73 – The Watcher with a Different Name (2)
“Everyone~ Long time no see~! Ohohoho~!”
Muka approached us, laughing uncontrollably.
“Why is this woman here?”
I asked the resistance leader grandmother directly.
Could she be a spy sent by the White Dolphin?
Perhaps that annoying song that was bothering me was a special magic spell created by the resistance…
“I heard that Miss Muka is a close friend of Robin. We’ve been protecting her, so you don’t have to worry.”
What nonsense is this?
“Who said that?”
“Muka herself. Is there a problem?”
How dare this crazy woman betray my name?
“I don’t know such a woman.”
“Just a moment ago, you mentioned her name-“
“I don’t know her. I said I don’t know.”
“What?”
The resistance fighters standing behind were also taken aback and opened their mouths in astonishment.
“So you’re saying there’s no connection between the runaway ninja and the known person?”
“Then what about the songs we’ve heard so far…?”
“I feel like I’m going crazy!”
As some of the resistance fighters tore at their hair in frustration, it became clear to Mukka what mischief he had caused.
“This mad musician, or rather Death Siren, has to have some connection, right?”
“Oh, really?! Robin, you’re still so naive! Have you forgotten all the memories we’ve made while traveling together?”
Mukka continued to speak with a smirk, as if he couldn’t see the cold glares from the resistance fighters.
If there is anyone who can be called a being that represents memories, it would be the Buddha.
Ignoring Mukka’s attempts to act friendly, familiar, and cute, Orphe casually moved on.
“I beg you, my friend.”
After patting Orphe’s shoulder a few times, he quickly left as if escaping.
The task of dealing with Mukka and Lilia was all left to Orphe.
***
They spent a little over a week at the White Whale Base located in Dattiman.
Not for the sake of playing, eating, and resting before destroying the Matop, but to gather information about the situation outside and the Matop.
– Stop it! It hurts too much!
– Young man, isn’t this enough? My body… it’s not fully recovered yet…!
While recovering from his battered body through sparring with Hwangumgyeong and Gangumgyeong, or rather, through a deep sleep, Orphe listened to a lot of things from Lilia.
Of course, most of it was either incomprehensible or forgotten, but he remembered a few pieces of information that seemed moderately important.
Most of the information Lilya Chastein spoke about was regarding the Red Whale Matapju. Its name is Monica Silverin.
Presumed to be a woman. Age and birthplace unknown. Family relations, including parents, are also unknown. This is all that is known to the public.
Lilya thought of Matapju as an evil demon or specter from another world that crossed over to the fantasy realm during the era dominated by the Watchers, and here is the evidence:
1. It does not possess a physical body.
I didn’t quite understand this, so I listened with one ear and let it go with the other, but from what I gathered, Matapju seems to be a being composed of energy.
Only first-class employee Lilya and second-class employee Joseph (now deceased) had personally seen her.
2. It possesses a vast amount of information.
Matapju is said to know not only about the Watchers but also about the technology of the Gogmagog and ancient magic spells that were used in the past.
3. It harbors a strong grudge against the Watchers.
I almost forgot this since I was half asleep, but the story was that the Watchers forcibly brought Matapju to the fantasy realm.
They said that the ancient Watchers had summoned many beings from this world to the other side, so it might be related to that.
Next is about the condition of Matapju.
To be precise, I don’t know for sure, but Lilya said that Matapju was in an unstable state when she was in Matap, and couldn’t leave Matap.
She said it might still be in that state, and the fact that she didn’t engage in an all-out war despite being annoyed by the influence of the annoyingly cunning Jade of the Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement is evidence of that.
Well, I guess you could say it’s just a talkative couch potato.
Other than that, it was about the abilities of the chimeras and the war machines they control, called Ton-Granthen, but it didn’t seem particularly threatening to me, so I skipped over it.
I found out then that the war machine called Ton-Granthen was the round thing that I destroyed as soon as I woke up.
It’s a machine I’ve seen in the underground of Goldon. The Watchers’ minions used it, but somehow it has become Matap’s now, interpreted and all.
“The envoy I sent to the Kingdom of Coremgard has returned today. Unfortunately, there is no special information.”
Today, I was in the midst of devising a strategy to conquer Matap while listening to explanations as usual.
“Robin, are you listening carefully?”
“Yes, of course.”
I wanted to recklessly charge into Matap or Matapju and crush them both, but Orpheus kept giving me glances, so I had no choice but to behave myself.
After all, Orpheus had been a benefactor of life, even when I was defenseless. I had to at least pretend to listen.
“The Black Sword Guild Leader and Adventurer Guild Leader will join us soon. Just a little more waiting…”
“Oh no!”
Before Lilia could finish speaking, a member of the resistance burst into the conference room, sweating profusely.
From Noble mtl dot com
“Ch-children! Matap’s forces! Suddenly! They’re here!”
He couldn’t even speak properly, as if he had run here without catching his breath.
Anyway, it must be a big problem.
“I’ll go check it out and come back.”
I stood up abruptly and left the conference room.
It’s better to fight until I burst with blood than to waste time dozing off here.
Orpheus and Trevo followed me, saying something, but they couldn’t catch up to me.
I pushed aside the resistance members who were in a fully armed state and went up to the surface.
There were about 50 people detected on my ninja-radar. It was a manageable number to deal with.
“Whew… Huh?”
The sensation of fresh air entering my nostrils was only temporary.
“What is this…!”
The scene unfolding before my eyes was so eerie that it surpassed imagination.
“…”
Hundreds of children wearing white cloaks were approaching us with vacant expressions.
“Stop!”
Even when I raised my ninja sword in a threatening manner, they only furrowed their eyebrows and continued to approach slowly.
[Are they brainwashed? There aren’t even any streetlights…]
Trivo, who had come up with Orphe, began to explain.
“What should we do?”
If they were brainwashed, we couldn’t just randomly kill them like Yasayo.
And it would be even worse if they were completely oblivious children.
But then again, it’s not like we can escape from the ones charging at us.
As expected… is the only solution non-lethal techniques like ‘Honey Night’ and ‘Bangjeonghwan Punch’?
[You don’t have to worry too much. They won’t engage in any self-destructive behavior. Brainwashing is essentially controlling a part of the brain, so unless it is fully controlled, they won’t follow any direct orders that harm their bodies.]
What the hell are you saying…!
Are they deliberately doing this just because I ignored their words?
“There’s no magic that can control the entire human brain. They won’t engage in self-harming acts.”
Orphe’s explanation is at least somewhat understandable.
“Then why did you send them?”
I still can’t comprehend that.
How could they send children who can’t even self-destruct to the headquarters of a hostile force?
Did you give up on the opportunity for a surprise attack? Doesn’t something feel off?
Ziiiiing-
At that moment, along with a strange sound effect, the children’s eyes emitted a red light.
“…Matapju.”
As Orphe approached them, ready to examine the children, the child at the front spoke up.
“You, desert, ninja.”
An emotionless mechanical voice.
“Yes, sir. You, too, came from Earth, like Kim Seong-hoon.”
It felt like something that had taken over the child’s body was speaking.
“Are you Matapju?”
Did they send these kids as a shield to communicate with me?
Well, if Matap employees have come, I would have killed them all without hesitation.
“You’re lucky.”
The gaze of the child turned towards Orphe.
This brat isn’t answering.
“At that time, I thought I had killed them all.”
“…Why did you do such a thing? There was no need to kill them all.”
A sudden conversation between Orphe and Matapju. I couldn’t understand what they were saying, so I just listened quietly.
“No, you all are sinners. You had to pay the price.”
“That’s absurd…!”
“Gog, Magjok, Inga. They’ve all been discarded one by one. I never thought there would still be guardians left.”
Ignoring the enraged Orpheus, the child (possessed by the version of the Matopju spirit) glanced at Treebo and then turned his gaze back to me.
“Look at this.”
“…”
“The most important thing is you, right?”
“Don’t interrupt me, you idiot.”
I couldn’t stand it anymore, as I had been annoyed since earlier.
If it weren’t for the fact that he was just a child, I might have taught him a lesson by now.
“Shut your mouth. Different from Seonghun.”
“Say what you have to say. You piece of sh*t.”
“…We have no reason to fight.”
“I’ll decide that.”
I wondered if he had come up with some kind of conspiracy, but it was just a trap.
“Stop talking nonsense and get out of here right now. Did you think I would look kindly upon you if you brought these brats with you?”
I’m not someone who goes around with cute animals to get attention from the opposite s*x.
My anger towards this bastard who took the lives of children as hostages only grew.
“Well, fine. First, I need to cool my head.”
The child who had lost his voice to the Matopju took out a round box from his cloak.
“That, that is! Wait, just a moment!”
It was when Lilia, who had somehow joined the resistance, tried to swing her staff hastily.
Zeeeng-!
A burst of red light erupted from the box, enveloping the world.
“Pandora’s Box?!”
I hadn’t done anything to provoke this, and I was feeling somewhat relieved that I didn’t sense anything peculiar or dangerous.
But maybe I shouldn’t have trusted my instincts?
I opened my eyes, blinded momentarily by a bright light.
I found myself standing in an unfamiliar place, with a desk in front of me and a woman sitting on the other side.
Silver hair shining and red eyes.
A woman in her late teens to early twenties, with a look that would appeal to those immature idiots.
“Hello.”
The woman waved her hand casually, taking a sip of the rising steam.
I looked around to understand the situation.
Neatly arranged books and objects on the desk.
White marble floor, pink sofa, old analog television. An unknown plant.
It was a clean place, but there was something unsettling about it.
Should I say it lacked vitality?
“You’re suspicious, aren’t you? Don’t worry. It’s not an offensive spell, and you didn’t even detect it.”
The woman chuckled as she sipped her tea.
“Are you the Witch of the Tower?”
“Yeah. Call me Monica.”
“Ninja Punch.”
I thrust a punch right into her face.
But my fist only sliced through thin air.
Monica didn’t dodge my attack at the speed of light, my fist simply passed through her body.
Is this a place where physical attacks don’t work?
“You’re aggressive. Should I call you brave? Are all Earthlings like this?”
“Jet Kick.”
I overturned the desk and launched a jet kick at Monica’s body.
This attack also had no effect.
“You’re just like Kim Seong-hoon.”
Who is that bastard again?
Without a word, I pulled out my ninja sword.
If physical attacks don’t work, then I’ll keep striking until they do.