Chapter 98 - Chapter 98

Chapter 98

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Translated by Jinmu

Read more at hivetoons.org

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Can summoned entities lie to their summoner?

Why not?

It's possible if the conditions are met.

Summoned Entity 3 Principles, Clause 3.

They must absolutely obey the summoner's words, but they can break the principle of absolute obedience when they judge that the summoner's life is in danger.

A coup d'état.

A military rebellion broke out in the neighboring country.

If a military regime is established, far from apologizing for past history, they will constantly provoke them.

And the anti-Korean protesters.

What? How dare they talk about doing something to the summoner?

War with the summoner's country? Kill the citizens?

Gwangma was truly furious.

Whether those words were real or just casually thrown out, it didn't matter.

Because they reached his ears.

Thus, they touched the incurable wound that still remained like a brand in his heart.

Are there more summoners who died inside the tower?

Or more summoners who died outside the tower?

The latter is overwhelmingly more.

Gwangma's previous summoner was like that too.

When he couldn't manifest because he was caught in the re-summoning cooldown time.

His previous summoner lost his life to a joint attack by factions who envied and feared him.

Even though he had sufficient defensive capabilities in reality, he was still killed.

The time will surely come when the current summoner will also be in danger.

The activation condition for Clause 3 was met.

The promise to use only 1% of his internal energy.

The vow to hit only once and not kill.

He could break them all if he set his mind to it.

But he didn't want to do that right now.

If he ignored the summoner's earnest request and caused a scene, the trust with the summoner he had painstakingly built up until now would collapse in an instant.

Well, a promise must be kept.

Let's beat them first and see.

1% of internal energy.

Still, that's equivalent to about 10 years' worth of internal energy.

What martial arts could he unfold with that?

'The Six Harmonies Fist and Phantom Steps should be enough.'

It's also been a very long time since he used martial arts with an established form.

He has to knock the teeth out of the bastards spewing shit from their mouths.

Like the name of the footwork, Gwangma advanced like a phantom.

Srrr.

Moving without moving his legs and feet.

Thwack! A hit to the lower part of the face.

Crack! The jawbone shattering.

Pitter-patter. Teeth falling out.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

If he hit too hard, they would die.

Just enough so they can only swallow water and porridge for a few months.

Sweat flowed down.

It was because of strength control.

How difficult it is to subdue without killing and keeping them alive.

He had never done that before until now.

Keeping them alive, what nonsense.

He killed everyone who fell into his hands.

'It is fun, though.'

It felt like returning to the days when he was a rookie martial artist who had just stepped into the martial world (Jianghu).

The vanguard of the anti-Korean protesters, who seemed like Yakuza with colorful tattoos all over their bodies as if their whole body was a canvas, charged with menacing expressions.

"Chiksho!"

"This old Josenjing!"

"Kill him!"

Cute bastards.

Charging in fearlessly.

Crack! How refreshing the sound of shattering jawbones is.

He broke whatever was in his way.

Plop, plop, drop...

But?

Smack! Smack! Smack!

'...Hmm.'

He made a mistake. He hit this guy twice just now.

He probably hit him one more time involuntarily because the guy was constantly chirping.

'I promised I would only hit once though.'

He probably didn't see it, right?

***

Joo-hyuk was sitting in a suitable spot, munching on popcorn handed by Rajix, admiring Gwangma's active performance.

Gyeon Dal-rae sat demurely, Veronica was nodding off, and Bardin and Cossack were standing beside Joo-hyuk, escorting him.

The elusive Gwangma.

How can a person move like that?

He was just like a phantom.

Srrr, he moved. S-pa-pat! He appeared over there.

Smack! If he threw a light punch.

Without fail, one protester would collapse, spouting blood from their mouth.

'His strength control is crazy.'

He had seen Gwangma handle tower monsters a few times.

Like in the undead section, or Duke Kavalan in the French Black Tower.

He wasn't particularly impressed back then.

Whoosh! Throwing a boomerang of aura, or grabbing a jaw and tearing off a wing.

It was a summoned entity of a transcendent level (Le-Seu-Seu-Al), but the actual fight was dry.

Because he's that strong.

Was there a need to go through the trouble of moving his body?

But it's different now.

Gwangma, who claimed to use only 1% of his internal energy himself.

He moved diligently to compensate for the lacking internal energy.

All sorts of flashy agile movements burst forth.

Gwangma was properly showing what fist arts and footwork were.

The crowd of protesters swarming in full of excitement.

However, no one could even touch a single hem of Gwangma's clothes,

Even if they all attacked at once,

Srrr,

Twisting his body this way and that while throwing straight punches.

Smack, smack, smack, smack!

If they rushed to grab his legs, srrr, he disappeared, only to appear next to them before they knew it and throw another straight punch.

Thwaaack!

Dodging, hitting, retreating, and hitting again.

It felt like watching a well-choreographed martial arts movie.

A bloom of smiles blossomed on Gwangma's face too.

He seemed to be having fun.

Smack, smack, smack, smack!

He did keep his promise.

He was only hitting everyone exactly once.

But why is he only throwing punches at the opponents' jaws?

"It is the most cost-effective. If he hits a vital spot by mistake, they would die on the spot. In that case, he would be breaking the promise not to kill civilians."

So he breaks jawbones and only pulls out teeth?

"Wouldn't it be the hardest to recover from? It also costs a lot of money."

Right.

Setting aside the jawbone, how much money does it cost to get new teeth?

A dentist's friend.

Teeth Thresher, Gwangma.

The ranks of the anti-Korean protesters were collapsing.

It seems they finally realized it too.

That the cool old man in a nice suit in front of them wasn't an ordinary person.

"Uwaah..."

"M-move out of the way!"

"Save me!"

The right-wing anti-Koreans who had been glaring furiously and shouting 'Die Josenjing!' started to flee.

However, Gwangma was tenacious.

Only 1% of internal energy.

Phantom-like light footwork (Qinggong) unfolding with just that.

S-pa-pat! S-pa-pa-pat!

Following the fleeing protesters to the bitter end, giving them one hit each.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Even if he wasn't killing a single person...

'It's cruel. So cruel.'

There was no blood or tears.

Whether it was an old anti-Korean, a young anti-Korean, or a female anti-Korean, they all eventually had to get hit by Gwangma's fist, suffer a fractured jawbone, and spit out their teeth.

They won't be able to eat properly for a while.

They'll have to put steel pins in their jaws, and they have no teeth to chew with.

It's a relief that it's only 1% internal energy; if he hadn't placed restrictions, it wouldn't have ended at that level.

It would have turned into a scene of mountains of corpses and seas of blood with flesh and blood flying everywhere.

'Anyway, he really shot a martial arts action movie.'

It was actually being filmed.

By tourists from all over the world who came to see the Black Tower.

Even though Recognition Interference Talismans were attached, they were only effective when acting quietly and not standing out; if he runs wild so openly like that, he's bound to attract attention.

'Sir Gwangma has debuted too.'

Right at that moment!

Cossack, pointing his finger at Gwangma and making a fuss.

"L-l-l-look at that. Gwangma broke his promise."

Why is this guy acting like this again?

"I saw it clearly with my two eyes. He promised to hit each person exactly once, but he hit that guy twice."

Is that so?

"Well, why make a fuss over that?"

He could make a mistake and hit twice while doing it.

"It's not an issue that can be taken lightly. Two hits become three, and three become four."

So what are you trying to say?

"I will personally go and supervise how many times Gwangma hits them."

"...."

Supervising my ass.

He must be getting restless just watching.

Meaning he also wants to intervene.

"You're only going to supervise?"

"Yeap!"

"And you won't hit people?"

"I swear. I won't hit civilians."

"What about the soldiers?"

"...Uh-um, about t-that, hehehehe."

Meaning he will hit them.

No, will he only hit them?

Cossack of the Red Ribbon.

A creepy assassin who decorates the necks he personally cut with ribbons.

"Shouldn't we just let it be? It's not Korea, but a foreign country, Japan."

"It's a country too close by. It will definitely become a threat."

"And if I stop you?"

"Ah, uh, um."

The will to go even if stopped.

"Are you also triggering Clause 3 of the 3 Principles, Mr. Cossack?"

"...Yep."

I have to make a decision here.

Whether to let Cossack loose or not.

A different problem from Gwangma.

If Cossack moves, someone will definitely die.

Loan sharks, terrorists, the Chinese President...

Judging by the atmosphere, it would be the Self-Defense Forces coup forces this time.

What should I do?

Until now, no matter what happened, Joo-hyuk had always been a bystander as long as it wasn't related to him.

He had no choice.

What could a pathetic 25-year-old youth, who struggled day by day working only part-time jobs to make a living, have done?

He hadn't been a bystander by his own will.

It was because he couldn't do anything.

Because he was too weak, because interfering would be useless, he had naturally lived that way.

But things are different now.

With a single word, he can even nullify a coup d'état that occurred in another country.

Even though all he does is summon someone, but those someones were beings with enough power to change the world.

And they obey his words and can do anything to protect him.

Ahhh. Such a difficult decision for a lesser man.

Is it really okay to do this?

A prolonged deliberation.

A coup d'état, reverting to a Japanese military regime, deep-rooted anti-Korean sentiment, potential risk factors...

Whatever! Let it be.

"I hope not too many people die."

"Yep?"

"...I won't forcibly cancel your summon."

"Yeap!"

In the end, he let Cossack loose too.

***

The Tokyo Black Tower in Japan is an emerging tourist destination.

It wasn't common to have the opportunity to see such a colossal tower right in the middle of a downtown area.

But overnight, a sudden coup d'état broke out.

Tourists were initially flustered.

It was only natural to be anxious since a coup d'état had occurred.

But as time passed, the anxiety turned into excitement.

Tanks and armored vehicles passing in front of the Black Tower, armed soldiers, helicopters flying over the Black Tower, demonstrating crowds.

Everyone took out their smartphones.

Some took photos, some recorded videos, and some even did live broadcasts.

Amidst all that, an old man appeared, seemingly arguing with the protesters while wearing a fedora and a nice suit, then suddenly threw a preemptive punch.

A fight broke out.

With a crowd of protesters numbering in the hundreds.

How could they not film it?

This was perfect material for live streaming.

- Who is that old man?

- Is he shooting a martial arts action movie?

- Oh my god! Look at those teeth getting pulled out. That's not a special effect.

- Ooooh! Each punch lands precisely.

- And what about his movements?

- The anti-Korean protesters are getting utterly crushed.

- This vicarious satisfaction is crazy.

- It's something I've always wanted to do at least once.

- But that old man is really cool, he looks so good in a suit.

- Hah, my heart is fluttering. Was my type seniors all along?

- That's not a person. It's a ghost.

- Can ghosts be caught on camera?

- He's being caught. Like spirit photography.

- If he's a ghost, he wouldn't be affected by gravity, so how can he be fixed to the horizon coordinate system? He's definitely a person.

It was the moment Gwangma's 1% skill became known to the world.

***

A large stage set up in front of the Black Tower.

Chief of Staff Matsumoto Junichi, wearing a formal uniform, sat in a chair placed on the stage.

Beside him sat the Self-Defense Forces player Hongo Tetsuo.

The coup d'état succeeded as expected.

The cabinet ministers also pledged loyalty to him.

It happened in a flash after killing one as an example.

With a bullet hole in Acting Prime Minister Usuda's head, who would dare resist?

The Imperial Palace?

What could they possibly do?

They also received support from right-wing factions within Japan.

Self-Defense Forces generals like the Ground Staff, Maritime Staff, and Air Staff also acknowledged Matsumoto's successful coup.

Although the US forces in Japan were a concern, the tide had turned.

They wouldn't be able to do anything either.

Now only the declaration remained.

The founding of a new Greater Japan that would replace the incompetent cabinet government.

"Tetsuo, there won't be any issues climbing the 58th floor, right?"

"None at all. I am confident."

There's a whopping 5LV difference. There's no way he could fail.

However, if there was one thing bothering him, it was that he hadn't achieved Trait Enhancement.

"If you succeed this time, I will get you the Rune of Trait Enhancement no matter what it takes."

"Thank you."

The finishing touch to the coup d'état is the conquest of the 58th floor.

If this doesn't succeed, their justification will disappear.

"Then prepare for the climb..."

It was then.

Loud noises heard from the front of the stage.

Screams and shrieks.

People falling over with cracking sounds!

'...What's that?'

Did a fight break out?

It seems a disturbance occurred among the right-wing protesters who came out to support the coup.

'Who the hell are they?'

With armed Self-Defense Forces troops deployed all over, how dare they.

"Bring me binoculars."

"Yes, sir."

Chief of Staff Matsumoto Junichi observed the direction of the disturbance with the binoculars handed by his adjutant.

'...Huh?'

It is true that a fight broke out.

But is that real?

It was merely one old man.

A crowd of hundreds of protesters were being beaten by that single person.

A burly young man was thrown off by a single hit.

He rolled on the ground, spilling red blood.

Another person fleeing was caught, beaten, and collapsed.

Like a lion barging into a peaceful rabbit village, the right-wing protesters were scattering in terror because of one old man.

The scene turned into chaos.

What kind of ridiculous situation is this when the declaration ceremony of a new nation is scheduled?

By the way, that old man.

Does it make sense that he's knocking down hundreds of people by himself?

Furthermore, he's leisurely smiling while beating people.

He planted punches into jaws without a change in expression.

Even though he was watching through binoculars, he got goosebumps.

Gulp.

Matsumoto suddenly felt anxious.

What if he comes all the way here at this rate?

Even if armed troops are guarding this place.

"...Adjutant."

"Yes!"

"Kill that old man right now, I authorize firing."

"Uh-uh, he is tangled up with the protesters, so if we're not careful..."

"I don't care. Even if a few people die, make sure to kill that old man."

"Yes, yes, u-understood. I will relay the order..."

Right then!

Tss-pit! The sound of ripping through the air. Slice.

The adjutant, who was about to go down the stage to relay the firing order, stopped dead in his tracks.

"Hm? What are you doing? Quickly give the firing order..."

Srrrk, thud!

Roll, roll, roll.

The adjutant's head rolling on the stage.

"...Heok!"

It wasn't just the adjutant.

S-pa-pat! A sudden gust of wind.

Matsumoto's few remaining strands of hair fluttered wildly in the wind.

Tss-pit! Tss-pi-pi-pit! Tss-pi-pi-pi-pi-pit!

Slice! Sli-slice! Sli-li-li-lice!

The stage flashed.

Flashing over here, flashing over there.

Even though it was broad daylight.

Like strobe lights were installed.

Matsumoto couldn't move an inch.

The Self-Defense Forces soldiers guarding around the stage couldn't either.

When they couldn't even distinguish what was happening.

And,

Thump, thud-thud-thud, thump-thump!

Thwack, roll, thud, roll-roll, rat-a-tat-tat, rumble-rumble.

Heads rolling around everywhere.

Bodies falling one by one after losing their heads.

All leading figures of this coup and his subordinate generals.

The Self-Defense Forces commanders who were sitting on the stage waiting for the event to start, having prepared for it, all lost their heads and collapsed.

Even the trusted Self-Defense Forces player Hongo Tetsuo.

Ahhh, Tetsuo died?

A player?

Without even having the time to enter the tower?

"T-this, what on earth is..."

Chief of Staff Matsumoto could not believe his eyes.

A sight that simply could not be accepted by rational thought.

In an instant!

"Konnichiwa (Hello)."

A sound heard from behind.

"W-who is it?"

"Watashi wa Josenjing desu. (I am a Josenjing.)"

"...What?"

Josenjing, he said.

"Sayonara (Goodbye)."

"W-wait! Let's talk first..."

"I can't speak Japanese."

"...W-what."

"MacDonald!!!"

Tss-pit! Slice!

Whaam!

Something sharp sliced across Matsumoto's neck.

Fortunately, there was no pain.

His vision just turned pitch black.

'Success was right before my eyes...!'

Thud! Plop.

After neatly cutting off even Matsumoto's head.

"Phew, what do I do about this. This is troublesome?"

Cossack pondered seriously.

"I killed too many."

If he did this, he'd be short on ribbons.

"It can't be helped."

I'll just decorate one boss guy.

With utmost care instead.

Cossack tying Matsumoto's head with a red ribbon and decorating it in a butterfly shape.

Is it a little crooked?

It seems he lost his touch from not tying ribbons for so long.

But the stares were stinging.

Turning his head, he saw Self-Defense Forces soldiers blankly staring at him while holding their guns.

Everyone was frozen stiff.

No matter how armed they were, there was nothing they could do in a situation where their commanders had turned into corpses on the stage.

Especially against a perverted murderer making ribbon decorations using severed heads.

"Sumimasen? (Excuse me?)"

When Cossack smirked and spoke.

"Uwaaaaaah!"

The soldiers scattered, screaming.

It was all useless even if they were armed with guns, even if they brought tanks and armored vehicles, even if helicopters were hovering in the sky above.

Because all the heads were dead.

Because the chain of command had completely collapsed.

Because Chief of Staff Matsumoto Junichi's head was cut off and decorated with a ribbon.

And with that, the coup d'état was over.