Chapter 472: Awkward Companions

“What? Now that you can manipulate souls a bit, did you think you could do something with me? How?”

Fen frowned as he asked.

Though he only appeared to be a ten-year-old boy with unruly orange hair, none of the Red Ones’ dark mages inside the vast underground cavern dared to respond.

They couldn’t risk it, considering his reputation as ‘Finger of the Black Hand,’ their backing, and most of all, the many creatures under Fen’s command.

The Red Ones’ dark mages clustered together, looking around at the many creatures filling the underground cavern.

Toy soldiers with toy guns, Boogiemen with sackcloth and long arms, Grandfather Bag with knapsack and hook, Nutcrackers with splendid swords, Chickensoldiers with chick helmets, Clowns with balloons and scythes, and Creepy Old Hags. There were many creatures present.

But the most striking of them all was none other than the one currently subduing ‘Unbent Knee’—Bubbling Mass.

“Oh, so you won’t answer? Bubbling Mass, press harder.”

As soon as Fen finished speaking, the massive, shapeless body of Bubbling Mass, almost resembling heavy machinery, emitted an unearthly sound as it pressed down harder on Unbent Knee’s head.

Bubbling Mass had dug its way through an abandoned mine to the underground of First Step all by itself, and its strength was tremendous. Unbent Knee’s head seemed like it might get crushed at any moment.

Quite a few of the Red Ones’ dark mages tried to intervene, but they were blocked by more of the Bubbling Masses, which suddenly sprung out from the subterranean darkness with incomprehensible cries.

“······Heyyyyyyaayeaaarrrrrghhuurrgyyaaa!!!”

The Red Ones’ dark mages instinctively stepped back. But they couldn’t really be blamed.

After all, anyone would react the same way when facing a formless mound that looked like a mass of rotting flesh.

When confronted with its shapeless body, the stench reminiscent of decaying meat, countless faces mashing together over its surface, and the groans from those twisted faces, any warrior would recoil. It wasn’t a matter of courage. It was biological instinct.

Just as Fen was about to react impulsively to the Red Ones’ minor resistance, Unbent Knee finally spoke.

“······Why did you take our people without permission?”

Even in this dire situation, where his head could be smashed any second, Unbent Knee kept his characteristic poker face, asking calmly and firmly.

Seeing this, Fen let out a sharp giggle, then crouched down beside him.

“Why else? The greatest sacrificial offering, one with royal blood, has arrived on this land. It was frustrating to do nothing. Won’t you conduct the ritual? Won’t you seek revenge? Won’t you reclaim your homeland?”

“This is an issue for our tribe—”

“—Oh! It’s no longer just that! Not anymore.”

Fen interrupted, scowling.

“Because you all learned dark magic from me, it’s not just your problem anymore! Don’t you remember?! What you put on the line to receive my extraordinary knowledge as adults? Huh?!!”

Gurgle, gurgle······

As if in sync with Fen’s irritated shout, Bubbling Mass applied even more pressure on Unbent Knee’s head, which seemed like it would burst at any moment.

But Fen kept shouting regardless.

“To summon a demon! But you’ve never succeeded once! After the shareholders’ meeting, Prometheus Corp’s headquarters will move to Seland. Once that happens, any slim chance of success will be gone! Huh?! Do you think I’m doing all this for my own sake?!!”

No one could argue against Fen’s words.

It was true that summoning a demon was the condition for being taught by Fen.

That’s exactly why they targeted the second prince of the United Kingdom.

Despite performing the ritual exactly as the ancient texts described, all previous summoning attempts had failed. They thought maybe using a royal-blooded victim might do the trick.

If it worked, they could fulfill their promise to Fen and strike a deal with the demon to reclaim their ancestors’ land.

“Ah······. Just talking about it is making me mad.”

Suddenly, Fen’s expression turned serious.

“I clearly taught you adults my dark magic, so why aren’t you keeping your promise? Aha! Is it because adults are naturally like that? Adults are liars! I know it.”

The Red Ones’ dark mages in the underground cavern felt chills run up their spines at that moment.

This wasn’t like when he would pretend to be angry as a joke, or when he threw hysterical tantrums.

He was genuinely angry.

The proof was in how all the surrounding creatures had become more menacing, reflecting Fen’s rage.

Fen expressed his anger even more.

“Speak up! If you fail to disrupt the shareholders’ meeting and Prometheus Corp’s items leave this land, we’ll never have another chance to summon a demon. And we haven’t even secured the sacrificial offering! What about our deal? What will you do about the demon?! Huh?!! At this point, maybe it’d be better if I just—”

“—I’ll take responsibility.”

Amidst the dark, nightmarish underground, a girl’s soft voice echoed.

Everyone’s attention was drawn to the source of that entirely different voice, focusing their gaze on one spot.

There, a girl with black hair braided on both sides and red skin stood.

“Lily!”

Fen, who had been raging just moments before, smiled and approached the girl as if nothing had happened.

His chilling fickleness on full display. Fen asked again.

“What did you say?”

“I said I’ll take responsibility. For the promise with you, Fen. So, please forgive them······. As a favor from a friend.”

The girl, known as Lily, said.

Fen stared at her in disbelief before bursting into a giggle. It was an unsettling laugh, especially coming from a child.

“Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee- Really? You think you can take responsibility?”

Suddenly, Fen stopped laughing and asked with serious eyes.

The creatures under Fen’s command started growling.

Surrounded by those beings that were more than just beasts, the Red Ones’ girl nodded.

“Yes······.”

“If that’s the case······. Fine! Since you’re not just a friend but the chieftain’s daughter, I’ll trust you! Shadow! Bubbling Mass!”

At Fen’s command, the shapeless monster and the shadow released Unbent Knee.

The situation that had been on the verge of explosion ended with the conversation between Lily, the girl known to Fen. Fen gleefully shouted.

“Bubbling Mass. Keep digging that hole you’ve been working on, and the rest of us will head back to Neverland. Shadow! Hey?! What’s wrong now, are you hurt?”

Fen asked his shadow. The shadow did indeed look out of sorts compared to usual, especially around one of its arms.

Upon Fen’s question, the shadow straightened its posture and quickly shook its head.

Hearing the silent response, Fen tilted his head in suspicion but soon let it go.

“If you’re fine, then great. Whatever. Open a portal; we’re going back······. Lily.”

As he approached Lily, Fen faced her and brushed his nose against hers.

“Make sure to keep your promise! If you don’t, I’ll punish you.”

Fen warned with a child’s smile as he spoke. Moments later, a portal opened by the shadow, and Fen, along with the other creatures, entered it.

Once Fen’s shadow also returned to the shadows, Unbent Knee stood up.

“Brother!”

A boy came running toward Unbent Knee with a bright smile. His younger brother.

“Brother! Are you—”

Unbent Knee gently pushed his worried brother aside and approached the girl, Lily.

“Strong Lily, what exactly—”

“—Unbent Knee, we don’t have time anymore.”

The girl, who seemed to be about Fen’s age, spoke with a voice more mature than anyone else.

A voice befitting the daughter of a doomed tribe’s chieftain.

“The military has started to act because of the attack on the prince. They’re already tearing through the slums, capturing and torturing anyone in sight. Soon, they’ll expel us completely from this land. We have no time left.”

Unbent Knee closed his eyes slowly and then looked at his comrades who had been lured by Fen and acted on their own.

All of them looked down in guilt.

But there was no point in blaming them alone. As Fen said, time was running out.

Strong Lily tugged on Unbent Knee’s sleeve.

“There are more urgent matters to attend to than assigning blame.”

Lily said this as she pointed to a group of dark mages in the corner of the underground area.

They were the ones who had gone after the prince with Fen, and they were all gravely injured. To the point of being beyond treatment.

Unbent Knee paused briefly as he looked at them, then, resolutely, he took out a vial from his robe and approached them, asking:

“Warriors······. Will you become the arrowheads that pierce our enemy’s hearts?”

The injured Red Ones’ dark mages answered, full of sincerity.

“Gladly, brother.”

***

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

Some time had passed since Pandora was connected to the World Tree and sent back, and a lot had happened simultaneously.

The First Step, a colonial city under the United Kingdom on the New Continent, went into a state of emergency after the bombing terror attack and the Code Gamma incident. Military forces began maintaining order except in already secure areas.

Moreover, the Red Ones’ slum was the center of a major search by Holy Knights, soldiers, police—there were even Pinkman combing the area.

They arrested anyone who seemed suspicious, leading to the capture of dozens of Red Ones’ dark mages and their collaborators in a single day.

Oliver had also been mobilized, so he knew better than anyone.

“Ah, I’m hungry.”

Remembering the search, Oliver felt hunger again and pulled out another Calorie Bar, stuffing it into his mouth.

There had to be over a dozen wrappers scattered across the desk, but Oliver didn’t care and continued eating.

Because he was hungry.

‘Maybe it’s because I’ve been working a lot?’

Oliver thought as he felt abnormal hunger. The more he ate, the hungrier he became. Even to Oliver, that didn’t seem normal.

‘Well, the job will be over soon anyway.’

Oliver thought as he looked over an article in the newspaper.

It mentioned that the shareholders’ meeting would begin this evening, which was somewhat surprising. Despite the bombing terror and the Red Ones’ dark mages threatening the prince, they were still going ahead with it.

This crushed the hopes of a certain traditional capitalist group and the nouveau riche group. With Edith gone, it was a certainty that they wouldn’t win.

‘Could there be another reason they’re pushing ahead?’

Oliver speculated. Economics wasn’t really his area of expertise, but it still seemed odd that they would neglect the prince’s safety just for Prometheus Corp.

However, shaking his head, Oliver got up from his seat.

Thinking and making guesses weren’t his strong suits anyway. He decided to just get on with his work.

***

“You’re right on time.”

One of the Pinkman high-ranking officers, a middle-aged gentleman known as Jim Roer, greeted Oliver at the agreed meeting place.

They had clashed a bit over the Pandora incident, but ended up working together due to getting intertwined with the Red Ones’ dark mages.

Although it seemed like he still harbored some personal feelings towards Oliver, Jim remained cordial on the surface.

“You’re familiar with the mission this time, correct?”

“Yes, Mr. Jim Roer. We’re raiding and clearing out the secret hideout of the Red Ones’ dark mages in the abandoned mine. You explained it thoroughly last time.”

“Good······. I was worried because you don’t look well.”

“I’m just hungry.”

Oliver replied nonchalantly.

It was true that being hungry was affecting his condition, but that wasn’t the only reason.

“As usual, you’ll join Team 6. For this operation, we’re collaborating with Holy Knights, keep that in mind.”

“Mr. Jim Roer.”

“Of course, working with Holy Knights might be challenging, but since Mr. Dave is from the Tower of Magic, it shouldn’t—”

“—No, that’s not the issue.”

Oliver asked, unfazed by the mention of Holy Knights. He genuinely didn’t care about it.

“Then, what’s the matter······?”

“I heard from the newspapers and around that the Red Ones are being relocated to protection zones, is that true?”

“······Why do you ask?”

“Just curious?”

Oliver answered. Although his response was suspicious at best, it sounded somewhat natural coming from him.

“Well, I’m not on that side, so I can’t say for sure… But according to the soldiers here, it looks like they’re moving the Red Ones to protection zones.”

“Is that so?”

“They aimed at the wrong target, so······. Though it seems like they had this planned for a while. Does that answer your question?”

“Yes······, that answers it.”