The work progressed very smoothly.

The rumors spread more and more, and as a result, people's vigilance eased, speeding up the operation of the relief center.

Just like that mother and daughter from before, more people wanted to help us, so the scale grew larger.

Well, to be honest, we didn't start this work with this purpose in mind.

But saving lives turned out to be more fulfilling than I had thought.

Each day felt more rewarding than the last.

"Excuse me... Captain, are you sure you don't need to sleep?"

As I was thinking about that, looking at the relief center that had changed so much in just a few days, a child next to me asked.

"Hmm... I'm the type that can stay up for several nights and be fine...."

The kid's eyes sparkled at my awkward response.

I could tell what kind of misunderstanding they had, but I couldn't correct it.

It would be weirder to explain that it's because of my unique traits. That would just make me sound like a lunatic.

In times like this, it's best to just be vague.

"Come to think of it, hasn't that person not slept at all these past few days?"

"As expected of the Black Fangs leader. I didn't believe the rumors that they could fold the ground and run, but if they're even curing incurable diseases...."

I barely managed to dodge a tricky question when I heard such voices from afar.

I'm not some mythical being, and I can't fold the ground and travel instantly. The words almost escaped my lips, but I swallowed them back down.

'This feels kind of strange.'

It was good that the rumors were spreading.

After all, that was the purpose of this work.

We wanted stories about curing incurable diseases to spread.

Showing that we could cure diseases even the Holy Church couldn't cure.

When the atmosphere was ripe, we planned to release a decisive video criticizing the Holy Church, attacking it.

There wouldn't be a better way to grab attention.

In that gap, Miss Rubia would swiftly take over the potion business.

'But this... the effect is so good it's becoming a problem.'

The first activity of the silent Black Fangs.

With the spectacular performance of curing incurable diseases.

The rumors were spreading wildly.

This was bubble-like exaggeration at its finest.

'Things are getting quite big....'

It felt strange that there was no reaction from the Black Fangs side at all.

At this point, shouldn't they have sent some kind of message? What on earth are those guys thinking?

'Well, how could I ever understand what they're thinking....'

They've opposed the mighty Empire, killed the Imperial Knight Commander, and left the organization's symbol boldly to flaunt their actions.

Even if someone impersonates them, as long as it benefits them, they nonchalantly let it slide.

I can't figure out their true identity at all.

No matter how secretive a group is, this is too much.

"What kind of thoughts do people like that even have...."

"If you've got time to ponder such useless things, just get to work, man. How could we ever know what goes on in the mind of the Black Fangs' leader?"

Indeed, what is that guy thinking,

I swallowed those words and stood up again.

Thanks to my Healthy body trait, just sitting in a chair for a few minutes without sleeping helps recover my fatigue more than I expected.

I could probably go without sleep for another month.

As I was thinking that....

"Hmm...?"

I felt a peculiar pain.

In my back.

Both the right and left shoulder blades started to throb painfully.

■■'s ■bo■ ■tra■ ■fusion■■.

Broken, bizarre characters appeared and then disappeared.

With such ominous signs appearing one after another, I wondered if I was seriously ill....

But thanks to my Healthy body trait, I should be immune to diseases, so that couldn't be it.

'Then what is this?'

Is this a signal that I've been pushing myself too hard lately, relying too much on my traits?

Why does it hurt so much specifically around my shoulder blades?

While I was pondering this.

"C-Captain!"

I heard an urgent voice.

The child who had asked about my condition earlier was now calling my name in a rush.

I felt a sense of foreboding.

I quickly exited the makeshift relief center and moved toward the source of the voice.

The kid's face was pale.

"Over there...."

As he spoke, the child pointed towards the mountain.

The mountain we had passed through.

I quickly focused my magic into my eyes.

I looked carefully at where the child was pointing once more.

And... my expression hardened.

It was only natural.

Those armors.

The emblems engraved on their swords.

The knights walking in formation with disciplined steps.

It was the Empire.

The Empire had found us.

'...How on earth?'

I had known something like this might happen.

So, before being targeted, I planned to evacuate this place and open another relief center elsewhere... but we got discovered by the Empire.

I knew they were a formidable opponent, but I didn't expect them to pinpoint our location so quickly.

"...Call the others as fast as you can. I'll go ahead."

"T-Then what about you, Captain...?"

"Don't worry."

...Actually, it was a situation where worry was justified.

Those were the Imperial assassination squad sent to kill Black Fangs.

There were only three of them.

That made it even more dangerous.

It's only natural.

The Empire isn't foolish; if they found Black Fangs's location, they wouldn't just send three ordinary soldiers.

These were the elite of the elite.

Each one of them must be a formidable warrior.

However...

"Trust me. Everything will be fine."

I reassured the child with those words.

There was no time to wait for Siel or Lien.

If those people were allowed to come this way, there was a risk of civilians getting hurt.

And I still had the talisman I received back then.

Even if I took a bit of a risk, it would be okay.

I quickly focused my magic on my legs.

Then... I pushed off the ground with all my strength.

The scenery blurred past in an instant. Cutting through the wind, I quickly headed to my destination.

Before long, I could see the knights.

Three men armed with armor and swords.

I gritted my teeth and accelerated.

I converted my speed directly into power and swung my sword at them.

But the enemy was not easy prey.

The elite of the Empire, the skilled warriors sent to capture Black Fangs.

My strike landed, and the enemy screamed and fell.

...What?

"Ahhh! My arm! My arm!!"

The man who lost his left arm to my strike wailed in agony.

Seeing that, the other knights immediately surrendered.

They threw down their swords, symbols of their knightly pride, to the ground and begged for their lives, trembling.

To make matters worse, the stench of urine began to fill the air.

For a moment, my mind went blank.

So... what exactly is this situation?

*****

"Y-Your Highness, we've received information from a spy! People suspected to be Black Fangs have appeared."

A servant delivered the urgent news to the second prince.

However, the prince's expression didn't change.

It wasn't the first time he'd received such reports.

Many groups had been using Black Fangs' fame to carry out their own agendas.

When he heard that those suspected to be Black Fangs were all minors, the second prince grew even more skeptical.

He wondered if this servant might also be a spy.

A large-scale espionage organization with over 100,000 operatives, he suspected this servant might belong to the Blood and Bone Gallery.

Then, the servant's head exploded with a loud noise.

Yet, there was no sign of disturbance on the prince's face.

It was only natural.

He himself had killed this servant or the spy who provided the information.

Without hesitation, he had activated the self-destruct rune engraved on their necks.

From his perspective, it was a reasonable action.

To him, all other humans were merely replaceable tools.

There were always substitutes. There was no reason to keep such suspicious and incompetent people in his service.

"Such worthless creatures."

All his subordinates were incompetent. To bring such useless information, it was the epitome of foolishness.

Even if they weren't spies, their incompetence deserved death.

Black Fangs, a group of children?

The leader of Black Fangs, a boy, and the head of such a large organization engaging in mere charity work?

It was utter nonsense.

Black Fangs was a massive organization with over 100,000 operatives engaged in intelligence activities.

Probably, some naive kids were pretending to be Black Fangs, playing hero.

In a situation where he needed to conserve strength for the confrontation with Black Fangs, there was no room to waste troops.

Sending a few low-ranking soldiers to kill them would suffice.

Thus, the second prince erased this matter from his mind and returned to his original task.

The man sat down and opened a book.

[Blood and Bone Gallery Member List.]

A thick book.

A gift from Asmodeus as an apology.

Based on his memory, he had compiled all the names he had seen using the Grail.

Despite the overwhelming volume and the risk of spies, he couldn't trust anyone else.

He had been reading the list for several nights but hadn't finished yet.

Even so, the man didn't give up.

With bloodshot eyes, the prince opened the book and spoke.

"...Prepare yourself, Black Fangs. I will find you, no matter what it takes."

Chapter 54: The Black Fangs vs. The Empire (2)

I clutched my head, overwhelmed by the headache, as I stared at those three pathetic figures.

They were all trembling and had surrendered. To make matters worse, a yellow liquid was trickling out of one of their armors.

My mind couldn't keep up with the situation. What on earth was happening?

'Why are they so pathetically weak?'

If I had attacked them with the holy sword, this scenario might at least make sense.

But the holy sword had already been sent to the blacksmith for repairs.

The sword I was using now was one I had borrowed from Miss Rubia. It was expensive, but it didn't have any remarkable abilities.

Yet, that guy was taken down with just one slash.

The other two were shaking so much that they didn't seem strong at all.

'These guys aren't even bait.'

I thought maybe they were throwing out decoys to make me lower my guard before sending in the main force, but a quick scan of the area revealed no other presence in this mountain.

Ironically, trying to understand the situation only raised more questions.

I realized that the amount of magic power I sensed from them was absurdly low.

It was below the average for even the weakest of the Imperial Army.

These guys were the lowest of the low.

They were definitely not elite soldiers. The magic power I sensed confirmed that they were, indeed, just a bunch of losers.

The Black Fangs' extermination squad, sent to capture me.

A legendary organization known for assassinating the Empire's knight commander, annihilating an elite unit, and even recently erasing the Black Market from existence.

The Empire chose these losers to go against such a formidable group.

I seriously wondered what kind of thinking led to such a stupid decision.

After contemplating for a while, I finally opened my mouth.

Regardless of the situation, my immediate course of action was clear.

"If you want to live, swear by mana that you will never harm me or my companions."

I deliberately made the conditions broad.

Even the mere awareness of doing something harmful to us would break the oath.

With this, they couldn't report our location or call for reinforcements.

The mana oath is never taken lightly.

There's no way to evade it.

The moment they realized they had done something to harm us, they would lose their lives.

Of course, the weight of the mana oath is well-known to everyone.

So, to help these fools make a wise decision, I should probably threaten them with my sword.

I prepared to release my killing intent.

And then...

"I-I swear by mana!"

Before I even drew my sword, they started speaking.

They recited the restrictions I mentioned, swearing by mana as if they were rapping.

I was taken aback by their ridiculous display, but they must have misunderstood my reaction, thinking I was displeased.

They went ahead and added more severe conditions on their own.

Saying they'd commit suicide if they harmed me.

Vowing absolute obedience to any order I gave.

Promising never to lie to me.

It was like they were competing with each other.

Naturally, my head started spinning.

Did these idiots not receive basic education?

It's common knowledge that you should never make such a hasty mana oath.

And I'm here as the leader of the Black Fangs. Is it okay for Imperial soldiers to surrender so easily?

What kind of morons are these?

I stared at them while pondering this. They kept glancing at me nervously.

The first to speak was the knight who had lost an arm.

"Um, excuse me. I'm really sorry, but... I feel like I'm going to die soon. Could you please treat me?"

Asking the enemy commander for treatment.

I sighed deeply and spoke.

"Stop the bleeding yourself. The Imperial Army's standard gear includes bandages. High-quality ones."

I knew this because items dropped when fighting the Imperial Army. Their bandages had the best recovery efficiency among such items.

Although, fighting the Imperial Army made the game's difficulty skyrocket, making it hard to use them properly.

"...I didn't bring any."

While reminiscing about playing the previous game, I heard something incomprehensible.

Is he joking in this situation?

I checked his backpack, thinking this.

...Nothing.

More than half of the standard Imperial Army supplies were missing.

"Forget the bandages, you didn't even bring food?"

"Well, it just happened..."

"You didn't forget that you swore by mana not to lie to me, did you?"

The man's face turned pale at my words.

...He must have genuinely forgotten after making that oath.

"It's just that carrying too much is heavy. We can resupply locally if needed..."

'They plan to rob anyone they come across.'

The average Imperial soldier hasn't changed from the last game to now, I thought as I looked at them.

Those clueless expressions.

There's no way they're pretending. And you can't deceive a mana oath.

These guys are just ordinary Imperial soldiers.

Stereotypical Imperial soldiers.

"Why are you even here?"

I asked them.

Even if the Black Fangs is notorious, it's hard to believe they'd send such incompetent soldiers.

If I had to guess.

They probably just stumbled upon us by chance.

They were passing through for another mission and were mistaken for elite soldiers sent to kill the Black Fangs due to poor timing.

There's no other plausible explanation for this situation.

"We were ordered to eliminate a group suspected to be the Black Fangs..."

But it seemed that wasn't the case.

The Empire really sent these idiots to take on the Black Fangs.

I felt embarrassed for having overestimated the Empire. Were these guys even in their right minds?

They accurately deployed these guys here, which means they knew we were operating in this area, right?

With such excellent intelligence, they tracked our movements but responded like this?

'It can't be that the Emperor has gone senile...'

Unless that cunning old man has developed dementia, there's only one logical explanation.

Somehow, the information got miscommunicated.

It looks like we've been mistaken for a fake Black Fangs group. A rather pathetic fake Black Fangs at that.

Should I call this incompetence or competence? We are, after all, not the real Black Fangs.

It's like catching a rat while trying to catch a bull.

"Uh, excuse me."

While I was lost in my troubled thoughts, a timid voice interrupted.

"It hurts so much... I feel like I'm going to die..."

The burly man was pathetically teary-eyed.

After thinking for a while... I eventually picked up the severed arm.

I don't see these guys in a good light, but.

This is the best course of action.

If I kill them thoughtlessly, it might cause unnecessary trouble.

They were just sent to kill a group falsely claiming to be the Black Fangs. If these lower-ranking soldiers die, it will definitely raise suspicions.

Killing these guys and risking our cover being blown isn't worth it, right?

I sighed deeply, attached the severed arm to the stump, and cast a healing spell.

Strangely, the wound healed almost instantly. I thought it would take at least several minutes, was my healing magic always this good?

"Th-thank you!"

He bowed his head excessively, expressing his gratitude.

"Go and report that you've dealt with the people who appeared to be the Black Fangs. Just say they were ordinary imposters."

As soon as they heard my words, they cautiously began to retreat, glancing at me nervously.

I was about to let them go when...

"Wait, you guys stop right there."

Then I thought about it.

Come to think of it.

This doesn't sit right with me.

Even though I prefer peaceful means, healing and sending off the people who came to attack us seems a bit much.

I pondered for a moment... then spoke.

"When you received orders like this in the past, you didn't just complete them immediately, did you? How much time did you usually waste?"

"Not much... When we were dispatched far away, we usually dragged it out for about a week or two after completing the task. Working hard for such a small salary feels like a loss."

I looked at the man, who nearly forgot the no-lying restriction and almost died, with a pitiful expression and then opened my mouth.

"You've got... quite a lot of time left."

If I send them back right away, it might raise suspicions since they'd finish their task unusually quickly.

Moreover, looking at their demeanor, I doubt they can even act convincingly. They might need some training.

And crucially... we were short-handed lately. And right now, in front of me, were potential slaves.

Slaves who could do the dirty, hard work, saving our people the effort.

I smiled as I looked at them.

The men, unable to keep up with my sudden change in expression, awkwardly smiled back at me with tears in their eyes.

They still didn't quite understand the situation.

"Well then, how about you spend the extra time doing some community service?"

Coming here was on your own terms, but leaving will be a different story.

Chapter 55: The Black Fangs VS The Empire (3)

Inside the lavish mansion, Kishua sipped on his black tea, lost in thought.

Attempting to contact Black Fangs was more challenging than he had anticipated. It was a sobering reminder that this secret organization hadn't had a single member exposed so far.

Then, amidst these efforts, came the news.

Rumors that Black Fangs had been helping people.

He had been lucky enough to quickly obtain these newly circulating rumors through his information broker.

"This is honestly unreliable information. Please take it with a grain of salt."

Even the informant who delivered the news admitted that the reliability of the information was questionable.

Rumors said that Black Fangs was composed only of minors, and that even the commander was personally running relief efforts.

These were stories too incredible to believe.

But...

"Let's think about it differently."

The sheer absurdity of these rumors actually made them more believable.

If such unbelievable stories were spreading, it increased the likelihood that they were true.

Rumors about Black Fangs helping people could spread.

But for the claim that most of Black Fangs' members were minors, and that even the commander was involved in relief efforts, to spread, there had to be witnesses.

Such outlandish stories wouldn't emerge without some basis in reality.

"Others might find it strange that someone as significant as the Black Fangs' commander would do such things."

But let's change our perspective.

Just because someone is incredibly powerful doesn't mean they lack humanity.

"Furthermore, the very fact that they're opposing the Empire suggests that the commander is quite a virtuous person."

Someone with such power wouldn't need to oppose the Empire.

Simply aligning with the Empire would guarantee them wealth and glory.

Rejecting that easy path and instead choosing revolution indicated that Black Fangs was more idealistic and benevolent than expected.

As Kishua pondered this, he realized the true nature of the current situation.

"This is an invitation."

He muttered to himself in astonishment.

He prided himself on being quite intelligent, but he couldn't help but be impressed by the messages hidden behind the actions of Black Fangs' commander.

He had found it strange. The previous video clearly indicated a desire for allies.

Yet, even if someone wanted to cooperate, there was no clear way to contact Black Fangs.

But now, with these spreading rumors, it was clear. This was undoubtedly an invitation. An official invitation from Black Fangs' commander.

If you agree with our cause, if you wish to join us, then participate in this.

Show your support by helping the people in the slums.

Doing such a thing in this situation would obviously put you in the Empire's bad books. But that's part of the plan.

It's a declaration: either show you're willing to completely oppose the Empire despite the risks, or demonstrate your ability to operate skillfully under the Empire's radar.

To join us, you need to prove yourself to that extent.

"Then everything makes sense."

Like a puzzle, all the pieces that previously made no sense started to fit together.

The reason behind these bizarre rumors.

The purpose of spreading the strange rumor that Black Fangs is composed entirely of minors.

Kishua could see the hidden intent behind it all.

"So this was also a test."

By spreading information that Black Fangs isn't as formidable as it seems, they aimed to filter out those who are truly loyal.

Regardless of Black Fangs' actual strength.

It was a test to discern those willing to sacrifice their lives to overthrow this corrupt Empire.

'...Clever.'

Probably others wouldn't have realized it.

How many different strategies are there behind a single action? It was truly complex.

Even Kishua found it hard to keep up.

But instead, Kishua smiled broadly.

"This is actually good."

Having a capable boss was a good thing; it was never a bad thing.

He also liked the attitude of declaring to prove your worth by tackling such challenges.

Only ordinary people fear tests.

For the capable, tests are opportunities to prove their worth.

And Kishua was someone who never missed an opportunity that came his way.

*****

I looked at the transformed relief center once again.

The three knights from last time had worked harder than I expected.

Seeing them volunteer and work tirelessly for several nights made me worry if they might collapse.

"How's the work going? Any discomfort?"

Given their hard work, I spoke to them politely. But the knight, sweating profusely while concentrating on repairing the shanties, was startled.

"P-Please, just speak comfortably."

He looked so desperate.

I didn't understand why he was so anxious. But since he insisted so much, I couldn't help but revert to my usual demeanor.

"Why don't you take a break now? You'll collapse if you keep this up."

With those words, I pointed towards the relief center.

Thanks to my recently improved skills, Siel's always-top-notch healing magic, and the special potions I personally crafted, we had more sickbeds available than we needed. I thought it would be fine for these people to use them.

I magnanimously declared this, but...

The men's faces turned even paler.

"We'll do anything, just please don't say that. I'm still perfectly fine! I can work! I want to work! Please let me work!"

Words I couldn't understand.

Even the other two vehemently nodded in agreement with that strange plea.

It felt like they had collectively lost their minds.

'Why on earth are they acting like this? They don't seem to fear me; it's more like they're desperate to stay near me.'

They would freak out whenever they left my sight.

If they were scared of me, they wouldn't react like that.

The only possible explanation was... perhaps they didn't want to be around Siel, Lien, and the other kids.

...Does that even make sense?

Why would those kind-hearted kids bully anyone?

'Of course, I explained everything. They might not be happy about it.'

I did explain that these knights had come to kill me.

But I told them not to harm them, saying that killing them would complicate things further, and everyone agreed.

Our kids aren't the type to hold grudges.

Every single one of them was so angelic that I often wondered how I'd managed to gather such wonderful companions, feeling grateful for my abundant luck with people.

As I pondered why those guys were acting like that... I eventually dismissed the thought.

It made sense.

They had come to kill us. Sparing them was generous enough.

There was no need to go out of my way to care for their mental health.

As long as they worked well, their strange behavior didn't matter.

'I don't have the luxury to worry about that anyway.'

With that thought, I looked around the surroundings.

The place had indeed changed remarkably.

It was hard to imagine that just a short walk would have you encounter at least two people starving to death on the streets.

But still...

'I can't shake off this sense of disappointment.'

Given our limited manpower, we can't save everyone in the slums.

With fewer than a hundred people, we can't establish relief centers all across the Empire.

We don't have the time to focus solely on rescue operations forever.

We'll save as many as we can, but there will inevitably be many we can't reach.

That bothered me.

There must be a way to make this work somehow.

It was while I was deeply pondering this that it happened.

-Can you hear me properly?

It had been a while since I'd heard her voice. Miss Rubia was using communication magic to contact me.

"Is there a problem?"

I wondered if there was an issue with the business, so I asked. But Miss Rubia shook her head.

-Just wanted to confirm... Are you behind what's been happening lately?

Before I could ask what she meant, a flood of information overwhelmed me.

And... for a moment, my mind went blank.

'What on earth is going on?'

Someone was anonymously providing massive support to the slums across the Empire.

Everything from food to various necessities.

A sudden surge of donations.

It was bewildering to the point of being almost unsettling.

I had no idea how such a bizarre thing had come about.

But...

As I thought it over calmly, I realized it was actually a stroke of luck for me.

It eased my burden,

and it helped obscure the attention of the Holy Church and the Empire from Miss Rubia.

The more I thought about it, the more this seemed like a fortuitous turn of events for me.

So after a moment of contemplation, I finally spoke.

"Seems I'm lucky."

I didn't know the exact details,

but it appeared that the world was on my side for now.

Chapter 56: Black Fangs VS The Empire (4)

- Luck, you say? Could this be part of your plan too?

Miss Rubia, on the other side of the screen, exclaimed in shock. No matter how many times I saw it, I could never get used to her theatrics.

What kind of being am I in her mind?

Every time I speak, she overreacts and jumps to conclusions, making it hard to say anything.

Lost in these trivial thoughts, I opened my mouth to correct her misunderstanding once again.

"It wasn't intentional. I have no idea why such a thing happened so suddenly."

Rumors were spreading that Black Fangs was helping the people in the slums.

Doing something like that would surely put them in the Empire's bad books. Why would they make such a donation at this timing?

I had no clue.

After pondering for a moment, I spoke again.

"I know you're busy, but could you possibly look into the identity of that anonymous donor?"

Someone who takes on such risks to help others... The likelihood of them being a good character from the original story was surprisingly high.

So, it wouldn't hurt to try contacting them. With that thought, I conveyed my intentions to Miss Rubia.

-"Honestly, I can't promise I'll find them. They've hidden their identity too thoroughly."

But it seemed uncertain whether we could make contact with that person.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed... but there are times like this.

'We're not the real Black Fangs, after all.'

We didn't have the kind of intelligence that surpassed the Empire's. Naturally, we couldn't find information the Empire couldn't uncover.

-"Still, I'll do my best to look into it!"

"Don't overexert yourself. Make sure to get proper sleep."

As soon as I finished speaking, Miss Rubia left the communication device behind and hurried off somewhere.

Now, only the luxurious red leather chair and the ornate walls of the mansion were visible on the screen.

I stared at the screen for a moment before standing up.

Even though I hadn't slept in over 20 days, seeing Miss Rubia work so hard made me feel like I couldn't just rest idly.

Seeking out people still suffering from mana addiction,

or creating potions to distribute to them,

there were still many tasks left to be done.

Even with the trait of a healthy body, I had been pushing myself every night.

However... a smile spread across my face.

And that was natural.

Just a little turn of the head and I could see the relief center.

Children, like Siel and Lien, who were trying to do their part despite their young age. And the local residents who volunteered to help run the relief center.

I wasn't alone.

Such good people were working hard with me.

How could I be exhausted seeing such sights?

'Honestly, I seem to have a talent for attracting good people.'

*****

The 2nd Prince smiled with bloodshot eyes.

There was no such thing as good fortune with people.

From the spies who brought back false information about Black Fangs being a group of minors,

to the informants who wasted precious time and pinpointed the location of petty criminals after being duped by such impersonations.

Despite the efforts of these foolish individuals who only hindered his work, he ultimately succeeded.

He accomplished everything on his own, without the help of those inferior beings.

With a face full of superiority, the 2nd Prince looked at the book again.

[List of Members of the Blood and Bone Gallery]

A list full of bizarre names.

His subordinates were all untrustworthy trash. He had struggled with this for days.

But in the end, he emerged victorious.

From this long list, the 2nd Prince had extracted incredible information.

'They are a more trained organization than expected.'

This was evident from just the first page of the list.

○○.

It was strange enough that there was only one person with a blank name. But this list was mostly filled with such blanks.

It meant that over 90,000 individuals, raised as spies without even personal names, existed.

They mostly shared these blank names and used peculiar sequences to distinguish themselves.

(121.163)

(58.141)

Sequences that made no sense as identification.

They probably raised individuals as spies from birth and attached these identification codes.

Black Fangs might be connected to other countries.

The scale of over 100,000 people indicated this.

And sometimes, there were individuals with distinct names instead of blank ones.

All of their names were extraordinarily strange.

Names that didn't seem human. This was clear.

'Black Fangs is also connected with demons.'

When he realized this, he couldn't help but be astonished.

It was more unusual not to be shocked when such non-communicative beings were under their command.

But with such undeniable evidence, it had to be considered a fact that Black Fangs had demons under their command.

They might even have formed some kind of alliance.

And lastly... the most important thing.

'Colors.'

Among that list of members, there were occasionally those with unique colors.

Out of a hundred thousand, about ten of them. These individuals, who seemed to have been selected and recognized for their abilities, bore a blue hue.

These were the executives of Black Fangs.

A manic smile appeared on the 2nd Prince's lips.

The notion of a secret organization whose identity no one could uncover was now an old story.

Because it was him.

Not his elder brother, not his father, but him.

He had succeeded in unraveling the mystery of that organization.

And it didn't stop at just discovering the names of the executives.

The 2nd Prince wasn't sloppy enough to just skim through that long list once.

His determination brought tremendous results.

When he first read that list, he missed it hidden among the dense writing.

But just now.

It was on the third read-through that he finally discovered it.

A single name glowing in orange.

No matter how he scrutinized the list, there wasn't another name that shone with such a bright orange light.

If this was what he thought it was....

Jackpot. There was no other way to describe it.

The 2nd Prince tried to calm his excitement as he spoke.

"Asmodeus, come forth."

At his command, a menacing black shadow wavered and then a demon emerged.

The Prince's face naturally hardened.

From the advice given last time without asking for any price, to this list handed over without any demands.

It was true that it had been somewhat helpful.

But the 2nd Prince never forgot being deceived by him last time.

He was the type to hold a grudge for a long time.

"I have something to ask you. But... don't even think of asking for a reward."

Asmodeus briefly wore a grim expression before smiling. That same unsettling grin he saw last time.

The memory of losing twenty percent of his soul in a fraudulent contract made the Prince shiver.

But the 2nd Prince quickly steadied his mind.

Repeating mistakes was something ordinary people did.

He had no intention of repeating such foolish errors.

"Swear that you won't lie."

[ Fine. For the whole day, I swear I won't lie to you.]

It was an obedient demeanor.

Naturally, a smile appeared on his face.

No matter how great the demon, he was still a prince of the Empire.

This was the natural order.

There was nothing greater in the world than the Empire.

All beings in the world had to kneel and obey before it.

"This name glowing in orange. The identity of this person is...."

[An immensely powerful leader. One could say they are a ruler who can control the entire organization at will.]

Before he even finished his sentence, the demon spoke up in response.

[This person has the authority to expel any member from the organization and to distribute power to others.]

Naturally, a smile spread across the 2nd Prince's lips.

Those words.

The identity of the one with the orange glowing name was becoming increasingly clear.

[That individual is the leader of the Blood and Bone Gallery, a sovereign who commands over 100,000 people.]

A manic smile appeared on the Prince's lips.

He had finally found him.

The leader of Black Fangs.

'Such a bizarre name. It's clear that they are not a human being.'

Knowing their true name opens up limitless possibilities.

The Holy Grail's power couldn't harm them, but it might be possible to discover their face.

"The time has come to end our long-standing enmity. Leader of Black Fangs!"

The prince declared with bloodshot eyes and a smile.

Meanwhile, in some corner of Korea, the admin of a form was unexpectedly targeted by the prince of the Empire.

---Chapter 57: The Black Fangs VS The Empire (5)---

Sunlight painted a beautiful spectrum through the stained glass windows.

Majestic statues and a grandiose, old organ.

Despite the sacred and holy atmosphere, the events unfolding inside the cathedral were far from divine.

A man's dissatisfied voice echoed through the hall.

"What did you just say?"

The second prince frowned as he asked. The situation is such that the prince of the empire is openly showing his displeasure.

Yet, the response remained unchanged.

"I truly apologize. We've been experiencing supply issues recently, and aside from the Holy Grail you took last time, we have nothing else in our possession. It will also take time to produce another one."

The second prince gritted his teeth at these words.

He knew. He knew that what they said was true.

The Holy Church would not want to provoke the Empire's prince by lying.

The words were undoubtedly true.

But still... it made his blood boil.

Days of sleepless nights had left his mind razor-sharp. And though he was unaware, the side effects of having a part of his soul taken by Asmodeus were also at play.

These factors hindered the prince from acting rationally.

Even though he knew they had their own circumstances, it was infuriating to see that cardinal.

It felt as though the cardinal was mocking him for foolishly squandering what was given to him last time, making this struggle unnecessary.

That an imperial prince had to stoop so low as to come here seeking help was infuriating.

"...Useless."

The second prince muttered as he left the cathedral.

As he walked, he unconsciously bit his lip.

The once composed figure who leisurely watched over his subjects while smoking a cigar was nowhere to be seen.

His eyes were bloodshot from nights of working alone.

His hair, disheveled and messy.

He looked more like a madman than an imperial prince. Like a crazed gambler you'd see in a casino.

'I can't end it here.'

Biting his lip, the second prince desperately racked his brain.

The original plan was simple.

If the leader of the Black Fangs was a being close to a demon, knowing his true name could weaken his power.

He intended to use the Holy Grail again to attack him or at least uncover his face if an attack was impossible.

But it failed.

There was no Holy Grail. There were no more cards left to play. So this time, he couldn't attack the Black Fangs.

That fact drove the prince mad.

'I was so close. Just one more step, and I could have uncovered his identity.'

He had lost so much because of that bastard.

Just the rare cards like the Holy Grail alone were three. He even sold part of his soul.

And now, finally, the chance to reclaim those losses had arrived.

Victory was already assured.

This was a gamble he couldn't lose.

But he was out of chips.

"..."

The second prince fell silent, lost in thought.

And... before he could even say a word, the demon, as if sensing his presence, revealed itself.

The demon merely smiled without uttering a word. That same unsettling smile as before.

As if it could read the prince's mind.

Though the demon did not speak, the second prince felt as if he could hear mocking words in his head.

Unlike the fools who lost their souls by relying on a contract with a demon, he believed he could maintain control.

He thought he was using the demon, not the other way around.

But now, in the face of crisis, he had shamefully turned to the demon first.

However...

The second prince gritted his teeth.

"Can you gather information about him, or use his true name to seal part of his power?"

Winning was all that mattered.

No matter the sacrifice, as long as he won this gamble, he could reclaim everything.

Thus, he had to place all his bets now.

He had to wager everything he had.

[That depends on the weight of the price you are willing to pay.]

Even if it meant grasping the demon's hand.

*****

Recent days had been extremely peaceful.

The shelter was developing day by day, almost all the cases of magic addiction in the area had disappeared, and people wore smiles on their faces.

However...

I couldn't just be completely happy while watching this scene.

'Why on earth is the Empire not taking any action?'

At first, I was pleased, thinking the Empire was just slow to respond. But this was too strange, no matter how you looked at it.

Even now, with the rumors about the Black Fangs spreading, they were doing nothing. It made no sense.

In my opinion, there was only one reason for such behavior.

The calm before the storm.

They were preparing something. They were conserving their forces for what was to come.

'...Maybe I'm just overthinking things.'

But there's no harm in being prepared.

Judging from the current situation, fortunately, it seemed this place had not been discovered.

But being complacent would be the worst strategy.

Since things here had mostly stabilized, it might be time to move the shelter.

If we did move, what should be done with the people remaining here? Was there a risk this place could become a target of the Empire?

There were many things to consider.

It was at that moment, as I was wrestling with these issues.

- Hurry, come see this!"

A hurried voice echoed from somewhere.

Yet, there was no one around me.

This could only mean one thing.

After being unreachable for the past few days, Miss Rubia was finally sending a message again.

And with such an urgent tone.

A sense of foreboding washed over me.

Something was about to happen.

-The identity of the leader of the Black Fangs has been revealed!

"...What?"

-There will be a public bounty announced soon...

Miss Rubia sounded frantic, almost in a panic.

Only then did I realize.

Why things had been so quiet.

They were preparing for this very moment.

This could be... extremely dangerous.

If the Empire started actively hunting the Black Fangs with this bounty, we could get caught in the crossfire.

'They're not to be underestimated, after all.'

Their strength was formidable, and their intelligence network was beyond measure.

The identity of the leader of the Black Fangs.

I didn't even know who it was yet.

But they had discovered it.

-Just wait a moment! I'll send you the data as soon as I get it!

Miss Rubia was flailing her hands about, hurriedly manipulating her magic engineering device to send the data since she couldn't use magic herself.

Before long, an image appeared before me.

And...

"...?"

Miss Rubia's face was filled with confusion. My own face probably mirrored hers.

It was understandable.

The man in the photo didn't look like a secret organization's leader at all.

No, it wasn't just that he didn't look like a leader...

'Why is this guy here?'

My mind went blank for a moment.

The name on the wanted poster.

"FurryFurry."

A name I had seen countless times while browsing the strategy guides on bone and blood galleries.

If you spent 24 hours on the gallery, you couldn't not know it.

-This is...

"Yes, he's definitely not the leader of the Black Fangs."

My mind couldn't keep up with the situation.

What on earth was happening?

How had things gotten so twisted to end up like this?

'Wait, isn't that clearly from Korea?'

The background in the photo.

It was unmistakably modern.

No matter how advanced the imperial capital was, it couldn't compare to that level.

This fact was crystal clear.

Somehow, the Empire had managed to spy on someone from another world, capturing a photo of this moderator.

My head spun even more.

There were limits to wasting one's abilities.

I didn't know what means they used, but doing something like this without any cost seemed impossible.

Influencing another world just to reveal the moderator's face?

It made me genuinely suspect if the Empire was secretly filming a prank show on me.

'...I know I shouldn't be thinking like this.'

As a person responsible for many lives, I couldn't afford to be careless.

No matter how foolish the enemy's actions seemed, I couldn't drop my guard.

I knew that.

But I couldn't stop thinking about it.

The image of the mighty Empire I had seen in the previous works.

That powerful image vanished in an instant.

Naturally, a question formed in my mind.

'Are these guys just weaklings after all?'

It seemed like I wouldn't even need the Black Fangs. I could probably overthrow the Empire with a half-baked revolution myself.

---Chapter 58: Black Fangs VS The Empire (6)---

At the Empire's unexpected shadowboxing,

For a long moment, I was completely dumbfounded, staring at the actual photo of the moderator... desperately trying to hold on to my sanity.

I still couldn't believe it, but no matter how many times I rubbed my eyes, the scene before me didn't change.

The real name listed was some bizarre name, "Furry Furry."

Attached was a photo of a middle-aged man you might occasionally run into on the street. Below that, there was a caption explaining that this man was the head of the Black Fangs.

This was the wanted poster the Empire was distributing nationwide.

The person conducting such a bizarre act was so brazen that it made me wonder if this could possibly be true.

'No way.'

There was no chance that the head of Black Fangs was possessed idot like me.

I hadn't been able to play Blood and Bone 2 immediately upon its release because of work, but...

That guy would have definitely played it multiple times, all the way to the end.

'Then, how do you explain his actions so far?'

Prominent main characters like Siel,Lien, and Miss Rubia.

It made no sense that someone who knew the original work inside out wouldn't even try to contact such important figures.

Logically, it was impossible.

Therefore, that guy couldn't be the head of the Black Fangs.

In the end, there was only one conclusion.

Either the head of the Black Fangs had done something tricky, or the Empire had made a huge blunder on their own.

How did an attempt to attack the head of the Black Fangs lead to the public revelation of a game gallery moderator from another world?

No matter how much I speculated, I couldn't figure it out.

'There's only one thing I need to do.'

Whatever misunderstanding the Empire had, and whatever ingenious method the Black Fangs used to fool the Empire,

those things weren't really my concern.

It was more important to prepare for the backlash that was sure to come.

Once that wanted poster was distributed nationwide, the Empire would begin to seriously crack down on the Black Fangs.

I had to take action now.

I stood up from my seat immediately.

Siel, who had been approaching and petting me, had a puzzled look on her face.

"Siel, can you gather everyone for me?"

I couldn't keep lying in this situation. It was time to properly explain everything.

...It was time to reveal the truth.

*****

People began gathering one by one in front of the shelter.

As they did, the ominous murmurs grew louder and louder.

It was only natural. When you hear there's important news and everyone is called together, without exception.

Such a thing had never happened before.

"Has something happened?"

"Now that you mention it, I think I saw a few knights nearby recently..."

"What are you talking about? The captain already made them submit ages ago."

But those noisy murmurs quieted down with the appearance of just one person.

Again, it was only natural.

Standing before them was none other than the undisputed leader of the Black Fangs.

He was a giant among men, someone who lived in a different world from them.

All eyes focused on the white-haired man wearing a wolf mask.

"I've gathered you all here because there's something I need to tell you."

His tone was unusually serious, unlike his usual self.

People swallowed nervously, waiting for his next words.

And... soon enough, their expressions turned to confusion. Naturally.

"I am not the leader of the Black Fangs."

The words that came out of his mouth were incomprehensible.

Why would he tell such a bizarre lie?

No one here could deny the miracles this man had accomplished.

He had subdued the Empire's knights, making them his subordinates, and healed incurable diseases without breaking a sweat.

He was undoubtedly the leader of the Black Fangs.

"I impersonated them due to certain circumstances."

Even as he continued to explain, it did nothing to help anyone understand the situation.

If this man had deceived them for personal gain, claiming to be the leader of the Black Fangs would make sense.

But all they had done was aid in relief efforts.

Who in the world would impersonate someone to help others?

People were lost in confusion due to his continued strange lies when...

"The Empire is going to search for the Black Fangs nationwide soon. If you're not careful, you could get caught up in it."

That statement.

As soon as they heard it, everyone understood what was happening.

Naturally.

They were from the slums.

Those who didn't have a sharp mind wouldn't have survived this long in the first place.

So everyone here understood the true meaning behind the man's words.

"You have nothing to do with the Black Fangs. Therefore... hide yourselves so you don't get caught up in this."

This was just like everything the man had always done.

When he first opened the shelter, when everyone had been wary of him with sharp attitudes, he had always treated others kindly.

Even though he had the power to force everyone into submission, he never used it to oppress others.

He only used his strength to protect, help, and give.

This was just a repetition of everything that had happened before.

As always, the man was ready to shoulder all the burdens for everyone else.

That was why he was telling such an obvious lie.

Claiming he was not the leader of the Black Fangs, just to keep them away from danger.

"We will help you hide properly and settle into a new place."

Despite making such sacrifices, the man did not ask for anything in return.

He simply requested that they allow him to help them until the end.

After the leader's speech, a cold silence settled among the people.

'This... is the right thing to do.'

Among the people, one man gritted his teeth.

He thought that they had been indulging in an overly idealistic story and that this was ultimately the realistic choice.

'There's no other way to survive.'

Escaping when the slave traders' guard was down, somehow surviving in the slums day by day.

Life here had taught him that to survive, he had to act selfishly.

He knew.

He knew that pretending not to know the person who had helped them so much when he was in danger was despicable.

But the man had survived until now by being selfish. He wouldn't have made it otherwise.

Probably, the majority of people here were like that.

That was why everyone remained silent.

So, they just had to do what the man said.

The man was thinking that... when he remembered.

Life before the leader came and changed everything.

Back then, he had beaten a young girl to death.

The reason was very simple. The girl had tried to steal his money.

He had a family to support.

That money was his family's lifeline.

So, the man was furious. He took out all his anger on the ungrateful little girl who dared to endanger his family.

He thought it was only natural.

If you didn't retaliate when wronged, you couldn't survive in this place.

And not long after, the man met the girl at the shelter.

Along with her apology, he learned about her circumstances.

The girl wasn't some cruel murderer trying to kill his family.

She was just a little girl who had no choice but to do anything for her sick mother.

Both the man and the girl apologized to each other, but the man still couldn't understand.

Whose fault was it, really?

Everyone was just struggling to survive. They were desperate to protect their loved ones.

But simply because they weren't born noble, because they were born in the slums,

they lost the right to live like human beings.

They lost the right to be good.

They had to steal from others just to barely get by.

Was this world truly just?

"Just forget about everything that happened."

The man recalls the events of yesterday.

He recalls the days he spent helping at the shelter, helping people.

He remembers the smiles on their faces. He remembers the smile that appeared on his own face as he watched them.

He recalls those ordinary, yet beautifully ordinary, days.

"You can erase the Black Fangs from your minds."

The man's feet begin to move.

Before he even realizes it, he's stepping forward.

"I refuse."

As he speaks those words.

He feels everyone's eyes turn to him.

But he doesn't care and keeps walking.

Walking, he says,

"A life that doesn't feel like living, I refuse even if offered."

He doesn't want to live like this anymore.

He doesn't want to pass this life on to his unborn child.

Therefore,

"Please, let me join you."

The man kneels before the leader.

And... he wasn't the only one acting this way.

They were undoubtedly the most selfish people. People who had no choice but to be the most selfish.

But because of that, they all spoke with one voice.

"Please, Captain!"

They no longer wanted to live selfishly.

They wanted a world where everyone could live 'ordinary lives'.

Chapter 59: Black Fangs VS The Empire (7)

......So.

What in the world is this situation?

"Please!"

I stared blankly at the people kneeling in front of me, shouting.

Naturally, a headache started creeping in due to the utterly incomprehensible situation. In a way, it was to be expected.

Over a hundred people, bowing their heads and asking to join my group in unison.

How many people have had such a bizarre experience?

Moreover, they had come to the wrong person to join Black Fangs. If they wanted to join, they should be talking to the Captain.

Why on earth are they doing this to me?

There had to be a limit to absurdity.

"I am not the Captain of Black Fangs."

So, once again, I declared it.

This was already the second time today I had to give such a strange explanation.

But....

"Captain...."

It seemed the people didn't believe a word I said. Judging by their persistence, they weren't going to give up easily.

No matter how much I told them the truth, they just looked at me with eyes begging, 'Please, just consider it once more.'

Is it just my imagination? Lately, it feels like only strange things keep happening.

Suddenly, someone makes an unexpected donation, the Empire stumbles and self-destructs, and these people....

"We know that with our skills, we'd only be a burden. But even so, we can't just stand by in this situation. So please...."

They were begging me to let them join Black Fangs.

To me, who has never even met the lowest-ranking member of Black Fangs, let alone the Captain.

Is this the tragedy of the boy who cried wolf?

No matter how much I explained, they just wouldn't believe me.

Maybe I was paying the price for falsely claiming to be part of Black Fangs all this time.

"...Please give me a moment to think."

I sighed and said.

Honestly, I wanted to run to the nearest bed in the relief shelter and think of a solution leisurely.

'Why are they doing this?'

But I couldn't do that.

The people who had been merely kneeling now had their noses touching the ground in a full prostration.

If they breathed, sand would probably enter their noses instead of air.

Judging by their resolve, they'd likely continue doing this long after I left.

I couldn't just leave them like this, waiting for my answer for hours.

So, I quickly racked my brain.

'How can I convince them that I'm not part of Black Fangs....'

It won't work.

Actually, even if it worked, it wouldn't be a particularly good option.

They seemed ready to set themselves on fire for the revolution at any moment.

If I left them behind, they'd likely go off on their own and undertake dangerous revolutionary activities.

But right now, the Empire was on the verge of issuing a massive bounty on Black Fangs.

This was the time when the Empire would be most fervent in their search for Black Fangs.

The chances of these people getting caught and killed were extremely high.

'I must prevent that at all costs.'

In the end, only one method came to mind.

Honestly, I wasn't sure if this was a good plan or not, but it was better than letting them die at the hands of the Empire.

So, after much deliberation... I finally spoke.

"It will undoubtedly be a difficult path."

I said in a serious voice. The people swallowed hard with solemn expressions.

"Are you truly prepared? You might have to risk your lives."

Even though I openly emphasized the danger, no one showed any sign of giving up.

They each shared their reasons and strengthened their resolve.

Some said they wanted to repay a debt they owed me,

Others said they wanted to pass on a better world to their children.

Watching them, I nodded gravely and said,

"I will respect your determination."

Of course, it was a lie.

These were people I had become somewhat acquainted with recently.

I didn't want to recklessly send acquaintances to join a dangerous and suspicious group like Black Fangs.

"But... now is not the time. We are not ready yet."

I felt a bit guilty lying so brazenly without changing my expression.

But lying to move them to a safe place was the better choice.

"Now is the time to gather strength. For 'that day' that will inevitably come."

So, I spewed whatever nonsense came to mind.

I spoke of 'that day' that would come, gathering strength, and how now was not the time.

It was all just nonsense I made up on the spot.

"Those who are determined, please follow this child. She will guide you."

I said, pointing to Lien.

Lien looked visibly flustered, but I quickly approached her and whispered in her ear.

"Take them to your father. You understand what I'm trying to do, right?"

The best place to hide from the Empire's eyes was already decided.

It was the place where we had previously sheltered the so-called prophet tribe that had fallen out of favor with the Empire.

There, they could train their strength while waiting for the Empire's public search to end.

"...Yes! I understand completely."

Lien, after a moment of confusion, responded in a cheerful voice.

Fortunately, she seemed to grasp my intention.

Since there were too many people to use teleportation magic like before, Lien led them quickly away.

Considering it was a hastily made plan, it wasn't too bad, I thought, watching them leave.

'I feel a bit sorry for dumping such a complicated task on the priest.'

Well, he did say,

"If you ever need help, just ask. Everyone will be on your side."

Now was the perfect time to ask for help.

No need to be modest, let's ask for as much help as we need.

*****

The priest stared blankly at the scene unfolding before him.

He had heard that what looked like an army was approaching, and had been on high alert, wondering if the Empire had found them.

What he saw instead was his daughter, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, and the hundreds of people she had brought with her.

"Well, what happened is..."

Lien, sweating nervously, fumbled to explain the situation. But the priest didn't need to hear it to understand what was coming next.

In a way, it was obvious.

It would be a lie to say he wasn't flustered by the sudden visit, but what was happening was quite clear.

"That boy sent you, right?"

At the priest's words, Lien nodded with a surprised expression.

The priest, looking at her, stroked his chin thoughtfully and spoke.

"So... the day has finally come."

"...You knew all along?"

Lien said, looking even more flustered.

That statement confirmed all his suspicions.

'So, he really was the Captain of Black Fangs.'

He had already suspected as much.

When he couldn't foresee that boy's fate no matter how many times he divined, he thought his skills had simply rusted.

But since then, the priest had never made a mistake.

And there was that extraordinary mental fortitude he had seen.

When he first heard rumors about Black Fangs, it was only natural that he thought of that remarkable boy.

'Considering the map, it would be stranger if he weren't the Captain of Black Fangs.'

That unnervingly detailed map.

Forget other countries; even the Empire likely didn't have such a meticulous record of its own territory.

And there's only one purpose for creating such a map.

Maps are military tools.

It was easy to understand what it meant for someone who had made such a map to start gathering people on this scale.

He was preparing for a revolution.

Undoubtedly, a perilous act.

But....

"Follow me."

The priest led them with a solemn expression, understanding the gravity of the situation.

As he guided them, his mind raced with thoughts. He had always known that the boy had something extraordinary about him, but he hadn't anticipated this scale of involvement.

The priest resolved to do everything in his power to support this revolution, even if it meant risking everything.

The crowd followed, a mix of anxiety and determination evident on their faces.

They were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, inspired by the leadership of someone who had always been a beacon of hope for them.

As they moved deeper into the safe haven the priest had prepared, he couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding.

The Empire's response would be swift and brutal, but the priest had faith in their cause.

He believed in the boy who had orchestrated all this, and in the people who had come together for a common purpose.

They were on the cusp of something monumental, and there was no turning back now. The revolution had begun.

The priest spoke without hesitation.

When it came to resolve, the entire tribe had already made up their minds.

Since receiving that map, they had understood what the boy was planning.

Therefore, they had all convened and decided. If the boy ever sought their cooperation, what their response would be.

The conclusion from their discussions was that they would gladly lend their strength to that boy.

In a way, it was only natural.

They had been content just to live in hiding to avoid being used by the Empire, but the Empire had burned their village and taken their families and friends.

As long as they lived, the Empire would never let them go.

It was the Empire that had left no room for compromise.

'Things are about to get busy.'

With that thought, the priest led the multitude forward.

There was much to prepare.

*****

Thus, Black Fangs began secretly training an army for the revolution.

So secretive was the operation,

that even the one who orchestrated it all didn't notice it happening.

It was security at its finest.