The morning air outside the hidden cave carried a peculiar chill. It wasn't cold enough to make me shiver, especially at this altitude, but there was something unsettling about the stillness surrounding the entrance. Perhaps it was the weather. Perhaps it was simply my imagination reminding me that I was about to do something incredibly stupid.
"Those lunatics went in through there! If I follow them, I might be able to find out what's happening inside!"
That was the plan, at least. A rather questionable plan, admittedly, but I wasn't exactly overflowing with better options. Before anything else, I needed to hide my identity. My ears were the biggest problem. Even if I concealed my face, one good look at them would be enough to distinguish me from other farires.
Fortunately, I had watched a few tutorials back in my world. Who knew all those random videos would eventually become useful in another world? I pulled up my cloak and fashioned the hood to conceal as much of my face as possible, leaving only enough visibility to navigate without walking straight into a wall. It wasn't perfect, but it would have to do.
Then I took out the goat-shaped coin.
"This might be the symbol of their existence."
The coin felt strangely important in my hand. On one side were two crossed swords. On the other was the face of a horned goat. It reminded me of the sort of symbol that would belong to a devil-worshipping cult in a novel. Of course, this world didn't necessarily follow the rules of the stories I had read, but I wasn't going to complain if the coin could help me gain access to their territory. Perhaps some higher authority would recognize it. Perhaps it would even grant me some assistance.
And if Bell ever found out what I was doing, she'd probably go completely overboard.
I could already imagine the lecture.
No time for that.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped toward the entrance.
The illusionary wall remained perfectly still as I approached. From the outside, it looked no different from an ordinary section of rock, concealing whatever lay beyond it. My heartbeat grew faster with every step. What if I couldn't get through? What if the coin didn't work? What if someone discovered my identity the moment I entered?
And, perhaps most importantly, what if I ran into the farires responsible for all this?
That last possibility was the one I wanted to avoid most.
I might have been overestimating their strength. Or perhaps I was doing the opposite, which would be considerably worse. Either way, I wouldn't know until I faced them. And if I wanted to save Alysa, I had to take that risk.
That thought alone was enough to keep me moving.
When I finally reached the wall, I extended my hand and pressed my palm against its surface. Nothing happened. The barrier remained solid beneath my fingers, refusing to yield even slightly.
"...Seriously?"
For a brief moment, I considered turning around and pretending this entire idea had never crossed my mind.
Then the coin began to glow.
The faint light spread across its surface, illuminating the crossed swords and the horned face. I stared at it for a second before bringing it closer to the wall.
The moment the coin touched the barrier, the world around me shifted.
My hand passed through.
Before I could fully comprehend what had happened, I stepped forward and crossed the boundary. The transition was so sudden that I nearly stumbled, but I quickly regained my balance and continued walking. Whatever happened next, I couldn't afford to draw attention to myself.
The interior was just as dark as I remembered.
I followed the passage carefully, keeping my footsteps quiet and my hood firmly in place. The deeper I went, the more the silence began to bother me. There were no voices, no obvious signs of activity, and no indication that anyone had noticed my arrival.
Then the passage opened into a vast chamber.
And two people were standing inside.
Both of them turned toward me.
...Did they notice me?
I stopped.
No. Wait. If they noticed me, why haven't they attacked? Then what exactly are they looking at?
Before I could reach an answer, something illuminated the darkness above them.
An enormous eyeball floated in the air.
Its surface glistened under the strange light, and its gaze slowly shifted until it settled directly upon me. A moment later, a voice emerged from the creature.
"Welcome! To my little show!"
"...Shit."
Was I supposed to respond to that?
Perhaps I could pretend I had wandered into the wrong place. Apologize for the inconvenience, explain that I hadn't purchased a ticket, and politely ask for directions to the exit.
Yes. Wonderful idea.
Unfortunately, I doubted my host would appreciate it.
"We finally meet, Creator Zaraf!"
The voice was unfamiliar. I had never heard it before, but something about the way it spoke reminded me of the person who had been giving orders during my previous encounter with these people.
And then there was the title.
Creator Zaraf.
Not merely my name. My title, too.
Well, that settled it.
I was screwed.
"Not going to say hello?"
Yeah, sure. Let me just greet the giant floating eyeball that somehow knows my identity while standing in the middle of a suspicious underground chamber.
"Hello, eyeball. So... what's going to happen now?"
I wasn't asking because I was particularly interested in making conversation. I simply wanted to know how much trouble I had gotten myself into.
"Hmm. That depends on how you answer my questions."
The eyeball tilted slightly, as though it were examining an interesting specimen.
"So, let me begin with something simple. How did you obtain the Sacrifice?"
The Sacrifice?
For a moment, I couldn't remember what he meant. Then the image of the coin flashed through my mind.
The two crossed swords on one side. The horned goat on the other.
Right. The coin.
So that was what they called it.
I had a few theories about its purpose, but none of them were particularly reliable. It could be a key, a token of authority, or a symbol of allegiance. Considering how easily it had allowed me through the illusionary wall, I was leaning toward the first possibility.
Still, there was no reason to tell him everything I knew.
"Why don't you take a guess?"
The eyeball remained silent for a moment.
"Let me see. Perhaps you obtained it from the person we sent to kill you on your way back?"
My expression remained hidden beneath the hood.
"If that's correct, then I believe I deserve a reward, don't you agree, friend?"
First of all, friend, my ass. Second, the reward you're getting from me will be my ass.
"Now that you've guessed correctly, perhaps you'll answer my question. When did you realize I was following you?"
The eyeball seemed almost delighted by the conversation.
"Why don't you guess?"
Oh, for the love of—
"Fine. I suppose it was around the time I came outside?"
The creature's expression changed.
It was a subtle thing, the sort of expression that should have been impossible for a floating eyeball to convey. Yet somehow, I could recognize the smugness in it.
I hated that.
"Sorry, but you have it backward, boy. We didn't discover you following us. We led you here."
My thoughts came to a sudden halt.
...What?
They had led me here?
Wait.
If I thought about it from the beginning, the sequence of events was suspiciously convenient. The strange light had appeared, drawing attention across the branch. I had naturally rushed away from the location, found a place to hide, and eventually overheard those two discussing their plans.
I had believed I was the one following them.
But what if the entire encounter had been arranged?
What if the conversation I had overheard was meant to reach my ears?
My fingers tightened beneath my cloak.
How much do they know?
"Looks like you're thinking a little too hard," the eyeball said cheerfully. "Don't worry. I'm here to help!"
How generous of you. The person controlling a giant eyeball to interrogate me has decided to offer assistance. I feel so much better.
"We obtained the information from the Sixth. It cost me quite a bit, but I suppose the plan she promised us was worth the price. Luring you here alone, without any guards or companions, was an excellent investment."
The Sixth?
My thoughts raced through the possibilities.
Was this the same person responsible for arranging the encounter? The one who had somehow predicted my actions and manipulated me into following these people?
And why did they want me here alone?
"Who exactly is the Sixth?"
The eyeball's expression turned smug again.
"The information brokers, of course. They sell information of all kinds, provided you're willing to pay the price. And finding your location after that little blinding incident cost me quite a fortune."
Information brokers?
Great. Another organization I knew absolutely nothing about.
Apparently, this fairy world had an entire profession dedicated to selling secrets, and one of its members had decided that my location was worth a fortune.
Fantastic.
"Still, I don't know who caused that blinding incident," the creature continued. "But it doesn't matter. It has nothing to do with our mission. Now that I've got you cornered, we can finally begin."
I felt a small wave of relief.
Thank goodness.
At least they didn't seem to know that I was responsible for the light incident.
That was one problem I could afford not to have.
However, the eyeball suddenly leaned closer.
"I've noticed something rather disappointing, though. You haven't reacted nearly enough to being trapped. Don't you think you could show a little fear for my sake?"
Is he a child?
Seriously, what was wrong with this guy? Was I supposed to applaud his performance? Should I compliment the elaborate setup and tell him how frightening he looked?
Hell, I was frightened.
Anyone with a functioning brain would be frightened after discovering that an entire organization had deliberately manipulated them into walking into a trap.
But there was something else mixed with that fear.
Relief.
They weren't here for Alysa. Their attention was entirely focused on me, and as long as that remained true, I had a chance to keep her out of this mess.
If I acted too concerned about her, I might inadvertently draw their attention toward her in the future. So, for now, I would keep my mouth shut.
Besides, I couldn't sense anyone else in the chamber beyond the two people standing before me. Neither of them looked particularly threatening.
Of course, that didn't mean they were weak.
But compared to the possibilities I had been imagining, they didn't exactly inspire terror.
"I can't give you what you obviously want, can I?"
I drew my sword.
The metallic sound echoed through the chamber, and I raised the blade toward the floating eyeball.
"I'm not going to cut you apart just to prove that I'm not dying today."
Now then. Let's see how you like this.
The eyeball stared at me.
Then it spoke.
"Huh? Why are you pointing your sword at them? They're not going to be your killers!"
My smile froze.
...They're not?
Wait.
He said killers. Plural.
If those two weren't supposed to kill me, then who was?
I quickly focused my attention beyond them, searching the darkness for any hidden presence. At first, I found nothing. Then I felt it.
A strange disturbance in the space behind the two figures.
It was faint, but unmistakable. Something was gathering there, its presence spreading through the surrounding walls like an invisible web.
I narrowed my eyes and stepped closer, trying to understand what I was sensing.
No. This is bad.
Whatever they were preparing, it wasn't something I wanted to stick around for.
"I need to leave. Immediately."
"Huh? Already?" the eyeball exclaimed, sounding genuinely disappointed. "But I wanted to keep you here a little longer... at least until the spell was ready!"
There it is.
I knew something was wrong.
The two people standing before me hadn't been waiting for an opportunity to attack. They had been buying time, preparing a spell behind the wall while the eyeball kept me occupied.
An explosion? A spatial trap? Some kind of binding spell?
I didn't know.
And I wasn't particularly interested in finding out.
I lunged forward.
My sword flashed, striking one of the figures with enough force to send him crashing sideways. Before the other could react, I moved to follow up with another attack.
Then an immense force slammed into me.
My body was thrown backward.
I twisted in midair, barely managing to regain my balance before crashing into the surrounding darkness. My boots scraped against nothing as I steadied myself, and the pressure in the chamber grew stronger.
When I looked back, the spell had already opened.
A massive distortion filled the space behind the two figures, its edges twisting and warping as though reality itself had been torn apart. Shapes emerged from within it.
One.
Then another.
Then dozens.
Monsters began pouring through the opening.
Small ones. Large ones. Creatures that crawled, creatures that walked, and creatures whose bodies seemed entirely unsuited to the laws of nature.
And the spell showed no sign of stopping.
"It's a teleportation spell!"
I stared at the opening in disbelief.
How many monsters are they planning to send through?
The eyeball floated higher, seemingly delighted by my reaction.
"Now that's the expression I wanted to see! Terror! Fear! The fear of death!"
You really are a lunatic.
"Just so you know, the spell is being activated from outside. And you, my dear Creator, are now inside my domain!"
My expression darkened.
If the spell was being maintained externally, killing the two people in front of me might not stop it. Even worse, if the entire chamber had been sealed, I couldn't simply retreat through the entrance.
I was trapped.
And then the eyeball delivered the final blow to my already deteriorating mood.
"I saw how you cleared the first branch. It was quite inspiring, actually. So I decided to gather all the monsters from the second branch and send them here... just for you!"
I stared at him.
For several seconds, I genuinely couldn't think of anything to say.
Then a single thought emerged.
"Copying someone else's plan is cheap, you know."
Dammit.
What was I supposed to do now?
I could fight my way out, naturally. Destroy everything in my path until there was nothing left between me and freedom.
Simple.
Straightforward.
Completely unreasonable.
I couldn't afford to charge blindly into an endless wave of monsters. Even if I was stronger than most of them, stamina wasn't infinite, and exhaustion had a nasty habit of turning manageable situations into funerals.
I needed a strategy.
"I prepared this as a fitting farewell," the eyeball continued. "You may have earned the Sixth's interest, but that doesn't mean you can do whatever you please."
The Sixth again?
What did that have to do with anything?
Before I could ask, the creature continued.
"The Sixth is watching. Not just you, but all the participants. Your companions, too. Once I've killed you without attracting too much attention, I'll obtain the information I need about the others and eliminate them as well."
My grip tightened around my sword.
So that's the real plan.
They weren't merely trying to kill me. They wanted to use my death as a stepping stone toward everyone else.
A rather ambitious undertaking, considering they were currently speaking to the person they intended to murder.
You are going to die for this.
Whether it happened today or years from now, I would make sure of it.
Just you wait, you bastard.
The eyeball seemed satisfied with my silence.
"Well, I have other matters to attend to. So, die an agonizing death, buddy!"
It paused, as though remembering something important.
"Oh, and I suppose I should introduce myself properly. I'm the Tenth, the head leader of the Assassins. I've received a request from someone higher up to eliminate all the other Creators, which is why we've been making these arrangements."
My thoughts sharpened.
Someone higher up had ordered the deaths of the Creators?
Who?
And why?
Before I could ask, the Tenth added one final revelation.
"Of course, I already know that you infiltrated our base during your previous encounter. The Sixth told us about that, too."
So she knew.
The realization settled heavily in my mind.
The Sixth had known about my earlier infiltration, yet somehow, I had still managed to walk straight into this trap.
Was that information the reason they had prepared all this? Or had the Sixth deliberately withheld something from them?
I didn't have enough information to determine the answer.
And that was becoming a rather unpleasant pattern.
The eyeball floated higher, its gaze fixed on me one last time.
"Goodbye, Creator Zaraf."
Its light vanished.
The connection was severed, leaving the chamber illuminated only by the strange glow of the teleportation spell.
Far away from the second branch, the Tenth sat back in his chair, his expression slowly losing its earlier amusement.
"The Sixth knew Zaraf had infiltrated our base, yet she didn't inform us beforehand?"
He narrowed his eyes.
"Why?"
The question lingered in the room.
Then he remembered the words she had used when arranging the deal. There had been something peculiar about them, something he hadn't considered important at the time.
Now, however, the memory refused to leave him alone.
"I need to meet her."
His fingers tapped against the armrest.
"The Sixth... the Broker."
---
Meanwhile, I was having a rather terrible morning.
The monsters continued pouring through the teleportation spell, filling the chamber at an absurd rate. Within moments, the open space had become a writhing sea of claws, teeth, scales, and wooden limbs.
I remained suspended in the air, trying to determine the safest position from which to assess the situation.
It was a mistake.
A snake-like monster suddenly shot toward me.
I barely had time to turn before its body slammed into mine, sending me crashing into a wooden wall behind me. The impact rattled my bones, but the wall held firm. I pushed away from it, quickly checking myself for injuries.
That's sturdy.
Unfortunately, I was beginning to suspect that the wall wasn't there to protect me.
It was there to keep me inside.
Four more monsters emerged from the mass below, their bodies unfolding into strange shapes as they rose into the air. They circled me from different directions, cutting off my immediate escape routes.
"Dammit!"
I tightened my grip on the sword.
So this is how my morning is going to end?
I had wanted to investigate a suspicious organization, gather some information, and perhaps find a clue about Alysa location.
Instead, I had somehow become the guest of honor at a monster buffet.
And I was the main course.
I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down.
Think, Zaraf. Think.
Charging into the horde would be the worst possible decision. I needed to understand the spell, identify its weaknesses, and find a way to stop the flow of monsters before the entire chamber became impossible to navigate.
My gaze returned to the teleportation circle.
Its structure was strange. I had seen teleportation spells before, but this one didn't behave like the others. Rather than transporting individual creatures through a conventional passage, it seemed to be pulling entire bodies through a spatial opening without regard for their mass.
That explained why such enormous monsters could emerge from it.
It's some kind of vacuum-type teleportation spell.
The realization gave me a possible explanation, but not a solution.
And I didn't have the luxury of experimenting.
A shadow fell over me.
I looked up.
A monster nearly three times my size had emerged from the horde, its enormous wooden body rising like a walking fortress. Its limbs creaked as it moved, and the sheer weight of its presence made the surrounding creatures scatter.
"Where the hell did you come from, you wooden bastard?!"
I immediately moved away, putting as much distance between us as possible.
The giant turned toward me.
I didn't wait to see what it intended to do.
My attention snapped back to the spell just in time to witness another enormous body emerging from the opening. Its form was different from the first, but its size was comparable, and its limbs took shape with terrifying speed.
Another one?
I wanted to understand the difference between the two teleportation spells. I wanted to know how they were manipulating space, why the opening ignored mass, and whether the process could be reversed.
More than anything, I wanted to know why I had been foolish enough to walk into this place.
Unfortunately, a flying monster had already decided that I looked delicious.
It rushed toward me with its jaws wide open.
"Dammit! Can't I get five minutes of peace?!"
I twisted aside, narrowly avoiding its attack, and prepared to counter.
Then I felt it.
A new presence.
My eyes immediately returned to the teleportation spell.
Something was emerging from within it
Unlike the others, this creature wasn't enormous. It wasn't particularly small, either. Its proportions were almost identical to mine, with two arms, two legs, and a body that stood upright.
But its skin was made of wood.
Its limbs were shaped like those of a humanoid, and its body formed with an eerie precision that distinguished it from the monstrous shapes surrounding it.
It stepped forward.
Then it turned its head and looked directly at me.
For a brief moment, the chaos seemed to recede into the background.
I couldn't explain why, but the presence radiating from that creature felt different. The other monsters were dangerous, certainly, but their threats were simple enough to understand.
They attacked, they destroyed, and they killed.
This one was different.
There was something strangely deliberate about its gaze.
A pressure settled over my senses, subtle but unmistakable.
I stared back.
...What are you?
The creature said nothing.
Neither did I.
Somewhere behind me, another monster roared.
I slowly tightened my grip on my sword.
I just wanted a little nap.
That was all.
A little rest. A little peace. Perhaps a few minutes without someone trying to kill me.
Was that really too much to ask?
---
Some time later, the Tenth returned to his chamber and directed his attention toward the golem eye.
He expected to find a corpse.
Perhaps a dismembered body. Perhaps a bloodied sword lying among the remains of countless monsters. At the very least, he expected to see Zaraf struggling desperately to survive beneath the overwhelming numbers.
Instead, the moment the image came into focus, his expression froze.
The chamber was silent.
The monsters had stopped moving.
Thousands of corpses covered the ground, their broken bodies piled atop one another in a grotesque landscape of destruction. Wooden limbs, shattered armor, and twisted remains stretched across the entire chamber.
Blood stained the floor.
Some of it belonged to the monsters.
Some of it belonged to me.
And at the center of that horrifying scene stood a single figure.
I was breathing heavily. My clothes were torn, and my body was covered in blood and the remains of the creatures I had fought. Every muscle ached, and my exhaustion was so profound that even standing upright felt like an unnecessary challenge.
But I was alive.
The Tenth stared through the golem eye, unable to reconcile the sight before him with the outcome he had expected.
Then, slowly, a smile spread across my face.
I raised my head and looked directly at the floating eye.
"Now..."
My voice was hoarse.
I took one final breath and lifted my sword.
"Who's next?"
I had to admit, it had been a tiring day.