long Japanese sword blade attached above the grip.

『What the hell is that?』

A pistol-sword, I supposed. The moment the thought crossed my mind, the blade came lunging straight at me. I hurriedly drew my sword and blocked it.

Clang—!

『……Kugh!』

I’d poured aura into my blade, but the impact transmitted through the clashing swords made my wrist throb. I was inwardly astonished.

『A non-Awakened can do this much?』

Of course, even in the 21st century, not every Awakened became a hunter. Non-Awakened hunters existed, albeit rarely. As long as you could kill monsters, it didn’t matter whether you were Awakened or not. And that was only possible when a non-Awakened’s skill surpassed that of an Awakened.

Like how I covered my low stats with swordsmanship and knowledge from the 21st century, this man was probably the same. Even without an Awakening ability, his pure swordsmanship alone had allowed him to cut down magical beasts.

『Senjin no kuse ni, kekko yaru na (Not bad for a Korean).』

He muttered, apparently surprised that a mere Korean porter like me had blocked his sword.

『An unusual sword style……』

Even as he said that, his strikes remained sharp and relentless. Yet the speed of his attacks was far beyond what any non-Awakened should be capable of.

『……Fast?』

I focused on his sword. The bayonet pistol he wielded was an insane weapon by any normal standard, but despite its bizarre appearance, the blade itself was the real deal. Every time our swords met, a faint magical energy flowed from his side.

『So that sword……』

Given his abnormal speed, it was likely an artifact that enhanced swiftness. In every way, it was on a completely different level from my stainless-steel sword.

Combined with his skilled swordsmanship, facing him was proving extremely difficult.

『……This is troublesome.』

It wasn’t that I couldn’t win. But I had no confidence in subduing him without inflicting any injury. He had started the fight, yet I couldn’t afford to wound or kill a Japanese hunter. Even with Shimazu Renka’s backing, if a Korean like me injured or accidentally killed a Japanese hunter, not even Renka would be able to shield me.

So I had to keep him at bay and subdue him without getting hurt. Unlike Murasaki, who had attacked recklessly, this man’s defense had no openings. There was no gap to exploit like I had with Murasaki’s reverse blade. Moreover, he was deliberately targeting my vital points with every thrust.

Blocking his sharp attacks wasn’t difficult, but if I only defended without counterattacking, I would eventually tire out first. The thought even crossed my mind.

『Should I just cut off one of his arms?』

『Cut him down, Shirabayashi-san!』

Someone had been watching from afar as Baek Chulyeon crossed swords with Aoki. It was Renka, hiding behind a rock.

She had returned with the canteen and bento as Baek Chulyeon requested, only to find him fighting someone. Upon closer inspection, his opponent was none other than Major Aoki.

For some reason, Baek Chulyeon and Aoki were locked in combat.

『……!』

What shocked her even more was that Baek Chulyeon was casually parrying Aoki’s strikes. She had sensed he was a skilled swordsman beyond what a student should be, but to actually block Aoki’s blade?

『Maybe…… Shirabayashi-san could win……?』

Renka desperately hoped so.

『And if Major Aoki dies here……?』

If that happened, the shackles of her engagement would finally be broken.

Renka had lived her entire seventeen years following her father’s will without a single act of rebellion or doubt. But marriage to Major Aoki was something she could never accept.

Yet she couldn’t bring herself to act against him either. Her own skill couldn’t guarantee victory against Aoki, and if she failed, she would become the villainess who tried to kill her own fiancé against her father’s wishes.

So she had merely resigned herself to fate, secretly wishing whenever the engagement crossed her mind that he would die on the battlefield from a stray bullet. It wasn’t the first or second time she had soaked her pillow with tears over it.

But perhaps now, if Baek Chulyeon won. If he defeated Major Aoki. If Major Aoki died because of it.

Moreover, even if Aoki were killed here, no evidence would remain. This was a volcanic cave region. His corpse could simply be thrown into the bubbling lava.

『Cut him down! An arm, a leg, his head—anything!』

Renka screamed inwardly from behind the rock.

『Don’t just defend! Attack! Attack, Shirabayashi-san!』

But her desperate wish didn’t reach him. Baek Chulyeon continued to focus solely on defense.

『Shirabayashi-san……』

Even if their swordsmanship was comparable, Aoki had superior stamina. If Baek Chulyeon kept defending like this, he would eventually exhaust himself and suffer a fatal blow.

『……No.』

Renka suddenly realized she couldn’t just stand by and watch Baek Chulyeon get hurt.

『……You mustn’t get injured. You absolutely mustn’t, Shirabayashi-san. There’s still so much I need to learn from you.』

Seeing Baek Chulyeon growing tired, Renka finally had no choice but to reveal herself and stop their fight. She stood up from behind the rock and called out to Major Aoki.

『Major Aoki!』

『Oh my, young lady. What brings you here?』

When Renka appeared and called out, the man stopped his sword and bowed politely toward her. I, who had been angling to sever his right arm, also paused and looked between them.

Strangely, they seemed to know each other.

Renka glanced at me before speaking to him in a cold tone.

『That man is my porter. Why are you pointing your sword at him?』

『Oh dear. I didn’t realize he was your porter……. I merely asked a lone porter without a master where his employer was, and things escalated into a fight.』

He also glanced sideways at me as he spoke to Renka.

『Though I must say, young lady, you employ quite the excessively skilled porter. I was surprised.』

『This is normal in the Shimazu Guild.』

Renka shot back. I couldn’t tell what their relationship was, but while the man spoke with a constant smile, Renka maintained a consistently cold demeanor.

Renka continued to glare at him warily.

『Why is Major Aoki here? This is the Korean sector.』

This was something I had been wondering about too. Why was this Japanese man here? More importantly, the way Renka addressed him…… Major Aoki?

Major—that was roughly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠equivalent to a major in the Korean military, wasn’t it? So he was a soldier. An officer, at that.

『Ah. I came at the request of Director Kimitsu from the Oriental Development Company’s Dungeon Development Department, young lady.』

『Director Kimitsu?』

『Yes. We were investigating the disappearance of Korean hunters. There were rumors of a dangerous magical beast.』

A dangerous magical beast in the Korean sector—I had heard those rumors too. It was the very reason I had brought Renka into the Korean sector in secret.

So this Aoki guy had been looking into it as well?

But Renka still asked with a suspicious tone.

『Why would a soldier like you be investigating instead of the police?』

『You know why, don’t you, young lady? As you’re aware, involving the police tends to cause various complications for dungeon owners and hunters operating inside dungeons……』

Aoki answered nonchalantly.

『And above all, Director Kimitsu and I share a personal connection, which is why I received the request. He’s currently at the central barracks, so you’re welcome to ask him directly.』

『…….』

Renka seemed to want to say something but couldn’t find the words, her lips merely twitching. Seeing this, Aoki smiled faintly.

『In any case, that’s how it is. The Korean sector is dangerous, so I suggest you enjoy your hunting in the Japanese sector, young lady.』

With those words, he bowed to Renka and turned to disappear in another direction.

On the way back to base camp after extracting all the magic stones from the captured magical beast, I walked ahead carrying the bundle of stones and glanced back at Renka following behind me.

Ever since encountering that man named Aoki, Renka’s expression had remained dark. It seemed she and Aoki weren’t on good terms.

But the one who had been relaxed was Aoki, while Renka, though sharp, seemed somewhat intimidated.

What reason could the daughter of the Shimazu family head and the branch leader of the Shimazu Guild’s Gyeongseong branch have to be so cowed?

I casually asked Renka.

『……That guy from earlier. Do you know him? Who is he?』

Renka didn’t even look at me as she answered in a flat tone.

『Aoki Hisaburo. Special staff officer of the 11th Regiment, 7th Division, Kwantung Army stationed in Fengtian, Manchukuo. Rank: Major. ……And,』

Renka avoided my gaze, yet wore a bitter smile as she continued.

『He is my fiancé.』

What?

The moment I heard those words, a chill ran down my spine, and the first thought that came to mind was this:

『Shit, am I fucked?』

An officer of the Kwantung Army, the most prestigious among the Japanese Empire’s military forces, and the fiancé of Renka, the young lady of the Shimazu family and branch leader of the Shimazu Guild’s Gyeongseong branch.

Even if it was self-defense, the fact that I had slapped such a man and even crossed swords with him…… Was I truly screwed?

Was this the time to seriously consider fleeing to America?

As I racked my brain trying to figure out how to get to America, we eventually arrived at base camp.

『Shirabayashi-san.』

Renka suddenly spoke from behind. I feigned composure and replied.

『Huh? What?』

But instead of showing anger, Renka asked with concern.

『Are you hurt anywhere?』

『Huh? Uh, no.』

『I’ve been watching since yesterday, but your swordsmanship is truly remarkable. To block Major Aoki’s blade, who is considered one of the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠best swordsmen even in Japan…….』

She suddenly praised my swordsmanship and then asked another question.

『But you seemed overly focused on defense. With your abilities, couldn’t you have counterattacked?』

『What is this? Is she testing me?』

Outwardly they seemed on bad terms, but a fiancé was still a fiancé. If she thought I had intended to harm her fiancé, Renka had the social standing and power to bury me at any moment.

Sweating coldly, I answered.

『He’s a Kwantung Army officer and your fiancé. How could I attack someone like that?』

『……Huhu! But you didn’t know that when you crossed swords, did you? You could have attacked.』

『No, I’m not the kind of person who hurts others.』

『Is that so? But being unable to harm others is also a disqualification as a man, isn’t it?』

『No……』

When I turned around, Renka was smiling with her eyes, clearly amused by my flustered state.

『Is this fun for you, damn it.』

I was scared out of my mind, but at least it seemed Renka had no intention of doing anything to me for fighting her fiancé.

『She must really not get along with that fiancé of hers.』

As we walked toward the gate leading outside, I looked around the base camp while avoiding Renka’s gaze and noticed facilities I hadn’t seen yesterday— a cafeteria, a lounge, and even showers.

『The facilities are better than I thought.』

Well, even in the 21st century, gates of this scale took weeks or months just to clear the monsters, and even after that, personnel remained for resource extraction. It was only natural for base camps to have basic amenities.

『Come to think of it, yesterday I just went back to the boarding house and wiped myself with a wet towel. Felt gross.』

If there were facilities, it was only right to use them. I spoke to Renka.

『Renka.』

『What is it, Yobo-san—』

『Hey, don’t call me that when no one’s around. Anyway, can you ask the staff if I can use the showers?』

『……? Pardon?』

No, I wasn’t planning to go in with her or anything.

『If a Korean porter like me asks to use the showers, the staff probably won’t allow it. So you ask for permission.』

『……Is that it? Huhu……! That’s an easy task for me, of course.』

In the end, Renka called over an Oriental Development Company employee and obtained permission for the porter to use the showers.

『Okay. Thanks. Anyway, I’m going to wash up, so you head back first.』

『……Very well. Then I’ll return first. See you at school tomorrow.』

After watching Renka leave through the gate, I entered the shower tent.

Like the other facilities at base camp, the shower tent was divided into Korean and Japanese sections from the entrance. It felt like discrimination, but—

『Well, at least I don’t have to see Japanese guys.』

Thinking positively, I went inside and found no one there. I stripped off my clothes and stood on the stone ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠floor, turning on the water. It was cold, but having a shower facility at all was a blessing.

While I was washing up contentedly, voices came from beyond the curtain separating the Korean and Japanese showers. I listened without much thought.

『Major Aoki! If it’s not too much trouble, let’s go in together!』

『Major Aoki is in the showers?』

Curious, I stopped showering, turned off the water, and tore a small gap in the curtain seam to peek through.

I could see the much better-equipped Japanese shower area and Major Aoki standing under the water stream.

『Damn, his body is insane.』

His important parts were covered by a towel, so I couldn’t see them, but he was a head taller than my current body, with a lean and muscular frame. His face was handsome too, if a bit intimidating.

『Please let his dick be three centimeters……』

While I was looking at Major Aoki, a middle-aged man wearing only a towel around his waist followed him in and stood beside him, asking in a suggestive tone.

『How many have you taken care of yesterday and today combined?』

Aoki silently held up three fingers.

The middle-aged man asked.

『Three people……?』

『Thirty, Director Kimitsu.』

『Ooh……!』

The middle-aged man was deeply impressed by Aoki’s words. Come to think of it, I had heard the name “Director Kimitsu” before.

『So that’s the Director Kimitsu of the Oriental Development Company’s Dungeon Development Department.』

『As expected, impressive! Major Aoki! At that rate, the Koreans should be terrified, yet they still come running like moths to a flame! Please continue like this in the future! ……Ah! Of course, you left no traces, right?』

Aoki nodded silently, and Director Kimitsu bowed repeatedly beside him.

『Anyway, the old days were better! Recently there are so many Korean hunters that there’s no place left for Japanese hunters.』

『That’s why we need to reduce their numbers, Director Kimitsu.』

『Exactly what I’m saying! Major Aoki!』

Watching this scene, I realized something.

『There was no dangerous magical beast.』

The disappearances of Korean hunters weren’t because of a dangerous magical beast in the Korean hunter sector.

『These bastards were the magical beasts.』