Chapter 454
Choi Yeonseung did his best to mediate between the two sides. From his perspective, what was needed was money, artifacts, and privileges, not a strange sumo game.
After three hours of going back and forth, the officials had come to rely more on Choi Yeonseung than on Matsuoka.
“What do you think of this, Hunter Choi Yeonseung?”
“Do you like this?”
“Why are you asking me that?” Choi Yeonseung wondered.
They should talk and make decisions among themselves. Why did they keep asking him about his opinion?
***
‘Ugh... Somehow it’s finally over.’
Matsuoka wiped his forehead. He had been so nervous and embarrassed that he was drenched in sweat.
The cunning strategist called Choi Yeonseung had used the constellations’ household members like his chess pieces, causing Matsuoka to lose more than expected. However, Matsuoka had ultimately managed to get it under control.
Rewards? Cores? Artifacts?
It didn’t matter. Those things weren’t Matsuoka’s property anyway, and the negotiations had been carried out in secrecy, so the public wouldn’t revolt. Matsuoka’s priority was keeping his position and protecting the members of his faction.
Once the negotiations were over, the media would announce a large-scale reconciliation as planned in advance. If a few unimportant politicians were forced to resign, people would soon forget about it.
If this wasn’t a victory, then what was it?
“Ah, right. One more thing.”
“?”
“Your new prime minister should be approved by the constellations first.”
“...Huh?”
Matsuoka’s mouth hung open. Had he heard it wrong?
‘Wha...? What’s this asshole saying?’
The ruling party had naturally planned to elect a loyal politician as the new prime minister, one that would do as he was told.
That way, as originally planned, the politicians from Matsuoka’s faction would attain all the political power in Japan.
However, they now had to get permission from the constellations... What if all the loyal politicians they proposed were rejected and some no-name mediocre politician became the prime minister?
‘It would be the worst!’
Matsuoka was certain he would lose power if they actually had to comply with this. It was absolutely unacceptable!
“It’s not that hard, is it?”
“Yeah, it’s not like the constellations will make unreasonable demands.”
‘These idiots!’
The officials who had nothing to do with the faction didn’t know what Matsuoka’s intentions were and started spewing nonsense. What would they do if the constellations set a trap for them?
“Are you dissatisfied now?”
“Hey, if you’ve got a problem with this, then I really will kill you.”
However, the household members threatened Matsuoka before he could argue. They had been putting up with these officials because of Choi Yeonseung, but their patience had long run out.
“No! We have no complaints.”
“We just need to make minor adjustments! Really!”
“No!”
Matsuoka was taken aback. Once again, he was dancing on that hunter’s palm.
***
In contrast to Matsuoka’s assumptions, Choi Yeonseung hadn’t thought too deeply about this new policy. Having the constellations agree to a new prime minister was just a simple safeguard.
‘It’s better to take this opportunity to stop crazy politicians from reaching positions of power.’
If the new prime minister was someone who said things like “Why do we have to share information about monsters with each other? We will only lose money!” or “The city stinks whenever hunters from uncivilized countries come in,” then it wouldn’t be long before another crisis occurred.
If the constellations were satisfied with the new prime minister, then everyone could be certain that they weren’t a crazy individual.
[The ‘Warrior With a Hammer’ refuses.]
[He says this human’s eyes are full of greed.]
[The ‘Arrogant Light Elf’ refuses.]
[He says he can’t tolerate it because this person insulted his household member.]
...However, the constellations were surprisingly hard to please.
Those who were initially confused and only understood after hearing Choi Yeonseung’s explanation started making a fuss.
“Isn’t this person okay? They were never involved in any scandals. I don’t think there are any problems...”
[The ‘River of Mercy’ objects, saying that this man took a bribe and secretly allowed waste to be disposed of in the river.]
‘What...? How did they find out about that?’
Choi Yeonseung was amazed. The constellations were much greater at this than he had expected.
In fact, it wouldn’t affect him in the slightest if they kept declining candidates. Only the other party would be in trouble.
They had to finish it quickly in order to kill the amabie.
“Here, this is the new candidate.”
[The ‘Warrior With a Hammer’ says this human is okay.]
[The ‘Arrogant Light Elf’ agrees.]
‘Isn’t he too young?’
Of course, everyone was on the young side by Choi Yeonseung’s standards, but people in their thirties and forties were considered young by everyone in the political world.
The man in front of him was named Tawada, and he seemed to be around forty years old. Perhaps that was why he hadn’t been involved in any scandals, but...
‘Well, if the constellations are okay with him, I’m also okay. I just want to deal with that monster as soon as possible.’
[The ‘Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons’ asks how you will serve the constellations in the future.]
"I will do my best,” Tawada replied.
“?”
[The ‘Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons’ asks how exactly you plan to do that. He wants you to be more specific.]
“I will literally do my best!” Tawada exclaimed firmly and with sincerity.
There was no sense of falsehood or deception, so the other constellations nodded.
[The ‘Warrior With a Hammer’ agrees.]
[The ‘Arrogant Light Elf’ agrees that it is okay.]
[The ‘Six-Winged Angel Who Hunts Dragons’ cocks his head.]
-This human looks a bit stupid...
The goddess of sloth was slightly concerned.
Unlike the humans she had seen before, whose attitudes had been sharp and eyes easy to read, Tawada seemed awfully strange.
-Goddess, it’ll be fine. He’s a politician, so he should have the basic skills at least. Don’t make this seem suspicious when it’s not.
-There’s just something about him...
[The ‘Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead’ also says he seems fine.]
“I also agree.”
“Thank you! Thank you!” Tawada jumped to his feet in delight.
Seeing this, Choi Yeonseung couldn’t help thinking about what the goddess of sloth had said, her words lingering in his mind.
Looking at Tawada again, his eyes did seem strange...
‘Nah, it’s going to be okay... Probably...’
***
“Representative Tawada has passed the constellation test!”
“The household members gave the green light! They told us to officially announce it! After we do that, they will proceed with the raid...”
“What? Tawada?! How did that guy pass?! In fact, why the hell was he even on the list?!”
The big names in Japan’s ruling party were furious. Had those people abandoned all the prominent members of their faction to recommend some obscure politicians they had never even heard of?
“I-I didn’t expect the constellations to go that far down the list. I put it together to make an assortment of candidates...”
The politicians in charge never would’ve guessed that the constellations would reject so many candidates that the no-name politician at the bottom would rise up.
“Matsuoka, you bastard! Did he even do anything right during this whole thing?”
“Put your hand down! We shouldn’t fight among ourselves!”
“Undo the decision right now!”
“That’s impossible! It’d be really dangerous to drag things out any longer! The Hunter’s Office has contacted me. They said that if the amabie gets any closer, there will be no turning back!”
“The S-grade monster must be killed! It won’t even be a matter of faction if an S-grade monster attacks Tokyo. Another party will seize power!”
“Ugh...”
Some of the politicians were being greedy even in this situation, desperately trying to figure out a way to protect their positions. However, other politicians called and shouted at them fiercely, indicating that rumors had already spread.
-If you can’t persuade the household members quickly, I will use any means to force the prime minister to resign! Do something before you get discredited!
-All my family members are living in Tokyo. What are you doing right now? Are you kidding me?!
Of course, when pushed into a corner, people would forget about their interests and accept reality as it was.
These big shot politicians were exactly in that position, and their heads started spinning as they realized that.
“Tawada might be okay...”
“Didn’t he say hello during the last holiday? At least he’s well mannered.”
“Since he doesn’t belong to any faction, he’ll have no choice but to listen to us, the largest faction. What can he do on his own?”
‘I talked to him the other day... We’re friends, but he really is obtuse... I don’t know if this is going to be okay.’
One of the politicians had a bad feeling about this, but he couldn’t say anything. After all, they were left with no other choices.
‘Ah, what the hell... He’s a politician at the end of the day. He should be okay.’
***
[Japan’s youngest prime minister ever! The entire Cabinet resigns!]
[Politician commentators are shocked. A result that no one expected!]
[A sincere apology to the constellations... Were the constellations moved by his gesture?]
[According to an interview by an anonymous official, Hunter Choi Yeonseung actively intervened...]
[Why did Hunter Choi Yeonseung help Japan?]
[The testimonies of the Namahage clan hunters! Many hunters have managed to escape with their lives thanks to Hunter Choi Yeonseung!]
[Tawada has become the new prime minister! As for his future goals, he stated, ‘I don’t know, but I’ll do my best’...]
[A lot of people have praised his humble words...]
They were doing another raid, but the situation was very different from last time. Choi Yeonseung and the household members had the power to call all the Japanese clans and have them gather in one place just by raising a finger.
‘It will be a nuisance in many ways.’
Choi Yeonseung clicked his tongue. There was no way the Japanese clans would look favorably on Choi Yeonseung after turning Japan upside down and upsetting many authority figures.
Even if they followed him on the surface, they would be cursing him in all sorts of ways on the inside...
“Please take care of us!”
“Hunter Choi Yeonseung, we’re ready to go. Just give us the order!”
“?!”
However, the clan leaders’ attitude was the opposite of Choi Yeonseung’s expectations.
‘What? Is it a trap?’
He went as far as to read their emotions with his constellation eyes, but he saw no intention to deceive him.
They were just looking at him with reverence!
“You guys finally know how to behave. Have the bastards of this kingdom come to their senses now?”
Illaphael was gloating as though she was the one who had accomplished this. She even flapped her wings in excitement.
Even Barbagi and Uranta seemed very satisfied despite not saying anything. After all, that was how these hunters should treat the household members who had come to help.
-Isn’t this a good thing?
-Of course it’s a good thing, but... It’s also strange. Really strange...
Choi Yeonseung wasn’t used to being welcomed like this. Whenever he went to another country, people kept trying to argue with him, keep him in check, and find any excuse to kick him out of the country.
Rather, if any of these hunters had glared at him, he would’ve felt at ease and said, “Yup, this is East Asia, alright.”
In contrast, it was difficult to adjust to the reverent looks of these clan leaders, who looked at him like he was a hero.
He felt like he was in a different country!
“Hunter Choi Yeonseung!”
‘Ah. As expected, reporters are here.’
Choi Yeonseung was slightly relieved as he spotted the reporters. If they started a fight, he could warm up for the raid by trampling on them.
“First of all, I would like to thank you on behalf of Japan. You are going on an S-grade monster raid to save the citizens. How did you make such a heroic decision?”
“...”
Choi Yeonseung suddenly felt like he was out of touch with the times. Normally, when raiding in a foreign country, reporters would start arguing, angry hunters would throw artifacts, and chaos would break out...
‘Am I really that old?’
-Successor, I think you’re just weird...
Choi Yeonseung raised his hand without saying a word and turned away. Then, the gathered people erupted into cheers.
[Your power of existence has increased greatly!]
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