Chapter 449. Caution (3)
For a while, what flowed between us was a strange exchange of glances with the Legendary-grade greatsword.
In that mont, the na Seo Esther suddenly flashed through my mind.
"Oh, right."
To be precise, I was recalling the achievents that the S-rank Awakened, Seo Esther, had recently accomplished.
"Co to think of it, the private tutoring that almost fell apart finally got back on track, and while I was at it, I even visited Esther this morning to explain the whole guild-managent situation..."
Because earlier this morning, I heard so news during my visit. Supposedly, the purple-haired nurse user had, in the anti, secured full authorization to use the [Book of Destruction]. If the nation's security ever beca strained, she would be the one to take up the book as its official wielder—or so they said.
"As expected, the collapse of the Beast Incident's central force was largely due to my own actions. Well, considering that Spectrum's CEO was sentenced to life imprisonnt, there's no way that wouldn't have had an impact."
However, South Korea would never openly reveal that powerful trump card, the Book of Destruction. Whether by pretending to have no weapon at all, or by putting on airs as if they were overwhelmingly strong—that, after all, is one of nation's oldest survival strategies.
Revealing too quickly that a powerful weapon had appeared on South Korean soil would bring no benefit. If, during a crisis that threatened the nation's survival, a powerful foreign awakener rushed in to help, then while fighting side-by-side, South Korea might inevitably be forced to reveal the trump card it had been hiding.
In other words, even a patriot like Esther wouldn't wholeheartedly welco the dispatch of foreign hunters.
"It's a promise for help that I secured on my own anyway. So, well... even if I accept their proposal however I want, it shouldn't really be a problem."
There really seed no reason to refuse this deal.
"I'm suddenly overwheld with emotion."
I closed my eyes for a few seconds, feeling a wave of new emotion.
"Back when I was an F-rank, I was trembling like a leaf just trying to survive... and now, I can obtain a Legendary just by sitting still."
And originally, the mont that brief reflection ended... I had planned to reach out and take the [Greatsword of the Sun God] right before .
"A, anyway!"
But the other person interrupted a little more quickly, Iori spoke again.
"You can check the weapon anyti."
"Uhm."
"Ranker Kim Giryeo, I'm sorry, but we'd really appreciate it if you could reach a conclusion on our offer as quickly as possible!"
Suddenly rushing like that, I grew curious and asked what was going on.
"Why does this need to be decided quickly?"
Iori replied.
"I hate to complain after coming all this way, but the current situation in our country is quite serious."
"Yes?"
"Especially since the situation in the awakeners' industry has worsened a lot. We need to decide the whereabouts of the [Legendary] as quickly as possible."
The sentence that just ca out seed plausible at first glance.
"Ah, I see. So that's the situation..."
But the more I thought about it, sothing felt off. Lately, I had been checking online news a bit more often—and in the process, I had co across this very headline no fewer than five tis.
[Japan sheds its stigma of having the "lowest ratio of top-tier awakened" relative to GDP... Fifth S-rank Hunter officially recognized]
A mont passed. After gathering my thoughts, I quickly ford a new sentence.
"Wait, there's sothing strange. Could your country really be in such a bad situation right now?"
"Uhm..."
"But I thought your country just got a new S-rank Awakener a few days ago?"
Of course, the reality was different from my prediction.
"There's a reason."
"Is that so?"
"Actually... it's precisely because that new S-rank was born that our situation got worse."
Iori began explaining why the appearance of the fifth S-rank wasn't exactly a cause for celebration.
"By the way, since you know the background, the story might progress faster than expected. To ntion it first, yes. In our country, a new S-rank has erged this month."
"Hmm."
"However, as you might have read in the news, that awakened person isn't originally Japanese."
"Aah."
"It's a case where soone obtained permanent residency at the sa ti they beca a psychic."
It's also a situation similar to the trick Brooklyn Morgan once tried on .
"In Arica, talent moving around like this happens fairly often, but honestly, in Eastern countries, it's an extrely rare case."
Click.
Hunter Iori fiddled with a translator and continued speaking.
"First of all, we have no idea under what conditions the fifth S-rank left their holand."
"So, you're saying people like you and Ito are like that?"
"Yes. The four S-ranks from old Imabari."
Around this ti, the guest on the chair quenched their throat with water again.
"Since we've long experienced intense conflicts with the dostic non-awakened elite, we've collectively been reluctant to share information with the Awakened Managent Agency."
"Hmm."
"But in the midst of all this, a new S-rank suddenly appeared, right?"
"Yes."
"Moreover, just because that Managent Agency actively scouted them, the person supposedly gave up their holand and ca to Japan. Honestly, the circumstances here are a bit suspicious."
The other person cautiously continued, watching for any reaction.
"Well then, let's just say it's good that the number of S-ranks has increased thanks to the competent Awakened Managent Agency's efforts..."
Iori slowly put down the cup he was holding to drink water.
"What we ended up being wary of was exactly this point. No matter how you look at it, the S-rank who joined this ti doesn't seem to be on our side."
Us.
For the record, there was no need to single out that expression and ask about it.
"It's like that person had no intention of getting along with Japan's native S-ranks... Moreover, judging by the circumstances, it seed all too clear that they were rejecting fellow mutants and siding with the Managent Agency..."
Soon after, the person in question took it upon themselves to give a detailed explanation.
"Ah! and just to be clear, I am by no ans discriminating against him for being a migrant."
"I see."
"I like all countries! And, in fact, if there's an outstanding foreigner like Ranker Kim Giryeo, I imdiately acknowledge them regardless of their ethnicity, you know?"
The remark about not looking down on immigrants from distant countries—well, that was definitely a viewpoint that was pleasant to hear on this side.
"But the fifth awakened... their vibe is just really strange. It's almost like they're blatantly showing that they're the enemy within!"
Iori's attitude gradually beca more serious.
"That's why I asked you to quickly state your intentions regarding this [Greatsword of the Sun God]."
"You'll need to explain a bit more in detail."
"Right now, only a few of Imabari Guild's top mbers are aware of the [Greatsword of the Sun God]... but over ti, this information could very well reach the new S-rank, couldn't it?"
"I see."
"But if it turns out that there was actually a legendary in Japan, that fifth S-rank will imdiately report it to the Managent Agency."
"...I"
"The net we were managing would end up in the hands of the non-awakened leadership. There's absolutely no way to prevent that."
The matter, tangled in the complex interests of the Earthlings, was explained.
"Even if the Managent Agency just gets a hint of the information, from that mont on, we would never be able to handle this artifact as we please."
"Aha."
"Using it to promote the greatness of our beloved holand to the world... sigh. Well, I wouldn't mind if the future of this weapon turned out that way, though."
"You're worried because the people at the top are hostile toward awakened individuals, is that it?"
"It's a pretty obvious story, to so extent, if the Greatsword of the Sun God ends up in the hands of a power group that openly treated psychics as taboo, what do you think will happen afterward?"
Well, the primitive sorcerers of Earth would surely face trendous persecution. But no matter how I thought about it, this part seed like a leap in logic. I quietly listened to his story, and after a bit of deliberation, I added my own remark.
"Um, excuse , but was there a specific reason that made you suspect the fifth S-rank hunter of being pro-governnt?"
The Japanese man in front of him nodded.
"There was a welcoming party four days ago."
But the person who spoke this ti was unexpected. A man with a rather stern and tough-looking impression, in contrast to Iori. Moreover, his front hair was slicked back with wax, and his face, covered in injuries, remained quietly silent—among other notable traits.
"Hmm?"
In other words, this ti, it was a Hunter nad Montake Ito who spoke first.
"A grand party was held in the heart of our country to celebrate the induction of the new S-rank."
"Hunter Ito."
"The event was hosted by the Awakened Managent Agency, but the guest list was predictable. Essentially, all the S-ranks who were originally in mainland Japan attended."
Soone clapped their hands together in front of .
"But that's where the fifth ranker ended up ignoring all of us."
"Ignored?"
The awakened individual with slender cheeks nodded at this point.
"At first, I thought that since they had obtained permanent residency, they would know Japanese, but after eting them, it turns out they don't know our language at all."
"- -"
"So we tried to use Play Corp's translator, but the fifth S-rank wouldn't allow it."
"Then?"
"He warned us not to bring unreliable electronic devices close, since he has artificial organs inside his body."
So, the reasoning was understandable.
"So I thought, in that case, I could at least speak English... and communicate that way."
"Yes."
"In the end, it failed. All they did was smile as if they didn't understand a word, so we couldn't interact with the new S-rank at all."
"Kim Giryeo! For reference, Ranker Montake Ito may be a pathetic awakened, but before the Dungeon Shock, he worked at a top-tier securities firm. So his education is very high, and he's quite good at English."
I glanced at Iori, who spoke beside , then returned my gaze forward. As I looked eyes, Montake Ito—half in a dazed state—began to speak, sweating profusely.
"But the reason we ended up completely at odds with the fifth S-rank is..."
"Yes."
"Actually, at that celebration hall... we had installed a wiretap."
"Yes?"
"It wasn't , but Ranker Iori here... had prepared various asures just in case."
The black-haired man continued to sweat profusely as he spoke.
"And that's when we caught the fifth S-rank speaking fluently."
"Oh my."
"They had a very friendly conversation with the head of the Awakened Managent Agency. And the content of that... y... well, it was sothing else. Things like attacking and splitting my guild, which is the number one in the country..."
So, in the end, this is the conclusion.
"An S-rank who definitely colluded with an Anti-Awakened hate group? If that kind of person got hold of this weapon, even I would want to avoid that."
Just as the thought crossed my mind, Ito's next words blurted out.
"By the way, the [Greatsword of the Sun God], if properly utilized, is said to be a weapon that can instantly destroy even an S-rank Awakened person."
Whether he was simply born with that appearance, or if it was genuine chronic fatigue—Montake Ito, looking slumped, quietly voiced his opinion.
"If a sudden stranger, even soone who hates fellow mutants, learns of this weapon's existence..."
"- -"
"I don't think that would lead to anything good. The atmosphere in our country's hunting industry is already far too unstable as it is."
"- -"
"For the record, I have absolutely no intention of laughing along with the powerful and working for the benefit of a selfish few. My goal is to act in a way that protects as many citizens as possible, and ultimately, I just wanted to make Japan safer."
For so reason, both of the foreign S-ranks present here looked sad.
"So in the end, this is the conclusion we reached. Even when we were being unfairly threatened... you still quietly rembered the role of a hunter. And if it's Ranker Kim Giryeo, who did precisely that..."
"?"
"At the very least, wouldn't you use this Legendary for hunting monsters? We sincerely believe that. That you, of all people, would never do sothing that antagonizes awakened individuals or upsets the balance of human society."
"Hmm."
"If the Awakened Managent Agency finds out, there's a 100% chance it'll be taken from us, so from our perspective, it'd be better to use it in a deal like this than to sit around being threatened."
"Were things really that bad between you and the governnt?"
"Embarrassingly, I've recently gone through several incidents while working to advance mutant rights..."
Montake Ito kept fidgeting with the hem of his pants, showing signs of unease.
"So that's why they made the condition of not using the [Greatsword of the Sun God] on themselves the very first priority."
Since I was already gathering weapons to kill the Goumche anyway, it didn't burden in the slightest.
"Then let just confirm one last thing. This isn't a rental, right? You're actually transferring it to for life?"
Those bastards—what if they end up changing their story later? harboring that faint suspicion, I pressed the Earthlings for answers. But it seed this ti there was nothing to worry about.
"I'm the cunning man who once stabbed you in the back, Kim Giryeo-ssi. So do you really think I would do sothing like this without any calculations?"
The man with his hair slicked back with wax finally cald down and spoke.
"As I ntioned earlier, starting in the eighth year after the Dungeon Shock, the appearance of S-rank gates in this world surged."
"- -"
"The series of threats has temporarily subsided, but we in Japan believe that the danger level of dungeons will rise again like waves."
"- -"
"That's precisely what the statistics have shown so far."
"- -"
"However, if high-ranking gates continue to increase, honestly, doesn't that also an that rare treasures will eventually beco common?"
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