episode_0161

What I explained to the people was simple.

“Let’s summarize. If the young lady shakes things up by eliminating all the clan’s key figures and facilities, then we step in afterwards to exert our influence, correct?”

“Exactly! There’s no need for us to go out and fight directly.”

If the Violets initiate the grand plan and turn Magnarvis into an utter fool, the clan members just need to watch how things unfold and then respond in unison with an offensive.

The methods vary. They could incite public opinion through media attacks, report them to federal or academy city institutions, or even launch a direct physical assault.

“Unnie, please persuade your family members!”

If Adela’s family lends their strength to this, we can push them even harder.

If the old noble families declare, ‘These people are villains!’, even those who were staying still will come out to attack them. That’s just how the world works!

[We should report them to the Audit Bureau too! Let’s call in the school inspectors.]

If the Violets destroy the academy in the dark and sever Magnarvis’s backbone, others just need to swarm in and beat them collectively.

From their perspective, the risk is reduced.

If an ordinary clan or a mere hunter had proposed such a thing, these people would have opposed it as nonsense.

[However, the people here have already witnessed our power!]

According to Violet’s estimation, these people don’t just trust us, they revere us.

You can tell just by the fact that I was seated at the head of the conference table.

From our perspective, this battle was incredibly tough and difficult. However, the people who had evacuated to the rear only saw the results.

An army of awakened individuals swarmed forward and slaughtered the monster horde and clan elites that even they couldn’t handle.

They even reclaimed the outpost lost just hours ago.

The apparent closeness with the next head of the Cascadia family was a bonus.

[According to collective intelligence calculations, it’s 99%!]

[We are the Violets of Trust!]

Director Harbor muttered.

“Exactly, since when was such a plan…?”

“Not long ago. So, will you help?”

“Of course we’ll help. We don’t have a choice anyway. We can’t just keep taking it.”

I turned my gaze to Captain Klein. He let out a hollow laugh, looking hesitant, and closed his eyes.

“I saw nothing and heard nothing.”

“Well done!”

Even if he refused, he had no choice. Otherwise, he wouldn’t get out gently.

Afterward, the meeting proceeded swiftly. I even got the contact information from everyone in the conference room.

“I’ll contact you when the grand plan is ready!”

As I was about to stand up, Director Harbor asked.

“By the way, what about that prisoner? The girl who’s the academy’s vice student council president.”

A woman sitting on the right shouted.

“We should kill her like that fanatic! She won’t open her mouth anyway. She’s useless.”

“Good, let’s wring her neck quickly!”

“Execution by beheading? Let’s burn her instead!”

I contacted the Violets and told them to prepare a public execution.

But suddenly, Captain Klein interjected into the people’s conversation.

“Wait a moment. You mustn’t kill her!”

“What?”

I wondered if an anti-death penalty advocate had suddenly possessed this soldier ahjussi.

The captain didn’t flinch from the people’s sharp glares and continued speaking.

“You said that after executing the plan, everyone would proceed with accusations or actions, right? Then you absolutely must not kill her. That woman. Please hand her over to us. I beg you.”

“Explain it to me.”

The captain took a slow, deep breath and began explaining.

“If we leave things as they are, our 13th Mobile Combat Unit will simply be classified as having been ambushed and annihilated by an unknown enemy. We won’t be able to hold the clan accountable.”

“But there are bodies there, aren’t there?”

“They’re just ‘bodies’. It’s easy for them to claim ignorance. And you can’t hold a corpse accountable. But a living person is different.”

He pointed towards the warehouse.

“That woman may or may not cooperate with us. The important thing is that a living person can sufficiently be put forth as a suspect or a witness. Her identity is clear, isn’t it? The Federation can take action.”

“Listen, what you’re saying sounds plausible, but you’re just a captain.”

When Director Harbor spoke, the captain hurriedly continued.

“I will try my best to persuade the higher-ups. I also have connections from the military academy. Please, hand her over. I beg you…”

He even bowed his head, clinging on with such desperation. I took the captain aside.

“No, ahjussi. Is that woman your girlfriend or your sister? Why are you being so persistent?”

The captain looked around and replied in a mournful tone.

“Without clear evidence, the higher-ups won’t even consider retaliation, let alone act. Even if an opportunity arises, they’ll remain still. It’s embarrassing to say this as an officer, but the Federation military’s higher command dislikes stirring up trouble.”

I had heard in the lore that the Federation was foolish and slow, but hearing it directly from a soldier felt new.

“Most importantly, if we take her, our subordinates’ and comrades’ death benefits and pensions will be properly paid. Please!”

Ah, death benefits? What’s he talking about?

Listening to his faltering explanation, it seems that battles occurring inside dungeons are usually processed as accidental deaths, which means less money. They apparently don’t readily acknowledge injuries as combat-related unless they’re particularly severe.

[What? Does this make sense? If it’s true, it’s a bit pitiful.]

I was speechless at the sudden, realistic sadness of an adult. I could only snap back with irritation.

“That woman, whether you kill her or keep her alive, you have to deal with her properly! Understand?”

“Thank you for trusting me. The military will definitely move. I will make it happen! And…”

The captain told me to follow him. I followed him to the command armored vehicle.

“What’s this?”

“Normally, this shouldn’t be done, but please accept this, small as it is. It’s a manual. I saw you collecting rifles and equipment earlier. I’ve also written my contact information here.”

He handed over a manual for operating tanks, armored vehicles, and various military equipment.

[Wow! With this, I can drive a tank!]

Good. It’s truly modest, but not bad. He even let me get away with pilfering the equipment.

During the remaining time, the Violets took care of their teammates and waited for the rescue team.

“Ugh, uwaaaah! Salvation will come! Saaal-vaaa-tion!”

A campfire was made on one side of the outpost. The leader of the fanatics was tied to a stake and burning.

[We should have done that to Lera too!]

[Instead, you got two legs.]

While watching the immolation, the clan representatives walked towards me. Hadn’t the meeting ended?

“There’s one thing I didn’t get to say earlier.”

“What is it?”

“Thank you. For saving all of us. We will definitely reward you.”

I shrugged my shoulders.

**

How much time had passed? Something luminous descended one after another from beyond the ceiling.

Warriors in armor and cloaks, reminiscent of medieval knights, and unknown, heavy combat vehicles descended and landed.

“Who are you!”

“Hands up, don’t move!”

While the Violet unit and the unknown unit faced off, Adela intervened.

“It’s me, everyone stop!”

At Adela’s words, we and the warriors all lowered our weapons. A person who appeared to be the commander among the warriors approached and saluted.

“Young lady, it’s a relief you’re safe. Who are these people?”

“They’re allies! These are the people who saved me.”

At the mention of ‘allies,’ the indigo-haired man’s gaze became friendly. The warriors’ demeanor towards us also softened slightly.

Soon after, temporary elevators and jet bikes descended one after another. They were the lifelines that would take us out of here.

[They said we can’t take the car!]

[Uwaaah!]

Sadly, our truck and tank couldn’t be taken immediately due to the elevator’s weight limit. In fact, even if we could get the tank out of the dungeon right now, there was no way to drive it through the city to our house.

[I told the people. Let’s store them here for now!]

I hid the light tank near the outpost. With the cooperation of the Atlas Clan members, we decided to store the tank there for the time being.

As the engine was turned off, the light tank’s noise gradually subsided.

I felt sadness from that sound. It seemed our kind war machine was regretful that it couldn’t enjoy the feast of blood and violence with us any longer.

[Ruzilin’s Iron Fist! I’ll be back. Wait for me!]

It was a short time, but Ruzilin’s Iron Fist became our excellent comrade. The crew Violets sadly waved goodbye to the tanks left alone in the dark and disappeared.

[You have to get along with Tank No. 2!! I’ll definitely come back for you!]

[We’ll play together later!]

The Violets returned to magic one by one and disappeared. A few Violets rode the elevator up with their teammates.

“It’s raining.”

Passing through the gate and exiting the dungeon, rain was falling from a cloudy sky where it was hard to tell day from night. I gasped at the sight of the large-scale military force teeming outside the gate.

“It’s the Cascadia unit.”

Irene said, looking at the group arrayed in front of the gate. The armored warriors we saw earlier and numerous combat vehicles were waiting. Anti-gravity airships hovered in the sky.

“Violet. Can you explain now?”

The girl, who had returned from being the next head of Cascadia to Aegis’s student council president, posed the question. I nodded.

“Yeah, but it’ll take some time. I’ll send another me! Let’s go somewhere secluded and talk.”

“Another… you?”

To explain our plan in detail, I’d have to reveal my doppelganger ability.

A small anti-gravity airship landed neatly in front of us.

A finely dressed man ran over and opened an umbrella.

“Young Lady Adela! Are you unharmed? More importantly, the person next to you…”

“She’s a friend.”

Violet No. 10 boarded the helicopter with Adela. Soon, the Cascadia combat unit took off, carrying all the academy students and professors, with their backs to the gate.

[You have to explain it well!]

After sending off Violet No. 10, other Violets brought up the prisoner under strict guard. Lera, tightly bound, writhed irregularly.

“Mmph! Mmph!”

“Stay still!!”

I hit her on the back of the head with a hammer, and she quieted down. Heavily armed armored vehicles approached from a distance.

“We won’t get ambushed again, will we?”

“This time will be different. Because we’re outside the dungeon.”

The captain said with a confident tone.

In the sky, several heavily armed attack helicopters flew around, circling like eagles.

As the armored vehicle’s door opened, soldiers inside brought out coffin-like equipment and put Lera inside.

“It’s a special restraint device for awakened individuals.”

“I see.”

While watching the heavily armed escort disappear beyond the gate, other soldiers entered the dungeon.

Before getting into the car, Captain Klein and the soldiers stopped. They said they had work to do and had to stay. It would be a headache. Their superior, Major Marius, had turned into a ghoul, and his head had exploded from our gunshots.

“Thank you for your help.”

The captain and soldiers saluted, then re-entered the gate. I waved back in response.

Just then, the Violets’ escort also arrived.

“Kids. Get in!”

“We’re going home now…”

“I’m, I’m tired.”

The exhausted teammates and Violets got into the car one by one. Lastly, the prisoner was helped inside.

“…Where are we going?”

“Home!”

The Violet escort drove along the road.

**

Perhaps because they were tired, my friends skipped their meals and went to their rooms to sleep.

The ones who were more injured had to get additional treatment and visit the hospital.

[It’s good that the recovery is fast!]

A day later, the prisoner returned from the hospital, looking haggard.

Before, she served villains, but from now on, she will live as a worker for the Violets.

Fortunately, Ennis moved obediently according to our instructions. After half-dying and coming back to life, she kept watching my expression.

“From now on, this is your home. Understand?”

“Yes, I understand. What should I call you?”

“‘Master’ is… a bit strange. Call me ‘Boss’ or ‘Teacher-nim’!”

“Yes, Boss…”

By the way, she smells quite bad. She must have been rolling around without washing. If I’m going to put her to work, I should make her wash and change her clothes first.

“I’m sorry. This is a bit tight…”

“Why are you so particular?”

I gave her my clothes and underwear to wear temporarily, but they seemed a bit tight on her. So, I handed her Daphne’s instead.

[Ugh! Picky for a slave.]

I grumbled and performed the next procedure on the worker.

“Boss, what is this?”

“It’s a magic suppression restraint! You’re an awakened individual, so wear this from now on. It’s waterproof, so try not to take it off unless necessary. Understand?”

Complicated-looking bracelets were clasped onto Ennis’s wrists. It was an awakened individual restraint device, one that Kalia had also worn before. It’s useless against the strong but effective against the weak.

“It’s true. My magic isn’t flowing.”

“Ah, Boss. We managed to get it for you in a hurry, but I’m not sure about its performance. By the way, a bomb collar?”

“The performance is fine. A bomb collar… forget it. Just get me a few ankle monitors instead!”

It was worth nagging Manager Leslie since yesterday to get this.

“Good. I’ll show you where you’ll be living from now on. Follow me.”

“Yes, Boss.”

“Wait. Stay still!”

As I dragged her to the room, the ponytail in front of me bothered me. I untied her hair.

[As expected, her hairstyle was the problem!]

[Well, she’s still an ahjumma, though.]

With this, she was freed from the evil ponytail faction.

After untying her hair, her impression wasn’t bad.

Though she wasn’t as good as the beautiful young girls like Violet and her friends, she was decent enough to look at.

“Oh, right, ahjumma! You can wear this from now on.”

“It’s a lab coat, isn’t it?”

“Of course, ahjumma, you’re a researcher, aren’t you? From now on, you just have to research. Tell me if you need other clothes! For now, just wear this.”

“Yes.”

As I led her to the room, the slave muttered something.

“I’m not an ahjumma…”

I snorted and replied to Ennis’s murmur.

“You’re thirty, aren’t you? Then you’re an ahjumma.”

I chuckled. Only beautiful young girls could escape the ahjumma’s grasp.

Ennis, hearing my words, protested in a small voice, as if wronged.

“I’m still in my twenties!”

“You said you’re twenty-eight, didn’t you? Then you’re definitely an ahjumma! You’ll be thirty soon. You’re an educated person, yet you don’t know how to round up?”

“Ugh…”

At our sharp remark, she was speechless.

**

While Violet was guiding the new resident from the morning, Yurik was deep in thought, staring at documents.

“Haa… Where did Professor-nim get these materials?”

The documents in front of him were densely filled with complex magic circles and various magic power techniques.

He took a sip of coffee and re-examined them, but far from understanding, his head still throbbed.

“Is it difficult?”

The assistant Violet, who was tidying books nearby, asked.

“Of course it’s difficult. These materials aren’t simply a product of ether science. They’re a highly integrated synthesis involving magicology and mysticism. But my major isn’t in that field, so…”

Yurik muttered. It would be good to have another person.

“I see, ahjussi. Take a break while you work! Shall I get you more coffee?”

“I’d appreciate that. I’ll go take a short break then!”

Yurik exited his small office.

While getting some fresh air, another Violet appeared before him.

He had already grown accustomed to his peculiar employer. As he rested without much thought, a young woman he hadn’t seen before stood beside him.

“Ahjussi! You said you needed someone, right?”

Violet called out to Yurik with a cheerful laugh.

He cautiously examined the unfamiliar woman. She was wearing something similar to handcuffs on her hands.

“Who is she? That person.”

“Hmm, she’s the slave who’ll be living in the next room from now on. Go on, say hello!”

The brown-haired woman bowed her head.

“My name is Ennis Lowell. Please take care of me…”

“Ah, I’m Yurik. Yes…”

Just as he extended his hand to shake hers, a strange word caught in the net of Yurik’s mind.

“Excuse me, what did you just say? A slave?”

“Yeah, you said you needed someone, right? She’s your personal slave from now on, ahjussi. So you can use her however you want!”

“How, however I want…? Yes. That’s right…”

Ennis, upon hearing Violet’s words, mumbled and then blushed slightly, averting her gaze.

Yurik, whose understanding had momentarily frozen, scratched the back of his head like an idiot, then belatedly gaped and stared at Violet.

“I didn’t hear that wrong, did I?”

Violet couldn’t understand why the doctor was reacting like that.

[Did we say something wrong?]

[Indeed.]