Chapter 197: Tsukushima Satomi (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 197: Tsukushima Satomi (5)
Whether it was because they’d taken a day off or because we were heading into a B-4 dungeon tomorrow, the members were fired up.
The tactical training that had started in the morning continued until the sun was beginning to set, yet everyone remained focused until the very end.
“As long as you remember the patterns, we should be fine. Let’s end the training here.”
“Huh? Already? Master, shouldn't we practice a bit more?”
“It’s enough. The position shifts have become solid, and as long as no one makes a mistake during the raid, there won't be any problems.”
She’s usually the one complaining about wanting to rest, yet now that I’m letting them off early, she’s questioning it.
As Kwon Ye-jin looked on with anxious eyes, Yoon A-young, who had just finished the simulation, spoke up.
“That’s assuming no one makes a mistake, though.”
Wait, weren't you supposed to be on my side?
But Yoon A-young was right.
The others might be different, but with my stats, a B-4 dungeon is difficult to handle. If I take a couple of wrong hits, I’m a goner. But it’s not a particularly difficult dungeon.
If getting hit is the problem, then I just won't get hit. Simple.
Yoon A-young continued as she silently brushed the dust off her palms.
“He’s never been wrong before. All we have to do is listen to what this guy says and charge forward.”
“The senior is right. Understood. Resting is part of the job too, right, Master?”
“Yes. Please rest well in preparation for tomorrow.”
“Okay! I’m going to rest with everything I’ve got! Anna, let’s go to bed early tonight.”
As Kwon Ye-jin energetically declared her intent to rest, Lee Yu-na checked the members' schedules and told them to head to the extractor.
Yoon A-young seemed to want to coordinate more with Hornet, so they continued light training together, while Satomi sat on her knees and entered a state of meditation.
Watching Satomi, with her sword placed neatly across her thighs and her back perfectly straight, made me look forward to when we’d start presence detection training.
She looked so calm and disciplined, yet it was incredibly erotic.
She’s the very serious type, so if I approached her mindlessly, she’d probably look at me like I was a creep.
Come to think of it, most of the members weren't the type you could just hit on and succeed.
Except for Kwon Ye-jin.
Lee Yu-na only became an option after we’d built up trust, and Anna had been despairing over her skills until I saved her, feeling like a savior, which built up a lot of favor from the start.
Yoon A-young was possible because she’d liked me since the time of the body owner, and Hornet was originally frigid and had no interest in me at all.
Among them, even in a world where women were constantly in heat, there wasn't a single member who would just snap up my cock if I simply thrust it out and asked to do it.
…Except for Kwon Ye-jin.
“Did I do something wrong?”
“No, you didn't do anything.”
“But Master, didn't you just look at me with a really pathetic expression?”
“No way. I always believe in you.”
At the word 'believe,' Kwon Ye-jin grinned and headed toward Jane along with Anna.
I wonder if I can get another extractor from somewhere. It’s surprisingly tedious.
But I understood the situation.
Park Su-jin had liquidated several of her businesses and even pulled together loans.
I had also invested all the money I earned—from the JP-12 sales profits from Poltsmith and the money from hero activities—into research, leaving only enough for us to live on.
Like throwing bundles of cash into a furnace to keep a fire going, the research required a massive amount of capital, to the point where even a single extractor was precious.
Even if the CEO was currently enjoying a shopping spree in Japan.
Anyway, even if she saved that money, it would only be enough to buy a single cable for the extractor.
While I was grumbling about the reality of our finances, a male employee approached me and asked.
“Um… a guest has arrived for Hero Tsukushima…”
The male employee seemed afraid to approach Satomi while she was meditating with her sword on her thighs, so he asked me instead.
However, hearing his voice, Satomi slowly opened her eyes and looked over.
“I believe I said I wouldn't be seeing any reporters or broadcasters.”
“A-Ah, no. A Japanese hero has arrived…”
Satomi furrowed her brows slightly.
She wasn't angry at the employee; she was just puzzled by the news of a visitor. But the male employee was terrified and hid behind my back.
What the hell? Why are you hiding behind me?
The feeling of a guy behind my back gave me the creeps, so I stepped slightly to the side.
“What is the name of the hero who came to visit?”
“She said her name is Kawaguchi Haruka.”
At the bowing employee's words, Satomi’s expression stiffened for a moment before she stood up and followed him.
As I watched Satomi’s retreating figure, Lee Yu-na stood beside me and watched as well.
“Haruka… that’s the hero who requested a friendly match with Yeon-woo before.”
“Well… it wasn't her who did it, but the Japan Association.”
“She’s quite famous as the hero responsible for Japan’s next generation.”
Lee Yu-na tapped on her pad and showed me information about Haruka.
Haruka even had the hero name 'Raijin' because of her ability to manipulate lightning.
I hadn't even looked up her info since I had no intention of facing her, but if we had fought, I might have lost.
In this world dominated by attackers, she possessed the most aggressive skills and was highly proficient with a sword to boot.
Unlike Yoon A-young, who could create mass and utilize it in various ways, Haruka was an extreme attacker with skills solely focused on offense.
There was a reason people called her the next generation's hope.
“Come to think of it, this is the first time Japanese people have come looking for Satomi-san.”
“She’s been the subject of gossip ever since she joined Black Unicorn.”
Lee Yu-na replied with a bitter expression.
They might be busy because of the Dungeon Impact, but not a single person had visited her for over ten days.
I heard there was significant backlash in Japan when Satomi first joined Black Unicorn.
At the time, I wondered if joining a party of a different nationality was really something to get so angry about, but looking at it now, it seems there’s more to the background.
After watching Yoon A-young and Hornet’s training for a bit, Satomi returned with a troubled expression.
“Did the conversation go well?”
“I think we need to talk a bit more. Would it be alright if I went out for a while?”
Satomi asked with an anxious look, like a child asking their father for permission to stay out late.
“Yes, it’s free time, so you can use it as you wish. You’ve met an old acquaintance after a long time; go and enjoy yourself.”
“Thank you.”
Satomi bowed politely to me and then left.
It might be overstepping, but should I have asked where she was going?
Maybe she’s just meeting a close friend for a meal; perhaps I’m overthinking it.
“Should I do some investigating?”
Don't say such scary things.
Let’s not do anything that would break the trust between our party members.
When Lee Yu-na asked cautiously, I shook my head.
“No, we should wait. She’s a member of the team.”
“Yes, we should trust her.”
Lee Yu-na nodded as if she expected me to say that, and then dropped the matter.
The fact that she asked for my opinion even though she knew I’d refuse meant she found Satomi’s current behavior quite suspicious.
It seems Lee Yu-na knows something too.
When the time came, I watched Lee Yu-na send Hornet to the extractor and then left to rest myself.
Late in the evening, everyone went to bed, and the inn became quiet.
I sat on the wooden porch, looking up at the bright moon, and muttered as if to myself.
“Did you have an enjoyable time with your friend?”
Satomi walked out from the darkened hallway of the inn and stood under the moonlight.
“Yes, thanks to you, I was able to spend time with my close friend. It’s late; you haven't gone to sleep yet.”
“I couldn't fall asleep.”
That’s a lie. I waited here for two hours just because I wanted to say a cool line like that.
I sat down to set the mood when I saw Satomi hadn't returned even though it was late, but I didn't expect her to be this late.
I kept telling myself 'just thirty more minutes' until Satomi finally walked in.
She quietly sat down beside me and looked up at the moon.
“Are you suspicious of me?”
“Is there anything to be suspicious of?”
“Plenty. I haven't revealed my past, and I’m hiding many things.”
“Doesn't everyone have things they hide? I have plenty of secrets myself.”
For example, the fact that I came from another world.
When I spoke nonchalantly, Satomi turned her gaze toward me, gave a small laugh, and bowed her head.
“You always try to make me feel at ease. I am grateful for the Leader’s benevolence.”
“I didn't particularly have that intention. It’s the truth. Everyone has secrets they can't tell, and there’s a right time to reveal them.”
“… …”
“Don't worry too much. Satomi, you’re a member of Black Unicorn, and I don't easily suspect or betray the people of Black Unicorn.”
Satomi nodded at my words and looked back up at the moon.
The night air was still chilly, so I used my mana to warm up my cold tea before drinking it.
We watched the moon in silence for a while before Satomi spoke first.
“Actually, it’s not a big deal.”
As I listened quietly, she continued in a low voice.
“But it’s a bit difficult. It’s not that villains or monsters are running wild, nor am I caught in some wicked scheme, but the environment surrounding me is bothering me for no reason.”
Given that she mentioned her 'environment,' there really must be something going on with her family.
Usually, the more a family boasts about its lineage, the stronger their nationalistic tendencies, so they must be giving her grief for leaving Japan.
What kind of outdated mindset is that? How annoying.
As of now, unless Anna suddenly gets homesick, the members of Black Unicorn have no issues.
They seem satisfied with the current situation and likely to continue their hero activities in Black Unicorn until they retire, but Satomi has been unstable from the start.
If someone leaves due to personal or family matters, there’s no way to stop them.
That’s why I tried to gather people who wouldn't have such issues from the beginning, but in Satomi’s case, the information itself was a lie.
“If it gets too hard, please lean on me. I’m quite reliable, you know.”
“…Haha… The Leader is undoubtedly a reliable person.”
Satomi laughed softly and stood up.
“Thanks to you, my mind feels clearer. Thank you, Leader.”
After bowing to me, Satomi left for her room.
Ugh, it’s cold. I should go in too.
Leading my body, which had been chilled by the night air, I returned to my room and fell asleep while hugging Yoon A-young, who was still unconscious and hadn't woken up yet.
*
The next day, we headed to the B-4 dungeon.
Everyone seemed to be in good condition, and it was a dungeon that should end without issues if we followed the training.
When we arrived, Jeong Sae-bom’s party was finishing their preparations to enter the B-8 dungeon right next to ours.
I nodded in response to Go Ha-ram, who was waving her arms vigorously at me, and ignored Yoon A-young’s suspicious glare as I finished the preparations for the raid.
“Master, three today as well, right?”
“Yes, that’s why we practiced for three dungeons.”
“It’s scary how you say that so naturally.”
However, Kwon Ye-jin seemed happy that Black Unicorn was achieving overwhelming results, as she grinned and hopped around to warm up.
I admired the sight of her ample breasts and her dyed purple hair bouncing along with her before we entered the dungeon.
From B-rank onward, the monsters became noticeably stronger with each rank increase, but they were no match for Black Unicorn.
Kwon Ye-jin, who had now firmly established herself as a defender, set up walls while Satomi and Anna swept through the monsters.
Yoon A-young, who ran around frantically a step behind, alternating between the roles of attacker and supporter; Hornet, who moved three-dimensionally with aerial maneuvers to attack the monsters; and Lee Yu-na, who provided solid support—we were all becoming stronger as the rank increased.
It wasn't just individual skill; our coordination as a party and our overall power were also excellent.
There were still many tactics to teach and much proficiency to build, but the growth potential of this party was limitless.
We destroyed the dungeon in an instant and, as planned, cleared the final dungeon of the day.
When the dungeon core was destroyed, Kwon Ye-jin let out a cheer of excitement, and the others were equally delighted.
Clap, clap, clap, clap—
However, at the sound of clapping from behind, our joy was dampened as if cold water had been poured over it.
“Congratulations. I don't think there’s any other party in Japan as active as Black Unicorn.”
We are a party that is short one person.
That meant someone else could enter a dungeon with a capacity of eight.
Moving reflexively, Kwon Ye-jin blocked the way in front of me and raised her shield, while Anna and Yoon A-young stood on either side.
“Baek Seo-woo!!!!!”
Hornet screamed in a voice filled with murderous intent and prepared to charge.
“Stop.”
“… …”
At my command, Hornet froze in her charging stance and glared at me.
Her eyes, filled with bloodlust, looked as if they would devour me, but she gritted her teeth and stepped back.
I had previously assessed Black Unicorn as a party capable of taking on an A-rank hero.
But not him.
I stared at Baek Seo-woo, who was sitting peacefully on a rock with his legs crossed, smiling.
A special-grade villain whom even Lee Ru-da was wary of, and for whom it was a mystery why he wasn't S-rank.
He was someone the current Black Unicorn couldn't handle even if they all attacked at once.
Clap, clap, clap—
“As expected, the reaction is good. No wonder people praise you.”
Baek Seo-woo smiled brightly and complimented us.
However, the aura emanating from his body caused Kwon Ye-jin and Anna’s shoulders to tremble slightly.
Yoon A-young and Lee Yu-na glanced around, preparing for battle, while Satomi kept clenching and unclenching her hand on her sword as if trying to suppress her anxiety.
“Don't be so tense. I wouldn't call it a commemorative gift for the clear, but I did bring a present.”
Baek Seo-woo turned his body defenselessly, pulled something from behind the rock, and tossed it toward me.
Thud, roll—
It rolled toward us slowly enough for anyone, even a non-Awakened, to recognize it.
A human head.
The 'present' Baek Seo-woo had thrown was the head of someone I had never seen before.