Chapter 30
"I knew you would return."
The black-haired woman soaked in blood.
She was kneeling, bowing her head towards me.
Lines of moisture sparkle on her cheeks.
Tears falling without hesitation.
Where had the fierce killing intent from just before disappeared to?
The atmosphere loosens before we know it.
A voice trembling pitifully.
At the same time, clear joy is evident.
"......"
Like the reaction of a cub reuniting with its lost mother.
The woman was overcome with emotion.
Though her lower face was hidden by a mask, she must surely be smiling brightly.
I let out a small sigh.
'It's really burdensome.'
It's nice to see her after a long time, but the greeting in return is too much.
I should probably accept it for now.
If I don't, she might really burst into loud wailing.
I opened my mouth with difficulty.
"It's been a while, Miss Lena."
"I've been waiting. I'm just glad you've returned safely."
"How did you know I was here?"
"I happened to be patrolling the streets... Suddenly drawn by a familiar aura, I came running."
"Aura, huh."
It seems she caught the signal I sent well.
I had been faintly revealing my presence since entering the city, but I didn't think she'd notice so quickly.
Does this mean her skills are still sharp?
"Not bad."
"Thank you...!"
Eyes sparkling at a word of praise.
The woman who had been frozen with an ecstatic expression soon comes to her senses and stands up.
"The other members are also waiting anxiously."
"I suppose I should show my face at least."
"I'll guide you. But the beastkin beside you......"
"She's my guest. Treat her with the utmost hospitality."
"I'll do my best."
The answer comes back politely.
Lena takes the lead.
As I move my feet following behind her, Irene beside me pokes my shoulder repeatedly.
"...I don't understand what's been happening since earlier."
"Miss Irene."
Black eyes wavering, soaked in doubt.
She seemed confused.
'This is troublesome.'
How should I explain this?
It's too complicated and a long story.
And if I say I'm the head of a criminal organization, it might just cause misunderstandings.
Sometimes silence is better than words.
After pondering for a moment, I finally passed it over with an ambiguous smile.
"Let's go for now."
"Is this really the right way? To where the children are......"
"Of course. Don't worry, you'll be able to meet them soon."
With that short exchange behind us.
The three people's steps pass through several alleys, side streets, and darkness.
As we leisurely pass through the intricately tangled streets, before long the woman in front stops her feet.
We had arrived at our destination.
"We've arrived."
What stands before our eyes is a small tavern.
It was a dilapidated building that looked like it had been abandoned for at least 10 years.
We enter inside without hesitation.
Creak-.
Beyond the old door, a familiar scene awaits us.
As if untouched by human feet for a long time, the tavern was thickly covered in dust.
Just the appearance of an ordinary closed business.
Irene furrows her brow once again.
"...Are you sure we came to the right place?"
"Without a doubt."
"There's no one here. I don't see any signs of people living here either."
"That's precisely the key point of this space."
It was important that it looked like an abandoned space.
So as not to catch others' eyes.
Though it might look like an empty shell... the key was in what came next.
"This way."
Lena strides in.
She heads to the most corner of the tavern floor and tears off a few wooden planks.
It was a hidden entrance.
"Stairs...?"
Below the planks are stairs.
An underground space dug so deep the end can't be seen.
"You can go down."
Trudge trudge-.
We descended the stairs without hesitation.
As we walk down the long slope that continues for quite a while, an end finally comes into view of the long descent.
An iron door is waiting for us.
"It's been a while."
"Everyone will be waiting. I sent word ahead that you had returned."
"Oh my."
That's a bit worrying.
I hesitate for a moment.
But it's not like I can turn back now. I slowly pushed the door handle.
A heavy hinge sound rings out.
Creeeeak-!
Right after, a new background unfolds.
The damp air unique to the underground disappears, and brightly shining lights drive away the darkness.
It was a spacious and clean space.
"Ah..."
The fox beside me lets out an exclamation.
Neatly laid wooden floors, a wide space exuding comfort, magic lamps shining here and there.
It was a facility beyond even a decent high-ranking knight order headquarters.
It's understandable to be surprised.
She probably didn't expect there to be such a place underground.
It was a reaction that made me want to tease her a bit.
But I soon realize I'm not in a position to do so.
"......"
There are gazes focused on us.
Close to thirty people, they were all standing in a daze.
As if shocked.
"Ahem."
An awkward cough escapes due to the embarrassing feeling.
With an ominous smile spreading on my lips, I greet the familiar faces.
"It's been a while, everyone."
And then.
"......"
A silence continues for a moment.
It becomes awkwardly uncomfortable.
Just as the casual greeting I threw out was about to become embarrassing.
"...Commander?"
A dazed mutter is heard.
As if they're dreaming.
The voice that had been frozen for a while gradually spreads thinly, then soon kneels in place.
It was a wail stemming from emotion.
"Ah... The Commander has returned!"
A clearly ringing shout.
The heated emotion spreads and infects those around.
"Is it really the Commander...?"
"You mean he didn't abandon us?"
"A miracle has happened......"
"Ah, oh Snake."
As if bewitched by something.
The members who had been chewing over self-mutters soon kneel on the floor one by one.
Some are even shedding tears.
Without time to be flustered by such a scene.
The members bow their heads. Placing their clenched right fists on their chests, they meditate in unison.
"All according to your will."
It's dyed with a sacred resonance.
Joy, respect, wailing, worship, love... countless emotions fill the surroundings.
It feels like seeing cult fanatics gone mad.
My mind naturally becomes dizzy.
Why is everyone acting like this?
And that embarrassing slogan, how long has it been since I said to change it, why is it still the same?
It was enough to drive me crazy.
"Huhu."
Even amidst all this, the corners of my mouth were smiling lecherously, thanks to that damn trait.
As I close my mouth with a dejected feeling.
The fox with a bewildered expression throws a question.
"You... What exactly is your identity?"
"Well..."
=I don't know either.
"Not a single person here seems to be in their right mind. Are you really raising a cult?"
"What do you think?"
=I don't know either, damn it.
The fox sends a wary gaze.
The members who don't seem to have any intention of standing up.
'Maybe I shouldn't have come.'
It's so fucking burdensome.
***
Meanwhile,
There is a girl running through a wide corridor.
As if some urgent matter had arisen, her steps were anxiously treading.
Her footsteps echo dryly.
Tap tap tap tap-!
Following her intense movements, long silver hair flutters.
Eyes containing a faint moonlight.
Faint traces of burns cover part of her face.
It was an infinitely cold impression.
"Haa, haa...!"
Neria Lightni, the vice-commander of Astro.
She had been alone doing paperwork, so she heard the news later than the other members.
As her longing had been greater than anyone's.
The girl immediately sprang up from her seat.
'Commander, Commander, Commander......'
Even while crossing the corridor, she repeats the yearning call inwardly.
The person she hadn't been able to find for over half a year.
All that was left was just one letter.
Could it be that she had been abandoned?
Though trembling with such anxiety, Neria had silently kept her faith.
'Finally.'
Faith is rewarded.
News of 'that person' she had waited for more than anything.
The girl who had reached the end of the corridor finally flung open the last door placed there.
And then.
"Huhu, everyone please raise your heads now."
Dazzlingly shining golden hair comes into view.
His characteristic playful smile.
The boy was standing there as if it were a lie.
Around him, the members who had knelt earlier were offering holy worship.
Their gazes meet.
"Oh."
"Ah."
A breath strays for a moment.
The one who greets first is none other than the boy.
"Miss Neria! It's been a while."
Grin.
Slit eyes drawing an arc.
The moment that ecstatic curve appears in the scene, belated reality pours in.
The Commander has returned.
'I wasn't abandoned.'
Relief dyeing stickily.
Emotions burst out without realizing. Tears of joy fall drop by drop.
Neria tries hard to maintain calm steps.
Thud-.
As she gets close in front of the boy, she respectfully kneels on both knees.
She bows her head.
"Welcome back."
She takes the snake's outstretched hand.
With tears that won't stop behind her, she pays respects by kissing the noble back of his hand.
A sweet body scent brushes her nose.
"My master."
It's dizzying.
Though she wanted to indulge in his scent right away like in the last letter, she barely holds back.
Because she knew he would dislike it.
"Hmm~ Has it been about half a year since I disappeared?"
"It's been exactly 194 days as of today."
"I was quite late."
"I was waiting."
"Huhu."
The boy smiles as if finding it endearing.
"Thank you."
"I simply had natural faith."
Neria quietly closes her eyes.
She prays with her head bowed.
"All according to your will."
Towards the god she serves.
***
One storm had passed.
The members who seemed to be gradually calming down started crying again when Neria appeared.
Thanks to that, it was a chaotic time.
'This is why I hesitated before coming.'
It felt like this half a year ago too, but seeing it today, it seems the degree has gotten worse.
It felt like I had become the leader guiding real fanatics.
I feel 10 years older.
A faint sigh escapes.
'But I guess it's better this way.'
It's better that they welcome me like this.
I always came only when needed and pushed the kids around, and this time I went off the grid for half a year.
Maybe it's a miracle they're even treating me as the commander?
'...Come to think of it, I came looking for them this time because I have a favor to ask too.'
Honestly, I feel guilty.
I should show my face more often from now on.
With that promise I won't be able to keep behind me.
I called the vice-commander who was attending to me at the side.
"Miss Neria."
"You called?"
An answer returns immediately.
Had she been waiting for me to speak to her? It felt like all her nerves were focused on me.
Her silver eyes sparkle burdensomely.
"Please speak."
"It's nothing much... The fox beastkin I asked about last time, they're here right?"
"Of course. It was an instruction from the master after all."
"I'd like to see them after a long time."
"I'll guide you right away."
"Let's go, Miss Irene."
"...Ah, okay."
We stood up from our seats.
Though I had various things to discuss with the vice-commander.
For now, I planned to go see the foxes first for Irene who looked like she was about to die from anxiety.
They'll probably be surprised.
"Huhu."
I walked with a sinister smile.
***
"Huhu."
The boy smiled ominously.
Irene was staring at him with anxious eyes.
'What on earth is his identity... And what is this large underground facility?'
It was a suspicious facility.
Investing in expensive space expansion magic everywhere to use space on the level of a decent mansion.
And those called members.
Even the location of the building buried in the center of the slums.
There wasn't a single thing that didn't bother me.
'Are the children really in a place like this...?'
My imagination is dyed in a direction that's not good.
A slum thick with fog.
A criminal organization that seems out of their minds.
An underground facility located so deep that no one can find it.
And lastly, children.
'Slum, criminal organization, underground facility... and children.'
It was a meaningful combination.
A chilling tension aims at my neck.
-Your siblings are in a 'good place'. I sent them there personally.
Why?
The words I had passed over as a joke kept flickering.
Thump thump thump thump-!
Perhaps because of my heart beating roughly, the agitation wouldn't easily subside.
The fox bit her lip tightly.
"It seems to be here."
The snake suddenly stops walking.
Before we knew it, the two people had reached in front of a huge iron door.
The girl swallowed her breath.
"Miss Irene."
"......"
"This is my best work that I'm confident in. I hope you'll like it."
A wicked voice whispers.
The golden-haired boy pulls the door handle without hesitation.
"Welcome. To the 'paradise' I prepared."
Creeeeak-!
Beyond the iron door opening elegantly, a shocking scene unfolds.
A blatant smell pierced the nose.
"...!"
The fox's expression hardened.