Chapter 159
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 159: How to Deal with a Cult (2)
I unconsciously gritted my teeth at the wounds visible here and there, suggesting he was badly hurt.
[Don't you want this friend to be safe? Shall we make a deal?]
[What do you want?]
[Who knows?]
[Tell me quickly.]
I glared at the screen, trying to stay calm.
The person on the other side of the screen took their time leisurely, and only spat out what they wanted a few minutes later.
[Tomorrow evening at 8 PM, come to this place alone.]
[(Address)]
[Then I'll return Mihail.]
[Okay.]
I agreed to the other party's words first.
[I hope you don't get any funny ideas.]
With that message, which made my annoyance soar, the other party stopped contacting me.
I stared at the last message for a long time in front of my dormitory room, then shoved my device into my Inventory. Then I opened my door and threw the plastic bag I was holding into the entryway.
“First…”
Let's ask for help.
Of course, I had absolutely no intention of going alone.
Why would I play into that mysterious guy's hands? Who knows what might happen if I go alone?
I quickly headed for Nika's room.
“Are you there?”
Bang bang—!
When I knocked on Nika's door, Nika strode out from inside and opened the door.
She looked strangely tired, with dark circles under her eyes. It seemed she was busy with something, too.
“What is it?”
“The Fox… no, Mihail was caught being a spy.”
At my words, Nika's expression hardened.
As if she had guessed something, she muttered 'So...', then guided me inside.
“Come in first.”
“Yes.”
When I entered Nika's room, communication crystal balls were scattered everywhere, as if she had been busy.
Nika swept the crystal balls to one side and spoke to me with a stiff expression.
“Right. What happened?”
“A faction that looks like the Tower God Cult contacted me. They showed me a photo of the imprisoned Mihail and demanded I come alone to a designated place tomorrow if I want him safe.”
“You?”
“Yes. It's a guess, but the Tower God Cult believers seem to like calling me 'Savior' or something, so it might be related.”
“Hmm….”
Nika slowly closed her eyes.
Just as silence was about to settle in the room, a crystal ball next to Nika flashed and emitted light.
Frowning in annoyance at the interruption to her contemplation, she soon wordlessly picked up the crystal ball and manipulated it.
Before long, someone's doll-like figure flickered like a shadow inside the crystal ball.
“What is it?”
—The 3rd Elder has appeared inside a Tower God Cult building. What should we do?
“...It is highly likely he was recruited by the Tower God Cult long ago. Give up on re-recruiting him and check again if there are any cultists among the current Elders.”
—Yes! That… um…
“Speak.”
—The 5th Elder and 2nd Elder are arguing that we must hold Nika-nim, the family head, responsible for the current situation… and enthrone a new head.
“They must be a pack of wolves trying to seize the opportunity. Check if they were instigated by the Tower God Cult, and if not, monitor them to see if they make new contact. If you see any signs, lock them up immediately.”
—Yes!
“Avoid direct combat as much as possible. Many Elders are currently recruited by the Tower God Cult. If we combine all their shares, their stake in the business side is now almost equal to mine. Damn it, it's a mess. Just how thoroughly have they been preparing….”
—Understood!
“Report again if anything happens. Cutting off.”
—Yes!
Nika broke the crystal ball with those words.
Glass fragments shattered and scattered in all directions.
Even though sharp shards were embedded in her hand, she didn't even bat an eye and spoke to me calmly.
“The Balder Family is also in this state because of the Tower God Cult.”
“What on earth…!”
“It seems the Tower God Cult has been working hard behind the scenes to swallow up our Balder Family. It is highly likely they knew Mihail infiltrated from the beginning.”
“That's…!”
“It will be difficult to rely on the police or public power for this matter right now. Tsk… They've really messed things up. The Balder Family is composed of a federation of several branches, and each branch handles detailed areas such as business and politics. The links of that federation are crumbling. Damn old men.”
My face hardened at the situation, which was turning out more serious than I thought.
…It seems the Tower God Cult has set a bigger trap than I thought.
“...Then we have no choice but to rely on individual power.”
Can't be helped.
I didn't want to ask for help with something like this, if possible.
I sighed and took out my device.
[Yggdrasil-nim.]
[I have a favor to ask, could we meet?]
If they're going to play dirty, I have no choice but to play my best card, too.
I called Yggdrasil to Nika's room.
Fortunately, Yggdrasil willingly accepted my request despite being busy.
She came here at once, and as soon as she entered the room, her face hardened at our serious atmosphere as she asked.
“What is it?”
I explained the situation to Yggdrasil first.
“—So, I plan to go to the address they demanded tomorrow.”
“Alone?”
“No.”
I grinned at Yggdrasil.
“I have no intention of obediently being swayed by their intentions. So please help me.”
Yggdrasil, who was staring at me after hearing my words, grinned back.
“Good. As a teacher, I am glad my disciple is obediently asking for help.”
“...Is that so?”
“Especially you, Nahyun. You had a strong tendency to hug bad things to yourself and hide them.”
“……”
Did I?
I needlessly looked back on my past behavior.
Come to think of it, Yggdrasil noticed like a ghost when my condition was bad during training. I even got scolded a few times, told not to hide it and to tell her in advance.
Umm… Surely, in Yggdrasil's case, it might be natural to feel that way.
“I cannot move directly to that place. Those Tower God Cult guys probably have eyes around me, too.”
“Right. It was probably reported that Yggdrasil came to my room, too.”
I nodded at Nika's added words.
It's not like I didn't expect that.
“They probably expected that I would try something. The important thing is whether I really go alone as they want, or not.”
I considered the intentions of someone who specifically put forward the condition 'me alone'.
Naturally, there must be ‘something’ they need to hide from others, even if they have to use obvious tricks.
So…
“Yggdrasil-nim, could you possibly give me the authority to command a few Hunters for a short time? I ask for people with excellent personnel suppression skills.”
I'll make a plan.
Contact the other party, find out the identity of the ‘something’ they are hiding, and inform Yggdrasil.
And rescue the Fox and escape safely.
Watching Yggdrasil willingly nod at my words, and looking at the 'Meta System' twinkling in a corner of my vision, I made my resolve.
“By the way, do you not intend to tell your friends about this situation?”
I, who was explaining the details of the plan I just made, paused at the words Yggdrasil threw out.
To explain this situation to the group….
“It's my business. It's not related to the Keys, either….”
This matter is closer to my personal business.
So it is correct to ask for help only up to Yggdrasil. She is a teacher, and she has a duty to save her student.
At least, that's what I thought.
“Hmm.”
But Yggdrasil, seemingly not thinking so, spoke to me with a very displeased expression.
“It is good to share worries with friends. Furthermore, those brats right now are a better combat force than active Hunters. Wouldn't it be better to use everything you can?”
“……”
Yggdrasil, staring at the silent me, continued as if trying to persuade me.
“Comrades exist to support each other when facing danger.”
“But…”
“If you go around thinking you can cover your own weaknesses alone, you will get hurt badly someday. That is precisely what arrogance is.”
She smiled bitterly and said.
“It is from experience. Think of it as the wisdom of an elder who has lived longer than you, and accept it.”
“……”
“Have you still not changed your mind?”
Yggdrasil, watching me keep my mouth shut like a clam, shook her head.
“Well… I understand your will. I will not say more to you.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
…I didn't want to make them worry, so that's a relief.
That's what I thought.
And the next evening.
The moment I went outside the Academy gate with Yggdrasil's help,
“Yoohoo! Junior~”
“We were waiting.”
I was flustered by the sight of Choi Sujeong and Lee Hana suddenly popping out from the side and grabbing both my arms.
What? Surely there wasn't a schedule for these two to go out together today?
Just as I was thinking that,
A heavy weight was added to my back.
“That's too much! To think you tried to go without a word!”
Na Yuri clung to my back, holding me tight.
Even Na Yuri?
I looked around with a creaking neck at the ominous feeling slowly rising.
Then, as if he had been waiting, a man walked out from the shadows.
“If Yggdrasil-nim hadn't told us, we wouldn't have known.”
Blue eyes, sunken even colder than usual, were holding anger for some reason.
I also saw red eyes looking this way, leaning crookedly against the wall next to him.
“Right. You hid it well. It makes me a little angry.”