Chapter 268
Chapter 268
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 268
Chapter Title: Doll Play
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Baekrim.
Searching the internet, I could easily learn its true nature.
It was a criminal organization operating in Japan. On the surface, they claimed a grand cause of changing the current rotten Japan. But people didn't believe in Baekrim's cause.
People saw Baekrim as a terrorist group even worse than the Yakuza.
After all, what Baekrim did included assassinating politicians, raiding Japanese Hunter Guilds, and more.
Seitaro was presumed to be Baekrim's leader, an S-rank criminal. In other words, a criminal with the power of an S-rank Hunter.
His ability was spiritualization. Unlike his 30s appearance, he was actually in his 60s, and an exceptionally skilled onmyoji.
'Fuck. What the hell.'
I scratched my head vigorously with my hand.
Because I couldn't understand the bastard's thinking. With the whole world watching, was there any need to attack right now? There were two S-rank Hunters planted right there—launching an assault now was practically suicide.
'Spatial rift... That has to be something like a dungeon.'
The rift hadn't vanished even when the TV feed cut out. It was probably still active now.
I launched the Playful Life app.
'Probably won't work, but just in case...'
I figured maybe I could check the sex doll's situation—or Amatsuka Koyori's.
And my hunch was spot on.
Koyori appeared on the smartphone screen. She was standing guard alongside the kunoichi swept up with her, Kouga Mio. Judging by the drab walls and dim atmosphere, they were indoors.
'The other rifts must be the same... So Jin Se-young should be fine!'
With the situation changing so suddenly, I couldn't just sit idle. I flung open the door and stepped outside.
"......?!"
Something mint-green and translucent caught my eye through the corridor window. I threw open the window and peered out. A massive mint-green barrier enveloped the entire Huka Shrine.
'As expected. That fucker threw up a barrier before bailing.'
I scowled. It would take time for outside reinforcements to breach this place. And getting out probably wasn't an option either.
I bolted toward the Fengxiang Festival grounds. The shrine's barrier lay shattered without a trace, letting me enter the venue unhindered.
The spectator seats, once teeming with people, now stood empty. Trash littered the floor, and spatial rifts dotted the stands everywhere—at least five hundred, big and small.
Gazing at the rifts, a chill unease settled in. Everyone here had been sucked inside them. They hadn't resisted. The S-rank Hunters got pulled in because the rifts spawned right on top of them.
'This won't suck me in too, will it?'
Fully on guard, I edged toward one of the rifts. Against my fears, no pull emanated from it.
'Looks like the sucking only happens right when they first appear.'
I crept forward, dodging the rifts. My destination was where Jin Se-young had been. Everyone here was invited with assigned seats, so pinpointing locations was easy.
'A rift popped up right in front of Jin Se-young. ...Should I go in?'
I worried for Jin Se-young. Yet part of me wondered if I'd just get in her way.
'With my current strength, staying put might actually help her.'
Arms crossed, I scanned the surroundings. The rifts showed no sign of vanishing.
'That Seitaro bastard said we'd play for ten days. Does that mean the rifts last ten days?'
I pulled my smartphone from my pocket and checked Koyori's status.
She was in the thick of a monster fight.
It was a bipedal beast like a crocodile—two meters tall, head and tail a dead ringer for one. Thick, tough scales armored its body.
A C-rank monster: Crocker.
The Crocker offered no resistance to Koyori's spear blade, ripping apart effortlessly.
'C-rank monster? Maybe not so dangerous after all.'
Jin Se-young's skills would make short work of a Crocker. And she wasn't alone—Shinjio and the guards had been nearby.
All A-rank Hunters, so no need for me to intervene.
"...Hmm."
I glanced around. Back to the room for some sleep? But one rift snagged my attention.
The one at the thug and his girlfriend's seats.
'Smaller rifts clustered nearby. Unlike the others, they got separated?'
As I turned to go, a flash of insight made me shudder.
This could be my chance!
A shot at banging the gal girl!
I navigated to the gal girl's seat, skirting the spatial rift. But facing the actual entry, hesitation gripped me.
'Go in and die? Better to call it a trap and crash back at the room.'
I weighed it rationally when someone burst from a nearby rift.
"Gasp?!"
A suited man. He whipped around in shock the moment he emerged, eyes locking with mine.
I rushed over.
"Hey! What went down inside the rift?! Spill it!"
"Uh, w-well..."
The flustered man stammered. Patiently, I drew out his story. He was Japanese, sharply dressed.
"Felt like a dungeon inside. Labyrinth type. I was solo, so I pushed on. An orc showed, but couldn't stop me."
Gaining steam, he continued.
Orc.
So the rifts held more than just Crockers.
"Then I ran into a pierrot."
"......A pierrot?"
"Yeah. Don't give me that look. No bullshit—real deal. The pierrot claimed he was special forces from the World Hunter Association."
World Hunter Association.
The overarching body above national Hunter Associations. Wields authority transcending borders in special cases.
"You bought that?"
A pierrot in a labyrinth claiming US Hunter Association special forces? Total crap. Way too shady.
"Too sketchy not to. Spoke flawless English, flashed legit ID. Wouldn't give a name, which was iffy... but I've got a knack for reading people. Felt trustworthy."
He elaborated on the pierrot. Said he'd entered the labyrinth investigating Baekrim. When briefed on the outside chaos, the pierrot's face darkened.
"Pierrot getup might tie to his ability. But how'd you make it back?"
"Pierrot showed me the exit."
He extended his hand, revealing the gray stone he'd clutched.
"Channel mana into this white stone, and you're out. It's gray now—white before. Pierrot said it recharges white in 30 hours for another escape. Half-doubted it... but here I am. So how'd you get out sans stone?"
"Never went in."
"Huh?"
"Recovering in the shrine room from yesterday's spar."
"Ah, you seemed familiar—the sparring guy. Sorry, didn't catch your face well yesterday."
"No worries. That white stone... mind if I have it?"
"Was gonna turn it over to Japanese Hunter Association, but..."
He eyed me. I dialed up desperate urgency in my expression.
"You look pressed. Take it."
"Th-thanks! You sure it's okay?"
"Told you, good judge of character. Kinda weird in this mess, but I wanna befriend you."
"Thanks! Won't forget this. Sung Yu-jin!"
I bowed; he waved it off grandly, offering a handshake.
"Kagaya Mizuchi."
I jolted at the name.
"Kagaya Group heir!"
"Haha. Yep, that's me."
One of Japan's top conglomerates.
But I knew him not for that.
Kagaya Mizuchi: abysmal fighter, yet C-rank Hunter thanks to his ability.
'Quantum Choice.' Of two options, reveals the one most beneficial to him.
Like a tasty fruit ahead: eat or skip? It picks skip—poisoned.
Near-future sight. Earns him favors from Japan's Hunter Association.
Heard of it three years back; scoffed then. Future sight? Bull.
'But next to my Playful Life app, it's tame. I dive into fictional worlds.'
Amazing ability, but no panacea. Has limits.
Pausing at the rift, I asked Mizuchi.
"......Did that ability make you give me the stone?"
"Haha. Knew it too, huh? Yeah. 'Give to Sung Yu-jin' or 'don't'—it picked give. Not my fave power, but helpful, so I roll with it."
"...Feels kinda..."
"Creepy? Haha. Get it. Hits me too sometimes."
Mizuchi grinned. I thanked him, then leaped into the rift by the thug and gal girl's seats.
Stepping into the labyrinth, my breath grew labored. Humidity and heat spiked. A weird stench hit me.
I drew Hwaryeon Sword from inventory, scanning warily.
Ceiling stretched five meters high, walls eight meters apart. Labyrinth, but spacious. Faint glow from above lit it—no torches needed.
Surveying, I spotted fight scars and fresh blood on the floor. Not yet clotted. I trailed it cautiously.
Grrrrrr.
"Back off!"
A beast's growl, then the blonde tanned gal— Yoshikawa Misa—yelling. Killing my presence, I crept toward the noise.
Fifty meters off: the thug and Misa battling a thorn tiger.
Thug sidelined, wounded and out cold. Misa guarded him in stance, face etched with tension.
Thorn tiger: spikes jutting from head, body, tail. C-rank monster.
'Gal girl's stronger than me, no issue... Wait—no weapon.'
Wounded, fainted thug.
Misa shielding barehanded.
C-rank thorn tiger.
"Heh heh."
A grin tugged my lips. Lining up perfect.
I charged the thorn tiger.
"Porcupine cat! You're with me!"
"Grrrng?!"
It wheeled, blue eyes flashing.
Killing intent poured from me as I rushed; it mirrored, lunging faster than I could match.
Crackle-crackle-zzt!
Red lightning writhed along the blade.
It closed in. As it sprang from the ground, I triggered Moment. Its speed crawled.
I slipped beneath.
'Moment.'
Chaining Moments, I swung the blade upward, carving its spike-free belly.
"Kraaaaaang!"
Blood and guts gushed; it crashed down. As it flailed to rise, I closed and severed its throat.
'No Hwaryeon Sword or Moment, and it wouldn't have been this clean.'
Still, victory mine.
Harvested the magic stone, then strode toward Misa staring my way. I schooled my face tight— one slip, and a sleazy smirk would leak.