Chapter 173
Chapter 173
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 173
Chapter Title: Olympus's Reckoning
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The army of the Constellation 66 Heavenly Demons landing in Korea was no ordinary affair.
Yoo Seongwon, who had declared a state of emergency at Iron Fortress, moved ten trailers loaded with Heavenly Sword Army soldiers, goblin troops, and ample construction materials for temporary fortresses into the sanctuary, completing preparations to move out.
He himself mounted Eldraen, bringing Gaulf and Yucheong along as he headed toward Mokpo.
Since he could open the sanctuary's gate upon arrival and unload all the supplies, it was efficient in terms of time.
Upon reaching Mokpo City, he saw the guilds stationed there already locked in combat with the commanders of the 66 Heavenly Demons.
"My God! It's real? And... those burning commanders and the castle! It's the Fire Army."
[Yeah, looks like it. Heh heh, what do you think happened?]
"No need to think. It's those Japanese bastards. I'm going to confront them right now. If they don't give a straight answer, I'll smash their heads in. For now, let's provide support over there until the trailers are ready."
Having set his course of action, Yoo Seongwon descended immediately. Mokpo, which had been teetering on the brink under the assault of the commanders and the Fire Army, was fortunately saved by his arrival.
He then consulted with the guilds holding the line on-site and, as soon as the trailers arrived, directed them to establish a defensive front while ordering an assault on the Fire Army's Grand Commander.
The local guilds defending Mokpo, treating instructions from Korea's top Hunter, Yoo Seongwon, as a matter of course, assisted in building the defensive line.
"Alright, shall we head to Japan? Since this is about settling scores... Yucheong, I might need you."
"I shall obey, Your Majesty."
Since it involved political considerations, Yoo Seongwon had brought Yucheong, the expert in such matters, before setting off for Japan again on Eldraen.
"Your Majesty, but... are we going without notifying the government?"
"What's the point? At best, they'll send a few Foreign Ministry folks to snivel, 'Um, did you perhaps do this?' It'll be faster if I handle it myself."
"Well, that's true, but it would be better to at least inform them."
"Hmm, alright. We'll do it your way."
Out of respect for Yucheong, Yoo Seongwon decided to notify the Korean government as he suggested.
Of course, not directly—Yoo Seongwon left it to Baek Gayeon, the expert in such matters.
(...Fine. So what do you plan to do in Japan?)
"Confront them. Ask which bastard did this. This is outright betrayal of humanity. Something even I wouldn't do. Anyway, please explain it properly to the Korean government."
No matter how willful Yoo Seongwon was, he hadn't allied with the Constellation Slaughter King or sided with them.
Partly due to the 'Path of the Knight' trait, but he had never crossed that line, even if it meant resignation.
Having conveyed the matter to Baek Gayeon, Yoo Seongwon continued toward Japan on Eldraen when another call came in.
"It's chaos. Total chaos because of those Japanese bastards. Let's see... This time it's Noona Somi? What's up? Trouble on the front lines? Hello? Noona, what's wrong? What happened?"
(Yes. A huge problem. We scouted for the assault on the Fire Army Grand Commander, and behind his castle... a 'Core Dungeon' entrance has appeared.)
"...What?"
Core Dungeon. The core dungeon and stronghold of evil-aligned Constellations invading Earth.
Clearing it prevents that Constellation from appearing on Earth anymore.
However, its interior was an unknown realm of uncertain conquerability, guarded by all the Constellation's apostles, surpassing S-Rank Dungeon difficulty.
Thus, attempting it required immense resolve, with no guarantee of survival even if tried...
"It's appeared?"
(Yes.)
"...Damn it."
Yoo Seongwon naturally felt a headache coming on.
He hadn't imagined the Constellation 66 Heavenly Demons would even think to relocate a Core Dungeon.
Setting aside their desperate desire to emerge onto the continent, he couldn't just let Japan off for causing this mess.
"...I can't let this slide. Eldraen! Faster! A Core Dungeon? You think I'll let this nonsense stand?"
Unless they had a convincing excuse, Yoo Seongwon was prepared to cause a massive incident as he urged Eldraen on.
If they spouted nonsense, he was ready to spark a full war or whatever it took. Flying swiftly, he reached the skies over Tokyo in about two hours.
"Huh? Something's... off."
"There's smoke rising. And sounds of something being smashed..."
"Ah, over there... something huge is floating. That sky island? It's Olympus's..."
What they saw upon reaching Tokyo's airspace was a massive sky island and members of the Olympus Guild destroying the ground below.
It was shocking that someone had started wreaking havoc before their arrival, but unbelievable that it was the Olympus Guild.
The Olympus Guild in Korea had always been quiet and rational.
"Why are they rampaging like that in the first place?"
"Japan probably didn't just send the Grand Commander allied with the 66 Heavenly Demons to Korea alone."
"Ah! Right!"
Yoo Seongwon's mind cleared at Yucheong's insight.
Yes, if the 66 Heavenly Demons targeted not just Asia but the whole world, they must have requested Grand Commanders dropped on other continents too.
If scattered across America, Australia, and various islands and continents, it made sense for Olympus Guild to be on a destructive spree.
"Olympus covers the whole world, right?"
"Yes. From the Pacific sphere to Europe, facing over ten massive evil Constellation forces..."
"As a collective of the Twelve Constellations, they have to be that big. Anyway, we're getting a free show. They must be really pissed."
BOOM!
Seated atop Eldraen, Yoo Seongwon watched the Olympus Guild's exploits leisurely.
Their affiliation was unclear, but the black decorations and fabrics differed from the Olympus Guild Hunters and soldiers he usually saw.
Unlike the valorous demeanor and combat prowess they showed fighting alongside in Korea, these gave off the vibe of executioners.
[Eradicate them all.]
[Make them pay.]
[Those who summon hell shall go to hell.]
[They shall pay as much as the death they summoned.]
Wearing fierce white masks, they mercilessly slaughtered people, detonating buildings and infrastructure without mercy.
They looked like an evil army at first glance, but they were a legion under a Constellation serving a specific Olympus Guild mission.
"Those... must be the subordinates of Constellation Hades we've only heard about."
"Yeah. First time seeing them in person. They're the elites that rarely appear on the Pacific front... And that sky island looks different too!"
Usually elegant ancient cities lush with beautiful plants and flowers, but the one floating over Japan was shrouded in black thunderclouds, with gargoyles and bats flying about, hellhounds with flames in their mouths prowling—a chilling, terrifying atmosphere.
"Even sky islands from the same guild differ like that..."
"Well, that's how it is. But Your Majesty, now what...?"
"Yeah. Nothing for us to do? Head back and plan for the Core Dungeon?"
With Olympus Guild handling Japan's folly, Yoo Seongwon saw no need to intervene and turned Eldraen to leave.
But at that moment, spotting something, Yoo Seongwon glared at a spot on the ground.
Unable to let it pass, he drew the Titan's Stake and leaped from Eldraen's back.
"Damn it!"
"Your Majesty?"
[Contractor?]
Yucheong and Gaulf were momentarily flustered by his sudden drop after saying they were leaving, but they nodded to each other, drew their swords, and followed.
Whatever it was, Yoo Seongwon drawing his weapon meant he intended to fight.
***
Japanese Prime Minister's Office.
As Tokyo's downtown endured a full-scale assault from the Olympus Guild, the Japanese government was prostrated before a white-masked man on a massive monitor, listening intently.
"Hey, you fucking Japs monkeys? How many times do I have to say it... Is your head empty? To save four S-Rank Hunters, just carry out operations properly or do something else. Handing everything over to the '66 Heavenly Demons' like this—do you even know how many evil gods we fight?"
"W-We are truly sorry. W-We did it just to survive... Please forgive us just once, Hifpsis."
The Prime Minister trembled on the floor, naming the man on screen.
He never dreamed these world-peace busybodies would rage like this over the incident.
'Damn those accursed Grand Commanders! Who knew they'd cause such a disaster right away.'
The reason for this mess was the apostles and Grand Commander of the 66 Heavenly Demons sent toward America—they crossed the Pacific, spawned commanders, waged war, damaged the U.S. mainland, and severely disrupted supply lines for Olympus Guild's key Pacific fronts.
"What did I say when I first came? You said you had no such enemies and no such plans? Lies sticking to your mouths like a goddamn manual! We showed you footage of you sneaking those shitty commanders across the sea, and only then did you back down."
With the world's top intelligence from the U.S. government mobilized, no matter how perfect Japan's lie manual, tangible evidence made denial impossible.
"W-We are truly sorry."
"If 'sorry' ended things, the world wouldn't be so harsh. Anyway, once our Hades legion is called, we don't leave without payment... Steel yourselves."
'Damn! Never imagined Hades's army would come. Sending them to America would cost this dearly!'
In Olympus Guild, subordinates' power varied by Constellation rank—Zeus, Poseidon, Hades were in a league known to any familiar with Greek myths.
Moreover, Hifpsis before them was an S-Rank Hunter blessed by 'Hypnos' among Hades's apostles.
But having received true 'divinity' blessing, his authority outclassed regular S-Ranks—not to be treated as one.
"'Brother's' execution has begun. You betrayed for four S-Ranks, so we'll take eight S-Rank lives. For secretly dropping that filthy 'commander' in California, we'll return exactly twice the damage incurred there."
"W-Well, anything else is fine, but please... spare the S-Rank Hunters. We'll offer ample atonement and compensation..."
"Pfft! Atonement and compensation? Have you ever done it properly? History shows you denying harm to neighbors till death, making excuses. Oh man... But... hey, what's this? Did you call this?"
"Call what?"
"You don't see? This golden lump blocking our Olympus Guild's SS-Rank Hunter! Constellation Hades's top apostle under 'Persephone's Blessing,' Lady 'Perseaia'! Wait... Isn't that the 'Titan's Stake'? If he's wielding that... the rumored...?"
A small screen popped up on the monitor, showing a woman with a massive scythe adorned with skulls.
Pale as death, clad in black robes, half her face hidden by a white mask, long white hair cascading—she faced Yoo Seongwon in golden armor, Titan's Stake blocking her scythe as he glared.