Chapter 48
...A dark and damp underground location.
Over 10 people were gathered around a round table there.
"...Ugh, look how dark it is. Really, no one thought to turn on a light until everyone gathered? Are you all insane?"
Click.
Correction.
A very bright and slightly damp underground location.
Over 10 people were gathered around a table there.
"Arghh! My eyes!"
"The problem was buying luminous stones that were too bright to begin with. Even if we wanted to use them, the light's too strong..."
"Making our base underground was the real mistake! Damn, what are we going to do about this humidity? We need this much light just to get rid of the musty smell!"
"Stop making excuses, Livia. You're the one who bought those defective luminous stones because you like shiny things. Stupid pyromaniac..."
"Well at least I'm better than useless Sephir who couldn't recruit a single Manifestor~"
"...What did you say?"
Though they might look unimpressive on the surface, these were not people to be taken lightly.
They were all executives of the Lemegeton Sect.
Most of them were even high-ranking Branch Leaders. Though usually extremely busy, today they gathered for a meeting.
As Sephir and Livia continued arguing, another person stepped in to stop them. It was the 4th Branch Leader.
"Enough chatter, let's start the meeting. So, was that person we met in the forest really who we thought?"
"Yes. When I explained things upfront, he admitted it readily. Though his personality was quite unexpected..."
Sephir recalled their meeting.
His strikingly handsome appearance contrasted with his rough way of speaking.
It was surprising enough that he was male, but combined with his unique aura, he left quite an impression.
"Fascinating. We suspected he might not be in the city, but to think he was living in that dangerous forest."
"Indeed. That alone proves his abilities. He'll definitely be useful."
"Then why didn't you recruit him?"
"Well, he rejected the offer quite firmly..."
Sephir trailed off.
She couldn't bring herself to say 'because he didn't want to get eaten by Seere'. That was too crude.
And that's when it happened.
Livia, who had been quietly listening until now, spoke up with a grin.
"That's because Sephir is too boring~ Who would follow a wooden woman like her?"
"Shut up Livia...!"
This was fairly common. Many of the executives had strong personalities.
When you gather people with strong personalities, clashes are bound to happen.
Still, the meeting progressed.
The topic was naturally about recruiting Yor.
Though he had already refused once, they couldn't simply give up.
To them, Manifestors were precious, and adult Manifestors who had survived to maturity were even more valuable.
Especially one with proven abilities - they had to recruit him no matter what.
Many opinions were shared at the meeting.
The moderates, like Sephir, wanted to persuade him to join voluntarily.
The hardliners said to force him to join first and let him adapt gradually.
There were even extremists who suggested using him as an offering if he wouldn't listen.
The deadlocked discussion finally concluded with one woman's proposal.
"Then, I'll go next time."
Her position was merely 'Team Leader'.
Given that most people here held high positions, speaking informally should have been unthinkable.
Yet no one present pointed this out.
"As a fellow Manifestor, he might trust me more."
That's because she was a Manifestor, treated as important even within the sect.
Those closest to the demons they worshipped, and extremely rare due to persecution from the world.
Perhaps that's why no one objected to her words.
"Indeed... if you're a fellow Manifestor, persuading him might be easier."
"Mm, agreed. Agreed."
And so it was decided she would be the next to visit.
*
Several days had passed since that weird Branch Leader woman visited.
Surprisingly... I hadn't done much since then.
I hadn't moved my residence, nor made intense preparations to leave.
I strengthened security by burning down another goblin house, but that was about it.
Unlike when Im Ha-neul discovered me, I hadn't gone into full panic mode.
The situation was a bit different from back then.
Back then, the Knights could have stormed in at any moment. If Ha-neul had spoken up, they would have mobilized.
But now, though more people knew about me, I wasn't worried about the Knights attacking.
That Branch Leader said Lemegeton wanted to recruit, not eliminate me.
Of course I couldn't completely trust the words of cult members, but...
'I should wait and see.'
They said they'd visit again next week, so I planned to observe until then.
And honestly... I didn't want to go to the Deep Layer.
All my infrastructure built over years was here - why start over from zero?
It's uncertain if there's a cave that large and deep there, and whether I could keep myself alive.
Besides, the Mountain Lord roams there.
'Unless the Knights' Order attacks, I'm staying.'
So that was my current thinking.
I'll stubbornly hold out unless my life becomes like a candle in the wind.
Honestly, the creatures in the Deep Layer might be more dangerous than the Empire's Knights and clergy.
Time passed like that.
It would be a lie to say I wasn't anxious. It was a nerve-wracking week.
Then on the promised day, a sect member finally arrived in the forest.
"Hey, where are you! Come out here!!!"
In quite an aggressive manner. A woman's voice echoed throughout the forest.
"This crazy bitch..."
I muttered a curse while hurrying toward the voice.
At this rate she'd attract not just people, but monsters too.
When I arrived at the source of the shouting, I saw a woman standing there.
A somewhat fierce-looking woman with blonde hair.
As Sephir the Branch Leader mentioned, it was a different person this time.
"Oh."
A short exclamation escaped her lips as soon as we met.
"I see why Sephir was impressed. I knew you were male, but I didn't expect this level."
"Look, I already said I'm not joining, so why come again?"
"Because I can't accept that answer."
Is she refusing my refusal?
"Let me introduce myself first - I'm Nicky Tanesia."
I widened my eyes for a moment at that. Not just the name, but there was a surname attached.
And in this world, having a surname usually meant nobility.
Which made me wonder.
'What's going on?'
Is she actually nobility?
And despite being noble, she chose to join a criminal organization like Lemegeton?
I was briefly curious about what would make someone abandon their status for such a choice.
"And..."
Fortunately that curiosity didn't last long.
Because she suddenly stripped off her top right in front of me.
"!"
Her bold action made me stare at her with wide eyes.
Flashing.
As the thin t-shirt came off, her curved lines were revealed.
A small white bra came into view.
...Sadly her chest was rather modest.
Though stripping in front of someone should be embarrassing, her face remained completely calm.
Come to think of it, this is a reversed world - showing your upper body isn't that strange if you have the courage.
As I watched her for a moment, she pointed to her right side and said.
"See this mark here? I'm a Manifestor like you."
Only then could I clearly see it - unlike mine, a tattoo of five reddish-black claws.
Seeing that, I could understand why she joined Lemegeton.
'I see...'
She was driven out. We Manifestors have nowhere else to go.
Lemegeton is the only place that accepts us, so that's where she went.
Thinking about it made me feel a bit sorry for her.
"I don't know what you think of that place, but it's better than you'd expect. Being a Manifestor is actually an advantage there. Everyone looks up to me, treats me well."
"......"
Indeed, it's not a bad choice.
After all, I'm someone who can never live normally, and I've always craved people to talk with.
Though they worship demons, it's a rational decision for Manifestors rejected by civilization.
But why?
"...Sorry, but I'll pass."
Why do I feel this revulsion inside?
"...Why?"
She tilts her head at my answer. Her expression quickly sours, apparently unhappy about being rejected.
"I really don't understand. What's so good about this forest that you'd stay? Is there anything good here? Or do you have some attachment to this place?"
I couldn't help but be taken aback. I hadn't expected her to get so upset over one rejection.
How should I explain... I carefully chose my words to explain my reason for refusing.
And that's when it happened.
Rustle.
A figure emerged from the nearby bushes.
Surprisingly, it was someone I knew.
One of the people who'd been visiting my forest frequently lately.
"Um... Yor?"
It was Yoo Chae-rin.