Author's Notes: Chapter edited and corrected by Vongrak.
Tawata Kanae Pov.
The raid on Jeju Island was over. In every sense of the word and in terms of results, the raid had been a complete success. All the ants had been killed. The dungeon boss had been eliminated. The… humanoid ant had been neutralized. And all of this without losing a single hunter involved in the raid.
That said, the raid had been a complete success.
But now we were here. All the members of Draw Sword and Hanekawa were waiting inside a meeting room at the Korean Hunters Association headquarters. We had all received a message on behalf of our own president of the Japanese Hunters Association summoning us to this meeting.
Matsumoto.
Just thinking about her made me clench my teeth.
How dare she? How dare she use all of us to carry out her disgusting plan to kill Koreans? You damned bastard. All I wanted to do was cut her head off the moment she walked through the door I was glaring at while my foot bounced impatiently.
And I could see out of the corner of my eye that I wasn't the only one. Everyone was upset about the situation. The only one who seemed indifferent was Goto. My head unconsciously turned toward her. I could only bite my lip hard before looking away as I felt my eyes begin to burn to keep the tears from falling.
Betrayal. Disappointment. Horror. That was all I could feel now every time I saw her.
Goto had been an impeccable hero to me. Unparalleled. A role model. A strong and unwavering woman.
From the first time I had met her, when I was passing through a Red Gate that some low-ranking hunters had failed to prevent from breaking and Goto intervened, saving us all, I had decided to want to be just like her.
I had trained rigorously, perfecting my skills. Always pushing myself to the limit. I wanted to be part of her world. I wanted to share the same values as her. I wanted her respect.
That thought fueled me with a voracious enthusiasm that drove me to constantly strive to become stronger until I could finally stand beside her as an equal. I… was satisfied with that. It was enough to make me happy.
But… I had pretended not to notice how she was changing. I had suppressed my confusion. I was ready to give her everything, willing to follow her through thick and thin.
Until Miyamura appeared.
I could admit that that damn idiot was growing like a mushroom inside me, but that was only a kind of mentor-like concern at best. But it wasn't about him. No… it was about Goto.
From the first internships in May, something seemed to change in Goto's treatment of me. It wasn't anything obvious at first, just small things, and they only grew larger and larger, becoming even more noticeable weeks before the announcement of the Jeju raid.
I thought it was Izumi's grandfather. Ryuma's grandfather. Over the years, Ryuma has been compared a lot to Goto, and I was sure Goto felt some kind of one-sided rivalry with the former national-ranked man. I thought that was it.
But now, now it all made sense. Goto had decided to get rid of Miyamura a long time ago for some reason. And she saw me as an obstacle. All I could do was grit my teeth.
I remember the May internships. I… had been particularly enthusiastic when giving my report on Miyamura. Despite his attitude, Miyamura was strong, and I… thought he would be a good addition to Draw Sword, or at least someone to get along with since Miyamura was studying to be a hero. But heroes could also join hunter guilds, so there wasn't a problem.
Apparently, Goto saw it as appreciation and closeness, and had placed me on Miyamura's side—a side I didn't know existed. Or at least, one I didn't trust because of it.
"What the hell was that?" Izawa finally growled, breaking the silence. Her usual composure had been replaced by an annoyed look as she glared at Goto.
"Izawa." Tanaka tried to stop her.
"No! Goto owes us answers, damn it! She made us all accomplices! We're in a fucking huge mess!" Izawa exclaimed furiously. Everyone grimaced, except for Sugimoto and Hanekawa. The only two people who had no idea what was going on were looking at the whole situation in confusion.
"She's right," Kumamoto said, narrowing her eyes trembling. "Did you hear what Miyamura said? He handed all the information and evidence over to Nezu. To that damned Principal Nezu. Whoever called this meeting wasn't Matsumoto. There's no way she could come to Korea after all this, if she isn't already under arrest because of Nezu."
"Nezu is a pillar of strength and a staunch representative of heroes. He won't hesitate to arrest us if he considers us villains. We're waiting for our judge and executioner. Whoever they replaced Matsumoto with." Kumamoto said, her eyes darting from side to side. "They'll disband Draw Sword. We'll be arrested. We'll be deported and left to be sentenced in Korea as criminals. Oh... this is awful." Kumamoto said in a panic.
"No one is going to be arrested," Hoshino said firmly, trying to remain calm. "Even if we're accused of complicity, we're indispensable to the Japanese government. Even Nezu must know that," she said. Kei sneered.
"We're not indispensable, according to Goto," Kei scoffed.
"For my part, I'm going to wash my hands of this," Shimizu said, trying to sound nonchalant. "I was never part of this damn plan to begin with. It's all Goto and Matsumoto's fault," she said, shrugging. "I wasn't paid for this," she muttered, trying to appear indifferent, but nervously looked away.
"What are you all talking about?" Sugimoto asked, confused, as she looked around the room. Izawa snorted mockingly.
"Tell our beloved and illustrious leader to explain it to you." Izawa mocked, rolling her eyes. Sugimoto looked uncertain, but glanced at Goto, who was still sitting, staring out the enormous office window into the distance. "Pathetic," Izawa sneered once more. I could see several people trying to react as the door burst open. A person and an animal entered as the door slammed shut behind them.
My stomach lurched as I watched Shota Aizawa, aka Eraserhead, enter with Principal Nezu over his shoulder. Nezu's expression was completely blank. He looked like he was staring at something utterly bored and indifferent. I swallowed hard.
"Greetings to all of you, Draw Sword hunters," Nezu said, nodding. "Thank you for attending the meeting I organized. You've saved me the trouble of going to find you." He added, sounding genuinely pleased.
"Excuse me, did you organize this meeting, Director Nezu? I thought we were going to speak with President Matsumoto." Sugimoto said, standing up with a frown. Nezu looked at her before chuckling softly—not a happy laugh, but a low, deep, sadistic laugh. I could feel a chill run down my spine. How on earth could a rat half my size be so terrifying?!
"Less than an hour ago, Chairwoman Matsumoto resigned from her position as an apology, taking responsibility for the serious irregularities that occurred during the Jeju operation and its subsequent consequences," principal Nezu said, smiling as if reading from a prepared script. "Fortunately, before resigning, Chairwoman Matsumoto temporarily entrusted me with the Japanese Hunters Association." With that, Nezu smiled broadly.
I felt like my soul was collapsing at my feet, and I could see everyone else was the same as they turned pale. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. This was the worst situation ever!
"Of course, here are the documents decreed and approved by the Japanese government, if you don't believe me." Nezu said mockingly as Aizawa took some papers from his pocket and handed them to Sugimoto, who took them tremulously.
"You forced Matsumoto to be fired." Izawa said directly, her fists clenched, as she glared at Nezu. Nezu just chuckled softly.
"Oh, please. I didn't do anything that crude. I simply... gave Matsumoto several options. She simply chose the best option for everyone." Nezu laughed amusedly. I grimaced as we all paled slightly. Options, yeah right.
"What's going on?" Sugimoto asked, confused, as she looked at everyone's tension. Nezu just pulled out... Miyamura's scroll. I gritted my teeth as Nezu began to play Goto and Matsumoto's conversation. I could see Sugimoto and Hanekawa turn completely pale as they listened to the plans to kill the Korean hunters, and the contempt shown towards us, considering us 'dead'.
"G-Goto-san?" Sugimoto asked shakily, staring at Goto with a devastated expression. I closed my eyes in frustration, breathing heavily, before opening them again. Goto, of course, didn't answer. She said nothing, simply continuing to stare at Nezu. Nezu just sighed in disappointment.
"Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately for you, Goto Ryuko, there are extraordinary circumstances that make it inconvenient to proceed in the usual manner. Japan cannot afford such a major scandal. Therefore, you will be given only one option. Of course, you can choose not to follow it, but… I wouldn't recommend it." Nezu said coldly. "A single option, which I sincerely hope you will make the most of…"
"Ryuko Goto. From this moment on, you will no longer officially be the master of the Draw Sword guild." Nezu said matter-of-factly. My eyes widened slightly in surprise. Just... just that? Goto's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Even in your capacity as acting chairman of the Hunters Association, you have no right to decide anything regarding the administration of the Guilds," Goto said, speaking for the first time since entering the room. Nezu merely hummed.
I stopped short at that. Yes, the hunter guilds, especially those with S-Rank hunters, were impossible for the Japanese government to force to obey, so they enjoyed certain freedoms. All so that the S-Ranks would remain in the country.
In small countries, an S-rank officer could easily be treated like royalty. And it happened more often than expected. In large countries, freedoms weren't as extensive since there were multiple S-rank officers, some of whom cooperated with the government to keep the others in check, but even so, we had many freedoms.
"No, I don't have those rights, you're right," Nezu said easily before looking at Goto almost condescendingly. "Therefore, you'll do it yourself," Nezu said simply. Goto just raised an eyebrow.
"And how will you do that?" Goto asked easily. "Even if you made the conversation public, it's still just that, a conversation. It can easily be argued that it was just a fake recording. Quirks and technology are that amazing. There's no proof that it even happened, since you so commendably stopped everything before it could occur, thanks to Miyamura," Goto said effortlessly. Nezu hummed softly.
"I see," Nezu said, almost amused by that. "You know, we've met several times over the years. We've worked together in emergency situations. I still remember what you looked like just 10 years ago."
"You've... changed so much. Your obsession with power and status has corrupted you more than I imagined," Nezu said sadly. "But... that change wasn't instantaneous. That... callousness toward your fellow hunters or the members of your own guild isn't something you acquire overnight."
"You're right, the Association, the Japanese government, and I have very little influence over the guilds. Especially those with S-rank Hunters. It's impossible to control them, so they're given certain... privileges."
"So you had no reason to work for Matsumoto and follow her orders, which means you were working alongside her of your own free will. While it's admirable that Matsumoto reached her position, we both know she wasn't... particularly intelligent, but she was useful to you."
"Even so... Tell me... Goto Ryuko. Do you really think Matsumoto wouldn't betray you?" Nezu asked condescendingly. "Matsumoto will save her own skin no matter what. She'll speak against you without hesitation. She's also been under surveillance since resigning and has no access to any of her devices or personal belongings."
"Matsumoto has kept records linking your name to… this operation and many others. And we've only scratched the surface. She wasn't all that thorough when it came to cleaning things up. Like I said, she's not as smart as she's made herself out to be. She was useful, yes, but she's no use to you now. In fact, she's your anchor."
"And as I said, this didn't happen overnight, it was gradual. So tell me, Goto Ryuko, if I look for more evidence within Matsumoto's things, what else are we going to find about you from the last few years?" Nezu asked, almost contemptuously.
We all froze. My eyes widened as the implications sank in. I felt a wave of dizziness wash over me, and I was nauseous. I looked at Goto almost pleadingly, but she just stared at me with a steely expression and remained completely silent. And that silence spoke volumes, more than any defense or confession.
I clenched my fists, visibly trembling. How many… how many secrets lay beneath Draw Sword? What had been happening right under our noses all these years without us noticing? All so that Goto could gain more power and influence.
We… we had unknowingly participated in some of this, like now? My eyes blurred slightly, and I gripped the table to stay upright. I bit my tongue hard until it bled to stay conscious. This felt like a bad dream, a nightmare. I could taste the metallic tang of my own blood, and I couldn't help but glare at Goto with hatred for the first time since I'd met her.
And I wasn't the only one. Everyone at the table was equally unsteady, equally pale and dizzy, equally betrayed and hurt as they stared at Goto in varying degrees of disbelief.
Goto just remained silent as she looked at Nezu, and Nezu returned his gaze without even flinching.
"What do you want?" Goto asked through gritted teeth, finally realizing she was cornered.
"You will unofficially cease to be the Draw Sword guild master. Sugimoto will take your position immediately. But it won't be made public now; you'll do so in a few weeks when things have calmed down."
"You will enter a state of probation and semi-retirement. You will not leave the country in any way unless you are given permission. You will be active for the next three years and will retire on the agreed date. If you do this, you will be able to retire quietly without causing any problems, away from public view."
"If you insist on causing trouble, all the evidence we gather against you will be used immediately, and you will be locked up in a maximum-security prison. Is that clear? " Nezu ordered coldly. I shuddered at his words. Obey, or you will be arrested. An ultimatum.
I… still had so many questions. Everything was happening so fast I couldn't keep up.
"Understood." Goto spat out hatefully, as if her teeth were being pulled out. Nezu just looked at her sadly.
"And what will become of us?" Izawa asked, completely pale and trembling, as she looked at Nezu, almost defeated. Nezu glanced at her before looking gently at all of us.
"Nothing. As long as no evidence is found against you, you can do whatever you want. You can leave or stay in Draw Sword without any problem; it's up to you," Nezu said matter-of-factly. I could see most of them partially relaxing. The situation made it impossible to relax completely.
"Thank you," Sugimoto said sadly. "I... I'll take care of everything, Director Nezu." Sugimoto said, her voice trembling. Nezu just nodded sadly.
"I know," Nezu said calmly before gently hitting Eraser Head. "We'll be staying in Korea for several days. Don't cause any trouble," Nezu said as they both turned around and he started walking toward the exit. "And Goto…" Nezu began, stopping at the door. "Even with everything that's happened… I still really believe you were doing it for Japan. It's a shame the path you've chosen." Nezu said, sounding disappointed. Even I shuddered at those words.
Goto, Goto was affected by it too. A slight tremor in her arm before Goto moved and looked back out the window through gritted teeth. Nezu just sighed and he and Aizawa walked back to the exit once more.
I closed my eyes as the headache pounded in my head. This was shit.
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