Chapter 32

Chapter 32. Joint Operation (1)

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Nameless Constellation.”

Iason spoke with a smile through the communication window.

“I’ll get straight to the point. Hoseo Faction, the Black Dragon Society’s next target, has many Contractors who are contracted with me. Rather than fighting the Black Dragon Society, they want to negotiate.”

The Hoseo Faction was an organization that occupied the exact middle section of the highway.

Since the Black Dragon Society had already taken control of the southern forty percent of the highway, the Hoseo Faction was naturally the next group they would come into conflict with.

“The Hoseo Faction isn’t that different from the Black Dragon Society in nature. As long as they’re guaranteed a reasonable share, they don’t mind joining under the Black Dragon Society.”

“That doesn’t sound bad.”

“There is one condition. The Hoseo Faction has been having trouble with monsters occupying the old Gongju area, which is their main base. They want the Black Dragon Society to help eliminate those monsters.”

Iason’s proposal was reasonable.

Considering the Hoseo Faction’s size, they had no chance of defeating the Black Dragon Society’s central-western forces now that they had Kang Yujin.

Rather than fighting a losing battle, it would be better for them to voluntarily join the Black Dragon Society and have their existing interests recognized.

If they could also use the Black Dragon Society’s help to clean up their home territory, it would be more than profitable for the Hoseo Faction.

And ultimately, that would benefit Iason as well.

But…

Did Iason really have no other motive?

Back when I was a Contractor, I had thought of Iason as nothing more than an unimpressive Constellation.

But after becoming a Constellation myself, I realized he was actually extremely capable.

Iason maintained contracts with a huge number of Contractors at the same time, providing all of them with stable, average-level blessings.

In a way, he was like a Constellation running a franchise business.

The fact that he had even thought of such a method showed that his way of thinking was different from most other Constellations.

Does he really not hold a grudge after Kang Yujin beat him up? I did hear that he was the kind of Constellation who didn’t care much about things like that.

Still wary of Iason, I asked him another question.

“I don’t think you contacted me just for that.”

“Haha. You catch on quickly.”

Iason laughed and nodded.

“I heard you upload videos to Constellation Tube quite often. I want you to upload one trailer for this operation, and then an edited video after it’s over. If possible, make sure the Hoseo Faction gets some attention from the other Constellations as well.”

“So that’s your real objective?”

“Haha. That’s right.”

My channel on Constellation Tube was currently receiving a great deal of attention.

Its biggest advantage was that even Constellations who missed the live broadcasts could watch the recorded videos later.

If the Hoseo Faction could be promoted there, it would greatly benefit both them and Iason.

“If I’m going that far, I feel like I should be getting something extra too.”

“I’ll persuade one of my Contractors to support Kang Yujin.”

“A Contractor?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t think we particularly need one.”

“You’ll understand once you meet him, Nameless Constellation.”

Iason gave a gentle smile.

“He’s a rather unique character. I’m sure you’ll like him.”

“So, Lee Jukheon… you’re saying you have no intention of joining the Black Dragon Society?”

“How many times do I have to say it? I have no intention of serving under anyone.”

“But you’re willing to travel with them for a while?”

At Ma Taesu’s question, Lee Jukheon frowned and looked away.

“Even I think it’s ridiculous, but I somehow ended up contracting with a Constellation whose name I don’t even know. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do from now on either, so I’ve got no choice but to stick with those guys for a while.”

As he spoke, Lee Jukheon looked toward Kang Yujin and Seok Taejun, who were sitting a short distance away.

“If you really don’t want to, you can just leave.”

“You were the one who suggested traveling together first! What the hell are you saying now?!”

“I was just saying. No need to get so worked up.”

“You bastard…!”

“All right, all right. Calm down, both of you.”

When Lee Jukheon exploded at Kang Yujin’s comment, Seok Taejun quickly stepped between them.

“Traveling together would benefit us, and it would benefit you too, Mr. Lee Jukheon. Come to think of it, I heard you took out a Coin loan from Number 49… for two hundred million?”

“Yeah. It kind of happened before I knew it.”

“Then traveling with us really is your best option. It’ll make it easier to receive sponsorships from the Constellations too.”

“Well… that part is true. I earned almost thirty million Coins from that one battle last time.”

Lee Jukheon had played a decisive role in the previous battle against Team Hecate.

Many Constellations had cheered wildly after watching him charge into the enemy alone and sweep them aside.

“That was the first time anything like that happened since I became a Contractor.”

“If you keep traveling with Mr. Kang Yujin, you’ll probably get plenty more chances like that.”

“Tch. Fine.”

Lee Jukheon sighed and sat down.

“Hmm. In that case, the Black Dragon Society will consider the three of you a single team.”

Ma Taesu looked over Kang Yujin, Seok Taejun, and Lee Jukheon as he spoke.

“Then I’d like to send the three of you to the Hoseo Faction. Are you all right with that?”

“You said there are monsters threatening civilians, right? Then we should go.”

“I’d like to send some of the Black Dragon Society’s forces as well, but we still need to repair the highway.”

Team Hecate’s attack had caused landslides, leaving the road in terrible condition.

Of course, Team Hecate hadn’t directly bombarded the highway itself with magic, but restoring everything would still take time.

“We also need to keep an eye on the White Banner Corps. Once we absorb the Hoseo Faction, we’ll come into direct conflict with them next.”

The northern section of the Nonsan–Cheonan Expressway, meaning the area toward Cheonan, was territory heavily controlled by the White Banner Corps.

That meant absorbing the Hoseo Faction would inevitably lead to a full-scale confrontation with the White Banner Corps.

“You handle all that complicated stuff. I’ll just beat up the bad guys.”

“Yes. Very reassuring.”

“What’s reassuring about that? He’s just an idiot who doesn’t think.”

Lee Jukheon mocked him from the side, but Kang Yujin simply ignored him.

“Nameless, are you really planning to form an alliance with Iason?”

Number 49, who had returned from the surface, asked me with a worried expression.

“It’s not an alliance. We’re just cooperating temporarily.”

“He’s not going to come after me because I uploaded that video of him getting beaten up, is he?”

“Why would he come after you? You edited it, but it was uploaded through my account.”

“But I was the one who suggested uploading the video in the first place… If anything happens, you have to protect me!”

“Why should I protect you?”

“Namelesssss!”

I pushed Number 49 away as he clung to my trouser leg, then turned my attention toward the Observation Device.

“Anyway, let’s talk about the enemy we’re dealing with this time.”

“Ugh, you’re so cold.”

“Give me a reason to treat you warmly, and maybe I will. What do you think about this enemy?”

“They seem tougher than I expected.”

Number 49 sighed as he spoke.

“Someone released Taotie as part of an ‘event.’ And nobody has managed to deal with it yet.”

The Observation Device showed a strange monster.

Its body resembled that of an ox, but its face looked human.

“It’s a monster that was known long ago as one of the Four Perils. Legend says it devours absolutely everything. And just like the legend says, it has an unbelievable appetite. Wherever that thing rampages, not only people, but animals and plants disappear as well.”

“Then the damage in the area must be serious.”

“Very serious.”

“What were the other Contractors doing?”

“The only organizations in the central-western region strong enough to defeat Taotie are the Black Dragon Society and the White Banner Corps. But that area is heavily influenced by the White Banner Corps, so the Black Dragon Society couldn’t carelessly interfere.”

“What about the White Banner Corps?”

“Their priority is fighting Pandemonium.”

So they had left a monster that was actively devouring people alone because they were too busy keeping demons that weren’t currently doing anything in check?

“I can already see the general picture.”

“Yes. That should make the trailer easy to create, right?”

“Emphasize how dangerous Taotie is. Then make it clear that the local Hoseo Faction and Kang Yujin’s group are joining forces to eliminate it. At the same time, add a slight undertone criticizing the White Banner Corps for sitting around and doing nothing.”

Since Iason had specifically requested a trailer, this kind of video should work well.

“It’ll also help lay the groundwork for our future conflict with the White Banner Corps.”

“Ah, I see!”

Number 49 nodded with an impressed expression.

“Then I’ll start making the video right away!”

“Good. Upload it before the end of today.”

“You’re really working me to death!”

“The operation starts tomorrow. Obviously it has to go up today. I’m counting on you.”

“Ugh…”

Number 49 looked miserable after hearing me.

That takes care of the preparations…

Now I needed to think about what to do with the Hoseo Faction Contractor Iason had mentioned.

The next day.

Kang Yujin headed toward the location designated by the Hoseo Faction together with Seok Taejun and Lee Jukheon.

“Is that the church?”

“Looks like it.”

After crossing a low mountain and entering a plain, they spotted a church building in the distance.

It seemed to have originally been a church belonging to a small village, but all the surrounding houses had collapsed, leaving only the church building standing.

“It feels strange seeing only the church still intact.”

Lee Jukheon frowned and muttered.

“Mr. Lee Jukheon, do you know what kind of person we’re meeting?”

“Not really. I never had much interaction with the Hoseo Faction.”

“Were you enemies?”

“Not exactly. We just had different ways of doing things.”

“Different ways?”

“The Hoseo Faction is rooted in the local area. They hunt monsters and protect civilians.”

“So they’re good people.”

“I don’t know about that. If they were doing it purely out of justice, they wouldn’t be charging civilians for their services.”

As they approached, they heard loud noises coming from inside the church.

Wondering what was going on, they moved closer.

Suddenly, the closed door burst open and something rushed outside.

“Stop right there!”

“Catch us if you can!”

They were children.

Several children who looked younger than ten ran out of the church, giggling happily.

“Why are there kids here…?”

And those weren’t the only ones.

Looking inside the church, they could see at least ten more children.

“I apologize for making you come all the way out here.”

A voice suddenly called out.

“As you can see, there are many children here. I can’t leave carelessly unless someone else is available to watch them.”

The speaker was a man who looked to be in his mid-twenties.

He wore a long outfit that looked somewhere between a priest’s robe and a magician’s robe.

Just from his appearance, it was obvious that he was a Contractor.

“Are you the person in charge here?”

“Yes. I take care of homeless children here.”

Despite what he was saying, his voice was rather cold.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Ju Minha, from the Hoseo Faction.”

“Hello. We heard about the situation through the Black Dragon Society. I’m Seok Taejun.”

Seok Taejun, who was standing at the front, bowed in greeting.

“This is Mr. Lee Jukheon, and the person standing over there is Mr. Kang Yujin. Today, the three of us will—”

“……”

Before Seok Taejun could finish speaking, Ju Minha moved.

He walked toward Kang Yujin, who had been watching the children playing outside.

“His name is Ju Minha. He’s twenty-four years old.”

Iason’s voice continued beside me as I watched the Observation Device.

“He’s one of the main members of the Hoseo Faction. He uses that church building to operate an orphanage. He really is a kind young man.”

“……”

“Of course, being kind doesn’t mean he has a gentle personality. Quite the opposite. He’s extremely cold and clear-headed. You can tell just by looking at his expression, can’t you? He’s like a block of ice.”

Iason continued talking through the communication window.

“On top of that, he’s an exceptionally talented magic-attack-type Contractor. Honestly, he’s better than those people from Team Hecate. He’s a very talented Contractor.”

“……”

“So? Wouldn’t someone like him be extremely reliable as support for Kang Yujin’s group?”

I let out a long sigh after listening to Iason.

“Yes. If you only look at those qualities, he certainly sounds appealing.”

“Right?”

“The problem is…”

I sighed again.

“He’s a fanatic completely lost in his own world.”

Ju Minha approached Kang Yujin.

Then he spoke in a calm voice.

“It is an honor to meet you, Savior.”

Kang Yujin stopped moving and stared at Ju Minha.

“I have been waiting for your arrival, Savior.”

“Savior?”

“Yes, Savior.”

Ju Minha looked directly at Kang Yujin as he calmly continued.

“Through a revelation, I already knew that you would one day come to me.”

With those words, Ju Minha clasped both hands together in front of Kang Yujin.

“I have been waiting for you all this time.”