Chapter 160
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 160: How to Deal with a Cult (3)
Irritation seemed to swirl in his dark, sunken eyes. Why?Is it because things didn't go as expected? Perhaps because I'd consciously distanced myself from the Appearance Parts lately, I couldn't easily guess Na Yuhan's thoughts.
“Yeah... that was too much…!”
“Let's definitely catch them, Sunbaes!”
Behind him, I saw Shin Baran walking out with rough strides as if surrounding this area, and Min Jaeyun peeking her head out from behind her, trying to squeeze her large frame into hiding. I gathered information from their words and slowly grasped the situation. Don't tell me…
“...Yggdrasil-nim….”
When you said you wouldn't say more to me, did you mean you'd tell the others…? As I let out a hollow laugh like a sigh, Na Yuri snapped at me in a sulky voice. While clinging to me with all her might.
“Do I have to hear about my best friend's emergency from the teacher instead of her own mouth!?”
“No, well, it's a personal matter…”
“I'm pretty sure I told you to tell me if you had any worries.”
“That….”
Na Yuri's eyes were moist with disappointment. In contrast, Na Yuhan had eyes that looked calmly insane. I shrank back as four pairs of eyes turned to me. I thought I hadn't done anything wrong, but for some reason, I felt a pang of conscience. As if to spur my feelings on, Park Siwoo's low voice joined in.
“You were the one who said we should share our worries because we're friends, Nahyun.”
“That's…”
“Did you not trust me?”
“It's not that! It's just…”
I was speechless at Park Siwoo's blatant question. I looked back on my feelings very slowly. Because it's personal, because it's my business…So… I didn't want you guys to get swept up in it, and,
“…Because I didn't want you guys to get hurt getting involved in my business….”
As I spoke, something that could be called my 'true feelings' inadvertently slipped out. I was a bit flustered, And then I accepted it. Right. I was afraid of them getting swept up in my story, not the original novel. Since the original story has already changed a lot, if they get swept up in the story of me, an Irregular, and if anything happens to them because of it, I would surely be in great pain. After my statement, for some reason, the group remained silent for a while instead of refuting. It was Lee Hana's calm words that broke the silence.
“That's the same for us.”
“…Hana-sunbae.”
“If you come back hurt from somewhere without a word, we get sad.”
Calm, but thoughtful words. I raised my head and looked at Lee Hana. Her eyes were a cold blue, as if aquamarines were embedded in them, as always, but there was an undeniable warmth in that blue light directed at me.
“So tell us. So we can help you. So we can find a way for no one to get hurt, together.”
“Right~ Many is better than one!”
Choi Sujeong rubbed her cheek against my arm and spoke slyly. Feeling her tail poking my cheek, I realized I had been tensing my whole body without realizing it, and relaxed. At that, she smiled and whispered.
“You know what, Junior? Friends are originally beings who cause trouble for each other~ So it's okay. You helped me once, so this time I'm helping you. That's the kind of relationship it is. Being friends.”
“Sunbae….”
“Ask for help all you want. Because I received help all I wanted.”
“……”
I feel warmth spreading from somewhere in my chest. I felt like it would be okay.Really, I felt like everything would be okay if I was with these people. I couldn't hide the smile that flowed out on its own despite the serious situation, and ended up laughing a little. I really think everything will be okay.
“Then I'll explain the plan on the way. You have sound-blocking items, right?”
“Of course!”
…Even though it couldn't be, I thought so. I was that happy. At least in that moment.
[A Story Fragment has been added.] [Currently collected Story Fragments: 20]
[Story Fragment (Unread)]
“I won't join your cause.”
“Is that so? That's a shame. Why is that?”
At his words, she smirked as if mocking something.
“I'm not foolish enough to sacrifice my current happiness just to see the end of my hatred.”
“That is unfortunate.”
“Still, I'll keep silent about what you're trying to do. I won't help the Balder Family, nor will I destroy it. That's the price for the grudge I received from the Balder Family and the grace I received from Nika. However,”
Her momentum sharpened in an instant. It was a fierce momentum that would have made an ordinary person kneel immediately. But he just stood in front of her with a crooked smile.
“—If what you commit harms my friends, I will become your enemy at any time.”
“I'll keep that in mind.”
Soon, her figure disappeared from the dark space. He stared at the empty space for a long time, then tapped the table with his finger and muttered.
“This has become troublesome….”
It seems we're going to clash? Those quiet words scattered and disappeared in the dark space without ever reaching her.
8 PM, the time promised with the Tower God Cult group, approached.
“Phew….”
I went out to the place they demanded alone, for now. It was a somewhat deserted residential area located in the intermediate zone. Yes, alone. In front of what looked like an old mansion, I saw guards who looked like Tower God Cult members. Their faces brightened as soon as they saw me.
“Savior-nim!”
“Welcome!”
I'm not your savior. Feeling dumbfounded, I checked the Metapoints I currently had.
[Metapoints: 39,100]
Good. It's on the rise. No major variables. There should be no problem executing the plan. I tried to smile at the cultists looking at me with sparkling eyes and said.
“May I go in?”
“Yes!”
“Ah, before that… there is something you must do for us.”
Do for them? When I opened my eyes wide and looked up as if asking what it was, they took out a stamp from their bosom and handed it to me.
“Please stamp this on the back of your hand.”
“Huh? Okay.”
I looked at the stamp suspiciously but brought it to the back of my hand. Then, what looked like a small magic circle was engraved on the back of my hand. When I showed the back of my hand to the guards, they nodded, took the stamp back from me, and burned it.
Hwareureuk—!
Watching the stamp turn to ash and disappear in an instant, I became bewildered. What on earth is this?
“Please go in.”
“Ah, yes.”
I shook off the bewildered feeling and steeled my mind again. Whatever this was, I had only one job. To get the Fox back. I moved my steps into the old mansion without hesitation. As soon as I entered the old mansion, the gazes of the people inside instantly fixed on me.
“Ooh, that person is…!”
“She looks gentler than I thought?”
“You say that's the Savior-nim?”
“I want to see too!”
I shrank back at the buzzing voices of various people. But soon I straightened my back and walked on the red carpet that was laid out as if telling me to walk on it. At the end of the red carpet, I saw a huge door that seemed to lead underground. A Beastkin with a wolf's head standing guard in front of the door looked at the back of my hand, nodded, and opened the door. Inside the door he opened, I saw stairs leading underground. I swallowed dryly and moved my feet downward. As soon as I stepped inside, the door closed with a thud.
“It's dark.”
I frowned and glared at the bottom, where a torch was the only thing lighting the darkness, but there was nothing I could do. I walked down carefully, step by step. The sound of my shoes hitting the stairs rang out vividly. And how long did I walk? Finally, I saw a large door with light leaking out. As soon as I reached the door, I threw it open without hesitation. The scene inside the door came into view.
“Welcome.”
“You are…”
The Fox was waiting for me. Sitting on a chair that looked luxurious, smiling gently.
“…Mihail?”
“Yes, it's me.”
It was too relaxed an appearance for someone who was caught spying and treated roughly. I was flustered, but I calmly asked the Fox about the situation.
“What on earth is this? Are you bound by magic or something?”
“Haha. Magic.”
The Fox laughed low.
“That would be nice, but no.”
His emerald-like eyes were looking at me with playfulness.
“Noona. I'm the one who invited you.”
“What?”
“I'm the one who created the Tower God Cult, Noona.”