I Became the Servant of the Blind Wicked Woman

To read over 200 fully translated episodes, patreon.com/Denji02

"This is the person I've chosen."

An eerie silence fell over the room. The phantom of the ancient era, who introduced himself as a priest of Phoibos, seemed completely unprepared for such a response.

「Chosen? Chosen, you say…? We called upon you for this─」

"Priest, you have completed your task. Your destiny entrusted to you ends here, so return to your peaceful slumber."

Orthes spoke as if making a declaration. The shadow twisted bizarrely, appearing to dance or wail in agony.

「Has the destiny we foresaw vanished already! The future is now free in darkness!」

A strange sound, whether laughter or wailing, swept through the marble chamber. It took a long time for the sound to cease.

In the silence, the priest's voice whispered wearily.

「The seers have… completed their task.」

As the voice finished the sentence, the light that had been sucked into the crystal sphere burst forth all at once. The marble room, which had been filled with darkness moments ago, regained its white radiance.

In Orthes's grip, the sacred relic of Phoibos gleamed.

***

What was that?

What exactly happened?

Carisia looked at me with curiosity, but I had no answers to give her.

I had woken up in some strange lab and struggled to survive until now.

In fact, after gaining some composure, I had searched every nook and cranny of the place I woke up in, hoping to find clues about whether it was a world transition or reincarnation. However, the clues I sought, like research logs, were nowhere to be found.

All that remained were the remnants of a sign that likely bore the lab's name. I took what readable parts I could and used them for my current name.

Could this body and that lab truly be connected to the old gods?

I decided to remain silent rather than saying anything. Carisia only seemed curious, not suspicious.

If I kept my mouth shut, she'd probably just think I had my reasons.

***

'The person I chose, huh.'

Carisia mulled over those words internally.

Even though she had been with Orthes the longest, his true intentions were always a mystery to her.

She could gauge some of his emotions from his expressions, but the deeper lines of his true feelings were harder than steel.

Today, she felt as though she glimpsed emotions beyond those lines.

Although it was somewhat unsatisfactory not knowing exactly what Orthes meant by 'chosen.'

This was fine.

'Not bad at all.'

Carisia stretched with a smile. Walking behind her, Orthes did not notice her smile.

***

As soon as Carisia and Orthes returned to the city of Etna, their first task was to hear a status report on Dimedes's assigned mission.

To be precise, Orthes sent Carisia ahead to meet with the executives while he discussed work matters with them.

"…What did you say?"

However, the content of the discussion was far from what Orthes had expected.

"Dimedes hasn't returned yet. You heard correctly."

The one speaking was Neuro, the head of the Etna city hunters' association, wearing a gas mask even indoors and carrying an extremely lightweight folding bow at his waist.

"That bastard. He was sending reports diligently, biting and tearing into everything on his mission, but we lost contact with him a few days ago."

"This is troublesome."

Neuro studied Orthes's face through the lenses of his gas mask. The emotions revealed earlier were a valuable opportunity to understand his character.

The 'What did you say?' sentiment didn't seem to be just simple confusion. It likely included anger towards a subordinate who made a ludicrous mistake.

'Even though he's given the rank of director, does he still believe he's superior in skill…'

If only Neuro could review the earlier expression again, he could make a more accurate analysis. Neuro's eyes sparkled, confronting the most incomprehensible beast he had ever faced.

But Orthes's facial muscles, fixed in that subtle smile, had already returned to their usual state.

"So, according to Director Neuro,"

Orthes rubbed his temples.

"Director Dimedes is likely dead during the mission."

"Yes. He's naturally violent and selfish, but he's smart enough to obey the rules of power. He even sent tedious reports regularly during his mission. If he suddenly stopped, there's only one reason."

It was a bolt from the blue for Orthes, who assumed that by now Dimedes would have completed his mission and returned, ready to receive praise.

'These eight directors…'

Aren't they supposed to be the top brass of the evil organization? Even if they couldn't interfere in the decisive battle between White No Name and the protagonist, shouldn't they at least be capable of stalling other protagonists as mid-bosses?

How could they all go missing with their subordinates?

'How is this possible?'

Orthes wanted to sigh. After all, in the original work, their end was equally pathetic.

When White No Name blew up Hydra Corporation's headquarters and most of Etna city with the Artificial Commandments, the directors were vaporized as well.

'Even so, the dignity of an evil organization's executive…'

Orthes shook his head and decided to view the situation positively.

'Yes. It's because we aren't the evil organization that we got caught. My goal was to deviate from the original future anyway, right?'

If Dimedes was dead, it meant that the original future no longer existed. The changed future might disadvantage Orthes's company, but that was irrelevant.

"It can't be helped."

"Are you going alone again?"

"Ah…"

Orthes recalled the subtle rivalry between Dimedes and Neuro. Both were experts in hunting but had different approaches.

Because of this, they competed even during this Bacchus Cult hunt mission. Orthes knew this very well.

'So, with Dimedes's downfall almost certain, Neuro seizes the opportunity to impress Carisia? His lust for power… No, it's not for power but for honor. He hadn't shown signs of scheming to become the association president, so it must be honor.'

Neuro might have anticipated this moment, expecting his turn after his rival's disappearance.

Hoping to achieve the honor of fulfilling the first task directly related to the foundation of Hydra Corporation.

"Alright. Director Neuro, let's go together."

But his honor is his honor, and danger is danger. Orthes couldn't risk sending another director alone to the place where Dimedes and his faction might have perished.

Neuro nodded, the expression behind his gas mask slightly perplexed.

'I just asked if you were going to sweep everything alone again. What makes him want to accompany me?'

'Hmm. Dimedes undertook this mission after challenging the authority of the Divine Investigation Office's chief. Is it to clearly show the power difference between directors and himself? Indeed, loyal as he is to the president, he is sensitive to hierarchy like a wolf.'

While Neuro was preparing his equipment following the Divine Investigation Office's cooperation request, Orthes steeled himself to report to Carisia, 'We have another mission.'

He had already forgotten that his first thought upon becoming the head of the Divine Investigation Office was to delegate tasks to other directors.

***

Twelve lights flickered on the altar. It had been a long time since magic-powered lamps were invented.

Anyone observing would find it anachronistic, or mockingly comment on their adherence to tradition.

If a keen-eyed person were present, they would realize that what seemed like candles were actually glowing lights, not flames.

Moreover, if they were knowledgeable about ancient times, they would be astonished that such old superstitions still had devotees. The intricate murals of old gods on the candlesticks and altar had remained unscathed through the ages.

One of the lights began to flicker.

It was a place where no wind could blow. The glow, not a flame above a candle's wick, wouldn't flicker even if the wind blew.

The light slowly dimmed.

"‥‥‥."

The person praying below the altar looked up at the fading light.

And smiled.

Was it only now that the gods had responded? Or had those who guarded the prophecy finally decided to surrender to eternal extinction?

Either way, there was no hope.

Even if the gods' response came now, there would be no one left to hear it, and if the final keepers decided to sleep, it meant all the past years were in vain.

But.

From now on, the cult would no longer pin its hopes solely on the gods.

It was time to reclaim the hope once entrusted to the gods and hold it in their hands.

The only cult that venerates the names of the Twelve Great Gods received the dimming of Phoibos's light as a sign.

It was time to step into the world.

______________

To read over 200 fully translated episodes, patreon.com/Denji02