types qw

The Leader

Chapter Text

"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool. I have a page of the diary of Emperor Roselle with me."

The young Miss Justice spoke as soon as Juny's crimson vision cleared.

Before she could continue in Miss Justice's lead to also give a greeting, Miss Justice continued.

She looked towards the young Mr. Sun and asked.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Sun. Have you gotten the formula for Telepathist?"

Juny held back the need to shake her head at her enthusiasm.

'Miss Justice, happy-go-lucky people like yourself can't survive in this cruel world...'

As nobody was aware of Juny's inner monologue, Mr. Sun immediately replied.

"I have obtained the Telepathist formula."

Seeing Mr. Sun turn towards the Seat of Honor, Mr. Fool spoke.

"First, recall the formula in your head. Then, grab the pen by your side and instill it with the strong desire to express your thoughts."

Mr. Fool leaned back in his chair as a quill and a piece of paper appeared before Mr. Sun.

Mr. Sun followed Mr. Fool's instructions as words appeared on the page.

He then gently pushed it towards Miss Justice, who gracefully took it.

Juny saw Miss Justice looking puzzled for a second before hearing a light rapping sound.

Juny tilted her head as Mr. Fool nodded towards Miss Justice.

A second after Miss Justice looked back at the paper she exclaimed.

"Thank you, Mr. Fool. You're really very knowledgeable."

'Hah? Am I missing something?'

Juny decided to ignore whatever exchange just took place between the two.

Instead, as Miss Justice scanned the paper, Juny spoke.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool. I have two pages of Emperor Roselle's diary. I would like to add them on my credit."

Mr. Fool nodded.

"That's alright. With this, you'll have a total of eleven pages yet to be repaid."

Juny looked down at the parchment and pen which appeared before her.

"Yes, that is the case."

She then picked the pen and inscribed the two pages worth of symbols.

At this point, Miss Justice finished looking over the formula.

She then, too, expressed one diary page.

"You deserve this. In addition to this, I'll give your adorer another 300. Is 300 pounds okay?"

Juny saw the corner of Mr. Fool's mouth subconsciously twitched.

With swift movement, she retrieved her gaze as if she saw nothing.

After a while, Mr. Fool spoke, seemingly uninterested in the money.

"A reasonable deal. This is my adorer's information."

Juny's short leg jumped, as if trying to kick something.

'Dammit! You're a god tier actor!'

Juny continued staring into nothingness, so she didn't know what the two were doing.

But after a while, Mr. Fool spoke again.

"It doesn't need to be so troublesome. When you get home, recite my name and you'll be able to write down the information directly."

'What?'

Juny gently closed her eyes before turning to look back.

Miss Justice seemed stunned while Mr. Fool stayed in his leisurely stance.

'Don't tell me he told her to pray in order to remember the account number... That's also a way to do it.'

Juny had to pinch the top of her hand so as to not nod in approval.

Mr. Fool gently pressed on the three pages and turned to Mr. Sun.

"What compensation would you like?"

Mr. Sun was silent for a moment.

"As of now, I don't have anything that I desperately need... I should digest the Bard potion very soon. I shall wait until then to request my compensation. Yes, perhaps to prepare for the corresponding Sequence 8 formula or the necessary ingredients."

Miss Justice asked after weighing her words.

"Mr. Sun, are you aware of the 'acting method'?"

Mr. Sun's gaze towards Miss Justice was filled with confusion.

"It's nothing strange... The general education classes in the City of Silver teaches the 'acting method.'"

At this point Mr. Hanged Man spoke.

"Mr. Sun, do you talk about any key things to look out for with respect to the 'acting method'?"

Juny suddenly got a really bad feeling as she turned to Mr. Hanged Man.

She then heard Mr. Sun's innocent voice.

"Yes."

Juny's gaze whipped.

'Wait! You're being sca-'

Before she could warn the poor boy, Mr. Sun continued without hesitation.

"It's clearly stated in our general education classes that the one and only key point for the 'acting method' is to 'Remember that you're only acting.'"

'Oh no...'

Feeling extreme exasperation, Juny couldn't help but slap and cover her face.

She then peeked through her fingers, glaring at Mr. Hanged Man while Mr. Fool already begun reading the pages.

Her angry eyes met with Mr. Hanged Man, who just shamelessly looked away.

'You can't go around scamming children! That was sellable information!'

Juny felt like nagging the man, but ended up just giving up.

She gave Mr. Sun a saddened look.

Mr. Sun had his head tilted in confusion at Juny's intense reaction.

Seeing those naive eyes, Juny turned to look down at the bronze mottled table, feeling guilty for no reason.

'I'm sorry...'

After a while of staring down and tracing the symbols with her hand, Juny heard a voice.

"You can't start your discussion freely now."

Mr. Hanged Man spoke immediately after.

"Mr. Fool, Miss Justice, Miss High Priestess, I received new piece of information. Rear Admiral Hurricane Qilangos infiltrated Backlund to complete a difficult mission."

'Huh? Wait... since when am I included? I don't- I'm not even in Backlund!'

Juny held back her shock and stayed in her role of a quiet spectator as Mr. Hanged Man continued.

"He might stay for an extended period of time and create an appalling tragedy. Also, I know that this incident involves a very important item, an item that would allow Qilangos to quickly become a High-Sequence Beyonder."

Juny tilted her head, unsure if her math is wrong or that guy is an idiot.

As if reading her mind, Miss Justice asked.

"Quickly become a High-Sequence Beyonder? Does he not fear losing control of himself?"

Unknowingly, Juny nodded along.

She knew that Qilangos was Sequence 6 Wind Blessed and becoming a High-Sequence meant becoming Sequence 4.

That mean that somewhere along the way, Sequence 5 disappeared.

So either Juny's math is not mathing correctly, or Qilangos is an idiot.

Mr. Hanged Man seemed to be expecting this question as he answered right away.

"That's why the object is important to him. Of course, those are simply my deductions. The information I received goes like this: Qilangos believes that once he completes the commission and obtains the object, he will be the equal of Nast, the King of the Five Seas. The Four Pirate Kings would then become the Five Pirate Kings, and the Seven Pirate Admirals will be reduced to six."

Juny quickly remembered the information she received from Mr. Hanged Man when she previously asked about the sea.

'Pirate Kings are either High-Sequence Beyonders, or their combat strength is close to High-Sequence.'

Juny then finished Mr. Hanged Man's speech.

"So for him to be the equal of the Pirate Kings, he must reach standards which are close to High-Sequence. Is that what you mean?"

Mr. Hanged Man turned to her and nodded.

"Exactly. That was my deduction."

Miss Justice saw this and replied with a smile.

"Your deduction is very reasonable. Of course, that could also be a mysterious item that could hold its own against a High-Sequence Beyonder."

Mr. Hanged Man looked at Mr. Fool before emphasizing.

"There are two key paints in what I said just now, the first being the fact that Qilangos will stay in Backlund for some time. The second is that the incident involves a very important and very mysterious object."

Juny gently narrowed her eyes.

'Why are you emphasizing that while looking at- Ohhh! You want him to help, don't you? Tsk, you poor friend. That's what you get for scamming children out of their lunch money- what am I saying?!'

Juny felt strange at her own thoughts as short silence filled the gray fog.

Not too long after, Mr. Fool replied slowly.

"I am aware."

'-and I can't do it... Juny stop! You can't keep making fun of him! He's trying very hard!'

Juny shamefully hung her head, looking at the bronze mottled table.

Mr. Hanged Man didn't seem too phased as he asked Miss Justice about the ongoing investigation about Qilangos.

It was quite prolonged and useless to Juny, who wasn't anywhere near Backlund.

After giving a short summary, Miss Justice asked about some of Qilangos's hobbies or habits.

After recalling for a while, Mr. Hanged Man replied.

He listed plenty of information, but none of them stuck with Juny.

After a while of tuning out Mr. Hanged Man's voice, Miss Justice spoke.

"Let's hope that the investigation will be a success. It's a pleasure working with you."

"My pleasure."

Juny finally reined in her thoughts.

The conversation quickly changed from Qilangos to the characteristics of particular monsters.

Juny contributed quite greatly during this discussion.

A nerd like her, who literally read the whole library, had many fun-facts to share.

Slowly, when nobody had anymore to add, Mr. Fool spoke with a smile.

"Let's end it here for today."

Juny nodded before standing up with the rest.

"By your will."

...

Madam Petrison gently stretched her back in her seat.

After working for hours as the head of the house, it was time for a break.

Just as she was about to stand, a small piece of paper caught her eye.

Her eyes narrowed, realizing that she didn't remember placing this note onto the desk.

After a moment, she took off an elegant silver ring.

She closed her eyes for a few seconds before lightly throwing the ring onto the table.

Seeing the Amethyst decoration facing her way, madam Petrison put it back onto her finger and reached towards the paper.

It was a unique divination method.

If the decoration faces towards her, it's positive.

If it's facing straight away from her, it's negative.

If it's turned halfway, it's unsure response.

And if it drops, doesn't bounce off the table or stops with the decoration facing downwards, the divination failed.

The madam unfolded and read the short note.

'Honorable Madam Petrison,

I have an update on the development concerning your revenge plan. May I enter your study, or would you like to reschedule?

Scoutmaster of the Abyssal Troop.'

The Marquise raised her eyebrows before looking around.

As her Danger Sense didn't raise any alarms, madam Petrison spoke up in neutrally loud voice.

"You may enter."

"Thank you, Madam."

Mere second after she said that, a voice was heard as a shadowy figure appeared, sitting on a nearby couch.

Although startled, madam Petrison decided to not pay it too much mind.

She straightened in her seat.

"Good evening."

Juny looked at the graceful madam and nodded.

"Good evening, Madam Petrison."

"You were quite fast?"

Hearing this rhetorical question, Juny smiled.

"You could say so."

Without waiting for an answer, Juny got straight to the point.

"The one in the portrait you provided is called Lamei Grant."

As she spoke, Juny pulled a stack of neat documents from underneath her coat and gently 'flew' it to land on madam Petrison's desk.

Madam Petrison eagerly looked at the important papers.

While the Marquise skimmed through the lines of text, Juny continued.

"He's the second most influential figure in the Rosary Road, a Sequence 5 Scarlet Scholar. He also owns the largest illegal Brothel called Rosy Red Brothel in Florald street Kaymer division."

Madam Petrison frowned.

"That makes this complicated, doesn't it?"

Juny gently nodded her head, taking in the change in madam Petrison's expression.

"Indeed, but it's not undoable. You may take the final blow after he's defeated, if you wish."

Madam Petrison was silent for a moment before looking away from the documents.

"I and my assistants will be able to handle him. But have you figured out the 'how' and 'when'?"

Juny leaned slightly back into her seat.

"Not necessarily the 'When?' part, but we have found what's most likely the primary residence of the cult leader. We also know that they possess large underground area. I am unsure of how this area is being kept out of the eyes of official Beoynders and the Church."

Madam Petrison turned to Juny.

"Don't you find it strange, Scoutmaster?"

Feeling that something's wrong, Juny straightened her back.

"What might you mean?"

The Marquise weighed her words before pointing out.

"So far, you've interrupted multiple of their plans, but they have yet to retaliate. Isn't that rather peculiar?"

Juny stared intently at madam Petrison, barely blinking.

'That's true? Now that she mentions it, everything has been going very well since the very start. We've also never experienced direct confrontation and we're the ones always intervening...'

Juny resisted the urge to look at the ceiling.

Her mind boiled.

The longer she stayed still, thinking. That much more uneasy she felt.

'Something's definitely not right...'

As she had that thought, Juny remembered the strange, suppressing feeling she got while trying to enter the underground space.

The doorway seemed fine and no traps were placed around it, all that stopped her was a light tingling in her fingertips.

She never thought about it in depth, but something was clearly very wrong with it.

Especially the thing concerning the intense ravings as soon as her foot passed through.

Now thinking about it, it was nonsensical.

One of the positive side-effects of the Lapis bloodline curse was protection from Evil God's ravings, or God's ravings in general.

As long as the cause of the ravings was indirect, they would have minimal effect, if not none.

'Indirect.... Huh?! Wait! Does that mean those ravings weren't indirect?!'

Juny's body instinctively flinched at the quite terrifying realization.

'I-If it was direct then- What in the living hell are they doing down there?!'

Juny jumped up from her seat, startling madam Petrison, who observed the deeply thinking shadowy figure.

'That's not all that's strange. They've been quiet for literal years. And now, in the span of less than two months, they cause two extreme incidents involving nobles, abductions, slaves and brainwashing of the Sanguine. Isn't that too strange? This is something they must've planned for a really long time, so why do it at once now?'

'And why not retaliate against the strange new secret organization? Why just stand there and take it? Except, if they can't afford to fight back. What if their attention is on something completely different? What if they don't have a reason to fight back, since their plan is close to success and fighting would only push it backwards?'

Juny's blood ran ice cold.

She could hear her own heartbeat as her Spiritual Intuition of a High-Sequence Beyonder stirred.

'I need to contact the Church- No, scratch that! I can't trust them. They've been ignoring the summoning of an Evil God happening literally right underneath their noses. I need to issue an emergency meeting.'

With her thoughts straight, Juny looked towards the madam.

"Madam Petrison, I'm afraid I'll have to cut our meeting short, it's been a pleasure meeting you."

Madam Petrison didn't waste a second, afraid that the shadowy figure before her would just disappear.

"What happened? Should I be concerned?"

Juny paused for a moment.

"I would like to inform you, but it is not something absolutely clear, nor is it something you would be able to assist with. But yes, you should be concerned."

Without giving the Marquise time to insist further, Juny gently bowed.

She activated the Runic Enchantment on her palm before becoming Isolated.

With that, she quickly entered her Pocket Dimension and disappeared from the Marquise's mansion.

...

"What's going on?"

"How should I know? I was just suddenly called here, but it seemed urgent."

"I was in the middle of giving lectures."

"Daimira, who are you teaching again?"

"Don't worry about it."

As the conversation around the round table continued, Juny was still nowhere to be seen.

Dager looked around before hearing a female voice behind her.

"Should we be worried?"

Dager looked back.

On a seat next to Valler's sat a young woman with platinum-blonde hair and light-brown eyes.

The seat she sat at has already changed shape long before they arrived.

This was because he got an earful for bringing Valler without a warning the last time.

By the time they arrived, the seat was already changed.

It was a soft-looking, stylish chair, with light green and white as the sub-color.

On top of the chair's back was a light-greenly highlighted symbol of a mushroom surrounded by two wheat strands.

Dager looked back forward.

"We don't have to worry about the Scoutmaster. Brielle, you'll understand that soon, too."

The girl, who was actually two years older, pouted.

She wasn't actually told what the Scoutmaster was like, but she was repeatedly told not to freak out or be surprised.

Because of that, she couldn't help but feel worried.

Just then, she heard a completely new voice.

To her surprise, it sounded... childish?

"Sorry for making you wait, I had to grab something."

Everyone stood up at once, although Brielle was a second too late.

They all turned to one side.

They saw a small girl with pitch black hair and black eyes walking forward.

Her clothes were strange, but aesthetically pleasing.

There were stacks of papers floating behind her with three tightly sealed boxes.

Brielle was confused of the child's identity for a while.

But that confusion was short-lived, as everyone around her placed their right hand to their chest and their left hand to their back.

As a member, Brielle knew what this salute meant.

It was used to formally greet a higher ranked member of the organization.

Her jaw dropped.

There was only one reason why her boss, the organization's Assistant Scoutmaster, would salute.

'That's the Scoutmaster?! Wait!'

Her body flinched before moving on reflex.

She immediately saluted, her hands covered in sweat.

'Noone told me the Scoutmaster was a child! I can't believe I stood there without saluting like a moron! ...Terrible first impression.'

Brielle did her best to keep her face straight.

Then, her heart sunk as she locked eyes with the girl.

Juny noticed the panic on the new girl's face, and she couldn't help smiling.

Even though her mood was sour, seeing the mix of exasperation and terror was funny.

Juny decided to not point it out as she broke the short eye-contact.

Brielle's eyes shook.

'She looked away while smiling? What does that mean?!'

It was then, that Juny finally arrived at her chair.

"Greetings, thank you for coming. Please be seated."

"Good afternoon, Scoutmaster."

Hearing the echoing voices, Juny's eyebrow twitched, but she didn't let it show.

'Once again, when in the hell did they practice this?!'

Juny slowly regretted allowing this Troop Meeting to become formal.

The documents floating around her gently landed on the table and began shifting.

"I apologize for suddenly issuing an emergency gathering, but there is something very urgent which needs to be discussed."

With that sentence, the papers finished organizing themselves and flickered.

Suddenly, copies of the documents appeared before everyone with the three boxes staying in the middle of theThank you for the warning, Scout Patrol Leader."

Juny inwardly sighed before clearing her throat.

"I have called you all here, because I seemed to have overlooked an important point when dealing with the organization Rosary Road."

Everyone slowly nodded, shaking off their puzzlement from Darmine's sudden remark.

Dager leaned back.

"Oh, if it's those guys, it can't be that bad."

Ellone shot him a glare while Shake placed his elbows on the table.

"Don't underestimate the enemies, that's the number one rule of the Beyonder world."

Dager looked at him.

"But it's true. They never do anything which counts."

He smirked, lifting his hand.

"Just think about it. We always find them, figure out their plans and stop them. They are barely a threat."

Before Shake could retort, Daimira chimed in.

"Why are you acting so smug? You've barely ever done anything, it's always the Scoutmaster who handles like 80% of all workload."

Dager flinched, unable to argue.

Ellone rolled her eyes.

"It's not like they never succeeded. How many slaves do you think they used as sacrifice before we stopped the Count? How many Sanguine were corrupted before we managed to save them? You're taking it lightly because you can't possibly understand just how dangerous they are. Isn't that right, JUNIOR Assistant Scoutmaster?"

"Hey! You know you're weaker than me!"

Hearing this, Degster chimed in.

"As if strength really matters in this organization. What counts is the overall. If counting only strength, I'd say Daimira is stronger than both of you."

Dager shot him a glare.

"And what do you do? Make deals with thugs? There was already a person for that before you."

Unlike what he expected, Shake took more offense than Degster.

"Deals with thugs? Do you think that's what I do?"

"Isn't it?"

At this, Kein gently tilted his head.

'Shouldn't we stop them..?'

He slowly shifted his eyes towards Darmine.

He's heard a lot about her from Juny.

His eyes widened slightly.

'Am I seeing this right? She's trembling?'

Soon, he followed the shaking cat's gaze.

And he froze, staring at Juny.

But that was all he did, as Ellone spoke up.

"How can you two be so immature?"

Gen slowly shook his head.

"Don't get involved in their arguments, Senior Assistant Scoutmaster. It's below you."

Dager frowned.

"Who are you to say that?"

Gen had a calm expression.

"You're too hot headed. Noone is attacking you, so calm down."

Jenica folded her right leg over her left.

"I wouldn't say that, he's definitely being attacked, but also for a good reason."

Gen gave her a look.

"Don't you get involved too..."

"Why shouldn't I get involved? Is there something wrong with it?"

Shake shook his head.

"This is why-"

Everyone flinched and froze in their seats.

They heard a very quiet male voice.

It belonged to the Detective Kein.

"Please, be quiet..."

Hearing those words, everyone's Spiritual Intuition stirred.

They all turned to the head seat.

Juny was staring at them, her face completely emotionless, but her eyes stone cold.

She was leaning back with her hands on the armrests.

The space around her was warping and changing before falling into itself and being restored.

Like whirlpools filled with void, like black holes.

Brielle, who was ironically sitting the closest, could see her clutching the armrests.

There were small cracks spreading across them before immediately recovering.

Unknowingly, Brielle lowered her head.

'Shit... what is this pressure?'

Everyone felt as if the surrounding space was pressing against their bodies, making it almost impossible to breathe.

"Are you done?"

Juny's voice was dispassionate.

Subconsciously, Dager bowed his body in his chair.

"I apologize."

As if a trigger was hit, everyone who spoke so far lowered their torso.

Ellone, Shake, Degster, Daimira, Gen and even Jenica.

"I apologize."

Seeing this, Juny slowly exhaled.

She lifted her hand from the cracking armrest and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

'F*ck... that was too much. Is this why it's important to keep one's emotions under the wraps? I almost crushed them without realizing it...'

The boiling surroundings slowly calmed down and the pressure subsided.

Juny finally realized just how powerful she really was in her own Pocket Dimension.

Slowly, she sat up straight and sighed.

"Alright, alright. Raise your heads."

Hearing her words, everyone slowly looked back up, carefully eyeing Juny's mood.

"I'm not angry, so stop with those looks."

Juny continued massaging the bridge of her nose, making her words very hard to believe.

But just in case their concern would make her angrier, everyone looked away.

Juny's eye twitched.

She slowly looked towards Dager.

"What are you- why are you still bowing?"

Dager jumped in fright, looking up.

His face was blue.

"Oh..."

Juny felt guilty.

It seemed like she poured most of her emotions out on Dager.

"I'm sorry."

Juny snapped her fingers, making a glass of water to fly in from somewhere.

Dager slowly grasped it and took a sip.

After a while of coughing, he spoke in a crispy voice.

"Thank you."

Juny turned her eyes away, guilt eating at her.

'Goddammit... he looks like he almost suffocated to death... if he was not a Sequence 6 Beyonder, I might've actually killed him just now.'

Juny gently bit her index finger, causing blood to flow out.

She drew a small Runic symbol into the air.

Dager immediately felt the pain in his throat and body disappearing.

He was about to thank her, but he noticed Darmine staring at him and aggressively shaking her small head.

'Don't do it! She's trying to play it off! Don't do it!'

He could almost hear her screaming.

Juny coughed and pointed to the papers spread across the paper.

"As I said, there is something VERY important, which I missed. I brought the most important documents from the ones we have acquired so far. This is because I have gone through them once again and found details which I overlooked, but will serve as indirect evidence for my suspicions."

Ellone tilted her head, feeling something strange.

She, very slowly, raised her hand.

Juny looked at her, her face painted with disbelief.

"Yes, Senior Assistant Scoutmaster?"

"Excuse me- ehm. When you say 'the ones we have acquired so far' do you mean all of them?"

She could still remember the amounts of papers she once saw, and then even more papers during a different time.

Well, all in all, there were thousands of documents they've acquired so far.

Juny nodded her head.

"Yes all of them. Since the very beginning."

Seeing them staring at her with confusion, Juny clarified.

"I pulled an all-nighter. Anyway."

'She pulled a what?'

Brielle couldn't believe her ears.

The literal leader of an organization pulled an all-nighter, because she was going through documents?

'What does she have subordinates for? What?'

Juny raised an eyebrow.

"What? You know an all-nighter is no problem for me, right?"

Seeing everyone still looking at her with exasperation, Juny felt baffled.

"I am a Demigod? You guys were literally there when I Advanced!"

The ones present shared looks.

'Yea... that's not why we're confused.'

Jenica, not being able to handle the awkward silence, raised her hand.

"Yes?"

Although Juny couldn't understand why they were suddenly raising their hands like in school, she called on Jenica anyway.

"Why did you do it personally?"

"Who else would do it?"

Juny tilted her head, feeling genuine confusion.

Kein, Villia and Jenica raised their hands.

Juny leaned backwards.

"Really?"

The three exchanged looks before nodding, not speaking.

"Would you even know what to look for? I'd have to spend time explaining and even tell you where to look. I read them all before and even sorted them. I remembered where to look and what to look for. It was much easier to find it, highlight, and analyze it myself."

Juny gently picked up and waved the sorted documents.

"Also, you three would need breaks, while I was able to bench it without any food necessary."

The place went silent before most silently nodded.

'That makes sense, but...'

'Is that the mindset a gang's boss should have- no, organization's boss. I meant organization's!'

'I can accept that explanation.'

'Why is everyone doubting Juny's choices to begin with? We're just wasting time. The immature humans... Meow.'

'Yea... I feel like this gathering is going in all directions but the correct one. Am I imagining it?'

Everyone somehow had thoughts in one big area, but two's were completely different.

Ironically, they were both sitting behind Dager.

'She was a Demigod?!'

'She could pull an all-nighter without eating?!'

Veller stared widely at Juny while Brielle kept her eyes on the floor.

Brielle understood now, why this little girl was the Scoutmaster.

If the Abyssal Troop is an organization which judges everyone's overall abilities, then who is the leader of such organization?

The answer is simple.

It's someone who is the greatest and most powerful in all possible categories.

That's the leader.