Episode 151 Moonlight Party ⑤
The Line Platoon, advancing through the underground sewers, discovered the center where the Gekkokai was believed to be hiding.
It is clearly an illegal construction. This is an underground sewer system modification that has not been approved by the government. At this point, it is also possible to legally carry out forced destruction. But they chose to infiltrate first.
Easily infiltrates with the magic of invisibility.
"Did you hear that? Looks like Laurie's guy successfully captured the Holy Knight."
“So, does that mean I can get a special magic stone?”
"Ah, it's the latest one that allows you to fill magic stones that were once single-use."
"That's good. I'd like to switch to that too."
“In that case, we need to capture a convenient magician.”
Two men standing at the entrance of the base have such a conversation. They were charged with the role of gatekeepers, but unfortunately they did not have the power to see through the magical armor of invisibility.
The members of the line platoon boldly invade from the front without making any noise.
Their strategy is simple. He uses Gekkokai costumes to disguise himself as a believer and conduct an internal investigation. Originally, they were planning to steal the information on the magic stones before the Holy Knights arrived, but now that the Holy Knights had been destroyed, they had no choice but to take the slow and sure method.
“Captain Line, we have discovered a believer acting alone in the depths.”
"Alright, do it Sandra."
"roger that"
The underground base of the Gekkokai is made up of a complex set of passages. I found a man smiling while rolling a magic stone in his palm.
First, the member called Sandra moved to the front of him while remaining invisible and placed a cloth soaked in poison over his mouth and nose. Then, before he could even make a sound, the man passed out.
Then, Line extended the magic of invisibility to the man.
"Now let's read your memory."
Sandra said so and put her hand on the man's forehead.
Although there is a condition of directly touching his head, his magical weapon is reading memories. Although it has limitations such as being less effective against sleeping opponents, its usefulness is immeasurable.
After a while, I successfully read the memory.
"I understand. This man's job is to expand underground. It seems that he is messing around with the underground sewer system in the old city area. His purpose is unknown."
The purpose of the Gekkokai is unknown. It is also unclear what most of them are doing. Sandra's information is extremely valuable.
The line will be inferred based on that information.
"Underground sewers... Are you sure they are constructing an underground passageway to the royal palace? If I recall correctly, His Majesty's older brother... His Highness the Grand Duke of Balgate-Armania should have been in charge of planning the underground sewer system."
"In order to obtain highly accurate information, we need to read the memories of someone in a higher position. We cannot expect any more information from this man."
"Okay. In that case, let's do a more serious infiltration than this. Marta."
The member called Marta nods and gathers magical power in both hands. Her magical equipment is a copy. She can discern its properties just by looking at it and can create copies of it. However, it consumes a lot of magic power, and it cannot be replicated with magically enhanced objects. Her magic is to imitate only the material and shape.
However, it would be easy to just duplicate the Gekkokai's cloak.
In no time, I had duplicated cloaks for the entire line platoon.
"please"
"Okay, everyone put these on right away."
A short cloak with a crescent moon symbol on the back.
Since they can infiltrate with such simple costumes, it's easy for them.
"Okay, scatter. I'll use the number four sign for three days from today."
"roger that"
Decide on the sign and remove the transparency from the line.
Leaving the unconscious man behind, they scattered to the underground base.
◆◆◆
"General! I have received a message from the bishop from the cathedral."
"Okay, let's talk here."
I urge the messenger soldier who has entered the temporary camp.
The officers present all listened at once.
"No need for reinforcements! That's all."
"I see"
Hearing that, everyone including Early smiled.
That's because it was exactly as planned.
"You heard. We are retreating. Tell each unit."
As if waiting for that one voice, each officer activated their communication devices and issued an order to retreat. Since Rhine Platoon succeeded in infiltrating, the siege of the old city became meaningless.
Since all the failures this time can be blamed on the church, there is no loss to the military.
"Well, let's hear the church's excuse."
Everyone in the camp laughed bitterly at those words.
◆◆◆
After leaving the cafe, Shu and Iris immediately headed towards the old town. The old city area, which has become an almost abandoned area, is still filled with the smell of the underworld. If you wander into a slightly dimly lit alley, you may come across an illegal drug dealer.
The main street is still better, but it's basically a place where no one approaches.
"The streets are old."
“In fact, it feels like it hasn’t been repaired.”
The streets that have not been cleaned or restored give the impression of being abandoned. Shu and Iris were dressed in beautiful clothes and were completely floating.
I felt eyes from all over that were targeting me.
At first glance, it looks like a combination of a young man and a woman. It also hides its magical power, so it doesn't seem like a threat.
Finally, a large man stood in the way.
"Yo. You're so careless of coming into a place like this, aren't you?"
Messy hair, multiple fresh wounds, and an intimidating attitude.
The next line was obvious.
"Take out the valuables. Also, leave the young lady behind. Then you'll miss out."
This is a line while pointing at Shu.
Not knowing is scary.
The next moment, time stopped.
"What? Are you going to miss it?"
"If I hadn't stopped time, I would have used death magic..."
"I guess so. This is a slum after all."
“We have to do it peacefully!”
Shu uses death magic without any questions asked, but Iris generally doesn't go that far. Even if someone who harms him appears, he just stops time and runs away. As expected, he would be reluctant to kill someone.
Iris passed by the man, stopping time.
Seeing this, Shu had no choice but to pass by.
"But it's disturbing. Just as I thought."
"If you stop time, it doesn't matter!"
"It won't change even if I kill you."
“Shu-san is the one making more noise!?”
There is no one who can tell me that both are messed up.
The stopped world continues until Shu and Iris disappear. Then, the magic armor was lifted and time began to move.
"Ah...? Disappeared...?"
The big man who was left behind was confused.
And the thugs who were also targeting Shu and Iris also witnessed that moment. The two of them don't know that there will be rumors going around that they have been turned into monsters or that they are ghosts.
◆◆◆
Sacred Knight Commander Zack walks alone in the underground sewers.
He wanders around with a magic weapon in hand. Aimlessly guided by magic.
"This way..."
All he can think about is annihilating the Gekkokai.
In the darkness, my friends disappear one after another. In a sense, the situation continued to be extreme, and he even purged his subordinates, the Holy Knights, with his own hands. I can't go back now.
The sound of the chains of his weapon, Fang, mixing together with the sound of water in the underground sewers.
"Crush, crush"
It's creepy that he keeps muttering to himself.
He looks like a very dangerous person. No, there is no doubt that he is a dangerous person. While the number of people who become Holy Knights based solely on their ability is increasing, there are also those who have the worst personalities. Zack is no exception. Although he has always had talent, his selfish and self-centered side stands out.
They didn't even notice that the army had already started retreating.
There are only a few days left until the encounter with Hades.
◆◆◆
Gekkokai believers are very easy to understand. Because they always wear the crescent moon symbol. Minority believers wear home-made accessories and clothes, but those who work even slightly in relation to operations wear small cloaks.
If you look around a bit, you'll find that it's a common sight in the old city.
Shu and Iris also found it right away.
No, it would be more correct to say that it was discovered.
“You two over there, do you know about moonlight guidance?”
There are believers proselytizing all over the old city area. He was quick to notice that he was not wearing a symbol, and called out to Shu and Iris as well.
Surprisingly, the person doing the missionary work is a young man, a man with a frivolous appearance who is far from serious. This may be a classic example of how people don't depend on their appearance.
"The electivism that demon religion proclaims is truly foolish. Only the chosen are exploited, and those who are not chosen are expelled. Aren't you fed up with such a world?"
“Certainly, demon religion is annoying.”
"I guess so. I guess so."
Shu considers the magical equipment that can see through lies, and agrees as long as it doesn't turn out to be a lie.
However, such worries were unfounded. The young man doesn't notice anything and begins to talk as if he has found a new believer.
"Those pigs who call themselves priests consider magical equipment to be sacred. But that is foolish. All humans have the potential for magic. Magical clothing is just a type of magic that they are born with. Magic is the correct use of magical power, the source of power."
“It’s also extreme.”
“But the idea that magical equipment is part of magic is interesting.”
"That's true. But it's not extreme. Our founder has presented all humanity with the same possibility of magic. The same goes for the idiots who cling to the power of demon religion. That is the founder's wish: to redistribute and equalize power.
Shu understood the gist.
In other words, the Gekkokai that this young man is talking about is an organization that places emphasis on democracy. Currently, the church and state have a monopoly on the powerful military power of sorcerers. A monopoly on violence is a monopoly on power and wealth. Those who can't stand it have gathered together to form dark organizations, but these have generally been crushed by the church and state. Kuroneko, to which Shu belongs, is one of the few exceptional organizations.
However, danger lurks behind the ideology of the Gekkokai.
When all people have the same power, a competition for power may occur. If that happens, many tragic battles will occur.
(If the founder is not an idiot, he must be preparing a trump card that will give only some people an advantage. For example, a magic stone...)
A magic stone that assists and strengthens the activation of magic is something that magicians desperately want. In Shu's view, the magic stone is still an unfinished product. Once that is completed, the executives of the Moonlight Society who possess the magic stones should be able to stand on a level above humanity.
(I see. Gekkokai looks more interesting than I thought.)
I have given up on the idea that it is just a dark organization.
Shu became interested in the Gekkokai.
"Hey"
"Yes. What is it?"
“Where can I go to meet that guru-sama?”
In response to that question, the young man looked troubled.
"I'm sorry. I can't meet the founder with my contribution yet, so I don't know. However, if you spread the teachings like me and believe in magic reverently, you will eventually meet the founder."
"I see. Useless..."
"picture?"
"Iris"
"Yes"
Despite the man's glare, Iris activates her magic armor. A world where time has stopped is absolute. Everyone but Shu and Iris can't even think.
"We also need to develop mental interference magic that can read memories."
"There's a lot of magic I want."
"I'll develop time magic soon though."
"Wow, my existence is worth..."
"Your worth is yourself. Even without the magic armor, you are the only partner I have."
“Shu-san…!”
Iris' eyes sparkled and she wrapped herself around Shu's arm.
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