The Hero’s Brother Is Bound To Be Depressed

462 – Cult leader

I don’t know the exact time, but seeing the sun above my head, I think it’s daytime. If it had been night, looking at the quiet city, I would have simply judged it to be a fake world created by the religious leader through his memories.

However, the realistic images of cars passing in the distance and countless people busily walking to achieve their goals vaguely reminded me of another life that I had forgotten.

Is this world fake or real?

My colleagues prepared for battle when they saw a person who appeared to be an office worker coming toward us, but they were all confused as he passed us by, slowly increasing the distance, without paying any attention to us, who were wearing different clothes than modern people with tired faces.

“… “I thought of course they would attack us.”

Raelan, who was glaring at the office worker’s back until the end and planning to swing his cane at any time, said as if he realized something as he watched the office worker disappear into the alley.

“Was this life merely a decoration to decorate this world?”

It is unclear what intention the religious leader had for decorating the 8th floor this way. It could be to shake me up, or it could simply be because he wanted to.

“It doesn’t matter what. In the end, it will block the stairs to the 9th floor and be waiting for us. So we just have to find the pillar like before.”

“No, you don’t need to look for it.”

As soon as I finished speaking, I turned my head towards Mormot in response to the retort that followed.

“Why?”

“We’re already inside the pillar.”

“… ?”

Mormot pointed forward with his wand to explain what he had said. I moved my gaze along it, but what I saw was an ordinary city. Full of skyscrapers, street trees, and people. But when I looked closely, the terrain seemed to be one level higher than where we were. Like a cascade. Only after reaching that thought was I able to understand Mormot’s words.

“Is the city itself made of stairs?”

“That’s right, I don’t know how you did it… The stairs themselves were enlarged to the size of a city. Is it related to space expansion magic? Anyway, if it were a staircase, it would only be one step. “I think another staircase will appear when you get there.”

Mormot’s prediction was exactly right. As I headed towards the city that Mormot pointed out, a road to another city that was not visible appeared. Thanks to this, we had to continue to pass through the city nervously. The enemy might be looking for us somewhere in the windows of the many concrete buildings. But no matter how long I walked, no enemies appeared.

Many people passed us at traffic lights, and we were not attacked in any way even in narrow alleys filled with outdoor devices, butts, and unused chairs and desks. At this point, it was inevitable that my guard would gradually subside.

“The place where Ross lived is really unique, isn’t it? There are so many tall and pretty buildings. Why are there so many cafes? “It’s hard to believe that such a huge city was built by humans alone, without the help of magic.”

Ellie seemed to really like the scenery of the city where I lived. I was busy looking around Hyundai’s store, turning my head here and there like a meerkat while being alert to my surroundings to prepare for enemies who might come at any time. Ellie, who is very curious, looked at the convenience store with fascination.

Even in the capital, the largest city on the continent, there were no grocery stores open 24 hours a day, and there were even convenience stores in every alley, so it was natural for Ellie to be interested.

Fortunately, Raelan was only focused on fighting the cult leader, and even looking at the modern city seemed unimpressed. All Mormot did was look at him with slightly curious eyes. I suppressed the strange feeling that the memories of the familiar street began to come back to me little by little.

“That… .”

As I came out of the alley, I saw roads and buildings stretching straight toward the sky on a mountain-like terrain. In the middle, we saw a castle wall that caught our eye. There was only one large monochrome door in the castle wall. When I went inside, I felt like I would see statues holding large weapons on either side.

“The door is closed.”

From Raelan’s words, we were able to guess where the cult leader was waiting.

*

After walking for a while, we finally arrived in front of the monochrome castle gate. The door is still tightly closed, as if blocking entry. There was only a large empty space with no people around.

Even if the gate was closed, there were many ways to get over the castle wall. If you recognize the spatial coordinates behind the wall through guidance magic, you can easily pass through even the strongest wall. However, before the guidance magic was used, the gate, which had been closed, opened of its own accord.

“You have finally come to find a place to die. “Ros, Roel’s younger brother.”

The person who opened the door and appeared was Belker, the vice-principal of the Chaos Cult.

“It’s strange, Roel, who is the only one to protect you, is nowhere to be seen.”

At Belker’s provocation, I wordlessly materialized the spear of shadow and aimed the tip of the spear. As if that was the answer, Belker raised his hand, forcing one corner of his mouth up. Soon, all the other Confsiones that had been hiding appeared behind Belker.

Except for the Carters of Extinction, whom I saw for the first time, they were all familiar faces. I have met Arz of chaos, Mesmer of hallucination, and Nero of revelation. However, even though everyone was gathered, the leader was nowhere to be seen.

“Did the religious leader run away?”

No one was swayed by the fearless provocation. The impatient Carters showed some momentum, but he did not step forward.

Belker said with a laughable smile.

“The leader has always been waiting for you. Of course you are here with me.”

“Then why don’t you show up to us?”

Belker grinned at my question.

“Because you guys didn’t look back at all.”

As soon as we said those words, we turned our heads and noticed the person who was sitting right behind us. It was such a secret approach that no one noticed that they were together until the pontoon leader said something. We belatedly distanced ourselves from the religious leader and aimed our canes and spears at him.

The religious leader who met for the first time did not show off his dignity by making an excessive appearance. It’s just that he’s been with us for some time. Rather, its appearance made my skin tingle.

“Nice to meet you.”

Suddenly, I felt a physiological sense of disgust. I don’t know if it’s the mask that wriggles like a living creature, or the awareness that I’m in another country. The religious leader, dressed in light purple, flowing clothes, raised one hand toward us, revealing an ambiguous presence.

“How does it feel to meet the final dark side? “Extra.”

It bothered me to preface it with those words.

“… “Extras?”

“Isn’t that so? “Your role would be as a consumable extra with an inferiority complex.”

“You haven’t forgotten that you’re Ross, just like me, right?”

In response to my polite question, the cult leader’s lips, revealed beneath the mask, formed an arc.

“I am the only one among them.”

The religious leader who said that shifted his gaze and looked at Ellie. I saw my gaze tangled in the air. With his eyes fixed on Ellie’s face, the leader spoke.

“Coming here, you must have felt it while walking and seeing the modern city. “The Ross next to me is really an outsider from another world.”

Mormot, who had not received my memories, flinched at this unexpected fact, but seemed intent on continuing to help me as per the contract anyway. Raelan, who had been quietly observing the situation, took a step forward and refuted the leader’s words.

“Are you trying to sway our minds with facts we already know? “I think this is too shallow a move for the leader of the Chaos Cult.”

“Raelan, shut your mouth! “You are not the one to judge!”

At Belker’s angry shout, Raelan shrugged his shoulders with a wicked smile on his lips.

“Okay, I’d rather ask you from here. “Are you following the person you call the cult leader even though you know he is an outsider from another world?”

Confsion remained silent in response to Raelan’s question. I’m not speechless. Since they were already giving absolute loyalty to their religious leader, there was no reason to respond to Raelan’s ridicule.

“Hehe, it’s been a long time since they realized that they were like fish trapped in a fishbowl. I am truly helping you live freely in the real world I created. “Your numbers were shallow this time.”

Before Raelan could refute anything, I spoke first.

“Sir, I heard you’ve been waiting for me for a long time. “Then why don’t you stop spouting nonsense and just get to the point?”

“Here’s the main point… What a surprise. “I thought you had a lot of questions you wanted to ask.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m busy. I’m not curious about your thoughts either. So don’t delay and decide quickly. “You can either die here by our hands, or you can just sit back and watch us go to the 9th floor.”

The leader clicked his tongue and crossed his arms.

“Shall I bring you back?”

“… what?”

“It’s Luna you love.”

The moment those words ended, I was already swinging my spear.