C170 - Kerugo Autonomous Region (2)
- What on earth happened?
- The Galliant Government, which made a lot of money through tourism, became even more greedy. So they came up with a new business. It's human tourism.
Silence fell on the Psychic Channel.
Everyone expected this from the term human tourism.
In particular, Tess was not as expected. Having learned political science, she realized what was going on between the Galliant Government and the Kerugians.
- They made the worst choice a human could make.
- That’s right. The Galliant Government treated Kerugians as a tourist product, beyond the Kerugo ruins and culture. Of course, this fact only came to light much later. Initially, they just positioned the natives to be observed while tourists rode by in carriages. Then the possessiveness kicked in. It led to human hunting. Mercenaries captured boys and girls and sold them to nobles for a high price.
- It's a relief war didn't break out.
-It is the fate of those who fall behind civilization. Of course, Kerugo's military force isn't weak, at least not weaker than the Galliant Government. But they couldn't compete politically. Children were being taken, and the culprit was clearly the Galliant Government, but there was no evidence. They must have spent a lot of money to destroy the evidence, but human hunting was so rampant it was still profitable. They were helpless. They couldn't start a fight based on suspicion alone, as the natives dependent on tourist capital would end up on the streets in an instant. In the end, we had no choice but to make an agreement. In exchange of opening the historical ruins, they blocked access to the autonomous district. That's how they closed the path and that's how we got to this point.
Amy felt the anguish of the Kerugians, forced to open the ruins while knowing their children were being sold to nobles.
But regardless of their stance, the situation had become dangerous. That was the only important fact.
The reason why Canis spoke up was the same.
- But that's not the point. There are probably villains among the natives, and in fact there are such people, which is why there are the smuggling of Loops. In any case, the natives in the autonomous district won't view us favorably. There might not be physical conflict, but we mustn't let our guard down.
- Then isn't Shirone in danger too?
- No, that won't happen. Money is the first reason Kerugo opened the ruins, but not the only one. For them, the Room of Achievement and Sacrifice holds a different meaning. Kerugo has been waiting for someone for a long time.
- Who are they waiting for?
- Who knows. An angel... perhaps?
- Angel?
Amy asked again, but there was no answer from Canis.
Arin confirmed the time had come and announced it on the Physic Channel.
- Sorry. I want to conserve my mental energy, so I'm closing the channel. You won't panic if it reconnects later.
Telepathy, being magic, consumes mental power. Especially the method of exchanging information in real-time through a channel, it continuously drains the mind like a firewall.
As the Physic Channel closed, Amy looked straight ahead. Her hearing returned, filling her eardrums with the sound of the rails.
The cart disappeared into the darkness of the cave.
--
The place they arrived at was an underground city.
Though lacking ornamental beauty, the tunnels branching like an ant hill, and the plazas expanded at each tunnel junction were an amazing achievement achieved through symbiosis with nature.
Amy turned back to being a tourist and looked around. Her heart fluttered momentarily before her eyes trembled with confusion.
The lives of the Kerugians were starkly removed from the scenery. Everyone was starving, emaciated. It was more unexpected than when she heard that the Kerugians were hostile towards outsiders.
Elderly people, reminiscent of war refugees, walked along the tunnel. The elderly, who could not walk, leaned against the earthen walls, holding onto the children left in their care, their eyes closed.
A desolate cry seemed to emanate from the barrenness. This is an ant cave. And they were ants.
Old people carrying heavy loads were walking away, took what seemed like impossible steps, and in the corner, hunched old women weaved baskets from tree bark.
"Is this really the autonomous district of Kerugo?"
There was no one to answer Amy's question. The expectation of a tribe owning expensive real estate like the ruins had gone awry.
Canis felt an unknown anger and grabbed Arin's shoulder. Hers was trembling too. They remembered it—the life in Radum, called the hell of the city.
They both knew that starving was the most terrible pain in the world. And so... these people were the most tormented in the world.
"Hey, come this way."
The native driver of the minecart motioned for them to move. His expression clearly showed he did not want outsiders to witness the current scene.
After passing through a road that curved like a torrent, they arrived at a blocked tunnel. Only one torch hung on the wall, illuminating the surroundings.
Amy looked back at the path they had taken. Because they had taken a long detour, it seemed unlikely that any commotion here would be noticed from outside.
The native led Amy's group to a man.
The man, with arms crossed and lips tightly sealed, seemed to be the epitome of a true Kerugian, just as one would imagine.
The muscles of his upper body were more developed than Rian's, and his face bore dark tattoos. In each ear, he wore earrings made from the fangs of a wild beast.
When Jis spoke to him, he introduced himself as Mahatu.
When Amy heard the word descendant of warriors the other day, she remembered that it was pronounced Mahatu. (에이미는 일전에 전사의 후예라는 말을 들었을 때 마하투라는 발음이 있다는 걸 떠올렸다.)
Indeed, Mahatu was a warrior by name and nature.
"Um, so, this person’s name is Mahatu. He's responsible for breeding Loops and supplying them to the temple."
Amy surmised that the black tattoos might signify those who manage Loops. She thought that if white is the one who performs the ritual, then perhaps black denotes those preparing for them.
Since Arin did not attempt Telepathy, Amy and the others had no choice but to wait for Jis to translate.
Tess thought it was a sound judgment. Given Mahatu's temperament, he was no ordinary strongman. If he had Schema's Sensory System, there was a risk he might detect telepathy.
While everyone was contemplating this, Mahatu's words suddenly began to make sense.
As Amy turned around, Arin smiled.
- Did you try it in the end? That guy looks pretty strong. You're braver than you look.
- No. I didn't cast telepathy on Mahatu.
- Oh? Then how is the translation happening?
Arin subtly pointed at Jis.
Only then did Amy realize. She had cast telepathy on Jis, who was talking to Mahatu.
If the goal was to eavesdrop on surface-level thoughts, there was no need to make direct contact with the speaker. It was another strength of Arin's ability.
“Falkoa is dead?”
"Yes. The Freeman Organization won't be buying Loops. They're planning to leave the island soon."
Jis confessed honestly. Now that they were facing the person in charge, there was no point in hiding the truth.
As expected, Mahatu's complexion worsened. He looked at Amy's group with distaste, then with a glint in his eyes, asked:
“Then what are they?”
"Oh, they're not here to buy Loops. They just have some business to do."
"Business? You do know that, apart from Loop trading, outsiders aren't allowed here?"
"We know, but we had to inform you about the trade withdrawal anyway. And we have this pass too... Oops!"
Mahatu pushed Jis aside and walked forward. His clenched jaw twitched and it seemed like fire might burst from his eyes.
As he looked at the group, he chose Amy as the person to talk to. It wasn't because he thought she was the leader. She was the only one raising provocative eyes.
“The Freeman Organization sent you? Then, are you members?"
Jis rushed over and translated. Seeing him carry out his duties even under these circumstances, his sense of responsibility was above average.
Of course, Amy had already understood through Arin. However, she couldn't reveal that and responded a beat later.
"No, but we're well acquainted with Freeman."
"How well? To the extent of risking your life?"
"Absolutely. We've actually done that."
The lie came easily. It wasn't entirely false, considering they had fought for their lives. \
“In that case, perhaps you could settle balance instead.”
"Balance? What balance?”
“Falkoa recently took 8 kilograms of Loops with only an advance payment. He hasn't settled the remaining amount."
Amy, remembering Falkoa's face, snorted. He was showing off his bravado, but was only doing credit trades.
Nonetheless, with money owed, she couldn't help but ask.
“I’m not in a position to lend money even if my life is at stake, but anyway, how much is owed?"
“10,000 gold.”
"What? 10,000?”
Amy's eyes widened. Even Jis, who interpreted, seemed confused, as if he had misunderstood the units.
But through Arin's telepathy, Amy knew precisely it was 10,000 gold.
She had assumed it was merely 8 kilograms of tree roots. But 10,000 gold? No, considering the advance payment, it was even more.
A question suddenly occurred to her.
Although they don't know, Falkoa must have paid a lot of money to purchase Loop over the course of five years. Then, how could one explain the Kerugians' lifestyle?
Selling just 8 kilograms of loops could feed the entire crowd in the plaza for a year. It was something that did not make sense to her.
Jis persuaded Mahatu.
"I'll report about the remaining payment once we return to the organization. They'll take care of it, whether returning the Loops or settling the payment."
Unsure, Jis turned to his friends and sought affirmation.
Tess nodded. Marsha and Freeman, who valued honor, would surely settle the payment.
Jis, encouraged by the support, spoke confidently.
"There, it's settled then. We'll pay later, so let us stay here for now."
“I don’t understand. Then for what purpose did you come here?”
Amy said.
"We're waiting for a friend. He entered the Room of Achievement and Sacrifice. He'll probably arrive here soon."
Her tone of voice was rougher than before. The realization that, despite earning a fortune, they hadn't alleviated their tribesmen's hunger made her see Mahatu and Falkoa as equally inhumane.
“The Room of Achievement and Sacrifice?”
Mahatu scrutinized the group. He said with a mocking smile, evaluating temperament rather than appearance.
“You're dreaming big. Just give up and go back. Your friend must be waiting outside.”
"Hm! How would you know that?”
“It’s obvious. The sanctuary isn’t meant for brats like you. Countless impostors seek the Kerugian ruins. To buy Loops, to get gold. Did you think we'd permit you just because you sent a friend into the sanctuary and came here insisting? You'll never get through at that level of trickery and thinking."
“And what makes you think you're any better? Have you thought about how many people outside have become addicted because of the Loops you smuggled?”
“Loops are sacred item. It’s you who misuse them as drugs. And I don’t need to care about the foolishness of outsiders. You have always been like that. They judged what was ours and tried to take it away. But it won't be easy here.”
“We won’t leave. Not until we know if our friend passed the Room of Achievement and Sacrifice.”
“You’ll never pass with your abilities. Be honest about why you’re really here.”
The native who drove the minecart said:
“Maybe they’re thieves. Here to steal gold.”
There was no longer a pretentious smile on the native's face. If Amy's group wasn't here for Loop trading, they were just despised outsiders, nobility even, in his eyes.
“That’s possible. Even more reason not to let them in.”
“How about searching their bodies? If they’ve smuggled in weapons, it could harm our tribe members.”
Although Mahatu was an adversary, he had no desire to touch a woman's body. It was a dishonor for a warrior.
Yet, he remained silent because he understood what his colleague was implying.
Tags:
Infinite Mage (Novel)