Chapter 368: Celestial Of The Black Stars (4)

“

Hahaha!

To think you actually became lovers with a Celestial! I never would’ve imagined!” Sakaki patted, or more like smacked, Kwon Oh-Jin on the back.

Thump! Thump!

Kwon Oh-Jin sighed deeply with a lifeless expression. “

Ha...

”

Sakaki suddenly stopped laughing heartily, glanced at Song Ha-Eun, and leaned into Kwon Oh-Jin. “But wasn’t Miss Ha-Eun supposed to be your wife?”

“

Ah...

The situation has changed.”

“Oh, don’t tell me you broke up with her?”

“No. It’s nothing like that.”

“

Hmm?

” Sakaki cocked his head and snapped his fingers. He burst into booming laughter as if he understood everything. “

Bwahaha!

So that’s what they mean by a hero’s fondness for women!”

“Please stop...” Kwon Oh-Jin sighed again and looked at Vega.

“

Uuugh...

A misunderstanding... It’s all a misunderstanding...” Vega trembled with her face buried between her knees like wilted boiled spinach.

She felt unbearable shame after accidentally revealing everything in front of Regulus and Aldebaran.

Regulus and Aldebaran gawked in shock and became speechless afterward.

“L-Lady Vega has a lover?”

“And that lover is human...”

The other Celestials revered her, so the news that she had a human lover shocked them.

Should I just leave her like this?

If Kwon Oh-Jin said anything now, it would only make things worse.

Shaking his head, he turned to Sakaki. “Shall we head inside now?”

“

Ah

, sorry about that. Yes, come on in.” Sakaki led them inside the Kuroushi’s building.

The traditional Japanese mansion carried the elegant atmosphere of a high-class

ryokan

.

“Let’s eat first,” Sakaki said.

“No, let’s get right into discussing the Black Star Celestial—”

“Whatever the business, a full stomach comes first.”

“

Hmm

. Alright.”

They decided to eat first.

“Sit wherever you’d like!” Sakaki guided them into a spacious

tatami

room straight out of a Yakuza film.

Each of them settled onto cushions.

Sakaki naturally claimed the head seat with a short sigh. “It’s been a long time since we last saw each other. I’d like to have a drink with you, but... that’ll have to wait until our priority is dealt with first.”

“Yes.”

“

Hehe

. For now, I have a fine tea that helps with mana circulation.”

He called out for tea. Soon, the sliding doors rattled open.

Drrrr.

A young woman, in her early twenties and wearing a kimono, entered. She looked beautiful with silky black hair and porcelain skin.

Is that Sakaki’s wife?

No, she looked far too young.

“Here’s the tea you asked for,” she said.

From a pot decorated with fine patterns, she gracefully poured tea into each cup around the table.

When she reached Kwon Oh-Jin, she looked up at him. “You must be Mr. Kwon Oh-Jin?”

“

Ah

, yes. That’s right.”

“I apologize for the trouble my foolish brother caused you.”

“Brother...?”

Before Kwon Oh-Jin could process what was happening, Koshiro shot to his feet with a bright red face.

“Y-Yoko! This isn't the time and place for that!”

“Sit down, brother.” Yoko coldly glared at him.

Koshiro flinched and sat back into his seat like a scolded child.

“You’re Koshiro’s sister?”

“Yes. Thanks to you defeating the executor of the Seahorse faction, I was able to get rid of the poison inside me.” Yoko smiled softly and deeply bowed on the ground toward Kwon Oh-Jin with elegant grace.

A small bow of gratitude would’ve been one thing. Caught off guard by the extremely deep bow, Kwon Oh-Jin smiled awkwardly and shook his head. “I only did what needed to be done.”

“To me, you are not only the one who saved my life, but also the one who kept my foolish brother from straying further down a dark path. I should give you something in return, but... all I have is this meager body of mine.” She looked at him with a sad expression.

Her shimmering eyes, on the verge of tears, looked so beautiful that it was hard to call her appearance meager.

“If you’re okay with it, I’d like to serve you while you’re here,” Yoko offered.

“No, that won’t be necessary.”

Kwon Oh-Jin quickly waved and rejected the offer. With Sakaki already looking at him with that “womanizing hero” smirk, he couldn’t possibly accept Yoko’s offer. Besides, he didn’t need any serving.

“Then...” With sad eyes, Yoko softly bit her lip. “You really... don’t need my help?”

“You’ve already thanked me. That’s already more than enough.”

“

Haa

. I see. If that’s what you wish, then I’ll respect it.” Yoko rose to her feet and bowed toward him once again.

“Then, I’ll excuse myself. I’ll be outside. Please feel free to call me if you need anything else.”

“Alright.” Not used to such formal hospitality, Kwon Oh-Jin awkwardly nodded back.

As Yoko finished pouring the tea and prepared to leave, she suddenly stopped in her tracks and walked over to the quietly seated Koshiro. “Your shirt is wrinkled, brother.”

“

Huh? O-Oh,

is it?”

“Really... you’re always so careless.” Kneeling neatly before him, Yoko smoothed out the wrinkles of Koshiro’s shirt and smiled faintly.

“Thanks, Yoko.”

“

Hehe

. Honestly, you’d be hopeless without me.” Lightly pinching his cheek, Yoko stood back up.

“Well then, everyone, enjoy your meal.” With graceful steps back, she left the room and slid the door shut.

Song Ha-Eun narrowed her eyes at Kwon Oh-Jin beside her. “

Hmm

. For siblings, the atmosphere between them is a little strange.” She pinched his side. “You’d better not flirt with her too.”

“What? No! Of course not.”

“

Hmph

.” Snorting, Song Ha-Eun grabbed her chopsticks and picked up some simmered potatoes. “

Whoa!

Wait, this is amazing!”

“

Haha

. It’s all Yoko’s cooking. Ever since Koshiro came back, she’s been in charge of the kitchen in Kuroushi,” Sakaki explained.

“

Hmm

.” Still unconvinced, Song Ha-Eun frowned as if something about the situation felt off to her.

Yoko’s face, like a painting of a classic Japanese beauty, lingered unpleasantly in her thoughts.

No way... right?

Song Ha-Eun shook her head and forced away the creeping unease that spread down her spine.

“Anyway, let’s hurry up and eat so we can deal with that damn horse-head bastard!”

Stuffing rice into her mouth, she focused on finishing the meal as fast as possible, determined to wrap things up quickly and leave Japan behind.

***

After the meal ended, they sat down again, sipping the tea that Sakaki said was good for mana circulation. Finally, they got to the main point.

“You all saw the video, right?” Sakaki asked.

“Yes, we did.”

“According to Lord Aldebaran, it seems a Black Star Celestial has appeared in Japan.”

Although the Celestial hadn’t manifested in its full form, a transcendent being had still appeared on Earth. On top of that, it hadn't shown up alone but with an army of demonic beasts.

“Have you pinpointed where they are?” Kwon Oh-Jin asked.

“Not exactly... but we do have a location in mind.” Sakaki pulled out a tablet and opened the map app. “What’s with the face?”

“No, it’s just... I kind of imagined you’d be the type to still use a paper map,” Kwon Oh-Jin said.

“

Haha!

Who still uses outdated paper maps in this day and age?”

Funny, coming from someone in a country where faxes are still predominantly in use.

“Here, do you see this little village by the coast?” Sakaki pointed at a satellite photo of a tiny fishing village with around two hundred households in total. “It’s the closest village to where those creatures were last seen.”

“You think they’re hiding there?”

“We don’t know yet, but a report from two days ago said that they suddenly lost contact with the supply truck that usually delivers food to the village.”

That could only mean one thing.

“The whole village might’ve already been destroyed,” Kwon Oh-Jin said.

“That’s what we think as well.” Sakaki nodded heavily. “It makes sense to start the investigation there.”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

With limited information, they had to check firsthand.

“I am sorry for not being able to host you all properly since you just got here, but... are you okay with heading out immediately?”

“Of course.”

Kwon Oh-Jin had hoped to gather more information first. However, they had no time to waste if civilians had already been slaughtered. Even he couldn’t just let demonic beasts massacre ordinary people without Stigmas.

“

Hahahaha!

I knew you’d say that!” Sakaki roared with laughter and got up from his seat. “The vehicles are already prepared outside! Let’s head out!”

“Alright.”

Kwon Oh-Jin’s group followed him toward the mansion’s exit.

Yoko hurried after them with a worried expression. “Y-You’re leaving already?”

“Yes. Staying here won’t solve anything,” Kwon Oh-Jin replied.

“But to depart the moment you arrive...”

“You’ve already given us a delicious meal. That’s more than enough.”

Yoko sighed as if it were a shame that he was leaving so soon.

Before she could get any closer, Song Ha-Eun stepped forward and yanked his arm, almost as if claiming him. “I’ll take care of him, so you can just mind your own business.”

Her sharp, guarded eyes locked onto Yoko.

Yoko cocked her head, puzzled by the hostility in Song Ha-Eun’s stare. “

Ah

, I see. You must be Mr. Oh-Jin’s wife, right? Please, take good care of him.”

“

Eh?

I-I will... but we’re not married yet.”

Yoko flashed a bright smile at them. “

Hehe

. From the way you two look together, anyone would think you’re already a happily married couple.”

“R-Really?” Song Ha-Eun cocked her head, thrown off by Yoko’s unexpected response since she thought that Yoko had a thing for Kwon Oh-Jin.

Was I wrong about her?

Yoko turned to Koshiro. “Brother, please... be careful.”

“Of course, don’t worry about me.”

She teared up as she pinched his sleeve. “You can’t come back hurt again, okay?”

“

Haha

. Did you forget what kind of Stigma I carry? I’ll return without a single scratch, so don’t cry.” Koshiro smiled and gently wiped the tears welling up in her eyes.

“Ah...” Yoko bit her lip hard and suddenly threw her arms around him. “N-No, this won’t do! Don’t go, Brother!”

“W-What’s gotten into you?”

“I saw that video too! The thought of you fighting those horrifying monsters...”

“

Haha

, Yoko.” Koshiro sighed and stroked her hair. “I have to go. This is about protecting innocent people.”

“Brother...”

“

Oyabun

took me back, so I have to give it my all. Isn’t that right, Yoko?”

“

Hic...

Alright.” Wiping her tears, Yoko cupped his face in both hands. “Come back safe, my love.”

She pressed her lips against his.

“

Huh...?

”

“W-What the hell?!”

Sakaki didn’t even flinch like he was used to it, but Kwon Oh-Jin and Song Ha-Eun looked like a hammer had smacked them on the back of the head.

“O-Oh-Jin, w-wait... Aren’t they brother and sister?!”

“

Uh...

That’s what I thought too.”

No matter how one looked at it, siblings would never share such a deep, lingering kiss. That was a kiss between lovers.

Song Ha-Eun pulled Kwon Oh-Jin’s arm back and forth. “O-Oh-Jin! W-What is this?! Is this some kind of,

uh...

cultural thing from one of those sexually advanced countries?!”

No.

“This is that thing, right?! What is it called again?

Ah!

Incest! This is incest, isn’t it?!”

I hope not.