Chapter 62 – A Provocation of Resolve

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Рerfeсt Rеflесtiоn

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Rеflect Вlast

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〉 was thе ultimаte соuntеr tесhnique оf Tаtekawа Маsаyoshi, whо reignеd as the strongеst shiеld-bearer.

Upоn rеceiving an attaсk, it wоuld return the damage tо thе opрonеnt.

Еvеn if уou ended up fighting Тatekаwа, уou absоlutеlу must not attаck him.

Thrеe weeks agо, I hаd managеd tо put thаt into prаctice in аctuаl сombat.

But this time, my blоod wаs uр, аnd I hadn’t еven notiсеd his рresenсe until hе intеrvеnеd.

“Dа…mn it!”

Asutо triеd tо get uр. Вut his body wouldn’t listen to him at all.

His entire body ached as if it were shattered, and he had no sensation at all below his waist.

Maybe his spine had broken when he hit the steel beam.

The pain was so intense his entire field of vision turned crimson.

He was on the verge of losing consciousness.

But his anger towards Uzuki anchored Asuto’s awareness to reality.

“What kind of Hunter Law is this, Tatekawa? You… seeing this… do you still think… you’re on the side of justice…?”

“……”

It was true Asuto had tried to attack Uzuki.

But before that, Uzuki had implanted a Parasitic Tree into a civilian, Makoto!

Hunter Law Article 2, Section 3 was something that should have been applied to Uzuki.

That thought, however, did not reach Tatekawa.

His eyes were vacant, seeing nothing.

(It’s no use. He can’t hear my voice.)

Asuto glared at Uzuki.

“What did you do to Tatekawa!?”

“My, my, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

At the feigned ignorance, Asuto gritted his back teeth hard.

Every single move the bastard made was infuriating.

“Ah, yes, yes. Our Guild Master is appearing on a program tonight. Oh, perfect timing. Take a look at this.”

Uzuki took a smartphone from his pocket and turned the screen towards Asuto.

The screen showed an evening wide-show program, and the figure of Himuro Seiya, the Master of the Shisei Guild, was also there.

At the edge of the screen, text crawls displayed: ‘Suspect Yuki Asuto, Arrest Tomorrow?’ and ‘Damage is Extensive. Judgment Under Hunter Law Awaits.’

“What… is this…?”

“People are such frightening creatures, aren’t they? Even baseless rumors, if spoken by a person of trust, are believed to be fact. Even an innocent person, just by attaching ‘suspicion’ to them, can easily have the impression of a criminal implanted.”

“…You can’t be serious!”

It was the Shisei Guild that had framed Asuto for the Hound Dog internal strife.

Finally realizing this, he bit his lip hard.

(Damn it, I’ve been had!)

Incidents inside Gates rarely leave behind evidence.

Because of this, incidents within Gates are often judged solely on the testimony of the victims, creating a situation prone to false charges.

This time, the Shisei Guild had used that “situation prone to false charges” to set Asuto up.

“Did you buy off Hound Dog?”

“We didn’t even need to grease their palms; they cooperated willingly. You seem to be quite hated by Hound Dog, don’t you?”

“Damn it…”

Hound Dog were the ones who started the trouble in the first place.

Asuto had merely brushed off the sparks.

Just for that, they were still trying to trip him up? Their persistence was beyond ridiculous.

On the smartphone screen, Himuro spoke with a serious face.

『No matter how much you apologize, I don’t think the victims’ sadness or frustration ever truly disappears, but that Hunter just keeps running away. It’s the worst, truly the worst! If it were me, I wouldn’t run. First, I’d do a dogeza in front of everyone.』

“The sheer audacity…”

How could the very person who set him up say such things?

Blood welled from his tightly bitten lip.

“You made a big mistake. Possessing such power, yet refusing our Guild’s recruitment and accepting the protection of no Guild whatsoever.”

“Just for that… you’d go this far against a single Rookie Hunter?”

“Of course. Maintaining power takes precedence above all else.”

“A major Guild using such underhanded methods… aren’t you ashamed?”

“No, no, no. This is a traditional method politicians, bureaucrats, and mass media have used since ancient times to bring others down. What is there for us Hunters to be ashamed of if we use it?”

“…I see. I understand perfectly now.”

Asuto muttered lowly.

The Shisei Guild put more effort into power struggles among fellow Hunters than fighting Monsters.

It was precisely because it was that kind of Guild that, ten years later on that day, even when a horde of Monsters appeared from Heaven, they never showed themselves.

Thinking that made his anger surge even more.

To forget their original role and devote themselves to power struggles was utterly inexcusable.

Until Asuto mastered using 〈Return〉, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t gain power.

That’s precisely why he couldn’t stand it more than anything—strong Hunters and Guilds not using their abilities for their intended purpose.

“…Hey, Uzuki.”

“Yes?”

“I hate people like you… ‘corrupted ones with power’… more than anything.”

“Is that so?”

“Remember this. Next time we meet, I’ll break that arrogant nose of yours with everything I’ve got.”

Saying that, Asuto activated his Inventory.

He first stored the Kusanagi Sword, which had fallen far away, and then retrieved it in his hand.

“Wh-what? When did he get his Weapon!? Tatekawa-kun, neutralize him!”

“Too slow.”

Holding it in a reverse grip, Asuto stabbed it towards his own chest.

Condition: Confirmation of Skill User’s Death

Skill: 〈Return〉 Activated

Returning at Memory Point C

Condition: Confirmation of Skill User’s Death

Skill: 〈Return〉 Activated

Returning at Memory Point B

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