413 - Fairies of Eternal Youth #3

Kkwang, wareureu-.

As I took a small step, the floor of the back alley collapsed.

The darkness of the underground, visible between the bricks, reminded me of the manhole hole I had fallen into, making me feel a little creepy somewhere.

Hwi-oooo-.

From inside, a faint sound like the wind could be heard. That means an unreported illegal space exists in the underground of the back alley.

"Well, anyway, the path to the underground has opened now, right?"

"You said you defeated Hydra with your bare body. The rumors must have been true?"

The agent in the brown robe looked surprised, as if shocked that I had smashed the floor with my bare body. Honestly, even I thought it was a crude method.

I could have revealed the existence of a shortcut into the underground by devising schemes and wisdom, or perhaps found a compromise by talking with the shop owner, the Nymph Nabokop.

I didn't particularly do so.

If it's the reason, it's because my friends were waiting for me on the road over there, and I was too lazy to waste time.

Also, there was no need to unnecessarily complicate my thoughts and engage in a battle of wits.

That's right.

I was now like the overlord elephant of the African savanna.

Seriously, elephants are fucking strong.

Therefore, elephants don't train or strategize. Because elephants are fucking strong, there's no need to do so.

Nevertheless, it's elephants that subdue creatures like rhinos, giraffes, and lions with their bare bodies, and that's what I did now.

"It's much stronger power than what was written in the report?"

"Report?"

Honestly, even I thought it was a crude method.

But the moment I thought that a guy like an intelligence agent wouldn't easily answer my words, the agent answers.

"I received a list with various items written about you."

"Really? What was written there?"

"Just your updated karma score from the Mars Guild, like that. The number of Followers. The method of worship. Achievements. Things like that."

"I see."

I vaguely trailed off, pretending to be uninterested.

But since long ago, I've been weak to praise and gullible, so I was honestly curious about what others thought of me.

It would be nice if I could see what was written in that report.

"By any chance, can I see that report too?"

"Well, it's not that big of a secret. If this matter is resolved well, I'll let you view it. You're curious about what your story says, right?"

"That's right, I guess. You know me well."

"Everyone says that. It seems even young gods are no different. Anyway, since a hole has opened in the floor, people who sensed the commotion might come. Let's handle it quickly."

Puljjeok.

The agent went down the hole and stepped on the floor. Then, chanting a short spell like "Light-", formed something like a sphere of light on their palm.

Was that woman a mage? The agent, shining the light for a while and illuminating the surroundings, shouted softly while looking up.

"There's a wall here too...! Come and break it...!"

"Wait a minute."

"You're a Nymph, and you're saying you kidnap other Nymphs...? Indeed, you're a wicked one-imnidat...!"

I called the Nymphs who were waiting for me on the road. When I explained the situation to them, Paranoy got angry as if he heard something truly unbearable.

"Actually, that Paranoy knew everything-imnidat...! I thought she was a very suspicious woman from the first time I met her-imnidat...!"

"Don't lie, you punk."

"I, Doris, never even thought of it...!"

I recalled the sight of Paranoy playing surrounded by numerous toys.

If I hadn't gone looking for them, they were in a state of unguarded defenselessness, to the extent that it wouldn't be strange even if they were kidnapped by Nabokop.

Actually, if I hadn't found them, I don't know if these guys might have gone missing.

Thinking about it now, weren't all those things that seemed like a tea party in a strange land like a sweet trap to lure and kidnap Nymphs?

What on earth are they trying to do by kidnapping them?

Of course, there are many things that come to mind.

Because Nymphs are inherently compatible with nature and mana, they said all sorts of things are used like precious ingredients.

Thanks to that, Nymphs have been captured since long ago, their numbers decreased and reached endangered species status.

Although Nymph relief foundations and relief laws have been established now, I heard there are still wicked guys operating in the shadows who exploit Nymphs.

"Cute-. Look at these sparkling eyes. Your cheeks are soft too. You smell nice too. Who brushed your hair so cleanly?"

"More importantly, what kind of woman is she...? What kind of woman is she, touching that Paranoy's cheek so carelessly since earlier...?"

"Doris cannot be touched carelessly except by Pink Kore Luna...!"

The Nymphs didn't seem to like the agent in the brown robe clinging to them. Because Paranoy, Ignoi, and Doris all started covering their noses with their sleeves and frowning deeply.

"This is the first time I'm seeing a Nymph this close! Want some candy?"

Then, rummaging through their bosom, hands one candy wrapped in paper to Paranoy.

Just because it's an intelligence agency run by the royal family, I thought there were ruthless and merciless killers. It seems that's not the case either. Is it someone who likes Nymphs?

The agent, who had been stroking Doris's, Ignoi's, and Paranoy's cheeks or hair for a while like that, said.

"To kidnap such cute Nymphs. It's unforgivable. I must make them face judgment for their sins as soon as possible."

"Anyway, does this mean there are kidnapped Nymphs beyond this wall...?"

Paranoy tapped the sturdy iron wall that appeared in front of the basement with his hand.

"It's very sturdy-imnidat...!"

In response to Paranoy's words, the agent wearing the robe answers.

"This is a titanium steel plate. To use precious steel plates for an unreported basement wall. It must mean there's something they really want to protect. This is bank vault level."

I also know about titanium steel plates. Was the gauntlet I wore early on made of that sturdy alloy?

"You, can you perhaps break this too? Because it seems like it would take some time to bring tools to break a titanium steel plate."

"Can break it...."

Seureuk-.

I placed my palm against the cold iron wall.

Just by looking, I could feel it was a quite thick and sturdily built iron wall. The thickness also seems to be around 10cm.

If I hit it with a fist wrapped in iron ore, would it break?

So, just as I was trying to draw life force from below my body, Doris shouts softly.

"There, there's a small breathing hole...! If it's that place, it seems my friend can enter...! For now, it would be good to send a friend first to check inside...!"

Indeed, a very small hole was visible where Doris pointed with her finger.

Because it was where it met the ceiling part, I didn't notice it, but it seems Doris figured it out with something like a Nymph's unique sense.

Seureuk-.

Doris lifted a leather water container tied to her waist, from her robe, and popped open its lid with a "Ppong-".

Then, a small insect about the size of a pinky fingernail popped out from inside.

It's a honeybee.

"Go inside there, and examine what is inside...!"

Bu-uung-.

Following Doris's instructions, the honeybee pushed its body here and there through the small gap. The agent in the brown robe, watching the scene, said as if admiring, "Ho-."

"To use bees for espionage. It's a great skill. It would be useful in our unit too. You said you were the Nymph of Honey Water? Won't you work with us?"

The agent seemed very interested in Doris's ability.

Indeed, sending such small bees to scout and being able to sting the neck of someone you don't like means the potential for application is endless.

"I refuse...! This body is the guardian of the maiden...!"

Of course, Doris's attitude was firm, and she rejected the scout offer. After a long time passed like that, the honeybee that had disappeared through the small gap reappeared.

Bu-uung-.

And then it started dancing here and there, flapping its wings near Doris's ear. Doris, who had been listening intently for a while, slightly narrowed her brow.

"Is that true...?"

Paranoy asks, looking towards such a Doris.

"What on earth is inside...? Isn't there a terrible factory that makes Nymphs into wands...?"

"They say there really are Nymphs inside...! There are Nymphs aplenty inside...!"

I see.

Honestly, I was half-believing the words of the woman called an agent. Because there wouldn't be anything as foolish as blindly believing the words of a woman who suddenly appeared.

But listening to Doris's words, it really seemed the toy owner kidnapped Nymphs and was confining them in this basement.

Thinking there was no more time to waste, I raised my thumb. Then, pressing it firmly, I acupressured the pressure points I had suppressed in my body with a "Pababat-".

Seuseuseu-.

At the same time, hot energy began to erupt from my body. My blood was bubbling like boiling magma; I still haven't gotten used to this sensation at all.

"It might be dangerous, so everyone step back."

What will happen from now on is a clash of uncontrolled power. Therefore, I asked the agent to protect the Nymphs.

And then, standing in front of the iron plate, after exhaling briefly with a "Hu-".

I pushed the iron wall with both palms as hard as I could.

Gu-ueuk-.

Then, a rather strange feeling, even to my own thinking, arose from my palms.

The quite thick titanium steel plate wall was pushed into the shape of my palm, as if it were clay.

The feeling of steel crumpling in my hand was so unfamiliar, it was enough to send a chilling shiver down my spine.

Teong-.

As I continued to push forward, the iron wall eventually got a hole, like a plastic bag that couldn't withstand its limits.

And so, when I applied even more force.

There was no longer any wall blocking me anywhere.

A large hole was pierced between the iron plate walls, as if hit by a cannon.

We were able to push our bodies into it. Then, what appeared before us were quite surprising sights.

"Nymph sisters, there really are plenty of them-imnidat...!"

The inside of the iron plate was a space that could be called a rather large living room, or perhaps a plaza, I wasn't sure.

And on the floor covered with that soft carpet, girls with short ears resembling Paranoy, Doris, and Ignoi were lying sprawled out or crouching on the floor.

They aren't dead bodies, are they?

For a moment, such ominous thoughts swirled in my mind, and I suddenly got scared.

So I placed my finger on the neck of any Nymph I could see around and checked their pulse. Fortunately, their pulse was beating normally, and there seemed to be no particular problem.

Saegeun, saegeun-.

Judging by the steady, even breathing, they seem to be asleep.

Just then, Doris frowned deeply with a "Warak-".

"There's the scent of Somnus flowers...! You mustn't breathe...!"

Doris seemed to be pointing out the faint floral scent spreading in this strange space.

Although I had no way of knowing what the scent of Somnus flowers was, it seemed I could tell that it made the Nymphs feel bad.

Because Paranoy, Ignoi, and Doris all started covering their noses with their sleeves and frowning deeply.

I asked.

"What are Somnus flowers?"

"We Nymphs sometimes enjoy hibernating...! But sleeping for a long time is difficult even for us...! That's why we get help from the sleep herb, Somnus flower-imnidat...!"

If I were to put it that way, is it a sleep fragrance that only works for Nymphs?

I had heard that because Nymphs are sensitive to cold, there are some who dislike winter. So they hibernate to skip winter, I heard.

If so, are the ones seen here now Nymphs who are hibernating?

No, there should still be time left until winter.

If so, the conclusion derived is indeed one.

Someone must be deliberately forcing these guys to sleep.

Palak-.

Just then, the winter agent took out something like a scroll from their bosom and compared each sleeping Nymph's face.

"This one is Haruno, the Nymph of the ditch water who went missing in Zeruite. And this one too, Iris, the Nymph who worked as a florist in the royal capital Zeruite. This one too, and this one too...."

Listening to her words, it seems all the dozen or so Nymphs lying here are ones who were reported missing somewhere.

This is clear evidence indicating that the toy shop owner, Nabokop, committed the terrible crime of Nymph kidnapping. Unparalleled clear evidence.

"Being a Nymph, trying to plot wicked deeds by kidnapping other Nymphs...! You're an unforgivable one-imnidat...! Actually, I didn't like that your chest was big from the start-imnidat...!"

Paranoy shouted loudly in anger at that fact.

It was right at that moment.

"Plotting wicked deeds, you say. I was merely protecting these children, who are my sisters."

A woman's languid voice began to echo throughout the space from somewhere.