Chapter 369: Celestial Of The Black Stars (5)

“

Hm? Ahahahaha!

Don’t be so shocked! Koshiro and Yoko aren’t real siblings!”

“What?”

What’s that supposed to mean?

Sakaki grinned at their confusion. “It’s a long story. They grew up as siblings, but they aren’t related by blood.”

“I see.” Kwon Oh-Jin didn’t pry.

Whatever the story was, it didn’t matter. Right now, they had bigger things to worry about.

“Me? Flirting with her?” Kwon Oh-Jin asked.

Song Ha-Eun flinched. She awkwardly coughed and forced a smile. “

H-Hehe.

How was I supposed to know?”

“Good grief...”

“Hey, what was I supposed to think when she said all she had to offer was her body?!”

Well, fair enough. That line was pretty misleading.

“Let’s get going.”

“

Ugh

. Fine.”

The group climbed into a vehicle that the Kuroushi had provided and headed toward the coast, where the Celestial of Seahorse had first appeared.

It was a long drive, far off the main roads and deep into the countryside. The path wound through rice fields, alive with the sound of insects, until they arrived at a quiet fishing village.

Before stepping out of the car, Song Ha-Eun squeezed her eyes shut from the dread pulling at her gut. “

Haaa

.”

A pack of demonic beasts had descended on this tiny village with barely two hundred households. Worse yet, a Celestial who carried the power of the Heavenly Demon led the attack. Even a nation’s army would struggle against that. The outcome was obvious for ordinary people.

“Still, we have to go.” Song Ha-Eun took a deep breath and opened the door.

Hiding here wouldn’t change anything. The world didn’t disappear just because one closed their eyes. Looking away wouldn’t erase what had already happened.

Perhaps because they all knew what kind of devastation awaited them, no one said a word as the car doors opened. Even Sakaki and Koshiro, usually loud and talkative, were silent.

When they finally stepped into the village, an elderly man with dark skin stared at Kwon Oh-Jin’s group with a puzzled expression.

“Oh my, visitors? I haven’t seen outsiders here in ages.” He was holding a basket full of flapping fish.

Despite his age, his frame still looked strong and muscular. However, he also looked like any other villager one would find along a rural coast.

Song Ha-Eun blinked around in confusion. “What the hell?”

The place smelled of salt and soil. The houses were old and worn but intact. Villagers curiously peeked out from their doorways, whispering at the sight of strangers.

Even Sakaki seemed thrown off. He strode up to the fisherman and cleared his throat. “

Ahem.

We’re from the Kuroushi.”

“Kuroushi?

Ha!

That’s a funny name.”

Sakaki’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Do you not know the Kuroushi?”

The Kuroushi began as a yakuza group, but after Sakaki and Koshiro had become high-ranking Awakeners, the organization turned into one of the most powerful forces in Japan. They practically ruled the country through sheer strength and influence.

“Hm?

Are they supposed to be famous?” The carefree old man laughed and shook his head.

“Hehe,

we’re just country folk. We don’t know much about that big-city stuff...”

Kwon Oh-Jin’s group exchanged stunned looks and chuckled.

“This isn’t what we expected.”

“Looks like the Seahorse bastards didn’t actually attack this place.”

If that was true, what happened to the supply truck that suddenly lost contact?

“I have one question,” Sakaki said.

“Ask away. I’m not sure if a foolish old man like me can answer, though.”

“Isn’t there a truck that comes through here every week?”

“

Hm? Ah!

You’re from that company?” the old man exclaimed. His expression hardened as he squinted at Sakaki. “What do you expect us to do if you guys don’t show up for two days,

huh?

Do you know how many fish got spoiled because of that?”

Sakaki could only remain silent.

“Anyway, that’s your company’s fault. You’d better pay what you owe us!”

From the sound of it, the villagers knew nothing about the missing truck either.

Sakaki calmed the old man and kept the conversation calm. After a short back-and-forth, they finally got some useful information.

First, the truck that normally came every week to deliver supplies and take away fish hadn’t shown up this week.

Second, they had called the manager but hadn’t gotten an answer. The company just kept saying that they would look into it, but never gave a clear response.

Third, for the last two days, not only had there been no sign of monsters, but not even the cries of ordinary animals could be heard.

“

Hm...

Where the hell are those horse-headed freaks hiding then?” Song Ha-Eun muttered and rubbed her temples as if she had a headache.

“That’s what we have to figure out,” Kwon Oh-Jin said.

“For now, I’ll tell the villagers to evacuate.”

Sakaki took the lead, warning the villagers to leave the area immediately.

They initially grumbled about abandoning their homes. Then, they fell silent when they saw a swarm of Kuroushi men in sharp black suits pour out of the cars. Most of them had lived their entire lives as simple fishermen. They weren’t about to argue when the yakuza showed up like a small army.

“

Oyabun!

We got in contact with the supply truck company contracted to this village!”

“Good. Did they find out what happened to the missing truck?”

“No. The company has been searching for two days, but hasn’t been able to reach the driver. They ended up filing a missing persons report.”

So that’s how the report eventually reached the Kuroushi.

Sakaki scratched his head in frustration. “Damn it. Where the hell could they have disappeared to?”

Kwon Oh-Jin turned to Vega, who was perched on his shoulder. “Are you sensing any trace of the Black Stars?”

“

Hmm...

I’ve been searching since earlier, but there’s no unpleasant energy around here.”

“What about you, Lord Regulus?”

Regulus, standing tall on Lee Woo-Hyuk’s shoulder, sharply scanned the surroundings before sighing. “I don’t sense anything either.”

Aldebaran launched off Sakaki’s shoulder. His booming voice echoed across the shore. “

Argh!

You arrogant seahorse bastard! Stop hiding like a rat and come out here! Face me, Aldebaran, if you dare!”

Of course, he didn't get any answer.

Even with three Celestials here, we can’t find a single trace of the Black Star Celestial? That either means they’re far away or...

Kwon Oh-Jin narrowed his eyes.

They’re using Black Curtain.

With the Black Heaven’s power, they could conceal their presence even from the gaze of other Celestials.

“

Tsk

.” Kwon Oh-Jin clicked his tongue and turned to Sakaki. “Let’s check the beach where the footage was first recorded.”

“Okay.”

Since monsters hadn’t attacked the village, sticking around here was pointless.

The group piled back into their cars and headed for the beach where the initial video had been shot. The roads here were unpaved and difficult for vehicles to travel on. Fortunately, the beach wasn’t far from the village. The ride took only about fifteen minutes.

“This is the place,” Sakaki said.

“Yeah.”

Kwon Oh-Jin stepped out of the car, activated his Stigma of Canes Venatici, and swept the area with his senses. Soon, he found wide footprints that had sunk into the mudflats, as though someone had stepped on the ground wearing duck feet.

Squish.

Song Ha-Eun groaned as her legs sank into the muck. “

Ugh,

damn it. This mud is up to my knees!”

She hadn’t expected to wade into mud. If she had known, she would’ve at least brought boots.

Lee Woo-Hyuk crouched beside Kwon Oh-Jin and frowned at the footprints. “Something’s strange.”

“Strange how?”

“Look at these footprints. There’s no attempt to hide them. No effort to cover their trail at all.”

Indeed, the prints were bold and clear, almost flaunting themselves.

Song Ha-Eun crossed her arms and cocked her head. “

Eh

, maybe there were just too many of them to bother hiding? I don’t think it’s strange.”

“No. If that were the case, they wouldn’t be hiding right now,” Lee Woo-Hyuk said.

If they didn't have to hide their footsteps, it wouldn’t make sense for them to hide. They would’ve attacked the village already.

An ominous chill crawled down Kwon Oh-Jin’s spine. He stared at the mud swallowing his legs. Something felt off.

Wait.

He felt a strange sense of unease.

“Sakaki, can I see that video again?”

“Of course.”

Kwon Oh-Jin took the tablet and replayed the footage slowly.

The black rift opened in the air by a desolate coastline, and demonic beasts poured out. Finally, Enceladus, the Celestial of Seahorse, stepped out.

The scenery matched the exact spot where Kwon Oh-Jin was standing, except for one difference.

“Damn it,” Kwon Oh-Jin cursed.

“What is it?” Sakaki asked.

“It’s not here.”

“What’s not here?”

“The mudflats.”

Here, their legs sank knee-deep into wet sludge. In the video, the shoreline had been a sandy white beach. It couldn’t just be the tide since there was barely half an hour’s difference between the recording and now.

Just then, the mud beneath their feet churned and rippled like a wave.

Rumble!