Chapter 60
Inside the Heaven God Cult's main headquarters. As beings who could not reveal themselves to the world, their base was located underground, forcing the cultists to live by the light of candles and oil lamps.
But even within that headquarters, in its deepest recesses—a place forbidden to all, where not even a sliver of light could penetrate—a single cultist was descending, relying on the flame of one candle.
This place always gives me the chills, no matter how many times I come.
A location permitted only to a tiny fraction of the Heaven God Cult's elite. The cultist had been granted entry as one who served the one closest to the heavens, but it was a place that never failed to inspire terror.
After descending the underground stairs for what felt like an eternity and reaching the bottom, a massive iron door loomed before the cultist's eyes.
The enormous door seemed immovable, several times the size of a man, but surprisingly, as the cultist approached and placed a hand on it, it began to open on its own without the slightest resistance.
It was a miraculous sight, but the cultist entered as if it were routine. Inside, he soon made out the familiar silhouette of a figure.
"……What is it."
"Sub-Cult Leader."
The figure was shrouded entirely in black cloth, yet the Sub-Cult Leader had sensed his presence and spoken first. Sitting cross-legged in meditation in what seemed to be his private chamber, the Sub-Cult Leader greeted his subordinate without even opening his eyes.
At a glance, the posture might have seemed comical, but the subordinate shuddered at the overwhelming aura subtly emanating from him, gripped by profound fear.
"It's about Jelros……."
"Yes."
"Jelros's demise has just…… been confirmed."
"……."
Even upon hearing that a comrade from the same organization had perished, he showed no reaction whatsoever. No anger, no sorrow, not even a hint of regret—his emotions were as serene as if he'd merely lost a pebble by the roadside.
"He had his uses…… but I was growing tired of his reckless indulgence in power anyway. This works out fine."
"……Two executives have already fallen to him. Shouldn't we consider other measures……?"
"Measures, measures……."
At his subordinate's words, the Sub-Cult Leader cracked his eyes open ever so slightly, glancing at him with the tiniest movement.
"!!"
Was this what it felt like to have one's breath catch in their throat? An intangible pressure tightened like a noose, growing stronger by the second, threatening to topple him—but he somehow mustered the strength in his legs to endure.
"Do you…… think I might lose?"
"N-no, that's not it! I just…… He's a nuisance, so wouldn't it be better to eliminate him swiftly while we can……?"
The subordinate bowed his head in haste, missing the faint smile that crept across the Sub-Cult Leader's face. It was a smile so subtle, just the corners of his mouth lifting soundlessly. Those who knew his nature would have been shocked to see it—and shocked again by how disarmingly beautiful and ordinary it was.
"Fair enough. Even I didn't foresee his existence, so yes, he's a nuisance. But no need for concern. Just as one adds spices to food for stimulation, our grand cause has grown too stagnant— a little seasoning like this won't hurt."
"As expected…… magnificent."
Treating an Aura Lord as mere flavoring, the subordinate trembled, once more praising his leader's strength.
The overwhelming power he'd witnessed long ago. With a mere gesture, he had annihilated an entire nation, a sight like…….
"Who remains here among the executives?"
"……Ah, yes! Currently, Lady Luxanna, Lord Gula, and Lord Belphegor. The others are out on missions."
"Precious few available…… No matter. I planned to nibble at the empire's fringes gradually anyway—no need for hasty action."
He spoke of devouring the continent's mightiest empire as casually as buying ingredients at a market, but no one there dared object. Such dissenters had long been either converted by the Heaven God Cult or buried six feet under.
"I've heard the chimera research is progressing slowly. What's the biggest issue?"
"Yes. The doctor's death has led to the complete loss of certain proprietary techniques he hoarded."
The doctor had been unparalleled in chimera creation, but his blind faith in his own methods and selfish nature made him loath to share. The Sub-Cult Leader had respected that, letting him have his way—but that lax choice had now resulted in a shortfall of forces.
"We can mass-produce lower-grade chimeras without issue…… but sadly, only a handful of Expert-rank or higher can be made."
"I see……."
His voice was soft, but the subordinate sensed the sliver of rage within it. It was as if every gear in his perfectly turning plan had ground to a halt due to one unforeseen loose screw.
"If quality won't suffice, overwhelm with quantity. Any issues producing low-grade chimeras now?"
"Production is fine…… but with the doctor's kidnapping crews wiped out en masse, the material shortage is severe."
Chimera creation wasn't just assembly; sourcing human materials was the real bottleneck.
"Then leave material procurement to Luxanna for the time being."
"To her……?"
The subordinate's trailing tone betrayed his lack of faith in the woman named Luxanna, but the Sub-Cult Leader gave no sign of noticing.
"No one matches her talent for handling large groups. We've used her for mental control in chimeras thus far, but redirect her to procurement for now."
"Understood."
The Sub-Cult Leader's orders were absolute. Though uneasy about what impulsive antics Luxanna might pull, the subordinate turned to leave the underground chamber and carry them out.
As he departed, the massive iron door closed silently behind him, sealing shut without a creak despite its weight.
Shaking off the eerie familiarity, the subordinate hurried to relay the message to Executive Luxanna.
* * *
Confirming his subordinate's departure with a subtle glance, the Sub-Cult Leader took an object from his bosom and placed it on his palm.
A crudely knitted doll made of yarn. Small enough to fit in one hand, it was stained black in places from heavy use.
But knowing its owner, he could never bring himself to wash away those marks.
'Heehee! Thanks, Daddy~!'
"……."
The room was empty, yet a familiar voice rang clearly in the Sub-Cult Leader's ears.
A playful, vibrant tone. One he could never forget, no matter how he tried—it whispered at his ear.
'Daddy…… what's that?'
'Waaah!! Scary!! Daddyyy—!'
'Daddy…… save…… me.'
Crunch—!
Recalling the doll's owner brought back the hellish scene in vivid detail.
Familiar faces. Villagers who always greeted him with bright smiles, now incinerated by lightning from the sky, crushed by landslides, their bodies melting under rains of lava.
Hell. Pandemonium. A nightmare beyond words—pure chaos and devastation.
'What did we ever do wrong?!'
In the midst of the turmoil, a man clutched a girl's cold body, sobbing as tears streamed down his face. One leg melted away in agony, yet he screamed skyward, at whoever unleashed this heavenly punishment, blood mixing with his tears.
'This child—!! What sin did she commit to deserve such a miserable end!!!'
But his cries to the heavens went unanswered, and in that crushing reality, the man finally bowed his head.
'……I'll kill you.'
'You took what was precious to me…….'
'So I'll take what matters most to you!!'
'■!'
"……."
A primordial memory, now cast into history's abyss, forgotten by all. Yet it clung to him relentlessly, refusing release.
"Everything…… for my revenge."