I received my information from the bartender and then left the bar instantly. My next stop.
The underworld.
There's no point in dilly-dallying up here since I don't have a place to stay. I also don't want to waste money on something like a hotel, since I can sense that I'll need money in the underworld.
The bartender told me a bit about the underworld and where the entrance was. It was near Yokohama Port. He told me that there was an abandoned construction site near there and I would be able to get in if I simply used the password, 'Satan is dead.'
I'm starting to think that these codes and passwords they have are just things they thought up straight away.
I took a taxi to Yokohama Port and took a detour after getting out of the taxi. I followed the map—I stole the bartender's phone—and got to the abandoned construction site with ease.
I entered the construction site, surprised to see it teaming with people. There were lots of people. Most of them looked to be Yakuza.
I walked toward the 'red square,' as the bartender described it. It was an empty space surrounded by red steel beams.
Well, this time, it wasn't empty. Since there was an old man, smoking, in that space. He had others around him and they were all glaring at me.
"What are you here for, youngster?"
The old man asked me.
"I'm here to enter the underworld."
I said, bluntly since it was clear that they were gangsters of some sort.
"A brat like you! Get out of here before you get yourself hurt!"
A man from beside him shouted.
"No, no... Yama, leave him be. Youth can do whatever they please."
"But, Boss!"
I didn't see what the problem was but I continued my way to the underworld.
I found a secret magic circle and chanted on top of it.
"Satan is dead."
The magic circle glistened red and activated. It passed through my body, bottom to top, teleporting me to someplace else.
·———·
"What?"
Before I knew it, I was in the underworld. Or, at least, I think it was. The underworld was a dark place. It was a literal underground city.
The people passing by all looked similar, in a way. They all looked, somewhat, threatening and were all gangsters or yakuza.
It's exactly like how that bartender described it.
'A dark, meek, and violent place.'
That is what he said to me.
In this place, I can't let my guard down. It's filled to the brim with gangsters and the like. This place is like a city always in the darkness.
"Oi, you."
'Because you look proper, you'll probably be robbed more than once.'
I turned.
A bunch of sneering men approached me with knives.
"Hand over your money."
When I looked at the spectators in the streets, they all were laughing and observing me, almost like I was a fool.
Fighting them would be a problem. I'd rather not do anything too violent. I'm not interested in them, so I'll just walk away.
As I did so, one of them attempted to stab me in the back. I moved and grabbed his arm.
This would be a good time to ask.
"Do any of you know where I can find a man named Yohan?"
"Shut your mouth!"
Others came to slash at me but I let go of the man and backed away.
They won't listen, as expected, I guess.
I took a breath in and another one out before glaring at the group.
[Tell me where I can find a man named Yohan Kim.]
The spectators stopped laughing and the men, with knives, froze in place as I used Authority.
Yohan Kim. A Korean man who, supposedly, hates gods and is actively working against them. That's what the bartender said. He was also a powerful Fiend back in the day.
He doesn't know what Yohan Kim looks like though. I wonder if I'll be able to meet this guy.
"I'm right here."
Someone said. The voice sounded familiar. It was a voice that I hadn't heard that long ago.
It was the old man who I had met at the entrance of the magic circle. He speaks Japanese so fluently that I wouldn't have guessed it was him.
"What do you need me for, youngster?"
·———·
Yohan Kim brought me to a place he owned and sat me down with gangsters guarding the place.
Honestly, seeing as he's an old man, I won't ask him to be my partner, but, instead, my benefactor.
"Now, let's have a pleasant talk, shall we? What do you need from me?"
He asked.
"I'm sorry if I'm pushing my luck or value but... could you become my benefactor?"
"You, little cocky—"
"Yama."
The man who yelled at me before, Yama, was silenced by Yohan Kim with a single word.
"Tell me, boy, what do you know of me?"
He tapped his walking stick against the ground.
"Not much, but that doesn't matter to me. What matters is the fact that you detest and plan against the gods."
The moment the word, 'gods,' exited my mouth, Yohan Kim glared at me and gave me a cursory glance. He scanned me with his cedar-coloured eyes.
"Why is that word coming out of the mouth of someone as young as yourself?"
"Well, Mr Kim, shall we just say that the gods are after me and want me dead."
I haven't confirmed it but it's likely. Eris did also mention something like this too.
"..."
He stared at me.
"What is your name?"
"Kazuya."
I wanted to give him a fake name but telling the truth would give me the best chance.
"Kazuya. We'll discuss more tomorrow. I have something to do."
Yohan Kim stood up, bowing to me.
I'm not going to try and stop him. I'm content with what I've done today. I think I'll try and find an inn first.
"If you want a place to stay, go to the Ironblood Inn. That's the best inn in the area."
"Thank you, Mr Kim."