Bab 134: Episode 134: Cultists
This is clearly a famous public sports facility located in Sejong City.
During the day, it would have been used for the welfare of citizens or for events organized by the government.
But not today.
It is unknown whether he rented this place using a special connection, or whether he secretly sneaked in overnight using a strange technique that only cult members can use, but a strange banquet that cannot be held in real life is taking place in this place right now. .
'Masquerade'.
It is a party with a bizarre atmosphere in many senses.
A huge stage placed high up.
Excessively loud and monotonous music played on that stage. Murmured lyrics repeated like a spell.
'Just that sound already makes me feel bad.'
But that's just the beginning.
Golden ornaments cover the entire spacious hall, extravagant red carpets and beautiful curtains, balconies installed here and there on the high interior walls, and dozens of chandeliers hanging here and there from the ceiling.
These are all things that never existed before.
'Oh no, that's no joke.'
Despite this extravagant taste, the banquet hall was dark.
Indirect lighting set dimly, curtains hanging here and there, and decorations placed in odd positions to the point where they obstruct traffic.
These are intentionally placed so that you cannot see all the places at a glance.
'But more than that... … .'
Of course, the density of magical power is high.
Because of this, unnatural shadows were cast in some places.
'Here we go again.'
It's the fog of war.
Unless you approach it directly, you cannot know what is happening beyond the shadows. Game permissions made to manage resources and keep players on their toes.
If I were to participate in the setting game, it would be out of consideration for the people invited to the party.
It's a party for non-individual cultists who can't and shouldn't reveal their true identities to each other.
Smoke billowing here and there, sparkling powder visible from a table in the corner, and a strange device of unknown origin. These are all prohibited in Yangji.
"Sigh... … !"
A moan heard from a space hidden by a curtain. A person's shadow looming beyond the curtain.
There is no need to imagine sexual fantasies being played out at these types of parties. Although some cult members may pursue that type of party, something else is preferred at today's parties.
Soon, bright red blood pours out from under the curtain.
There are grooves in geometric shapes here and there on the floor. Blood spilled here and there flows through the grooves.
I don't know how elaborate the drainage system was, but all the blood flowing down goes in one direction, as if ignoring gravity.
'The fact that this is a public sports facility was completely ignored.'
There are no traces of the gymnasium left in this large hall.
You can forget that there was a building with the same name in the world I lived in.
There are some things that cannot be realized no matter how much money you spend.
But tonight is a special night.
Just for tonight, such common sense is ignored. The shape and structure of the building are completely different.
As the party takes place in such a strange place, the condition of those gathered is not normal.
These are cultists who have fallen and have a completely inhuman body and mind, and madmen who want to reach a certain level even if it means borrowing the power of the devil.
People dressed more strangely than the fixers gathered at Vasilisa.
Mutants with such bizarre body shapes that you wonder if they are really human.
And the magical powers are so ferocious and evil that they cannot even be compared to Vasilisa.
'But is anonymity meaningful if your name is confirmed upon entry?'
They say they're hiding their identity by saying they're wearing masks, but they're people you probably know.
For example, the woman in the striking outfit you see over there.
Wearing a black lace mask that barely covers the eyes and a flowing dress. Although there may be differences of opinion, it is an outfit reminiscent of a witch.
Baba Yegar (Баба-Яга), who serves the abyssal being called the [Terror of Salem] or the [Night Visitor]. Her name means 'devil grandmother' in Russian.
She walked around the banquet hall with a happy smile and spoke happily to someone.
"Something unusual is happening in Paju these days, right?"
"Oh, I know. "The descendants of the famous Fomalhaut have greatly saved their face this time, right?"
Look, we all know each other, right?
In the story of Paju, the cultist with the wolf skin mask who suddenly took a sharp turn due to someone else's misfortune is a cultist who serves the being of the abyss called the [Ice Wanderer] or the [Howling Glacier]. The name of the denomination is a bit funny; it is Dongnae Gyo (冬來敎). A cosmic-level winter will soon come to this world?
Maybe it's just the low temperature around that guy, but every time he talks, white breath comes out from the wolf's snout on the mask.
While a foreign witch and a shaman who worships the apocalypse are having a friendly conversation, one more person intervenes.
"I installed it without knowing my level, and it looked very nice. "Then why did you attack another church right before the Masquerade?"
A bird-beaked mask reminiscent of a plague doctor during the Black Death. It has nothing to do with medicine. This is the Changwolhoe, which serves the [Hermit of the Sleeping Forest]. They are not of Korean descent, but are like the Korean branch of the Japanese Yakuza.
The Bird Beak Mask of the Changwolhoe spoke rudely in an intrusive manner, but Baba Yega's Lace Mask responded politely.
"That must have been because it was before the Masquerade. "The sanctuary was recently attacked by an unknown intruder, so they would have wanted to have a stronger say before the Masquerade."
"By the way, I heard that the crazy bone in the hungry mansion played with the arsonist bastards in Fomalhaut a lot. Was that old bone that bad?"
Unlike the Race Mask, which accepted what was said politely, Dongrae Bridge's Wolf Mask spoke with a blatant expression of discomfort.
"Heo Lord of the Hungry Mansion is the one who alone qualified to be the judge of the Masquerade. "If only he had a little more sense, he would have known that it was wrong to ignore someone like that, right?"
"Aang? "How does it sound like you're talking to me now?"
"Oh, I guess you have the sense to notice that?"
Magical power suddenly concentrated around the two people.
Oh, fight, fight.
As the atmosphere becomes openly hostile, masks of all kinds flock in from all directions. Whether you're an ordinary person or a cult member, watching a fight is fun.
"Ladies and gentlemen, mutual violence or use of supernatural abilities is prohibited at the party."
It's the scraggly-haired guide from earlier. He mediated between the two with a gloomy, listless expression, as if even talking was a bother.
"If you want to use your power, there are many offerings, so it would be better to do so… … Ahi, right? "It was difficult to find it because it is a time like this."
"Hmph, who would use a superpower on someone like this?"
"Hey, fighting is meant to be done with people of the same level."
Although they said so, everyone gathered here could see that the magic power and spirit of the two people had diminished.
"It's boring. "If you get chosen, you have to fight."
"Hehe, what idiot would come all the way to Masquerade and blush with Manse Ilwongyo?"
Long live one world religion.
It is a church that serves the powerful [Ruler of the Border].
In principle, each denomination takes turns hosting the Masquerade, but that is just a principle.
Until now, all meetings held in the name of Masquerade were held by Manse Ilwon Church.
'To be more precise, it would be correct to say that he is Dokgo-gyeom, the judge of the Church of All Ages and Ilwongyo.'
In the first place, it was Dokgo-gyeom who brought together the scattered cult members and created a group called Masquerade.
Anyway, the commotion was quickly cleared up.
Meanwhile, at this party, there are also groups of people who are difficult to classify under the name of religion.
"Hahahaha! Have you tried Mongolian Death Worm? "It's a delicacy that can't even be compared to the food here!"
"Are you sure you eat that?"
The loud-voiced giant wearing the wild boar mask is part of the 'Gourmet Expedition' that follows the [Predators in the Mountains].
According to the revelation of the god they serve, they capture and eat monsters from all over the world... … They are crazy poachers.
They have the ability to absorb the power of the monsters they prey on and make it their own. I don't know what and how much that giant had eaten so far, but it was a whopping 3 meters tall.
"You really don't know gourmet food? Please come to our meeting next time. "I will prepare a proper delicacy for you."
"no. I'm a picky eater, so even if I tried something new, I wouldn't even be able to understand the taste. "Rather, I'd like to invite you to our restaurant."
And that humble woman is probably from 'Slow Kitchen'.
They are definitely chefs with a monotonous diet who have been obsessed with one type of ingredient for a very long time.
The god they serve is a minor being called [Hungry Seed]. He continues to whisper to those who serve him: 'Eat your own people.'
These days, everyone is talking nonsense about how it has become difficult to find food ingredients because they prefer cremation.
For a moment, I hid myself in the awkward gap between the curtains and decorations and took a deep breath. I need some rest.
"Phew… … ."
I'm tired.
Of course, it is difficult to walk among such crowds due to the penalty characteristics such as [decreased stamina], but more than that, it is exhausting both mentally and physically.
But first, Baba Yega, Dongrae Bridge, Changwolhoe, Gourmet Expedition, and Slow Kitchen.
'A total of five so far? 'I wish I could mark just one more name.'
I didn't eavesdrop on the conversations of cultists because I had nothing to do.
This is a foreshadowing for the main event that follows.
A magical mark is placed on each person who may interfere with the mask battle that will soon begin.
'Just one more thing. If it increases beyond that, it actually becomes a hindrance.'
The stat used to maintain a specific spell for a long time is mental strength. Although he is making up for his lack of mental power with intelligence, the number of spells he is currently maintaining is too high.
My concentration is scattered. After the Cheongho incident, I couldn't rest even for a day because I was so frustrated. I'm tired.
Okay, let's move again. After a little more time, the main event begins. Before that, there is one more denomination that needs to be contacted.
'It must be around here?'
Not those guys, not that guy. Cultist, cultist, monster, cultist again, behind that curtain? no. Another cultist.
And the blood rituals that are openly taking place here and there and the shamanic music that continues endlessly.
'Oh, I'm really tired.'
Moreover, this complex structure. Because of the endless obstacles, this large space was already spinning in circles.
It wasn't until I was getting irritated that I met the guys I was aiming for.
'Okay, there. 'They're all gathered together.'
A total of ten people. These guys are a completely different style of cult than the cultists I've seen so far.
The most typical and most vicious type are those who infiltrate society by imitating religious groups that exist in reality.
A uniform, black suit with no individuality, and everyone has a similar-shaped mask.
And everyone has a golden cross hanging around their neck.
'found. Hwangnim Church.'
Once you contact those guys, your preliminary preparations are over.
'But what are they doing now?'
The cultists at Hwanglim Church were in a strange atmosphere.
Do you not join the party, but rather spread out and keep an eye on your surroundings? Are you on guard? Why is it like that? Why aren't you having fun at the party? Who started an argument?
I expanded my detection range by pretending to look around from a suitable location.
"Tsk. "It's ambiguous."
I don't know what the problem was, but he seemed very angry for some reason. I don't think it will be easy.
Ah, it's annoying. Should I quit Hwanglim Church?
'No, let's not regret it later and stick to the plan.'
Even though it's a plan, we have to use a slightly complicated method against these guys.
Among them, I chose the one that looked the most formidable and passed by nearby... … .
"Hey, what are you?"
It was the wrong direction.
A man and a woman wearing the same suits as other Hwangrim Church members approach me.
"What is it, spying on you from up close?"
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone