Chapter 125. Kaesong Reclamation Operation (2)
─ Saionji Keito is more impressive than I expected.
─ He was impressive from the beginning.
─ You could call him Japan’s Kang Yujin.
─ More like Kang Yujin is Korea’s Saionji Keito. Keito started operating way earlier.
─ What a joke. You’re seriously comparing him to Kang Yujin?
─ He’s just a frog in a well from an island nation that’s never even fought Pandemonium.
─ Kang Yujin fanatics are getting way too arrogant. Saionji Keito has more achievements so far.
─ Saionji Keito is a national-level Contractor who rules all of Japan. Kang Yujin is just a spearhead working under the Eight Guardians who rule one region of Korea. They’re on completely different levels.
─ All sorts of weirdos are showing up now.
─ If you want to worship Saionji Keito that badly, go watch the Japanese broadcast.
─ Can’t we block Constellations who keep trying to start fights?
─ But how are you watching Saionji Keito fight? The Constellation Tube screen is mostly showing Kang Yujin right now.
─ Other Apostles are broadcasting separately. Watch those instead of Constellation Tube.
─ Isn’t this channel way too focused on Kang Yujin’s group?
─ Exactly. Show the other Contractors more too.
─ This channel was originally made to spotlight Kang Yujin’s group. What are you even asking for? Just go somewhere else.
─ Right. This was originally the Nameless King’s channel for showing his own Contractors.
─ Still, there are this many viewers now. It should show a wider variety.
Uh-oh. The atmosphere’s getting bad.
Number 49 grew nervous as he read the chat.
During the Phenex subjugation, only Kang Yujin’s group had participated, so all he had to do was focus on them.
But this battle involved many Contractors at once.
That seemed to be causing all kinds of complaints.
What do I do? Should I start focusing on the others instead?
Number 49 desperately thought it over.
Yeah, that might be better. If too many dissatisfied Constellations leave the stream, we’re the ones who lose out.
Having made up his mind, Number 49 started to turn the ‘camera’ toward another area.
But then...
No!
He hurriedly shook his head.
If I do that now, it’ll look like I’m pandering too much to the viewers! I’ll end up getting dragged around by them!
Number 49 bit his lip.
Think about it. Has the Nameless One ever done that? No!
He thought about the Nameless Constellation he had worked with all this time.
The man still hadn’t even revealed his true name.
The Nameless One always takes the initiative!
Number 49 kept the camera where it was and continued broadcasting Kang Yujin’s group.
If it’s those people, they’ll show something that captures the Constellations’ attention soon enough!
Believing that, Number 49 continued focusing on them.
Then a notification appeared along with a donation comment.
[S-rank Constellation ‘Dragon-Slaying Immortal’ sponsors 10,000,000 Origin Power.]
[Comment: I support the current broadcast format. I am watching this broadcast because I support the Constellation, Apostle, and Contractors involved in it.]
When Number 49 saw the comment from the S-rank Constellation Siegfried, the ‘Dragon-Slaying Immortal,’ emotion surged up inside him.
Siegfried could have mentioned only the Constellation and Contractors.
That would have been more natural.
But he had included the Apostle too.
He had said he supported Number 49 as well.
The fact that someone had been watching and appreciating his efforts moved Number 49 deeply.
─ That old guy is secretly a hardcore fan.
─ Seriously.
─ I’m watching for basically the same reason.
─ Yeah, I watch through Constellation Tube because I like their broadcasts.
─ I’m not going to tell the complainers to leave, but maybe trust them a little.
─ Exactly. I’ve never regretted trusting this channel.
Fortunately, after Siegfried’s comment, the mood in the chat shifted toward defending the broadcast.
Was this the influence of a powerful Constellation?
─ No, wrong is still wrong.
─ Yeah. Is this really the best way to do it?
A few objections immediately appeared.
But at that exact moment, something changed on the battlefield.
BOOM!
Saionji Keito leaped over the enemies blocking his path and landed beside Kang Yujin, who had been advancing ahead of his companions.
Yes! Now!
Number 49 hurriedly adjusted the camera angle.
He framed the two men standing side by side at the very front of the battlefield.
─ Ohhh!
─ They met.
─ You can feel the tension even through the screen.
─ Are they rivals?
The Constellations’ attention immediately focused on them, making it impossible for the chat to keep discussing anything else.
Good! I’m counting on you, Lord Kang Yujin!!
Number 49 shouted inwardly with confidence.
He expected Kang Yujin to show them something worthy of a protagonist and seize everyone’s attention.
Realizing Keito had arrived beside him, Kang Yujin turned his head.
"...?"
There was a strange heat coming from Keito.
Was it the heat of intense battle?
“My weapon.”
“What?”
“It produces flames.”
Keito casually raised his fist.
Flames gathered around it.
Kang Yujin couldn’t tell whether the flames came from the leather-textured gloves on Keito’s hands or from one of Keito’s own Skills.
Apparently, that was where the heat he had felt was coming from.
“Does that answer your question?”
“Stop deciding what I’m thinking.”
Kang Yujin frowned and looked ahead again.
A formation of heavily armored infantry stood before them, carrying spears and shields.
They were probably the defensive unit assigned to prevent anyone from entering the fortress’s central area.
“Breaking through?”
“Obviously.”
At Keito’s question, Kang Yujin nodded.
“Doing it alone will be difficult.”
"..."
Kang Yujin glanced behind him.
Lee Jukheon was fighting a group of Fallen Demons.
Seok Taejun and Joo Minha were facing a huge demon.
“I can break through alone.”
Kang Yujin stepped forward as he spoke.
Keito immediately followed.
“I’ll break through with you.”
“Didn’t you hear me?”
“It’ll be faster with two people than one.”
“You might just get in the way and make it slower.”
“I think it’ll be twice as fast. I kill half, you kill half.”
“You really think that’ll happen?”
“Of course. Want to see who’s faster?”
Kang Yujin frowned at Keito’s provocative question.
“There’s no need to ask.”
“Right. I’ll obviously be faster.”
“What a joke.”
“Then shall we compete?”
Keito glanced sideways.
He knew Number 49 had a camera pointed at them.
Maybe even this provocation was meant to appeal to the Constellations watching.
“If I clear the enemies faster than you in front of your own Constellation... you’ll lose quite a bit of face.”
“Then let’s find out.”
Kang Yujin no longer wanted to waste time talking.
He kicked off the ground.
It’s better to settle this with a clear result than keep trading pointless words.
He used the power of his flail to smash apart the demons’ shield formation.
Then he charged into the opening and started knocking down the off-balance demons with fists equipped with the Saint’s Iron Fist.
“Not bad!”
Keito was doing the same beside him.
Every time his gloved fists moved, flames burst out.
Those flames were probably helping him break through the demons’ protective barriers.
Saionji Keito...
Seeing him fight from up close, Kang Yujin had to admit Keito’s combat ability was exceptional.
He was using some unknown martial art, moving swiftly and dropping demons one after another.
“Yujin, how many have you killed?”
“I stopped counting halfway.”
“Same.”
As he answered, Kang Yujin punched a retreating demon in the face.
He checked for any remaining enemies, then turned his head.
At that moment, a demon with a broken neck collapsed in front of Keito.
That was the last one.
The heavily armored infantry unit had been completely annihilated.
“Who finished first?”
“Who knows? Looked about even.”
“I may have killed more.”
“What a joke.”
Kang Yujin snorted and started moving again.
They still had to reach the enemy leader deeper inside the fortress.
“Wait for me.”
“Follow if you want.”
Kang Yujin frowned as he replied.
Watching Keito and Kang Yujin move ahead from a distance, Yuuki Hina bit her lip.
She wanted to chase after them.
But with Yuuki’s own breakthrough ability, that was nearly impossible.
“Is something wrong, Ms. Yuuki?”
“No. Nothing.”
Matsushita, fighting beside her, asked the question.
Yuuki lightly shook her head.
He rejected my request before... but Kang Yujin doesn’t seem like a cold person.
When Keito appeared after their duel, Kang Yujin had covered for her.
It might have seemed like a trivial thing from Kang Yujin’s perspective.
But Yuuki had been deeply moved by it.
Around Yuuki and Keito...
it had been difficult to find even someone willing to show that level of simple kindness.
Of course, there were plenty of people like Matsushita who would devote their lives to them out of loyalty.
But that was ultimately just loyalty.
Someone like Kang Yujin, who offered kindness out of simple goodwill, had been rare throughout their lives.
Of course, that was largely because of the environment in which Yuuki and Keito had grown up.
Kang Yujin... please.
Yuuki clenched her fist.
Show him a new path.
She wanted to entrust that role, one she herself could not fulfill, to that man.
“Nameless King, who exactly is that man?!”
A communication window suddenly opened, revealing Princess Longji’s face.
“Why has he been creating such a suggestive atmosphere with Kang Yujin since last time? Isn’t this strange?”
“Please calm down, Princess Longji.”
“Is he after him? Is that Japanese man after Kang Yujin?!”
I felt a headache coming on.
Princess Longji was usually calm and dignified.
But every now and then, she had a tendency to become strangely fired up about certain things.
“Princess Longji, I’ll leave out the details for now, but Saionji Keito considers Kang Yujin something like his destined rival.”
“I’m curious about those details.”
“That can wait until another time... In any case, because he sees Kang Yujin as a rival, he seems interested in testing Kang Yujin’s strength and showing off his own.”
“For that reason, doesn’t he seem to be getting far too close to Kang Yujin? Lee Jukheon also thought of Kang Yujin as a rival, but he never acted like that.”
“That... is true.”
Keito’s behavior was definitely a little excessive.
It was understandable that Princess Longji might misunderstand.
“Nameless King, may I hear the full circumstances?”
“That...”
“Hey, brother! What’s going on right now?!”
Another communication window suddenly opened.
This time, Lee Gyu, the ‘Murderer with Two Axes,’ appeared.
“Why is that Japanese bastard sticking to Kang Yujin?! He’s really getting on my nerves!”
“Lee Gyu, worry about your own Contractor, Lee Sion.”
Lee Sion was currently leading Contractors from the Hwaseong Sect and attacking Kaesong Fortress from the east.
At one time, his breakthrough power had rivaled Kang Yujin’s.
But Kang Yujin had grown even stronger, leaving him quite far behind.
“She’s doing fine on her own! Jason’s looking after her subordinates anyway!”
“You really should pay attention to your own Contractor every once in a while, Murderer with Two Axes.”
The one who suddenly appeared to criticize Lee Gyu was Jason, speaking through another communication window.
Most Contractors from the Hwaseong Sect were contracted with Jason.
That meant the subordinates Lee Sion had brought with her were all Jason’s Contractors.
“Anyway, Nameless King, that Saionji Keito fellow is quite interesting.”
“Really?”
Unlike Lee Gyu, Jason seemed quite favorable toward Keito.
“I don’t know the full circumstances, but that man is clearly fixated on Kang Yujin. And Kang Yujin seems somewhat conscious of him too.”
“That’s true.”
“The most important thing is that their abilities are roughly equal. Why not develop them into proper rivals? I think the Constellations would find it interesting.”
I glanced toward Princess Longji.
There was already a Constellation showing this much interest.
If I deliberately highlighted their rivalry, it would probably become a major topic.
“Lee Jukheon exists too, of course, but he’s ultimately someone chasing behind Kang Yujin. And he’s an ally, not an enemy.”
"..."
“Saionji Keito could become Kang Yujin’s true nemesis. Let them compete and clash again and again, then eventually show Kang Yujin defeating him. The Constellations would respond extremely well.”
Jason had a point.
There were plenty of benefits to presenting the two as rivals.
And if that rivalry ultimately ended with Kang Yujin’s victory, the gains would be even greater.
“It would probably help Kang Yujin grow stronger too.”
"..."
That was also true.
A rival with a similar fighting style and similar level of strength would naturally help Kang Yujin improve.
“I don’t get it... What’s so great about that guy? I don’t like him.”
“Lee Gyu...”
“I don’t care if he’s some island-country boss or whatever. Why does he keep throwing himself at Kang Yujin like that? It’s suspicious!”
Lee Gyu clearly disliked Keito.
“Brother, doesn’t this look weird to you too? Why is he sticking to Kang Yujin that much? Something’s off.”
“Nameless King, you know the details, don’t you?”
Princess Longji, who had been listening quietly, spoke again.
“Please. I would like you to tell us.”
“Huh? Brother knows? Then tell us! There are no secrets between us!”
Princess Longji and Lee Gyu both pressed me.
Jason also looked at me with curiosity.
“It can’t be helped.”
I had planned to explain it soon anyway.
There shouldn’t be any real problem with telling them now.
“Saionji Keito is indeed fixated on Kang Yujin. That is because, like Kang Yujin, Saionji Keito is a modified human created by Ha Mina.”
“What?”
“Hey, brother! Is that really true?!”
“If you have information like that, share it sooner.”
I gave them a rough explanation while hiding the fact that they were Vessels created for Lucifer’s resurrection.
“Saionji Keito is likely being manipulated by Ha Mina. She intends to make Kang Yujin and Saionji Keito fight, then allow only the stronger one to survive.”
“Ha Mina... I truly don’t know how much more wicked that woman intends to become.”
Princess Longji frowned.
“Then Nameless King, what are you planning to do?”
“To be honest, I thought watching for a while might not be a bad idea.”
Keito had no intention of fighting Kang Yujin to the death right now.
In that case, we could make as much use of him as possible as a friendly rival.
That was what I had been thinking.
“But that won’t happen.”
“What?”
“Brother, what do you mean?”
I manipulated the screen projected in midair.
“We won’t be able to proceed that leisurely.”
“Nameless King, what does that mean?”
Jason asked in confusion.
“The Kaesong reclamation operation itself originally had no problems. Saionji Keito and the Tenka Restoration Association didn’t join with malicious intentions either.”
If things continued normally, there would be no major issue.
Kang Yujin and Saionji Keito would confirm each other’s strength.
Then both would train even harder in preparation for settling things properly in the future.
But that future...
would never happen.
“The problem is that woman is going to interfere.”
“That woman...?”
“If I were her...”
Watching Kang Yujin and Saionji Keito fight side by side, I spoke coldly.
“I would intervene in this battle and overturn everything.”
“Damn it! How can humans possess power like this...?!”
Armaros was deeply shaken.
The human attack was far more intense than he had expected.
“Have the humans become stronger than before?”
How could he escape from here safely?
The moment Armaros began thinking that...
a voice suddenly came from behind him.
“You appear to be in some trouble, Lord Armaros.”
"...!"
There had been no presence whatsoever.
Armaros spun around in shock.
“A pleasure to meet you, Lord Armaros.”
“Y-You! Who are you?! How did a human get in here...?!”
A human woman with long black hair and a calm expression stood before him.
Looking at her, Armaros felt an inexplicable chill.
“My name is Ha Mina.”
“Ha Mina...?”
“Yes.”
She nodded and smiled gently.
“I intend to turn this land into hell today.”
Her smile remained soft.
“I trust you won’t mind.”
