Divine Seat
For now, the Korean Gwangwon Sect was finished.
Sex parties. Sacrificial rituals. Illegal monster captures. Brainwashing. Just the things that had already been exposed were enough. The Association and the police had no choice but to step in.
Kang Jiwoo died mid-broadcast, flaunting her madness for the whole world to see. People must have finally understood how terrifying the Gwangwon Sect really was.
Death alone wouldn't leave much of a mark.
Unlike the world of Vampire Detective, reality already lived close to death. Gates, monsters, awakened criminals—go online and you could casually find videos of people hunting monsters. Footage of people actually dying was harder to come by, of course.
The noise around the Gwangwon Sect will die down soon. Everything wrapped up too quickly.
What I needed to do was throw more wood on the fire and make the blaze roar higher. This time it wouldn't be just Korea. The whole world was about to turn upside down.
Humans who vanished all over the globe are being offered as sacrifices to the Gwangwon Sect. A cult performing human sacrifice. That's more than enough to flip the entire planet on its head.
I had plenty of evidence.
Using hacks, I began dumping the materials across overseas community sites. The Gwangwon Sect would become the enemy of the world.
The branches scattered across the globe will be handled by each country's Hunter Associations and police. But the real key is the cult leader. Only when that bastard is dead can we say the Gwangwon Sect is truly gone.
Sitting in front of the computer, I checked the Korean communities. They were buzzing with talk of the Gwangwon Sect. Amid the noise, Park Su-ho's name appeared.
Park Su-ho stepped forward publicly and reported everything to the Association. He even collected a reward and earned himself some fame.
Photos of him receiving the prize money and posing with the Association President were already circulating online.
He had no choice but to come forward.
The Gwangwon Sect sex-party videos floating around the internet featured him. Park Su-ho had to desperately insist the footage was a malicious composite created by the cult. His face was mosaicked, but these days there were mosaic-removal programs and the like.
If the Gwangwon Sect saw that video… they would have realized Park Su-ho is Selbretina's champion. The moving tattoo was impossible to miss.
I didn't believe for a second those bastards would overlook it. So they would fix their eyes on Park Su-ho. They wouldn't move right away, but eventually they would act.
Next… how about detonating the bombs I planted in every Gwangwon Sect branch building around the world?
Boom. Boom. Boom.
Explosion after explosion echoed inside my head.
It was going to be enjoyable work.
June 9th.
The Hokkaido branch director of the Japan Association and an executive of the Suwol Guild had arranged an unofficial meeting in Japan. The purpose was to commission the Suwol Guild for the raid on the erosion dungeon that had appeared in Hokkaido the previous evening.
The branch director waiting for the Suwol Guild executive was sweating coldly. Before coming here he had met with Amatsuka Koyori—Japan's S-Class Hunter and shrine maiden—and Prime Minister Ando Takao.
They were currently the most powerful figures in Japan. Especially Koyori. Quiet rumors whispered that she had received divine oracles and prophesied the future.
She even prophesied that the Hokkaido erosion dungeon would appear, didn't she? I thought the Japan Association would handle the dungeon themselves… but they ordered me to hand it over to the Suwol Guild exactly as originally planned. What the hell are they scheming?
The branch director turned the problem over in his mind. The post of Hokkaido Hunter Association branch director was by no means low, yet it paled beside the Prime Minister and the shrine maiden.
They're not trying to pin the collusion with the Suwol Guild on me. Are they planning to use the Suwol Guild…? The Prime Minister told me to pay them an excessively large fee. Maybe they're trying to put a leash on the Suwol Guild?
Speculation ran wild, but he couldn't even grasp the outline of an answer.
He sighed at the growing tangle in his head. In the end, if he wanted to survive, he had to do exactly as the Prime Minister ordered.
The door opened and the man he had been waiting for stepped into the room.
A middle-aged man in his fifties with a thinning hairline. At a glance he looked like a friendly uncle. The branch director tensed. He would not be fooled by that appearance.
Park Juhyeong.
An A-Class Hunter and executive of the Suwol Guild. He had worked there for three years and was a blood relative of the Guild Master. Park Juhyeong held enough power to sway the entire Suwol Guild as he pleased.
"Hello, Branch Director Madahara. It's been a while. You're looking as sharp as ever."
"It's been a while. Was the journey here uncomfortable?"
"Haha. I received excellent treatment. And Japan already feels like home to me."
"Mr. Park. Why not naturalize while you're at it?"
"I'd love nothing more… but the situation doesn't allow it."
"Is Korea that bad right now?"
"It's not that bad, but this administration has turned openly hostile toward our guild. Honestly… I don't even know who the Republic of Korea is supposed to be functioning for anymore. I swear…"
Park Juhyeong frowned as he vented his dissatisfaction with Korea. The branch director nodded along appropriately while glancing under the table. A listening device was planted there. Every word of this conversation was being relayed to the Prime Minister.
If this conversation ever leaks, I'm finished too… but I had no choice. Refusing would have ended me on the spot. Turn crisis into opportunity. This is my chance to climb onto the Prime Minister's line. I can't stay satisfied with a mere Hokkaido Association branch director post forever.
After the pointless small talk, the branch director finally brought up the real matter.
"The erosion dungeon that appeared in Hokkaido. Can the Suwol Guild take it on?"
"It's an honor that you're entrusting it to us. However… as I mentioned earlier, our current situation isn't exactly favorable…"
"We've prepared a commission fee that won't leave you disappointed."
The branch director laid the prepared documents on the table. Papers concerning illegal funds. Park Juhyeong examined them with serious eyes.
"…More than twice the usual amount."
"My position inside the Association is currently precarious. I have far too many enemies. I'd like the erosion dungeon cleared as quickly as possible."
"Ah… I see. You've been through a great deal."
"Um… would it be possible to dispatch the S-Class Hunter from the Suwol Guild?"
"I'm sorry. Even we find her difficult to control at the moment. Her schedule is packed solid until the month after next, so pulling her out is nearly impossible. But the Suwol Guild has many outstanding Hunters besides her. We'll clear the erosion dungeon within a week at the latest. Please trust us."
"Haha. Of course I trust you. The Suwol Guild's capabilities have already been proven, haven't they? Well, let's leave the work talk here… You must be tired from the trip. I've prepared a ryokan for you, Mr. Park."
"Japanese ryokan are the best in the world. I'm very much looking forward to it."
Park Juhyeong grinned.
They took the waiting car and headed for the ryokan.
The moment he stepped into the high-class establishment, Park Juhyeong flinched in surprise. Amatsuka Koyori—Japan's S-Class Hunter—was there.
"B-Branch Director Madahara. That woman…!"
"Please don't be alarmed. This ryokan is frequented by many famous people. She must simply have come to enjoy it as well. Since the timing is fortunate, why not exchange greetings? I'll introduce you."
"…I think I overreacted. I'd be grateful if you introduced me."
Park Juhyeong's eyes lit up.
This was an opportunity. A chance to build a connection with Japan's S-Class Hunter!
He approached Koyori with the branch director. She regarded both of them with an expressionless face.
"Hello, Lady Koyori. I'm Madahara Kodaro, Hokkaido branch director. This is Mr. Park of the Suwol Guild."
"…Yes. Amatsuka Koyori."
"Park Juhyeong of the Suwol Guild. It is an honor to meet the famous Wind Shrine Maiden."
Park Juhyeong bowed his head. Given who he was dealing with, he took the lowest possible posture.
Amatsuka Koyori extended her hand for a handshake.
"I've heard much of the Suwol Guild's achievements. I hope we can build a good relationship with Japan."
"Haha. Our Suwol Guild loves Japan."
They shook hands.
Rustle.
Park Juhyeong tilted his head at the strange texture that brushed his palm. Something paper-like had touched his skin.
"A sticker…?"
"It's nothing."
"Ah, yes. It's nothing."
Park Juhyeong nodded. Since Amatsuka Koyori said it was nothing, it was nothing.
Koyori turned her gaze to the branch director.
"I would like to speak with him alone."
"…I'll step out for a moment."
The staff had already cleared the area. Only the two of them remained in the lobby. In the silence, Koyori looked down at the sticker in her hand. It was a gift from the Wind God. Written on it in Japanese were the words: Absolute obedience to Amatsuka Koyori.
She used Onmyo arts to kindle a small flame, burned the sticker to ash, and then spoke to Park Juhyeong.
"Do not speak of what happened today to anyone."
"Yes. I won't."
"I have many questions about the Suwol Guild."
"Just ask. I'll answer anything."
Koyori quietly marveled at his attitude.
As expected, the Wind God's power was immense.
The Suwol Guild's raid on the Hokkaido erosion dungeon was decided. Han Harin would participate.
The difference from before the regression was the schedule. Originally the party was set to depart at dawn on Saturday, June 11th. This time it had been moved up by a full day.
Before the regression there must have been time spent coordinating with the Hokkaido Association.
This time that coordination finished in an instant.
Exactly as planned, I used the Absolute Hypnosis sticker to turn Suwol Guild executive Park Juhyeong into a slave. He obeys Koyori rather than me… but Koyori obeys me, so it amounts to the same thing.
Park Juhyeong would become an excellent card for bringing down the Suwol Guild.
Han Harin had to leave Korea in a hurry on Friday, June 10th. I would head to Hokkaido separately from her. The spatial transfer scroll for that purpose was already prepared.
I don't even want to take Han Harin there at all… but this time she has to be present.
The Suwol Guild would fail. And that failure would become known to every person on the planet. Only then would the Suwol Guild's reputation finally collapse.
The raid party arrives in the evening. Right now it's still morning.
Riiip.
I tore the spatial transfer scroll and moved to Hokkaido.
I stood in a forest.
Before the regression this place had been part of the erosion dungeon.
Not at this point in time. The early stage of the Hokkaido erosion dungeon was a cave-type dungeon.
The story was simple. The cave-type erosion dungeon had gradually expanded its territory over time until it began eroding even the nearby forest. Left alone for a year, it might swallow the whole of Hokkaido.
I looked toward the cave. Finding it was not difficult. Japanese Association staff had already ringed the erosion dungeon in a wide circle. Because the dungeon had only recently appeared, the entrance was limited. Even I couldn't sneak in that way.
It becomes a double dungeon on the afternoon of Sunday, June 13th. The moment the raid party goes missing. The same moment Han Harin is captured at the Gwangwon Sect temple.
Just thinking of it made rage surge up my throat.
If those damn Suwol Guild bastards had simply handled things properly, Han Harin would never have died.
I ground my teeth and left the forest behind. The place I headed for was a high-class inn belonging to the Gwangwon Sect. As I drew near, police and Hunters came into view.
Japan is cracking down on the Gwangwon Sect as well. Did they figure out this inn belongs to them? They're not as incompetent as I thought.
I left them behind and moved stealthily. My goal was not the inn itself, but the secret passage hidden behind it. Through that passage I could enter the Gwangwon Sect temple.
I'll smash the whole place to pieces.
Hiding my rage, I walked into the passage.