Chapter 53: The Shinohara Regime

Si-woo becoming Lust isn't necessarily bad. The timing just fucking sucks though.

We still need to visit the Elf Ruins, but if Lust Si-woo can't control her urges and tries to jump me, it'll be a pain in the ass to deal with.

Even if I can fight, it's still troublesome when dealing with a Sin.

So Choi Shia needs to hold out at least until we get back from the Elf Ruins.

"With enough magic power, it's possible."

"I'll give it to you."

If Shia can suppress Lust Si-woo, what's a few Magic Stones?

We've got Magic Stones coming out our asses anyway. I'm constantly purifying Demonic Power after all.

"I'll try my best. But I probably can't suppress it forever."

"That's good enough."

At least it was Lust that got in. The other Sins... no, in this situation there's no way any Sin besides Lust would've taken root in Si-woo.

Now that I've got Shia debuting on White Flower TV, I just need to take Reina and dip for a few days.

We've got enough people now, so rather than trying to draw attention, we can just focus on raids.

Back at the penthouse, I gathered Lee Yoo-jeong and Reina.

That cold-hearted bitch Han Soo-ji put up a "Do Not Disturb Until I Come Out" sign on the training ground door so I didn't even bother with her.

"How's Yoo-jeong unnie's Golem coming along?"

"Still working on it. Unnie, you're really something else. Covering all the Golem-making costs. Wonder if she thought it was worth investing in."

I don't know. That woman gives me weirdly good support.

She just makes weird faces whenever she sees me. No matter how I look at it, she's not just your average les.

Maybe it's Causality that a woman who wasn't important in the original now has a decent role.

"Are we going to the Elf Ruins too?"

I shook my head at Lee Yoo-jeong's question.

"Honestly, I don't recommend it. Something feels off. It's Reina's issue so you don't really need to come."

In the original, only Reina and Si-woo go. More specifically, it's a heroine likability build-up section.

There's no real reason for just me to go but.

Let me check with the Akashic Record first.

[Master. I recommend taking Lee Yoo-jeong to the Elf Ruins. As Master knows the original story, I think you'll understand.]

"Ah."

There are definitely various events in the Elf Ruins. But because Si-woo's power was lacking, they had no choice but to escape together with Reina during the Elf Ruins event.

Is it saying to add Lee Yoo-jeong to reinforce our combat power?

Plus there were inactive Golems in the Elf Ruins too.

"Well I don't care. I don't like boring places like that anyway. I just hate how lovey-dovey you two will be."

"So you're not coming because of that?"

"No, I'm coming. I'm a bit worried about sending just you two."

Lee Yoo-jeong shrugged.

I should give her a hug when we get back.

"You're calling our ancestors' ruins boring?"

Like the descendant of Ganf she is, Reina bristled and confronted Lee Yoo-jeong. I can already tell how much she'll nag if she awakens as an Elf.

When Reina twisted her alluring face in anger, Lee Yoo-jeong shook her head and spoke.

"Didn't you go to Gyeongju on a school trip when you were in regular school?"

"Yeah."

"What did you think about Bulguksa Temple?"

"It was boring?"

Ah, gotta agree there. Bulguksa is boring as fuck.

As an office worker, school trips only ever went to Gyeongju.

Obviously only saw Bulguksa.

"See?"

"Ah, yeah."

At Lee Yoo-jeong's logic, Reina tilted her head before nodding in understanding.

"What about Han Soo-ji?"

"She said she had to do something with the God of War. Fragment of memories or something?"

God of War? Fragment?

Ah! Is Han Soo-ji in the middle of the God of War event?

One of the original's side stories. Park Jun-hyeok's event.

He's dead as a villain now, but even though Park Jun-hyeok was an idiot, his dedication to martial arts was insane, so the God of War pulled him in as a Fragment and passed on what he had.

I only learned swordsmanship, but Han Soo-ji will probably get various skills too. Like traits and such.

"Then let's head to the Elf Ruins. Song-do won't be touched anytime soon so we can leave it to Shia and the Golems."

"Don't we need to check on Han Soo-ji?"

Reina seems to miss Han Soo-ji.

Now's not the time to meet Han Soo-ji.

"If it's the God of War's Fragment, we might just get in the way."

"Got it."

If the Elf Ruins and God of War event are happening simultaneously, it's not bad for me since I can secure more combat power.

Though it's probably that Causality bullshit again. But even that must have limits.

* * *

Tokyo, Japan

President Ha Jeong-seok took a portal to Tokyo for the Korea-Japan summit that America proposed regarding the Sin incident.

His secretary Choi Ji-soo checked a message on his Magic Gear and frowned before carefully whispering to Ha Jeong-seok.

"Your Excellency. Association President Choi Cheol-sik sent a message to your Magic Gear."

"Does he want to send another exploration team?"

"He says he's certain this time because of that White Flower TV."

"Hah, wanting to sacrifice Hunters to someone who might be a villain. Forget it. I'd rather bow down to these Japanese bastards at the summit than listen to him."

Ha Jeong-seok didn't know about the nun or whatever from White Flower TV, but he just thought of it as a villain who happened to find a drone to broadcast with.

Anyway, what's urgent now is the Prime Minister and Shinohara group welcoming him.

"Welcome to Japan, President of South Korea."

"Pleased to meet you. I am Ha Jeong-seok, President of South Korea. And you are?"

Ha Jeong-seok frowned when some woman came to greet him.

Where did Shinohara go and why is some young girl here?

"I am Shinohara Yuzuki, 3rd Head of the Shinohara Family."

Huh. This young woman?

"Oh, that family that's said to have Japan in the palm of their hand."

Shinohara Yuzuki. So this generation is female.

Ha Jeong-seok looked Shinohara Yuzuki up and down.

She had a rather pure impression with black hair. Early twenties maybe? She looked quite proper greeting South Korea's president in a black kimono embroidered with cherry blossoms.

But still, a girl who looks college-aged? Even for a prodigy, old geese lead the way. A kid running the country.

"Fufu, how can there be two suns in the sky?"

Shinohara Yuzuki laughed demurely, but unlike Ha Jeong-seok's thoughts.

Looks like those bastards who once bragged about being Asia's first civilized modern nation have regressed back to the Shogunate era.

"There have always been prime ministers and such who act in place of emperors and kings as national leaders. Especially in Japan's case, that period wasn't short."

"Mr. President."

"Sigh. Right. The summit."

He had a lot to say but held his tongue.

But the Japanese Prime Minister who had been quiet spoke up with crescent eyes.

"There's the Sin incident, isn't there? Japan wishes to establish close cooperation with South Korea regarding the Sins."

"Hah."

President Ha Jeong-seok's temple veins bulged.

He was already going crazy over that incident himself.

England with their close Hunter Alliance ties would be one thing. But with even China saying they should dispatch Hunters to Korea over the Sin incident, now Japan too? Is Shinohara saying they'll send Samurai Hunters?

"Mm, since you seem tired today, why don't the Korean President and Prime Minister enjoy a separate dinner and rest from your journey before tomorrow's summit?"

He was about to say something but stopped when Shinohara Yuzuki intervened.

Ha Jeong-seok frowned at how she acted like she was doing them a favor by following the original schedule.

"Your Excellency. Please calm down. This is diplomacy between nations."

Secretary Choi Ji-soo tried to calm the president, but Ha Jeong-seok threw down his tie and stewed in anger.

"Choi Ji-soo. Whose country is Korea?"

"Pardon?"

Whose country? Isn't it the people's country? Does he have dementia after spouting that during the election?

Choi Ji-soo kept his thoughts to himself and quietly waited for the president's words.

"It's my country! Ha Jeong-seok's country! Yet China and Japan dare to interfere in our internal affairs using the Sins as an excuse! Is this the late Joseon period? These bastards who have their noses led by our Hunters dare!"

To Ha Jeong-seok, Korea was no one's country but the president's own. So how could he just watch these groups trying to interfere? If not for international relations, he might have immediately ordered Choi Cheol-sik to crush these arrogant Japanese.

No matter how strong Shinohara is, they're no match for Korea's elite Hunters.

And Ha Jeong-seok wasn't the only one thinking such thoughts.

After showing the presidential party to their lodgings, Japan's Prime Minister seethed at Ha Jeong-seok's arrogance.

"How long are we going to watch Korea's arrogance? We should apply economic pressure!"

Japan's Prime Minister complained about Korea's arrogance to Shinohara Head Shinohara Yuzuki. However, Shinohara Yuzuki who held Japan's real power shook her head with a calm expression.

"Please be patient. Korea is an allied nation."

The Prime Minister furrowed his brow at her emotionless, indifferent tone.

"You say that after seeing the president's expression? Aren't they looking down on us like we're beneath them? Tsk tsk tsk."

Though Shinohara Yuzuki's expression didn't change, she frowned at the Prime Minister's words.

How can he only see one side?

Korea's President Ha Jeong-seok may not be presidential material, but at least he's not someone who makes diplomatic mistakes.

And realistically, Korea is practically a nation of Hunters.

Even if the Association isn't what it used to be, the top guilds protect Korea under the Korean Hunter Association's support. Obviously they hold power in this structure.

"Are you any different, Prime Minister? Until just recently, weren't you saying we should sweet talk Korea to use their Hunters? Now that the Sin incident happened, you immediately think of pressuring Korea?"

"Whose side is Shinohara on? You're Japanese! Think only of Japan's national interests!"

"National interests. Ha. National interests. You talk well."

Wonder if this Prime Minister guy can even think. Shinohara Yuzuki was sick of ruling Japan with someone like this.

"What do you-"

"Listen well, Prime Minister. Seems you want to do something to Korea trusting in our Shinohara. Think about Korea's combat power. Controlling others is only possible when you're stronger than them. We're not up to Korea's level yet. Forget the Divine Sword - even the Ice Empress, Death Photographer, and Noah's Flower are too much for our Japan. Moreover, the Student who defeated the Fragment of Sin is the Divine Sword's Sister known as the 'White Flame Sword Dancer'. There's a second Divine Sword too, and Prime Minister, you need to be clear about Korea and Japan's relationship."

If it was before Yoo Jin-seok grew, maybe. But not now. Korea has grown too big. Just like how Shinohara, an unknown family in Japan, gained massive influence like the old Shogunate after the Great Cataclysm as a Hunter family.

"But there's Shinohara! Are you saying the Shinohara, Japan's greatest family with Hunter forces, would lose to those Korean bastards?"

So he was relying on Shinohara.

The reason Korea stands as a great power despite conflict between the Association and Blue House is because they still have powerful figures like Yoo Jin-seok.

With 4 of the 12 Apostles being Korean, that says it all.

If they seriously fought Shinohara, Shinohara would have to prepare for extinction, so why take such a risk?

"Prime Minister, are you planning to fight Korea? If we commit our forces, we might achieve mutual destruction. But what's the point? Both countries would just nicely go down together. And you seem to be misunderstanding something."

Shinohara Yuzuki released killing intent so chilling it made the Shinohara retainers in the hallway tremble.

The Prime Minister found himself backed against the hallway end and collapsed without realizing.

Countless swords floating in the air through Yuzuki's ability were now aimed at the Prime Minister's neck.

"Urk!"

"Don't forget. That position was given to you by Shinohara."

Shinohara Yuzuki released that icy killing intent that had brought the Prime Minister to his knees and turned her back.

The Prime Minister ground his teeth at her retreating figure.

"Kuhk. We'll see. I'll definitely seize power back from Shinohara."

* * *