Chapter 197
Chapter 197
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 197
Chapter Title: Tokyo Apocalypse - 3
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Koyama Shintaro, 25 years old.
A company man from Gunma who luckily survived this whole fiasco.
He figured that to scrounge up food, the city was the way to go, so he headed to Tokyo. That's where he met a woman.
They hit it off big time and even promised to survive together.
Yuzuka listened up to that point, her face twisting in confusion.
"But why use his first name? It should be Avenger Koyama, not Avenger Shintaro..."
Exactly.
Japanese folks don't throw their given names around lightly.
Kenji had signed his letter as Shiraishi, after all.
"Th-that's just how I feel."
Middle school syndrome, just like Seokhyeon said.
Anyway, going by Shintaro's tale, it was your classic tragedy: his girlfriend got offed by the boss of the Fiend Union.
But something about the vibe felt off.
Shintaro didn't even seem that torn up about it.
Yuzuka picked up on the weirdness too and kept pressing him until he spilled that she was still alive.
Seokhyeon, who was grooming his rabbit ears like they were part of him, let out a snort.
"Got NTR'd, huh?"
"Uwaaaah! Don't say it!"
"Shut your trap. Unless you wanna drag every monster in the area over here."
I gave him a low threat, and Shintaro clamped his mouth shut, his eyes darting around wildly.
Putting it all together, the Fiend Union's boss had snatched Shintaro's girl, turned her into a fiend, and was dragging her around—probably forcing her into kills. And yeah, you could bet there was some sexual stuff mixed in.
Shintaro suddenly started bawling, tears dripping down.
"I-I tried so hard... but it wasn't enough to win Yoko back... She'd already turned into a fiend..."
At first, killers feel normal day-to-day, but the more they murder, the harder it gets to hold back the urges.
They get stronger with each kill, and seeing people freak out becomes kinda fun.
Eventually, they start enjoying it. But the end's always pathetic.
They run into guys like me and get wiped out.
"What's the boss's name?"
"Murayama. Don't know his first name, but I heard 'em call him Fiend Murayama-sama..."
"How big's the Fiend Union?"
"Not sure, but five—no, maybe six fiends... around three normals..."
"How strong's the boss?"
Seokhyeon asked, and Shintaro's face went vague.
"Rumor has it Fiend Murayama's over level 25."
"No biggie."
"Hey, you guys came from Korea, so you probably don't get the situation here..."
Yuzuka glanced at me.
No need to clue this guy in.
Once we snag a griffon, we're out.
I asked a few more questions, and he spilled without hesitation.
As expected, not much of a force.
Just a lucky psycho with a likability skill who'd rounded up some other nutjobs.
I cut the rope tying him up.
"Warning you—behave. We'll even feed you."
"I get it... you're stronger than me..."
Shintaro seemed resigned, playing nice.
I pulled a couple cans and some heated rice packs from my backpack, setting them on a cardboard box.
Had extra warmed up in case Yuzuka wanted more, but she passed.
Shintaro's eyes went wide.
"Where'd you score canned goods?"
"Not curious about the gun? Anyway, eat up. You'll get hurt if you know too much."
"You guys are weirder the more I see you. Like that uncle's outfit—super avant-garde, but not the weirdest part."
Even Shintaro was shocked by Seokhyeon's forward-thinking getup.
He snuck glances at us while wolfing down the rice and cans.
Once he polished it off, he cautiously asked Yuzuka,
"You seem Japanese."
"Yes."
"How'd you end up rolling with these dangerous Koreans?"
She flicked a look at us, then said,
"Apologies, but it's because my odds of survival are higher with them."
"Who the heck are they? What's their level?"
"I don't know exactly. Just that they're the strongest in Korea."
"Korea? So at least over level 20, right?"
"Yuzuka, that's enough."
"Yes, sorry..."
Shintaro jolted at her name.
"Yuzuka? Shiraishi Yuzuka from Fukuoka?"
He'd heard of her.
Yuzuka looked embarrassed, and Shintaro started yapping on his own.
"This is one hell of a duo. Korea's strongest guy paired with Shiraishi—who's undergone divine descent, even if she's imperial blood..."
"Not a pair. I'm just unilaterally tagging along at my request. And... I'm no longer imperial or noble."
Heard she and Kenji were nobles, but imperial? News to me.
She didn't seem to care, though.
Makes sense—what good are titles like that now?
I told her,
"Honestly, I don't give a damn who Yuzuka is. Long as we can help each other, that's what counts."
She gave a light smile.
"Yes... I think so too."
Shintaro's face stayed iffy.
"But you should keep Shiraishi outta Murayama's sight."
"Why?"
"He's hunting for imperials and nobles. Wants a figurehead to sway people."
Seokhyeon cocked his head.
"A killer pulling that off? Tough to keep anyone nearby."
Usually means backers.
"Someone's propping him up."
Shintaro's jaw dropped.
"Come to think of it, I heard Murayama call someone 'old man' a lot. No clue who."
Things were getting messy.
We'd just come for griffons.
But ignoring it while stuck in Japan? Tough.
Answer's simple.
"We'll do our thing first. But if they come at us, no holding back."
"Yeah. Teach 'em with fists."
Shintaro gave a wry smile and shook his head at our words.
"You guys really don't know, coming from Korea..."
"Shut it. You're outta here."
He panicked at the send-off.
"Just like this? Can't I tag along?"
"No room to babysit you too."
This is battle royale turf.
Kills don't make you a killer here.
Seokhyeon pulled a mean face, and Shintaro bolted in terror.
Check it.
Not blink—phased right through the wall.
That trait explained how he knew so much.
Perfect for ditching in the apocalypse.
I told the two,
"Time to move. Skip the palace... Yuzuka hates it, so other battlefield it is."
She bowed in thanks.
"My apologies. Odaiba looks promising... what do you think?"
Not bad.
Battlefield to clear: set.
Heading out the building, I caught a faint heartbeat.
Fading in and out—like they were toying with us.
Game on?
I'll end it.
...
Murayama of the Fiend Union prowling Ikebukuro got an intriguing report from a subordinate.
"Koreans? For real?"
"Yes. Confirmed via the paper plane Sakaguchi-sama approved."
Ozawa, who answered, was a tough nut even for Murayama.
Not his direct report—from Sakaguchi's Union in Roppongi.
Like dispatched from HQ, but Ozawa was surprisingly deferential to Murayama.
It tickled him pink.
"Koreans, Koreans... no reason for 'em to show here."
"Maybe scoping our situation."
"The girl with 'em?"
"Thing is... she seems Japanese."
"A Japanese chick hanging with Koreans? Craving traitor status?"
"Sakaguchi-sama expressed concern over that too."
"Perfect. Time for the Fiend Union to step up."
The Fiend Union held sway around Ikebukuro with about ten members total.
Murayama was the undisputed head, famed as the strongest, most vicious fiend.
His freak ability to sleep soundly amid monsters made him a legend.
Combat chops aside.
Murayama dug for more intel.
His style was hit fast, but Koreans? Made him wanna prep thorough.
"Pushing through that death-trap passage to get here? No weaklings."
The "death-trap" was the Great Labyrinth.
Koreans knew it from Survival Life players, but others? Clueless.
No signs marking it.
Ozawa bowed.
"True, but they won't stand against you, Murayama-sama."
"Duh. Wanna gauge their power first... but where they're headed's the issue."
Ozawa checked via auction house contact.
"Odaiba. Just crossed the bridge."
"Tail 'em tight. Send nearby grunts."
"Yes."
Soon, two fiends headed Odaiba.
But poof—no trace.
Even Sakaguchi Union's paper plane got wrecked.
Murayama's eyes bulged red.
Anything but screwing over Sakaguchi.
He gnashed at his two grunts.
"Sent you worthless punks and you embarrass me? Can't take it anymore. I'm going myself."
But he didn't.
Sakaguchi showed, recognizing the severity.
Sakaguchi Yosuke.
A man even top fiend Murayama wouldn't cross lightly.
Scar slashing his face screamed veteran.
"Rough spot, eh, Murayama-kun?"
"Not at all. My grunts got hasty..."
"Contact?"
"Not yet..."
50-something Sakaguchi tsked, hands in sleeves.
"Fine, handle it. But the girl with those two Koreans—who is she?"
"Haven't ID'd."
"Shiraishi from Fukuoka. Bears old imperial blood."
"Shiraishi..."
Sakaguchi pulled hands from sleeves, flexing.
"New Japan needs a rallying point. Shiraishi's ideal. Fetch her for me. Alive."
"Got it."
"Mind if I spectate? Wanna see you in action."
Murayama finally grinned.
Sakaguchi boosting his cred with the other execs.
Sakaguchi leaned close.
"No slacking. Those Koreans nailed a paper plane at 100 meters altitude. Not your average joes."
Murayama couldn't buy it.
100m snipe? Possible?
But Sakaguchi's word was law.
"I'll handle it personally."
"With you on it, I'm reassured. Let's roll."
"Yes."
Even as top fiend, Murayama treaded soft around Sakaguchi for a reason.
Guns.
Sakaguchi Union was one of few packing heat.
Snagged intel from Korea two weeks pre-apoc, prepped ahead.
Gov flailing? Laughable by comparison.
Rumor: poached a gunmaker abroad with experience.
Scored a handful of crude handmade pistols lately.
Shoddy, but lethal.
Murayama feared 'em.
...
Odaiba's crawling with barely any monsters.
Pre-end, workers from this manmade island all bolted to bedroom communities.
No grub in this commercial zone—monsters wouldn't stick.
But this empty? Weird.
Even for no monsters.
Plus, nearing Odaiba beach, the Battlefield Shackles effect vanished.
Sakaguchi crossed Nozomi Bridge with Murayama and crew.
"This ain't right... Battlefield Shackles is gone."
"No monsters is sus too. Never thought it'd be this quiet."
"I'm hearing some damn loud heartbeats, though."
Fiends', obviously.
Murayama bowed quick.
"My bad, Sakaguchi-sama."
"Nah. Anyway, those two Koreans—no sweat to take down?"
"Take down... you mean?"
"Got curious. Wanna hear about Korea."
"Apologies, but they're probably worse off than us."
"That's why I wanna hear. C'mon, Murayama-kun."
Murayama side-eyed without a word.
Rumors Sakaguchi was zainichi had swirled forever.
Pachinko yakuza bigwig? Shadow always trailed 'em.
But "take down"? Felt off.
Craving news from the homeland?
Zainichi my ass...
Murayama's lip curled, but Sakaguchi missed it.
Subs reported spotting someone on Odaiba beach.
"Two look Korean, and a woman."
"They were waiting. Time for hellos. Onward."
Grunts trailed Sakaguchi, a few humping gun-filled backpacks.
Sakaguchi hit the beach, wrinkling his nose.
"This stench here's unbeatable."
Sung-ho, waiting for them, flashed a grin.
"We've been holding our noses too. Sakaguchi."
Sakaguchi and Murayama's faces twisted.
How'd he know their names?
They had no clue.
The battlefield was cleared.
Battlefield Shackles gone—Sung-ho and Seokhyeon back at full power.
Murayama ground his teeth and stepped up.
Blasting intense heartbeats to pressure 'em.
Total flop.
The panty-clad rabbit-man hit the boombox switch.
Heavy beats thundered across the beach.
Thump, thump, thump, thu-thump, thump, thump!
"Yeah, sex!"
The Japanese stared, slack-jawed at the rabbit-man's flashy pole dance.
Yuzuka floundered, then squeezed her eyes shut.
So this was mental prep.
[Tokyo Apocalypse - 3] End