novelnext Chapter 189 : Infiltrators (4)
Chapter 189 : Infiltrators (4)
About an hour had passed since we split into teams.“…Nothing here either.”
From Repository No. 21 through No. 25, we hadn't obtained a single piece of useful information.
“I hope the others are having better luck than we are.”
“I hope so too.”
Unlike the previous five repositories that had been lined up side by side, Repository No. 26 was located far across on the opposite side.
Suddenly, Edel poked me in the side.
I turned to look at her.
With a tilt of her chin, she pointed toward a group of people hurrying somewhere in the distance.
There were at least twenty of them.
“They don't look like the people stationed down here. What do you think?”
“…They might be on their way to report to a superior.”
“Let's follow them.”
Before I could even respond, Edel had already activated Concealment Magic.
“……”
Keeping a distance of about ten meters, we tailed them for roughly ten minutes.
Eventually, the group split into five smaller groups and scattered.
Edel and I exchanged a quick glance before deciding which one to follow.
As we trailed the last remaining group of four, the surrounding area gradually grew quieter.
Then—
One of the four, who had been walking briskly, suddenly came to a stop.
“But... is this really alright?”
“What is?”
“Even if he was originally a servant, he's still Greenwhistle's captain now, isn't he? Why would we receive orders to kill one of our own?”
The man who appeared to be their leader stopped alongside the other two and waved his hand dismissively.
“They said he's a traitor who betrayed the Society.”
“If he exposes our corruption to the citizens, the entire coup could fall apart.”
“But he's still bound by the Code, isn't he?”
“If he values his life, he shouldn't even be capable of entertaining such thoughts…”
“He's someone who suffered endless humiliation in Bernhardt and barely escaped with his life.”
“You think someone like that is afraid of dying now?”
“…If they really wanted him dead, couldn't they kill him without involving us?”
“So why go through all this trouble?”
“How would I know?”
“The higher-ups must have their own reasons.”
“We just follow orders.”
“……”
“Hey.”
“This came directly from above.”
“Stop worrying about someone else's life and start worrying about your own.”
“Got it?”
“……Yes.”
The man scratched the back of his head before letting out a sigh.
“…Anyway, we're certain he's somewhere in this area.”
“Whichever group finds him first kills him and reports afterward.”
“Take action first. Report later.”
“Understood?”
The other three silently nodded.
Just as the leader was about to signal them to disperse—
WEEEEEE—
WEEEEEE—
A deafening siren suddenly echoed throughout the entire underground complex.
“What the hell?”
“That sound... don't tell me…”
“Intruders! Intruders!”
“Intruders? Where?!”
“Near Repository No. 6!”
“Damn it! Split up!”
“If they get away, we're finished too!”
After exchanging several frantic words, the four disappeared almost instantly.
Edel and I slipped into a narrow gap between two walls.
Concealment Magic had already been dispelled.
“…Didn't they get caught way too quickly?”
“Let's just assume we're the ones who haven't been gathering enough information.”
“It was probably Rubia's team.”
“She isn't exactly experienced with infiltration missions.”
“You're not even trying to hide your favoritism anymore.”
“Hm?”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing.”
Lately, she had been slipping into informal speech more and more often.
“Putting that aside…”
“What should we do now, Edel?”
If they had been exposed without accomplishing anything, that would have been surprising in its own right.
But that seemed highly unlikely.
At the very least, whichever team had been discovered must have uncovered something worthwhile.
Whether it was Michel and Francia's team or Rubia and Meriel's, I had complete faith in their abilities.
In a place like this, where there were almost no wide-open spaces, it would also be difficult for the enemy to surround them.
They could easily continue holding out in a standoff.
The real problem would arise if the battle became prolonged.
No matter how favorable the terrain was for defense, they couldn't keep it up forever.
I had already prepared the Executors as a contingency.
Whether they would actually come to help us, however, remained uncertain.
That was why creating a diversion elsewhere to draw attention away from the teams under attack would probably be our best option.
“Wouldn't it be a waste to retreat now?”
“…You're right.”
Just as Edel had said, we still hadn't been discovered.
At the very least, we should obtain one meaningful piece of information before going to assist them.
“They're the same people who stood their ground against Dabios of Slaughter and the Executor of Blood.”
“Have a little more faith, Carter.”
Watching Edel pat my shoulder reassuringly, I nodded firmly.
“I don't think searching repositories alone will be enough anymore.”
“Even if we're exposed…”
“I think we should thoroughly investigate anything suspicious.”
“What do you think?”
“I agree.”
“Then it's settled…”
“Let's move!”
Bang!
Crash!
Having reached our decision, we threw open every door we came across and continued our search.
Most rooms were completely empty.
Some contained people locked behind iron bars.
Others housed massive Artifacts like the Eye of Kabbalah positioned at their centers.
Several of them contained evidence that could potentially pressure the Society.
But nothing was decisive enough.
After roughly memorizing their locations, we resumed running.
WEEEEEE—
WEEEEEE—
Even the endless blaring of the sirens gradually became familiar.
After roughly opening and closing the nineteenth room, I was about to rush toward the twentieth.
Then—
“Ugh…!”
Edel suddenly grabbed her temple, her face twisting in pain.
“Edel?”
A moment later—
The same pain struck me.
“…Ghk?!”
Both of us instinctively turned our heads toward the northeast.
At the very edge of my vision, I barely spotted a small black door.
“That's…”
Despite being over a hundred meters away, the overwhelming malice pouring out from it was enough to blur my vision.
I glanced sideways.
Edel wore exactly the same expression I did.
Without saying a word, we both started moving.
Creak…
The moment the door opened, the sinister aura became even stronger.
“What in the world is this place…?”
Boom!
The door slammed shut on its own the instant we stepped inside.
The room was tiny.
Barely large enough for five people to stand.
There wasn't a single object inside.
Instinctively, I placed my hand against the wall and concentrated my mana.
Immediately, I felt another mana source violently reacting to mine.
“……”
“The source of that malice is beyond this wall.”
Edel silently nodded.
Without another word, I drew the Lukezax and slashed straight ahead.
Craaash!
The wall shattered with surprising ease.
The scene beyond filled my vision.
A study.
Far larger than anyone would expect to exist beneath the ground.
The floor was covered with luxurious carpets.
A fireplace still glowed faintly with dying embers.
Several framed portraits decorated the walls.
Numerous ornaments filled the room.
A leather sofa sat at the center.
A work desk stood to the left.
And seated elegantly upon the sofa—
Calmly sipping tea despite the chaos unfolding outside—
Was a single woman.
The moment I saw her leisurely enjoying afternoon tea without the slightest sign of agitation...
I knew.
“Charlotte Platina…”
At the sound of her name, she slowly turned her head toward us before letting out a faint chuckle.
“…Impressive.”
“Eugene Carter.”
“Edel Ribenia.”
She gently placed her teacup onto the table beside the sofa.
“I already knew both of you had remarkable courage…”
“But I never imagined you'd personally venture into this secret underground complex.”
“……”
“How did you get in?”
“If you had already known about this place beforehand, you would've brought an army.”
“So someone must have informed you fairly recently.”
“And entering officially without a Code would've required an accomplice…”
“In that case…”
“It was either Maximilian or Dale.”
“No one else could have brought you this far.”
Slowly rising to her feet, Charlotte continued,
“I intentionally left both of them alive.”
“I thought they deserved to spend whatever little time remained to them in happiness.”
“But now…”
Her eyes overflowed with killing intent and malice as she looked down upon us.
“Once you've come all the way here…”
“You've left me with no reason to show mercy.”
While carefully observing the fury burning within her eyes, I continued evaluating her strength.
“Mercy?”
“Do you even understand this situation?”
Before I could move, Edel stepped in front of me.
“The Platinum Dawn Society may be dangerous.”
“But you're not.”
“We came here to uncover your identity and your weakness.”
“But now that we've found you…”
“None of that matters anymore.”
She drew a dagger from her clothing and assumed a combat stance.
“If I cut off your head right here…”
“Your ridiculous dream of a coup will die along with you.”
“My head?”
“You?”
Charlotte merely laughed derisively.
“You really do tell amusing stories, Edel Ribenia.”
“A half-baked ability user who can only perform a single regression…”
“And you think someone like you can kill us?”
“…Us?”
To anyone else, it might have sounded like ordinary provocation.
But I heard it clearly.
Two keywords.
Words that could never be spoken without absolute confidence.
As if to elaborate further, Charlotte pointed directly at me.
“You're no different, Eugene Carter.”
“The meddler from another world.”
“……What?”
Even though I had anticipated her attitude...
Those words left me genuinely stunned.
When both Edel and I visibly reacted, Charlotte leaned forward, clearly delighted.
“What?”
“Surprised?”
“Did you really think you were the only ones who knew the truth about this world?”
“……”
“You're merely pieces chosen by that so-called god.”
“Eugene Carter.”
“Edel Ribenia.”
“And now…”
“You're destined to become discarded pieces.”
“Because those chosen by Abrel…”
“…can never save this world.”
“Never.”
“As long as they're human.”
Everything she said was both an enormous clue...
And the source of an overwhelming sense of unease.
How confident was she in her own strength...
To speak with such certainty while facing both of us?
— Don't panic so much, my dear. She could just be bluffing.
'…What do you think, Clina?'
'Does she look like she's bluffing?'
— …Unfortunately…
—I think she's the real deal.
'Well, that's encouraging.'
— Though whether she's actually a woman…
—Or merely something wearing the skin of one…
—I couldn't say.
'…Then I'll find out myself.'
Replying inwardly, I slowly stepped forward until I stood beside Edel.
Then I spoke.
“As long as they're human… never?”
“You say that as though you aren't human yourself.”
“Well…”
“Who knows?”
“If someone called Abrel chose us…”
“Then someone else must've chosen you.”
“……”
I raised my sword toward her.
“So in the end…”
“Is this just a struggle between those who chose us?”
“A contest to determine which side's champion prevails?”
“A struggle?”
Charlotte laughed.
“That's something reserved for worthy equals.”
Stepping away from the sofa, she stood directly before us.
“You're my prey.”
“The Regressor.”
“And the Transmigrator.”
“The moment you willingly stepped into this place…”
“…your defeat was already guaranteed.”
“…We'll see about that.”
I briefly turned toward Edel and conveyed my thoughts with a glance.
There were still countless questions between us.
Countless truths left unsaid.
But none of that mattered right now.
First—
We survive this battle.
First—
We escape this place alive.
That was all.
“……”
Edel gave a slight nod.
She understood perfectly.
The instant I saw her response—
I charged toward Charlotte with everything I had.
The clash had begun.