Hero Party After the Nuclear War

Chapter 19

Neo Kyoto, a city said to have been founded by people who once lived in a nuclear bomb shelter, obsessed with Far Eastern culture.

Now, it has grown into a faction that controls the wastelands, possessing many technologies from the Ancient Civilization era before the war, such as Cybernetic Implants. With this technological power, it protects itself from Rogues who plunder cities and lost spirits with nowhere to go.

If Neo Kyoto has a symbol, it's the countless enhanced humans born from such technology—and the neon signs currently decorating Raven's view like fireworks.

Because of the dazzling neon signs illuminating Neo Kyoto's scenery, the city is also called 'The City Where Night Never Comes.' In truth, it's just excessively lit to guard against the Red Grave's boogeyman, Shadow, who indiscriminately attacks humans and demons in the dark.

Dante leaned sideways next to Elizabeth's cargo bay, gulping down a bottle of beer he had casually bought from a nearby store. On his left arm was a glittering Summoner reflecting the neon lights, and two Pistols hung lazily at his waist, flaunting themselves.

If Hanbae's assassination had succeeded.

If he hadn't been chosen by the Liberator.

Then the one chugging beer in this spot wouldn't be him—it would've been Hanbae. Thinking that, Dante checked that the beer was all gone and casually scanned the label.

Hoegaarden. A beer brand from the pre-war civilization. Now, it seems a few artisans have taken over a factory that survived the nukes and are brewing beer again, but could the taste really be the same as 200 years ago?

While briefly indulging in such pointless thoughts, Dante casually tossed the glass bottle onto the ground. The sound of it shattering rang briefly, but it wasn't enough to disrupt the silence of the parking lot where Elizabeth was parked.

Carefully opening the driver's side door to peek inside, he saw Eris completely passed out in the seat, having driven under tension for so long. She had reclined the seat and was sleeping under a blanket.

Now that they were inside Neo Kyoto, there was no danger of Shadow ambushing them. Dante pulled out Elizabeth's car key, locked the doors thoroughly, and dove into the neon-lit city.

Maybe because he had stayed in Neo Kyoto for quite some time, his presence seemed to be well known among the local residents.

Of course, due to the reputation he had built here, people's impression of Dante was understandably negative—after all, he had shot someone dead the moment he arrived.

Because of that, the atmosphere grew tense every time he passed by. Even the Samurai patrolling for public safety kept a wary eye on him, watching closely to see if he'd cause trouble.

"One of these, please."

Dante bought a basket of the best-looking apples from a nearby fruit stand and looked up at the towering structure in the center of Neo Kyoto.

Neo Kyoto Tower.

According to the intel Hanbae had, McKinsey and Hanbae were supposed to meet at Kyoto Tower to negotiate payment once the job was done.

Then I guess it's about time I collect that debt.

Dante clicked the Summoner on his left arm a few times for some 'preparations,' then calmly followed the road toward Neo Kyoto Tower.

Since it was a facility used by the upper class—or more precisely, those with jingling coins in their pockets—there were an unusually large number of guards stationed at the entrance.

Among them were a few Demonic Samurai, as well as some armed with ordinary guns and bulletproof vests. The only good news was that none of them seemed to have a Summoner or looked like a Psycher.

"Stop right there."

Just as Dante was about to enter the tower, a Samurai on guard blocked his way.

"Sorry, but weapons are not allowed inside Kyoto Tower. Mr. Raven, I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to surrender all your weapons here."

Dante silently handed over the Pistols from his waist and calmly turned in the explosives hidden inside his coat. To avoid any issues, he also gave up his Knife and Machete.

"Is that enough for you?"

When Dante asked with a hint of sarcasm, the guarding Samurai scoffed and replied.

"You're Raven, right? I heard all Ravens are Magic users. Try anything funny, and the Shogunate won't forgive you."

"Don't be so stiff. I just came to have some fun with a girl. Maybe gamble a bit. No need to be so uptight."

As proof he came to gamble, Dante shook a bundle full of coins in front of the guard and flashed a sociable smile. Fooled by Dante's flawless act, the guard finally relaxed and let him in.

Once inside and up the elevator, the first to greet him were women dressed as bunny girls.

Not sure what the job of 'Deliveryman' was like 200 years ago, but as a Deliveryman working for 'Raven's Logistics,' Raven earns a pretty high average income.

With high-risk requests, a single job or two can earn enough to relax for a month or two.

On top of that, Dante has a Charisma of 9 without any stat buffs—a dangerously charming man. With money and looks far beyond average, there was no reason the call girls wouldn't flock to him.

Two waitresses in extremely revealing bunny girl outfits clung to either side of Raven, eager to make something happen with this dangerously charming man—and to earn money while they were at it.

"Ahaha! It's Raven oppa!"

"Oppa came to spend some money, huh!"

"Yeah, yeah. I've got a quick meeting with a Client. Sorry."

"Ehh? Can't you play with us first and then go to your meeting?"

"Once the job's done, more of that money will end up in you pretty girls' hands. Just wait a bit. I've got a question—do you know someone named McKinsey? He's my Client."

"Hmm. Normally we're not supposed to say this kind of thing, but... I guess it's okay for you, oppa. He's probably hanging out at the rooftop observatory right now."

"Thanks."

With a service smile, Raven pulled a decent-looking fruit from the basket on his left arm and handed it to the girls.

"Have one each. I picked them up on the way."

"Thanks, oppa!"

Leaving the bunny girls behind, he headed up to the rooftop observatory. Just as he expected, McKinsey was there, drinking with about three women clinging to him.

"Yo!"

When Dante waved in greeting, McKinsey's face went pale, as if he had just seen Shadow, despite having been laughing and drinking with the women moments before.

And with good reason—he had hired Hanbae to assassinate him, and the man who should be dead was now alive and here to collect payment.

"Hic. R-Raven..."

"Long time no see. What's wrong? Did you eat something bad? Too much alcohol?"

When Raven asked innocently, pretending not to know anything, McKinsey thought to himself.

If I panic now, Dante might realize I was the one who hired Hanbae. I have to act calm. It's the only way to survive.

"Ahem. I see. It has been quite a while, Raven."

"I want to talk about the job for a minute. Want to meet in a private room?"

"S-Sure. Let's do that."

"Alright ladies, party's over. Sorry, I'll come back later."

Apologizing to the prostitutes who had been hanging out with McKinsey, Dante followed him into a suite inside the Neo Kyoto hotel.

After confirming there were no eavesdroppers, Dante placed the fruit basket on a shelf, approached the jukebox installed in the suite, and inserted a record he had brought himself.

"Let me play some music. I don't like this quiet vibe."

"D-Do as you like."

"You know a band called Queen? I personally love them. Bohemian Rhapsody, Killer Queen, We Will Rock You. Every single one's a masterpiece. Hard to believe they were from 200 years ago."

"N-Nope, never heard of them."

"Wow! You don't know Queen? You've wasted half your life. Anyway, I'm playing it."

As Raven began playing the record, the terrified McKinsey coughed, trying hard to stay composed.

"S-So... what happened to the Holy Sword?"

"I went through hell trying to get it. But in the end, I couldn't."

"You couldn't get it?"

"There seems to be a Security Mechanism on it. I'm too dumb to get the details, but apparently only the chosen one can draw it—it's protected by Magic. I couldn't figure out how to break it. Tried brute force a few times, but no luck."

"I see. Probably to prevent anyone but the Hero from using such a weapon of war. Anyway, you worked hard. Thanks, Raven."

"Honestly... I feel a little guilty."

Dante scratched his cheek and asked.

"I guess... I won't get paid? I got stabbed in the gut going after that thing. Some weird ninja was tailing me. I almost died."

Dante lifted his coat and shirt slightly, revealing the bandages wrapped tightly around his torso, and smiled.

"T-That sounds dangerous. So what did you do?"

"I killed him instead. Wasn't much, really. He had a bunch of cybernetic prosthetics. Worked out—I'll sell them off as junk parts. But something's bugging me."

"What is it?"

"I don't know who the employer was. Why someone wanted me dead. I can't make sense of it. All the data was wiped... not a single clue. I'm desperate to grab at anything. You know anything?"

When he asked McKinsey, he feigned ignorance and shook his head.

"No idea. Maybe it was an assassin sent by the leader of a group that didn't want the Holy Sword to fall into the hands of the organization I'm part of."

"You're with Holy?"

"Yes."

"Hmm. Got it. Anyway. Could you at least cover my medical bills? I nearly died trying to get that thing."

"...Fine. I can give you about ten thousand."

"Ten thousand? Stingy. That's gone in a few rounds of pachinko... Whatever. I guess it's my fault I didn't get the Holy Sword."

Speaking nonchalantly, Dante shook hands with McKinsey and glanced at the jukebox. A trendy beat from one of his favorite Queen songs was playing.

[Another one bites the dust!

Another one bites the dust.

And another one gone, and another one gone

Another one goes, another one goes

Another one bites the dust, yeah

Another one bites the dust!]

"Well then, excuse me. Ah, I'll leave the fruit. Eat it if you want."

With those parting words, Dante pulled out the record from the jukebox and calmly exited the suite.

Then, with a grim face, he lit a cigarette and told the bunny girls who blocked his path that he needed to step out for some air.

Taking the elevator down, Dante pulled out a match from his pocket, lit it with one hand, and ignited the end of his cigarette. He then reclaimed the Pistols and grenades the guards had confiscated.

"See? Told you nothing would happen. Geez."

Slipping the Pistols back into his empty holster, Dante smiled and exhaled smoke. And in the moment the guards looked away, he issued a Command to his Servants.

"Jack, blow it up."

[Jack O'Lantern: Rune of Explosion/Activation.]

* * *

McKinsey, thinking he'd finally gotten past a major hurdle, collapsed onto the suite bed. Fortunately, that idiot Raven never realized he was the one who had hired Hanbae.

Before that guy could start seriously gathering information and uncover that he was behind it all, he had to get out of Neo Kyoto as fast as possible and return to Holy's headquarters... to the 'Order'.

"Ugh!?"

Due to excessive tension and the alcohol he had consumed, he staggered as he got up and accidentally fell toward the fruit basket Raven had given him.

Just then, the fruits Raven had left as a gift spilled out.

One apple, dyed red, caught his eye.

Like it had been eaten by bugs, its surface was charred black... and an eerie 'character' was etched into it.

"What... is this?"

The moment he absentmindedly picked up the apple, the 'character' carved into its skin began to glow red-hot and unleashed an enormous amount of magical power.

"Th-this thiiing!!!"

McKinsey tried to throw the apple away in a panic, but it was already too late.

BOOOOM!!!!

The effect of the 'Rune of Explosion' activated in his hand.

Engulfed by ghostly flames, McKinsey was vaporized on the spot without leaving a trace, unable to scream or even feel pain.

And at that exact moment,

beneath Kyoto Tower, the humming of a man in a black coat—half-human, half-demon—was drifting through the air.

"Another one bites the dust, And another one gone, and another one gone. Another one bites the dust, yeah!"