Ch.304Berjan 02 (3)

The Cult owner and the leopard-headed Volf who made me feel something different.

Too many eyes watching to attack them right now.

I plan to have a deep conversation with them tonight.

Before that, I visited the store recommended by the insect-man clerk. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any trace of the 22nd ranked Coldblood.

‘They might not be in this city.’

The possibility that the 22nd ranked has left Beryan02 is slim. It wouldn’t be easy to escape secretly from this heavily monitored planet. And if they made a mistake, they could be caught by the ruling faction, including Jason.

So they must be somewhere on this planet. Of course, there’s no guarantee they’re in this particular street or city.

‘I already expected this would be a long-term operation.’

That’s why I prepared a hideout. No need to get impatient yet.

“Let’s head back.”

「Wait.」

As I was about to return to the hideout before moving again at night, Sky Mother stopped me.

「Let’s buy some clothes.」

“Because of that guy?”

「That’s part of it, but I think it’ll be troublesome to keep going around like this.」

She scratched her beak in irritation.

Actually, in this case, it was more that the Cult owner was behaving strangely. What identifies a slave is the silver collar around their neck, not nudity.

Moreover, her body has black wave-pattern tattoos. Anyone would recognize her as a free person belonging to the Volf tribe.

‘But…’

The Cult, with their strong sense of superiority, rarely change their minds. By their standards, Sky Mother must appear extremely barbaric and primitive. There’s a high chance of uncomfortable situations arising in the future.

「I need to wear clothes while we’re here. I don’t want any more annoying situations like earlier.」

“But I’m naked too?”

「Don’t talk nonsense. You look like a normal Cult because of your mimicry organs.」

“I’m joking. Let’s look around some more before we go.”

After leaving the slave market, I browsed clothing stores with her. We purchased something similar to a Stola. Since it’s what noble women wear when going out, no one will disrespect Sky Mother anymore.

「…It feels strange wearing clothes after so long.」

She seemed uncomfortable with the feeling of fabric wrapping her body.

She definitely looked different in those soft clothes compared to her previous beast warrior appearance. The form-fitting design revealed her figure that had been hidden by fur. Her taut muscles and feminine curves created a synergy that displayed a unique charm.

“You look great.”

「Tch, it’ll tear immediately if I transform.」

“Then you’ll have to take it off before transforming since it would be a waste.”

「During combat? Would you do that?」

Despite her grumbling tone, her amber eyes curved slightly. Though it feels awkward after so long, she seems to like the clothes themselves.

Having finished our business, we returned to where Charas was waiting.

–

“Master. I’ve found out where he went.”

In a room of a luxurious mansion.

The leopard-headed Volf reported to a young Cult man after finishing his communication.

His name was Alqadi, a silver-haired man with yak horns.

He owned the most slaves in the Street of Light and was the brother of Alshas, the captain of “Beryan02’s Defender.” His influence in Beryan02’s political circles was considerable.

However, Alqadi’s reputation among the nobles was poor due to his perverse hobbies.

Alqadi was pathologically obsessed with collecting slaves. He collected various types as part of his collection—beautiful slaves, combat-capable slaves, intelligent slaves. He even had to have slaves who already had owners.

His behavior was problematic even in Cult society where slave ownership was legal, especially in the conservative noble society.

His brother had even earnestly begged him to stop. Hearing this from his brother, Alqadi had been restraining himself for a while.

Until today, when he met a suspicious person in a store.

“As you said, he wasn’t a cannon gunner. He’s staying at the ruined hover bus center.”

“So my suspicions were correct.”

Alqadi nodded triumphantly at the leopard-headed Volf’s words.

‘There’s no way a soldier wouldn’t recognize my face.’

No warrior could be unaware of him, the brother of the Imperial Mothership captain protecting this planet. Especially not a cannon gunner.

Moreover, Alqadi possessed a special tool unknown to others. It was a bracelet gifted by his brother to guard against terrorist attacks from political enemies, alerting the wearer when someone concealing themselves was nearby.

It didn’t reveal exactly how they were hiding or their identity, but that wasn’t a problem. It was enough to know there was a threat nearby.

Anyway, the gunner indicated by the bracelet was suspicious. He might even be a member of the Sect of Voltex One, a cancer within the Empire.

If so, wouldn’t it be acceptable to seize the beautiful slave he possessed?

“I’ll send warriors to where he is.”

“Good. Don’t kill the owner, just bring him in. If he’s a cultist who secretly infiltrated this planet, we’ll have to hand him over to the Prophet Council.”

“Understood.”

“And that Volf. She must not be harmed under any circumstances.”

He had seen many Volf slaves, but never one as attractive as the female Volf accompanying the suspicious gunner.

Golden fur as brilliant and glossy as Nova metal, muscles as delicate yet firm as forged steel, and eyes as beautiful as stars in the sky.

Nothing about her was ordinary. It was difficult to imagine how ecstatic it would be to couple with that slave.

While Alqadi was entranced by the female Volf’s beauty, the leopard-headed Volf nodded and spoke.

“Master. In my opinion, she appeared to be quite skilled. If I go along, there will be fewer casualties.”

“You need to go too?”

The leopard-headed Volf was the most outstanding warrior among Alqadi’s slaves. If someone like him was cautious, it meant the opponent was no ordinary fighter.

“A beautiful contest. That makes it even more appealing. Go and handle it yourself.”

“Yes.”

After the leopard-headed Volf left, Alqadi called for his other slaves. Even as various female slaves served him, he continued to think about the female Volf’s body.

–

Time passed and night fell on Beryan02.

Though called night, the sun was still shining outside.

The Aur star system, which Beryan02 belongs to, is a binary system with two stars. Thus, two suns can be seen from Beryan02.

Of course, since the two stars orbit differently, it’s rare to see both suns simultaneously. The Cult consider it daytime when the relatively brighter sun rises, and nighttime when the dimmer sun is up.

Now is the time when the dimmer sun, the companion star, is rising.

‘Should I go out now?’

Like humans, the Cult are creatures that need sleep to survive. At night, they return home to sleep. By now, the Cult owner I’m targeting should have gone home.

「Big baby, where are you going?」

[Zzzz zz (I have business)]

「Business?」「What business?」

Adhigh Orr, who was enjoying a heat bath buried in sand, raised his head.

[Zz zz zz zzzz zzzz (I spotted some prey earlier)]

「When you」「come back」「bring us」「gifts」

「That’s right! I want a gift like Middle Baby got!」

[Zzzzzz (If possible)]

The creatures showed great interest when they saw Sky Mother wearing clothes.

From Adhigh Orr saying my ugly friend was wearing dwarf clothes, to No. 26 asking why they didn’t get any, to PS-111 who watched everything through MPS-05 in my backpack asking for genetic material for modification.

‘I don’t know why that one joined in.’

In response to the Sea Demon and Gallergorn’s affectionate complaints, I promised them gifts.

‘I was planning to transplant new traits when they developed anyway.’

This is not unrelated to why I’m going out now. They’ll be happy if I give them good traits.

[Zz zz (Let’s go)]

“Good luck. Please.”

I picked up MPS-05 and went outside.

There, I found a kingdom of sand encased in ruby.

The dim light shining on the red sand gave everything a deep cherry color. Though I’d seen this sight in the game a few times, it was completely different in reality.

‘In the game, it felt eerie.’

Some players disliked how the world turned red at night.

But the world before me now, despite its eeriness, was extremely beautiful and majestic. A destructive beauty. That was Beryan02’s night.

I sprinted through the streets of red sand.

While my four legs ran hard, the auxiliary organ under my jaw busily checked for any signs of life in abandoned buildings.

With the change of sun, the street temperature had dropped considerably compared to daytime. It’s unwise to wander abandoned streets. As I thought, I couldn’t sense any presence.

‘Indeed, no one’s here… huh?’

Just as I was feeling relieved, my auxiliary organ detected something. A group was coming my way. I quickly hid in the sand.

Shortly after, suspicious figures with covered faces appeared. They passed by the sand where I was hiding, wearing reinforced suits and carrying various weapons.

When they were far enough away that I couldn’t see them, I got up.

Despite their covered faces, I recognized them immediately. The one leading the group was the leopard-headed Volf I met earlier today.

They were heading toward my hideout.

‘Ha.’

The heavily armed slaves’ target was clear. Their master hadn’t given up on Sky Mother.

‘So this is how you want to play?’

The novelty wears off quickly. Seeing what these guys are doing now doesn’t make me feel good.

No, it makes me very displeased.

[Zzzz zzzz zzzzzz zzz (Tell the kids that prey is coming)]

“Confirm. Enemy. Confirmed!”

[Zzzz zzzz zzzz zzzz zz zzzz zzzz zzzz (Keep one alive. We need to know where their master is)]

“Keep one. Alive.”

After informing PS-111 through MPS-05, I ran back toward the Street of Light.

There’s no need to return now. The ones who went to the hideout will be annihilated by the kids.

I have something else to do. Listen to where their master is, and find him.

Before the night is over, he will pay the price for his actions.