Astro (2)
"I knew you would return."
A woman with black hair drenched in blood.
She knelt, her head bowed towards me.
A thin, watery line shimmered on her cheek.
Unmistakably, tears were streaming down her face.
Where had the murderous aura from just moments ago disappeared to?
The atmosphere softened in an instant.
Her voice trembled pitifully.
At the same time, it carried a distinct joy.
"······."
Like a cub reunited with its lost mother.
The woman was overcome with emotion.
Although her lower face was hidden by a mask, she must have been smiling brightly.
I let out a small sigh.
'This is too much.'
It's good to see her after all this time, but her greeting feels a bit excessive.
Still, I have to acknowledge her.
Otherwise, she might really burst into tears.
I forced myself to speak.
"It's been a while, Lena."
"I've been waiting. I'm overjoyed you've returned safely."
"How did you know I was here?"
"I was patrolling the streets, and... I was suddenly drawn here by a familiar energy."
"Energy, you say."
It seems she caught the signal I sent.
I've been subtly revealing my presence since entering the city, but I didn't expect her to notice so quickly.
Her skills are still sharp, I see.
"Not bad."
"Thank you...!"
Her eyes sparkled at my single word of praise.
The woman, who had been lost in a daze, snapped out of it and straightened up.
"The other members are also eagerly awaiting your return."
"I suppose I should at least show my face."
"I'll escort you. But who is this beastfolk lady beside you?"
"She's my guest. Treat her with the utmost respect."
"I'll do my best."
She responded politely.
Lena took the lead, and as I followed behind her, Irene, who was beside me, poked me on the shoulder.
"······What's going on here?"
"Miss Irene."
Her black eyes wavered, filled with questions.
She looked utterly confused.
'This is going to be difficult.'
How do I explain this situation to her?
It's too complicated and long of a story.
Besides, telling her that I'm the leader of a criminal organization might cause unnecessary misunderstandings.
Sometimes, silence is better than words.
After a moment of contemplation, I settled for an ambiguous smile.
"Let's just go."
"Are you sure we're going the right way? To where the children are······?"
"Of course. Don't worry, you'll see them soon."
Leaving behind our brief exchange, the three of us walked on, passing through several alleys, side streets, and shadows.
As we navigated through the intricate maze of streets, the woman leading us eventually stopped.
We had arrived at our destination.
"We're here."
Standing before us was a small tavern.
It was a dilapidated building that looked like it had been abandoned for at least a decade.
Without hesitation, we entered.
Creak-.
Beyond the old door, a scene frozen in time awaited us.
As if untouched by human hands for ages, the tavern was covered in a thick layer of dust.
It was just the sight of an ordinary, closed-down establishment.
Irene frowned once again.
"······Are you sure we're in the right place?"
"Absolutely."
"There's no one here. There's no sign of life."
"That's the whole point of this place."
It was important for it to appear abandoned.
To avoid attracting unwanted attention.
It might look like an empty shell... but the real deal was yet to come.
"This way."
Lena cautiously stepped forward.
She headed towards the farthest corner of the tavern and tore off a few wooden planks.
A hidden entrance.
"Stairs···?"
Beneath the planks lay a set of stairs.
A subterranean space that seemed to descend endlessly into the darkness.
"Please, go down."
Thud, thud, thud-.
I descended the stairs without hesitation.
After walking down the long, sloping path for a while, the seemingly endless descent finally came to an end.
An iron door awaited us.
"It's been a while."
"Everyone will be waiting. I've already informed them of your return."
"Oh dear."
I'm a little worried about that.
I hesitated for a moment.
But there's no turning back now. I slowly turned the doorknob.
A heavy, metallic sound echoed as the latch disengaged.
Creeeaaak-!
The next moment, a new scene unfolded before us.
The musty air typical of underground spaces vanished, replaced by the bright illumination of lights that banished the darkness.
It was a spacious and tidy area.
"Ah..."
The fox beside me gasped.
The neatly laid wooden floor, the expansive space radiating a sense of pleasantness, the magical lights illuminating every corner...
It was a facility surpassing even the headquarters of most high-ranking knight orders.
It was no wonder she was surprised.
She probably never expected such a place to exist underground.
I wanted to tease her reaction, but...
I soon realized that I wasn't in a position to do so.
""······.""
Countless gazes were fixed on us.
Nearly thirty individuals, all standing there, completely dumbfounded.
As if they had just witnessed something unbelievable.
"Ahem, ahem."
A flustered cough escaped my lips.
Pushing down the ominous smile spreading across my face, I greeted the familiar faces.
"It's been a while, everyone."
And then.
""······.""
A brief silence followed.
The awkwardness was palpable.
Just as my nonchalant greeting was about to become embarrassing...
"······Guild Master?"
A dazed murmur reached my ears.
Was this a dream?
The voice, frozen for a moment, gradually spread like a ripple, and soon, its owner collapsed to their knees.
It was a sob born from overwhelming emotion.
"Ah... Guild Master, you've returned!"
A clear cry rang out.
The surging emotions spread like wildfire, infecting everyone present.
"Is it truly the Guild Master...?"
"You mean he didn't abandon us?"
"A miracle has occurred..."
"Oh, Serpent."
They seemed to be possessed by something.
The members, each lost in their own murmurs, began to kneel one by one.
Some even shed tears.
Before I could even react to the scene unfolding before me...
The members bowed their heads. They placed their right fists over their hearts and began to chant in unison.
""All according to your will.""
The air was thick with a sacred resonance.
Joy, reverence, tears, adoration, love... countless emotions filled the space.
It was like watching a group of fanatics devoted to a cult.
I couldn't help but feel my mind becoming disoriented.
Why was everyone acting like this?
And why hadn't they changed that embarrassing slogan yet, despite my repeated requests?
It was enough to drive me crazy.
"Hehe."
Even in that moment, a sinister smile played on my lips, a result of my damn trait.
As I stood there, speechless with a mix of amusement and exasperation, the bewildered fox beside me finally spoke up.
"Just who... who are you?"
"Well..."
=I have no idea.
"They're all acting like they've lost their minds. Are you sure you're not running some kind of cult?"
"What do you think?"
=I'm starting to wonder it myself, damn it.
The fox eyed me with suspicion.
The members showed no signs of getting up from their kneeling positions.
'I should have never come back.'
This was way too much pressure.
***
Meanwhile, a lone girl was hurrying down a wide corridor.
Her steps were hurried, as if driven by urgency.
Her footsteps echoed dryly in the empty passage.
Click, click, click, click-!
Her silver hair flowed behind her like a shimmering wave as she moved.
Her eyes, the color of moonlight, held a faint trace of a burn scar on one side of her face.
Her expression was cold and distant.
"Haah, haah...!"
Astro's Vice-Captain, Neria Lightning.
She had been alone, buried in paperwork, and had received the news later than the other members.
And perhaps because her longing had been greater than anyone else's...
The girl had jumped up from her seat the moment she heard.
'Guild Master, Guild Master, Guild Master...'
As she ran down the hallway, she repeated the desperate plea in her heart.
The person she hadn't seen in over half a year.
All that remained was a single letter.
Had she been abandoned?
Despite her anxieties, Neria had clung steadfastly to her faith.
'Finally.'
Faith is rewarded.
News of 'him,' the one she had been waiting for more than anything.
Reaching the end of the corridor, the girl flung open the last door.
And there he was.
"Hehe, everyone, please raise your heads."
Blindingly bright blond hair came into view.
That characteristic playful smile.
The boy stood there as if in a dream.
Around him, the members who had been kneeling offered their devout reverence.
Their eyes met.
"Oh."
"Ah."
A momentary pause in their breaths.
It was the boy who spoke first.
"Miss Neria! It's been a while."
A grin.
His eyes narrowed, forming crescents.
As that dazzling curve illuminated the scene, a belated sense of reality washed over her.
The Guild Master had returned.
'I wasn't abandoned.'
Relief washed over her like a warm wave.
Tears of joy welled up in her eyes, spilling over without her permission.
Neria forced herself to maintain a composed gait.
Thud-.
Approaching the boy, she gracefully knelt, bowing her head low.
"Welcome back."
She took the Serpent's outstretched hand.
Ignoring the tears that wouldn't stop flowing, she lifted his hand to her lips, offering a kiss of respect.
His sweet scent tickled her nose.
"My Master."
Dizzying.
She wanted to savor his scent right then and there, as she had done with his letter, but she managed to restrain herself.
She knew he wouldn't like it.
"Hmm~ Has it been about half a year since I disappeared?"
"Exactly 194 days today."
"Quite a while."
"I've been waiting."
"Hehe."
The boy chuckled, as if pleased.
"Thank you."
"It was simply unwavering faith."
Neria closed her eyes quietly.
With her head still bowed, she recited a prayer.
"All according to your will."
To the god she served.
***
The initial storm of emotions had subsided somewhat.
However, as soon as Neria appeared, the members, who had seemed to be calming down, started crying again.
It made for a chaotic reunion.
'This is exactly why I hesitated to come back.'
It had been similar six months ago, but today felt even more intense.
It was like I was leading a group of genuine fanatics.
I felt ten years older.
A soft sigh escaped my lips.
'Well, I guess it's better than the alternative.'
It's better to be welcomed back with open arms.
I had been using these guys only when I needed them, and this time I had gone off the grid for half a year.
It's a miracle they even still consider me their leader.
'······Speaking of which, the reason I came back was to ask for their help again.'
I couldn't deny the pang of guilt I felt.
I promised myself I'd visit more often from now on.
Pushing aside that difficult-to-keep promise, I called out to the Vice-Captain, who was attending to me.
"Miss Neria."
"You called, Master."
Her response was immediate.
It was as if she had been waiting for me to speak, her entire being focused on me.
Her silver eyes sparkled with an intensity that made me uncomfortable.
"Your command?"
"It's nothing much... Those fox beastfolk I asked you about last time, they're here, right?"
"Of course. It was your order, Master."
"I'd like to see them again after all this time."
"Right away, Master."
"Let's go, Miss Irene."
"······Ah, yes."
We rose from our spots.
While I had things to discuss with the Vice-Captain, I decided to prioritize Irene, who looked like she was about to die from anxiety.
It would be a pleasant surprise for her.
"Hehe."
I walked on, an ominous smile playing on my lips.
***
"Hehe."
The boy smiled ominously.
Irene watched him with apprehensive eyes.
'Just who is he...? And what is this massive basement?'
Everything about this place screamed suspicious.
The expensive spatial expansion magic used to create a space rivaling a mansion...
The individuals referred to as "members"...
The location of the building, hidden deep within the slums...
Nothing felt right.
'Are there really children here...?'
Her thoughts drifted towards an unpleasant possibility.
A slum shrouded in fog.
A criminal organization seemingly devoid of sanity.
A basement hidden deep underground, far from prying eyes.
And finally, children.
'Slums, a criminal organization, a basement... and children.'
It was an unsettling combination.
A chill ran down her spine.
- Your siblings are in a 'good place.' I sent them there myself.
For some reason, his offhand remark kept replaying in her mind.
Thump, thump, thump, thump-!
Her heart pounded in her chest, fueling her unease.
Irene bit her lip.
"We're here."
The Serpent stopped walking.
They had arrived in front of a massive iron door.
Irene held her breath.
"Miss Irene."
"······."
"This is my masterpiece. I do hope you like it."
His voice was a low, conspiratorial murmur.
Without hesitation, the blond boy reached for the doorknob.
"Welcome. To the 'paradise' I have prepared."
Creeeaaak-!
As the iron door swung open gracefully, a shocking sight unfolded before her eyes.
A pungent odor assaulted her senses.
"······!"
The fox's face contorted in disgust.
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