COI C276

  Live videos are streaming across the private servers. Each in every member of the organization, from the Devilishly Rats, Scraypers, and many other small gangs are watching the event occurred at the East Coast. Rise of the Alga’s light seen by reflection of the ocean sea. Its rapid light glowing on it revisioning the sea water into a dark green ocean. These viewers watch safely inside Fuku City and many other residences who are connected by the organization themselves stunned ever before since the video step foot outside of Isekai City.

  Limited on to the people of Fuku City, the nice touch seeing as the moment of new people will become their doubles. Their faces grow ever so manipulative to those people are willing to come back. They have no choice. they have to join them. The data. The defectors’ past. There is no escape who would wish to return to Isekai City. They will be in awe of their return. Just to be in chain again because of their actions.

  Miss, who has the best point of the view during the stream than the rest of the crowd. Her double finally reaches her signal and calls out to her

  “HEY! You’re closer to the boss. Get a better scenic view”

  “Ugh! Bitch! I’m outside of the city, you can’t boss me!”

  “And I’m your double to let you live a life. So, get me a better view at the beach. Although it looks green, but it is good enough. Oh, don’t forget not let the sunlight catches on the camera”

  “Oh, you little”

  “NOW!”

  “Grumble*”

  Tabitha was in lost for words and seen such a number of citizens before her. The dream of such kind of rescuers in this number that Isekai Citizens should’ve done. But they are not the people she wished to accompany her. They are from Fuku City, the remnant of advantageous society who are high and mighty than the people around them. Now Miss who was by their side had turn side leaving her confused.

  Tabitha asks

  “Are you in this?”

  “Grumble*”

  Miss walks away.

  Silfa sees the resemblance and turned to the other adventurers who are with Miss. They look at her as they shake their heads

  “We were supposed to get the demon’s whereabouts after the horde got in”

  Silfa raises her forcefield

  “Believe us. We never knew about this”

  One of the gang leaders shut him

  “Oh, shut the fuck up. It’s easy to understand what the boss after”

  Silfa scowls at the cult leader. Bokushi Hidari sees her face and looks away without interest.

  The cult leader sarcastically calls them out

  “What do we have here? I’ve never knew these people survive this long. It is hard to believe they are at the belly of the beast”

  Silfa wants to step forward, but stops by Miss’s and Mina’s group. The look of their eyes including Aoi herself as they couldn’t afford to face them. Silfa summons Fae-chan as it helps them shield from the threat. When its ritual arises from the ground, elven magic pressures it and dissipates without any problem.

  The doll said “That man possessed a powerful blessing. Rare”

  “Oh, you understand your position. Enders do know how to behave”

  Hidari says it with a smirk on his face. Silfa hid her face as she can’t believe he is more powerful than the doll itself. For how long did he managed to be this strong, or rather, how did he able to obtain such power like elven magic? She is an S rank who barely could go through against the East Coast by her own skill alone. The influence was so strong and bind together with the survivors are difficult enough to break it. But for him, by his own presence stop Fae-chan’s rituals.

  Juela stands by as she is looking for the survivors. She saw them already being taken as she senses their mana faded. Gone, and only who are left are people she thinks would be Tabitha’s connections. Moments passed as the organization finally takes the move first. A young boy brought to Hidari’s side and tied up with unstable mana inside him. Mina reaches out to the young boy.

  “KENTA!”

  Hidari reacts “My, who could’ve known would survive like this. This young boy will be under diagnosed in our care before he would be free at Isekai City”

  Toba got curious “What are you going to do to him?”

  “No worries, all of you will go back home eventually. After all, you’ve got yourself into trouble with the city states. I don’t think there should be any good after what you’ve done”

  Hidari sees their reaction, they have nowhere to go and the way he said it made them more lost than they deeply regret it.

  The gang leaders look at Tabitha. All geared up and manage to escape the East Coast. Rather amusing from what they heard from her. She has Enders among her team, but there is only one. They identify her and only found out she is not involved from the Fuku City incident. They were expecting someone else, more to be certain is the Enders who caused trouble for them. They talk about Haw, U’ecin, Voldemyr, Ironno, and many others who created problems throughout the city.

  Luckily, their eyes are focusing on the coast, hoping their journey wasn’t a waste. Juela, even though she is known about the first match. It’s hard for her to think hard about Haw and the Dexter Guild, if what those guys before said is true. What will happened to them? There is also Voldemyr and U’ecin. Those two should be here right about now. Their absences made her worry that those people right in front of her made her prepare what’s to come.

  Hidari, the cult leader, has ceased the people whom Tabitha is close with. The children and one single woman who take care of them. He made a generous gesture at Tabitha as he shows Kenta with him.

  “It is obvious who are the people are left here. I’m not going to make you take a long hearing from me. I assure you. The people you’ve wish to save are here”

  Tabitha quivered from the thought of him knows about her and her friends. She carefully looks around and the people who are here now might get hurt. Hidari sees Tabitha understands her situation.

  She took a deep breath and said “How do you know?”

  “You want me to tell you who you really are? You made a big commotion after your little vacation at Isekai City. People were not please about the residents. Or do you want to hear more about your brave deeds too?”

  Tabitha knows exactly what he meant. Her actions have taken notice after freeing the residence from the gang’s control. Freeing them to Stranding Island was worth it. And now she thought it would be best for the survivors to reside their too.

  Sadly, it wasn’t the case. He wants those people coming to Fuku City. This is probably what he is waiting such a long time. To lose such numbers of residence mean hurting their community. Because magic is everywhere, services are easy to come by. Fuku City still wants people residing. Their egoistic ideology making the district lively pleasing their actual residence. Not because of showing face. All because of their secret system, doubles. The doubles already knew, and they too are secretly not happy.

  The defectors know how Tabitha fears. Miss’s group, they too don’t like what this is going. Hidari wants those survivors back to the city and lived at Fuku City. It’s bad enough that those people survived out here. Just to return to worse life back what this world offers. They don’t show any sympathy. The actual defectors like Miss and many more at the back show can see what the gangs are thinking. Miss remained silent as she acts really bitchy for a moment.

  Back with Tabitha and Hidari’s conversation. Tabitha can’t say any more. Her team left behind inside the realm. All of her stash used and supplies are low. Too tired to do anything else and can’t think anything else but to go home, ironically, she thinks about her own guild. She is hesitating. It was enough and the gang leaders called out their groups, and guide them out from this place. Mina and her friends are being escorted out. Mina resisted and shout out to Hidari

  “Hey! Where are you taking Kenta?”

  One of the gang leaders explained “We are taking care of him”

  “Taking care from what? He is possessed”

  “We know, that’s why he need to get the ghost out of him”

  As they struggle, they are taken back to Isekai City. All of them, taken away. The young girl who holds her says to here

  “Will you come and find me? Like you did inside the cave?”

  Tabitha nods but remains pale. She tries to give a warm face but couldn’t see as the young girl was lifted by Miss and looks at her in the eyes. It was a short time truce, and probably never was. It was the numbers of events brought them here.

  Tabitha asks Miss “Back inside the East Coast, why were you there in the first place?”

  “Taking care of the demon, our boss is starting to learn how to beat it”

  “Are you sure he actually killed a demon?”

  “I’m sure. But you aren’t ready to know his secret. If you join us. Well, I think I made a mistake saying that. We’re enemies after all. From what he said to you, he was expecting to be like this. His payback. I don’t know what you two had done. After you’ve been through, he is satisfied, for now”

  The gangs divided themselves into two. For not letting Tabitha and her team to be teleported away. They were force to walk on foot. They watch the people they save teleported back to the city. The children even give a farewell to her as they disappear on the sun touches them. Mina and her friends were not given up on Kenta. They look at Tabitha’s team.

  “I guess, we’re saved. I think. I hope home should be like it used to”

  Toba says to her without a clue.

  Aoi bows to them “Thanks for everything. I’m not sure when we get back there. Is it really home when left the city?”

  Sakura didn’t say a thing. Her eyes are focusing on the defectors staring at her showing of their unpleasant gaze. Toba pulls Sakura to her side and pretend to ignore them.

  “Come on, Sakura. Say thanks to our rescuers”

  “. . .”

  “I guess she’s shut up. Oh well, no big deal. We’ll thank you later, right! Sakura”

  Mina runs to Silfa and whispered to her ear “We will see each other again, someday. Promise me”

  “Alright”

  As they left, the woman among the gang leader gathered Tabitha’s team on foot acting miserable

  “Finally, and I thought I have to drag myself out of this boring forest”

  Miss complains “Honestly, you’re dead lucky that you didn’t come across what happened there”

  “You said it, rats, monsters, and dusts all around are getting me sick. I’m glad you deal with the problem yourself. Say, I heard from the boss. There are two demons now instead of one”

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  “Of course, what else the rat men get themselves inside the realm”

  “No, no, no, that’s not what I’m talking about. The other one. One of your group members report about a ruin that belongs to another powerful being. You guys tried to get in but failed”

  “Oh yeah, that”

  Miss looks at Tabitha and the others. She felt a bit nosy from this conversation and she quickly drops it

  “There’s no big deal. Did the boss really wants it?”

  “I don’t think so. Only he wants are information . . .”

  “What?”

  Miss shows absolutely shock from what she said to her. The gang leader who is in a group of entertainment industry saying a slang word from the boss’s tone. Silfa already notice from her reaction and calls out to her

  “What do you mean? He wants information”

  Roots sprung out from the ground. Roots that feast on mana surge up and drill into their skin. Both Silfa and Tabitha got caught. Juela being grabbed by the arm as the gang leader flashes behind her.

  “This kind of information”

  Her gang members rallied as they surrounding them. Along with other people who has hatred for Tabitha.

  “I know you can’t recognize us, but we are the people who you supposed to have businesses at Fuku City. You take away our workers. You’re lucky we can’t do our way with you. But beating you up is good enough”

  Miss tries to stop them, but what stopped by gang leader’s gang members. She says to her

  “You think a former yakuza who’d let that bitch free the district workers like that. Have you ever trying to fuck with them?”

  Tabitha and her friends were beaten down. They hurt them as much as they lost their livelihood within Fuku City. Their businesses, either be abused or take advantage were left to close because of her. Juela and Silfa weren’t involved of the incident, but with these large numbers of people. All of their frustration spread elsewhere, including Tabitha’s friends.

  Beaten down to a pulp, Silfa tries to use her inventory to bring Fae-chan out. Sealed and locked in place by the elven magic, she forgot that Hidari stopped her doll. The roots begin rapidly as the beaten left into an entanglement. When the roots fully covered them, the gang leader watches the poor women bloodied. She can’t believe that these people are going all the way here just for one woman ruining their businesses. They can use magic to automate their business back to normal. Or did their pride humiliated sticks with them?

  Tabitha should have expected this to happen. No one would ever ignore after what she had done to the people who wished to escape. Ignoring the fact, they are the scumbag in their society and forgot they can fight back. The cult leader knows about her since the incident. It wasn’t him who is bothered by it because most yakuza are focusing more on their interests, and the people who beaten her can be take advantage as well like most crime syndicate would. What if they are not the yakuza? What if they are normal people who prioritized money first? Abusing them like any black company had done. Yet, they are more brutal than any of the dangerous organization compared back in their world.

  As Tabitha and her friends’ eyes blurred, their voices are aching as soon left them unconscious. The gang leader brings out some cash and said to the gang members.

  “Here’s a bonus left from the boss, if you guys can interrogate them and spill out some real deal coming from the realm. Either how bizarre or useful can be. Remember, you’ll be dead if you go the easy way out like rape”

  “I couldn’t agree more . . .”

  A powerful voice reaches their ears, hurting them down to their knees. A mist covered into the shadow. There they see a spectral spider moving above the crystallized trees.

  Bolts shot down to their joints disabling them without a struggle. Someone dives down hitting the gang members with a polearm like it was a massive club. Their equipment protects them from the lethal blow. They quickly take action as they bring out their weapons. The shadow reaches to their feet as they sink down to the ground. Spectral web phases through the ground as someone from the distance continuously fired at them at their hands and legs.

  Miss tries to fight back then immediately stops where the polearm is tap on her shoulder. She raises her hands and showing no mana or runes to cast. The mist goes near her and then move pass her, telling the man with polearm to pull back his weapon. Juela, beaten looks up and see what’s going on. She took a deep breath and spew out from the blood of her nostrils dripping down to her lips.

  “Myrrkei, you’re here”

  Myrrkei in the form of a shadowy mist brings the spectral spider to cocoon her including Silfa and Tabitha. They escaped leaving the gang members down and trapped.

  The gang leader dugs out from the ground as her hands and feet were almost nailed down by the bolts.

  “How is that possible? I thought we secure this place. Miss! Why didn’t they take you down like the rest of us?”

  “Try going out, sometimes. What I just did save myself for the trouble”

  Others can’t move as the bolts on their hands and legs stop them from using their magic. They keep struggling foolishly as the roots begin growing towards them. Miss watches them squirming about as they are getting entangled themselves. The gang leader shouts in frustration as she failed her task.

  Somewhere among the Enders outpost, there they hid and away from the organization. U’ecin and Voldemyr managed to save them. Where Myrrkei came to their aid as soon as he heard about the citizens venture out from their city. In actuality, he wasn’t convinced about the dangers they come across. His unsatisfied tone broke out after he barely get inside of the East Coast

  “There’s no way for the rat men horde can breached inside. Someone out there had deliberately been going after the demon because of what secrets lie inside”

  U’ecin sighs at the researcher

  “You’ve been saying that when the 2nd cycle starts. It was always a race to get it before their powers fully recovered”

  “This time, this horde entered during the last weeks of the 1st cycle”

  Voldemyr rubs his head “Because they were supplied at Isekai City. They appeared there since the first report. Are you really a researcher? Or are you saying like that separately from the cause and effects?”

  “It must be that, or was I worried about you and our small guild of Raker Mawn?”

  Myrrkei didn’t show any expression of worriedness. Leaving his confidence to prove that his actions have already setting up since the beating. This makes Voldemyr asks, and Myrrkei shakes his head

  “. . . And no, it’s Tabitha’s action have giving the consequences she wrongly deserved. I’ve never been there since my service provided to the city’s research and miscellaneous activities”

  Voldemyr wasn’t convinced, neither U’ecin too. The two can’t comprehend his vast monitoring on Tabitha’s works and still believe she was being part of his research.

  Juela watches them as she lies down. The common distrust between intellectuals and veterans are always at their throats. Myrrkei is not a fighter and mostly runs when his options are there. When it comes to fighting, suppressing them is his way of either he is stalling or force them into a nasty experiment in mid fights. Although, they rescue them successfully. Even getting the citizens to stick on the ground effectively. U’ecin had used his polearm and wasn’t able to cut them through. There are a lot of questions to ask, and she hope she knows more back at Enders Bridge.

  Meanwhile, Silfa and Tabitha busy talking

  “Cough* I knew it was going to happen. Separating the rest of us and giving us their just rewards”

  “There are no other ways, all of our resources are gone, nothing left but out food supplies”

  “Tabitha, we are beaten to a pulp. Something is going on inside the city. Our devices have run out of batteries. They even beat up Juela for no good reason”

  “Like how civil are those gang members are with us, Silfa? They probably want more from us. I guess I know nothing what happened to Isekai City”

  Juela calms them down as the main problems they have right now

  “There is no use of asking each like this. We need to get back home and learn about the current situation”

  Tabitha slowly raises her body up and looks at Myrrkei

  “That’s right. Myrrkei! Do you have any idea what’s going on since we left?”

  Myrrkei walks toward them and brings out his notebook. The cover of the notebook shows it came from Isekai City. Isekai City’s cover filled with anime art style and aged like being used for sometimes. It is enough to see what happened that day.

  Myrrkei pulls it back and said “This is not the time to be reading while injured. This outpost has a magic circle to bring us back to Isekai City. I apologized to your friend here as she needs to be taken care at our guild. There is no telling if there is anyone trying to break the magic connecting to the city”

  Silfa reluctantly nods as she is too injured and tired to heal herself back to health. Myrrkei nods back as he prepared the spell.

  Back at Enders Bridge, Yui is coming rushing inside the guild tower pulling the Spokesman with her with only her physical strength. Spokesman sees the ground whereas the magic circle dimmed down giving signs of interference.

  “I’m not going to explain right now. You see that Spokesman? The source is coming from the East Coast”

  With Yui acting all serious, the other magic casters in the Raker Mawn guild are offering their assistance to her. But Yui cuts them off

  “It’s better he is the one who do it. This is important and my family’s heirloom”

  Spokesman sees them backing off. Looking at Yui herself being a magic caster is making him curious from the sudden favor. Without even a word to say to her, he quickly takes it. He whispers to himself

  “It’s been a while since I used magic. Sadly, I am not rusty in the slightest . . .”

  He used his magic with a great disturbance happening to the magic circle. Elven magic received by the divine had caused a disruption. Spokesman suddenly diverting the magic elsewhere as he recontrol the mana flow from elven divinity.

  “. . . By the gods, why they are here?”

  Spouts out from his mouth as the magic casters were in shock from his sudden remarks. Yui knows about this as she focused her eyes on the circle. A shade of silhouette appeared as six people slowly trying to manifest. One object appeared before them. Fae-chan appears torn itself apart as the elven magic sealed it. Yui sees the doll as she screams out of horror.

  “My grandmother’s heirloom doll!”

  She turns to Spokesman “Hurry up! The woman who borrows from the recruit will pay for this”

  The magic starts to spark out, but Spokesman break it down into the dark. Flashes of mana are being under controlled. Many of the Raker Mawn Guild members start gathering around as they started to notice. The magic circle should’ve been perfectly safe when use. But seeing the doll being torn off, there is one possible explanation of how it was terribly disrupted. The guild members shout, echoing upward to reach their guild master’s office.

  “. . . Gods’ powers are interfering the magic circle . . .”

  Daygen heard them. His body stiffens then slowly turned lax as if his stress where released the moment he starts to think. The straight eagerness by his hand as he reaches to one of the magic scrolls. One of them has Lord Lori’es seal, with no hesitation to use it. To hear from the ruckus happened inside his guild tower. Lord Lori’es heard it, and his reply is

  “Sigh* Lady Hivites and the Ehan’Ra . . .”

  The message ends there leaving Daygen curious about his Lord’s expectation.

  The magic circle was a success. Spokesman’s body releases excess amount of mana as if he is burning from overused. His guild though knows about this, and never show any worries of him. Rather, their concern to be more revealing whereas the elven magic deliberately trying to stop their guild members using the magic circle. Their outposts near the East Coast are well prepared to against any magic disruptions. Not even the demons nor the overpowered adventurers would sense it and break it. Except for the elven god, the same gods who provide them such magic circle.

  Tabitha and her companions appeared before them. The first person they see through the thick magical smoke is Spokesman. His body churned from the blazing mana inside of him as if his body molten releasing steam out from his body. That effects end soon after as he takes a deep breath. Magic spells all around Tabitha as different types of mana heals them and removing all the negative stat effects from their months inside the East Coast. The smoke clears and it revealed that the guild all have gathered.

  Yui jumps at them carrying with Fae-chan in her arms and while looking at the perpetrator who ruined her doll. She is angry, holding a powerful heirloom left to be torn apart. Kiege pushes her aside as she pulls Tabitha, Juela, and Silfa up

  “By the gods above, all of you made it out in one piece!”

  Kiege cheers as the others joined this glorious achievement. Either succeed or failed, a recruit survived the most dangerous realms in this region. Everyone gathers around and celebrate.

  “ENOUGH!” A loud roar coming from the guild entrance. All of them stop in motion as every one of them positioned away from Tabitha and placed them on the background. One by one moved in a speed of light, flickering as more of them step aside further closer to the stairwell. Tabitha sees who is the one stopped them. Silent footsteps as she was stunned who had come to visit her. She murmured from the sight of authority.

  “Lord Lori’es”

  Lord Lori’es raises his hand before her. A relic with the same divine presence as the Not Worthy Guild items. Cleansing all the presence effected by the gods and demons, removing it all as their body begin to felt so light. The doll restored in one piece and the rest only who stood before him is Tabitha, Juela, and Silfa. While Myrrkei, Voldemyr, and U’ecin were step aside.

  Alongside with Lord Lori’es, there’s Lady Constantine, Mi’lady, Sister of Arms, and the man catcher. Altogether, they were supposed to be at the East Coast. Tabitha is glad they are safe, but from the strong loud voice Lord Lori’es made her feel uneasy. Lady Constantine calmed her down

  “Don’t try to be anxious, Tabitha. This is going to be same feeling you’ve felt back when you are at the sinking ship. At least, no guild masters and guild mistresses would give you invitations, again”

  Tabitha wasn’t convinced at first. With the presence of Lord Lori’es in front of her, there is nothing she could respond but to follow Lady Constantine’s advice. The three women face him as they listen to him.

  “Ahem* It must be hard to return after such an almost succeeding journey for you three. All of us know what happened at the East Coast. It is lucky that they beaten you than commit more than just bruises”

  Silfa reacts “If it wasn’t for them bringing a huge gang, we would . . .”

  Sister of Arms intervene “Me and you both, and look at us now after trying to act we should do. The man you’ve faced was able to banish us out from his sight”

  Lord Lori’es stops sister of arms and continue “Let me explain to them. Before bringing you worse news as I said before. I’m congratulating you three to bring your people out from harms way. This world is filled with dangers and should left to us without your people’s involvement. However, we have an issue”

  Silfa is confused “An issue? That man is a criminal”

  Lady Constantine shows her a vision where the cult leader is. Lord Lori’es sees they are seeing what he is about to explain

  “This criminal you’re talking about. The man you face, the man called Bokushi Hidari, received a divine blessing from the elven god. We are not certain where he possessed it. Only Lady Hivites, the Archaic of Agatheus City knows. If this man truly hunts down demons with the elven magic. Then this god gives him the favor he needed, letting him do anything he wanted to those who interferes”

  They see the glimpse happened at the East Coast. The cult leader is at the front of the coast. By his hands alone moving it about like he is trying to open a curtain in the air. He made a rift opening the realm to the East Coast. The scene behaves as if the protagonist had begun to set his journey to kill the demon king. With the vast army at his back, the cult leader calmly enters letting him entered alone. The release of nasty air out to the surface. The gangs cover their mouths from its horrible stench.

  Elven fires erupt out from the realm as it cleanses the realm from any of its horrible influence. The cult leader calls out his men

  “What are you waiting for? The loots and treasures are there for the taking”

  Many of them were unconfident, and only a handful entered. These bold gang members are actually the defectors from before. They step in knowing too well as they walk like they have unfinished business to attend to. Later all of them made it in and the realm seals their escape.

  Lord Lori’es warned them “You’ve seen what he can do. The Enders will confront a chosen one, Tabitha”

  Tabitha understands, but she remains firm from what she did at Fuku City. She had work there before, and never she is feeling remorse of freeing the community from slavery. She sees a smile from Lady Constantine’s face and Lord Lori’es breaks a smile seeing Tabitha is not afraid of his warning.

  Tabitha asks him “If he is the chosen one, is there any other way for the Enders to aid us?”

  Coming from behind, someone comes late and enters the guild tower. They step aside and sees it was Lady Coheld. She overheard her and said

  “Perhaps, there is more reason for me and my colleagues to stay a bit longer. Let’s first have talk with our Lord, later. Lord Lori’es, please have her time with her guild”

  Flashes out from the brink of light, Tabitha hears again the cheers of her guild surrounding her once more carrying her up. She feels the same injury before as if she wasn’t fully healed. This experience left her to be well aware not only from the outside world but inside of her own city. She is still far to find her way back to her home world.

  “It’s going to take a while to leave this world. Miyusuki, I’ll make sure to return your doll. I know you’re going to need it”