Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Subjugation Force Deployment
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Four days later, at the northern city boundary of Seoul.
An S-class demon subjugation force, centered around the Blue Dragon Guild, had been gathering since dawn, and the sight was truly spectacular.
I already knew the guilds had become like private military companies, and I'd seen some subjugation operations on the news, but this was the first time seeing one up close in person, and it was incredibly impressive.
“Hey, temp. Stop spacing out and get to work.”
“Ah! Sorry about that. Haha.”
Right now, as planned, I had joined the Baekya Guild as a temporary staffer and was running around handling various tasks.
There was a ton to manage: storing food, ammo, potions, and all sorts of supplies, plus setting up base camp gear, and more.
At the same time, seeing the vehicles from other guilds, the magic stone-powered tanks and helicopters operated by the Blue Dragon Guild, and even the military units dispatched by the government, it really hit home that this wasn't small-scale—it was like a real war was about to start.
“Hey! Temp. The Guild Master wants to see you. There's something off with the contract.”
“What? No way?”
“Shut up and hurry! We're about to head out, so we need to sort out any issues fast!”
“Got it.”
Hmm, what's this about? The paperwork should be flawless.
No matter what anyone says, the Baekya Guild's heir personally handled it, so there couldn't be any problems.
Still, the Guild Master summoning me like this could only mean she wanted to probe my motives or intentions.
“What's this about? We're about to depart~ Something wrong with the paperwork?”
“That was just an excuse. You figured as much, right?”
“Just testing the waters. Haha.”
Today, probably because we're heading into a war zone, she wasn't in her usual bold(?) outfit but a more covered-up style with a suit-type protective suit and robe draped over it, complete with a sturdy-looking helmet on the side.
In fantasy movies or Awakener media, they always showed faces out for fame during fights, but real combat felt worlds apart.
That aside, even in her plain attire, she couldn't hide her innate elegance and grace, and I politely countered.
“If the paperwork's fine, why'd you call this 'temp' over? I was trying to stay low-key, after all.”
“What's your real reason for joining this subjugation force? My daughter says there's nothing to worry about, but I just can't figure out your true intentions. I've kept asking, but she only says it's a 'contract' and won't tell me more.”
“Well, nothing special. I'm just an Awakener who doesn't want to register as a proper Hunter, so I'm using a loophole. I applied for this subjugation because I figured I could scavenge something like a Scavenger on the sly. Pretty mercenary reason, huh.”
Intellectual types like her get more obsessed the more you hide, digging into every detail until they're satisfied.
So, giving her a plausible, straightforward reason and letting her accept it would make her think her suspicions were confirmed, letting me slide. That's why I went with something common and natural.
“Is that really all?”
“Need more? It's so mercenary I couldn't tell Ayoung, but I figured I could be straight with you, Guild Master.”
“Then let me flip it: Why don't you want to be a Hunter? After the 'Grandmaster' incident, both the Association and guilds treat people well. With our Ayoung taking you on exclusively, you're no F- or E-rank at a glance— even D-rank would be plenty workable as a regular Hunter, right?”
“Well, sure. But think about it the other way. I'm thirty-two, ninth year at Academia. Living peacefully, then suddenly I awaken—do I really need to risk my life? Don't you think the pay reflects just how dangerous Hunter work is?”
She stared at me, her face frozen in stunned surprise.
Theoretically, she had no comeback—my logic was sound.
Maybe receiving a Constellation's choice reminded her of something she'd forgotten after living too long as a Hunter.
It was only natural for people to want a safer, more peaceful life.
“But that doesn't mean I can ignore my awakening. I don't want to live as a Hunter, but I can't undo being an Awakener, so this is my compromise. And for that kind of life ahead, you need knowledge, experience, and insight more than money. See why I infiltrated as a 'temp' now?”
“Yes. That's a sufficient answer.”
“Thank you for understanding. Alright! Back to work! Wishing you a safe demon subjugation!”
The moment she said it was sufficient, I replied energetically and headed out of the trailer to get back to tasks.
Outside, most of the loading and prep was done.
The Blue Dragon Guild vehicles up front had already started moving, and the Baekya Guild vehicles followed suit.
***
『Looks like everyone's from the guilds is here, so let's start the video strategy meeting. I'm Go Cheonyong, S-class Blue Dragon Fist Star, in charge of this subjugation. Nice to meet you. As you know, this operation targets the S-class demon Jeong Min-su. The goal is to pursue and either kill or capture him. First, I'll brief you on the intel we've gathered so far……』
The briefing kicked off as the vehicles departed. Shin Somi was joining via video call too.
On screen, Go Cheonyong was a burly man with short hair, sitting in a blue martial arts uniform for the call.
『The S-class demon Jeong Min-su is a 'Flesh Hunter' class, a ranged Awakener specializing in guerrilla tactics and trap-based hunting. Given his style, he won't meet us head-on at his base in 'Kaesong'—he'll ambush us on the forested roads for sure.』
“Hmm…….”
Just as Jeong Min-su's side bought guild intel, the Blue Dragon Guild had paid off informants and Scavengers for info, run strategy team predictions on his routes, and prepped everything.
『Anyway, prepare thoroughly for ambushes, especially nighttime forest attacks—his favorite tactic. We've got drones, helicopters, satellites, and mercenaries on watch, but no slacking.』
『Any chance he flees elsewhere?』
『Possible, but unlikely to leave Slaughter King's territory. Other Constellations' demons or Scavengers in other zones won't let him. From the enemy's view, facing us—whose timing they know—is more rational than getting ambushed in someone else's turf.』
The enemy's options and strategies were limited anyway.
Prep ahead, and countermeasures were easy; that's the basics for 100% win rates.
『Just bomb his city in Kaesong flat. Sheesh~』
『If an S-class died that easy, we wouldn't be here. His forces will be Scavengers, demons, and maybe Slaughter King demons via blessings—so prepare for that.』
『Got it, but how do we handle the main target 'Jeong Min-su'?』
『Just watch for ambushes, and he's nothing special. Fancy S-class demon title or not, he's just sniping arrows and traps from range. When his forces show, strike teams move fast, form encirclement, and I'll finish him. Why else send me, the anti-personnel specialist?』
S-class Hunter, Blue Dragon Fist Star Go Cheonyong.
One of Korea's top 10 S-class Hunters, proven by record and skill—his name carried weight, so no one challenged him lightly.
He'd been the pillar of Blue Dragon Guild for years, a Fist Star fighting on the front lines where death loomed, lending his words even more credibility.
『Anyway, your jobs boil down to two things: Ironclad ambush defense, and when Jeong Min-su shows, all strike teams swarm, encircle, and annihilate. Nail those, and we're good.』
Clean summary, no objections.
Prep for combat, execute the simple strategy of hunting Jeong Min-su when he appears.
Scavenger rabble and any Slaughter King demons would fall to mercenaries and guild forces—everything covered.
『What if a higher-grade monster or demon pops up unexpectedly? Pretty plausible for an S-class demon, right?』
『Then I handle Jeong Min-su, A-class folks deal with the demon and regroup.』
『Ah, yes. Understood.』
With every scenario covered and contingencies set, the meeting wrapped, and the video call ended.
Shin Somi leaned back in her chair, breathing heavily.
Dragged here as an A-class Hunter, her class didn't suit Awakener-vs-Awakener fights where everyone knew each other's capabilities, so she was worried.
‘I have to survive no matter what.’
She'd climbed to A-class, so she had her own counters for this mess.
Her suit, robe, and staff were custom-ordered with survival options and magic.
After hearing the gist from her daughter and grasping the Blue Dragon Guild incident's truth, she'd devised her survival plan.
‘Feels like enemies everywhere.’
Her guild had members, but understaffed and mid-to-low tier, their top accompanying Awakener was C-class—and only two at that.
As Guild Master without ironclad internal power, theirs was the weakest force here.
‘Mom! Mom! If things go south, stick to that uncle no matter what! Got it? Can't say details, but he's more reliable than our guild folks!’
Her mind swirled with her daughter's advice from before departure.
Clinging to that uncertainty for hope only amplified her anxiety.
***
Ten hours after departure.
7 PM, forest near Kaesong.
“You call this catching him? Way too slow, isn't it?”
It took nearly all day crawling from Seoul to Kaesong, and I helped staff with dinner prep while voicing my confusion at the pace, but they looked at me pitifully.
“This temp newbie has no clue. Think we're just driving to an arena? War started when we left Seoul.”
“Roads north of Seoul haven't been maintained for decades—forests overgrown, dungeons everywhere. You think we cruise through? Heavy gear on magic stone tanks clears ahead—you can't see from here.”
“Plus Scavengers. Guerrilla ambush experts lurking everywhere. Can't relax, so we go cautious. Slow okay? Doesn't matter. He can't flee to other Constellation zones—we keep chasing, he'll tire. Just pursuing makes other Scavengers bail harder…….”
Proud or showing off to the newbie, they machine-gunned answers like vets schooling a rookie after my casual question.
Reeling from the earful of reasons, I nodded in acceptance and dove into dinner prep.
Then, my closed status window popped open with a message from Akaron at the knight order's sanctuary.