Chapter 142
Chapter 142
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: 26. Hero of Kitakyushu (2)
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Kang San now knew Nakamura Genji's story.
He had once been a promising talent entrusted with leading the Wildlings, but after his family went missing, he had abandoned everything and come down to Kitakyushu. Behind his bureaucratic demeanor was a special circumstance. In truth, there probably wasn't a single person staying here without some kind of backstory, but that made his words all the more welcome.
"It's a relief that your family is safe."
It was sincere.
Whenever he met people like Nakamura Genji who expressed their gratitude, Kang San felt that his sacrifices hadn't been in vain.
But then.
"...They're not alive. More precisely, it's right to say we've found traces of my parents."
"Pardon?"
It was a bewildering response.
Kang San had naturally assumed that finding his family meant they were alive.
"I had a feeling it might be like this to some extent. The reason so many people survived the large-scale link incident wasn't because the disaster was mild—it was simply because there were that many sacrifices. At first glance, a thousand survivors out of tens of thousands might seem like a lot, but it's not really when you think about it. My parents were civilians with chronic illnesses that made it hard for them to move. Surviving under those conditions was practically impossible."
"But are you okay with that? You've been searching for your family all this time."
"I'd be lying if I said I was fine. The reason I couldn't let go until the end was that slim chance they might still be alive. But just now, we found what could be called traces of them. Based on survivor testimonies and DNA analysis, it's confirmed they died the moment the large-scale link incident broke out. Strangely enough, I feel a sense of relief now. Deep down, I'd already accepted their deaths, but denying it and trying to live on was exhausting. If you hadn't solved the root problem, I'd still be that prickly civil servant in Kitakyushu, clinging to that thread of hope."
It was a complicated matter.
Kang San couldn't easily empathize with Nakamura Genji's emotions.
He looked sad.
Even as he spoke of feeling relieved, the face before him was anything but joyful.
Nakamura Genji said,
"Thanks to you, Mr. Kang San, the people of Kitakyushu have found their freedom. Thank you. Truly, thank you."
He bowed his head.
The sincerity was palpable.
Raising his head, Nakamura Genji met Kang San's gaze.
"For me, there's no longer any reason to stay in Kitakyushu. So what I'm saying is, Mr. Kang San, I want to lend my strength to whatever you do from here on."
The past few days.
While searching the red zone after joining the subjugation force, Nakamura Genji would discuss the future with Shuhei whenever he had time.
"What are your plans going forward?"
"Not sure."
"Now that the evil spirits and fog in the red zone are gone, finding your parents is just a matter of time. Once that's done, you won't have any reason to stay in Kitakyushu. If you say you want to return to the Wildlings, I'll gladly make a place for you."
Indeed.
What a grateful friend.
Even after Nakamura Genji's sudden decision thrust everything onto him, Shuhei offered to step aside. He knew that meant handing over leadership of the Wildlings. There had been a time when he longed for his old life, but after everything that had happened recently, Nakamura Genji's mindset had changed.
"No, I don't plan to go back to the Wildlings. That's your place. It's not something I can just reclaim like it's mine by right."
"That won't be a problem. Everyone misses you."
"Shuhei. Do you know what I realized while staying in Kitakyushu? The world has quickly regained its stability. Even now, disasters are breaking out everywhere, people are dying, but here we enjoy leisure, build families, live everyday lives. How much do you think people know about the Kitakyushu incident? Less than you'd imagine. It's not even 'a disaster happened in Japan'—hardly anyone even knows it occurred. Especially not the superpowers like America."
It was a bitter reality.
Disasters had become routine, and people didn't pay much attention to stories from across the sea.
A tale unique to Kitakyushu.
It had festered in stagnation for three years like that.
With self-preservation coming first, no country had focused on the Kitakyushu incident.
"For the time being, I want to live as I please. I've forgotten why I even became a hunter."
"...Yeah. Do what you want."
He turned his head.
Shuhei, looking in the same direction as Nakamura Genji, suddenly voiced a thought that crossed his mind.
"You know what? The Hero of Kitakyushu—he's famous in Korea too."
"What do you mean?"
"This wasn't a coincidence. Turns out Mr. Kang San is known in Korea for saving lots of people. He must have come to Japan intending to help with this place from the start."
"... ."
Why was that?
Nakamura Genji felt a swirl of complex thoughts.
What on earth had driven Kang San to cross the sea and help the people of Kitakyushu?
No one had demanded his devotion.
No one had even asked for help.
It was all voluntary.
Kang San's goodwill had created the miracle of Kitakyushu.
"What an incredible person."
The words slipped out unbidden, lingering on his lips for a while.
Nakamura Genji said,
"I left the Wildlings and lived solely for the goal of saving my parents. Now that I've lost that purpose, I heard you were helping people even before coming to Kitakyushu, Mr. Kang San. I want to lend my strength to that cause. Just as you extended your goodwill without expecting anything in return, I want my power to be used meaningfully."
It was sudden.
A new companion.
He hadn't even considered it.
As Kang San hesitated to respond, Nakamura Genji added,
"It might sound arrogant, but I don't think my skills lag behind others. The Japanese government rated me A-Rank, and beyond that, I've gained tons of real combat experience leading the Wildlings. I'll definitely be useful. Whatever you're planning, Mr. Kang San—even if it means heading into the jaws of death—I'll stick with you to the end."
Before coming to see Kang San.
He had already submitted his resignation.
His eyes burned with determination to convince Kang San.
In truth, it wasn't a bad proposal.
Kang San's party was imbalanced right now.
The tanker line from Kang San to Jung Chan-woo was solid, but the so-called dealers were just Yeon Woo-bin and Jo Han-byeol. A typical party would include a melee dealer and support like a priest, so relying entirely on Yeon Woo-bin for damage wasn't ideal.
With the current lineup.
What if A-Rank Nakamura Genji joined?
It would be excellent.
Not only would he fill the melee DPS gap, but his experience leading the Wildlings meant he was battle-hardened.
However.
He couldn't decide unilaterally.
His younger comrades followed Kang San unquestioningly, but a party wasn't run by one person's whims.
"...I understand your offer, Mr. Genji. I'll discuss it with the others and get back to you."
"Understood. I'll wait."
Tabled for now.
Kang San decided to put off the decision.
Kang San immediately went to find his comrades.
He intended to discuss Nakamura Genji's matter, but before he could, he encountered a familiar situation that felt like déjà vu.
"Please accept us."
"We want to join you, Mr. Kang San."
Jessica and Eileen, the sisters.
They had come to him.
Jessica said,
"When we briefly fought alongside you in the red zone, Mr. Kang San, I felt a sense of security for the first time in my life. Like, 'Ah, with this person, I'll be safe. At least until he falls, he won't let his comrades get hurt.' So I thought it would be great to team up. And it's not like I'd just be leeching off you. I heard your party lacks a scout and DPS support like me, plus a priest. What do you think? We can even adjust the party balance to the minimum."
Party members were rolling in one after another, vines and all.
Jessica was B-Rank.
Just as she said, she filled a needed role.
An assassin-type could scout and deliver burst damage to cover DPS shortages, and priest Eileen went without saying. The composition fit perfectly. Plus, since they harbored gratitude toward him, party harmony wouldn't be an issue.
That was why.
Kang San voiced his concerns instead.
"...If the two of you joined, it would definitely strengthen us. But there's something I need to say first: our party isn't like a typical one. We don't just pick safe raids. Sometimes we help people or dive into tough situations. Like what happened in Kitakyushu—it could become routine. Is that okay with you? With your abilities, you have better options than this thorny path."
Jessica, Eileen, and Nakamura Genji.
They were different.
Nakamura Genji had volunteered out of admiration for his selflessness, but the Jessica sisters saw joining Kang San's party as beneficial. That could lead to problems. Kang San was someone who could face trials anytime, anywhere, and Jo Han-byeol's group knew that yet chose to travel with him.
So.
The sisters needed to know too.
When a moment of forced choice arrived, any wavering on their part could endanger Kang San.
Eileen said,
"...The thorny path is fine if it's with you, Mr. Kang San."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes. When monsters were massacring survivors, I saw you draw their attention to save those people. That was pure goodwill. Even if it meant shouldering hardship yourself, you didn't hesitate if it helped save lives. It's not just faith in you— we believe the person we devote our talents to is worth it. And there's another reason we have to join you."
"Another reason?"
Their eyes met.
Eileen's gaze held no walls toward Kang San.
"A few days ago, I took a personal rank test. Even though I awakened postnatally after turning twenty, I got B-Rank. But the examiner said my skill's power matched A-Rank, only downgraded to B because of its conditions."
[Growth Skill]
[Prayer]
1. Gathers hearts to grant buffs to a specific target. The more participants in the prayer, the stronger the buff amplification.
2. Can designate one person as the object of worship.
[Worship Target: Kang San]
Heal.
Cure.
Similar healing skills.
Eileen not only met the qualifications for priest but also possessed one very special skill.
"I have a skill called Prayer. It gathers people's hearts to fulfill wishes, and the moment you returned after exorcising the evil spirits, I got a message that my 'Growth Skill' had awakened. Take a look."
She opened her skill window.
Kang San confirmed the effect before his eyes.
Eileen's voice continued.
"The worship target can't be changed, and it grants a special buff to the one person I hold in my heart. And that target is..."
"...Mr. Kang San."