Chapter 170
Chapter 170
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 170
Chapter Title: Kyushu Crisis (2)
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While Hans was making waves on Earth, time flowed swiftly in Auterica.
The Kingdom of Talia was now officially under Hybrid's rule.
They had decided to keep the country's name unchanged for various political reasons and to minimize confusion.
After all, it wasn't much different from how they had ruled from the shadows until now, so they kept the shell intact and simply changed the regime.
They didn't go out of their way to hide that the new ruling class consisted of vampires, but they also didn't make a big announcement about it—opting for a vague approach instead.
It was a calculated move to avoid backlash from overly abrupt changes.
Of course, such superficial tactics couldn't eliminate all the shock.
"Have you heard the news? Our kingdom's king has been replaced."
"Huh? What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
Rumors that began spreading slowly from the capital were just the tip of the iceberg.
"What's that new building over there? Why is it so flashy?"
"I heard it's a blood donation center... They give you money or various benefits if you sell your blood."
"Blood?! That sounds really creepy. Won't you get cursed or something?"
"Nah, it's officially run by the state. They pay pretty well too, so it's not bad if you need quick cash. You feel a bit tired, but it doesn't really hurt, and they give you all sorts of health supplements afterward."
"Even so... Wait, why do you know so much about it? ...No way?"
"Ahem, times have been tough lately..."
As vampire strongholds known as 'blood donation centers' opened one by one across various regions, even ordinary citizens who had been too busy scraping by to care about politics began to feel the changes firsthand.
Of course, some realized that vampires had taken control of the country and voiced their concerns, but anyone who could have served as a focal point was already under Hybrid's control. There wasn't much the common folk could do.
No direct harm had come to them yet, so they could only watch the situation warily.
But, as expected...
There were those who couldn't view the situation so optimistically.
"Hah, what the hell is this now... Of all times."
"...We'd sensed something brewing, but I didn't expect them to step out into the open so suddenly."
They were the neighboring countries sharing borders with Talia and the Church of the Main God, the de facto representative of the Ion Continent.
The initial grasp of the situation hadn't come from their intelligence networks.
Rather, envoys from the 'Kingdom of Talia' had arrived through proper channels and informed them of everything.
And now, at the Roselia Cathedral, the Church's holy site...
Duke Bright, who had attended the normal summit, was there in person as an envoy, facing off against the Church's high-ranking officials.
"I apologize for the sudden visit when you must be so taken aback."
"It's fine. We were surprised, of course... But we're grateful you've come at all."
Given the gravity of the matter, the attendees were an impressive lineup.
The cardinals overseeing the Church's major and minor affairs, Saintess Riesta as the public face, and...
"These are confusing times in many ways. Prioritizing dialogue in this situation is only natural. Isn't it the quickest path to peace and coexistence?"
"Well said, Saint."
...Saint Heinrich, who happened to be visiting the cathedral amid his hectic travels.
The continent's rising hero, who had swiftly made a name for himself by successfully slaying hordes of evil that appeared out of nowhere, thanks to his prophecies of astonishing accuracy.
He gazed at Duke Bright with a serious expression.
And the result of the subsequent negotiations?
As expected, it proceeded in a direction satisfactory to both sides.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Hahoe Mask that had terrorized Korea's nights had crossed over to Japan, but its impact didn't manifest immediately.
Nearly got caught and killed by the Yakuza but barely survived.
-Can't give exact locations just in case. I'm in Fukuoka Prefecture, and this time...
-...Right when I thought I was done for, everything went dark and someone appeared.
-I was shaking so bad from fear that I passed out immediately and didn't see much, but it was a guy in black clothes wearing a weird mask. Came to in a hospital.
-Just got done with police questioning and back home, but suddenly lost my sense of reality so I'm posting this. Feels like a dream.
Of course, as his activities ramped up and he encountered more people, some of those who crossed paths with him posted their experiences online...
-Haha, this is fun. When's the next part?
-Mask hero? What era do you think this is lol But it's my kinda thing (laugh)
-Patient escape alert! Prep the meds!
...But since he avoided leaving evidence of his appearance just like in Korea, the topic didn't blow up and quietly faded away.
On the internet, rife with nonsense, serious posts were often dismissed as delusions anyway.
However, Fukuoka was one of Japan's major cities, so many were subtly noticing the changes.
Something felt strangely quieter than usual, though they couldn't pinpoint why.
And as time passed, the effects spread beyond Fukuoka to surrounding areas like Kumamoto and Nagasaki, with related posts accumulating in online communities.
It was still confined to part of Kyushu, Japan's third-largest island, so it hadn't gone mainstream, but plenty of locals nodded in agreement.
But unlike the general public, there were those feeling the impact most acutely—
"What the hell is going on? Does anyone know?!"
"I checked with the cops I know. It's a total bloodbath there! Looks like everyone's dead..."
The underground organizations at the center of it all.
Whether allies or rivals, they were on high alert regardless.
Forces vanishing one by one after communications cut off.
This was clearly a targeted assault on their world. With no idea when they'd be next, they couldn't let their guard down.
And...
"Report."
The next to react sharply and launch an investigation was the Kyushu Branch Ability Bureau under Japan's National Ability Committee, which managed the awakened in the country.
"Cross-referencing the scene investigation with multiple eyewitness accounts, the credibility is extremely high. We can consider it confirmed."
"Hah, so it's real? What was it called... Hahoe Mask?"
The branch chief overseeing Kyushu's awakened muttered in disbelief.
He was familiar with the infamous awakened from the neighboring country, given his position.
Of course, he'd dismissed the Hahoe Mask's feats as Korean government propaganda until now.
"Ridiculous. So the guy rampaging in Korea has come to Japan to cause chaos? Hunting criminals, you say?"
The chief's mouth twitched.
Before even judging the intent's morality, no manager would be happy about a foreigner rampaging through their turf.
Especially in his jurisdiction?
'Not entirely fictional after all. Unofficial Korea's strongest? What nonsense.'
How much did they think of them to let him cross borders and wreak havoc unchecked?
The guy was clearly acting recklessly, relying on his frog-in-a-well title.
"Just one awakened."
Whatever—fake hero created by the Hahoe Mask or Korea truly helpless against a single awakened—it no longer mattered.
It had become a matter of their own pride.
"Tamura."
"Yes, Chief!"
"If we don't catch him here, we'll look like fools. You know that, right?"
"Of course! We'll show them we're not like those incompetent Koreans!"
"Still, contact the Returnee Association separately. He's swept through half of Kyushu in days. His power's the real deal."
Impressive, sure, but not enough to intimidate them.
They'd left the underworld alone due to their secrecy and ties to high places, not lack of power.
'Catching Korea's unbeatable awakened could paint a nice picture. Play the media right, and I might even get promoted to central.'
Emphasizing him as Korea's top criminal could work.
Thus, the chief, lost in sweet dreams, assembled a pursuit team including Guardians from the Japan Returnee Association...
And days passed since they mobilized in earnest.
No miracle realized his pipe dream.
Not until the Hahoe Mask was on the verge of annihilating Kyushu's entire underworld.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'Tch, such a nuisance.'
Hans grumbled inwardly and lightly swung his staff. In an instant, demonic hands extended from the surrounding magic circles, sweeping the area.
Woooosh—
"Block it!"
"Grace of the spirits!"
Dozens countered defensively while launching counterattacks.
But this group fighting Hans wasn't the criminal organization he was after.
For days, Japan's pursuit team had tailed him relentlessly. They'd ambushed him near his target, going all out.
'An island means fewer places to hide as time passes. And these were my last targets in Kyushu.'
Unlike Korea, where intel shortages hampered early response, Japan had profiled the Hahoe Mask and knew his targets, pursuing accordingly.
The result? This mess.
'No one in Korea came at me this hard.'
Hans had encountered Ability Bureau agents and Guardians during his long stint in Korea.
But he'd avoided fights, and they hadn't pressed aggressively—often fizzling out.
Reasons varied: fear, quiet sympathy for his actions, or policy to recruit him.
Made sense.
Japan's situation differed, forcing them to come at him desperately.
To Hans, interrupted mid-hunt, they were just pests.
'Without them, I'd have cleaned Kyushu and moved on by now.'
As he pondered shaking these leeches to resume hunting...
Sensing sudden killing intent, he gripped his bone staff tighter with one hand.
His widened stance firmly planted.
Lowered center of gravity steadily supported him.
Mana-assisted waist spun like a spring.
And the staff, wrapped in dark mana, moved fluidly...
"Gale Sword Flow Secret Technique! Whirlwind of—Gahk!"
Baaaam—!
He smashed the idiot who'd hidden well only to shout a needlessly long technique name at the end.
With perfect form, bolstered indirectly by Heinrich's 「Path of Martial Arts」.
"That idiot, even now?!"
"More importantly, wasn't he a mage? What was that move?!"
Sighs and shock erupted simultaneously.
But unlike the awakened berating the ambusher, Hans was rather impressed.
'Shouting the technique name even here—principled and knows romance.'
That utterly inefficient act was the pinnacle of 'coolness' for superiors against inferiors.
Galling that he'd dared try it on him, but he understood the thrill of success against the strong...
'No, even so, that's too much! Nearly fell for 'Hans's' temptation.'
His instinct for showmanship and bravado craved it fiercely, but that crossed the line.
There were limits, even for flair.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Hehehe—Busy road ahead, so let's wrap this up quick. Dark Shadow Corridor!] ...Still, occasionally wasn't so bad.
He now slightly understood why Malcolm, now a Death Wizard, used to chant spell names back then.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ And at that moment, on a hill a short distance from the battle...
-[Hahoe Mask confirmed. Commence operation. Everyone to positions.]
-[Roger.]
-[OK.]
A hidden group began moving stealthily.