Hokkaido Getaway and Sudden News
“Kyaha~!”
At the airport in Hokkaido, I pulled out the sunglasses I’d bought in advance right after finishing check-in.
I’d been a little worried after seeing online that it was snowing here, but that must’ve been wrong. The sun was blazing down pleasantly.
“This is what an overseas trip feels like!”
My first flight had been pretty satisfying. The expensive seat let me stretch my legs out and recline halfway. They even brought snacks midway through.
Though it was only a couple hours anyway.
The takeoff had made my chest tighten a bit at first, which was scary, but I got used to it quick enough.
“Alright then...”
I planned to check into the reserved hotel first, then swing by some local eats. I could meet that Sato guy tomorrow.
“Gorum gorum.”
“Soo-hyeok. Taxis are over there.”
“Oh, right.”
Yelena pointed to the taxis lined up in front of the airport. I’d heard Japanese taxis were crazy expensive, but I’d exchanged plenty, so no biggie.
“It’s wild. How can a place right next door feel so different?”
Part of it was the excitement of my first overseas trip, but there was this indescribable vibe shift.
“Really? I dunno. All East Asian countries feel the same to me.”
“Nah, look. No one here’s got long legs li—”
“Kahk. Ptoo.”
No sooner had I said it than a taxi driver at the stand spat out some phlegm while lighting a smoke.
“At least there’s no trash on the grou—”
As if he’d heard me, the driver flicked his cigarette butt right into the sewer grate.
“...”
“Soo-hyeok. People are the same everywhere they live.”
“...Yeah?”
I wasn’t sure how to hail a taxi, but luckily Yelena handled it all.
“!@#$”
“%^&*”
She chatted with the driver, then gestured for me to hop in. She really did speak Japanese better than Korean.
“Soo-hyeok. You call Sujin?”
“Ah, crap. My bad.”
On the way to the hotel, I’d been too distracted by the trip to check my phone. When I powered it on, a quick welcome message popped up, and signal connected.
“Lemme see... KakaoTalk to Sujin...”
[37 Missed Calls]
“What the hell is this?”
All the texts and calls were from Jin So-wol. And right on cue—
Brring brring.
Another call from her.
“Uh, hello?”
[What. You’re alive?]
Her voice carried a hint of disappointment. For a second I thought she’d been worried, but nah—she just sounded thrilled at the drama.
“Couldn’t pick up on the plane.”
[So you’re in Japan now, right?]
“Yeah, pretty much.”
[Hmph! Too bad. For you and me both.]
What was that supposed to mean? Disappointed I was alive?
[Check the news. If you’re in Japan, Hokkaido TV.]
“Hm.”
Curious, I fired up an internet TV app on my phone.
“It’s on.”
A familiar face filled the screen—Sato Akashi, the 1st gen awakener I was supposed to meet tomorrow. Couldn’t catch the details in Japanese, but two familiar kanji stood out.
death
“Death?”
[Yep. He’s dead. Found as a corpse this morning, they say.]
“What? Out of nowhere? What the—?”
[Exactly. Now I’ve got a headache. Trash as he was, he was still a Cheonma Group director.]
“Damn...”
I’d come all the way to Japan, and my main goal croaked on arrival.
“What happened?”
[Official word is yakuza infighting targeting the Yamamoto faction. But from the looks of it...]
“What?”
[1st gen hunters.]
She’d mentioned it before. Some psycho was hunting 1st gen awakeners lately.
But why now, of all times...
Part of me was bummed, but another part was relieved. If he’d died after I met him, they might’ve pinned it on me. Better it blew up now.
“Ha... what a mess.”
[Tough luck flying all that way for nothing.]
Jin So-wol’s voice had a gleeful lilt, like she was secretly thrilled.
[Might as well enjoy yourself since you’re there. Tons of good food.]
“Tch.”
[Gotta go. This guy’s death means more work for me.]
Click.
She hung up.
“Something wrong, Soo-hyeok?”
“Eh...”
What now? With Sato Akashi dead, no real reason to stick around Japan. But the hotel and flight weren’t cheap to waste.
“We’ll check into the hotel first today. Tomorrow, head to the meet spot alone. I’ll hang here and get some melons...”
“Nah. Let’s just stick together.”
“Hm? Didn’t you have business?”
“Yeah, but not anymore.”
“Nice. Then tomorrow we hit this spot together. Best jagapocchi in Hokkaido. Beer factory tour next door too.”
Yelena, oblivious to my mood, excitedly mapped out the itinerary.
Whatever. No choice.
Guess I’d treat it like a real vacation.
* * *
“Phew. Finally feel alive.”
First five days in Hokkaido were fine. Yelena nailed the routes, and the pricey hotel was comfy.
But the food... Why’s everything so damn sweet?
Everything from donburi on up was sugary. Barely survived the last two days.
Back home, I’d just soothed my gut with kimchi at a hanjeongsik spot near the airport.
“Have a good trip?”
Sujin greeted me warmly at home.
“Yeah. Plenty to see.”
“Heh heh. Nothing eventful?”
“Nah.”
“Really~? A guy and girl sharing a room for a week?”
Sujin grinned slyly, fishing for something.
“You see this and still ask?”
“Huh?”
She finally noticed Yelena meticulously unpacking a haul of figures from Japan.
“Heh heh.”
“What’s that?”
“The hot Knight of Disinfection figure. This one’s Crimson Sword Princess.”
“Oh...”
“Cool, right, Sujin?”
I’d noticed her holed up watching stuff lately. Guess she’d dived into anime.
“She’d drag me to some city from an anime, then ditch me at a hot spring saying ‘relax your body’ or whatever.”
“Hmmm...”
Sujin still looked disappointed, smacking her lips.
“As long as you had fun. You did, right oppa?”
“Yeah. Onsen was nice. All steamy~.”
Decent first trip overall. Yelena was a solid interpreter aside from her otaku detours.
“Ahem. Details later. Big stuff happened while you were gone.”
“Big stuff?”
Day one: Sato Akashi’s death. And later, six other 1st gens with him—all wiped out.
Hunting that many powerhouses pointed to either multiple hunters or one monstrously strong one.
Lee Shin-yul level, maybe.
Made me worry. He was 1st gen too—could be a target.
“What happened?”
“Well...”
Sujin pulled a cherished letter from her pocket.
Sent by: Gu-guk Guild
“Partnership?”
From Gu-guk Guild. TL;DR: They wanted a partnership with our Gwigwang Guild.
“Gu-guk Guild proposed partnering up! Kyahaha!”
Sujin trembled with excitement. Guess “big” meant good news.
“That good?”
“Duh! Lines of guilds begging to be under Gu-guk. And they pick us as partners? Probably first ever.”
She emphasized “partners” over “sub-guild.”
“Oho.”
No clue on guild partnerships, but Sujin—industry vet—freaking out meant it rocked.
“More dispatch work?”
7.4 billion for one gig wasn’t bad, but farming peacefully suited me more.
“Nah, that’s dispatch. Partners get same perks as Gu-guk—dungeon fees, Hunter Association stuff. Even artifact crafting!”
“Like?”
“Free pass in hunter world, basically!”
“Nice.”
Didn’t get details, but sounded sweet. Lucky to have a sharp sis handling the legalese—I’d have shrugged it off.
“How’d you charm Gu-guk? Peach demand spiked after you handed out those Seondo peaches.”
“Heh. That’s your bro.”
“Damn right! Haha!”
She broke down the letter’s perks. Legit loaded with benefits.
“Anyway, I’ll send paperwork. Unpack good. No need for my help, right?”
“Heh. What’re you, helpless?”
“Hehe.”
Sujin grinned and headed to her study.
Not much to unpack anyway. Yelena’s suitcase was figure-stuffed; mine just clothes, laundered via coin laundry last day.
“Hm.”
I lounged in the yard hammock, reading partnership perks closely.
Artifact crafting request: 1 per month possible.
“Oho.”
Jackpot. Gu-guk’s support team guy, Yoon Deok-su, handles that. His cheat unique ability replicates artifacts perfectly.
Wonder if he’d clone Gu-guk Sword.
Couldn’t ask as dispatch, but partner? Maybe. Don’t use swords myself, but Sujin and Yelena do. Payback for Japan interpreting.
“Ah.”
Forgot something.
“Pretty sure I left it here...”
Rummaging the yard shed turned up the Masinjeon artifact: small potion bottle with sticky green goo.
Abyss dungeon drop... could be that.
“Do-cheol.”
Yes! Master!
Do-cheol zipped over from patrolling the yard.
“You can do component analysis, right?”
Back when he was a basic robot, the Cheonma Bio catalog listed it.
Yes! Possible!
“Analyze this then. Might be poison—careful.”
Got it!
Do-cheol plucked a thin tree root and gingerly dipped it in.
Sizzle!
It crumbled violently on contact.
...Poison!
“Knew it?”
Do-cheol flashed an angry emoticon, like he hadn’t expected real poison.
Sorry, component breakdown failed. Most ingredients not in my database.
“Hm.”
Bummer, but that’s Do-cheol’s limit.
“Still, confirmed one thing. Nasty poison. Super vicious.”
Yes, correct.
Probably for desperate moments—splash on enemy for lethal hit.
“...”
Curious, I dipped a finger in.
Sizzle!
“Ow.”
As expected, my fingertip bubbled up. If it worked on me, it was no joke. One gulp would probably kill anyone.
“...Oho.”
Idea hit. What if replicated? Even replica-tier would pack a punch.
“Perfect self-defense for Sujin and Ji-hyang.”
I grabbed my clothes and called Gu-guk’s artifact guy, Yoon Deok-su.