episode_0002

“It was definitely around here somewhere…..”

I carefully followed them, trying not to be noticed, until I reached a dead end. High stone walls stood in front, to the left, and to the right, leaving no room to move forward.

I saw them entering this area from a distance, so they must be nearby. Did they fly into the sky? Or is there a secret passage hidden somewhere?

‘Maybe there’s a mark on the wall…’

I groped around, relying on the moonlight.

I pressed on the wall, hoping to find a hidden switch, and sure enough, there was a recessed area.

“Huh?”

And immediately after. The floor I was standing on disappeared.

With a thud, a panel painted with a stone-like pattern opened, dropping the defenseless me into the basement.

“Kuhek.”

The height wasn’t much.

Maybe only about 2 meters at most. The floor was relatively soft, so it doesn’t seem like I got hurt.

My muscles are a little surprised and throbbing, though.

I hope I didn’t sprain anything. At my age, injuries don’t heal easily.

Rubbing the back of my head, I got up and tried to find the robe-wearing bastards. But there was no need.

“What, did a rat sneak in?”

They had already sensed my presence and came out to greet me.

“Who sent you? The royal family? The Order? No, judging by the clothes, you don’t even look like a proper spy… Well, it doesn’t matter anyway.”

They surrounded me before I knew it and took out guns from their pockets. Then, they put their fingers on the triggers and aimed at me.

“Goodbye. We’ll dispose of the body properly.”

“Wait, just a moment! I came because I want to help you!!”

Forget cooperation, I need to start with my own PR.

* * * * *

‘What’s with this guy?’

Oregon, the branch leader of ‘Carmen,’ an antisocial/anti-government organization operating throughout the continent, couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

All because of a homeless man who trespassed into their base on his own.

‘I thought he was just a lost and dropped intruder.’

Since the hideout was hidden in the middle of a civilian residential area, lost idiots would visit from time to time.

Drunkards who lost their way while drunk, or pedestrians who couldn’t see in the dark.

Each time, they would kill them to destroy the evidence and prevent detection, disguise them as corpses, and dump them in the sewers.

He was planning to do the same this time, but.

This uninvited guest with his shabby appearance surprisingly knew their identity.

“I also think the royal family and the Academy bastards are annoying! I’ve been waiting for a chance to screw them over!”

Had he been following them from before?

No, if that were the case, they would have discovered him long ago.

If they couldn’t even handle basic evidence destruction and security while carrying out terrorist activities, they would be easily caught by the intelligence agency.

He probably overheard the conversation on the street earlier and followed them, tempted.

“So you’re saying you want us to accept you into our organization?”

“Yes! You definitely won’t regret it!”

“Why would I?”

The decisiveness to seize the opportunity on the spot was commendable. But that was all.

It wasn’t a reason to put this guy in the organization and use him. What reason is there to believe and utilize a stray dog that suddenly rolled in? What terrorist organization in the world recruits people with street scouts?

Oregon replied in a cold tone.

“How can I trust a scruffy beggar wearing rags?”

“…..Then I’ll prove it. Just give me one chance.”

However, instead of being discouraged, the beggar looked up at him with bold eyes.

“Prove?”

“You said you can’t blindly trust someone without any information. Then I’ll show you that I’m a useful person.”

Look at this guy? Oregon became interested in his attitude, which wasn’t intimidated even though there were guns all around him.

“How? Are you planning to show off your strength here? Or do you have any useful information or connections personally?”

“I don’t have any of that. But I have knowledge. Knowledge that will be useful enough for your grand plan.”

“I guess you know the secrets of high-ranking nobles?”

“It’s a little different.”

There was a slightly fearful look, but a confident tone.

It wasn’t just an excuse to avoid the crisis, but a tone full of conviction, and he pondered inwardly.

‘This guy is real.’

He’s seen many people while running the organization.

As security and confidentiality are the top priorities, his ability to select trustworthy people is undoubtedly at the expert level.

Even from his point of view, that beggar was… amazing.

He had such a humble appearance, but what was the basis for his high self-esteem? He didn’t seem to be suffering from delusions.

Does he really have the ability worthy of his pride?

“…..First, lock him up in the underground interrogation room. I’ll investigate him slowly later.”

“Yes.”

He decided to postpone the decision.

With the important event just around the corner, it wouldn’t be too late to find out after the work was done.

* * * * *

“I’m grateful you didn’t kill me, but how long do I have to do this?”

Approximately a week since I was caught.

(I don’t know if it’s day or night because there are no windows, but roughly estimated)

They’re just keeping me locked up and not doing anything.

Eating two meals a day and sleeping when I’m tired is the entirety of my daily schedule.

Thanks to that, I was able to rest my body, which was exhausted from labor, but… how long are they going to keep me locked up?

I wish they’d do something.

–Clank.

“Hey, come out.”

Oh, finally.

Speak of the devil, and he appears.

“What’s going on?”

“You said last time that you could be helpful to us, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I’ll give you a chance as you wish. Show me where.”

Suddenly, they’re going to test my abilities.

It was appreciated, but it was too sudden. You didn’t care until now, and now you do?

As I looked at him with questioning eyes, the branch leader clicked his tongue.

“You must have overheard that we were planning to carry out the operation with bombs, right?”

“Yes.”

“It failed. Due to our side’s mistake.”

He muttered that he shouldn’t have trusted the guide. He ruined the operation because he missed a spy.

“Thanks to that, I’m going to take all the responsibility. Even though I didn’t organize the personnel.”

After hearing him ramble on and on, I roughly knew what he wanted to say.

“So you’re saying you intend to nullify the punishment by making some achievements. Through me.”

“You’re quick to catch on. That’s about right.”

“I don’t think I’m in a position to say this, but isn’t that too far-fetched?”

You’re saying you’re going to bet your personnel evaluation on a homeless guy you’ve never met before. What if I was just an ignorant fool or a spy sent by the royal family?

In response, the branch leader scoffed and said.

“I’m about to get my head cut off next month, so I have to try anything. So, are you going to do it or not?”

“Of course, I have to do it.”

Either way, it was a good offer for me, so there was no reason to refuse.

“If you give me a little support, I’ll show you results that you’ll be satisfied with.”

“You better. If you fail, you’ll end up in the same situation as me.”

Threatening me didn’t scare me much.

I’ve already lost all the status and honor I’ve built up throughout my life and been kidnapped.

28 years of effort and suffering were completely taken away. Do you think I’d cherish my life now?

If I can just get back at that bitch of a goddess and screw her over, I’ll bet that life any day.

My life is already ruined, so I have to ruin her divine life too.

“I’ll keep that in mind. When should I start?”

“Right now. I’ll assign someone as a monitor and assistant, so work with her.”

The branch leader pointed to an attendant who was accompanying him.

A beauty with glossy white hair and velvet red eyes. If it were Earth, she would have unconsciously caught my eye even while walking down the street.

The unique thing is… a pair of horns protruding from her head.

“Demon?”

It was definitely a race that flourished when the Demon King’s army existed in the past.

They’ve been discriminated against and massacred for a long time, so they’re a rare species these days. I’m seeing them in a place like this.

“Is there a problem?”

“No, it’s just that it’s my first time seeing a demon.”

There are still many discriminationists, but I don’t really care. Rather, I welcome it. There were a lot of horned girls in the pictures I was indebted to every night in the past.

“How frivolous. Then I’ll be leaving, so you two get along. If you need funds, ask her.”

After the branch leader left with a sigh, leaving only the two of us, I decided to start by introducing myself.

“I’m Kang Chun-soo. I look forward to working with you.”

“…..Please call me Kalia.”

Her reply is curt. Is she saying she’s going to treat me professionally?

Well, it wasn’t bad.

It’s much better than being hostile to someone I’ve just met.

“Then, Ms. Kalia, I want to confirm something before we work together. Can you write?”

“…..Yes. I used to work as a scribe.”

“That’s great.”

I don’t know the letters of this world at all.

If I can have her do the writing for me, the work will be quite easy.

“Then please write down what I say later. And find a printing house that can print simple booklets.”

“…..Are you planning to publish something?”

Publishing. There may be a need for it later, but not now.

My plan is to disrupt society through the knowledge I know.

In that case, the first priority is to gain recognition that people will buy when I make a book.

“Rather, I’m thinking of making propaganda.”

Based on the current state of the world I’ve learned so far… the first target should be the neighboring Helvetic Republic.

“Regarding one nation, one people, one leader.”