The Ground of Fanaticism 2

“Nikun has given us good words!”

“To share the gospel with you all.”

“Good words are rare, so it’s only natural that you, sister, join us!”

“Come here.”

Being surrounded by fanatics who not only worship parasites but also have those parasites embedded in their heads might seem quite dangerous.

“M, Marlang…”

However, what’s more dangerous than those parasites is, surprisingly, the immortal girl Marlang.

If she were just an immortal girl with no strength and only regeneration, she might be captured by some cult and become a perpetual sacrifice or a sex toy for the believers. But Marlang, standing next to me, wasn’t just someone with a little bit of special power; she was an existence that possessed Overseer Sohi’s abilities and potential as they were.

That means she’s far more dangerous and stronger than some crazy fanatics.

“Sauce-Pouring Scion!!!!”

-Thwack!

In the end, Marlang, unable to bear it any longer, began to slice apart the approaching Nikun followers with her mana-infused claws.

Her eyes were as adorable as a girl startled by a horror comic, but the sight of dozens of people’s upper and lower bodies being separated with a single gesture was quite horrifying.

I, too, generally believe that killing people should be a last resort and avoided as much as possible, but that doesn’t apply on this layer.

Is there a reason why this place is a den of fanatical believers? Living on the Enchantment of the Fallen layer in the Ark also means that they are humans who have long abandoned human decency and deserve to die.

“Sauce-Pouring Scions!!! Mint Chocolate Zealots!!!”

-Thwack! Thud!

“Kkeuaak!”

“Aaaagh… Nikun, O Lord.”

As the hosts died, the Nikun parasites themselves burst through their heads and flailed their tentacles, but they couldn’t penetrate Marlang’s mana barrier. The followers began to pile up neatly on the street like cuts of meat displayed in a butcher shop.

But even so, no one cared.

“Today is the day our gospel will be realized in this place!”

“Faith is heaven! Disbelief is hell!”

“The sorrows of the insignificant will be harvested today!”

Even though human blood and flesh were splattered on the streets from broad daylight, the various fanatics were busy spreading their respective beliefs and gospels.

It was truly bizarre.

Marlang was butchering Nikun’s hosts, and next to her, young girls, their faces covered in blood, were praising in incomprehensible languages with gleaming eyes, spreading the gospel.

“Hah, hah, haaah…”

“Stop, you’ve worked hard, Marlang.”

“M, Marlang… Waaah, parasites… Sauce-Pouring… Waaaaah….”

“There, there, Marlang, you’ve suffered.”

Even though Marlang’s sensibility was that of a young girl, she had inherited Sohi’s abilities, so she had seen through Nikun’s filthy and grotesque true form. Even Marlang, who was quite resistant to gruesome things, was shuddering today.

“Actually, we could have just avoided them.”

“Waaah, they have to die… They’re dirty. Scary. Disgusting. Horrible… Sauce-Pouring… Waaaaah…”

“Is that so?”

【Human, the analysis of Nikun is complete.】

‘Good job.’

Thanks to Marlang, the data collection from Nikun and the hosts’ corpses was quickly completed.

Why do I suddenly need to collect their data, you ask?

Because I’m an Overseer.

Being an Overseer isn’t just a job like a mercenary who receives missions and goes to fight. The raison d’être of the Overseer position is to comprehensively monitor incidents and accidents related to the layers and to prevent them from turning into calamities.

That meant I had to investigate not only these parasite worshippers but also the behavior of the fanatics spread throughout this layer and their basic methods of worship.

‘But at least this mission isn’t about beating up the fanatics of the Enchantment of the Fallen layer.’

Nikun and its followers were just something I happened to see while passing by and was investigating on the sly. The real mission, as the hologram data told me, was to monitor the shaman who gives birth to insects and death.

“Marlang, shake off the blood. Follow me carefully. It would be a disaster if you got lost this time, okay?”

“Waaah, Marlang….”

In the Ruincrest layer, it wouldn’t have been a big deal if Marlang had suddenly disappeared while following me, but as soon as we arrived at the Enchantment of the Fallen layer, Marlang, who seemed to have received a mind-blowing shock, quietly and obediently followed behind me.

It was quite rare to see an immortal girl with physical abilities comparable to a First-Class Overseer and immortality being frightened.

‘Hmm, it looks like a decent layer on the surface, though.’

It’s not comparable to Ruincrest, but this place is also a relatively wealthy and comfortable layer.

Perhaps it’s because some of the fanatics are members of mega corps or wealthy individuals, including nobles. Once they fall into fanaticism, it’s not uncommon for them to pour a lot of capital into this layer.

First of all, the Enchantment of the Fallen layer, unlike other layers, exudes a rather unusual aura from its very name.

Go means belly worm, parasite.

Hok means to bewilder and enchant.

義 (Ui) means right, and 刻 (Gak) means to engrave and peel off.

In simple terms, it means that being bewitched by insignificant creatures is right in this place.

The religions or beliefs that the fanatics believe in can’t possibly be religions that benefit humans, right?

In this layer, belief is evil to humans, encourages murder and crime, and the doctrine is to accumulate evil deeds for the believers.

In short, this layer is a place where those who believe in the devils and insects of hell, rather than believing in gods and universal ethics, gather.

It may sound ridiculous, but the Ark Central Administration affirms the existence of this layer.

Is it also human to be stained with fanaticism and to commit evil deeds?

Even so, the Central Administration had its own reasons for affirming this fanaticism on a layer-by-layer basis.

-Instead of ignoring or trying to eliminate the filth and causing it to explode, it’s better to gather it in one place and manage it easily.-

Rather than having it spread all over the Ark, contaminating the minds of an unspecified number of people and causing terrorism and rebellion disguised as fanaticism, they would gather it in one place and thoroughly monitor it to prevent it from leaking out.

This wasn’t just a matter of pretending not to know about the existence of fanaticism; they were actively expanding the scale of the Enchantment of the Fallen layer little by little.

They were expanding the facilities to attract more people, and the security maintenance drones and executors were only allowed to patrol designated areas, encouraging the activities of the fanatics.

In terms of appearance alone, it was much better to live in than the Kowloon Residential Area, and thanks to the fact that the rich layer was nearby, it was easy to attract poor workers by saying, ‘In our land, blessed by the gods, flows milk and honey, and meat soup and white rice!’

The population density was also lower compared to other residential areas, and it was easy to attract capital because the wealthy layer was nearby. Moreover, the Ark Administration deliberately guaranteed a minimum standard of living and welfare, so the Enchantment of the Fallen layer was a very decent place to live comfortably for the average person.

“Don’t run away! Sister!”

“Let us imbibe the truth together!”

“Sinner! Praise! For you have been blessed to be a sacrifice this very day!”

“Today is the day the heavens open! If that very day when the Lord judges comes, the Lord who has torn open the heavens will give us this great judgment, and make this land and the body of God one!”

Aaaah—what a mess.

The closer we got to the center of the layer, the more bizarre the sights became.

In the middle of perfectly normal alleys and streets, someone was being stabbed to death at random as a sacrifice, and a river of blood was floating in the air as if an Awakened was performing some kind of magic.

Marlang, unable to bear it any longer, even deployed an anti-mana barrier to block the approach of the fanatics, but even though their skin was being scraped off when they touched the barrier, the fanatics were reaching out to me and Marlang.

This place was literally the center of ominousness and all kinds of twisted beliefs.

In the middle of the road, there was a dilapidated shrine or altar, and the surrounding area was covered in eerily dried blood.

Torn amulets, upside-down crosses, dolls made of nails, and buildings that were clearly state-of-the-art were swarming with cockroaches and centipedes near the entrance, and in front of them were people smiling brightly like flowers and singing an unidentified hymn to people.

Even though all the people here are people who can just die, this is the first layer where people’s lives are so blatantly strewn about like trash on the street.

The lower layer was, of course, crazy, but at least there was a reason like money or drugs. Here, they kill passing humans as sacrifices, claiming to prove their faith and beliefs.

“Uuu, Teacher…”

“It’s okay. Don’t make eye contact.”

“There’s a huge bug on that building…”

“Huh, where… it’s real?”

Something that looked like a bug was clinging to the building in a hazy form like mist.

That’s probably not a monster.

If it were a monster, we could just kill it, but that’s probably a minor god that feeds on the faith and beliefs of the residents of this Enchantment of the Fallen layer.

‘Each layer has quite a unique aspect, but this place is definitely hell.’

【Human, we have arrived. This is the executor outpost.】

After walking with Marlang for a while, a building in a relatively decent shape appeared.

As I approached, several gazes followed me from the building, and then, from the front gate, men wearing trench coats and black masks on their faces appeared and bowed to us.

“Kkii-gik-!”

“Kki-geu-geuk!”

“Kki-gik-Welcome. You’ve-worked-hard to come-all-this-way. Overseer-Alice.”

It wasn’t a natural voice but a voice aided by a mechanical vocal cord.

“Please-understand-that the voice-is stiff- To withstand-the fanaticism and madness-of the layer-body replacement surgery-and enhancement surgery-are essential.”

“Ah, it’s okay.”

“Thank-you-for understanding-Some-Overseers from noble-families, including-Ruincrest-are reluctant-to work with-executors who have undergone-replacement surgery.”

“Aigoo, those noble masters are really something. You must have suffered a lot.”

“Thank-you.”

These aren’t ordinary executors.

To escape the influence of the madness and fanaticism that fills the layer, they replace most of their bodies with machines and protect their brains with electronic neural networks.

Compared to me, who is gradually transforming from an android tin can into a form closer to a human, they were humans, but they changed their bodies into machines to monitor and adapt to the layer of fanaticism.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Alice, the direct Overseer of Administrator Rilstia Frostia.”

“I am-Valet, the-person in charge-of the Enchantment-of-the-Fallen-layer and-belong to the 439-1 executor-corps. But-who-is the-child next to you…?”

“M, Marlaaang…”

“Ah, this child is my attendant. She may look young, but her skills are great, so don’t worry.”

“Understood.”

Valet bowed respectfully.

Aside from the slightly stiff and awkward movements, he seemed to be fine.

Well, it’s true that it’s hard to maintain sanity in this insane layer without getting surgery.

No matter how much an executor or Overseer is, they are ultimately human, so if they live in a zone of constant mental contamination, there will eventually come a time when they become tainted.

Valet and the executors escorted us to the top floor of the building.

It’s called an outpost, but in reality, it’s one of the few buildings in the layer where executors can properly secure safety.

The fanatics outside don’t care whether the other party is an executor, an Overseer, or a monster, and they preach their own beliefs.

It’s one thing to just preach with words, but usually, they wield swords or sell their souls to strange minor gods, so nothing is strange in this place.

“I’m-sorry to ask-this as soon-as you arrive-but before-carrying out-the mission-I would like to receive-a confidentiality agreement.”

“Confidentiality? I’m an Overseer, though?”

“Precisely-because you are-an Overseer-you must-receive it.”

Well, it’s not difficult….

But I was a little curious.

Overseers are usually free from all sorts of laws and regulations, but a confidentiality agreement that even an Overseer has to sign?

I looked at the hologram agreement that had materialized before my eyes.

There were roughly various regulations and clauses, but the gist was that I shouldn’t tell the media, unspecified individuals, or rebel forces about anything I saw in the Enchantment of the Fallen layer for the purpose of distribution and incitement.

It wasn’t difficult, so I signed it, and Marlang, who had somehow slipped in next to me, also finished signing.

“Marlang- A unique-name.”

“Marlang!”

“Is that so? Would-Marlang-Agent-excuse us-for a moment?”

“Eeeh!”

“There-are books and televisions-and refreshments-in the next room.”

“Huk, Marlang!?”

“If-you wish-I can prepare-specialties of the layer-so please-follow me for a moment.”

“Marlang Marlang!”

Valet skillfully sent Marlang to the next room.

“You’re better with kids than I thought?”

“You flatter-me. I am-also-a father-of children-after all.”

“Ah, I see. It must be hard to leave your children and suffer here.”

“It was-difficult at first-but I am-used to it now. Monitoring and protecting-this place-is ultimately-a way to protect-my children and family.”

“That’s amazing.”

He was a father.

It would have been nice if there were more of these excellent executors in the Ark.

“Thank-you. Then-may I proceed-directly to the-mission-briefing?”

“Well, looking at the state of the layer, I don’t think I’ll be enjoying a leisurely vacation at all.”

The moment I go outside, my clothes will be soaked in blood.

It’s not like I’m trying to kill people or anything, but just the fanatics killing each other was enough to soak my shoes in blood.

“First-the population-of the Enchantment of the Fallen-layer-is not accurately-counted. However, it is estimated-that about 30 million-people reside-here.”

“That’s quite a lot.”

“And-80% of the total-are fanatical believers who have migrated-the remaining 20%-are composed of vagrants, debtors, laborers, and criminals.”

30 million people.

It’s small compared to the hundreds of millions in the Kowloon Residential Area, but it’s by no means a small number.

And those 20% aren’t normal people either.

They are people who have fled here due to crime, debt, or unavoidable circumstances, so this place is virtually as lawless as the lower layer before I reformed it.

However, the difference from the lower layer is that this place is dominated by fanaticism and belief, not crime or drugs.

It would be fine if it were just words….

But as you can see from the minor god in the form of a bug clinging to the building on the way here, the faith and fanaticism of the Enchantment of the Fallen have taken on a tangible form.

The Enchantment of the Fallen layer was where things that were called gods, monsters, and ghosts to past humans had degenerated and taken on a tangible form.

“By the way, I heard that they would explain it in detail when I came here. What is this shaman who gives birth to insects and death?”

“Overseer-Alice-do you believe-in hell?”

“What the hell are you talking about all of a sudden?”

Believe in hell?

Valet’s sudden words were quite embarrassing.

Could it be that he’s already become a fanatic?

As I was subtly clenching my fist, Valet waved his hand in surprise.

“Misunderstanding-I am-not-a fanatic. I am-executor-Valet. The-intention of my question-is literal- Overseer Alice, do you know-about the afterlife, hell, the underworld, the world after death-where humans die-and fall?”

“I haven’t seen it, so I don’t believe it yet…. But I think there’s a good chance. The existence of the soul has been scientifically proven here, and all sorts of magic and supernatural powers are rampant in this world, so there could very well be an afterlife, right?”

Valet nodded at my words.

“-This place-is hell. Literally-speaking.”

“Literally? Explain in more detail.”

“The Ark-Central Administration-has-a contract-with hell.”

“…With hell?”

“In exchange-for payment-energy to maintain-the Ark-is provided from hell. I cannot know-the details, but that information-is a mission objective-that must-be passed down-to executors and Overseers-working here.”

A contract with Hell, huh…

Just hearing about it already makes me feel dirty.

“I don’t know what the price is. But the Central Administration relies on this place to maintain the entire Ark and for a significant portion of the energy supplied to all layers.”

“Then what does that have to do with my mission?”

Valet paused for a moment.

I couldn’t tell if he was choosing his words or if he was having trouble speaking.

“The priestess who births insects and death—that means the sacrifice to pay the price to Hell here.”