Chapter 81
Kusanagi’s Sword (2)
“Been keeping well?”
“Yeah… more or less.”
Chester spoke casually, but there was a clear confidence in his voice.
He was leading an unofficial community, self-styled as the Delivery Agent Network.
The last time we met, it only operated around Seoul.
But recently, it seemed to have expanded its reach globally.
“As the scope of requests widened, our connections reached beyond the continent. Naturally, I met a lot of people doing similar work to ours.”
“You mean the request hunters?”
“Yeah. Especially the small-scale groups.”
Out-players who weren’t officially recognized by the Foundation couldn’t access the Fractures, so their income sources were limited.
And the most profitable work? Undoubtedly, illegal requests.
From investigations, smuggling, and theft, to kidnappings, raids, assassinations, and even terrorism.
Wherever they could use their abilities outside the law, they didn’t hesitate.
Of course, even the Foundation found them useful despite labeling them illegal.
Rachel had hired Phantom the first time I met him, and the “Gentlemen” in London were also an out-player hitman organization.
Anyway, out-players who handled illegal requests were called request hunters.
Chester had started recruiting these organizations, bringing them under his wing.
And the biggest contribution came from none other than…
“Thanks to you.”
“Me?”
“The artifact you gave me.”
“Ah.”
After the showdown with the Collector, I had handed him the artifact [Astraphe].
A silver spear that could shape all sorts of natural phenomena into creative forms.
“Ha! This thing was a jackpot. Do you know how I got those unruly outlaws to cooperate?”
Having obtained the artifact, Chester moved through the world like lightning striking a puddle.
He visited request hunter organizations in various countries, almost like breaking down doors, showing his strength.
As a result, the Delivery Agent Network absorbed quite a few organizations.
“Hey, are you just talking between the two of you?”
During our conversation, a companion nearby interjected.
They wore a helmet and a baggy rider jacket, much like any of Chester’s usual companions.
So I hadn’t paid much attention…
Then they removed their helmet.
Long hair cascaded down.
Their build seemed a bit small… and, surprisingly, it was a woman.
“Who’s this?”
“Ha… I didn’t really intend to bring her, but she insisted so much. She’s newly recruited here as a local informant…”
“Konoha. Nice to meet you, Sehyun oppa.”
She stepped forward, almost pushing Chester aside, and extended her hand to Sehyun.
A light handshake.
…What’s with this woman?
For some reason, she fidgeted with his hand for a while.
“Oh, decent grip strength. Looks delicate, though. What do you do, oppa?”
“Just… make weapons.”
“Oh~ that’s cool.”
No matter how indifferent Sehyun was, she chattered happily, shining with energy.
This was… quite an overwhelming level of social skill.
Sehyun had always been a total outsider, both in school and in society.
He just couldn’t match someone who so effortlessly radiated charm.
How long are you going to keep fiddling with my hand?
Sehyun naturally withdrew his hand and turned to Chester.
“Having a local makes things easier.”
“Finally getting to the point? I was wondering why you came all this way too.”
“Wait a moment first.”
Sehyun clicked open the Dederinger.
[5 o’clock, Aftershock]
The pendulum moved, activating the wave ability stolen from Rachel.
An invisible barrier formed, instantly silencing all sounds around us.
“Wow, amazing! Is this your ability, oppa?”
Konoha gaped in amazement while Chester just nodded.
“Yeah, this guy uses a rather unique ability. And there’s more…”
“Ahhh~~ Can you hear my voice?? Can you hear me~~!!!”
Konoha shouted into Sehyun’s ear excitedly.
She seemed to be checking if it really worked, but for the person inside, nothing was different.
“Stop messing around… I can hear you.”
“Hehe, it’s fun.”
Sehyun moved her aside and sat on the pavement.
“I just made sure no sound leaks out. It’s something others shouldn’t hear.”
“What’s that about?”
“Does Chester’s network have information on the Kusanagi family?”
“…!!”
At the mention of Kusanagi, Chester’s eyes widened in surprise behind his helmet.
Konoha was also clearly surprised.
“Did you come to find that too? The stolen sword?”
The sword had already been found, but we came for something else.
“Pretty similar, though.”
“Then you’d know, right? That family has already fallen. You won’t find much if you go there.”
The collapse of the Kusanagi family had already been expected.
With the family that protected the sword gone, their influence naturally crumbled.
But what came next was shocking.
“You can’t go there at all. The head of the family, and the entire clan, were wiped out.”
“…What?”
Confusion colored Sehyun’s expression.
The reason he came to Japan was clear: to make direct contact with the Kusanagi family.
Just like handing over the succession seat to the Wales family before, he thought returning the Daetaedo to Kusanagi would be fine.
And if it could be an opportunity to form a cooperative relationship, even better.
But the head was already dead? The entire family wiped out?
“Probably the work of whoever stole the sword. Cruel people.”
Konoha shivered as she spoke.
But Sehyun shook his head.
“That’s not it.”
“Huh? How do you know? You just heard the clan was wiped out.”
“I don’t know about that, but I know who stole the sword.”
“What? What are you talking about…?”
“That’s not important.”
Cutting off Konoha, Sehyun fell into thought.
An atrocity wiping out an entire family…
…Hailhwan wouldn’t have done that. Especially if his goal was a divine artifact.
Anyone who understood the principles of a divine artifact wouldn’t do such a thing.
Divine artifacts were different from weapons or normal artifacts.
Simply possessing one wasn’t enough to wield it.
It required the right time, place, and chosen individual to function properly.
That’s why he only seriously wounded Halman but didn’t kill him.
The same applied to the Kusanagi sword; Hailhwan would know that.
But if that’s the case…
“The person who stole the sword is unrelated. It’s probably an internal act. Someone wanting the Kusanagi prestige.”
With that conclusion, a sigh escaped Sehyun.
This ruins everything.
Everything would fall apart.
Sehyun’s plan relied on the Kusanagi family’s existence.
“Maybe that’s why all of Japan’s uproar. Four domains are on the brink of war. They’re desperate to find the sword.”
Konoha clenched her fist as she spoke, but Sehyun felt drained.
“What’s the point? The sword’s basically just a shell now.”
“A shell?”
A divine artifact misaligned in time, place, or wielder was essentially worthless.
Just an ordinary Daetaedo, no more, no less.
He had no intention of joining a mudslinging fight over such a thing.
Chester clicked his tongue.
“So, you’re leaving?”
“Well, the person I wanted to meet is gone.”
When he set foot in Japan, he had been excited, but now that excitement had gone cold.
All that worry about being detected the moment I landed was for nothing.
With nothing to do, leaving was natural.
…Or so he thought.
Wait.
Something didn’t add up, and Sehyun’s mind grew restless.
If the Kusanagi sword lost its conditions and became just a shell…
Then it shouldn’t have reacted to the stellar energy.
Yet it clearly had reacted.
As if trying to find its rightful owner somewhere.
If that was the case, there was reason enough to stay in Japan, even if the plan had to be slightly adjusted.
“Just one question, Konoha.”
“Huh? Me?”
“You know the Japanese info network well, right?”
“Yeah… why?”
“Then, is there a possibility a Kusanagi survivor exists? A branch pushed to the periphery or something?”
Konoha scratched her chin, thinking for a moment.
“Hmm, as far as I know, there isn’t.”
“No, there must be. Someone carrying Kusanagi blood is somewhere in Japan.”
Sehyun stated with certainty, and Konoha snorted.
“How can you know that when you just arrived?”
He couldn’t exactly reveal that the Daetaedo in his hand reacted to Kusanagi.
When nothing is certain, hiding information is safest.
“I’ll call it intuition.”
“You’re secretive, oppa.”
She seemed to notice something was hidden but just smiled.
“Great! I like that. So what should I help with?”
“Hey, Konoha. Why’s your reaction different from before? You didn’t say a word before the fight.”
Ignoring Chester’s complaints, Konoha giggled and stuck close to Sehyun.
“Of course it’s different. You’re stupid, but this oppa is smart.”
“What did you just say?”
“Hehe~ that’s just how I feel, what can I do? Right, oppa?”
…Wouldn’t it be better if you backed off a bit?
Sehyun pushed her lightly, but she stuck even closer playfully.
“I like it this way.”
“Anyway.”
Sehyun pushed her back again and organized the conversation.
“It’s certain the Kusanagi bloodline exists in Japan. Maybe limited to Honshu.”
Given the reaction as soon as he stepped on the land, it was a reasonable assumption.
“That’s all I know. I can leave the rest to you?”
“Of course! Leave it to me!”
She expertly mounted her green bike, tapping the rear seat.
“Hop on.”
“…?”
“Hop on the back.”
“Why?”
“Because we’re going to the data center.”
“Why not just investigate and give me the info?”
“Why be so stingy? Pretend you don’t know?”
“…Hah.”
Sehyun glared at Chester. Does she usually act like this?
Chester gestured for him to get on and mouthed something.
Just do as she says. She’s unpredictable. Better than arguing.
Sehyun had no choice but to get on the back.
“Hands.”
“Huh?”
“Hold on tight.”
Konoha pulled Sehyun’s hands and wrapped his arms around her waist.
“Or your head will get smashed.”
“Hah…”
“Firm, right? I’ve been working out lately. Feel here, you can even touch the abs…”
“Just start driving, please.”
Sehyun sighed in exasperation, and Konoha chuckled, closing her helmet’s shield.
“This is fun, I told you.”
Vroooom──
She twisted the throttle hard, and the green bike shot forward like it was bouncing off the ground.
