Is That My Alter Ego

Chapter 83 – The Underground City

“Damn it… it seems Lady Venice has been taken.”

“……..”

“W-what do we do, old man…! That means she’s been captured in the underground city…!”

Kali watched Rania, who was stamping her feet in tears, and Hudi, who was deep in thought with a worried expression.

“….Where is it?”

“Huh?”

“I said, where is it? The underground city.”

Kali’s expression as he asked Rania was chillingly cold. Like a top predator setting out on a hunt, Rania froze in place under his calm yet menacing aura.

“If you go… straight south from the square, there’s a path down to the underground…”

“Move.”

“….Kali, wait a moment…”

“Fuck. I said move. I won’t say it twice.”

“……..!”

“Hik…”

Hudi and Rania stood frozen, unable to utter a word. The murderous intent radiating from Kali, along with his ominously glowing red eyes, instilled in them the terror of prey standing before a predator.

Was this not how a rabbit felt facing a tiger? Having become that very rabbit, they could only tremble before the looming death.

“….I will save you.”

Ding-!

As Kali quietly stepped out the door and ran with a speed that defied human belief, even then…

They remained frozen in place.

*

‘Where are you… Master…!’

Had there ever been a time when he had squeezed every ounce of strength to sprint like this? He couldn’t even remember.

—

—

Was it because I yearned so desperately? Did the will to save my master infuse me with strength?

As if transcending limits in real time. Kali’s speed began to quicken, racing so fast that even the keen eyes of passing beastfolk could not catch her.

Surely, that fox beastfolk had instructed me to head south from the center of the plaza.

If I were to be wrong and something happened to my master, I would be the first to end it.

Yet Rania’s words were not mistaken. As I dashed southward, a massive passage leading underground came into view in the distance.

Without hesitation, Kali plunged into it. Into the city of debauchery and crime, a place even the lower dwellers shunned.

“Fuck. How the hell did these b*stards make this?”

The moment Kali laid eyes on the sprawling city revealed at the end of the passage, those were the words that escaped her lips.

It had to have been crafted by human hands. Yet the sheer scale of this vast underground city left me utterly bewildered.

Passing through the entrances of the upper and lower levels, the atmosphere shifted palpably. If anything, it was even more intense.

Entering the lower level brought an inexplicable warmth and comfort, while stepping into this underground city was met with a nauseating, clammy sensation. A stickiness clung to the air.

“Ah—fuck. Is that woman ever coming back? It was unbelievable.”

“Right? Such a shame, such a shame.”

As soon as Kali entered the underground city, her expression soured at the sight of two thugs spitting on the ground and spewing lewd remarks.

In the distance, figures that seemed to be prostitutes flaunted more than they concealed, beckoning to passersby with their scant attire.

– Die. Die, you fucking b*tch!

– Gag… cough… save me…

– Save you? You idiot! Just die and repay us!

Ah. That one’s dead.

In a nearby alley, Kali witnessed a scene of one-sided violence that felt excessively brutal, even to her.

The victim seemed to have ceased breathing. The light had vanished from his eyes, suggesting he had likely met his end.

“…Ha. Is there no law here?”

Even in the chaotic lower levels, a minimum of safety had been expected. Most were rough around the edges, and while the occasional fool appeared, such blatant killings were rare.

Yet the passersby, upon witnessing the scene, seemed to pay it no mind, as if it were an everyday occurrence in this place.

‘…I must hurry.’

Thus, the unease in Kali’s heart swelled even further.

The frail, almost delicate master of mine had been abducted into this monstrous, wretched city, which meant the likelihood of him being in grave danger was exceedingly high.

If he were not unscathed. If something horrific were to transpire before I could even act. I doubt I would be able to contain myself.

“Hey. You there. The one with black hair and squinty eyes. Seen him?”

—

—

“What the hell! You scared the shit out of me. Get the hell away!”

First, I thought to ask the punk standing at the alley for some information, but he vehemently refused.

“You’d better talk if you don’t want to die.”

“Who the hell do you think you are, you b*tch…?”

Creak—crunch.

Disgusted by the filthy gaze that crawled over my body, I simply broke one of his arms.

“Ugh…!”

“Still…! Not gonna…! Speak?”

Crunch, crack.

It seemed this punk was utterly clueless. Even after I folded him in half, he still denied knowing anything.

Leaving the crippled fool behind, I set out to gather information.

Ah. And that b*stard deserves a beating. He was the one who had just killed someone.

I heard he got in a bad mood for no reason. A punk like that wouldn’t have a leg to stand on if he got his ass kicked.

“A handsome human with black hair and slanted eyes. Ever seen him?”

“What the hell is this b*tch talking about? You too—”

“….Hah. These fucking b*stards.”

For a while, the sounds of bones breaking and the cries of slaughter echoed through the alleyways of the underground city.

*

I had been beating up nothing but punks, yet I gained nothing.

Maybe they were just all talk, but they didn’t know a damn thing.

…Shit. Where the hell do I even start looking?

I tried to track him by the unforgettable, dizzying scent he left behind, but the foul stench of the underground city hindered me.

Master… where the hell are you?

Just then, two figures passed by, looking somewhat better off than the other punks, dressed in something resembling suits.

I don’t have time to waste on scum like them… I need to move on—

“….So, what did the guy you caught look like today?”

“Well, he was a human with black hair and some slanted eyes, right? He looked damn fierce, but he was weak as hell, so we just snatched him up.”

“………!”

Found you. You b*stards.

Kali clenched his rising fury and began to follow them.

—

—

“What, sell him as a slave?”

“Of course! That b*stard’s a man, but he’s quite the looker. Uniquely shaped, so there’ll be demand for him, whether for men or women?!”

“…Ha ha. Crazy lunatic.”

“No! It’s not that I like men, but seeing that b*stard faint, I couldn’t help but—”

*Crack—!*

I can’t hold back any longer. He’s crossing the line.

In an instant, I closed the distance, slamming the head of the one who was flicking his disgusting tongue against the ground.

He seems to have fainted, but with blood continuously oozing from his head, he’ll probably die soon.

“…Damn b*stard. Coveting what isn’t yours.”

“……Who are you?!”

“Shut your mouth. As long as you can yap, that’s all that matters.”

“Uh…uh?!”

*Crackle—!*

*

“Ugh… please, spare me… just my life, please…”

“….Is this the place?”

The wretch, with arms and legs grotesquely twisted, could only move his head as he nodded frantically, tears streaming down his face, but I paid him no mind.

I simply gazed quietly at the massive structure before me.

According to this b*stard clinging to my arm, there were several organizations in this horrific crime-ridden city.

I didn’t bother to listen to the rest, so I didn’t know. The building right in front of me was said to be the stronghold of an organization called ‘Sakra.’

The crimes committed by Sakra mostly revolved around kidnapping and slave trading. The upper echelons were heavily guarded, so I had no intention of attempting anything there.

They mostly moved to the lower levels, abducting residents to sell them off as slaves.

Most were used as s*x slaves, and when I smashed the face of the idiot bragging about it, he just cried and snot ran down his face.

The thought of that b*stard being sullied by someone other than me made me feel extremely filthy.

Damn it. Even if I were to die, that must never happen.

Anyway. It seemed certain that Venice had been kidnapped here.

Black slicked-back hair. Mysteriously slanted eyes. So handsome I could almost want to lick him, there was no one else but Venice.

‘….I can smell it.’

And above all, the scent of the master lingered here. Amidst the stench that made me want to block my nose, there was a single fragrant aroma.

—

Every day, inhaling deeply, Kali was certain as she prowled the remnants left behind by her master during his absence.

In here… it means the master is present. Captured, weak, on the brink of being sold into slavery.

“Th-then, as you said, you’ll spare me, right?! You’ll spare me—”

“Spare you? You pathetic little shit.”

With my left hand, I lifted his head, and with my right, I struck down, my fist imprinting a deep dent into his skull.

Did he truly believe I would let him live?

The brat who had been yapping and whining all day fell silent, and the air grew heavier with stillness.

“…Just wait quietly. Princess.”

I will save you right now.

Kali’s crimson eyes began to glow brightly, ominously illuminating the dark undercity.

A predator moves, targeting the feeble creatures that covet their sole master.