Chapter 437: New Crossroads (2)

21st District.

District 20s have existed since the early days of Vulcan and served as the outskirts before the city expanded.

Most of the districts had been redeveloped as the city grew and various corporations and people moved in, but the 21st District still retained streets that had not undergone redevelopment.

This was because the 21st District had been a bustling commercial area for decades, with a concentration of various facilities and historical sites, making it difficult to easily tear down.

As a result, within the mega-city, the 21st District was famous for its outdated facilities, despite being close to the central district.

Creak…!!

A wooden plank, stepped on inadvertently, let out a chilling sound and broke.

Damp smoke flowed from between pipes clinging to the wall of a dilapidated brick building, spreading like exhaust fumes.

The appearance of the old street was such that one wouldn’t feel out of place thinking it was a gloomy alley in an outer district.

Only the hazy high-rise buildings surrounding the 21st District served, conversely, to remind one that this place was close to the central district.

Lennok slowly ambled through the 21st District, looking around these streets, then found a sign pointing to a nearby church and followed it.

A small church nestled in an isolated alley.

Few people came and went, and smoke wafted up from various places, while remnants of collapsed buildings, rebar, and concrete lay scattered, emitting a pungent odor.

Lennok gazed up at the church for a moment before slowly opening the door.

Bang!!

“What?”

Just as he was about to pull the door, the old church door swung open, and someone walked out from inside.

A middle-aged man with dark skin. His face was rough, as if he hadn’t shaved in days, and his eyes were bloodshot, as if he hadn’t slept for days.

His body reeked heavily of cigarettes.

“Damn it, is there really someone who comes to pray at a church like this?”

“……”

“And walking around wearing some goddamned mask.”

The man, muttering in a voice slurred as if he were drunk, roughly pushed Lennok’s shoulder and left the church.

At first glance, his behavior looked like nothing more than a drunken spree.

But Lennok’s eyes sharpened as he watched the man’s retreating back.

After wandering through the 21st District several times, he had confirmed that other people didn’t find Lennok’s mask strange.

It was clear that the man, who had naturally recognized the mask, was no ordinary civilian.

A center of gravity that, though staggering, never wavered. A faint scent of blood hidden by the overpowering smell of alcohol, and the ample shedding fur clinging to the inside of his overcoat.

Finally, the way he subtly adjusted his sleeve as if to conceal his identity.

In an instant, Lennok inferred his status and origin from his appearance and gait.

‘Killing intent and the smell of blood. Unusual magical flow and a strange body odor. He’s a demi-human. Someone from outside the city.’

The very fact that such a person was frequenting an isolated church in the 21st District would be proof that Lennok hadn’t come to the wrong destination.

Thinking so, Lennok opened the door he had been holding and stepped inside the church.

Whoosh…!!

The majestic sound of an organ immediately filled the air as he entered the church.

At the far end of the chapel, where no one else was present, the back of someone intensely focused on playing the organ was visible.

Dressed in a nun’s habit, she was likely the nun managing this church.

Instead of speaking directly to her, Lennok quietly began to survey the chapel.

Churches, as buildings, were rare religious facilities to see within the mega-city.

As the influence of the Guido Cult grew stronger, there was a proportionately greater tendency in the city to reject and distance itself from religion.

Amidst that, the sight of a church still maintaining its existence felt somewhat unfamiliar to Lennok.

‘Perhaps even adopting the form of a church is intentional…’

While Lennok was pondering the relationship between religion, the underworld, and the Guido Cult with such thoughts, the nun finished her organ performance, quietly rose from her seat, and turned around.

“A new parishioner has arrived.”

The nun walked gracefully down and stood before Lennok, extending her right hand without hesitation.

“Welcome, parishioner. I am Hylaea Odinsen.”

“…I am not a parishioner, but it’s good to meet you.”

Lennok took her hand and shook it, then paused as he looked up at her face.

Below Hylaea’s short-cropped hair, instead of her two eyes, a thick blindfold was tied.

“As you can see, I cannot see well, so I cannot properly see your face. Lately, I think my hearing is also failing, as I cannot hear your voice very well either.”

“No, your voice isn’t the problem.”

Lennok’s voice was also being distorted by the mask’s effect.

Hylaea let out a sigh of relief.

“Is that so? That’s fortunate. For blind people like me, we rely much more on our other senses, so if our hearing were to fail, it would be a big problem.”

“You were just playing the organ, yet you’re worried your hearing might be failing?”

“While playing the organ, I do not pay attention to whether the pitch is correct.”

Hylaea replied with a gentle smile.

“That is because while performing hymns, I am completely immersed in the process. How could any stray thoughts interfere with the process of praising God?”

“……”

God, she said. It had been quite a while since someone spoke of God in front of Lennok.

Knowing it wasn’t his original reason for seeking her out, Lennok still asked.

“Do you believe God exists?”

“Is that something to ask in a church?”

Hylaea replied, her lips turning slightly awkward.

Lennok also felt that his question was misplaced and cleared his throat.

“No, that’s not what I meant… I wonder if you’ve ever imagined what God might look like.”

“……”

“The most powerful religious group on this continent doesn’t doubt the form or location of God at all. Rather, they even create specific figures to worship, do they not?”

Regardless of the Guido Cult considering the monsters of the outer sea as gods and worshipping them, it was an undeniable fact that there were believers whose faith was answered.

Lennok was curious about what this nun, who didn’t serve the cult, thought about God.

If this person was truly a member of Pandemonium, then they must at least perceive the world differently from others, mustn’t they?

“It is precisely because God has no form that we can revere them.”

Hylaea looked at Lennok with an intrigued expression for a moment before speaking.

“Because God can provide an answer to all who believe and serve them, faith can exist in its current form. If you can understand that, then you, too, parishioner, can receive grace under our doctrine and serve.”

A response closer to fundamental principles than revealing strong convictions or individuality.

Hylaea also seemed disinclined to engage in a theological debate, so she naturally changed the subject.

“So, may I know why you, parishioner, have come to this church? If it’s about a donation you made, I must tell you it has already returned to God’s side.”

“……”

Hylaea abruptly informed him of a non-refund policy even before he had stated his business.

It wasn’t hard to understand what kind of purposes most visitors to this church had.

Though utterly absurd, Lennok decided to lightly probe her for now.

“Well, I’m not sure myself. I was just told that if I came here, I’d find out.”

“I apologize, but with that, I don’t have much to go on. All I do is sit here all day and play hymns…”

Hylaea sighed with a troubled expression.

“Usually, it’s also hard for me to tell which parishioners have visited our church.”

“I see. When I just entered the church, a man was leaving. If you didn’t know him, I wonder if he stole something.”

“What would there be to take from an old church like this? Unless it’s the organ I’m touching, there isn’t much valuable, so it’s fine.”

“Really?”

Lennok adjusted his mask and slowly tilted his head.

“When I first opened the door, I didn’t hear any organ music.”

“……”

“You must have spoken with that person, yet you’re pretending not to know… Lying isn’t a virtue of a cleric, is it?”

Silence fell.

Hylaea’s expression remained fixed, gazing up at Lennok with a faint smile, as if time had stopped.

Lennok stared down at her for a moment, then chuckled, taking a step back.

“Let’s stop here. I’m here about Pandemonium’s business.”

“Haaah…”

The moment that name was uttered, Hylaea’s expression relaxed completely, and she let out a deep sigh.

She sat down on a wooden chair near the chapel, casually crossed her legs, leaned back, and muttered indifferently.

“I was worried that another troublesome parishioner had come.”

“……”

“If you came through an introduction, couldn’t you have just said so clearly and quickly? Without all this unnecessary probing?”

“Why should I trust you?”

Lennok chuckled and casually sat on the table opposite her.

“Not many people truly know about the underworld. I naturally thought you’d give some hint first, but since you were imitating a cleric, I had no choice but to test your intentions.”

“I am merely receiving assignments and introducing suitable individuals.”

Hylaea said with a sharp voice.

“It just so happens that I’m taking on Pandemonium’s tasks and relaying them, but fundamentally, I have no particular relation to them…”

“That’s a lie.”

Lennok reached into his pocket, fiddling with a cigarette, cutting her off.

Since he was wearing a mask, he couldn’t smoke even if he wanted to. For now, he would have to substitute it with ampoules or potion-type medicines.

“Myeong wouldn’t have given a hint to such a minor contact. You either possess powerful specialized abilities that allow communication across the entire continent, or you’re close enough to the leader to know them personally.”

“……”

“I told you I heard about this directly. How long are you going to keep playing games?”

Lennok knew better than anyone how long it had taken Myeong to persuade him, and how much deliberation he had gone through to reach this point.

Because of that, her lukewarm attitude was inevitably annoying.

As Lennok revealed his displeasure, the very air in the old church slowly began to ripple and tremble.

Thump-thump-thump!!

Even with a slight increase in his magical power, the surrounding air vibrated as if crushed by the projection of his will.

At the moment Hylaea’s lips trembled and she abruptly stood up, startled by the ominous surge.

“That’s enough.”

A calm voice, entirely different from before, seeped through Hylaea’s lips.

“This child’s words are not false. She merely vaguely perceives her own position.”

“What?”

“So, would you please withdraw that aura quickly? This child’s body isn’t very strong; it’s difficult for her to endure prolonged exposure to such dangerous magic.”

Only then did Lennok realize that the Hylaea before him had completely changed into another person, and he withdrew his magic.

In the suddenly silent air of the church, she smiled contentedly.

“Perfect magical control. From emission to convergence, there’s nothing to fault. Myeong’s praise was well-deserved.”

“…Multiple personalities? No. You’re a completely different person.”

Lennok’s eyes narrowed behind his mask as he instantly discerned Hylaea’s life signs.

“You’ve tried to hide this place, it seems. Did you trick a naive cleric into being your shield?”

“I hope you don’t take it too negatively.”

Hylaea slowly raised both hands and, as she removed her blindfold, opened her eyes, which had been closed.

Above the pure white sclera, pupils faintly formed, then clearly met Lennok’s gaze.

“We are merely fulfilling what each other needs. In that process, both I and this child bear the same risks.”

“……”

“I know you’re cautious, but I hope you don’t think of us as simply heinous criminals. Well, if you didn’t, you wouldn’t have sought me out only now, would you?”

Hylaea, leaning casually in her chair and touching her eyes, smiled.

“It seems Myeong, who has been traveling all over the continent, has finally found a new colleague. Shall we talk about the reason you’ve come?”

“…Aris, are you listening?”

At the quiet voice from above her, she slightly lifted her head.

Her disheveled blonde hair spread across the book, shining as it reflected the sunlight.

Seeing her casually rise and begin to tidy her hair, Claris snorted.

“Oh, you. You went to Vulcan and only grew bolder. Are you going to pretend you weren’t dozing off at all?”

“…Ahem.”

Aris cleared her throat, embarrassed, and turned her gaze away.

“What is it, Master? I’m sorry, but if it’s about the academic conference, I’ve already sufficiently—”

“News from outside the magic tower. I asked you to report it quarterly, didn’t I?”

Claris said, placing the catalog she held in her hand onto Aris’s desk.

Her laboratory, piled high with all sorts of grimoires, research papers, and ancient texts, was so full that it was difficult to even place a single object.

“The old geezers want you to focus only on the magic tower’s work, but from my perspective, this won’t do.”

Claris’s brows furrowed deeply as she surveyed Aris’s messy laboratory.

“It’s good that you’re delving into curses and medical magic, which you haven’t shown interest in before, but isn’t looking into ancient primal magic and forbidden techniques too dangerous?”

“……”

“I intended not to interfere much, given that you’ve completed your Hierarchy, but it seems you need to clear your head for a bit.”

“That…”

At Claris’s stern words, Aris couldn’t retort and closed her mouth.

She had taken a sabbatical, stepping down from her endowed professorship at Rebatenon University for a while.

A considerable amount of time had passed during which she had been engrossed in research, excluding the time spent attending academic conferences representing the magic tower.

It wasn’t that there had been no results from her research during that time, but it was also undeniably true that the achievements weren’t as significant as she had hoped.

As it wasn’t Aris herself who was short on time, it would be a lie to say she hadn’t become more desperate.

Her longtime friend and mentor accurately saw through Aris’s thoughts.

Claris nodded with satisfaction at the sight of Aris, looking slightly downcast, beginning to flip through the catalog.

“After you’ve rested a bit, let’s go out together for the first time in a while. Besides, there’s a rumor circulating that a lot of ice crystal stones have been released onto the market recently, so we should go check it out—”

Flipping sound!!

Before Claris could finish her sentence, Aris stared intently at a page in the catalog, then quickly began flipping through the pages.

Her gaze, having instantly skimmed through the entire catalog, was fixed on a newspaper clipping stapled to the very first page.

Claris shrugged after seeing the content.

“Isn’t that interesting? Madrich Onnion was defeated and killed by a wizard named Adamant Thunder.”

“……”

“Among the sorcerers I remember, he was certainly the most cantankerous man. Because of that, we sent a letter to Adamant Thunder from our side, but it seems he has no intention of getting involved with the magic tower. Rather, it seems the Thorben Magic Tower guys came back thoroughly chastised.”

“……”

“Oh, by the way. I also enclosed Bailla’s letter, so take your time looking through it. It seems the Guido Cult did something, aiming for the thesis you wrote in your lab… Where are you going?”

“To the city.”

Aris, her complexion slightly pale, grabbed her coat and immediately began packing her bags.

Though Vulcan was a mega-city with constant turmoil, it seemed many things had truly happened while she was away.

And at both of the wizard’s workplaces she was familiar with.

“Something I need to confirm has come up. I’ll be back soon.”