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Chapter 30 - Astro (2)

"I knew you would return."

The woman with black hair soaked in blood was kneeling, her head bowed toward me.

A shimmering trail of tears glistened on her cheek.

The menacing aura she had just moments ago had completely vanished.

The atmosphere had softened.

Her voice trembled with a pitiful quiver, yet it was filled with unmistakable joy.

"..."

Like a child reunited with a long-lost mother, the woman was overwhelmed with emotion.

Although her lower face was hidden behind a mask, she was undoubtedly smiling brightly.

I let out a small sigh.

\'This is really overwhelming.\'

It was nice to see her again after such a long time, but her greeting was far too excessive.

Still, I had to accept it.

If I didn\'t, she might actually break down in tears.

I finally forced myself to speak.

"It\'s been a while, Lena."

"I\'ve been waiting. I\'m just glad you returned safely."

"How did you know I was here?"

"I happened to be patrolling the streets... and I suddenly felt a familiar presence, so I rushed over."

"A presence, huh."

It seemed she had picked up on the signal I had been subtly emitting since entering the city. I hadn’t expected her to notice so quickly.

Her skills were still as sharp as ever.

"Not bad."

"Thank you...!"

Her eyes sparkled at the compliment.

The woman, who had been frozen with a blissful expression, quickly regained her composure and stood up.

"The other members have been eagerly awaiting your return as well."

"I suppose I should at least show my face."

"I\'ll escort you. But the beastkin with you...?"

"She\'s my guest. Make sure she\'s treated well."

"I’ll do my utmost."

Her response was polite.

Lena took the lead, and as I followed behind her, Irene nudged my shoulder.

"...I don’t understand what\'s going on."

"Miss Irene."

Her black eyes wavered with confusion.

She was clearly unsettled.

\'This is tricky.\'

How was I supposed to explain all of this?

It was too complicated and would take too long to explain.

And if I mentioned being the head of a criminal organization, it would likely cause unnecessary misunderstandings.

Sometimes, silence is better than words.

After a brief moment of thought, I decided to give her a vague smile.

"Let\'s just go."

"Are you sure this is the right way? To where the children are…?"

"Of course. You’ll see them soon, so don’t worry."

Leaving the brief exchange behind, the three of us walked through several alleys, side streets, and shadows.

As we navigated the winding streets, it wasn’t long before Lena, who was leading the way, came to a stop.

We had arrived at our destination.

"We’ve arrived."

In front of us stood a small tavern.

The building was shabby, seemingly abandoned for over ten years.

Without hesitation, we entered.

Creak—

Beyond the old door, an ancient scene awaited us.

The tavern was covered in a thick layer of dust, as if it hadn’t seen a visitor in ages.

It looked like just an ordinary abandoned place.

Irene furrowed her brows again.

"...Are you sure this is the right place?"

"It is."

"There’s no one here. There are no signs of anyone living here."

"That’s exactly the point of this space."

The fact that it looked abandoned was important.

It was meant to avoid attracting attention.

It might look like an empty shell... but the real secret lay ahead.

"This way."

Lena stepped forward confidently.

She moved to the most secluded part of the tavern and pried up a few wooden planks.

There was a hidden entrance.

"Stairs...?"

Underneath the planks was a staircase.

It led down into a deep underground space, so deep that the end couldn’t be seen.

"Please, go ahead."

Thud, thud—

Without hesitation, I descended the stairs.

After walking down the long slope for a while, we finally reached the bottom.

A large iron door awaited us.

"It’s been a while."

"They’re all waiting. I informed them in advance that you were coming."

"Oh dear."

That’s a bit concerning.

I hesitated briefly.

But it was too late to turn back now. I slowly pushed the door open.

A heavy creak echoed through the air.

Creeeak—!

And with that, a new scene unfolded.

The damp, musty underground air disappeared, and bright lights dispelled the darkness.

It was a spacious and impeccably clean room.

"Ah..."

The fox beside me let out a gasp.

The wooden floors were polished, the space was open and comfortable, and magic lamps illuminated the room.

It was like the headquarters of a high-ranking knight order. Even better than that, really.

It was no wonder she was surprised.

She would never have imagined such a place existed underground.

I felt a slight urge to tease her reaction, but I soon realized I wasn’t in the position for that.

"..."

Thirty pairs of eyes were focused on me.

About that many people were standing there, all staring blankly.

As if in shock.

"Ahem."

I cleared my throat awkwardly.

Hiding my growing discomfort behind a smile, I greeted the familiar faces.

"It’s been a while, everyone."

And then.

"..."

A brief silence followed.

It quickly became awkward.

Just as I began to regret my light-hearted greeting.

"...Captain?"

A dazed mumble reached my ears.

As if they were dreaming.

The voice, which had been frozen for a while, gradually softened and then finally knelt down.

It was a sob of pure emotion.

"Ah... the Captain has returned!"

A clear cry rang out.

The rising emotion spread, infecting those around.

"Is it really the Captain...?"

"Does this mean he hasn’t abandoned us?"

"A miracle has happened..."

"Oh, Serpent."

They seemed entranced.

Muttering to themselves, the members each began to kneel on the floor.

Some of them even began to cry.

Before I could even process the scene.

The members bowed their heads. They placed a clenched fist over their chests and chanted in unison.

"Everything according to your will."

The air was filled with reverence.

Joy, respect, tears, devotion, love... countless emotions filled the space.

It was like watching fanatics in a cult.

I felt my head start to spin.

Why are they acting like this?

And that embarrassing chant—I told them to change it ages ago. Why are they still using it?

It was driving me crazy.

"Hehe."

Yet despite it all, my lips curled into a sinister smile, thanks to my damned nature.

As I silently endured the discomfort.

The fox, looking bewildered, asked me a question.

"You... who exactly are you?"

"I wonder."

= I don’t know either.

"None of them seem sane. Are you really leading a cult or something?"

"What do you think?"

= I don’t know either, damn it.

Her eyes were filled with suspicion.

The members didn’t seem like they had any intention of getting up.

\'Maybe I shouldn’t have come.\'

This was unbearably stressful.

***

Meanwhile.

A girl was running down a wide corridor.

She was moving with urgency, as if something pressing had happened.

Her footsteps echoed dryly.

Thud, thud, thud, thud—!

Her silver hair fluttered in the air as she ran.

Her eyes, which held the soft glow of moonlight, had a cold, distant look.

A faint burn scar marred part of her face.

She had an intensely frosty expression.

"Hah, hah...!"

This was Neria Lightning, the Vice-Captain of Astro.

She had been working alone on some paperwork, so she was the last to hear the news.

Since she had missed him more than anyone else.

The girl immediately bolted from her seat.

\'Captain, Captain, Captain...\'

As she crossed the corridor, she repeated the name in her heart.

For over half a year, she hadn’t been able to find him.

The only thing he had left was a single letter.

She had feared that he might have abandoned them.

Even as she trembled with that fear, Neria had kept her faith.

\'Finally.\'

Her faith was rewarded.

News of \'him,\' the one she had longed for more than anything.

The girl finally reached the end of the corridor and flung open the last door.

And then.

"Hehe, everyone, you can lift your heads now."

Blindingly radiant blonde hair.

That mischievous smile.

The boy was standing there as if nothing had happened.

Around him, the members who had knelt earlier were still deep in their reverence.

Their eyes met.

"Oh."

"Ah."

A breath caught in her throat for a moment.

It was the boy who spoke first.

"Neria! It’s been a while."

Grinning.

His eyes formed crescent moons as he smiled, and in that blissful curve, reality came crashing in.

The Captain had returned.

\'I wasn’t abandoned.\'

A thick wave of relief washed over her.

Before she knew it, her emotions burst forth, and tears of joy began to fall.

Neria maintained a steady stride.

Thud—

When she reached the boy, she knelt down on both knees.

She bowed her head.

"Welcome back."

She took the Serpent’s hand that was offered to her.

With tears still streaming down her face, she kissed the back of his noble hand in reverence.

The sweet scent of his skin brushed past her nose.

"My master."

It was intoxicating.

Just like with the letter he had left before, she wanted to breathe in his scent, but she barely restrained herself.

She knew he wouldn’t like it.

"Hmm~ Has it been about half a year since I disappeared?"

"It’s been exactly 194 days today."

"I’m quite late, then."

"I’ve been waiting."

"Hehe."

The boy smiled, as if pleased.

"Thank you."

"I only held onto the faith that I should."

Neria closed her eyes quietly.

Still bowing her head, she recited a prayer.

"Everything according to your will."

To the god she served.

***

The storm passed.

Just when it seemed like the members were finally starting to calm down, Neria appeared, and they all started crying again.

It was a chaotic time.

\'This is why I hesitated to come.\'

It felt like this before, half a year ago, but today it seemed even worse.

It really felt like I had become the leader of a fanatical cult.

I felt like I had aged ten years.

A faint sigh escaped me.

\'But I guess it\'s a good thing.\'

It\'s better that they welcomed me like this.

I only ever showed up when I needed them, and this time, I had been gone for a full six months.

Maybe it was a miracle they still treated me as their captain.

\'...Come to think of it, I came here because I needed to ask them for something again.\'

Honestly, I felt a bit guilty.

I should probably show my face around here more often.

I made that promise to myself, knowing I wouldn’t keep it.

I turned to the Vice-Captain, who was standing nearby.

"Neria."

"You called for me."

Her response came immediately.

Had she been waiting for me to speak? It felt like her entire focus was on me.

Her silver eyes sparkled with an overwhelming intensity.

"What would you like?"

"Well... I was wondering if the beastkin foxes I asked you to look after last time are still here?"

"Of course. It was your command, after all."

"I’d like to see them after a long time."

"I’ll take you to them right away."

"Let’s go, Miss Irene."

"...Ah, okay."

We rose from our seats.

I had other things to discuss with the Vice-Captain, but...

I planned to visit the foxes first for Irene, who looked like she was dying of anxiety.

She was going to be in for a big surprise.

"Hehe."

I walked with a sly smile.

***

"Hehe."

The boy smiled ominously.

Irene watched him with uneasy eyes.

\'What exactly is he... and what’s with this massive underground facility?\'

It was a suspicious place.

Everywhere she looked, she saw signs of expensive space-expansion magic being used, giving it the feel of a mansion.

And then there were those people who called themselves members.

And the location of the building, deep in the heart of the slum.

There wasn’t a single thing that didn’t make her uncomfortable.

\'Are the kids really in a place like this...?\'

Her mind kept wandering to dark possibilities.

A slum filled with thick fog.

A criminal organization that seemed out of their minds.

An underground facility so deep that no one could find it.

And finally, the children.

\'A slum, a criminal organization, an underground facility... and children.\'

It was a disturbing combination.

A cold tension gripped her throat.

–Your siblings are in a \'good place.\' I sent them there myself.

Why?

The one remark she had brushed off as a joke kept replaying in her mind.

Thump, thump, thump, thump—!

Her heart pounded furiously, making it hard for her to stay calm.

The fox bit her lip nervously.

"This seems to be the place."

The snake suddenly stopped walking.

Before she knew it, the two of them had reached a large iron door.

The girl swallowed hard.

"Miss Irene."

"..."

"This is my finest work. I hope it meets your expectations."

His sinister voice whispered.

Without hesitation, the blonde boy pulled on the door handle.

"Welcome. To the \'paradise\' I’ve prepared for you."

Creeeak—!

As the elegant door swung open, a shocking scene unfolded.

A blatant stench invaded her senses.

"...!"

The fox’s expression froze.