I'm the Only Totem in Another World - Chapter 195

Chapter 195: IF ━ If the Cathedral Was Still Standing （6）

The silence was brief. As soon as Close-Range Spy walked towards us, a barrage of questions poured in.

“What the…? Are you really Close-Range Spy?”

“The diligent young man.”

“More like the crazy young man.”

“Why are you dressed like that? Did you get robbed?”

“Why did you only post shitty things on the community forum?”

“Is it true that bodies presumed to be from the George Raid were found inside the dead Evil God? Does it mean the Evil God was planning something…?”

“Why is the nickname ‘close-knit spy’? Do you mean ninja? （왜 닉네임이 ‘근접형첩자’입니까? 닌자를 의미하는 겁니까?）”

“Don’t even mention ninjas. Just thinking about my teeth getting pulled out as a kid… ugh.”

“Are you really a ‘close-knit spy’ in real life too? You’re one of us ‘comrades’ from DC Inside, right?”

“You bastard! Good to see… well, not exactly good, but you’re alive! It’s me, Goollreu! Vice Captain of the Close-Range Spy Raid!”

“Who knew we’d meet again like this, alive.”

“Shocking… Close-Range Spy… revealed to be homeless…”

“Unlike his actions, he looks quite manly.”

“Hmm. Honestly, I think Goja Buro should have ended with a bad ending for a proper full circle. A ruthless murderer who killed people getting a happy ending with his girlfriend is not only a glorification of a villain but also goes against the principle of good triumphing over evil…”

“We have another close-knit spy here.”

The community, no, the returnee’s most popular star （까와 빠가 가득하다는 의미에서 슈퍼스타라고 불러도 된다）, received a heated response, as expected.

Even those who were just sipping whiskey in the corner approached him with bright smiles.

“Ah, I’m starving. I haven’t eaten all day, and my stomach is killing me. Let’s grab something to eat first.”

Waving his hand dismissively, Close-Range Spy sat down at a table piled high with food. The returnees quickly moved to sit beside him.

Look at Mr. Popular.

Scoffing once, I continued my conversation with the group I came with. While I was glad to see Close-Range Spy, I didn’t feel the need to approach him and act familiar while we were eating.

“Hello. My name is XXX, and I used to go by the nickname ‘Fallen Power Knight’ on the community forum. Nice to meet you all.”

It was while Hanna, Siu, Monkey, and I were chatting that a man who looked to be in his 30s or 40s greeted us. It seemed like he was addressing all the Korean returnees, including our group.

Fallen Power Knight. He was a user who consistently posted informative articles even in the demonic apocalypse world, never losing hope.

Unlike with Siu or Noah, I had personally recruited him, recognizing his capabilities and passion. I observed him.

With his neatly combed hair and clean-cut suit, he looked very intellectual.

As I thought, he was a smart one.

“Ah, hello. I’m… the one who used to go by the nickname ‘Sanz’ on the community forum. I was Malak-nim’s messenger.”

I greeted him as well. I wanted to be friendly since he had been a great help to the Tribal Federation until the final battle.

“Hello! I’m ‘Morning Tent Erection Knight’!”

“I’m ‘I Trusted the Monkey Man but’.”

“…’Not a Netkama’.”

We were exchanging names, or rather nicknames, when…

“Ah! Sanz-san!”

A person approached me. She was a woman dressed up prettily like a freshman college student.

Sanz-san. Did she hear me say ‘Sanz’? Judging by the honorific ‘san,’ she seemed to be Japanese.

Muttering something in Japanese, the woman pointed at herself.

“Atashi Petit Noah!”

“Huh?”

Oh, it’s Noah. I quickly opened the translation app, Papago. Noah, realizing that we couldn’t understand each other, had a look of surprise on her face.

Her airheadedness hasn’t changed.

“Hello Noah. It’s the first time seeing you in person.”

My words were translated into text through the app. Noah, after reading the translation, smiled brightly.

“What, Noah? Is that really you, Noah?”

“Konnichiwa! Hajimemashite! Yoroshiku!”

“She looks both familiar and unfamiliar… she seems a lot taller? Maybe because she’s just become an adult?”

Fallen Power, Siu, and Hanna welcomed her warmly.

“She’s ripened well…”

“You crazy bastard.”

Monkey, who was spouting nonsense, got smacked on the head by Siu.

[I’m in college now! Don’t be surprised! I got into Ochanomizu University!]

She must have gone straight to college after being missing for two years. I was curious about her circumstances but didn’t pry. It probably wasn’t a happy story.

While we were chatting, another person approached us.

“Hello. I’m ‘Bangguseok Choseon’.”

She was a woman in her 20s who looked good in glasses.

“All the Tribal Federation Paladins are gathered here? Let’s have a drink~!”

Siu raised her glass. Noah, no longer a minor, poured herself some whiskey, saying she could drink now.

“To the Tribal Federation!”

“”Cheers!””

Clink!

We chatted excitedly about the Tribal Federation, losing track of time.

Maybe it was because we were part of the same group, or because we had been through the most difficult times together, but I felt a deep bond with them.

I’m sure they felt the same way about me. There’s no way they didn’t.

After all.

“Wow, just thinking about the time we took down the Dark Cloud Demon! It really makes my heart swell!”

Fallen Power Knight.

“That bastard was a pushover, wasn’t he? A mere mortal?”

I Trusted the Monkey Man but.

“The Seven-Headed Dragon Demon was really scary. I was nervous that Malak-nim might lose.”

Morning Tent Erection Knight.

“Seven-Headed? I didn’t even see the fight against the High-ranking Demon. You were slacking off in the back, weren’t you?”

Not a Netkama.

[There’s no way Malak-nim would lose! You lack faith!]

Petit Noah.

They were all pouring out their words with bright, eager eyes.

A few hours must have passed. It was about time for the conversation to wind down.

“Hah~! Now that I think about it, there was that, you know! That weird one!”

Close-Range Spy’s drunken voice reached us.

“What is it…! Skeleton Mountains! Yeah! When I was living near there! I saw a really bizarre-looking demon!”

Figuring the conversation was about to end, I listened in, curious about what he was talking about.

A strange-looking demon? What could it be?

“When was it? Ah, right! A few months before the Dark Cloud Demon was taken down!”

He chuckled and then coughed, spitting phlegm into a tissue before continuing.

He looked like an Asian homeless man who came into a restaurant drunk and started causing trouble.

“This guy was wandering around, making weird noises. I went to check it out, and there was this grotesque creature that looked like it was stitched together from different animals! It was a demon that looked like a chimera!

It was crawling around on all fours, probably because it got beaten up somewhere and ran away! Its whole body was bright red!”

“…!”

I don’t know why, but I had a strong feeling.

An absurd feeling that the monster Close-Range Spy was talking about was Karon, who had survived by escaping the Dark Cloud Demon.

“It was a high-ranking demon, that much was obvious. Normally, I would have avoided it, but when I saw that bastard’s fucked up appearance, I suddenly got this feeling.

This guy is going to get stronger. I’m the only one who can kill it now. I have to kill this bastard. That’s the only way everyone will survive.

I don’t know what came over me, but I attacked it with everything I had.”

“S-So? What happened?!”

Unable to contain myself, I approached Close-Range Spy.

“Who are you? Why are you suddenly… hic!”

Close-Range Spy, glancing at me, hiccuped.

“I’m Sanz. Ultra Sanz Crazed for Nighttime Massacre Mode.”

“…One of the Legendary 3 Knights…! A man I acknowledged… ugh!”

He was speaking with a serious expression, then suddenly threw up. I patted his back.

This bastard is the same on Earth.

“So, what did you do?”

I asked again, grabbing Close-Range Spy, whose eyes were glazed over and was giggling.

I didn’t know if that demon was really Karon or not. But I wanted to hear the ending. I felt like I wouldn’t be able to sleep soundly until I did.

Close-Range Spy, his lips trembling with a ‘brrr’ sound, spoke confidently （his drunken stupor making him seem lost.）

“What do you mean what did I do? I threw all my skills at it and finished it off. I smashed it to pieces, leaving no trace. It let out screams like several ghosts before vanishing. A creepy demon to the very end.”

“Ah…!”

A wave of relief, stronger than I expected, washed over me. I collapsed weakly.

“Sanz, what’s wrong? What was that all about?”

Hanna, who helped me up, looked at me with concern. I couldn’t explain it to her.

“N-Nothing. I think the alcohol is getting to me.”

I couldn’t help but smile. Thank goodness. Thank goodness.

▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄

Back at the hotel after the gathering, I pulled Hanna into an embrace.

“Oof.”

Hanna made a strange noise but didn’t resist.

“…”

Rake. Paya. Kanto. The faces of Harry, Luna, and my other followers came to mind. They must be living well in the other world with Jin Malak.

Unlike my worries, they must be living happily, without any problems.

Good. Then… I should be happy too, right?

I closed my eyes, inhaling the scent of shampoo from her hair.

“…You pervert.”

It was a calming lavender scent. I felt like I could sleep well tonight.