episode_0080
by fnovelpia“It wasn’t planned… but what I did was right, wasn’t it?”
Whether the meaning of affirmation appeared on their faces or not, the sound of people who had been rolling on the ground swallowing their breaths was heard.
“Th-this was all planned from the beginning?”
“T-that’s impossible. Are you saying we moved like pieces on his palm from the start?”
“All this for just one person…?”
Watching the words pouring out as if they were stamped on a board,
Kiik -.
An ominous sound was heard. When I raised my head, the chandelier seemed to be shaking. It looked like it could fall at any moment.
“Ugh! If I stay like this, everyone might die…!”
In a desperate state of mind, as I took a step towards the inside of the room, those who had hesitantly sat on the floor shivered and crawled back. They looked up at me with wet faces covered in cold sweat.
“Let’s try not to be too cautious… Yes, let’s smile.”
***
When Atan, the boss of the Deviathan organization, made an attractive smile, shivers ran down the spine of everyone present.
“We’ve been played by him…”
Since when? How far did his plan go?
Even if I tried to figure it out, I couldn’t possibly estimate. The blood-red sword in his hand flickered ominously, as if he would take their lives right away.
The pile of bodies behind him seemed to show their future.
“He wasn’t just a hunting dog.”
With a height that looked about 16 years old, a young face, and slightly downturned eyes, he looked like a well-behaved child.
Maybe they were deceived by such appearances.
“That’s a monster… the real owner of the Nest must be that guy.”
The man who seemed to have swallowed a snake inside was no ordinary subordinate of a small organization like the Nest. So, it was right to see that man as the actual owner and the current boss as the deputy manager.
Deviathan is different in size from other organizations. It is only natural that all information in Cardisan comes into Deviathan’s ears.
However, no one knew. That there was such a monster in the nest!
How much power must one have to hide everything about oneself? As time passed, Atan’s pupils were increasingly filled with fear.
‘Why would he do such a thing? To destroy the Deviatan organization?’
No, that’s not it. If that man had tried to erase the Deviatan organization, it would have already collapsed and remained.
While various thoughts crossed Atan’s mind, Rian spoke up.
“I’m sure you’re curious why this happened. Well, to put it simply, it’s because I was threatened by the Deviatan side.”
….!
The word ‘dare’ echoed in Atan’s mind. Although Rian did not say such words, it sounded like that to him.
“The solution is simple. You just need to stop threatening me.”
Rian’s words were literally a request to stop the functioning of authority, but to others, they meant something entirely different.
‘Is he telling us to bow our heads and come in?’
‘Gulp, was all this prepared to swallow us up by Deviatan?’
No one believed Rian’s words at face value. The phrase “do not threaten” was equivalent to “become a being that is not a threat.”
In the fight between organizations, how can one avoid being a threat? Alliance? Treaty?
In this place rampant with betrayal, all these were useless words. In order to completely eliminate the threat, one must annihilate or swallow up the opposing organization.
Therefore, Rian’s words sounded like, “If you don’t want to die, shut up and come under my command as a loyal dog.”
At the mention of swallowing up the Deviatan organization, the executives and bosses all turned into ice.
“At this rate, it seems like we might really fall….”
Rian took another step inside, glancing at the ceiling. As a result, they retreated further. Rian smiled even more gently, meaning not to be on guard. The faces of the executives and bosses grew even paler.
“We don’t have time. It’s not that difficult, is it?”
Their defeat was already decided, so when I told them to kneel, the officers and boss trembled.
Humiliation and fear filled their minds. While they were unable to answer.
Udak, kkiit..
Shandria was shaking roughly as if she was about to fall at any moment. Lian looked up at the ceiling and said,
“…Let’s deal with the answer later and for now -..”
The moment she was about to tell them to come out.
Kwajijik!
The ceiling completely collapsed, and Shandria began to fall down. The eyes of the officers and the boss widened as they looked at Shandria.
‘Ugh… That’s why I told you to hurry!’
Lian swiftly transformed her magic sword into a long spear shape and sent it flying in an instant.
Chang!
The spear passed through the chain hole that was holding Shandria in place. A part connecting the blade and the handle of the spear stuck out, catching the chain.
Kwaguang!
As the spear struck the ceiling, Shandria stopped in the middle. Hanging by the length of the spear, Shandria swayed precariously in front of the officers and the boss.
“Aaah!”
“Uhuhuhuhuk!”
The belatedly recovering officers scrambled away from under Shandria while clutching the floor. Their pants showed signs of wetting.
It wasn’t a terrifying event enough to make them wet themselves, but due to the comedic filter, their bodies were showing an exaggerated reaction. Lian keenly noticed this and looked at them with a pitying gaze, saying,
“I told you. I said to tell me you won’t threaten.”
Those consumed by fear trembled and looked at Lian.
“If you don’t answer quickly, things like this will continue to happen.”
Although there was a sense of concern for them, the words spat out were nothing but a sinister threat.
“I’m not a pushover either. If you keep threatening, well…”
Lian lightly shook her head and reached her hand towards the ceiling. Then the spear returned lightly to Lian’s hand.
Wajangchang! Chaenggeurang!
As the spear fell, Shandria landed on the ground. Glass and metal shards flew in all directions. Amidst the beautiful glimmer, the officers and the boss felt a distant fear.
“Um, if you want to live, you just have to think that I won’t threaten you anymore. Got it?”
Since she couldn’t stay here forever, Lian showed them the solution and then left without any hesitation.
“Heuk, heoheo…”
“Uh-huh…”
After Lian left, the moans of fear spread throughout the place. Atan, with a pale face, staggered up from his seat.
“Darn it, darn it!”
Atan couldn’t hide his anger at the fact that he had been played by that brat. No, he couldn’t help but be angry. Otherwise, he felt like he would be swallowed up by fear.
“I have to tell them. The fact that there’s a huge figure behind the Nest.”
And so, the nickname “Nest’s Hunter” evolved into “Nest’s Black Cloak”!
It was unfair to Lian, who had tried to help those who threatened her, but she only found out about this much later.
***
Deviatan, in the midst of great chaos, left the land and headed towards the western Nest’s land.
He didn’t forget to raid the abandoned houses turned into black magic users’ or slave traders’ shops along the way. Having done similar things in the arena, he could easily gather all sorts of items.
It was fine that he had made it to the west with a full purse, but…
“Ugh… I wonder where Noah is?”
He knew Noah was in the northwest, but he couldn’t pinpoint his exact location. After thinking for a moment, he decided to just ask.
“Excuse me, do you know where the Nest organization is?”
“What, why are you asking me that?”
The person, taken aback, suddenly became kind when I pulled out a silver coin.
“If you go straight ahead and turn right, you’ll see a restaurant called Nest. It’s a store run by the Nest organization, so you should go there.”
“Thank you.”
As expected, there was nothing that couldn’t be solved with money.
***
“Hu, hehe… What a delicious smell…”
As I approached the building with “Nest Restaurant” written on it, a delicious smell wafted over. Jess’s eyes widened, and she swallowed hard. Her tail wagged wildly, and her robe fluttered.
“Should I have a meal before meeting?”
Thinking so, she headed into the restaurant.
“Welcome!”
The store clerk was much younger than expected. Around 12? 13? He looked like a child. In this cruel world where even children are considered excellent workers, it wasn’t surprising to see a child in the kitchen, where cooking was well underway.
“Is this okay?”
Blinking in confusion, she was led to an empty table. The inside of the store was packed with customers, just as the enticing smell had suggested.
“Another serving of braised meat here!”
“Here too!”
“When are you going to bring the beer here?!”
As there were many rough people, it was as noisy as the market floor. Seeing even quite dangerous-looking individuals having a meal, worries surged.
“Isn’t this too dangerous?”
Even if serving in a normal restaurant, it was worrying, but seeing children serving in such a hostile atmosphere made her concern intensify.
As if my concern wasn’t unwarranted, someone spat out harsh curses.
“When is this coming out? How many times do I have to ask?!”
“Hey, you guys haven’t even waited for a minute! There are many tables waiting in front, so shut your mouth!”
“What?!”
As a tense atmosphere, as if they would draw a knife at any moment, formed, the gaze of those around turned towards them.
“I should probably intervene.”
Thinking so, just as I was about to get up from my seat, something flew out from the kitchen.
“Oh..!”
A quite familiar book unfolded swiftly.
[ Who dares to cause a ruckus without fear? ]
Noah’s mentor, Julianna, appeared.
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