Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: The Constellation's Ultimatum
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And so, Japan's ambitious extermination operation ended in failure.
Though Yoo Seongwon hadn't added to his S-Class monster kill count this time, he had brilliantly defended the Nagoya front line and successfully prevented any new casualties, earning him a hefty reward.
With the money in hand, he was ready to head back, but the Japanese government and special forces unit asked him to stick around a few more days, as if they still had something to say.
"Hey, I've put out the urgent fire. Doesn't that make me useless now?"
"W-Well, that's true, but we still haven't found that other S-Class Hunter, and the front lines are in a precarious state. Could you possibly stay here just two or three more days?"
"Hmm... As long as there's money in it?"
"Yes! Of course. It's only right."
"Then OK."
Yoo Seongwon was the type to do anything for the right price, and with solid security now in place, the Japanese government was eager for one more shot at rescuing their S-Class, so they shook on it.
Naturally, Yoo Seongwon was assigned a VVIP suite in one of Tokyo's top luxury hotels. The moment he stepped inside, he stripped off his armor, took a shower, and flopped onto the bed.
"Oh, check out this soft bed. Worth every penny of luxury. Time to call the crew and have some fun. Gaulph, Seom-myeol, Akaron, and... I'll summon Krokbane somewhere else and hook him up with some grub."
[Thanks... Master......]
[Hmm-hah-hat, if only every day could be like this. Perfect. Contractor, there are all kinds of booze here... Which one's got the highest proof? Care for a drink, Lady Seom-myeol?]
"I'll pass."
Leaving the knights to set up their drinking party first, Yoo Seongwon called the hotel front desk and arranged a separate meal for Krokbane.
As a VVIP who had defended their homeland, the staff understood Korean and treated him with utmost courtesy.
Soon after, hotel staff set up multiple grills on the rooftop and began roasting whole cows for Krokbane.
[Oh... Now that's more like it. Chomp, chomp......]
"Yeah, eat your fill. Rest means real rest. Once you're stuffed, head back to the sanctuary. Make sure he eats hearty till he's full, folks."
"O-Of course, Hunter Yoo Seongwon."
Handing Krokbane off to the hotel staff, Yoo Seongwon returned to his room and joined the remaining trio for drinks.
With room service delivering a feast of dishes, the four of them dug in without worry, chatting excitedly over the variety of foods.
"But what about Akaron? He can't eat, so how's he gonna join in?"
[It's fine. The electricity here is quite tasty. Besides, the true essence is sharing the joy of victory together.]
"Fair enough. Hey, Akaron, any chance this place has bugs listening in or cameras watching us?"
[No. None at all.]
"Good. Then we can talk freely. When you were in Nagoya, what was the deal with those S-Class kids' condition?"
Yoo Seongwon cut straight to the briefing he'd seen earlier, asking about the children.
He'd said he wouldn't get involved, but their faces were burned into his mind—he couldn't just ignore it.
The blank expressions on those kids, wearing mechanical collars like dog leashes, still haunted him.
[Hmm, they fight like machines. No thought for their own bodies at all.]
"They seemed like they were in pain... but mostly terrified of something, Captain."
[Even if they wanted to act, those kids are S-Class Hunters, Master.]
S-Class Hunters.
In this era of dungeons and monsters, they were the ultimate weapons, their value beyond money, a true measure of national power.
No wonder the Korean government had quietly asked him to delay the rescue op.
Laying hands on them could spark an unthinkable crisis.
"Doesn't sit right leaving like this. Any bright ideas?"
[None.]
[Bright ideas: Search results—zero.]
"Yeah, guess not."
Yoo Seongwon drowned his regrets in a swig of booze.
Sure, if he went all out ready to make enemies of Japan, it might be possible.
But word spreading that he'd snatched S-Class Hunters by force could make him a global pariah, so starting something meant steeling himself big time.
It could cost him everything he had, so caution was key.
[For me, that doesn't sound half bad? Hmm-hah-hat.]
"You're all sworn in and ready to charge, huh?"
[Hmm-hah-hat, just a suggestion.]
The group talked late into the night about the young S-Class Hunters but came up with no real solutions.
Knowing their value made compromise impossible no matter how many times they turned it over, so Yoo Seongwon collapsed into sleep, his worries unresolved.
***
At the same time, ???
"Ugh... Uuugh......"
Splash!
Fujiwara, the guild master, slowly opened his eyes after deep sleep.
As his brain kicked into gear, he pieced together yesterday's events and his current situation, firing up his logic and judgment to assess it all.
What he saw: an unfamiliar cave. What he felt: the bone-chilling cold of the stone floor. Realizing something was wrong, he bolted upright and looked around.
"Where... am I? What the......"
Clank.
Fujiwara was locked in an iron cage inside the cave, his hands and feet bound with unknown chains.
Outside the bars, the spectral samurai he'd seen plenty of stood guard, swords at their sides.
"How did this... Oh, right. Yesterday, running and running till I blacked out......!"
He remembered collapsing in the forest mid-escape, potions gone, no proper rest.
Seeing those specters, he figured he'd been captured.
"Damn it......"
"Damn it!"
"...Who's there?"
The perfectly timed curses echoing told him he wasn't alone.
Realizing the cave held multiple cells, Fujiwara crawled toward the voice to chat with his fellow prisoner—but before he could, someone entered the cave.
A massive monster in flame-wreathed armor, warrior-shaped: the Fire Army Great General.
[Awake, are we? So... Fujiwara Yasuke, was it? One of Japan's S-Class Hunters, class 'Exorcist.' Specializes in spells and talisman magic against us specters.]
"...Yeah, that's me. Why keep me alive?"
[Hostage. Bargaining chip.]
"Hostage? Bargaining chip? What do you want?"
Fujiwara felt a strange vibe from these apostles of the 'War' Constellation—endless fighters of the 66 Thousand Demons—who suddenly mentioned hostages and negotiations.
[The path across the sea. Not wasting time on weaklings like you—we want real wars with worthy foes.]
"W-Weaklings?!"
[All talk for someone captured without a fight. Anyway, no plans to kill you, so behave. Try anything funny, and I'll lop off limbs for eternal burning torment. Oh, and spectral samurai and soldiers are on standby within 100 kilometers. Go ahead, try escaping. Same goes for the other prisoners—gotta tell them too, so I'm out.]
"W-Wait... Hold on!"
He called desperately, but the Fire Army Great General didn't look back, heading deeper into the cave.
Shaken, Fujiwara mulled over the 'path across the sea' bit.
It sounded like they wanted Japan's help ferrying the 66 Thousand Demons' army overseas, since they couldn't cross water themselves.
'So, Korea, China, or Russia? Or across the Pacific to America?'
Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia were options, but the closest landmasses made most sense.
Only one answer.
South Korea. Japan's shortest path to the continent.
They wanted to invade via there for bigger wars, using captives like him to negotiate with Japan's government.
"Well... that's a relief, then. Heh heh heh. They won't abandon an S-Class Hunter like me?"
Landing the 66 Thousand Demons' army would screw Korea hard, but Japan's interests came first—saving S-Class Hunters was priority.
And screwing Korea? No guilt there at all.
Three days later, right as Yoo Seongwon ghosted back to Korea, the Fire Army Great General sent a letter via human messenger to Japan's government.
Chaos erupted. They scrambled special forces and guild leaders for an emergency meeting.
Once assembled, the prime minister carefully untied a bamboo scroll from who-knows-where and began reading aloud.
[To the esteemed Japanese government striving in bloody battle against our great 'Constellation of the 66 Thousand Demons.' We hold four of your precious S-Class Hunters as prisoners. We seek a deal with you through them. Our demand is simple: Ferry four of our great generals across the sea to foreign lands. One per S-Class Hunter: Land them safely in Korea, America, Russia, and Australia. For each general transported, we'll return one S-Class Hunter unharmed. We swear on the name of the 'Constellation of the 66 Thousand Demons' not to advance beyond your current front lines. Refuse, and these four S-Class Hunters will be publicly executed. Interference by outsiders, foreign nations, or other constellations' apostles will yield the same result. Choose wisely. -From the Apostle of the 'Constellation of the 66 Thousand Demons,' Fire Army Great General]
"Ughhh......"
"This is quite the pickle."
"It's weird enough they're even negotiating......"
"What should we do......"
Murmurs rose.
The prime minister, cabinet, special forces chief, guild heads—all exchanged uneasy glances.
Four S-Class Hunters. Priceless, the lifeline of the nation.
But granting the 66 Thousand Demons' wish was disastrous—ferrying those 'great generals' abroad would spawn endless spectral armies there.
This went beyond nuisance to outright villainy, worse than invasion.