BXBX NOVEL Chapter 141: What's wrong? [2/2]
[My Lord, please stop preying on young girls. The Sirens are not an enemy to be taken lightly].
"Wait, what? I've done nothing wrong, Aira! I am innocent."
The girls who heard my comments couldn't help but laugh. Philip and the other guilds even made some remarks about betting on me.
A light-hearted atmosphere eased the tension as the group moved forward.
Unconsciously, at some point, everyone fell silent. Surprised that no one said anything, I turned around to find that the entire group had ceased to advance.
"Everyone, what is wrong..."
It was only when I looked into their eyes that I realized. Every single one of the Reapers present had one emotion on their faces.
Fear.
Though at different levels, they all looked absolutely terrified.
The Golden Wick girls had it the worst, the five of them had teary eyes and covered their mouths as they shivered. Red Moon and Overlord were no different. A couple of guys couldn't take it anymore and started vomiting on the spot.
"What's wrong with all of you?" I asked confused.
Phillip, who also had a fierce look in his eyes, asked in trepidation.
"Esteemed Limitless, is what we are seeing real? You did all this by yourself in less than an hour?"
"Well, it took about forty minutes give or take, but why are you all acting like this?" I shifted my view and checked the sight that was scaring them all.
It was the best view of Point A and B. Originally a shade of black, the ground at both points was now bloody crimson. So much undead blood had been spilled that the earth could no longer absorb the liquids.
Unbeknownst to anyone, the blood coalesced, creating a bloody sea that snaked across both points. Along with the body of sanguine water, dismembered corpses piled higher than four feet littered the sites.
Torn and mutilated human limbs, torsos barely in one piece, and severed heads decorated both locations like set pieces. Everywhere you looked, there was either a human corpse cut in half or arms and legs torn from their owners.
Against the backdrop of the dimly lit sky, the scene looked like something you would see at the end of the world. It was a literal hell, a scene that showed the absolute nightmare that only war could create.
Even though the undead had all been taken out, their faces were still distorted with pain and agony. Some were more disgusting than others, as they even had maggots and bugs feasting on their rotting flesh.
Perhaps it was because I was the one who had murdered them all, but only now did I notice a smell that I had become desensitized to. It was the smell of rotting flesh, and it filled the air. The stench was not only nauseating, but even made it uncomfortable to breathe.
It was only after seeing their reactions that I finally realized how inhuman I must have seemed.
Despite such a horrifying depiction of death, I, its creator, smiled like I was going to a picnic.
"..."
When I scanned the eyes of the production guilds, I found that most of them were still trembling. The Golden Wick girls, who had been chatting like schoolgirls, could no longer even look me in the eye. They were filled with fear, as if they were afraid that I would kill them for the slightest mistake.
While I had noticed the admiration or anxiety of the new defenders and their groups, this was the first time I had seen people rooted in fear because of something I had done.
'What am I supposed to do in these situations? Make a joke? Order them to shape up?'
Phillip, who seemed to have come to his senses, clapped his hands.
"Everyone, you have now verified how our esteemed Limitless works. Such results are only natural for those in power. Remember, he is on our side. And the more enemies he destroys, the better off we will be."
Like a miracle drug, clarity spread through the two dozen people present. Seemingly convinced by Phillip, the members of Red Moon and Overlord went to work.
The girls of Golden Wick closed their eyes and walked cautiously toward Point A.
I, who remained in my position, felt invisible as the guilds ignored my existence. Phillip stood by my side as he added a few words.
"Mr. Smith. No, John. Please forgive them and me for our reaction earlier. Such a scene may have seemed perfectly normal to you. But to those far away from the battle.
What we saw earlier was absolutely... gruesome, for lack of a better word."
"..."
"They will slowly get used to it. Like most things, it will toughen them up. Including me. As for the contracts, I knew your spoils would be astronomical, so Red Moon and Overlord will take turns handling the collection," Phillip explained.
"How much would they take?"
"They will take a modest 25% for processing and transportation. I would get a 1% commission on everything. However, they may reduce that number based on what just happened."
"Was it really that bad?" I asked reflexively.
"Mr. Smith. If I didn't know you were a death seeker, I might have mistaken you for a demon. Anyone who can smile in a place like this has already left the ranks of humanity."
"..."
"I am sure it has given everyone a new perspective. Before coming here, none of these guilds had even seen a reclaimed zone. We all participated in the defense as required by the rules, but none of us ever imagined what it would be like to face such numbers alone."
Phillip then turned to me as he bowed in awe.
"Esteemed Limitless, I once again apologize for my earlier behavior. The dispatch office has already accepted my request to be your official clerk. From now on, I will take care of all the paperwork after each of your battles. Please allow me to assist you."
I then extended my hand to Phillip.
"I look forward to it."