Ch.30Astro (2)

“I knew you would return.”

A black-haired woman soaked in blood.

She knelt, bowing her head toward me.

Glistening trails of tears shimmered on her cheeks.

Teardrops fell without hesitation.

Where had her murderous intent from moments ago disappeared to?

The atmosphere had softened somehow.

Her voice trembled pitifully.

Yet it was tinged with unmistakable joy.

“……”

Like a lost cub reuniting with its mother.

The woman was overcome with emotion.

Though her lower face was hidden behind a mask, she was surely smiling brightly.

I let out a small sigh.

‘This is still uncomfortable.’

It’s nice seeing her after so long, but her greeting is a bit excessive.

I should probably acknowledge her anyway.

If I don’t, she might actually break down sobbing.

I struggled to speak.

“It’s been a while, Miss Lena.”

“I’ve been waiting. I’m simply overjoyed that you’ve returned safely.”

“How did you know I was here?”

“I happened to be patrolling the streets… when I was suddenly drawn to a familiar energy and rushed over.”

“Energy, huh.”

She seemed to have caught the signal I was sending.

Since entering the city, I’d been subtly revealing my presence, but I didn’t expect her to notice so quickly.

Her skills remain as sharp as ever.

“Not bad.”

“Thank you…!”

Her eyes sparkled at the compliment.

The woman, who had been frozen with an enraptured expression, soon collected herself and stood up.

“The other members have been anxiously waiting.”

“I suppose I should at least show my face.”

“I’ll escort you. But regarding the fox person beside you……”

“She’s my guest. Make sure she receives the best treatment.”

“I’ll do my utmost.”

Her response was respectful.

Lena took the lead.

As I followed behind her, Irene, who was beside me, kept poking my shoulder.

“…I have no idea what’s going on here.”

“Miss Irene.”

Her black eyes wavered with confusion.

She seemed perplexed.

‘This is troublesome.’

How am I supposed to explain this?

It’s too complicated and lengthy a story.

Besides, if I tell her I’m the leader of a criminal organization, she might misunderstand.

Sometimes silence is better than words.

After pondering briefly, I ultimately gave an ambiguous smile and moved on.

“Let’s just go.”

“Are we really heading in the right direction? To where the children are……”

“Of course. Don’t worry, you’ll see them soon.”

With that brief exchange behind us.

The three of us walked through several alleys, side streets, and shadows.

As we smoothly navigated the complex, winding streets, the woman leading us eventually stopped.

We had reached our destination.

“We’ve arrived.”

Before us stood a small tavern.

It was a dilapidated building that looked like it had been abandoned for at least a decade.

Without hesitation, we entered.

Creeeeak-

Beyond the worn door, a familiar scene awaited us.

The tavern was covered in dust, as if no one had set foot there for ages.

Just an ordinary abandoned establishment.

Irene furrowed her brow once more.

“…Are you sure we’re in the right place?”

“Absolutely.”

“There’s nobody here. No sign of anyone living here either.”

“That’s precisely the point of this space.”

It was important that it looked like an abandoned space.

To avoid drawing attention from others.

It might seem like an empty shell, but… the key was what came next.

“This way.”

Lena strode forward.

She headed to the most secluded corner of the tavern and pried up several wooden planks.

A hidden entrance.

“Stairs…?”

Beneath the planks lay a staircase.

An underground space so deep that the bottom wasn’t visible.

“Please go down.”

Thump, thump-

Without hesitation, I descended the stairs.

After walking down the long slope for quite some time, the end of the descent finally came into view.

An iron door awaited us.

“It’s been a while.”

“Everyone is waiting. I sent word ahead that you had returned.”

“Oh dear.”

That’s a bit concerning.

I hesitated momentarily.

But it was too late to turn back now. I slowly pushed the door handle.

The heavy hinges creaked.

Creeeeeak-!

Immediately, a new scene unfolded.

The damp air characteristic of underground spaces vanished, replaced by bright lights that drove away the darkness.

It was a spacious and clean area.

“Ah…”

The fox beside me let out a gasp.

Neatly laid wooden floors, a spacious and comfortable area, and magical lamps glowing throughout.

It was better than most high-ranking knight order headquarters.

No wonder she was surprised.

She probably never expected such a place to exist underground.

I was tempted to tease her about her reaction.

But I soon realized I wasn’t in a position to do so.

“……”

There were eyes focused on me.

Nearly thirty people stood there, all of them looking dumbfounded.

As if in shock.

“Ahem.”

Feeling awkward, I cleared my throat.

With an ominous smile spreading across my face, I greeted the familiar faces.

“It’s been a while, everyone.”

And then.

“……”

A moment of silence followed.

Things got awkward.

Just as my casual greeting was about to become embarrassing.

“…Boss?”

A dazed murmur was heard.

As if in a dream.

The voice, which had been frozen for a while, gradually softened, and soon the person knelt down.

It was a sob born from emotion.

“Ah… The boss has returned!”

A clear shout rang out.

The heightened emotion spread and infected those around.

“Is it really the boss…?”

“You mean he didn’t abandon us?”

“A miracle has happened……”

“Ah, the Snake.”

They seemed entranced.

The members, each muttering to themselves, began to kneel one by one.

Some were even shedding tears.

Before I could be embarrassed by such a scene.

The members bowed their heads. Placing their clenched right fists on their chests, they recited in unison.

“All according to your will.”

The air was filled with sacred resonance.

Joy, respect, sobbing, worship, love… countless emotions filled the surroundings.

It felt like watching fanatics obsessed with a cult.

My mind naturally became dizzy.

Why are they all acting like this?

And why are they still using that embarrassing slogan when I told them to change it ages ago?

It was enough to drive me crazy.

“Hehe.”

Despite everything, the corners of my mouth curled into a sinister smile, thanks to that cursed trait.

Feeling dejected, I kept my mouth shut.

The bewildered fox asked a question.

“Who… exactly are you?”

“Who knows?”

=I don’t know either.

“None of these people seem to be in their right mind. Are you really running some kind of cult?”

“What do you think?”

=I really don’t know, damn it.

The fox gave me a wary look.

The members showed no intention of getting up.

‘Maybe I shouldn’t have come.’

This is so damn uncomfortable.

***

Meanwhile.

A young girl was running through a wide corridor.

As if something urgent had happened, her steps were anxious.

Her footsteps echoed dryly.

Tap tap tap tap-!

Following her intense movements, her silver hair fluttered long.

Eyes containing the soft glow of moonlight.

Faint burn scars covered part of her face.

She had an infinitely cold impression.

“Haa, haa…!”

Neria Lightni, the vice-captain of Astro.

She had been handling paperwork alone, so she received the news later than the other members.

As her longing was greater than anyone else’s.

The girl immediately left her seat.

‘Boss, Boss, Boss……’

Even as she crossed the corridor, she kept repeating the desperate call in her heart.

The person she couldn’t find for over half a year.

All that was left was just one letter.

She had wondered if she’d been abandoned.

Despite such anxiety, Neria had silently maintained her faith.

‘Finally.’

Faith is rewarded.

News of “him” whom she had been waiting for more than anything.

The girl, who had reached the end of the corridor, flung open the final door.

And then.

“Hehe, everyone, please raise your heads now.”

Dazzlingly bright golden hair came into view.

That characteristic playful smile.

The boy was standing there as if it were a lie.

Around him, the members who had knelt earlier were offering their sacred worship.

Their gazes met.

“Oh.”

“Ah.”

A moment of breath missed.

The first to greet was none other than the boy.

“Miss Neria! It’s been a while.”

Grin.

Eyes curving into a crescent.

When that enchanting curve appeared in the scene, a belated sense of reality washed over her.

The boss had returned.

‘I wasn’t abandoned.’

Relief seeped in stickily.

Before she knew it, her emotions burst forth. Tears of joy fell drop by drop.

Neria tried to maintain a calm pace.

Thud-

As she approached the boy, she respectfully knelt on both knees.

She bowed her head.

“Welcome back.”

She took the extended snake’s hand.

Behind her unstoppable tears, she kissed the noble back of his hand to show respect.

A sweet scent brushed her nose.

“My master.”

It was dizzying.

She wanted to indulge in his scent right away, as she had in her previous letter, but she barely restrained herself.

Because she knew he would dislike it.

“Hmm~ Has it been about half a year since I disappeared?”

“Today marks exactly 194 days.”

“I was quite late, wasn’t I?”

“I was waiting.”

“Hehe.”

The boy smiled as if finding her endearing.

“Thank you.”

“I merely held the faith that was natural.”

Neria quietly closed her eyes.

She prayed with her head bowed.

“All according to your will.”

To the god she served.

***

The storm had passed.

The members who seemed to be calming down started crying again when Neria appeared.

It was a chaotic time because of that.

‘This is why I hesitated before coming.’

It felt this way half a year ago too, but seeing them today, it seemed to have gotten worse.

It felt like I was leading actual fanatics.

I felt like I’d aged 10 years.

A faint sigh escaped me.

‘But I guess it’s better this way.’

It’s better that they welcome me like this.

I always come only when I need something, and this time I disappeared for half a year.

It’s a miracle they still treat me as their boss.

‘…Come to think of it, I came this time because I needed a favor again.’

Honestly, I feel guilty.

I should show my face more often from now on.

Leaving behind a promise I couldn’t keep.

I called the vice-captain who was attending to me.

“Miss Neria.”

“You called?”

An immediate response.

Had she been waiting for me to speak to her? It felt like all her attention was focused on me.

Her silver eyes sparkled uncomfortably.

“Please speak.”

“It’s nothing major… but the fox people I asked about last time, they’re here, right?”

“Of course. It was your instruction, master.”

“I’d like to see them after so long.”

“I’ll guide you right away.”

“Let’s go, Miss Irene.”

“…Ah, yes.”

We got up from our seats.

There were many things I wanted to discuss with the vice-captain.

But for now, I wanted to take Irene, who was anxious to death, to see the foxes first.

She’ll probably be surprised.

“Hehe.”

I walked with a sinister smile.

***

“Hehe.”

The boy smiled ominously.

Irene was watching him with anxious eyes.

‘What exactly is his identity… and what is this vast underground facility?’

It was a suspicious facility.

From the expensive space expansion magic invested throughout to make it as spacious as a mansion.

To the people called members.

To the building’s location in the heart of the slums.

Everything was concerning.

‘Are the children really in a place like this…?’

Her imagination drifted to unpleasant possibilities.

A slum shrouded in fog.

A criminal organization that seemed out of its mind.

An underground facility so deep that no one could find it.

And finally, children.

‘Slums, criminal organization, underground facility… children.’

It was an ominous combination.

A chilling tension gripped her throat.

-Your siblings are in a ‘good place.’ I sent them there personally.

Why.

That statement, which she had dismissed as a joke, kept lingering in her mind.

Thump thump thump thump-!

Perhaps due to her wildly beating heart, her agitation wouldn’t subside.

The fox bit her lip tightly.

“I believe it’s here.”

The snake suddenly stopped walking.

The two had reached a massive iron door.

The girl swallowed.

“Miss Irene.”

“……”

“This is my finest work, I assure you. I hope you’ll like it.”

A cunning voice whispered.

The golden-haired boy pulled the door handle without hesitation.

“Welcome. To the ‘paradise’ I’ve prepared.”

Creeeeeak-!

Beyond the elegantly opening iron door, a shocking scene unfolded.

A blatant smell assaulted her nose.

“…!”

The fox’s expression hardened.