Chapter 79 – Fear and Flee. That Which Cannot Be Avoided

It began in the eastern part of the Empire. The place where ability supremacy spread the latest, yet, ironically, also the region with more people who believe in it than anywhere else in the Empire.

“Do you know why the Empire cannot eradicate the roots of the dissenters, junior?”

“I have a rough idea.”

“Oh? Tell me about it, then.”

It wasn’t difficult. It was a topic that came up often in class, and, above all, it was a part they had to memorize for the exam.

Of course, thanks to Jarvis’s splendid special operation, he didn’t have to take the exam.

“First of all, before we start, I just want to call them foolish b*stards.”

Those who possess abilities are chosen by God, and those who do not must be ruled over.

Those who believe in this absurd logic are, of course, other ability users. Less than children who want to enjoy rights more than obligations.

Of course, the number of people who openly and publicly support these crazy words is small.

But there were quite a few who followed them subtly, without showing it, or indirectly agreed by remaining silent.

“Foolish b*stards, you say. I like it.”

“It’s such a moronic thought if you look just a little further ahead, but they’re full of fancy words. For those with abilities, their claims and logic were not at all disadvantageous.”

If monsters emerge from the gate, we will catch them. Yes, we can do that.

But they want even greater applause, rights, and status. The establishment of a new order based on ability, not status. Isn’t that a worthy reward for these saviors who will save the world?

Those who agree with such claims are naturally some ability users. Conversely, those who are puzzled are other ability users who cannot yet agree with such radical ideas.

And finally, those who shout that it is nonsense are, of course, people far removed from abilities.

“They have forgotten. If they thought about why knights and wizards were respected in the past. If they studied how nobles were born, they wouldn’t be able to do that.”

The Empire and the people of the world are already providing many conveniences for ability users.

Not only material things, but even the Imperial Family and nobles evaluate and treat commoner ability users based on their abilities as ability users, not their status.

They claim rights there again, which is the first problem. They suddenly point a knife at the Empire and commit terrorism because that doesn’t work, which is the second problem.

“I wouldn’t even consider those who only cause harm to society while spouting such nonsense, when they should be claiming rights while doing their own work properly, as people or humans or anything.”

“Hoo.”

“Trash must be removed.”

BlackWormon. You must be a sage ahead of your time. Whether in comics, reality, or another world. Deus said decisively, recalling those words that apply everywhere.

“Yes. Everything you say is correct, junior. That’s why I, too, show them no mercy. Even if they were comrades who fought alongside me in the past.”

“If they were comrades, they should not be spared all the more. If they are gullible enough to fall for that stupid talk, they are not even worth being called comrades.”

“Hahaha. Had another said that, I might’ve felt a touch displeased… But coming from one who’s wrestled devils, well, I can’t rightly argue.”

After passing a bit more time in conversation, awaiting our moment, we met up with the special forces operatives moving in from the East.

“Shavel-sunbae-nim.”

“It’s been a while. So, I imagine you’ve all been through quite a bit.”

“Ahaha! It’s nothing, nothing! It’s the ability users stationed here who’ve been through much more!”

“Speaking of which, I heard some of you managed to sneak into the b*stards’ inner circle. How did that fare?”

Originally, it was no easy feat. When both sides plant spies deep within each other’s core, the suspicions rise exponentially after the first time, making things vastly more difficult.

The ability supremacist group did it some years ago, and now the Empire was at it.

“Certainly, being cornered makes them more desperate, undeniably. They’re definitely less cautious about new recruits than they used to be.”

“The chance of it being a trap?”

“We’ve checked on that countless times. As of now, we haven’t found anything particularly unusual. Still, just in case, we’ve told the infiltrators to hold back on crucial communications.”

Shavel hmmed, a low sound rumbling in his throat at the operatives’ words.

His conclusion—to cut down the insurgents, root and stem—remained unchanged. But causing unnecessary casualties in the process had to be avoided.

Or, even worse, having innocent Imperial citizens caught in the crossfire, losing their lives. That was absolutely unacceptable.

Those b*stards were now monsters with nothing left to lose. An all-or-nothing gamble. At their wits’ end, they might grab any Imperial citizen walking down the street and self-destruct.

It might seem like a pointless act, but even that would be unwelcome to the ability users.

Just imagine if they bore any responsibility for that, if any blame fell on them. It could be the very thing that turned a perfectly sound ability user towards the same ability supremacist ideals as those b*stards.

“Um, sunbae-nim? Who’s the person next to you…?”

He was about to ask who the person next to him was, but meeting Deus’s eyes worked a kind of magic, transforming ‘person’ into ‘sir’ as he spoke the word.

Shavel chuckled softly at this, patting Deus on the shoulder. (Quite a stretch, considering the height difference.)

“What’s this? You mean to tell me none of you have heard of this junior?”

“No, well we were going to ask who it was… Uh, uh. Hmm. Wait. Could it be.”

“I think that’s right? Sunbae-nim. Am I correct? Seeing that fearsome face, I bet I’m right!”

“…?”

Fearsome face? This was his normal expression. No, he was even wearing a subtle smile.

Deus was about to protest, feeling slightly wronged, but the special forces operatives were quicker.

“That’s the one.”

“oooh! Good heavens! We heard the best support was coming, and we expected sunbae-nim would be here, of course! But to think the Empire’s top rising star would come along too!”

“Sunbae-nim. There are rumors going around saying you’re stronger than sunbae-nim. What do you think about that?”

“That’s for us to find out from here on out, wouldn’t you say? But if you were to compare a sun that’s been shining for ages with one that’s just beginning to rise, I think the answer’s already roughly determined.”

Shavel said that and nudged Deus, telling him to introduce himself.

“…Greetings. I am Deus, first year at Yoram. Sunbae-nims.”

“Wow. He’s a first year? No way.”

“Wahahaha!! It’s a pleasure to meet such a great junior! Are you thinking about joining our special forces team in the future?!”

Deus answered that he had considered it, and the special forces operatives were overjoyed.

If such a dependable person joined them, they could retire with peace of mind later on, or so they said.

“So, Shavel-nim. To continue what we were talking about before. Right now, we have one of our own people infiltrated over there, is that right?”

“That’s the gist of it.”

“To take them down all at once, it’s best to herd them into one place.”

At that, Shavel and the special forces operatives nodded, turning their gazes to Deus.

“From the way you speak, it sounds like you have a plan. I’m certainly curious what sort of opinion the Empire’s supernova will offer.”

“Then let’s go for it. Somewhere easy to clean up.”

“And how exactly?”

“Hey, Deus, Junior. Right now, we’re getting a little intel, but if things go sideways, those b*stards might just cut their losses and pull out their existing personnel.”

“He speaks truth. If the operatives we barely managed to slip in get separated, the whole operation could go to hell.”

“So, even if the operation goes to hell, we should just stubbornly push forward, shouldn’t we?”

Shouldn’t we? As Deus countered, Shabel and two special ops agents nodded in agreement.

“Then the answer is clear.”

Saying that, Deus casually loosened up.

—Woodududeuk!!

“…?”

“Deus, Junior? You didn’t break a bone, did you?”

“W-what is it? You think I got somethin’ else in there instead of bones…?”

*

Empire’s East. Catacomb, a subterranean haven built by those who believe in the superiority of abilities.

It had been maintained in secrecy, sheltering many comrades, but that was no longer possible.

“We can’t stay here any longer. We need to get out, quick.”

“Damn it.”

The Empire had begun calling them more than just a troublesome enemy, but outright insurgents. The reason was that they were disrupting the existing order.

But the Empire couldn’t mobilize all its power to suppress them. Every one of them was an ability user, and if they went to war, the Empire’s ability users would suffer huge losses, undoubtedly.

If that happened, there would be gaps in the lines facing the gates and monsters. Huge ones.

The reason was that they were putting off a relatively smaller enemy to face a larger one.

That stance had changed some time ago. To be precise, it had changed since the Devil appeared.

They blamed them for the Devil crossing the gates and appearing in this world.

The foolish, ability-less masses believed it to be true, and they hated them even more.

With public sentiment like this, some collaborators who had been testing the waters quickly changed their tune and bared their abilities.

And right now, the special ops team, the most troublesome enemy, was storming the Catacomb.

“Since it’s come to this, let’s inflict the greatest possible damage.”

“Agreed. Coincidentally, we’re ready to turn this entire place into a massive tomb at any time.”

They knew that the special ops team was strong. But this place was like a giant maze.

To clear it out, they would need at least dozens of people. And the special ops team would need other ability users.

They were welcome to kill them if that was what they wanted. But if they did, they were all going down together.

The supremacists were thinking that as they waited, ready to deal with anyone who came in with traps.

—Thump

The fear was closer than they had anticipated.

“…?”

—Thump

What is that sound? Footsteps? No. This is… This is a sound like something collapsing?