Chapter 120

“Ugh, what kind of conversation is this…”

The pseudo-cult leader drops his head heavily, like a puppet with its strings cut, muttering a complaint.

With that, the resistance of the sect comes to an end.

Near the cult leader, the followers lie scattered, groaning faintly and twitching.

With this, the Eternal Life Sect has fallen, and it seems a major problem has been averted. However, rather than feeling joy or relief, an uncomfortable sensation comes first.

“Hmm, something’s… ”

“Feels off, doesn’t it?”

Simonia naturally picks up where I left off.

I nod in agreement with her words.

“Did you feel that too, sister?”

“Yeah, for causing such a big fuss, they had no preparation at all and there’s something off in many ways.”

Simonia’s furrowed brow deepens.

As she raises her sunglasses to scan the area, Kai and Liana, who went to search the catacombs after cleaning up here, return.

“Kai, Liana.”

“Yeah, Edu. We’re back.”

“What was it like inside?”

“It’s wide and complex, but that’s all. There were signs that someone had lived here, but based on various circumstances, it seems they hadn’t settled here for long.”

Liana’s explanation is confirmed by Kai nodding beside her.

“Hmm, I see.”

Now that I think about it, the bald merchant did say the sect appeared not long ago.

“Still, something’s off.”

A remark from Simonia.

“Right?”

“Yeah. For a group that should focus on staying hidden and growing their numbers, why would they intentionally draw attention to themselves? And why go after a kid who is barely related to them?”

Simonia gives a bitter laugh.

“It’s absurd nonsense.”

“I agree. There’s definitely something behind this, but I don’t know why they were ordered to act like this.”

“Hmm.”

Simonia and Grandpa Hafpdel fall into thought.

As I look at the two of them, my mouth itches to speak.

While I know that the Fangju government, and more specifically the president, is behind this, only I, Freya, and Chancellor Ryeoju know that fact.

I’d like to tell these two as well, but Simonia is still affiliated with the government side.

Therefore, giving her excessive information before she’s firmly on our side could have adverse consequences.

‘Have to keep quiet, even if my mouth itches.’

As I think this, a group of elves suddenly appears from behind Grandpa Hafpdel.

“Great Master, we’ve finished the task you assigned.”

“Good, now go move those guys lying around.”

“Understood.”

The elves swiftly move to carry away the unconscious followers and the cult leader.

From a step back, Grandpa Hafpdel turns his head toward me.

“Then I’ll handle the aftermath, Edu, why don’t you go back to the academy and rest?”

“Um? That feels a bit…”

“It’s fine, this kind of work is for adults.”

“Hmm…”

As I’m contemplating, something taps my shoulder.

“Simonia?”

“Yeah, that sneaky elf is right. These kinds of things are for adults, so go rest Edu.”

Simonia points somewhere with a flick of her finger.

The two people there are Liana and Kai.

“You two, take these kids back with Edu. We’ll handle the rest.”

Indicating Mili and Sita with a nod, Simonia gives her orders.

Hearing this, Liana and Kai exchange glances, and Kai steps forward.

“Will you be alright?”

“Of course, we’re done with everything anyway. We just need to handle the aftermath, so it’s fine to go back first.”

The polite question and the composed answer.

After hearing this, Liana and Kai approach us.

“So it seems, Edu, what do you say?”

“Um-”

It’s true that no amount of thinking now will yield answers, and rejecting adults’ consideration over and over again is a bit awkward.

Therefore, I decide to go back and rest for the sake of Mili and Sita who worked hard with me.

“Alright, then I’ll head back first. Mili! Sita! Let’s go!”

“Yes, sister!”

“Understood!”

The two of them relax their guard and come over at my call.

The hiss of metal echoes as the helmet part of Mili’s exoskeleton is peeled off, revealing her face.

She shakes her head and takes a deep breath.

After looking at her for a moment, I wave at Grandpa Hafpdel and Simonia.

“Then, see you later, both of you!”

“That’s right. Be careful on your way back, Edu.”

“Yeah, see you.”

Hafpdel watches the departing Edu group with a benevolent smile.

Simonia, who was waving lightly with her right hand, stops her actions as Edu’s group disappears.

The smiles vanish instantly from both of their faces.

As if they had agreed beforehand, Hafpdel and Simonia face each other.

“Then, let’s begin our discussion? What do you intend to do with these fanatics?”

“First, we need to get every bit of information from them.”

“Hmm, do you think you can extract this information?”

“Of course.”

The smile with various meanings seems to intrigue Simonia as she flicks her tongue.

“Do you? Then I’ll help too. I’m confident in my skill to make them confess. Didn’t we confirm this the other time?”

Simonia’s suggestion brings the previous incident to Hafpdel’s mind.

While Chancellor Ryeoju’s punishment and Commander Freya’s ruthless threats were terrifying, among the four gathered together, it was Simonia who truly shone.

‘Pl-please, hmm…’

What was written as a conversation but read as an interrogation began not long ago. The chief of the fanatics, literally crying and begging shamefully after being squeezed for their tears and noses,

But even to such pleas, Simonia continued the interrogation with an expression as if asking where a dog was barking from.

Hafpdel nods, deciding that Simonia’s skill would definitely be of help.

“Good. Let’s go to the mansion once we’ve cleaned this place and the other areas.”

“Yeah.”

…

The dim light of a basement lamp flickers.

Cold water from a bucket is poured onto the cult leader tied to a chair.

“Ugh?!”

Drenched with the icy water, the pseudo-cult leader wakes up.

He blinks and scans his surroundings, catching sight of a man and a woman.

“Hey, you had a good nap?”

“You, you were… Where have you taken me?”

In response to the cult leader’s question, Hafpdel approaches.

“Dear me, it seems you haven’t grasped the situation yet.”

Clap.

The sound of clapping and electricity flowing through the cult leader’s body.

“Agahahagahh!!”

As the leader’s trembling body’s head starts to fall back, another clap sounds.

“Ugh, huuuhh…”

The pseudo-cult leader breathes heavily.

Simonia leans in towards him and adjusts her sunglasses.

Her vertically slit golden eyes reveal themselves.

“The questions are ours, not yours, got it?”

The cult leader nods hastily in response.

His pitiful appearance, complete with running nose, draws no reaction from Hafpdel and Simonia.

“Alright, let’s have a pleasant conversation, then. Who’s behind you?”

The cult leader flinches.

“B-but, behind? There’s no-”

Clap.

“Ughhuuuuuuh!?!”

The shocking electric shock.

“Huuhh, huuh…”

“There’s no way there’s no one behind you. How could scum like you have gotten hold of something like this?”

An object handed over in the dark is taken by Simonia who thrusts it at the cult leader.

The round disc-shaped tool emits a low vibration and an ominous violet glow.

This was the tool owned by the chief of the fanatics who attacked Edu to suppress Awakened individuals.

“T-that’s….”

Trailing off, the cult leader frantically racks his brain.

But Simonia shows no patience.

“Hmm, it seems talking won’t do.”

The mouth stretched wide opens.

“Eh?”

As the cult leader’s eyes widen, Simonia’s sharp fangs bite into his shoulder.

“Ugh!?”

Trembling but unable to resist due to being tied to the chair, the cult leader.

A moment later, Simonia detaches her lips, and a drop of blood trickles down her sharp fangs.

“What are you doing?”

Cold sensation spreading from the wound area into the body, the cult leader raises his voice.

Simonia’s face twists into a crooked smile.

“Nerve toxin.”

“Nerve, toxin?”

The leader’s complexion goes pale.

On the other hand, Simonia chuckles mischievously.

“What? You don’t want to die, do you? Yet, what can be done? There are many others I need to ask too.”

“Even so, there’s no one who knows more than me!”

An urgent outburst.

But Simonia calmly speaks.

“Yes, that’s true, but the kind of people who can use something like that gives a rough estimate, doesn’t it? Which means non-cooperative prisoners aren’t needed.”

“Ugh…”

Under intense pressure, the cult leader looks around furtively.

During this time, a short statement from Simonia is delivered.

“Ten minutes.”

“Wha?”

“You only have ten minutes left before you become garbage.”

“!!!”

A cruel, mocking smile.

Only now does the cult leader realize one truth.

‘They really intend to kill me.’

As the clear threat to life sets in, his frozen brain begins to calculate rapidly.

The scale balancing immediate death and risking his life suddenly tips drastically to one side.

“Alright, please wait a moment! I, I’ll tell you!”

With that, the cult leader begins spewing everything he knows like water flowing.

Some of what they said was already anticipated by Simonia and Hafpdel, but there was one piece of information that exceeded their expectations.

“What? The 2nd Legion?”

“Yes. I didn’t hear all the details, but they said those people were allies and shouldn’t be provoked…”

Upon hearing this, Simonia contemplates for a moment, then looks at Hafpdel.

Without any direct conversation, both head out of the room, appearing to share the same thoughts.

“Hey, where are you going? Excuse me!”

Bang.

The iron door closes, silencing the cult leader’s call.

“What do you think?”

“If it’s true the 2nd Legion is involved, the situation doesn’t look good.”

Hafpdel’s statement receives a nod from Simonia.

“I agree. I have something to confirm, so can I leave the rest to you?”

“Do as you wish.”

“Great, thanks.”

Simonia waves lightly and moves away.

Once her figure vanishes down the opposite hallway, Hafpdel claps his hands.

Clap.

A woman elf appears as if waiting, kneeling to look at him.

“Great Master, you called?”

“Hmm, I have briefly important matters elsewhere, so please take charge of their education.”

“Understood. I’ll educate them as you instructed.”

“That’s good.”

Hafpdel walks down a hallway opposite to where Simonia went.

As both disappear, the teaching begins again.

Simultaneously, wails of agony from the sect members echo throughout the underground facility.

– No, no more! Damn it! Stop it!

– We won’t submit to such…

– The farm is our salvation, our light…

…

The next morning.

Banetta suddenly calls Nisia, Seoli, and me from the academy.

“Edu, what’s the matter?”

“I’m not quite sure either. She just said there’s a present for me.”

“Present?”

“Yeah.”

Banetta summons us to the place known as AOE’s Seaplane Deck, simply put, Fangju’s airport.

I wondered what kind of present would bring us to such a place, but as soon as we arrived, I understood why Banetta brought us here.

“Edu! Over here!!”

With a bright smile, Banetta waves at us.

“Wow…!!”

Behind her stands a majestic white ship I know well.