Ch.195Chapter 195. IF – If the Cathedral Had Remained Intact (6)

Chapter 195. IF – If the Cathedral Had Remained Intact (6)

The silence was brief. As soon as MeleeSpy walked toward us, countless questions came pouring in.

“What? Are you really MeleeSpy?”

“Such a diligent young man.”

“More like a young man who’s lost his mind.”

“Why are you dressed like that? Did you get robbed?”

“Why did you only post shitty comments on the community?”

“Is it true that bodies presumed to be George’s raid team were found inside the dead evil god’s body? That the evil god was plotting something…”

“Why is the nickname ‘close-knit spy’? Do you mean ninja?”

“Don’t even mention ninjas. Just thinking about getting my tooth pulled out when I was young… sigh.”

“Are you really a spy in real life too? You’re a ‘comrade’ who uses Ruliweb, right?”

“This bastard! You’re doing… well, not really, but at least you’re alive! I’m Ghoul! The vice commander of MeleeSpy’s raid team!”

“Never thought I’d meet you alive like this.”

“Shocking… MeleeSpy… revealed to be homeless…”

“Unlike your online behavior, you actually look quite manly.”

“Hmm. Honestly, I think EunuchBro should have ended with a bad ending for narrative symmetry. A ruthless murderer who killed people getting a happy ending with his girlfriend not only glorifies villains but also contradicts the principle that good is rewarded and evil is punished…”

“There’s another MeleeSpy here.”

As befitting the community’s—no, the returnees’—biggest star (in terms of having tons of fans and haters, he could rightfully be called a superstar), the response was heated.

Even people who had been quietly sipping liquor in the corner approached him with smiling faces.

“Ugh, I’m hungry. My stomach hurts after not eating all day. Let’s eat something first.”

MeleeSpy waved his hand dismissively and sat at a table piled high with food. The returnees moved quickly to sit beside him.

Just like an idol has arrived.

I snorted once and continued talking with my companions. While I was glad to see MeleeSpy, I didn’t feel the need to go over and act familiar with him while he was eating.

“Hello. I used to go by ‘CorruptPowerKnight’ in the community. My name is XXX. Nice to meet you all.”

While Hannah, me, Siwoo, and Monkey were chatting, a man who appeared to be in his 30s or 40s greeted us. It seemed like a greeting directed at the Korean returnees, including our group.

CorruptPowerKnight. A user who never lost hope and consistently posted information even in the demon apocalypse world.

Unlike with Siwoo or Noah, I personally recruited him because I highly valued his abilities and passion. I examined him.

With his neatly combed hair and clean suit, he looked very intellectual.

As expected, he was a smart person.

“Ah, hello. I used to go by ‘Sans’ in the community. I served as Malak’s messenger.”

I greeted him as well. I wanted to be friendly since he had provided great help to the Tribal Alliance until the final war.

“Hello! I’m ‘MorningTentInstallationKnight’!”

“I’m ‘ITrustedMonkeyUncle’.”

“…’NotACatfish’.”

While we were exchanging our usernames rather than real names:

“Ah! Sans-san!”

Someone approached me. She was a young woman dressed prettily like a freshman college student.

Sans-san, huh? Did she hear me say I was ‘Sans’? Judging by the honorific ‘san,’ she seems Japanese.

The woman, who had been mumbling something in Japanese, pointed at herself.

“Atashi PetiteNoah!”

“Huh?”

What? So it’s Noah. I quickly opened the translation app Papago. Noah seemed to have just realized we couldn’t understand each other and made an “oops” expression.

Still as innocent as ever.

“Hello Noah. This is the first time seeing you in person.”

My words were translated into text through the app. Noah read the content and smiled brightly.

“What, Noah? Is that really Noah?”

“Konnichiwa! Hajimemashite! Yoroshiku!”

“Strangely similar yet different… she seems much bigger? Maybe because she’s just become an adult?”

CorruptPower, Siwoo, and Hannah welcomed her warmly.

“She’s ripened nicely…”

“Hey, you crazy bastard.”

Monkey was talking nonsense and got hit on the head by Siwoo.

[I’m attending university now! Don’t be surprised! I’ve become a student at Ochanomizu Women’s University!]

Since she had been missing for two years, did she go straight to university? I was curious about her circumstances but didn’t pry. It probably wasn’t a happy story.

While we were chatting, another person approached.

“Hello. I’m ‘BasementChoSun’.”

She was a woman in her 20s who suited her glasses well.

“All the Tribal Alliance paladins are gathered here? Let’s have a drink~!”

Siwoo raised his glass. Noah poured some whiskey, saying she was no longer a minor so she could drink now.

“To the Tribal Alliance!”

“To the Alliance!”

Cheers!

We lost track of time talking about the Tribal Alliance.

Whether it was because we belonged to the same group, or because we had shared the most painful times together, I felt a deep bond with them.

I’m certain they feel the same way about me. How could they not?

After all.

“Wow, just thinking about when we fought the Cloud Demon! My heart still swells with pride!”

CorruptPowerKnight.

“That guy was pathetic, right? Just an ordinary demon?”

ITrustedMonkeyUncle.

“The Seven-Headed Dragon Demon was really scary. I was anxious, thinking Lord Malak might lose.”

MorningTentInstallationKnight.

“Seven-Headed Dragon? I couldn’t even see the fight against the high-ranking demon. You were just playing around in the back, weren’t you?”

NotACatfish.

[There’s no way Lord Malak would lose! You lacked faith!]

PetiteNoah.

Everyone was speaking rapidly with bright, eager eyes.

After a few hours, the conversation was winding down.

“Hya~! Come to think of it, what was it! There was this strange one!”

The voice of the thoroughly drunk MeleeSpy carried all the way to us.

“What was it… Skeleton Mountain Range! Right! When I was living near there! I saw a really weird-looking demon!”

Since our conversation was ending anyway, I listened curiously to what he was saying.

A strange-looking demon? What could it be?

“When was that? Ah, the Cloud Demon! It was a few months before that bastard was eliminated!”

MeleeSpy laughed, then coughed and spat phlegm into a tissue before continuing.

He looked like a drunk Asian homeless person causing trouble in a restaurant.

“Something was wandering around making strange noises. When I went to check, there was this bizarre creature that looked like a patchwork of different animals! A demon that looked like a chimera!

It was crawling on all fours as if it had been beaten up somewhere and escaped! Its whole body was bright red!”

“…!”

I couldn’t explain it, but I had a strong intuition.

The monster MeleeSpy was describing might be Charon, who had survived the Cloud Demon—an absurd intuition.

“Even at a glance, it was a high-ranking demon. Normally I would have avoided it out of laziness, but as soon as I saw that bastard’s fucked-up appearance, I suddenly got this feeling.

This one will get stronger. Only I can kill it now. I have to kill this one before I leave. That’s how everyone will survive.

I don’t know what came over me, but I attacked it with everything I had.”

“S-so? What happened?!”

I couldn’t help but approach MeleeSpy.

“Who are you? Why suddenly… hic!”

MeleeSpy glared at me and hiccupped.

“I’m Sans. UltraSansMadWithMoonlightMassacreMode.”

“…One of the legendary Three Knights…! A man I acknowledged… urgh!”

I patted the back of the man who was trying to speak solemnly but ended up gagging.

This guy is the same on Earth too.

“So, what did you do?”

I grabbed MeleeSpy, whose eyes were completely unfocused, and asked once more.

I don’t know if that demon was really Charon or not. Still, I desperately wanted to hear the conclusion. Only then would I be able to sleep peacefully.

MeleeSpy’s lips trembled as he spoke confidently (or perhaps it was just his drunken expression):

“What do you mean what did I do? I used all my skills and finished it off. I completely destroyed it without leaving a trace. It made sounds like several ghosts screaming as it vanished. It was a creepy demon until the very end.”

“Aah…!”

I felt an unexpectedly great sense of relief. I collapsed weakly.

“Sans, what’s wrong? What’s this about suddenly?”

Hannah supported me with a worried look. I couldn’t explain anything to her.

“No, it’s nothing. I think the alcohol is getting to me.”

The corners of my mouth turned up involuntarily. Thank goodness. Really, thank goodness.

***

Back at the hotel after the gathering, I embraced Hannah.

“Mmph.”

Hannah made a strange sound but didn’t pull away.

“…”

Lakye. Paya. Kanto. The faces of my followers, including Harry and Luna, came to mind. They must be living well in the other world with the real Malak.

Unlike my worries, they’re probably living happily without any problems.

Good. Then… I should be happy too.

I closed my eyes, deeply inhaling the shampoo scent from her hair.

“…You pervert.”

It was a calming lavender scent. I felt like I could sleep well tonight.