Chapter 164
Chapter 164
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: Shikoku's Desperate Plea
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Three days later, Shikoku Island.
“We’re truly sorry, Golden Knight!”
“We were fools!”
After rejecting Yoo Seongwon’s offer, the leaders of all fifteen groups had received humanitarian aid from another dimension—convenience goods, medical supplies, food—and with some time to spare, he’d even fixed their broken facilities. Now, every single one of them had rushed over, kneeling and bowing before Yoo Seongwon.
“Hm? No, what’s this about? Was the humanitarian aid not to your liking? Or is there some other issue? We provided as much support as we could.”
“We’re endlessly grateful for how generously you’ve helped us, but… thinking about you leaving, we just can’t! We can’t imagine what comes after!”
‘Of course not.’
It wasn’t just supplies. Shin Somi, a doctor, had set up a field hospital to treat people who hadn’t gotten proper care in ages. And for wanderers who’d lived like outcasts for decades without even dreaming of it, he’d let them enjoy hot spring baths. They couldn’t fathom losing all that.
“Once we leave, people from the mainland will come flooding in anyway. They’ll hit the front lines west of Nagoya, build fortresses or bases. Then those of you who stayed here can naturally return to your old lives.”
“P-people from the mainland?”
“Why? Weren’t you waiting for that?”
“Why now? After all this time!”
“It’s not ‘now’—we took out the Dark Army Commander, so they’re coming. We’re just mercenaries getting paid for the job. Oh, right. When they arrive, you won’t have to worry about jobs or housing anymore.”
There was no malice in Yoo Seongwon’s words, but the faces of the fifteen groups’ members turned pale, their expressions grave.
They’d rejected his offer in the first place because they wanted to live quietly on Shikoku, free from any government or authority. But if the government came back, that dream would shatter one way or another.
“What do we do now?”
“They ignored us all this time, and now they’re coming back?”
“They’ll treat us like burakumin and force us into labor.”
“Or label us scavengers and come for our necks. No reason to treat us well now…”
The unrest grew louder.
Any patriotism toward the mainland that had scorned them was long gone.
They just wanted to live freely among themselves, even if it meant a harsh wilderness life.
But with Shikoku now cleaned up, the Japanese government’s return would crush that hope. They had only one choice left.
“Please take us in, Hunter Yoo Seongwon.”
“We’ll do anything you ask.”
“We can handle it, but we can’t turn the kids into slaves.”
“Hmm… It’s tricky when you suddenly change your tune like this… Give me a moment to talk it over with my subordinates.”
Rather than accepting outright, he planned to pretend to deliberate seriously, ramping up the pressure.
They’d already agreed on this in advance, so Shin Somi and her daughter began their prepared lines to heighten the tense atmosphere.
“Ah! Jjajangmyeon! Jjambbong! Pickled radish! Sujebi! Samsun jjambbong! Tonkatsu! One round break~ Kimchi jjigae! Soon dubu jjigae!”
“Ganxiao shrimp! Gan jjajang! Jjajang bokkeum!”
“Good. You’re doing great.”
“…But does this really scare them? If they knew Korean, they’d laugh.”
“I already tested it. No one understood when I grumbled in Korean. Anyway, keep going~ You too, sis.”
Japanese lacks aspirated consonants like ㄲ, ㅆ, ㅉ, and pronouncing them strongly makes the tone even harsher, fitting the grim vibe.
Unfamiliar language + sharp sounds + a girl’s high pitch? The Shikoku folks, hearing it without understanding, could only tremble in fear.
“S-seems like there’s strong resistance?”
“Of course. We sent thousands more with magic, after all…”
“M-magic? Doesn’t that burn through mana stones?”
“Sigh~ The backlash is too intense; it won’t work without extra conditions.”
“What conditions?”
“Just stricter contract terms and monitoring. Those who accepted first earned our trust, but you calculated profits first, so we can’t fully trust you. Even scavengers betray for gain, right? If you don’t like it, refuse.”
They wanted to protest the unfairness, but with their own necks on the line, they had no options.
They were the desperate ones, so in the end, they had no choice but to go along with Yoo Seongwon.
Soon, they signed contracts signifying acceptance, confirmed their place under him, and were secretly transported to Korea via the sanctuary of the abandoned knight order.
“No one’s left on Shikoku now. We’ll have to clean up the traces ourselves. Convenient, with time to spare.”
“Won’t Korea complain? The elders, or Yoo-cheong?”
“Yoo-cheong’s a yes-man: ‘As you command, Your Majesty,’ win or lose. The elder lit up: ‘Hohoho, I’ll gladly assist such activities.’ I handled housing with a castle summon, so now it’s just logistics.”
Shikoku business was fully wrapped up. Spend the remaining four days fending off wild monsters casually, then leave.
Killing time unwillingly, Yoo Seongwon browsed news for updates.
He especially watched Japanese reactions, curious if they had second thoughts.
“Hm? What’s this?”
『…Yasuda Guild’s Fujiwara Guild Master claims a blessing ceremony at ‘Yasukuni Shrine’ is needed to honor Hunter Yoo Seongwon’s dedication and efforts. Praying for victory for the lone fighter in uncharted hell, and marking the start of this war…』
“…What’s their game? A blessing ceremony—at Yasukuni, of all places?”
The ongoing battle was agreed fact, but why suddenly hold one for him at Yasukuni Shrine? Yoo Seongwon couldn’t make sense of it.
To Koreans, it was no friendly spot. Holding a ceremony there felt less like support and more like a shit-fling from behind.
“Divide and conquer? Won’t work on me…”
“You’re already half-traitor in their eyes since coming here. Seen Korean news?”
“Nope. Why would I? Nothing good there. Has the Dark Army Commander kill spread in Korea?”
“Probably. They could request US satellite photos.”
Money aside, abandoning a chaotic homeland for hated Japan twisted South Korea’s nerves. They’d grasp at any flaw, using every means to scout.
“A flaw… Then that Fujiwara Guild Master tossed perfect bait.”
“Yeah, that article’ll run too. So, what’ll you do?”
“Let it slide.”
“You sure? You’ll catch hate from everywhere.”
“The more they hate, the harder those brats’ll clench and work.”
He’d come to Japan aiming for this; no reason to stop. He flipped channels to other shows.
Just chill four days, then back to Tokyo.
Ignoring Yasukuni nonsense, four days passed. Yoo Seongwon’s group withdrew from Shikoku as planned, arriving in Tokyo.
Unclear if government-prepared or joyful over victory on the 66,000 Demon Constellations’ major front after endless sacrifices, but crowds greeted him. The government even announced a parade.
“Didn’t I say I hate this stuff?”
“Truly sorry. But we must spread the victory news. We’ll cover parade and banquet costs instead.”
“Fine, can’t be helped.”
Paid fairly for the job, no grounds to refuse. Yoo Seongwon rode the parade float, waving dutifully.
Money-grubbing was his flaw, but doing anything for pay was his strength.
After the parade, at the government-provided hotel, his group unpacked and met with Hunter Special Forces.
“Shikoku gets on-site teams and defenses soon. Pay: 500 billion yen for the S-rank monster Dark Army Commander, plus 40 billion for reclaiming four prefectures. Total 540 billion yen. Mana stones loaded on your transport since we couldn’t prep all cash.”
“Whew~ Thanks. Heading home rich.”
“Hahaha, we’re the grateful ones. Next plans? Straight to another front?”
“No. Korea first. Sort loot, restock, then back. Shikoku was just a skirmish; Nagoya west is true 66,000 Demon Constellations turf, right?”
The Dark Army couldn’t cross seas, isolated. Now face their coordinated forces—that was his excuse.
Japan saw it as reasonable too.
“More importantly… Why not base here permanently? Heard you’re building a frontline city north of North Korea. Why not Japan? Our top-tech firms will support fully.”
“Not bad, but I’d lose sunk costs pulling out. Anyway, two weeks rest, then return.”
“Y-yes! Please come back.”
“Hahaha, don’t worry. I will.”
Parting laughing with Japanese officials, Yoo Seongwon boarded their transport for Korea.
“Hm, mission success.”
Beyond money, twisting South Korea’s government nerves—perfect hit.
Yasukuni blessing news enraged them.
TV, internet seethed; Seoul saw protests.
『Isn’t he a real traitor? How can we face our patriotic martyrs? Yasukuni—what kind of place is that! Getting blessed there!』
‘Did I ask for it? They decided themselves—what can I do?’
『Plus, that ‘frontline city’ project deliberately excludes domestic firms, picking weirdos!』
‘That was the point…’
『And! Topping the Big Three to become Korea’s strongest guild, yet no order—just a money-hungry pirate. This! Korea’s top hunter? Makes sense, folks?』
‘Then I’ll go elsewhere? Pfft~ Rant all you want. What changes?’
Yoo Seongwon snorted, flipping channels.
Their noise was just lazy, worthless flies to him.
Useless trash flies, too.
What changes from yapping? Just stirring chaos to widen rifts—divide and conquer.
Ignoring it, he enjoyed fun shows en route to Iron Fortress.