Chapter 30: The Only Thing I Believe In (2)

The flight show captured everyone’s attention in an instant.

It was a clichéd way to put it, but it truly stole their souls away.

Thududududu!

Silver wings fluttered through crimson clouds smeared across the sunset sky. What else could come to mind but angels?

They really showed up in a way I never imagined. Falling from the heavens like that…

But in stark contrast to their divine entrance, the items the Lilith Order was scattering were utterly vulgar.

At that moment, tiny bits plinked against his umbrella. He reached out, caught one sliding down the canopy’s curve, and unfolded it.

It was disinfectant for sex toys. I’m losing my mind.

Not to be outdone, condoms started raining down next.

“Fuck.”

At this point, he had no choice but to close the umbrella. It was meant to block rain, after all.

Charrurruk!

Regardless of the sticky feeling gnawing at him, the people on the street raised their hands high in worship.

Everyone was frantic to grab the relief supplies. These humans instinctively shoved others aside.

There was more than enough being showered down, so they didn’t even need to steal from each other. Truly exemplary civic spirit from the Lowest Level District residents.

“Guess I should get out of here quick.”

Lee Taebaek muttered as he watched the crowd multiplying like rabbits. The already packed street was drawing even more people, like beans in a pressure cooker.

He swiftly cut through the mad scene. He ignored those shooting him glares whenever shoulders bumped.

“Hey, you punk! If you bump into someone, you should at least say something, huh?!”

But one pedestrian suddenly snapped at him out of nowhere. Sure enough, it was a murim man.

A fan made of tail feathers and scholar’s robes. Arrogantly arched brows. A Jegal.

He seemed to be showing off Jianghu etiquette to the woman wrapped around his waist.

Even Lee Taebaek, a total novice to wuxia genres, knew the orthodox sects were all hypocrites.

Srrek.

He lifted the hem of his jacket to flash the Python at his waist.

“Even like this?”

“……!!”

“I’ve always wondered about something. Perfect timing. Let’s test if you can dodge bullets with martial arts.”

The Jegal man faltered before bolting away. He left the woman behind like discarded baggage.

“You vile scum! How dare you bring such crude metal to a scholar’s event! How petty!”

“Oppa! Where are you going?!”

“I-I’ll report this to the Murim Alliance, so you stay right there!”

“You fucking bastard—!”

Watching such a pathetically vulgar retreat made his own legs go weak instead. It was the literal moment when Jianghu’s way hit the dirt.

Yeah. Go on, scram.

‘While you’re still alive.’

It had already been a day of killing three bugs. Unless unavoidable, he wanted to hold back on murder today.

‘Never thought I’d say something like that.’

Was he over-immersed in the Operator concept…?

He was treating killing like a quick trip to the convenience store for snacks. He kept reminding himself this was reality, but his sense of it kept crumbling.

Remember, Lee Taebaek. This isn’t a game. Dead is dead. No respawns.

“Hoo…”

He rubbed his throbbing temples as he walked.

Meanwhile,

the Lilith Order put the finishing touch on their parade in the sky. They formed ranks, drawing perfect concentric circles. Their coordination was flawless.

What kind of cult practices formations like that?

Moments later, the Lilith Order shrank to a dot and vanished.

“Come back soon, angel!”

“Milky-white Lil-ith!”

Cheers erupted for their spectacular show. Red lanterns swayed.

Thus, the Lilith Order—the stars of the overheated festival—faded into the sunset. Just as suddenly as demons appearing, the excitement cooled like it’d been doused with cold water.

The Red-Light District’s fervor boiled over fast and faded just as quick. That was the nature of its visitors.

In the meantime, Lee Taebaek’s nimble movements let him escape to the district’s entrance.

Around then, an odd emptiness hit him. Red lights flickered across his face.

Seeing the cult stirred up thoughts.

“Cybernetic wing suits for evangelism.”

The relief method wasn’t unusual. Starting with the socially weak was proselytizing 101. What stood out was the gear.

‘Exoskeleton wing suits.’

Even the mechanical arms cost hundreds of millions.

Steel wings went without saying. They made his entire 300 million fortune look like pocket change.

And they equipped three people with that ultra-expensive cybernetic prosthetics just to scatter adult toys in the Red-Light District? Were they fucking with him?

‘If you’re gonna waste it like that, give it to me.’

Even as evangelism, the exchange rate didn’t add up. Forget gas money—they’d be in the red.

On top of that, showering this much free relief? Even mid-tier Lukaken Pharmaceuticals, top of the cash flow charts, couldn’t sustain this regularly.

…In short, the Lilith Order had solid backing. That was the only way it fit. He hadn’t assumed the cult itself was loaded. If so, it’d have pinged Beggar Clan or Resistance intel networks somehow.

‘But most people I asked barely knew anything about the Lilith Order.’

Spawn points, methods, polished flight shows. All suspiciously meaningful. Suspicious as hell, bluntly put.

Laykuns world had distortions. Confirmed via Triad Gang.

But unlike Berserk—which at least existed as dummy data—the Lilith Order was completely alien.

The Lilith Order wasn’t like Lake City’s dime-a-dozen cults. It gave off an indescribably alien vibe.

“…An alien religion.”

Time to consult an expert.

The landlady had a history with a religious group.

‘A magic tower now, but.’

The public still remembered her as Heavenly Demon Cult. The name stuck.

First, win her favor. He might not know women, but charming landlords? Easy.

Pays rent on time? Baseline. To really win over…

“Gonna cost a bit.”

Lee Taebaek shook his head.

‘You were planning to anyway.’

Framing it as prep for Lilith Order intel hunt eased the sting. Plus, coming here was worth it. Gained EXP en route, sorted priorities, saw the city’s underbelly he’d miss holing up in his room.

After some deliberation, he pulled out his device. Jin Sobang’s subordinate, Slit-Eyes, picked up.

“Calling ’cause I need something.”

[Ah… Yes.]

Slit-Eyes sounded like damp laundry. Lee Taebaek stated his business flatly.

[That should be possible.]

“Should be?”

[…It is.]

“By when.”

[Half a day, if payment’s on time.]

“Make it happen.”

Lee Taebaek exhaled, then frowned. Faint blood-and-oil stench pierced his mask’s filter, tickling his philtrum.

Shower first thing back.

With that, he hurried out of the Geographical Abyss.

Goeun, owner of Silver Nose Bar, was discharged two days after Lee Taebaek got home.

“Finally back. Sweet home~!”

Goeun stood in the doorway with Kang Hyeonseong. Her condition was better than on admission. Thanks to nightly energy circulation meditation, she’d made progress.

“Thinking about it, this is the first time I’ve left Silver Nose Bar empty for a week.”

She spun, gripping his shoulder. Her rotation was smooth as oiled gears.

“You think all the regulars bailed while you were gone?”

Kang Hyeonseong chimed in, arms crossed beside her. He’d tagged along out of worry.

Goeun said it’d be fine, but that was her take. What bugged him wasn’t her—it was Lee Taebaek.

Lee Taebaek had left a singular impression from their first meeting. And since arriving in Lake City, it had only intensified.

This city was called humanity’s hellscape, devouring residents’ souls as it grew. Meaning cases like his weren’t rare.

If so, he’d wake him up before it was too late. Plus, he had to cover damages from the spar with Goeun. Leaving debt would lock their dynamic into debtor-creditor. Debts needed nipping at the bud.

‘Out of my own pocket, no less…’

Kang Hyeonseong groaned lowly. Goeun cut his wandering thoughts short.

“It’s not like we make money on booze anyway. I set it up so main clients get notified if I’m hurt or away. ECG monitor on my heart.”

She shrugged. Kang Hyeonseong stared in disbelief before asking,

“Still can’t cut ties with the magic tower?”

“You know I can’t even if I want to. When has the Demonic Cult ever shown mercy to apostates? Not killing a talented mage right away is just grace time. Miss it, and they send assassins. That’s their rule.”

“How about joining the Resistance?”

“Just went freelance—why tie myself down again? Thanks, but no. And…”

Goeun’s eyes turned wistful.

“If I joined, the assassins they’d send would skyrocket. Could be Left or Right Guardian.”

Left and Right Guardians—both Seven Dignitaries.

In other words, three of Ten Wings were Magic Tower affiliates. That’s how Heavenly Demon Cult punched as a megacorp despite funding gaps.

“If the Commander-in-Chief and Battalion Commanders team up—”

“What if the Tower Master, Heavenly Demon, comes herself?”

“…That…”

Kang Hyeonseong bit his lip at her curt words. Goeun smirked and added,

“Once the Magic Tower marks you, you’re half-dead anyway. Been prepared since apostasy. No biggie. Ah, of course, till ‘that day,’ I’ll do my best teaching Lee Taebaek.”

“…You’re pretty gung-ho.”

“Taking disciples is a mage’s trait. Who knows? Like old murim tales, maybe the disciple avenges the master?”

Zzt.

“Kidding, kidding. Just saying. Don’t look like you’re gonna eat me.”

Kang Hyeonseong eyed her thoroughly before sighing. After a deep breath, he pushed the door.

Kiiiek.

Wonder how trashed the inside is. Time to dip into savings a bit…

“…?”

The door fully opened. Kang Hyeonseong’s eyes went wide in shock right after.

He froze gripping the handle. Goeun peeked her head beside him.

“Wha, wha, what?”

Three short gasps. Goeun stared blankly at her nest, Silver Nose Bar.

The interior gleamed spotless. Wooden floors relaid in stone, dingy lights and fixtures all brand new.

In the center sat a comfy sofa, Lee Taebaek lounging back against it.

“Oh, what. Kang Hyeonseong, you too?”

Alerted by their presence, Lee Taebaek pushed his eyepatch up with a thumb. He rose slowly, saying,

“Come on in.”

His welcoming tone—like inviting to his own home—had them shut the door on reflex. The “Taebaek Bar” plaque inside hung crooked.