Chapter 32: Abyss

In the center of the Leypania Continent lies the Academy City of Leyla.

This massive Academy City, formed around a single academy, serves as a symbol of continental peace and a place of harmony between various races and nations.

Among the numerous banks within the Academy City, the most frequented was the 'Temperance Bank' Leyla Branch 1.

This bank was operated by the [Frugal Temperance], one of the 7 Great Heroes who ascended to become a Constellation, along with her Apostles.

Having achieved her status through accomplishments during her mortal life, she became a symbol of wealth for the continent's people, and as a result, her bank was always bustling with customers.

Natasha, a beastkin who had worked at the Temperance Bank for 10 years, was diligently performing her duties as usual.

'Ah~ so boring. Why is time moving so slowly?'

While sneaking glances at the clock.

'I want to hurry home and pat my precious Reino...'

Twitch-

Her long ears perked up.

A chill ran up her spine.

Oh, they're here.

That person has arrived.

Her hands began trembling uncontrollably.

Looking toward the entrance, she saw people murmuring and making way.

A miracle - a clear path opening up through the packed crowd.

Through that void walked a tall figure, their entire body concealed by a black coat and a helmet-like hood and mask.

As an aura of cold terror permeated the surroundings, the previously noisy bank fell silent.

Gulp-

People tensed up and backed away while staring up at this mysterious customer.

Thud- Thud- Thud-

The black figure approached the bank counter.

Natasha hurriedly summoned the bank manager through her Artifact while stepping out from behind the counter to attend to them.

"W-Welcome, valued customer."

Though she tried to maintain composure, her back was already drenched in cold sweat.

[It's been a while. Natasha... was it?]

A deep voice resonated, neither clearly male nor female - a voice impossible to imagine coming from a human. It was like an echo reverberating from the depths of an endless abyss.

Shiver-

Natasha's knees went weak.

W-Why do they remember my name?

She felt like collapsing right there.

Did I do something wrong? Why do they remember me?

[I'm here to make a withdrawal.]

"A-Ah, I'll guide you right away, customer."

No matter how terrifying the situation, she was a professional who had won Employee of the Month dozens of times. Natasha barely managed to drag her frozen legs as she guided the black customer to the VIP room.

[Hmm...]

Every aura and atmosphere the black customer exuded was overwhelming enough to make her heart skip beats.

As a bank employee who knew the astronomical sum in this customer's account, she knew they couldn't be an ordinary existence - they had to be either a massive power moving the continent from the shadows, or at least an agent of such a being.

Creak-

"This way, please."

As Natasha bowed her head and opened the VIP room door, the black customer entered.

"Ah! Welcome!"

Inside, the bank manager greeted them with an awkward smile.

[It's been a while, Manager.]

"Hahaha, we're honored by your visit. P-Please, have a seat."

The manager sat down with the customer while continuously wiping sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.

To think even the branch manager, a former high-ranking mercenary who held a minor position among the Apostles of Temperance and could crush ordinary thugs head-on, would be this frightened.

Just who is this customer...

Shake- Shake-

No, no.

Why am I trying to find out? Do I want to die?

Some things in this world are better left unknown.

Natasha cursed her foolish curiosity as she gripped the doorknob.

Just bow politely and close the door, and she could escape this terrifying atmosphere.

Well done Natasha. Now let's get back to work diligently.

I'll never complain about being bored again. I'll work hard.

[Wait.]

But the VIP's voice stopped her.

[Come back in.]

Me? W-why...?

Natasha's face turned pale.

Did I do something wrong? Did I offend them somehow? But I didn't do anything...

[Don't be afraid. It's nothing bad.]

The VIP turned to the branch manager.

[I want to discuss this employee's customer service.]

Natasha squeezed her eyes shut, unable to handle the terror.

The Reino keychain modeled after the Demon King dangled at her waist.

*

Sales have really dropped lately.

I need to implement the weapon system in-game soon.

Or maybe I should officially release merchandise like what that woman had.

Making and selling unofficial merchandise without permission - my stomach hurts just thinking about the losses.

I put the stack of checks I received from the branch manager into my spatial pocket.

"Are you satisfied?"

I asked the Demon God floating beside me in soul form.

[The King of All Demons Who Conquered Pride expresses gratitude.]

"Though I did it with good intentions... that employee didn't seem to like it much."

'The Hood' - my fake identity created to withdraw and manage the massive wealth earned from the [Akashic Archive].

When using this identity, I use the Dream Power granted by Lady Constellation to transform my appearance into that of a black-armored knight.

Thanks to various added effects, people tend to avoid paying attention to me... though as a side effect, they seem somewhat scared.

[The King of All Demons Who Conquered Pride mutters that she wanted to reward a player who loves her Reino.]

"I was satisfied with her customer service too, but..."

Considering how she fainted at the end, it may have backfired.

[The King of All Demons Who Conquered Pride makes an expression suggesting you're pathetic while saying she just fainted from joy, don't you know anything?]

...Is that so?

I can't tell if the Demon God is being truthful.

Maybe it was because of my account.

It wouldn't be strange to faint from joy when someone with a national budget-level fortune in their account personally compliments you to your superior.

[The King of All Demons Who Conquered Pride whines that she's bored and demands an interesting story.]

"...What are you, a child?"

There was a reason I was accompanying the Demon God despite previously having to uncomfortably communicate with her via terminal to hide my identity at Lady Constellation's insistence.

The recent attack by the black Filthy Sludge.

Lady Constellation was enraged at that Filthy Sludge that tried to kill me. (Though even at peak anger, she just smacked the desk with her short arms.)

Given that it referred to itself as "we", it's confirmed that there are more beings like it out there.

We just haven't been able to detect their identity or location yet since they originate from the Otherworld.

There's no telling when these Abyss beings might attack me again. (We couldn't keep calling them Filthy Sludge, so taking inspiration from how we added the Filthy Sludge as the "Assassin of the Abyss" in [Akashic Archive], we decided to call them the Abyss.)

So Lady Constellation ordered the Constellations to take turns guarding me so they could respond immediately if I was attacked.

When I first heard this, I doubted gods would actually guard a mere human.

[The Magi-Engineer Who Cast Off Wrath suggests dividing the day into three shifts for surveillance.]

[The Sacrifice That Overcame Sloth agrees, saying they'll do anything to protect their benefactor.]

[The King of All Demons Who Conquered Pride protests that she needs to spend precious time with Reino... Ah! Fine! I'll do it! I'll do it! Just stop hitting me Reino! while dodging around.]

What's with this three-way division...

And that's how the three Constellations ended up taking turns guarding me.

[The King of All Demons Who Conquered Pride yawns and says you should be grateful that this great Demon God is protecting you.]

[The King of All Demons Who Conquered Pride tells you to show some appreciation.]

"Yes... I'm very grateful."

If anything, it's too much.

Three gods taking turns to guard a mere academy student.

Isn't this too extravagant? And not just any gods, but top-tier divine beings equivalent to heroes, sages, and monarchs.

...

Though I say this, those Abyss beings (tentative name) are no light opponents.

Even that Filthy Sludge that attacked me was a monster capable of neutralizing both our Lady Constellation's and the Demon God's powers.

If two beings of that level came at once, our current forces might not be able to handle it.

We needed to quickly complete the analysis of the Filthy Sludge and resolve the Sins to strengthen our forces.

I wonder what its companions are doing now.

No matter how much I try to suppress it, the anxiety in a corner of my heart won't go away.

*

At the very bottom of the dimensional rift

Six silhouettes rose from the pitch-black darkness where not even a hand could be seen before one's face.

[Why hasn't â̵̳̅ļ̴̛̤͓̩̙̜͙͚̜̎̀͂̉͒͜i̵̧̡̜͔̩̘͒͗̉̓͜͝c̶̛̘̦̟̪͓̼͍͚̃̄̍̔͆̑̏̓͌̑̏̈̉̏e̶̢̛̹̼͇̩̥̩͎̠̫̝̥̥̋̿̈́̇̀̎͗̀͋͊̍͂̿͗͜ returned yet?]

[Did they perish?]

[No. If they had perished, we would know. We are conceptually connected after all.]

[They haven't perished. But they still haven't completed their task?]

[Perhaps someone captured them.]

[That's impossible. Think about their abilities. Unless tens of thousands of divine beings are taking turns regularly beating them down, they have the power to break through any capture.]

[That's true. Maybe the task is just taking longer.]

[There must be more interferers to deal with than expected. Delays are not good. We should send another.]

[Then I'll...]

[No, this time I...]

[Wait, have you all forgotten already?]

[...Forgotten what?]

[The ㅈ̸̋̚ incident.]

[.....]

[.....]

[...That was horrific.]

[Given their personality, it could happen again this time.]

[Hmm.....]

All six silhouettes darkened further, as if recalling something unpleasant.

[Perhaps we should... wait a bit longer...]

[No objections.]

[Agreed.]

Woong-

The space fell back into darkness.