Chapter 1960 – 1960. Blazing Hot
Still sealed inside the Machine Emperor, I could see the outside situation through the monitor. The monitor was divided into three screens.
One screen continuously played movies and dramas to alleviate my boredom.
Another showed the Machine Emperor’s work processing. I had seen the hundreds of missiles launched at the cruise ship through this screen.
The last screen showed the Onmyoji of the Heavenly Demon, Hase. I was constantly monitoring him to figure out the secret of his abilities.
“The Wind Priestess, Amatsuka Koyori…! An S-Class has arrived!”
The man’s face, which had been relaxed when the cruise ship arrived, instantly hardened. Tension filled the air.
‘He doesn’t take the Priestess lightly either. It doesn’t seem to be just because she’s S-Class… Is it because the Priestess is also an Onmyoji?’
Who is the best Onmyoji in Japan?
In the old days, opinions would have been divided. Just as there are places like Yeongcheonryu in Korea, there are also Onmyoji families and factions in Japan. They would have competed for the top spot.
‘That was until Amatsuka Koyori appeared.’
Koyori’s ability is to quickly recognize and understand things that are outside of common sense. She can easily recognize and understand non-sensical powers like Onmyojutsu or magic.
The ability itself isn’t that powerful. However, it creates a synergy effect with Koyori’s outstanding talent.
Now, Koyori was the undisputed best Onmyoji in Japan, recognized by everyone.
“I am lacking to be S-Class. I know that well. But Onmyojutsu and power are different. The depth of Onmyojutsu is the best in Japan. I can determine the superiority this time. Machine Emperor, prepare. You don’t want the city to be devastated either. I will settle this on the beach.”
“…There might be more than one S-Class.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The news of the Korean S-Class Hunter Han A-young, who recently visited Japan, has disappeared. There is no news that she has left Japan, but the media is strangely silent.”
“……The Japanese government has intervened. Tsk. The Japanese media is the thing that needs to be fixed the most. The media is taking the lead in acting as the government’s dog, covering the ears and eyes of the people… It’s a lamentable situation.”
“There are two S-Class Hunters. The odds are low.”
“So?”
“We need support. Contact Baekrim and request assistance.”
“Are you ordering me now?”
“I’m telling you how to increase our chances of winning.”
“……Baekrim is busy. People who don’t know think that Baekrim only operates in Japan, but in reality, they are active all over the world. Half of the things that make up your body right now were obtained from overseas. There are all sorts of things if you turn your eyes to the world, but the Japanese don’t try to know that.”
“In short, Baekrim is not in Japan right now. The Machine Emperor project doesn’t seem important to Baekrim.”
“There are those in Baekrim who dislike machines. We need to show results to get proper support from Baekrim. The beginning of that is here in Kagashima.”
“Understood. I recommend retreating. The odds are too low to face two S-Class Hunters.”
“Retreat? If we retreat here, the Machine Emperor project is over. I don’t want to discard you.”
“…….”
“And the odds are much higher than you think. How many years do you think I’ve been preparing? I won’t lose even if I face an S-Class here.”
The man confidently stood up from his seat.
I felt the time I had been waiting for was finally approaching. The time to smack the back of his head.
“Prepare for a live broadcast. This is a good opportunity to show my power to the world. The Japanese government will be afraid of me.”
“If you lose, it will be a huge disgrace.”
“There is no such thing as defeat.”
• • •
The man waited for the cruise ship on the beach with the Machine Emperor. The man, perched on the Machine Emperor’s right shoulder, crossed his arms and looked sternly at the approaching cruise ship.
The cruise ship stopped before reaching the beach. The beach was not a suitable place for a large ship like a cruise ship to dock.
Woooooooom.
Space distorted. The man, sensing the premonitory phenomenon, twisted his lips.
“A large-scale space teleportation Onmyojutsu. Well, the best Onmyoji in Japan wouldn’t be unable to teleport at this distance.”
Paaaat!
Space contracted for a moment and then expanded at once. A group of people appeared with the appearance of space bursting.
At the forefront was Han A-young. Her white hair fluttered as she glared at the Machine Emperor. Next to her, Koyori was also preparing for battle, holding a naginata that looked like a spear. Around them were nearly 50 Hunters. I could tell just by their aura. All of them were A-Class or higher.
One of them caught my eye. Her face was covered with a hat and mask, and her figure was hidden by baggy clothes, but I couldn’t fail to recognize her. It was Han Ha-rin.
‘She finally came.’
I felt good but also bitter. I had hoped she wouldn’t come to such a dangerous place. Unlike Han A-young, she was weak.
‘Well, I would have made the same choice as Han Ha-rin.’
The man focused only on Han A-young and Koyori. He didn’t even glance at the others.
“Unexpected. Amatsuka Koyori. I heard you were just holed up in a shrine, focusing on training. Why did you bother coming all the way here?”
“It is the will of the Wind God. The Wind God told me to help Han A-young here.”
“Wind God? Do you really believe in such a no-name god?”
“It’s okay to insult me. But I will never forgive you for insulting the Wind God. I will make you regret those words.”
“The title of the best Onmyoji in Japan will be mine as of today.”
The man then looked at Han A-young.
“…You’re Han A-young. I thought your face looked familiar, but you look very similar to that woman I saw in Palgongsan. Why are you, a Korean S-Class Hunter, getting involved? This is a Japanese problem. Did the Japanese government promise you a huge sum of money?”
“Where is Sung Yu-jin?”
“Ah. So you came to Japan to find that guy. If you came all the way here yourself, you must not be ordinary acquaintances.”
“Hahaha. That guy is right here! Machine Emperor! Show him!”
Clank. Ziiiiiiing.
The Machine Emperor’s chest opened, revealing the inside.
Han A-young and Han Ha-rin, seeing me sealed inside, widened their eyes in shock. On the other hand, Koyori was quiet. Even though she knew my face, she acted like it was nothing. She doesn’t know that I am the Wind God.
“You bastard!!!”
“Hahaha! This guy is being used as a pretty useful auxiliary battery. He has become part of the Machine Emperor and is serving Japan!”
“I will never forgive you.”
Han A-young gritted her teeth. Her white hair fluttered. At the same time, a cold aura emanated, freezing her surroundings. The sea froze in real time.
The smile disappeared from the man’s face.
“Machine Emperor! Start the broadcast… Wait. Why is there a monitor inside? There shouldn’t be a monitor inside according to the design?”
Clank!
The Machine Emperor closed the chest lid that had been opened.
“It’s not a monitor. It’s just an additional component installed to upgrade performance.”
“Additional component?”
“It’s a transformer. It was installed to use power more efficiently.”
“That doesn’t look like any transformer I know… And you modified your body without telling me?”
“Master gave me autonomy.”
“That’s true, but….”
“The enemy is attacking.”
Han A-young stretched out her palm. Cold air poured out from her palm. Han A-young’s power was already famous. The moment you touch that cold air, everything, living or machine, freezes.
The Machine Emperor soared into the sky using its thrusters. That cold air was dangerous even for the Machine Emperor. Fortunately, the size of the cold air was small and the speed was not that fast.
“The attacks of the riffraff are coming. Activate the defense.”
“Barrier deployed.”
The Machine Emperor’s shoulders glowed, and a transparent barrier appeared. It wasn’t pure science and technology, but an application of Onmyojutsu.
Papatapatak!
The attacks of the A-Class Hunters forcefully pounded the barrier. Even while seeing the barrier gradually cracking, the man was relaxed.
“Charge.”
Hidden mechanical samurai and drones rushed towards the Hunters from the sky and the ground. The Hunters, suddenly surrounded, panicked and responded.
Special bullets fired by drones and special blades of mechanical samurai. No matter how skilled the A-Class Hunters were, they had no choice but to struggle.
“The broadcast?”
“It has been broadcasting since the battle started. Thanks to the pre-announced effect, there are 200,000 viewers. The number of viewers is still increasing.”
“Good. I need to get rid of the riffraff with one big hit. Machine Emperor. Assist me.”
“Support system activated.”
It was the moment the man put his hands together as if in prayer.
A powerful force was applied to the Machine Emperor. The Machine Emperor raised its thrusters to maximum output, but could not shake off the force. The Machine Emperor’s heavy body crashed to the ground.
“Damn it, is it gravity!”
The man, who had risen from the sand dunes on the beach, clicked his tongue and neutralized the gravity with a spell.
“Machine Emperor. Prepare the Fire-Water Activation Formation. This spell requires the output of your Phoenix Heart. And you must protect me. I will be defenseless at this moment. It only takes 30 seconds.”
Heat flowed from the Machine Emperor’s chest, enveloping the man’s body.
‘Now is the time. He is completely defenseless, trusting the Machine Emperor.’
[Activating Heavenly Heart. Lasts for 1 minute.]
The seal was broken.
I, who had regained my freedom in an instant, smiled and ordered the Machine Emperor.
“Grab him.”
The Machine Emperor grabbed the man’s body tightly with its large hand.
“Kuaaaak! Machine Emperor! What are you doing?!”
“Shut up. You are no longer my master. My only master is Sex Supreme. A moron who watches child pornography is not qualified to be my master.”
“I, I don’t watch child pornography!”
