The Cult of the Evil God (2)
Practice makes perfect. Guiding the girl was no exception. Having done it a few times now, my hands moved with practiced ease.
The method was simple. I used the split screens of the celestial observatory. By pinning specific zones to each monitor, the girl could deduce where my gaze was fixed. She would then move toward that location. It served as a sort of guidepost.
Thanks to this, she successfully navigated her way even after sunset. Considering how pitch-black Seoul's nights had become after the nuclear war, it was a remarkable achievement.
"Now, here's the real problem."
But the true ordeal began now. How on earth was I supposed to convey, using nothing but my gaze, that she needed to step through the gate and return to the African savanna gate we had visited before? I had no way of knowing if she possessed the ability to manipulate the gates, or if the gates to Seoul and Africa simply lay close to each other in her world.
No matter how long I agonized over it, an easy answer eluded me. It was the inevitable limitation of our restricted communication. I spent ages trying to project my intent through my gaze, but the girl only tilted her head in confusion.
"Sigh... Wilson. What should I do?"
Ultimately, half-resigned, I turned to Wilson for help. She had always given me excellent advice, so I held onto a sliver of hope. Then, with a grin painted in ketchup—wait, was it ketchup? Or something else? The corners of Wilson's mouth, drawn in a thick, vivid, mysteriously red liquid, curled upward into a smile—
"...Huh?"
—and the necklace around the girl's neck began to glow. It was an emission in the infrared spectrum, invisible to the naked eye. A flash of light appeared, visible only to me as I closely monitored her through the celestial observatory.
Beeeeep—
At the same time, a sharp ringing echoed in my ears. A stabbing pain, like an awl piercing my skull, throbbed through my head. I squeezed my eyes shut to endure the agony. When I opened them again and looked back at the observatory, the girl and the fifty beastmen had already traversed the gate and arrived in Africa.
Staring at the screen, I muttered to the empty air. "Right. So Seraphina really does have the ability to tune the gates. She can control the destination whenever she travels through one. This will be incredibly useful going forward."
Though the words had undoubtedly squeezed past my own throat, they sounded strangely foreign, as if spoken by someone else.
After a brief moment of bewilderment, I stared at the observatory and shrugged. "...Well, whatever. All's well that ends well."
I couldn't figure it out no matter how much I thought about it—how the girl had grasped my will. But I decided not to sweat the details. We had succeeded, hadn't we? Besides, knowing that we could control the gate's destination was highly valuable information for the future. As long as the outcome was good, a few minor anomalies along the way were acceptable.
Overjoyed, I pulled Wilson into a tight hug. "I knew it! Sincerity moves heaven!"
I showered her volleyball face with celebratory kisses. ...For some reason, I had the fleeting illusion that her blood-red smile twitched downward in sheer disgust. Well, it was probably just my imagination.
*
Once the beastmen, led by the girl, arrived on African soil, I guided them to the lion's carcass just as before.
"It's almost completely decomposed. This might be our last chance to use it."
The carcass had been rotting ever since the girl first crossed the gate. Now, with even more time having passed, the bodily fluids had mostly dried up, leaving behind what looked like a sticky, dark puddle.
I sighed as I watched the girl smear the fluids onto the beastmen's bodies. "Whew. We won't be able to enter Nairobi again until we find a new method. There aren't many cities left with that much loot ripe for the taking."
It was a shame, but there was no helping it. Only apex predators like lions or tigers possessed a scent potent enough to terrify all other beasts. And it wasn't as if we could just hunt those monsters down to gain entry to the city; they were literal beasts whose hides could deflect bullets.
"Well, we'll just have to plunder as much as we can this time."
Once all the beastmen were thoroughly coated, I guided them toward Nairobi.
Skitter-skitter-skitter-skitter—
The yellowish-brown tide parted before them with every step they took, wary of the unfamiliar scent of a lion. Of course, with the pheromones weakened, this reprieve would be brief. It wouldn't be long before the creatures realized they were prey and attacked.
Since we were on a strict time limit of a few hours at most, I quickly used the observatory to highlight the locations of the shops I had scouted beforehand. My top priority, naturally, was firearms. I guided them to officially licensed gunsmiths and the black-market arms dealers that had thrived during the Second Cold War. The weapons we gathered were mostly older models, specifically from the AK family.
Modern firearms have been left abandoned for too long; they'll be completely useless anyway.
It was the logical choice. Modern weapons with integrated circuitry were beyond repair, but older, purely mechanical firearms could still perform decently well once the rust was scrubbed off.
We moved from one gunsmith to the next, scavenging what few older models remained. After hitting over a dozen shops, all fifty beastmen were finally armed.
That took quite a while. Probably because older firearms are so scarce. At least the ammunition is compatible. Though cleaning and restoring all of them will take an eternity.
Once they were armed, it was time for daily necessities. Avoiding the rats that were beginning to show signs of curiosity, we focused on gathering processed foods. Honestly, I wanted to grab a generator as well, but unfortunately, generators left unattended for so long seemed beyond saving. It would take too much effort to repair them, so I gave up on the idea.
Having gathered all the essentials, just as the African sun began to dip below the horizon, I noticed an ominous gathering of rat swarms on one of the monitors. I immediately directed my gaze to signal them to evacuate. Without a moment's hesitation, the girl led the group out of the city. They escaped Nairobi and crossed back through the gate.
After returning to the bunker, organizing their haul, and spending a few days cleaning off rust and checking ammunition... the preparations for the expedition were finally complete.
Seraphina marched forward, following the silvery gaze that swept across the sky. Behind her followed fifty soldiers armed with Thunder Staffs. It was a terrifying amount of power for a young girl whose only wish had once been to find a good husband and become a devoted wife, but Seraphina led them with unwavering resolve.
Emerging from the church's facility, they walked for a long time, weaving through a labyrinth of underground passages and surface streets, until a half-ruined structure loomed before them.
"Saintess, is this the place?"
"...Yes. The God's gaze is clearly directed down there."
The girl stared at the spot where the Evil God's gaze converged. It was a suspicious structure that looked like the mouth of an abyss. Although the church's base was also underground, this place was on an entirely different scale. Descending into the depths under the Evil God's guidance, Seraphina couldn't help but wonder.
What was this place originally used for?
The stairs twisted at frequent angles, disorienting their sense of direction. Just when they thought they had reached their destination upon finding a massive cavern at the bottom of a flight, they would turn a corner only to find another staircase leading even deeper underground. Why had anyone designed such a dizzying structure? For what purpose? Even the subterranean chambers of the temples built during the Constellation War were not this complex or vast.
Was it a defensive fortification for war... or a prison built to confine something? Seraphina speculated.
Her suspicions only deepened as they were greeted by a parade of monsters.
"Saintess, we're under attack! On the left! Five of them!"
The monsters lurking in the depths were far more vicious than those they had encountered on the surface plains. Their behavior was highly unpredictable compared to normal beasts, prone to sudden ambushes or abrupt retreats. This encounter was no different. A black mass roughly the size of a human face suddenly unfurled its wings and lunged at them with mind-boggling speed.
Bang!
Even when a lucky shot tore through its wing and brought it down, the creature's speed didn't falter in the slightest. It scurried away, its six legs moving in perfect unison. To its terrifying agility, floors, walls, and ceilings were all the same.
Bang! Bang!
"D-did we get it?"
"No... it's multiplying! Everyone, get back!"
Even killing the black creature brought no relief. The moment a Thunder bullet pierced its torso, miniature versions of the monster burst from its belly, scattering in all directions. Still a pale brown color, they vanished from sight in the blink of an eye. It was a bitter irony—they had successfully slain the beast, yet no one could celebrate. The scattering tide was like an omen of a much greater catastrophe to come.
"Step back! I shall incinerate this entire passage!"
Only after Merlin stepped forward and set the entire corridor ablaze did the girl and the cultists finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"...The monsters of the other world are truly horrific."
"What can we do? If even this is a trial from our God, then we have no choice but to overcome it."
"Hehehe, indeed. Once this task is complete, the points recorded in our names will be immense. I only hope our God is pleased."
Yet, this did not mean the cultists' morale had faltered. Monsters lunged from every direction. Some peeked out from the walls with countless wriggling legs; others leaped with bloated hind legs, their bodies reaching the ceiling; and some swarmed in packs, carrying filth on their bodies. Even as they trudged through this living hell step by step, the beastmen grinned, their minds entirely consumed by the points they would earn.
In fact, the harsher the trials became, the more ecstatic they grew. As they pushed deeper through the labyrinthine paths, as more monsters surged, as Thunder roared and flames blazed, the cultists laughed aloud. Their morale soared. Awakening their primal beastman instincts, they slaughtered the monsters. Watching from a step behind, Seraphina was secretly appalled.
"They've only just joined, and already they're like this...!"
The words slipped from her lips, a genuine expression of her shock. The multi-level marketing system the Evil God had conveyed through the murals was far more potent than she had ever imagined. Even though they were navigating a multi-layered labyrinth relying on nothing but a few cylindrical torches, they were on track to clear it in less than a day.
"...We have arrived. The God's gaze is fixed here."
Seraphina spoke, still somewhat dazed by their rapid progress. They had reached the edge of the underground cavern. The staircase leading to the deepest level was blocked by a barricade.
Someone blocked it.
This was no natural collapse. It was a clearly artificial obstacle. Staring at the solid barrier, Seraphina commanded, "All forces, fire."
The barrier, built to keep out the monsters roaming the underground prison, was indeed as thick and sturdy as the bizarre creatures themselves. But against the storm of Thunder—Ratatata-bang!—it was utterly meaningless. The wall was reduced to tatters in an instant. Seraphina descended the stairs with her followers.
Thus, they reached the deepest part of the dungeon. Torches had been placed around to illuminate the area, and worn furniture was scattered here and there in this lowest cavern.
"Saintess, is this truly the place?"
"...Yes. The God's gaze stops here."
Yet, there was a bizarre absence of any presence. No scuttling of monsters, no breathing of Iron Masks. Only an uncanny silence. It violently triggered Seraphina's intuition.
What is this? What is His intention this time? Since the Evil God bestowed so many gifts upon us, I was certain we would have to use them. Why is there no one here?
Seraphina looked around in bewilderment. A long corridor stretched out before them. Most of the glass on the walls was shattered, revealing the sunken streets below. The sheer power of a great civilization capable of constructing such things with human hands was undoubtedly awe-inspiring, but the trials Seraphina had faced were far too intense for her to be satisfied with mere sightseeing.
There is definitely something here. Without a doubt.
An unnaturally complex structure. A facility likely built to confine something. If so—
"Merlin, cast an illusion. Hide the cultists," the girl commanded immediately.
Upon hearing Seraphina's command, Merlin moved his hands without a single question. He slipped his fire catalyst into his backpack and lightly pressed his hand over his heart. Blue mana bloomed from his fingertips, dancing through the air to form a magic circle.
"...Saintess, this place is different from the church's facility. I cannot cast multiple spells here. Consider this single cast my limit."
With the old man's words, the illusion unfolded. A transparent barrier rose, camouflaging them from sight. The dozens of cultists vanished in an instant. Standing alone outside the illusion, Seraphina stared at the wall where her followers stood before turning her head toward a strange sound echoing from the distance.
Clank, clank, clank...
The sound of something massive twisting and crawling forward. Along with the noise, an approaching glare pricked Seraphina's eyes.
"...!"
Shielding her eyes with her hand, the girl squinted to discern the source of the light.
It was an eye. Glowing so intensely it pierced the darkness, belonging to a steel monster massive enough to easily swallow a dozen humans whole. Inside its transparent, hollow skull, it carried several Iron Masks. A faded purple tattoo was etched onto the center of its sleek, metallic body.
Screeech!!!
With a deafening squeal of metal, the beast ground to a halt and threw open its spawning port.
"...Who are you? How did you get in here?"
"First, tell us who introduced you—"
"Hey, you idiots! Does she look like a guest to you?! What are you doing?! Grab your gear!"
A dozen Iron Masks poured out from the belly of the steel monster.