Kazuma's Reckoning
Once Kazuma had made up his mind, he moved with the same ruthless aggression as always.
Regardless of anything else, that sheer decisiveness alone suited him as the leader of their group.
Kazuma first gathered the S-rank hunters under his direct command who were active on the front lines.
The Yamamoto expedition currently had seven S-rank hunters in total.
Three of them were neutral, leaving four on either side—and of those, two were under Kazuma's command.
Now, with Ichijo rejoining them, it was a 3-to-2 advantage in S-rank forces.
Purely on paper, it was a battle Kazuma couldn't lose.
He issued his orders with utter confidence.
"You lot keep the others from joining up! I'll cut Kazuki's head off myself!"
It was a straightforward all-out assault with no elaborate strategy—fitting for Kazuma, if anything.
The hunters under Kazuma, led by Ichijo, moved to eliminate Kazuki's faction.
And Kazuki, learning of this belatedly, exploded in rage.
"Damn it! That idiot Kazuma! Can't even prioritize properly?!"
Bam! His fist slammed down, shattering the high-end solid wood table.
"We should be teaming up to finish off those Chinese bastards completely, and here he is stabbing me in the back?! I was even treating him like a brother…!"
Unlike his usual calm demeanor, Kazuki couldn't hide his fury. Yoshida, watching quietly from the side, adjusted his glasses.
"No need to worry too much, sir. You've prepared countermeasures for exactly this, haven't you?"
"Hoo… Yeah, I've got plenty of contingencies… But what pisses me off is his reckless stupidity—acting without weighing priorities! The leadership can be settled anytime, but our shot at Zhang Wei is now or never!"
The carefully laid plans were crumbling thanks to Kazuma's sudden move.
Kazuki slammed his fist down again at his twin's idiotic actions. This time, a perfectly intact sofa burst apart.
"Hoo… Fine. What's done is done… No choice but to handle what we can. Yoshida!"
"Yes, Kazuki sir."
"Tell the ones on standby to move out."
"All of them?"
Yoshida asked, puzzled.
Kazuki nodded matter-of-factly at Yoshida's reaction.
"It's a waste to use all our hidden cards at once, but given the situation… no helping it. Might as well crush them with minimal losses."
Yoshida slowly nodded at Kazuki's explanation.
He was referring to the three neutral S-rank hunters and the three S-rank hunters who had secretly joined Kazuki.
Yes. In truth, Kazuki didn't have just two S-rank hunters under him.
Adding the three neutral ones he'd swayed in advance and the three secret additions made eight S-rank hunters following him.
Yoshida raised no further questions.
He bowed politely and left the room.
As the door closed softly, Yoshida let out a smirk.
"Things are getting interesting."
He hadn't expected Ichijo to return like this.
Given his personality, Yoshida figured he'd be paralyzed with fear, ultimately used as Zhang Wei's pawn.
But an S-rank wasn't so easily broken—and now he'd come back to pull off something unimaginable.
It was downright adorable.
Feeling like a pet dog had returned, Yoshida chuckled with genuine amusement for the first time in ages.
"He probably thinks he's getting revenge his way… Too bad. He's just helping me instead."
Grinning, Yoshida picked up the phone.
"Ah, hello? Yes, Boss. It's about time… Yes, I'll handle it without issues."
The adorable Ichijo. The stupid Kazuma. The pitiful Kazuki.
Unfortunately, their time together was nearly up.
Yoshida strolled leisurely down the hallway.
Contrary to Kazuma's expectations of an easy win, the civil war proved surprisingly tough.
He'd assumed Kazuki wasn't a fool and would anticipate an attack.
He knew there would be countermeasures.
But even so, victory was certain—he believed that without doubt.
Yet reality was different.
The neutrals who'd always stayed between them had all sided with Kazuki.
5-to-3 in an instant.
Why those guys with Kazuki?
Why? Since when?
Questions swirled, but he brushed them aside.
It was still manageable.
They were outnumbered in S-ranks, but the real target was just Kazuki.
If his subordinates held out, taking him down would end it.
That's what he thought.
Then, completely unexpected reinforcements arrived.
Three new S-rank hunters.
Faces he recognized from before leaving Japan.
When had they slipped into Korea?
Before he could ponder, Kazuma was defeated.
He hadn't even properly fought Kazuki before fleeing in disgrace.
In the process, his two S-rank hunters besides Ichijo lost their lives.
An overwhelming sense of defeat and humiliation engulfed him.
To think he'd lose like this to Kazuki, whom he could've beaten anytime.
An irrecoverable humiliation.
"Damn…! Daaaamn!"
His voice, thick with defeat, echoed.
In a safehouse in the mountainous outskirts of Seoul, Kazuma swallowed his rage alone.
The wound on his back from the escape throbbed fiercely.
Even after treatment with top-grade potions, the pain lingered.
No—it was worsening.
"Goddamn… Goddamn Kazuki!—I won't forgive you! Never!"
He'd lost valuable subordinates and two precious S-rank hunters, barely escaping—not by his own merit, but thanks to the Korean Association's subtle intervention allowing him to slip away like a fisherman profiting from a fight.
If Kazuki had truly pursued, escape wouldn't have been possible.
That fact infuriated him.
"What now, sir?"
As he quietly seethed alone, a voice reached his ear.
Turning, he saw Ichijo.
The one who'd risked everything to warn him.
The branded traitor who'd still worked behind the scenes for him.
The sole loyalist remaining even now.
Seeing Ichijo snapped Kazuma out of his pathetic state.
Yes, losses were fine.
What mattered was rising from them.
How many defeats had he overcome to reach this point?
In the end, the last one standing wins.
He was always the winner.
"…Right. Can't give up here… I was the fool. Shouldn't have acted so carelessly. Thanks, Ichijo! Once we get through this, I'll reward you greatly…!"
"Ah, that wasn't for you."
"…What?"
Ichijo's abrupt reply left Kazuma stunned.
His mind blanked, failing to process.
"It's unfolding a bit differently than expected. Thought the civil war would drag on longer. Have to factor in variables like this for future plans."
A low voice echoed inside.
At the unexpected third voice, Kazuma drew his greatsword and retreated to the corner.
A man now stood silently in the room, without sound or presence.
"Y-You…?!"
"Should've been more cautious. Charging in headfirst without a plan got you here."
The man, appearing as if he'd always been there, ignored the question.
He just spoke his piece. Kazuma's gaze darted desperately to Ichijo.
Even facing this suspicious stranger, Ichijo looked utterly relaxed.
"Damn it, Ichijo! What the hell is going on—?!"
Grasping the situation dimly, Kazuma roared at him.
Killing intent surged unchecked toward Ichijo.
The man casually blocked it, stepping in front, and continued calmly.
"Planned to pick them off one by one while the civil war dragged on, but things twisted oddly. Still, learning Kazuki's no pushover? Profitable. Grateful to you, in a way."
"You bastard! What bullshit are you spouting?!"
"Since I'm grateful, I'll show proper respect."
Ignoring Kazuma entirely, the man raised a hand.
And beckoned mockingly.
Come at me.
That arrogant gesture finally ignited Kazuma's fury.
"You son of a bitch!—!!!"
Kazuma's greatsword swung freely.
No skills needed—the arc left a long gash in the wall.
Unlike the mediocre S-ranks before, this was true SA-rank power.
"I won't let you die easy!"
The onslaught continued relentlessly.
Skills interspersed in fluid, beast-like assaults.
The shockwaves turned the sturdy safehouse into rubble.
Rumble—Boom!
Soon, the collapsing building spat out three figures.
The man landed leisurely amid the debris and spoke to Ichijo beside him.
"Stay back."
"Yes, Master."
"If anyone approaches, keep them out—no exceptions."
"I'll ensure no one dares come near!"
Ichijo bowed deeply and swiftly withdrew.
His fervent loyalty twisted Kazuma's face into a demon's snarl.
"That bastard…! Ichijo!—How dare you…! Dare…! I'll tear you apart!"
"Hm? Got time to worry about him?"
The voice from the side made Kazuma dodge urgently.
The man had closed in silently, hand extended.
"Kuh…! What…!"
"Been training lately, got a new skill called Instant Step. Still low-rank, so honing it."
"…Training a skill against me, Kazuma…?"
—Raaargh!
Enraged, Kazuma swung again.
Fiercer than before, as if prior attacks were mere warm-ups.
The man dodged nimbly.
"How long you gonna scurry like a rat?!"
"Not scurrying—gathering intel. But you're useful, so…"
Dodging, the man scanned the surroundings.
Deep in Seoul's outer mountains. No people nearby, naturally.
Snow was on standby just in case, and Ichijo—the only witness—was sent far off.
Good enough. Worst case, use Magic Eye to scramble his head.
Decision made, he spoke quietly.
"First, a question. Heard you and Kazuki are evenly matched?"
"More bullshit?! Die quietly!"
Kazuma charged like an arrow.
Multiple skills layered—the sharper strike grazed the man's cheek.
A trickle of blood, then instant healing.
"Hm… Rumor has it you're slightly stronger than Kazuki… But watching him, he's hiding his true power. Better assume he's at least your level."
"You punk! What the hell are you babbling about mid-fight?! Facing me, Kazuma!"
"Hm. Wasn't talking to you—just mumbling. Anyway…"
A simple poison spell repelled Kazuma. The man continued flatly.
"Fight for real now. If that's all you got, I'm done here."
"You…! Howdare…!"
Interpreting it as an insult, Kazuma lunged again—
Then the area plunged into shadow.
Moonlight vanished.
"Wh-What…?"
[You've been annoying me for a while. 'Dare'? A worm like you doesn't get to say that! At least 'us' would fit!]
A childish voice, slightly different from the man's, rang out.
Before Kazuma could react, the snake's left head gaped wide—
Hiss—!!!
Icy chill poured forth.
Kazuma dodged late.
"Guh—!"
His gear prevented major damage, but the cold still made him shudder.
Sobered by the blizzard, he stared up at the massive monster and muttered.
"A… monster?"
[Gotta spell it out? You dumb?]
The light voice returned.
As Kazuma frowned, the man's voice echoed in his mind.
[Sigh… Sorry about this. Haven't gone full form in ages; she's hyped.]
[Hmph! Shut up! Always hogging the body, huh? I wanna have fun too!]
[…Yeah, about that.]
Shhh—
The center head lowered slowly.
As it neared his face, Kazuma recoiled—and a quiet voice resounded.
[Gotta play till she's satisfied.]
Hiss—!!!
All three heads lunged at Kazuma.
"…Me, as a toy? You damned monster…! See what happens when you push it!"
A monster disguised as human. One that conversed.
Setting aside shock and questions, Kazuma surrendered to rage and swung his greatsword.
And that dawn, in the mountains near Seoul, Yamamoto Kazuma—a heavyweight known in Japan's hunter world and underworld—met his end.
Unbeknownst to anyone but those present.
For such a titan, it was a pathetically, utterly ignoble death.