Chapter 128
Chapter 128
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: 23. People Who Have Lost Hope (7)
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Nakamura Genji ran desperately.
The man who was always expressionless could no longer hide his emotions, his face fully revealing them.
'How in the world...!'
Three years in this place.
Not a single survivor had returned through normal means.
Those who somehow escaped the Red Zone were invariably devoured by the predators of the Yellow Zone, leaving only traces of their lives behind. Outraged, he had protested to the government. They needed to completely clear the Yellow Zone and station troops there permanently to rescue any survivors who made it back alive, even by chance.
Of course, it had failed every time.
No matter how vehement a lowly civil servant's voice, it could never reach the higher-ups.
How long had he run?
A group of people came into view from afar.
Upon arriving at the scene, Nakamura Genji's first priority was to confirm if this situation was real.
"Are you really survivors from the Red Zone!?"
"Yes. We were in the Red Zone until just moments ago and escaped using teleport scrolls."
It was Jo Han-byeol who stepped forward.
As Jo Han-byeol spoke on their behalf, an indescribable surge of emotions washed over Nakamura.
"Survivors from that chaos... Thank goodness. Truly, thank goodness."
Every night.
Nakamura Genji was haunted by nightmares.
Three years was a timeframe where survival was virtually impossible, yet he clung to the hope that someone, anyone, would prove it wasn't over. Finally, after three years, he had encountered a meaningful sign. The return of this group meant there could be even more survivors still alive.
Nakamura Genji said,
"Could you please explain the situation in detail?"
"Well..."
He moved aside with Jo Han-byeol.
Jo Han-byeol explained everything.
From Jessica's situation to Kang San staying behind.
Nakamura Genji's face showed shock at the sequence of events.
"So he's alone in the Red Zone right now?"
"Yes. That's why we need to prepare a rescue team immediately."
"Why on earth would he do something so reckless..."
He recalled the man Jo Han-byeol mentioned.
Kang San. He'd entered the country just a month ago, but his unusual aura had made him memorable.
And now, this man had a special ability to find survivors even in the Red Zone.
It was a gift from the heavens.
If Kang San returned, he could use him to track down traces of the families lost three years ago. Nakamura Genji, a boy born in Kitakyushu who had grown distant from his own family, had abandoned everything for the sole purpose of finding them. If Kang San's ability was real, he was ready to do anything to protect him.
"Understood. We'll prepare the rescue team."
He turned on his heel.
Whether by pressuring the Japanese government.
Or using other means.
From now on, he had to prepare the best possible force in anticipation of Kang San's return, sparing no method.
News of the survivors.
The Japanese National Diet erupted in chaos.
In the abruptly convened meeting, Hiroshi Shimizu, a heavyweight from the Liberty Protection Party, spoke up.
"What do you all think of this matter?"
"We should send a rescue team immediately."
"These are survivors returning after three years. If we don't act right away, it could become a serious issue."
Several lawmakers.
They showed concerned reactions.
Kitakyushu was already Japan's most sensitive hotspot, and the survivors' existence made it impossible to predict how the flames might spread. It was the sensible choice. The Japanese government should actively dispatch forces, but Hiroshi Shimizu, a potential next prime minister, thought differently.
"Suppose we trust this Korean man of unverified status and launch an operation, only to fail in the subjugation again. What then? You all know full well, don't you? Three years ago, when the Japanese government launched a massive subjugation attempt and ended up wiped out, it wasn't just that damned Red Zone fog—it was the evil spirits deluding people's souls."
"Ahem."
"That's true, but..."
It was a hidden truth.
The disorienting fog?
Dangerous, no doubt.
But it was a problem that could eventually be solved with time. The real threat was the unidentified evil spirits. Something presumed to be an S-Rank monster bewitched human minds. It was a government secret that an S-Rank hunter sent to rescue survivors had massacred his own subjugation team and stabbed himself in the heart.
If the truth came out.
Public opinion would explode.
People would panic at the shocking outcome, and the death of an S-Rank hunter would be cited as evidence of Japan's weakened forces. So they kept it quiet. Unable to expose the government's incompetence, they dragged their feet with lame excuses about being unable to resolve it.
Of course.
Not everyone thought the same.
Kentaro Ito, from the Peace Happiness Party and a political heavyweight like Shimizu Hiroshi, said with a fierce expression,
"Whether there's an S-Rank monster beyond the fog or whatever beast lurks there, it doesn't matter. Hasn't someone finally appeared who can resolve that fog we've been using as an excuse? And yet you're hesitating? In this situation, not sending a subjugation team is unacceptable. What are you afraid of? Public backlash or international scrutiny—we can deal with those after we've at least tried to save our own citizens."
"It's not that simple. What if we poke the hornet's nest that is Kitakyushu and can't contain it?"
"Some things must be done regardless."
The two men.
Political titans clashed fiercely.
It was a familiar scene in the Japanese Diet, and Hiroshi Shimizu of the Liberty Protection Party—which had produced the current prime minister—had the upper hand.
"The issue in southern Japan's Red Zone isn't something we can resolve in a day or two. It could shake the entire Japanese economy. We're talking about potentially sacrificing more Japanese lives for people we don't even know are alive. We can't act rashly. For now, let's just observe the situation."
He drew a firm line.
It was the same old story.
The problem had been raised for three years straight, but as always, the Japanese government stuck to the choice of inaction.
At that moment.
Kang San moved cautiously.
His next target was about an hour away by distance, but the key was minimizing risk as much as possible. For times like this, he used a Hide scroll he'd prepared. It was a top-grade scroll that masked scents and footsteps, allowing him to move while avoiding monster encounters as much as he could.
Grrrrowl.
Monsters were everywhere.
At some point, B-Ranks had become common, and A-Ranks weren't rare either—the density was overwhelming.
'If they detect me, I'm dead for sure.'
His heart ran cold.
Even with his siblings, he doubted they could pull off a rescue against this many monsters.
Soon enough.
He arrived at the site.
He'd spotted it from afar: an entrance resembling a burrow, like in Aileen's village.
The problem was the monsters heading toward it.
Thud, thud.
An A-Rank Twin-Headed Ogre.
Considering the horde following it, it was far too many for him alone.
All sorts of thoughts raced through his mind.
Should he give up?
No matter how important the trials, forcing a fight could lead to disaster.
'Fuck, fuck, fuck.'
He swallowed his disgust.
Fortunately, he wasn't the same as when he'd first entered the Yellow Zone.
His stats had risen through consecutive trials.
He was getting stronger.
Kang San gripped his sword.
Still, he couldn't just walk away.
'I'm the one who has to stop an S-Rank outbreak anyway. If I'm going to back down from this, I never should've come here.'
He steadied his breath.
If he couldn't avoid it.
He had to charge in without hesitation.
His precarious daily life, always teetering on the edge, had always yielded the best results through bold action.
Just then, the ogres discovered the burrow entrance.
Whoosh—
He released the Hide.
And then.
"...Fuck it, it'll work out somehow."
He stepped toward the monsters, footfalls steady.
Bang—
Nakamura Genji slammed the phone down roughly.
Same story again.
The Japanese government promised to send forces, but it was far from the best they could muster.
Grind.
"Damn bastards."
Support without an S-Rank.
A subjugation that had failed even with an S-Rank hunter—how could they expect to solve anything with such half-hearted effort? It made no sense. Politicians existed to protect the livelihood of the people, yet the Kitakyushu issue was treated like a taboo. As if touching it would cause a massive explosion engulfing all of Japan, they had started ignoring the present crisis.
His insides boiled.
In the end, he picked up the phone again.
This time, not his superiors.
[Long time no talk.]
"Shuhei. One favor."
[I'm hurt. First contact in three years, and it's a favor? What's this about?]
"Assemble the Wildman Squad here in Kitakyushu. If you lend me your strength, I'll grant whatever you want. My possessions, my life—anything."
[......]
On the other end.
Silence hung.
The group Nakamura Genji had once led.
Those who called him captain had felt profound betrayal at his sudden resignation.
But upon hearing his destination later, they understood. It wasn't betrayal, at least. They accepted it humanely— even a captain had his reasons.
[30 minutes. Cool?]
"Thanks."
[Keep your promise.]
Click.
The call ended.
Nakamura Genji caught his breath.
An hour had passed with no government response, and no word from Kang San, who should have returned long ago. It was maddeningly anxious. He'd just found a sliver of hope, but the situation unfolding differently made his heart pound.
He prayed to the heavens.
For Kang San to be alive.
To return safely.
That's when.
Commotion outside.
'No way.'
Nakamura Genji rushed out.
From a burst of light, new people appeared.
Joy surged.
Hope reignited.
But.
"...Where on earth is Mr. Kang San?"
No matter how he looked, the face he remembered wasn't among them.
The siblings were just as shocked. Jo Han-byeol grabbed a survivor as soon as he saw no sign of Kang San.
"What about the man who saved you survivors? Where is he?"
Perhaps because he barked it. The survivor flinched and couldn't answer. Once calmed and asked again, the survivor finally grasped the gravity and shared what he knew.
"He... After dealing with all the monsters, he gave us teleport scrolls and told us to return to Kitakyushu first. We asked if he wasn't coming with us, but he said he'd detected other survivors nearby and planned to continue the rescues. If anyone asked about him, we were to say it was all good and not to worry."
"What?"
"What the hell does that mean!"
Jo Han-byeol was stunned. Behind him, Nakamura Genji, who had overheard, raised his voice. He'd said he'd only confirm the village's location. Yet Kang San had not only rescued people alone but was continuing with more operations. 'Is he planning to save them all by himself?' His eyes trembled. This chain of events.
It was utterly unforeseen.