Chapter 121

Chapter 121. The Four Heavenly Kings (1)

"...?"

Kang Yujin spotted Lee Hyeonje standing in front of a vending machine with a can of coffee in his hand.

But on closer inspection, he wasn’t actually drinking it.

He was just standing there blankly, still holding the unopened can.

“Lee Hyeonje.”

“Ah, Kang Yujin.”

Lee Hyeonje stepped aside as if telling him to use the vending machine.

But Kang Yujin simply walked over to him instead.

“If you’re not going to drink that canned coffee, give it to me.”

"...?"

Lee Hyeonje looked down at the coffee in his hand.

Only then did he realize he hadn’t even opened it.

His expression changed as if he had just noticed.

“No, I’m drinking it. I was just spacing out for a bit.”

“You look tired. Are you okay?”

“Do I?”

“At least to me, you do.”

Actually, Kang Yujin had been noticing it since yesterday.

The others had probably sensed something similar.

“Sorry. I shouldn’t be showing this side of myself.”

Lee Hyeonje covered his face with one hand and sighed.

“Why apologize? Is looking tired when you’re tired something you’re not allowed to do?”

“I can’t afford to.”

Lee Hyeonje shook his head with a bitter expression.

“Now that Cheon Sangwoon is gone... I have to represent the Eight Guardians in negotiations with outside forces. I can’t show weakness.”

“I thought you were already the one who usually played the leader among the Eight Guardians.”

“That was more like being the class president.”

Lee Hyeonje gave a tired smile.

“I was the guy who said things like, ‘We have bathroom-cleaning duty today, so nobody run away. Stay and clean your section.’ That sort of thing.”

Lee Hyeonje did have the image of a model student.

Being class president suited him.

“Whenever a truly major problem came up, Cheon Sangwoon was always the one who solved it.”

"..."

“When that guy pushed forward, everyone somehow accepted it. Even if the atmosphere turned hostile, he’d smile and calmly insist on his position, and somehow things would work out in the end.”

Lee Hyeonje sighed.

“He had that kind of charm.”

"..."

It sounded almost as though Lee Hyeonje were saying he himself lacked it.

“What condition is Cheon Sangwoon in now?”

“He’s still in the hospital.”

After the Scenario ended, Cheon Sangwoon had been taken to a hospital under Lee Hyeonje’s management.

His injuries were severe enough that an ordinary Contractor would have died.

The only reason he survived was probably because he had been an SS-rank Contractor.

“He still hasn’t woken up?”

“No. He’s been asleep the entire time.”

Cheon Sangwoon had still been conscious when he was first hospitalized.

But that night, he fell into a deep sleep and never woke again.

It wasn’t brain death or anything like that.

According to the doctors, his body simply seemed to have entered an extremely deep sleep in order to recover.

Cheon Sangwoon, once famous as the strongest among the Eight Guardians, had effectively left the stage.

Even if he eventually woke up and returned, he probably wouldn’t be able to display the same level of combat ability as before.

“Until he comes back... I’ll protect the Capital Region in his place.”

"..."

Still, Lee Hyeonje seemed firmly convinced that Cheon Sangwoon would return.

Whenever they met, the two had constantly clashed.

During the Scenario, they had even become outright enemies and fought to the death.

Yet it seemed Lee Hyeonje still carried friendship for Cheon Sangwoon somewhere in his heart.

“Then relax your shoulders a little.”

Kang Yujin gave Lee Hyeonje a light tap.

“If you stay that tense all the time, you’ll exhaust yourself and everyone around you too. At least Cheon Sangwoon always looked relaxed no matter what he was doing.”

Lee Hyeonje looked at him.

“If you’re going to take his place, act a little more dependable.”

“Dependable?”

“If you confidently take the lead, the people of the Capital Region will feel safe whether Cheon Sangwoon is here or not.”

“Kang Yujin...”

“Cheon Sangwoon probably went to sleep believing you’d do exactly that.”

Lee Hyeonje flinched and widened his eyes.

“And it’s not like you’re alone in the Capital Region. The other Eight Guardians are still here. Ma Taesu and Joo Minha are helping too. You have Seo Youngmi as your subordinate...”

Kang Yujin shrugged.

“Rely on the others too.”

“Then what about you, Kang Yujin?”

“Me? Well... I’ll do whatever I can.”

Lee Hyeonje looked thoughtful for a moment.

Then, after a while, he smiled faintly and nodded.

“Yeah. You’re right.”

His expression showed that something had finally settled in his mind.

“I should loosen up a little.”

“Exactly.”

This probably hadn’t solved everything.

Still, Lee Hyeonje seemed to have sorted out his thoughts somewhat.

Kang Yujin decided that was enough and turned toward the vending machine.

“I still haven’t opened this coffee. Want it?”

“You already put your mouth on it.”

Kang Yujin answered flatly and pressed one of the vending machine buttons.

Jegal Geum had been listening to Kang Yujin and Lee Hyeonje’s conversation from around the corner of the hallway.

That boy... has really grown.

In the past, Kang Yujin had simply been a promising young man who happened to be good at fighting.

Now, he had grown into someone even the Eight Guardians could place their trust in.

Someone the Capital Region could no longer do without.

He has become a man with presence.

And of course, this wouldn’t be the end.

Kang Yujin would surely rise even higher.

As his teacher...

what could Jegal Geum still do for him?

“I suppose I should make up my mind soon as well.”

“What?”

Lee Sion, standing beside him, looked puzzled by the quiet mutter.

“It’s nothing. Let’s go.”

Jegal Geum turned away.

And silently made a decision in his heart.

Even after the meeting with the Tenka Restoration Association temporarily concluded, the Eight Guardians and the other key figures on the Korean side remained shut inside hotel rooms holding operational meetings.

The Kaesong reclamation operation was about to begin.

After discussion, they decided that Lee Hyeonje and Shin Minyu would command the operation as originally planned.

Lee Hyeonje would take overall command, with Shin Minyu assisting him.

Jegal Geum, who originally hadn’t planned to participate, also decided to join.

However, he would remain in the rear rather than fight on the front line.

Among the Eight Guardians, Won Pilso would remain behind in the Capital Region.

If all of them left and some powerful monster appeared, it could become a disaster.

Meanwhile, Japan would send a total of five Contractors, including Saionji Keito.

“Five people... I wonder who they’ll send.”

After the meeting ended, Kang Yujin’s group decided to perform their final preparations in Jongno together with Jegal Geum.

There wasn’t enough time to return to the Hwaseong Sect in Suwon like before.

However, Jegal Geum still had things to coordinate with the other Eight Guardians, so Kang Yujin and his companions were waiting in the hotel lounge for the time being.

“Saionji Keito is definitely one of them. I’m curious who the other four will be.”

At Seok Taejun’s words, Joo Minha nodded.

“I believe the Tenka Four Heavenly Kings will probably participate.”

“The Tenka Four Heavenly Kings?”

“The strongest fighters of the Tenka Restoration Association. They are essentially Saionji Keito’s personal guard.”

Joo Minha raised four fingers.

“There are exactly four of them.”

“What kind of people are they?”

“One of them is Matsushita Soichiro, who came here with him.”

“Oh, that guy?”

“That old man didn’t look particularly strong. His face is scary, though.”

Lee Jukheon spoke indifferently.

Joo Minha shook his head.

“Matsushita is indeed known to be relatively weak in terms of pure direct combat power. However, when it comes to disruption tactics, he is said to be the strongest in Japan.”

“Disruption tactics?”

“Yes. The A-rank Constellation he is contracted with is the ‘Leader of the Ten Braves,’ Sarutobi Sasuke.”

Joo Minha continued.

“Sarutobi Sasuke is a ninja who appears in Japanese novels and legends. He is portrayed as the leader of the ‘Sanada Ten Braves,’ followers of the Sengoku-period warlord Sanada Yukimura.”

“I heard real ninjas were basically just spies.”

“That’s true. But in stories, they’re depicted as people who master all sorts of extraordinary arts, including concealment techniques. The Sarutobi Sasuke who actually existed in the Fantasy Realm was probably such a being.”

Listening to her, Kang Yujin remembered his fight with Matsushita Soichiro before dawn.

That man’s techniques...

or rather, ninpo...

really had been impressive.

“Matsushita Soichiro, contracted with Sarutobi Sasuke, is also skilled in concealment and similar techniques just like the ninja from the stories.”

Joo Minha looked toward Lee Jukheon.

“In a straightforward face-to-face fight, Lee Jukheon would probably win. But if Matsushita attacked from the shadows... I cannot say what would happen.”

“Hmm... so he’s dangerous.”

“But if he’s an ally rather than an enemy, he becomes extremely useful. He can play a major role in scouting enemy territory or causing confusion.”

“That’s true.”

Lee Jukheon nodded in agreement.

Joo Minha continued explaining the other Four Heavenly Kings.

“The remaining three... unlike Matsushita, are pure combat-type Contractors.”

“So those three are strong fighters?”

“They are generally regarded as the strongest Contractors in Japan after Saionji Keito.”

“I don’t know the overall level in Japan, so that doesn’t tell me much.”

“That is true.”

Seok Taejun agreed from the side.

“Joo Minha, Japan wasn’t invaded by Pandemonium, right?”

“That’s correct. Pandemonium’s advance in the Far East temporarily stopped after they occupied northern China and northern Korea.”

“Then wouldn’t Japan’s overall level be lower? If they’ve never even fought Pandemonium, aren’t they frogs in a well?”

“Lee Jukheon, you hadn’t fought demons yourself until about a month ago.”

“I mean overall!”

“Calling them frogs in a well may be inappropriate, but it is true that they have mainly operated within the unique environment of Japan.”

Joo Minha spoke slowly.

“If they demonstrate outstanding ability in another country during this Kaesong reclamation operation... they will be acknowledged as world-class Contractors.”

“So this operation has a lot of meaning for the Tenka Restoration Association in several ways.”

Kang Yujin, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke.

“They failed to send a thousand Contractors... but if Keito and the Four Heavenly Kings perform well, their prestige will still rise significantly.”

“Even if their continental expansion fails, it would greatly strengthen their control inside Japan.”

“So it all comes down to politics again. Complicated.”

“Does that really matter to us?”

Lee Jukheon spoke lazily.

“Whether they strengthen their grip over Japan or gain recognition around the world, let them do whatever they want.”

“That isn’t entirely true, Lee Jukheon.”

“What?”

“This is a joint operation.”

Joo Minha smiled faintly.

“That means we can benefit from the same effect.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The Tenka Four Heavenly Kings are already famous overseas as powerful Contractors. If we show that we can outperform people like them... how do you think the world will react?”

“Ah.”

Lee Jukheon finally understood.

“You mean... our names will become famous in other countries too?”

“At the very least, our names will immediately spread throughout Japan. China will begin paying attention as well. Once we become known in China, word may spread to other countries across Eurasia.”

Joo Minha smiled.

“This is an opportunity for all of you to step onto the world stage as internationally recognized Contractors.”

After meeting up with Jegal Geum, the group decided to head toward a nearby training facility.

But rain was pouring outside.

Originally, Jegal Geum had planned to travel in a car driven by Lee Sion, so the rain itself wasn’t much of a problem.

“The problem is, I don’t think everyone will fit.”

“Yeah.”

Jegal Geum would sit in the passenger seat, leaving everyone else to squeeze into the back.

Four adult men clearly wouldn’t fit comfortably.

“You guys go ahead.”

“Kang Yujin, are you sure?”

“I’ll ask the hotel if they have an extra umbrella.”

In the end, Kang Yujin, who took up the most space, decided to stay behind and let the others leave first.

After watching the car drive away through the rain, he went back into the hotel lobby and asked whether they had an umbrella he could borrow.

Unfortunately, everyone else had already taken them.

The office used by Lee Hyeonje’s side was the same.

“Should I just run through the rain?”

Kang Yujin sighed and stepped outside the hotel entrance again.

At that moment, a black car stopped in front of him.

“Mr. Kang Yujin?”

The window lowered, and a young man leaned his face out.

“Please get in. We’ll take you there.”

Had Jegal Geum arrived already and sent someone back for him?

Without thinking too much about it, Kang Yujin climbed into the car.

Nice car.

The interior was luxurious.

The black leather seats had been polished until they gleamed.

Cars maintained this well weren’t common anymore.

But...

There were two more people inside besides the driver.

A man who appeared to be in his late thirties sat in the front passenger seat.

A teenage-looking girl sat in the back beside Kang Yujin.

The man wore a black suit.

The girl beside him had on a gray coat.

“You all look unfamiliar. I guess you didn’t attend yesterday’s party?”

“Hehe.”

“Hahaha.”

The moment Kang Yujin asked, all of them began laughing.

The driver’s shoulders shook.

The man in the passenger seat covered his face with one hand as he laughed.

The girl sitting beside Kang Yujin gave a quiet snicker, then slowly began taking off her coat.

She turned toward Kang Yujin.

Underneath the coat, she was wearing a black kimono.

“Nice to meet you, Kang Yujin.”

She looked him directly in the eyes.

“Keito said he was very interested in you, but seeing you in person... you look pretty ordinary.”

“You people...”

They weren’t ordinary humans.

Kang Yujin hadn’t noticed clearly when he first got into the car.

But the longer he sat there, the stronger the unknown pressure emanating from them became.

“The Tenka Four Heavenly Kings?”

“Correct. Smart.”

The girl smiled and nodded.

“Why are you already in Korea? Your participation was only decided a few hours ago.”

“Obviously we were already waiting nearby.”

Her smile widened.

“We had no idea what might happen if the negotiations broke down, after all.”

So if things had gone badly, they had even been prepared for all four of the Tenka Four Heavenly Kings to reveal themselves and start fighting.

“In any case, Kang Yujin...”

The girl narrowed her eyes.

“Before the operation begins, how about we get to know each other a little better?”

"..."

Listening to her, Kang Yujin sighed.

Are all the Tenka Four Heavenly Kings completely insane?

He had already thought Keito was a somewhat strange bastard.

But compared to his subordinates, Keito was beginning to seem relatively normal.

“I don’t mind getting acquainted.”

Kang Yujin raised his chin.

“But make sure I get to my destination on time. People are waiting.”

“I like that arrogant attitude, Kang Yujin.”

The girl’s eyes narrowed as she smiled at him.