The saying ‘Sun has risen in the middle of the sky’ does not seem fit into this destroyed world where rain is constantly pouring down.
As soon as I opened my eyes, I checked the local time using the system. it’s 7 am right now. I slept for quite a long time.
When I lifted my head, I saw Aracelli sitting next to the window. She was holding Flower Pot tightly in her arms while staring blankly outside. There were only ruins and heavy rain outside, so I don’t think there’s anything interesting to see.
‘By the way, what the hell is this rain? why doesn’t it stop?’
At this point, it wouldn’t be strange if there’s flood all across the city. So, something is strange.
“Did you sleep well, Professor?”
“Yeah, I had a good sleep. What about her?”
“Oh, Silver Spirit is sleeping. She must be tired.”
“Tired? Sleep? That spirit?”
Well, her condition seems a little bit off these days. By the way, why did she call her Silver Spirit? Her name is Flower Pot.
When I went closer and looked at Flower Pot, something definitely changed about her. But I’m not sure what changed. She seems to have grown up a little?
“Let’s go down.”
“Yeah.”
After getting dressed appropriately, we went down to the first floor. What greeted us was the sight of people gathering together while making difficult faces. Among them was Park Han-seo, who had an unusually serious expression.
“What’s wrong?”
I led Aracelli towards Park Han-seo and asked.
At my question, she sighed and pointed out towards the window.
The place she pointed at was the second floor of a building in the distance. But because of its enormous size, we could see it clearly.
“That’s…… ‘face monster’?”
It was the same giant monster that I saw on the top of the building back when I was tending Aracelli who had passed out.
The grotesque and scary human face of the monster stared at this place with its huge, empty, but human-like black eyes without even blinking.
Aracelli grabbed my clothes from behind and stuttered.
“I…Is that the same monster as before?”
“…I don’t think so. It looks like a different entity, as there must be several of them around here.”
While wandering around the city for several weeks, I couldn’t get a glimpse of its shadow, let alone its face. So, I thought that this department store was just extremely unlucky.
However, it wasn’t just that.
[The episode of the Protagonist Kim Ha-soo, ‘Forming a Special Battle Team for Monsters (1)’ has begun.]
This Munhwa Department Store was struck by a misfortune carried by the episode, a storyline of the world which centered around the protagonist.
Why? As I was thinking, I looked at Park Han-seo unintentionally.
The protagonist Kim Ha-soo wanted her. It may be because she was useful, or it may be simply because he has a different reason. However, Park Han-seo declined Kim Ha-soo’s proposal, because she still had colleagues left in the Munhwa Department Store.
‘But, what if Munhwa Department Store collapses?’
The people would be annihilated and Park Han-seo would be the only one who would survive. Then, in despair, she would go under Kim Ha-soo and pledge her revenge towards the monster. That way, one episode of a supporting character is completed.
‘But… With this kind of force, I don’t think they would be wiped out?’
It will be inevitable for the department store to collapse since S rank monsters seemed to be overwhelming in this world, where the average level of the awakeners were low. However, if this group of people armed with personal weapons moves systematically, at least half of them could survive and relocate. Why did they get annihilated…
“I’m going to fight right now! Hurry!”
As Park Han-seo gave orders, the combatants started moving quickly.
At the same time, I was able to realize the reason why the Munhwa Department Store was annihilated.
“Everyone put down your guns! All of this is the will of God.”
It was because of the fanatic woman.
When all the people who were groaning in panic noticed her, she slowly opened her mouth and said.
“Do not try to resist the will of God. This is also a fate that must be accepted.”
“Are you saying that God is trying to kill us?”
“Yes. But it’s okay. Once upon a time, the first believer Tatlan cut one of his arms and offered it as a sacrifice to prove his faith. We can also make sacrifices and prove our faith!”
“No way…!”
It was nonsense. However, people still believed it was real. Their eyes gleamed with insanity and madness. The fanatics sobbed and slowly approached the combatant.
“Put the gun down now!”
“Did you not hear the Saintess-nim?! If you use the gun, God will be angry!! What will you do if that happens?”
“Disarm everyone!”
“Let’s put down our guns and pray together.”
It was a world where one could not survive without being crazy, so it is natural that they try to survive desperately.
“What, what is….”
“Are you really crazy? Don’t come closer or I’ll shoot! Don’t come closer!”
Even with guns in their hands, the pure madness of the fanatics made the combatants fall into deep terror. It was a really scary sight to behold.
As the combatants began to step back, the so-called Saintess’ voice got louder.
“Don’t blaspheme God!! Don’t blaspheme God!!”
As the situation escalated further because of the fanatics who sympathized with the Saintess, Park Han-seo eventually shot her pistol towards the air.
Pew~!!
In an instant, the commotion stopped. Park Han-seo then said to the people.
“What the hell is this bullshit when we don’t even know if we are strong enough to protect our home!”
Silence.
Everyone looked at her.
“When this department store collapses, we will have nowhere to go anymore. How long do you think you can survive in the wild with no food and no buildings to stay safely through the night? Everyone get your shit together! To survive, everyone has to fight back with their weapons!”
The charisma in her voice resonated throughout the department store. At that level, it seems that people will come to their senses….
“She has fallen!! She must have been stained by Satan!”
…. Or not.
Rather, the so-called Saintess rebuked Park Han-seo’s statement with an even more excited voice. While doing so, she also pointed to Aracelli, who was standing right next to Park Han-seo.
“Yes, that woman is the problem! As soon as she came in last night, a monster suddenly appeared! Satan must have led the monster to push us into a darker darkness than the abyss! God, is this the ordeal you bestowed upon us!”
The attention turned into Aracelli.
“She has exceptionally clean skin and a non-human appearance…… If that’s not Satan, what is she?”
“That’s right!”
“Get Satan out of here!”
“Banish her!”
Depending on the situation, sometimes being too pretty is also a problem.
The so-called Saintess stepped up, she pointed at Aracelli and me, and said.
“We have to atone! We have to atone by offering them as sacrifices to the monsters! That’s the only way we can be saved!”
“Atonement! Offering!”
“Offer Satan right now!”
Even in the midst of such confusion, Aracelli looked rather dumfounded than bewildered.
“To think that a day where a demon hunter like me would be called a demon would come…”
(T/N: She used to be a demon hunter in her world, I hope you guys have not forgotten this~)
When I heard her mumbling, the situation was indeed quite funny.
Then, Park Han-seo said to me with a serious expression.
“I’m sorry. It seems like I could only let you stay for one night. Now, please go ahead and leave through the back door. There are few monsters there, so you can safely get to the fortress island. I’ll try to stop them as much as I can, so hurry up!”
I greatly respected Park Han-seo who really tried to help us amidst the situation. There must be a backlash from her group, nevertheless, she still tried to help us.
Though, I don’t really mind staying here and watch the situation develop further. In the first place, I don’t really feel any danger from such a monster. But….
‘….This situation, it can be used.’
As I silently pulled the <Lost Morning Star> I looked around. I could see Aracelli stared at the so-called Saintess with an irritated expression. Well, I understand her feelings. She’s been under a lot of stress lately, and when a crazy religious fanatic suddenly picks a fight with her for no reason, of course she can’t let it slide.
“Aracelli. How much Mana you currently have?”
“Yes? Ah… there are about 9%.”
“Would you like to relieve your stress a bit?”
At my question, she smiled brightly and nodded her head.
“Yeah!”
Shortly thereafter, a ray of light erupted from Aracelli’s body.
“Right at this moment please, that Satan…… uh, huh?”
The crazy saintess who was busy shouting suddenly opened her eyes wide and stood there with her jaw dropped as she saw the girl she claimed to be Satan float in the air. The others were doing the same.
The reason is too simple.
“God…?”
“God, to save us….”
“She came directly…!”
The radiant brilliance generated by the magic of the 9th Circle Mage seems to be too ‘godly’ for the pseudo-believers.
Eventually, Aracelli walked out of the department store. And as she began to attack the monster with splendid magic, all the fanatics fell on their faces and bowed in tears. Those who blamed her began to bleed as they banged their head to the floor.
The crazy woman was stuttering and faltered back.
But she kept on insisting that Aracelli is a demon.
However, in the eyes of the believers, the same exact woman who she had been condemned as a demon was actually the God they have been praying to, who came to save this place.
Park Han-seo, who was watching the situation, did not miss the opportunity.
She shouted out loud. Louder than the saintess.
“Who brought our Savior?!?!”
Then, people turned their heads and looked at the so-called saintess, before looking at Park Han-seo once again.
“Y..you Captain!”
“If so, whose words should you trust from now on?!”
“Yours, Captain!”
At the same moment, a white glow was fired from Aracelli’s hand, burning all the monsters nearby, including the face monster.
‘…If you do that, the magical power you have accumulated so far will be halved.’
Aracelli was relieving her stress in a very violent way. It was only natural since she was unable to use her power ever since she arrived in this world and had been forced to hide behind me.
Thanks to her action, Park Han-seo would have an even stronger influence in her group.
“She dared to incite us all by falsely telling the will of God! Who is the true Satan? Answer me!”
“That, that…!”
“Can’t you answer me?”
“It’s Lee Ha-woong!!”
People shout in unison.
Turns out, the name of the so-called saintess is Lee Ha-woong. She was able to gather power through selling the name of God. But since someone who looked more like a god appeared, her power burst easily like a bubble.
“I want you guys to put her in front of me!”
“Wa..wait! I’ve been set up! It’s not God’s will! This, this is something…!”
“Shut up!”
It was a simple, violent, and straightforward world. In this kind of destroyed world, humans were simply unable to think deeply. That was why people could just drag a woman who was, until a moment ago, worshiped like a god and force her down on her knees.
“In this age where it is impossible to know whether we will be able to survive today or tomorrow, the sin of inciting people and leading them to death is great. Do you know your sins?”
“I, I am innocent! This is all God’s will…! You guys, aren’t you afraid of God’s punishme-aaaaaahhh!!”
Park Han-seo kicked Lee Ha-woong’s knee. It was a light kick, but the result, her knee was bent backward. As Lee Ha-woong rolled over the floor and screamed, Park Han-seo shot a bullet an inch away from her head. Then, while moaning, Lee Ha-woong’s scream subsided a little.
Park Han-seo grabbed Lee Ha-woong and pulled her up, and then, she met her eyes. Then, Park Han-seo whispered so quietly that she could only be heard by Lee Ha-woong.
“God’s punishment? God has already abandoned us. You don’t know even after seeing what happened to us?”
“You dare to insult God….”
“If there was a god, the world would not have been destroyed like this in the first place. If it was a god who has abandoned humans, it is not worth serving him anymore.”
“You will be punished! I assure you, you will receive it! You will be punished…!”
“Really? Then please pray as hard as you could and ask your god to give me a punishment.”
After saying so, Park Han-seo ripped one of Lee Ha-woong’s ears.
“OHHAAAAAAHHHHH…!!”
The leader of the survivor group needs to take the initiative in their group whenever there is a chance. It was because the leader’s job was to decide whether to save a person or to kill them at a critical moment when life and death were at stake.
“Drag her away and lock her in the basement but don’t kill her.”
Park Han-seo had a serious expression on her face, and Lee Ha-woong was able to see it even while being dragged away.
“Because I’m going to ‘punish’ her in person.”
“Ouaaaaahhhh…!!”
Lee Ha-woong struggled to free herself. But, she was beaten by others and she passed out.
While everybody was focusing their gaze on Aracelli, Park Han-seo approached me.
“….Thank you. You saved my life. It was really dangerous. Still, because they were like my own family, I couldn’t threaten them with guns and it was a headache….”
After listening to her words, I know for sure. She was probably going to lose all of her precious family while trying to save one more person. Well, that would be the case if I wasn’t here. It doesn’t matter much because it won’t happen anymore.
“Well, I just did what I had to do.”
“Is that so? Then, do you have something you want?”
“Of course, I have something that I want.”
“…..”
In response, Park Han-seo sighed before immediately laughed and nodded her head.
“…Okay. Since I have received such great help, I can’t refuse you, can I? I will accept the request you made yesterday.”