Chapter 422
Chapter 422
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 422
Chapter Title: Burning Torch (3)
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"...It's over. Fortunately, they managed to escape without taking heavy losses."
A single remark slipped from An's lips as she slowly opened her tightly shut eyes.
At her words, sighs of relief escaped from those around her who had been wearing tense expressions.
"Phew, that's a relief."
"Heaven hasn't abandoned us yet. As long as Leader Malpi is safe, we can regroup somehow."
"Still, we need to keep monitoring the situation for a while. If too many of us gather in one place right now, we'll catch their eye immediately. Until we come up with countermeasures, it's better to stay scattered and hidden like this."
The survivors of Burning Torch began chattering one by one upon hearing that a comrade who had fled elsewhere was safe.
Their numbers had now swelled to nearly ten.
While evacuating to a safe location under Ken's guidance, they had conveniently linked up with comrades who happened to be nearby.
As the group started exchanging opinions in earnest...
An, who had been using her power to evade pursuit while also handling long-distance communication, caught her ragged breath and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
Then, she turned a newfound gaze toward Ken, who stood in the corner with his arms crossed and leaning against the wall.
The enigmatic demon who had suddenly appeared and declared he would help them.
The improvement in their situation was entirely thanks to following his advice.
'He was right again this time. Just who is the mastermind behind this guy? What kind of abilities do they have to make this possible...?'
Including this incident, everything they had gone through so far had been the same.
Thanks to heeding his advice, numerous comrades had escaped unscathed from the Reverse Heaven Society's demons.
That was something impossible without perfectly grasping everything happening across this vast landmass.
As if truly watching over it all from the heavens.
'Considering the scope, it can't be the work of a single individual. It must involve an organization's manpower... Though that's still impressive in its own right.'
To possess such intelligence-gathering capabilities in Southeast Asia, which wasn't even their base.
Their capacity had already surpassed most nations.
Just how large was this organization...?
Of course, it included Hesperon's cutting-edge tech at its peak and Andrew Weaver's tearful, sleepless efforts over the past few days.
But she had no way of knowing that now.
"Anyway, we've confirmed the status of all the key executives. ...Not everyone made it, but it's still far better than we expected."
She, who had been quietly staring at Ken, spoke in a low voice.
Those around her, who had been talking, fell silent all at once and turned to her.
After all, she was the leader guiding them now.
"With this, we can reorganize the group and resume activities somehow. Of course, we'll need to be extra cautious for the time being..."
She continued calmly, then gave Ken an odd look.
The enigmatic ally who, despite being one of the parties involved, maintained a step-back stance and calmly nodded.
"So, about this—Ken. Our representative wants to meet you. What do you think?"
She brought up the message she'd just received.
As the situation improved and communications were restored, Burning Torch's representative, whose whereabouts had been mysterious, had reappeared.
"That's what I've been waiting for."
Of course, Ken didn't refuse the offer.
That's why he'd been running himself ragged these past few days, acting as an errand boy without proper rest.
'Finally, I can see the end of this too. Once we get to the negotiation table, my employer will handle the rest.'
Then, he wouldn't need to wander under this scorching sun anymore and could soon return to Japan.
After that awaited a family reunion after over thirty years.
'Just a little over three years in Earth's time.'
To him, who had lived a tumultuous life in the demon world, it was a long-dreamed-of reunion.
Even if he wasn't the original Miyamoto Ken anymore.
From the moment he inherited that soul and resolved to live as Ken, it was something he had to do.
Thus, the long-awaited meeting date was set.
Time flew by, and the promised day finally dawned.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Burning Torch was the resistance force against the Reverse Heaven Society operating out of Southeast Asia.
As an organization uniting Awakeners from various Southeast Asian countries, its basic structure involved branches in each nation, dispatching support as needed.
But every organization needed a leader to unite them.
That was Freddy, the current representative from Indonesia, nicknamed the "Führer."
'He's certainly a remarkable figure. Building an organization that includes not just his own countrymen but foreigners too can't have been easy.'
Ken inwardly admired as he followed An and Hose.
Though he hadn't received official detailed info, he'd gathered plenty from being with them and knew a fair amount.
Burning Torch's upper echelons were indeed a small elite group, but given their area of operations, the number of rank-and-file members they commanded wasn't small.
'Most of the grunts seem to have joined more out of patriotism or anti-China sentiment than loyalty to Burning Torch itself.'
That was because the Reverse Heaven Society had completely swallowed China.
Those who sensed the connection viewed the Reverse Heaven Society's spread in Southeast Asia as China's covert invasion, and Burning Torch was the secret organization formed in response—perhaps inevitable.
Of course, the current executives were fully aware of the Reverse Heaven Society's danger lurking behind the world stage, but denying the usefulness of the "China" frame for recruiting was impossible.
Political and diplomatic issues forced them to hide even in their own countries.
"This way. Technically, we shouldn't reveal this to outsiders, but... whatever, it's the Führer's orders. We owe it to you that we can use it again anyway."
After walking a short while...
An pulled something from her bosom before a plain door.
An antique silk cloth embroidered with complex diagrams and symbols.
She spread it wide and affixed it to the door, then turned the knob without hesitation...
"Whoa."
Beyond it stretched a corridor with a mystical atmosphere unlike anything before.
East Asian-style wooden floors, lanterns hung here and there, colorful drapes stretching from ceiling to walls.
"This is what let us pool our strength while evading their eyes. No matter how far apart, we can unite through here anytime. We can use it for long-distance travel too."
An led the way into the corridor, explaining slowly.
Until now, the executive meant to anchor this space had been too busy fleeing the Reverse Heaven Society to use it.
If that executive had fallen, Burning Torch would have collapsed, she said with a bitter smile.
'The space is warped. And on a massive scale... No wonder executives are different.'
Ken's eyes gleamed as he surveyed the surroundings while walking the corridor.
He couldn't help but marvel anew.
Even a superhuman with such spatial abilities couldn't escape properly and was forced to flee.
The Reverse Heaven Society's capabilities were astonishing.
"By the way, your representative really isn't coming? We don't have to worry about the Reverse Heaven Society detecting us here."
Then, Hose, who had been following quietly, spoke up with clear dissatisfaction.
Apparently, their side was sending the rep in person, so having proxy Ken represent irked him.
But without decision-making power, he could only shrug.
"I talked to them, and they said leaving now would create a gap in the regional surveillance net. Don't worry too much, though. We can communicate in real-time."
"...Well, this isn't the full negotiation yet, so it's fine, I guess."
He frowned slightly at Ken's response but couldn't argue against helping them.
They'd already received overflowing aid from the other side.
With more to come, picking a fight now was unwise.
As he said, this was just a courtesy meeting to express thanks and get acquainted.
"We're here."
At the end of the long corridor stood a sliding door thick with Eastern scent.
When An opened it without hesitation, the first person they saw was...
"It's been a while, An. And Hose too. Glad you're all safe."
A middle-aged woman welcoming them with a gentle smile.
"Malpi too. It was quite dangerous, wasn't it?"
"Yes, thanks to you, we escaped the crisis. Partly because the Führer diverted that demon's attention during the first raid. And this is the...?"
The warm greetings extended to introducing Ken before ending.
Ken nodded vaguely, brushed off the thanks from Malpi—the executive who built this space—and slowly looked around.
'Does this space have auto-translation too? Impressive.'
The hall, flowing with mystical vibes like the corridor, held twenty or so people from various countries besides them.
With dozens of sliding doors around the round hall, they must have come via different paths.
Those chatting among themselves noticed his identity and approached one by one to greet him.
"Where's the Führer? Not here yet?"
"They said there might be a delay. Perfect timing for discussion topics, but prep hit a snag."
"Really? That's unusual. He's always the first to arrive."
All possible participants except recently sacrificed executives had arrived.
The representative from the conversation appeared thirty minutes later.
"Ah, the Führer's entering the corridor."
Malpi's quiet murmur drew eyes from those seated at the central round conference table, sharing updates, to the slowly opening sliding door.
"Sorry I'm late. A minor issue cropped up suddenly..."
The moment the middle-aged man with a short beard from beyond the door apologized sheepishly...
An's bored expression, chin propped on the table, hardened.
Crash—!
No, it didn't end there.
She shoved back her chair, stood, and glared at him fiercely.
"Fucking hell... What kind of bullshit is this."
"An...?"
"What's wrong? Why the sudden freakout?"
The air chilled at her abrupt reaction.
But the confusion didn't last.
Quick ones stood cautiously, faces grave, and backed away.
They knew from long association.
What her ability could do, what it could discern.
Nothing confirmed yet, their gazes turned to the culprits.
An, showing the odd reaction, and the Führer, flustered by the hostility right after entering.
"Who the hell are you? What's your deal?!"
"Huh? What are you talking about, An? I'm Freddy..."
"Cut the crap! You fake! What happened to the real Führer?!"
As their exchange heated up, the situation teetered on the brink.
An venting fury, Freddy still looking perplexed.
No atmosphere to continue regardless of right or wrong.
Some raised their auras, others edged toward exits.
"Haa— seriously."
Feeling the mood, perhaps.
The Führer, trying to persuade, sighed and roughly rubbed his jaw.
"...Didn't expect your instincts to be this sharp. Should've dealt with you first after all."
In a cold, emotionless voice unlike before.
Right then.
"This is...!"
Malpi, retreating gravely like other executives, let out a scream-like cry.
But before she could continue, things spiraled uncontrollably.
Shrick—!
Sharp spikes erupted from the sliding door areas, sealing all exits.
A change before the space's owner, Malpi, could react.
But the anomaly didn't stop.
Rumble—
The one unsealed passage.
The door the Führer entered reopened, and a group of five or six walked in slowly.
All radiating displeasure at the situation.
"What the hell? You were so cocky, and we got caught already?"
"...Tch."
"Hey, Mimic. What now? Wasn't that guy just a pawn? Weren't we supposed to let it slide until the boss showed?"
A dark-skinned man with a noticeably sparse head pointed at Ken, grilling the Führer.
Clearly same gang.
The problem: he was very familiar to the gathered executives—the Reverse Heaven Society's Southeast Asia branch chief they called the viper.
"...No choice. Their goal is disrupting our plans using Burning Torch. Can't let them go now that it's blown."
"Argh! Would've ended easy if it went to plan. Nothing goes right!"
"Still, not a total loss. No way a powerhouse like him is just a grunt."
At the retort from the thing wearing the Führer's skin, eyes turned to Ken.
A demon returner at a fairly high level among transcendents.
Definitely not disposable.
Even if lower than his backer, squeezing the soul would yield something.
"...Fine. Shame we couldn't snag the head right away, but unavoidable. Climbing bit by bit has its charm."
The East Asia branch chief nodded as if convinced.
Then smirked viciously at Ken.
"No helping it now. You're first. Spill everything you know if you want a clean death."
Burning Torch executives here were beneath notice.
Expected, since the Reverse Heaven Society force wasn't for them.
"About the Masquerade behind you!"
This was all a trap for the masquerade.
Force to counter the persistent interferers.
"...Huh? Mas... what?"
Of course, to Ken, it was a name he'd never heard before.