Chapter 163
Chapter 163
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 163
Chapter Title: Shikoku's Hidden Survivors
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[*From this point on, it's set up with real-time interpretation in place.]
“What the hell are you scheming? A-Are you planning to sell us off as slaves?”
“If that were the case, why bother calling you here for a chat? I could just round you all up. You can’t even escape the island anyway… unless you plan to swim?”
“N-No, that’s not it, but the conditions are way too good to be true. What’s in it for you?”
“There’s plenty in it for me. I get manpower that can help with my work… Of course, I’m not talking forced labor or slavery. There are just a few conditions.”
The old vagrant who had lived in Shikoku tensed up at the word “conditions.”
They’d spent the last few decades scraping by like sewer rats, but at their core, they were still civilized people.
As such, they’d jump at any chance to return to normal life—but with even their own government treating them as nonentities, they couldn’t imagine some random Korean they’d never heard of would actually help.
“W-What are the conditions?”
“First, everyone who comes over learns enough Korean to communicate within a year. Adults, kids—no exceptions. You’re heading to Korea eventually, so learn fast. I won’t make you ditch Japanese entirely… but if you don’t, I’ll send you right back. Second, we’ll give you land, and you’ll live by Korean rules and customs there. Same as the first one. Third, this is just procedural since you’ll be crossing borders… but you’ll work under me. It’ll be an employment contract. We’ll spell out your safety and treatment in it…”
“What if it’s a black contract?”
“Swear on ‘chivalry,’ then? For me, that’s as good as swearing on a ‘constellation’—nothing more trustworthy.”
“Constellation?”
A vow on a ‘constellation.’ Even those trapped in Shikoku knew its weight.
Before total isolation, guilds and hunter special forces had operated here, and some among them were still awakeners blessed by constellations. They knew just how absolute such oaths were.
“T-Then that works for us.”
“Okay. What about you next to him?”
“If the elder says yes, so do we.”
“It’s not just you guys—check with your group members too. Some might hate Korea. You know, the anti-Korean types. I’ll give you three hours. Head back, hold a meeting, and let the knights know.”
He sent the first group back, and conversations continued as more survivors hiding elsewhere arrived.
Not everyone hiding in Shikoku was decent, though. A message came in from Akaron—a shocking one.
[Master, we found another settlement, but the quality here is poor. Sending footage.]
“What?”
The footage from Akaron showed people caged like animals or corpses skewered on spikes as decorations.
Even in this hellish island, evil existed in human form.
Yoo Seongwon ordered immediate execution for the non-friendly settlement Akaron had found.
“Kill everyone except the captives and slaves to neutralize it.”
[As ordered!]
That was half a day in the typhoon. As dark night fell and the storm finally calmed, Yoo Seongwon had uncovered every hidden settlement across Shikoku and polled their people.
Excluding scavenger-like scum, there were 34 settlements of ordinary folk. Some were small four-person families; others were communities nearing a thousand.
Totaling around ten thousand people. A mere fraction of Shikoku’s former population.
“And of those… fifteen groups rejected relocation to Korea and the conditions. Nineteen accepted, saying they wanted back to civilization no matter what, Commander.”
“Send food and supplies to the fifteen who refused. I’ve told Yuchung and Junghwan—they’ll portal into the knight order sanctuary to load them up.”
“Watching you really shatters everything I thought I knew about the hunter world.”
The (Legendary) Dimensional Gate to the Sanctuary of the Nameless Knight Order had been just a lounge for knights and Yoo Seongwon’s direct subordinates before battles. But it had uses like this.
By exploiting the fact that opening a portal got you to Yoo Seongwon anywhere, Yuchung in Korea could stash goods in the sanctuary. Another knight would enter and retrieve them—bypassing the distance between Korea and Japan.
“No wonder it’s a legendary skill. Super convenient, anyway. Downside is I can’t enter. Something about not being recognized as a knight without the oath? Apparently swearing it lets you in.”
“Oh, the ‘oath.’ But why send supplies to the ones who won’t cooperate?”
“Well, play the humanitarian angle for now… After years of trash, waste, and hunted scraps, tasting civilization’s goods again might change minds. Whew~”
Yeah, people’s hearts shifted like moods before and after using the bathroom.
Even if they’d adapted to this life, recalling forgotten comforts could sway them.
Especially with kids involved—that sway would widen.
They might endure the wild hell of Shikoku, but no parent wanted that for their children.
“What if the Japanese government finds out? You’re smuggling their citizens abroad. A nation can’t exist without people. Doing this…”
“They ditched them—now they wanna complain? Plenty of near-scavenger trash among them anyway. Show pics of those guys and their corpses, say we handled it. Sigh~ They’ll kick up a fuss about another ‘incident.’ Typhoon extension fees aside, if the government moves, it’s trouble. Gotta hurry and help… Huh?”
A transport ship comms alert interrupted as he headed out to work. He took the call.
A Japanese government rep smiled onscreen, launching into Korean the moment they connected.
『C-Congratulations, Hunter Yoo Seongwon. Taking down an S-rank monster in under half a day after deploying—truly impressive. As expected.』
“What do you want? I said everything I needed to. What, now you want magic stones?”
『N-No! We have zero intention of breaking our agreement. We’ve seen your skills. But, uh… could you delay your return from Shikoku?』
“Why?”
『It’s just… too soon. Half a day to solve what no one’s touched for years? Guilds and special forces morale aside, it’ll spark backlash and disputes… Could you stay put for a week? We’ll handle media and movement controls.』
The Japanese government demanding info suppression to shield their hunters’ incompetence and save face.
Ridiculous, but after watching them abandon citizens for ‘face,’ it made sense.
No real downside for Yoo Seongwon, so he agreed.
“Say it took a week, then? You don’t need footage?”
『You get it perfectly. We’ll do that. Haha! Consider it accepted… Oh! Payment on arrival in Tokyo in a week. Then…』
‘Never thought the Japanese government would beg us to stay.’
Win-win, so Yoo Seongwon agreed on the spot. The government cheered his quick OK.
With extra time secured, a relieved Yoo Seongwon stood and headed out to assist the knights.
***
Tokyo, Japan. Yasuda Guild headquarters.
A massive traditional Japanese mansion straight out of a yakuza drama. It clashed with surrounding skyscrapers and modern buildings, but this symbolized Yasuda Guild’s spirit—the ‘headquarters’ only top execs could enter.
“…Those ‘Chung’ bastards took down the Dark Army General in half a day?”
“Y-Yes! That’s right, Guild Master.”
No matter the info lockdown, word spread internally. Yoo Seongwon crushing the Dark Army General—one of Constellation 66,000’s armies—in half a day was old news.
“If it was half-day level for those puny ‘Chung,’ we should’ve stepped in ages ago. Tch! If not for those special forces…”
“Fujiwara Guild Master’s skills would’ve sufficed. Anyway, the government plans to announce he got it a week later—proposed by them. For special forces pride, and ours.”
“But the ‘Chung’ does have real skill. Gave info ahead, sure, but jumping on a transport without scouting and smashing the Dark Army General? Solid. Damn…”
Fujiwara had dismissed his Korean feats as hype or propaganda, refusing to acknowledge strength. But boarding instantly and crushing it quick—plus skill checks—left no denial.
“With the Dark Army General down, Shikoku normalizes. We can use it as a base for reclaiming the western mainland. Gotta reinforce Nagoya’s line, but Shikoku artillery positions pounding away will wipe out commander bugs big time.”
“Hmm…”
“What’s wrong?”
“Just pondering: half a day or a week, if word spreads of this sudden ‘Chung’ hero turning the tide—what happens? We’ve tiptoed for decades, failing to breach, dying by dozens to hundreds daily at the ‘Nagoya line.’ Then one ‘Chung’ breaks it. What’ll people think?”
“But he’s SS-rank. A step above S. Plus five S-ranks with him—beyond any single guild’s firepower. Half a day’s shocking, so we stretched to a week, but it won’t bruise our egos.”
“That’s not my worry. The real issue’s the ‘Chung’ sparking better views of Korea. Civilians are just livestock, fine—but what about special forces hunters holding Nagoya?”
Nagoya and frontline special forces hunters and defense troops endured daily hell. This victory news—half day or week—would endear Yoo Seongwon for tipping scales to humanity.
With their cartel locked in, sheepish citizens weren’t scary. But pro-Korea special forces hunters threatened Yasuda’s Korea conquest ambitions.
“Especially those special forces—full of disloyal scum with impure thoughts. Some outright hate us and the government. Filthy traitors. No will to restore greater Japan… our proud homeland. Tsk tsk…”
“W-What’ll you do?”
“Obviously, widen the emotional gap with him toward our nation. Not force—just keep it business. And we’ve got perfect cheat-key topics. Like Takeshima, or Yasukuni issues.”
Colonial history, territorial disputes—known reverse scales. Government spats were historical fact.
The disputed Takeshima and Ulleungdo were held by Pacific overlord Constellation ‘Eternal Wrath,’ but poking Korean emotional sore spots was easy research.