Chapter 202: Prohibition Order (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 202: Prohibition Order (3)
“Yo! Loser! I heard you got banned at the door?!”
As soon as Ellie arrived—delivered by Han So-ye—she started her usual snarky banter.
This brat was nowhere to be found when I actually needed her, but the moment I get banned, she comes crawling back just to gloat.
I flicked Ellie’s butt as she cackled, then turned to greet Han So-ye.
“I didn’t expect you to come, So-ye Nuna. I feel bad making you go through all this trouble because of us.”
Han So-ye’s career had taken a complicated turn after she moved from Break Line to Square Garden.
She was in her mid-thirties—not exactly young for a Hero—and her primary skill was Deflection, which only worked against humanoid opponents.
Though it was a mutual agreement with the clan, she had stopped forming parties and instead worked as a support agent, dealing with villains or resolving errors rather than clearing dungeons.
She also served as an instructor for younger Heroes, but it was still a shame to see her step back from the front lines.
However, Han So-ye seemed to prefer her current life at Square Garden over her time at Break Line.
“The Clan Leader asked me to look after you, Yeon-woo. It’s an honor to escort the hottest party in Japan right now.”
Han So-ye gave a warm smile.
The alluring, mature vibe unique to her, combined with her inclusive personality, gave her a peculiar charm.
I watched Ellie chatter away with the other members for a moment before speaking to the Male Protagonist to arrange a room for Han So-ye.
For now, she was registered as a temporary member of Black Unicorn and would stay by our side until we left Japan.
Having Han So-ye around was reassuring.
Though her skills were limited to humans, she was a hard counter to opponents like Baek Seo-woo, who couldn't rely on mass-based attacks.
“This is great. We were actually lacking in anti-personnel training. Would you mind sparring with us a bit?”
“Sure, if I can be of help.”
“So-ye Unni! I’m definitely winning this time!”
Kwon Ye-jin, who had been utterly crushed by her before, spoke up with newfound bravado.
She’d probably still lose, though.
So-ye’s Deflection skill ignored the usual laws of physics; simple attacks were never the answer.
Satomi watched the two spar in the training room with admiration.
“So that’s the kind of training you do. No wonder A-young and Anna recover so quickly even when their attacks fail.”
As expected of someone so diligent, she immediately recognized the purpose of the drill.
Since Satomi and Hornet joined, we had focused almost exclusively on tactical training, so this was their first time seeing this specific exercise.
Watching Kwon Ye-jin get sent flying by Han So-ye’s skill, Satomi’s eyes sparkled as she turned to me.
“Was this training method your idea too, Captain?”
“Well—sort of.”
“Look at this guy, acting all cool and pretentious again. Even though he got banned at the door.”
Ellie, perched on my shoulder, teased me by pushing my cheek with her tiny foot.
Yeah, I missed this. You little brat.
“Ow, ow, ow! Stop it! I said stop!”
While I was busy bickering with Ellie and pinching her tiny cheeks, Satomi continued to observe the sparring match.
“The concept of this training is completely different. Usually, people focus on defense or footwork, but this training assumes from the start that the attack will fail.”
I didn’t really need her to explain it all out loud.
But Satomi seemed genuinely impressed, nodding seriously as she watched.
“Because they’re going to fail hundreds, thousands of times until their skills improve.”
“Yes. Everyone knows that, but few think to compensate for it. You are truly magnificent.”
Gosh, stop. It’s embarrassing.
I technically stole this training method from another country in my previous life, anyway.
Ellie, apparently annoyed by the praise I was receiving, blew a raspberry and flew out of my hands.
“I’d like to see how far my sword can go against her.”
Satomi’s eyes gleamed. As soon as Kwon Ye-jin was knocked out, she stood up, entered the training area, and bowed.
“I am Satomi Tsurushima of the Niten Ichi-ryu. I ask for your guidance, Hero Han So-ye.”
She entered with the gallant spirit of someone testing the limits of martial arts, but So-ye’s technique was a skill—it didn't care about finesse or the laws of physics.
Trying to "break through limits" and "evolve the sword" like some protagonist in a martial arts novel was useless here.
In fact, she’d be lucky if she didn't pick up bad habits by trying to force her way through.
But Satomi knew more about swordsmanship than I did, so there was no need for me to say anything.
While the members took turns facing Han So-ye, I sat quietly on the grass and practiced my mana training.
The mana I gathered using the training methods of the previous world and the mana I accumulated through this world’s methods existed in my body without mixing.
I was worried this might cause problems, so I tried to merge them, but the repulsion between them was too strong.
I’d mocked the idea of martial arts novels earlier, but right now, I felt exactly like a cultivation protagonist.
Specifically, one on the verge of a qi deviation.
“Fly-swatter, come here.”
“Coming, Steel Dick.”
Ellie, still giving her usual fairy-of-sex-style response, landed on the crown of my head.
As I focused my mind and began to draw up mana using the magic formula Seol Ga-yeon had taught me, Ellie quietly began to flow her mana into me.
Receiving her mana and circulating it through my body, I tried to rub it against the mana from the previous world.
Like oil and water, the two types of mana tangled together but refused to harmonize, turning wild and violent as if they were about to explode.
Feeling like I was about to lose control, I released the force I was using to suppress them. They immediately calmed down and separated neatly to either side.
On the left was the mana from the previous world; on the right, the mana from this world.
Technically, both were obtained here, but that was the easiest way to categorize them.
Clashing different types of mana was dangerous, but doing it once in a while helped tremendously in raising my Mana stat.
To use a martial arts term, it was like my dantian was momentarily expanding.
It would shrink back down after a while, but Ellie’s mana would flow in to fill the expanded vessel.
Ellie described this as drinking water before a meal to stretch out your stomach.
It was a bit of a rough method, but it was effective. Thanks to this training, my Mana stat had been skyrocketing.
Just in case, I had my body checked at Square Garden every time, and so far, there were no abnormalities.
Still, since the mechanics weren't fully understood, I couldn't exactly do it recklessly.
While practicing, I wondered if I could utilize that repulsive property. I formed two different clusters of mana in each of my hands.
If I set up a binding formula and minimized the mana space, the mutual repulsion would create excessive kinetic energy…
I stood up abruptly, mid-thought.
I ignored Ellie, who fell off my head in surprise and started cursing, and ran toward the training room.
“Both of you, get out of there, now!”
At my urgent shout, Han So-ye and Anna, who were sparring, quickly scrambled out of the barrier.
I threw the mana clusters, which were on the verge of exploding, into the barrier and backed away.
BOOM—!
“… …”
“Pfft. Hey—were you actually scared of that?”
Contrary to my urgent warning, the explosion was weaker than expected. Hornet started mocking me.
Ignoring Ellie, who joined in on the teasing, I replayed the explosion in my mind.
I had only combined simple mana spheres, yet the explosion was quite powerful relative to the mana consumed.
Not bad. If I develop this, it could be useful.
I apologized to the bewildered Han So-ye and Anna and returned to where I had been sitting.
Seol Ga-hyeon or Eom Soo-hyun would be better at creating magic formulas like this, but I couldn't exactly show them my mana.
They’d make a huge fuss about a "new discovery" or something, and this wasn't something I should reveal carelessly.
For now, I knew it was possible. I’d try to develop it on my own.
I’m good at copying, but I’ve never been confident in my own inventions.
*
And so, we spent our time training, focusing on anti-personnel combat with our new addition, Han So-ye.
Five days later.
These bastards are really stubborn.
Not just the public, but the media and even the Heroes who had come to support Japan were expressing their frustration, yet the Association refused to lift the prohibition order.
Seeing the Japanese Association remain silent despite the protests, Song Jae-ah was so furious I barely managed to stop her from storming their headquarters herself.
Heroes from various countries gave interviews to the press, stating they couldn't understand the Association’s actions. Even a quick look at Japanese online communities showed a flood of ridicule and insults, yet they held their ground.
Was Councilor Masami really under no pressure at all?
When the U.S. Support Headquarters stated that "if Heroes who sacrifice themselves are not respected, who will ever risk their lives to help Japan again?" I thought the game was over.
But what do you know? The Association just played dumb.
Damn, whether it’s Korea or Japan, the people in the Association are all fundamentally deaf.
As our forced rest dragged on, Satomi became increasingly anxious and apologetic.
The timing was also terrible; today, most of the other Heroes were out in dungeons, leaving only Black Unicorn behind at the inn, which made her even more self-conscious.
“It’s so peaceful~ Ah, Satomi Unni, I’m not blaming you.”
“Don’t even start. Just keep your mouth shut.”
“Why are you only picking on me?”
Kwon Ye-jin grumbled under Lee Yu-na’s scolding.
But it really was peaceful.
In the large ryokan, there was no sign of anyone except for the staff moving quietly about.
The weather was getting warmer; Ellie was dozing off in the sunlight, and the sky was so blue it was perfect for a picnic.
Moreover, because of the Dungeon Impact, there were no cars or people around, filling the area with a profound silence.
“Perhaps I should go and…”
“No. As your leader, that’s an order. You don’t need to sacrifice yourself, Satomi.”
“But Black Unicorn shouldn't have to suffer because of me, either.”
“Who’s suffering? We’re resting comfortably and reorganizing. We haven't been kicked out of Japan yet.”
As I spoke, Anna nodded beside me.
“He’s right. Like the leader said, we’ve gained time to relax and prepare. We’re just crouching for a moment so we can fly higher later.”
“You have wings, why would you crouch?”
Ellie cackled at her own tactless joke, causing Anna to pout.
Ellie, who had been teasing Anna by poking her puffed-out cheeks, looked at Satomi’s dark expression with a look of pathetic pity.
“Samurai. Don’t worry about it so much. Don’t you guys have that thing? Composure for the sake of the sword? A mindset? Anyway, you value all that old-fashioned spiritual stuff. Calm your mind so you can swing your sword when it’s actually needed.”
“… …”
“Where did you read that? In a book?”
“I’ve always been the wise Fairy of Happiness!”
Don’t lie. You’re the Fairy of Sex.
Everyone stared blankly at her uncharacteristic words, but Satomi seemed to find strength in them as she nodded.
“Yes… Alicia is right. My discipline was lacking. I must trust the Captain and wait.”
Uh… well…
She said she trusted me, but the truth was, I was starting to get anxious too.
I suspected these bastards were trying to stall for time until Black Unicorn faded from people’s memories.
However, I couldn't show any weakness under Satomi’s sparkling, trusting gaze, so I forced a smile.
Maybe I should set off a big one.
Should I leak the footage of the politicians visiting the inn onto the internet?
Just as I was debating what to do, the alarms on our wrists went off simultaneously.
BEEEEEEEEP—!
It was the smartwatch issued by the Support Headquarters.
We were required to wear them at all times unless we were inside a dungeon, so the Heroes could be summoned immediately in case of an emergency.
“Code Red… It’s a dungeon explosion…”
Lee Yu-na’s face turned pale.
I opened my smartphone to find that the headquarters had already sent an emergency message to all Heroes.
[Miura City: B-3, 5, 6, 9 Ranks. Total of six dungeon explosions.]
It wasn't just one; six had gone off at once.
It was an obviously artificial situation. While the members were panicking, I opened a map to look for Miura City.
It wasn't far.
Located at the southernmost tip of Kanagawa Prefecture, Miura City was adjacent to the edge of Chiba Prefecture, where we were, across Tokyo Bay.
If we could cross the water, it was only about 15km away. We could provide support immediately.
“Black Unicorn is heading out to support. Get a boat ready.”
While I contacted the Support Headquarters, the members moved quickly to pack their gear.
Lee Yu-na contacted Square Garden to set up the situation room, and the field team rushed over to prepare auxiliary equipment.
“I’ll help too.”
Han So-ye looked at me with a determined gaze.
Having her with us would be a huge help in case of an unforeseen situation.
“Did you bring your gear?”
“Yes, I always have it with me.”
“We’re counting on you. As of this moment, Hero Han So-ye is temporarily joined with Black Unicorn.”
Han So-ye nodded at my words.
Boarding the boat prepared by the headquarters, we headed straight for Miura City across Tokyo Bay.
I didn't know the situation at the other support headquarters, but for six dungeons to explode simultaneously right when the Korean Heroes were unavailable—there was definitely something going on behind the scenes.
As I was thinking that we needed to move cautiously, Kanagawa Prefecture appeared in the distance.
The situation room was relaying information to us using data from the Support Headquarters. The members, already fully prepared for battle, looked at me with tense eyes.
“From this moment on, I am the Party Leader. No honorifics. Every command comes from me.”
“Roger that.”
“Understood, Captain.”
“Yes, Leader!”
“Got it, Oppa.”
“Lee Yu-na and Hornet, scout the perimeter as soon as we land. Everyone else, establish a temporary base.”
“Understood.”
“Okay.”
Hearing their responses, I contacted the situation room.
“Let’s save the citizens from the monsters. Deploy the drones.”
Dozens of drones rose from the cases opened by the field team, flying out ahead of the boat.