Evening fell.
Jin Seyoung and I followed the Shrine Maiden to the rear of the shrine.
In an instant, the scenery transformed. We had been in a dense mountain forest, but now we found ourselves by a flowing stream.
Protected by a barrier, this place was forbidden to those without permission.
"This way," the Shrine Maiden said, noticing our astonishment. We followed her.
"Please take the seats indicated on your invitations. The ceremony will begin in fifteen minutes. Please wait here."
We entered a grandstand capable of seating about a thousand people. Several attendees were already seated.
But what truly captured our attention was the waterfall at the center of the grandstand. A massive, refreshing cascade plunged downward, its cool mist drifting through the air.
A wide stream flowed before the waterfall's plunge. Above the flowing water, a spacious area lay open, paved with smooth, rectangular stones that resembled a stage or sparring arena.
Is this where they'll spar?
We took our assigned seats.
Soon, people began to pour in, gradually filling the empty spectator stands.
"The people invited here represent martial arts styles with deep traditions, history, and influence," Jin Seyoung explained. I nodded in understanding. It was likely the same reason the Yeongcheon Style had been invited.
The attendees varied in race, nationality, and affiliation. The only common thread was that they were all formidable martial artists none whom I could afford to underestimate.
That person...
Guo Jue, the Thousand-Bull Blade King, was a Chinese S-Class Hunter whose strength was said to rival that of a thousand bulls. I never imagined he would appear here.
And he wasn't alone.
Shigeo, the Japanese S-Rank Hunter nicknamed "Godspeed," had also arrived.
The broadcasting staff swarmed around the S-Class Hunters, cameras flashing. Some clueless reporters even blocked their paths, firing questions. The Shrine Maidens struggled to keep the reporters at bay.
Guided by the Shrine Maidens, the S-Rank Hunters took their seats in the VIP section, slightly removed from the rest of the audience but with a clear view of the arena.
Two S-Ranks here?
I couldn't quite grasp it.
In any country, S-Class Hunters rarely move easily. They rarely even make appearances at most official events.
Was the Fuka Festival such an exceptional event that it would draw an S-Class Hunter?
I could understand Shigeo, Japan's S-Class Hunter, attending this was Japan, after all. But Guo Jue's presence was quite unexpected.
"Oh, Ms. Jin Seyoung of the Yeongcheon Style, isn't it? It's a pleasant surprise to see you here."
Three men sat down in front of us. Two of them maintained rigid postures, their eyes scanning the surroundings with extreme vigilance. I immediately recognized them as bodyguards.
Jin Seyoung nodded slightly at the man who addressed her.
"Hello. It's been a while. I didn't expect to see you at Fuka Shrine."
"Haha. I couldn't refuse an invitation, could I? And I was curious about this woman rumored to be Japan's S-Class Candidate."
He was a handsome man in his late twenties or early thirties, impeccably dressed in a designer suit. His hair was styled in a soft yet sophisticated parted perm.
His gaze shifted from Jin Seyoung to me.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Sung Yujin. I've been wanting to meet you someday, but I never expected it to be here."
He extended his hand, and I took it.
"Yes, I'm Sung Yujin."
"Haha. I'm Shin Jihyo, the young master of the Dongcheong Shin Clan."
The Dongcheong Shin Clan.
One of the five great clans of the Republic of Korea.
"It's an honor to finally meet the legendary figure I've only heard rumors about."
"I learned about the Dongcheon Shin Clan in university," I said. "They're a historically significant clan that has existed since the Joseon Dynasty."
"Please don't put too much faith in those rumors," Shin Jihyo replied. "They're often exaggerated to the point of embarrassment. Ah, here's my business card."
"A business card... I don't have one, though..."
"Ha ha. That's fine. Just take mine for now. If you ever get business cards made, please give me one. It might seem presumptuous, but I'd like to maintain this connection with a genius of the Yeongcheon Style, even if it's just through this."
Shin Jihyo kept the conversation going until the event started. This man, who seemed to smile a lot, was also quite talkative.
He seemed more interested in me than in Jin Seyoung. A genius of the Yeongcheon Style. It seemed I was quite famous among Korea's martial arts clans, probably because of my participation in the Dungeon Survival event.
Clang!
The sound of bells echoed through the space.
Shin Jihyo, who had been trying to strike up a conversation, finally fell silent.
"Ah... it seems the ceremony is about to begin."
The audience, now quieted by the bell's chime, all turned to gaze at the waterfall. Before the cascading water hung a massive palanquin, suspended in mid-air.
Inside the self-levitating palanquin sat a woman a shrine maiden dressed in a crimson skirt and a white upper garment.
I straightened my back and studied her intently.
Her flawless, snow-white skin, neatly arched eyebrows, high-bridged nose, and crimson lips met all the criteria of a true beauty.
Even through the loose-fitting Miko Robe, her exceptional figure was evident, particularly her ample chest and hips exactly my type.
I swallowed hard, my eyes fixed on her.
Clang!
As she shook the bell again, blue flames erupted around the palanquin, swirling in a mesmerizing dance around it.
Clang!
This time, a radiant halo of light emanated from the palanquin. The dazzling spectacle captivated the broadcasters, who frantically filmed the scene.
Amatsuka Koyori. Shrine Maiden of Fuka Shrine and A-Class Hunter affiliated with the Wind God Guild. A candidate for Japan's S-Class Hunters. Age: 33.
Moments later, traditional music filled the air, and Koyori began to dance in perfect synchronization with the melody. Her movements were mystical and graceful, a sacred dance offered to the gods.
And she's also a renowned Onmy?ji in Japan?
The ceremony continued, though Koyori wasn't the sole performer. After her dance, she vanished with the palanquin, disappearing into the distance.
Afterward, other shrine maidens appeared, showcasing Japan's traditional culture, while politicians droned on about Japan's global significance, delivering speeches as dull as the principal's lectures.
At 8 PM, the duel finally began.
Amatsuka Koyori and a man stood facing each other in the arena beneath the waterfall.
By focusing her Mana into her eyes, Koyori could see him clearly despite the distance. Though it was pitch-black outside, the barrier-enclosed arena was as bright as midday.
"Shrine Maiden Amatsuka Koyori of Fuka Shrine," she said, bowing respectfully.
The man returned the bow with equal formality. In her hands, Koyori held a naginata, a polearm resembling a glaive.
"Ootsuki Kotaro of Tengen-ryu," he replied.
Kotaro was a gaunt man with a Japanese sword strapped to his waist. He wore samurai attire and his hair was tied in a topknot, just like the samurai of old.
A quick online search revealed that he was an A-Class Hunter. More than that, he was notorious as a staunch right-wing conservative.
Clang!
The sound of a bell rang out, signaling the start of the sparring match.
Kang! Kang!
Sword clashed against naginata. Their clash continued for over thirty seconds.
I noticed Kotaro's face twisting in frustration. Koyori was effortlessly parrying his attacks.
Even from here, the skill gap is obvious. The actual combatants must feel it even more acutely. If Koyori wanted to, she could end this match within three minutes.
Yet Koyori showed no sign of ending the sparring match, even after five minutes had passed.
...This is all for show.
This was ultimately a show. Broadcast across Japan and streamed worldwide, it couldn't end too quickly or people would find it boring.
Koyori is maintaining her overwhelming dominance. Is she planning to use this to promote Japan and the Wind God Guild?
I glanced at the VIP seats. The two S-Class Hunters watched with detached interest, while the politicians wore smug expressions.
Kotora, his clothes torn in several places, gritted his teeth and drew his sword. I focused more intently on Kotaro. The violent fluctuations of mana radiating from his body could be felt even in the spectator stands.
This must be Kotaro's last desperate struggle.
Kotaro drew his sword. It was too fast for my eyes to follow properly.
A white, luminous sword qi over three meters long shot toward Koyori. She slammed her spear into the ground and formed a hand seal with both hands, activating Yin-Yang Art.
The space in front of Koyori distorted. The sword qi, which had been flying straight toward her, twisted upward, striking the Barrier on the ceiling and dissipating.
Kotaro continued to draw his sword without pause. Five more sword qi followed in quick succession, but the result remained the same. Unable to penetrate the spatial distortion, they veered off course, striking the floor, ceiling, and walls before colliding with the Barrier.
"...I concede. I no longer have the strength to wield my katana."
Kotaro sheathed his Japanese sword and lowered his hand.
"Thank you. Your swordsmanship was truly formidable."
"...Even if it's just flattery, I appreciate it. With someone like you protecting Japan, its future seems secure."
The sparring match concluded. The audience erupted in applause. A quick check online revealed an overwhelming response, especially from Japanese netizens.
-Wind Priestess! Amatsuka Koyori! She's on another level!
- As expected, it's Amatsuka Koyori. She's showing the skills we anticipated. But what is the Japan Hunter Association doing? Promote Amatsuka to S-Class Hunter immediately!
- The global community is in an uproar right now. Japan's Yin-Yang Art is being praised as superior to Western magic.
It's quite the commotion.
Several more events followed, but none garnered as much enthusiastic response as the sparring match.
Midnight.
I approached the pond near the shrine. Settling onto a comfortably sized rock, I pulled out my smartphone.
My mind was in turmoil. Tomorrow, I would spar with Koyori.
My goal was to land a solid hit on Koyori and collect a strand of her hair or a drop of her blood.
But after witnessing her skills today, it seemed far from easy.
Getting her blood is impossible... Should I focus on getting her hair instead?
Even cutting her hair had to look natural. If I focused too awkwardly on her hair, people might find it strange.
If I use Momentary right from the start... hmm. It barely works on B-Class Hunters, so there's no way it'll work on an S-Class Candidate.
My mind was in turmoil.
The only saving grace was that Koyori would likely prolong the sparring match. After all, this was ultimately a performance.
This is unsettling.
I fidgeted with my smartphone for no reason. Launching the Pleasure World App calmed my nerves.
Come to think of it, what happened to the Kill the Gay King world? Did it end?
After browsing around, I found "Kill the Gay King" listed among the endings. I clicked on it.
The screen changed. My avatar, Sex King, sat trembling on his throne.
"The interface is just like Automatic Progression. Let's fast-forward."
Using his omnipotent Infinity Power, Sex King began to rule the world.
I prefer natural beauties, so plastic surgery is forbidden!
Many women protested his decree. Over 300,000 plain women rose up in rebellion, but after the conflict ended, many later chose to receive his Pregnancy Lightning on terms they accepted themselves. Every child born from those accepted unions was female.
Most daughters born to plain women inherited their mothers' plainness, but occasionally, a beautiful daughter would emerge. If a daughter caught Sex King's eye, her life would be transformed completely.
For plain women, pregnancy became a chance to turn their lives around. However, receiving Sex King's Pregnancy Lightning was no easy feat.
Having grasped the societal implications, Sex King rarely used his Pregnancy Lightning.
To receive Pregnancy Lightning, women deemed unattractive had to spend 10,000 Labor Points. As the name suggested, Labor Points were earned through physical labor.
- Sex King! Behold my daughter! Is she not beautiful?!
- Ah, she is indeed beautiful. From this day forward, you shall hold the title of Mother-in-Law! I acknowledge you!
- Thank you! Thank you!
The status of Mother-in-Law was akin to that of a Quasi-Noble. Even without laboring, they naturally accumulated Labor Points.
- Come here if you desire my favor! I shall bestow my grace upon those who welcome it!
The title of Mother-in-Law was purely ceremonial, and the Sex King treated it as courtly pageantry rather than any real family bond. Having transcended humanity to become a godlike being, he regarded such titles as symbols within his kingdom.
- If you wish to receive it, spread your legs!
At his invitation, hundreds of thousands of willing women parted their thighs.
"Fuck... I'm so jealous..."