Chapter 118

Chapter 118. Commotion (2)

The Tenka Restoration Association.

It was the name of the organization that unified Japan after the collapse of the central government and the beginning of a new Warring States era.

The Tenka Restoration Association had begun as a small political organization.

The reason it had been able to unify Japan was because of the young Contractor who seized control of the organization almost overnight.

Saionji Keito.

He was an absolute powerhouse.

None of Japan’s Contractors could stand against him.

No matter how powerful a monster appeared, once Saionji Keito stepped forward, the problem was resolved in an instant.

His strength itself became charisma.

Countless organizations submitted to Saionji Keito.

Those who resisted were thoroughly crushed until they surrendered.

Eventually, the Tenka Restoration Association established a dictatorship, and Saionji Keito rose to the very top of Japan at a young age.

And now that man had appeared in Korea’s Capital Region without any warning.

It was more than enough to unsettle everyone who had been excited over the victory against Phenex and the upcoming Kaesong reclamation operation.

“How did nobody notice? He had to be spotted somewhere if he came all the way from Japan to Seoul.”

“This is ridiculous. When the hell did he even get here?”

“There haven’t been any flights lately. He must’ve come by ship to Busan and then traveled overland.”

“To think someone that important came here personally...”

Listening to the people murmuring around him, Kang Yujin stared at Saionji Keito.

"..."

Saionji Keito was currently sitting with his arms crossed inside a separate conference room.

His eyes were gently closed as though he were meditating.

He hadn’t moved at all.

What the hell is he thinking?

As soon as the Tenka Restoration Association appeared, Lee Hyeonje guided them to a conference room on another floor of the hotel.

Too many people in the banquet hall had already become agitated, and Lee Hyeonje had decided it would be difficult to have a proper discussion there.

At the moment, the conference room contained the two representatives from the Tenka Restoration Association, members of the Eight Guardians and their close associates, Ma Taesu, and Kang Yujin’s group.

“As I said earlier, we would like to cooperate with the Kaesong reclamation operation. We are prepared to contribute military forces.”

Instead of the silent Saionji Keito, his subordinate Matsushita Soichiro spoke.

“The Tenka Restoration Association is prepared to dispatch approximately one thousand Contractors. Naturally, we will cover all costs associated with the deployment ourselves.”

"...!"

One thousand.

That was by no means a small number.

No.

For simple reinforcements, it was far too many.

“Mr. Matsushita, we appreciate your offer of assistance.”

Among the unsettled members of the Eight Guardians, Lee Hyeonje slowly spoke.

“But to be frank, I don’t understand why the Tenka Restoration Association would suddenly make such an offer.”

“My lord was deeply impressed by your achievement in infiltrating deep into enemy territory and eliminating their commander.”

Matsushita looked toward his lord.

But Keito still had his eyes closed and remained silent.

“The time has come to drive Pandemonium from Earth. Lord Saionji Keito believes all nations should now join forces and begin a war against Pandemonium.”

“But one thousand people is too many. Frankly, even half that number would be more than enough.”

“The more forces we deploy, the more certain our victory will become. And for the Tenka Restoration Association, sending that many Contractors is not particularly burdensome.”

“Kaesong’s reclamation is our problem.”

“Pandemonium is an enemy of all humanity, one that every nation should join forces against. Is there really any need to draw those distinctions now?”

“Then... are you saying the Tenka Restoration Association simply wants to cooperate for the sake of driving out Pandemonium?”

“Of course.”

Matsushita nodded in a cool voice.

“Please do not be concerned. The Tenka Restoration Association has no intention of demanding any other compensation from the Eight Guardians. We merely ask that you accept our reinforcements and allow us to participate in the war against Pandemonium.”

"..."

Lee Hyeonje remained silent and exchanged glances with Jegal Geum, Won Pilso, Shin Minyu, and the others.

“My apologies. Would you mind if we discussed this among ourselves for a moment?”

“Of course. Naturally, you should. We will wait here.”

Despite the intimidating scar across his face, Matsushita’s manner was polite and courteous.

After receiving his permission, Lee Hyeonje and the others from the Capital Region immediately stood up.

Ma Taesu, Seok Taejun, Lee Jukheon, Joo Minha, and the others rose as well.

But Kang Yujin remained seated.

"..."

He kept staring at Saionji Keito, who was still sitting there with his eyes closed.

And once everyone else had left the conference room...

“Kang Yujin.”

Saionji Keito slowly opened his eyes.

“Could we talk for a moment?”

“Sure.”

Kang Yujin showed no particular surprise at the sudden suggestion.

Even with his eyes closed, Kang Yujin had been able to sense that Saionji Keito had been watching him the entire time.

“Your name was Keito, right?”

“Kang Yujin, calling him by his name so casually is...”

“It’s fine, Matsushita.”

“But...”

“He can call me Keito. In return, I’ll call him Yujin.”

"..."

“Matsushita, go back to the hotel and continue the negotiations.”

“Understood.”

After sending his subordinate away, Keito walked with Kang Yujin toward a quieter area.

“Your Korean is good.”

“I’m fluent not only in Korean, but also English, Chinese, and Russian.”

“That’s impressive.”

“I was educated from childhood.”

“Sounds like you were born into a good family.”

“Who knows.”

As they walked through the dark streets, Kang Yujin continued speaking.

“You’re the head of the Tenka Restoration Association, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Then you’re basically like a president or prime minister. For someone like that to suddenly show up in another country’s capital is pretty extreme.”

“A president or prime minister...”

Keito spoke with a cold expression.

“That description is somewhat inaccurate. I barely involve myself in administration. My responsibilities are military affairs... and managing the Contractors within the country.”

“Really?”

“I delegate administration to competent people selected from among the existing Japanese government bureaucrats. Modern Japan remains stable because they work diligently. I merely stand at the pinnacle of military power.”

“The pinnacle of military power...”

“That’s right.”

Keito nodded and stopped walking.

“The position you will soon rise to in Korea.”

"..."

“I’ve heard a great deal about your achievements, Yujin.”

Keito’s eyes focused on Kang Yujin in the darkness.

“I heard it hasn’t even been a few months since you became active as a Contractor. Yet you ended a Scenario, defeated a Demon God-class demon, and accomplished one remarkable feat after another.”

“It just happened that way.”

“There is no Contractor in Japan who has achieved that much.”

Keito stepped closer.

“Except me.”

"..."

He brought his face close and stared directly into Kang Yujin’s eyes.

“Why are you coming so close? Interested in me?”

“The same question applies to you, Yujin.”

Keito spoke in a low voice.

“Why were you staring at me the entire time?”

“Why were you so conscious of me?”

"..."

"..."

The two simply stared at each other.

Then, at some point, Keito’s eyes glowed red.

BOOM!

Fist collided with fist.

Neither of them had said a word.

Yet both attacked at exactly the same moment.

"...!"

"...!"

They both stepped backward.

Then simultaneously rushed forward again.

Papap!

Their attacks crossed.

Kang Yujin’s fist was blocked by Keito’s arm.

Keito’s fist was stopped by Kang Yujin’s palm.

“As expected...!”

“Yeah!”

There was no need to confirm it with words.

This man...

was one of the Vessels created by Ha Mina.

“You haven’t even been a Contractor for a few months, yet you can fight evenly with me, Saionji Keito, the man who unified Japan!”

Keito raised his voice and shoved Kang Yujin backward.

“There’s no mistake!”

His eyes seemed to scream:

You are the same as me.

Keito charged.

Several exchanges followed.

The paving stones around them shattered, and roadside trees snapped apart.

If we keep going like this, it’ll never end.

Kang Yujin took a risk and extended his arm.

He deliberately exposed an opening.

Keito immediately kicked.

The tip of his foot slammed into Kang Yujin’s side.

But Kang Yujin succeeded in striking Keito’s chin at the same time.

“Kuh!”

“Ugh!”

Kang Yujin bit his lip and stepped backward.

Keito spat blood from his mouth.

[B-rank Constellation ‘Golden and Silver Children’ is bewildered and asks why they suddenly started fighting.]

[A-rank Constellation ‘Prodigy with Three Heads and Six Arms’ angrily says it has no idea why they are fighting.]

[A-rank Constellation ‘Fairy Who Controls Water’ watches the situation with great interest.]

“The Constellations are watching. Well, I suppose that’s only natural.”

Keito wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand as he checked the messages.

“Yujin, come here.”

“You come here.”

“What an annoying bastard.”

Keito sighed and approached.

Then he lowered his voice.

“As you guessed, I am a Vessel created by Ha Mina.”

“How did Ha Mina go all the way to Japan and create a Vessel?”

“The Church of the Morning Star had a branch in Japan.”

Apparently worried the Constellations might hear, Keito whispered quietly.

“Did you come here to kill me? Eliminate your rival so you can become the Demon King yourself?”

“Lucifer was the ruler of demons. If I obtain his power in any form, I’ll be able to rule the world.”

"..."

“But I have no particular intention of killing you right now.”

Kang Yujin already knew that.

Keito’s attacks had contained no killing intent.

“You didn’t use any Skills either.”

“Injuring the representative of another country while important negotiations are underway would cause trouble.”

“More rational than I expected.”

Kang Yujin had no intention of defeating Keito right now either.

Their brief exchange had only been meant to confirm something.

“Then what did you actually come to Korea for?”

“Matsushita already told you.”

“You’re offering free cooperation out of justice so you can drive out Pandemonium? What a joke.”

Keito didn’t look that benevolent.

“You planning to send a thousand Contractors here and take over Korea?”

“Don’t be so negative, Yujin.”

“Is that really being negative?”

“Japan is an island nation. Overseas trade is more difficult than it was in the past, and we desperately want to expand trade with the continent. So we want to strengthen our relationship with the nearest country.”

Keito continued calmly.

“If Pandemonium is eventually driven out of the northern peninsula, a direct land route to China will also open.”

“So in the end, you’re planning to keep your Contractors stationed in Korea.”

“I would prefer the word ‘expansion.’”

There was no way they would send a thousand Contractors and then simply withdraw.

No matter what justification they used, they would try to maintain a permanent presence on the Korean Peninsula.

“If you truly want to drive Pandemonium out of this country, borrowing our strength would be wise. Reclaiming Kaesong may be possible with your forces alone, but anything beyond that will be difficult.”

"..."

“I promise you this. We will do everything in our power to drive out Pandemonium. Naturally, I will participate personally.”

“You’re the representative of Japan, and you’re going to fight yourself?”

“If I intend to become an emperor who holds the world in his hands, then I must stand at the front even on the most dangerous battlefield.”

Keito lightly tapped the front of Kang Yujin’s shoulder with his fist.

“I’m not in a hurry to settle things between us. Although Ha Mina seems eager to make you and me clash properly.”

“You met Ha Mina?”

“She was with me until a few days ago. I don’t know where she is now.”

The Ha Mina Kang Yujin had met before had only been an illusion.

Could Ha Mina’s real body have been in Japan?

“That woman seems insane.”

“What a blunt description.”

Keito stepped backward.

“Though I can’t exactly disagree.”

He turned.

“Let’s head back. Everyone is probably wondering where we went.”

“Keito.”

“I don’t know what conclusion the Eight Guardians will reach... but a new era is beginning, Yujin.”

Keito looked back at Kang Yujin.

“I wonder which of us will become the emperor of that era.”

Negotiations between the Eight Guardians and the Tenka Restoration Association continued until dawn.

But they ultimately failed to reach a conclusion.

Lee Hyeonje and the other Eight Guardians were worried that the Japanese Contractors would remain in Korea afterward and expand their influence.

Yet they couldn’t simply reject the offer outright.

If the Tenka Restoration Association independently landed a massive force in Busan, that would create an enormous problem.

From the Eight Guardians’ perspective, the ideal outcome was to receive the Tenka Restoration Association’s assistance while preventing Japanese influence from taking root in Korea afterward.

Of course, the Tenka Restoration Association probably understood their position perfectly.

The two sides kept negotiating and adjusting terms, but no conclusion was reached.

“Let’s stop here for today. We can continue the discussion tomorrow... no, once the sun comes up.”

“Agreed.”

Keito and Matsushita decided to stay in Lee Hyeonje’s hotel building.

Most of the others stayed in the hotel as well.

Kang Yujin also planned to sleep there.

But he couldn’t fall asleep.

“Kang Yujin, what’s wrong?”

“I’m going out for a run. I didn’t train at all today.”

“Then I’ll come with you.”

Seok Taejun, who had been assigned the same room, left Chimera sleeping inside and followed him out.

“Don’t worry about me. Run at your own pace, Kang Yujin.”

“Yeah. Got it.”

They left the hotel and began running along the empty streets.

Before long, Kang Yujin could no longer hear Seok Taejun’s footsteps.

He continued running alone through the darkness.

Keito...

As he ran, he thought about Keito.

Honestly, he felt frustrated.

Neither of them had fought seriously.

Nothing had been decided.

Honestly, it would’ve been more satisfying if he’d just said, ‘I’m going to kill you right now,’ and attacked.

If they were going to fight eventually, Kang Yujin would rather settle it immediately.

Normally, he would have ignored whatever Keito had to say and tried to finish things right there.

But Keito was the representative of an entire country who had come to negotiate with the Eight Guardians.

Kang Yujin couldn’t casually attack someone like that.

Even he possessed that much social awareness.

This is frustrating...

Muttering inwardly, Kang Yujin turned into a back alley lined with old commercial buildings.

Then...

he sensed something.

An aura close to killing intent.

“What?”

The moment Kang Yujin stopped, he felt eyes watching him from the darkness.

Figures in black had surrounded him.

Each held weapons such as daggers or sickles.

“Ninjas?”

Kang Yujin was dumbfounded.

The fact that something so outdated and ridiculous, like characters from a Japanese manga, had actually appeared was funny enough.

But more than that...

the murderous intent they were emitting was absurd.

“You said you weren’t planning to kill me yet.”

As Kang Yujin muttered those words, the black-clad ninjas charged at him all at once.