Burning Torch (3)
“...It’s over. Fortunately, they say that side was able to get out without taking any serious losses.”
A single sentence came from An, whose eyes had been quietly closed.
At those words, sighs of relief escaped from the mouths of those around her, who had been wearing tense expressions.
“Whew, that’s a relief.”
“Heaven has not abandoned us yet. If Lady Malfi is safe, we’ll be able to join forces again somehow.”
“Even so, for the time being, we need to watch the situation a little longer. If too many of us gather in one place right now, we’ll quickly catch their eye. Until we come up with a countermeasure for that, it’s better to stay moderately scattered and hidden like this.”
The survivors of Burning Torch began to speak one by one at the news that their comrades, who had taken refuge elsewhere, were safe.
Their numbers had, at some point, swelled to nearly ten.
While fleeing to safety under Ken’s guidance, they had managed to meet up with comrades who happened to be nearby.
And just as the group began exchanging opinions in earnest.
An, who had been using her power to avoid pursuit while also conducting long-distance communication, caught her breath and wiped the sweat beading on her forehead.
Then, with renewed eyes, she looked at Ken, who was standing with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall in one corner.
An unidentified demon who had suddenly appeared and declared that he would help them.
The fact that the situation had improved this much was entirely thanks to following his advice.
‘He was right again. Just who is the one behind him? What kind of ability do they have that makes something like this possible...?’
It was the same for everything they had experienced so far, including this incident.
Thanks to following his advice, more than just one or two of their comrades had safely escaped the clutches of the Beoncheonhoe.
That was not something one could do without perfectly grasping the events taking place across this vast land.
As if they were truly watching everything from the sky.
‘Considering the range, it’s not something that can be done with an individual’s ability alone. An organization’s manpower is probably involved. ...Though that’s still incredible in its own right.’
To possess such information-gathering ability despite Southeast Asia not even being their base.
That capability already far surpassed that of most nations.
Just how large was this organization for such a thing to be possible...?
Of course, behind it were Hesperon’s cutting-edge abilities and the tearful struggles of Andrew Weaver, who had been worked to the bone for several days without even sleeping.
But there was no way for her, as she was now, to know that.
“In any case, with this, we’ve confirmed the survival of all the key executives. ...Not everyone is safe, but still, I think this is far better than we expected.”
She, who had been silently looking at Ken, quietly opened her mouth.
At that, those who had been talking around her all shut their mouths at once and looked at her.
Whatever anyone might say, the leader currently guiding them was her.
“With this much, we should be able to reorganize somehow and resume our activities. Of course, I think we’ll need to be as cautious as possible for the time being...”
As she continued speaking calmly, she looked at Ken with a strange gaze.
At that unidentified helper, who, despite being one of the parties involved, somehow stood a step back and merely nodded with composure.
“So, Ken. Our representative says he’d like to meet you once. What do you think?”
Then she brought up what she had just heard.
As the situation began to improve, the restored communication network had included Burning Torch’s representative, whose whereabouts had been unknown until now.
“That’s what I’ve been waiting to hear.”
Naturally, Ken did not refuse the proposal.
After all, the reason he had been moving around busily for the past few days without even resting properly, acting as an errand boy, was all for that.
‘At last, I’m starting to see the end of this matter. Once I get to the negotiating table, the employer will take care of the rest.’
If that happened, he would no longer need to wander around under this scorching sun, and before long, he would be able to return to Japan.
What awaited him after that was a reunion with his family after more than thirty years.
‘Though by Earth’s time, it would only be a little over three years.’
For him, who had lived all manner of turbulent lives in the Demon Realm, it was a reunion he had dreamed of even in sleep.
Even if he could not say that the current him was the original Miyamoto Ken.
From the moment he inherited that soul and decided to live as Ken, it was something he absolutely had to do.
And so the date of the meeting awaited by many was set.
Time passed quickly, and at last, the promised day dawned.
***
Burning Torch was a resistance force against the Beoncheonhoe, operating out of Southeast Asia.
As an organization formed by Awakened individuals from various Southeast Asian countries united as one, its basic structure consisted of branches in each country, with support dispatched whenever necessary.
But in any organization, the existence of a leader to bind them together was indispensable.
The one chosen for that role was Freddie, the current representative from Indonesia, commonly known as the “President.”
‘He certainly is a figure of no small caliber. It couldn’t have been easy to build an organization that includes not only people from his own country, but foreigners as well.’
Ken, who was following An and Jose, inwardly expressed his admiration.
Though he had not been officially provided with detailed information, he had learned quite a bit from spending time with them, so he knew to some extent.
The upper ranks of Burning Torch could certainly be called an elite few, but considering the scope of their activities, the number of members they commanded was not small either.
‘Well, most of the rank-and-file agents seem to have joined more because of patriotism or anti-Chinese sentiment than because of the Beoncheonhoe itself.’
That was something that had happened because the Beoncheonhoe had completely swallowed China.
Those who had noticed the connection in one way or another began to interpret the Beoncheonhoe’s influence, which had started spreading through Southeast Asia, as China’s covert invasion. Since the predecessor of Burning Torch had been secretly formed to oppose that, perhaps it was only natural.
Of course, the current executives were also fully aware of the danger the Beoncheonhoe posed while lurking behind the world, but it was undeniable that using the framework of China was useful when recruiting members.
Naturally, because of political and diplomatic issues, they had no choice but to hide and avoid acting openly even within their own countries.
“This way. In truth, this isn’t something we should reveal carelessly to an outsider... But, well, since it’s the President’s order, it should be fine. The fact that we can use this again is practically thanks to you, too.”
After walking for a while.
An, standing before an ordinary door, took something out from inside her clothes.
An antique piece of silk embroidered with all kinds of complex shapes and symbols.
She spread it wide and fixed it to the door, then turned the doorknob without hesitation...
“Huh.”
Beyond it, a corridor with a mystical atmosphere different from anything before stretched out at length.
A floor made of Eastern-style wooden boards, lanterns hanging here and there, and colorful bead curtains extending from the ceiling down along the walls.
“This is the driving force that allowed us to evade their eyes and work together. No matter how far apart we are, if we use this place, we can gather as one at any time. It can also be used to travel long distances.”
An, who stepped into the corridor first, continued speaking slowly.
Until now, the executive who had to serve as the center of this space had also been too busy being chased by the Beoncheonhoe, so they had not been able to use it.
Then, saying that if that executive had ultimately been taken down, Burning Torch would have had no choice but to collapse as it was, she gave a bitter smile.
‘Space is distorted here. And over an incredibly wide range... So this is what makes an executive-level figure different.’
Ken’s eyes gleamed as he looked around in every direction while passing through the corridor.
And he could not help but click his tongue anew.
Even a superhuman with this level of spatial ability had been unable to flee properly and had been forced to run while being pursued.
It was astounding, just how far the Beoncheonhoe’s capabilities extended.
“By the way, is your representative really not attending? If they use this place, there shouldn’t be any worry of being discovered by the Beoncheonhoe.”
At that moment, Jose, who had been quietly following, spoke in a dissatisfied tone.
It seemed he was quite displeased that while the other side’s representative was showing up in person, their side was putting forward Ken as a proxy.
But Ken, who had no authority to decide, merely shrugged.
“I did talk to him, but he said it would be problematic if he left his post now, since it would create a hole in this region’s surveillance network. Still, don’t worry too much. Communication can be handled in real time even now.”
“...Well, fine. This isn’t a place for full-scale discussions yet, so I suppose it doesn’t matter.”
Jose’s eyes narrowed slightly at Ken’s answer, but he could not bring himself to say anything when told it was to help them.
Hadn’t the help they had received from the other side so far already been more than enough?
He did not know how much more help they would receive in the future, so souring the mood over something like that would be a poor move.
Just as he had said, this was merely a meeting arranged to express gratitude and become acquainted.
“We’re here.”
What they encountered at the end of the long corridor was a sliding door that exuded an unmistakably Eastern air.
And when An opened it without hesitation, the first person they saw was.
“It’s been a while, An. And Jose, too. I’m glad everyone is safe.”
A middle-aged woman welcoming them with a gentle smile.
“Malfi, you too. I heard you were in quite a dangerous situation?”
“Yes, thanks to you, I was able to escape the crisis. Though it was also because the President drew that demon’s attention during the first attack. By the way, is this...?”
The warm exchange of greetings only ended after Ken was introduced.
Ken nodded roughly, brushing aside the thanks of Malfi, the middle-aged woman who was the executive who had constructed this space, and slowly looked around.
‘Does this space itself have an automatic interpretation function? Impressive.’
In the hall, which had a mystical atmosphere just like the corridor, there were around twenty people from various countries besides them.
Seeing the dozens of sliding doors placed all around the circular hall, it seemed they too had come here through various other passages.
They, who had been conversing among themselves, seemed to notice his identity and began approaching one by one to greet him.
“By the way, where is the President? Has he not arrived yet?”
“He said he might be a little late. There happened to be a topic for discussion, but apparently some trouble came up with the preparations.”
“Really? That’s unusual. He was always the first to arrive.”
Aside from the executives sacrificed in the recent incident, everyone who could attend had already arrived.
The representative in question appeared some thirty minutes after that conversation.
“Ah, the President has entered the corridor.”
At Malfi’s quiet words, the gazes of those seated at the round conference table in the center of the hall, who had been talking about each other’s recent situations, turned toward the sliding door that had begun to open slowly.
“I apologize for being late. A small problem suddenly came up...”
And the moment the middle-aged man with a short beard appeared from beyond the door and spoke his apology with an embarrassed expression.
An, who had been resting her chin on the table with a bored expression, went rigid.
Crash—!
No, it did not end there.
She shot up from her seat, sending her chair flying back, and glared at him with a ferocious face.
“Fuck... What kind of bullshit is this?”
“An...?”
“What? What’s wrong all of a sudden?”
At her sudden strange reaction, the air sank coldly.
But the confusion among those present did not last long.
Those quick on the uptake began to carefully rise from their seats with grave faces and step back.
Because they had been together for a long time, and they knew.
What her ability could do, and what she could discover with it.
Of course, since nothing had yet been clearly revealed, all of their gazes could only turn toward the sources of the problem.
Toward An, the one who had shown the abnormal reaction, and toward the President, who was clearly bewildered after being met with hostility the moment he stepped into the hall.
“What are you? What is your true identity?!”
“Huh? What do you mean by that all of a sudden, An? I am Freddie, am I not—”
“Cut the bullshit! You fake! What happened to the real President?!”
As the two continued their conversation, the situation began hurtling toward a hair-trigger crisis.
An was baring her rage ferociously, while President Freddy still wore a troubled expression.
Whichever side was right, the atmosphere was no longer one in which the meeting could continue.
Some were already raising their momentum, while others were slowly backing away toward the exits.
“Haa— damn it.”
Had he sensed the mood around them?
The president, who had been trying somehow to persuade his opponent, let out a sigh and roughly rubbed his chin.
“…I didn’t think her instincts would be this sharp. As expected, should I have dealt with that woman first, no matter what it took?”
His voice was different from before—utterly cold, devoid of emotion.
Immediately after.
“This is…!”
Malfi, who had been retreating with a grave expression like the other executives, let out a scream-like cry.
But before she could say anything more, the situation was already spiraling out of control.
Shk-shk-shk—!
Sharp thorns surged up from where the sliding doors were, completely sealing off the entrances.
The change had appeared before Malfi, the owner of this space, could do anything about it.
But the abnormality did not end there.
Rattle—
The only passage that had not been blocked.
The sliding door through which the president had just entered opened again, and a group of five or six slowly walked in.
Every one of them radiated displeasure, as though they found the current situation deeply annoying.
“What the hell? You were so confident, and you got exposed already?”
“…Tsk.”
“Hey, Mimic. What are you going to do about this? You said that guy was just a lackey. Weren’t we supposed to let it slide for now until the one pulling the strings showed up?”
A man with swarthy skin and a strangely bare-looking head pointed at Ken and snapped at the president.
His attitude made it obvious to anyone that they were on the same side.
The problem was that the man was also very familiar to the executives gathered here—he was the Southeast Asia branch head of the Burning Heaven Society, the one they called Viper.
“…It couldn’t be helped. Their goal is to use the Burning Torch to interfere with our plan. Now that we’ve been exposed, we can’t simply let them go.”
“Argh! If things had gone according to plan, this would’ve ended nice and easy. Nothing ever goes right!”
“Still, it isn’t as though we gained nothing. He may only be called a lackey, but there’s no way someone as strong as him is at the bottom.”
At the protest from the president… no, from the being wearing the president’s skin, their gazes turned to Ken.
A demon returnee who had reached quite a high level even among Transcendents.
He certainly was not someone who could be used as a mere disposable pawn.
Even if his position was lower than whoever stood behind him, if they wrung his soul dry, they would surely be able to obtain something.
“…Well, fine. It’s a pity we couldn’t snatch the head right away, but it can’t be helped. There’s a certain charm to climbing up one step at a time like this, too.”
As though convinced by those words, the East Asia branch head slowly nodded.
Then he raised the corners of his mouth in a fishy grin toward Ken and continued.
“That’s how it is, so there’s no helping it. We’ll start with you first. If you want to die peacefully, you’ll have to spill everything you know.”
The executives of the Burning Torch present here were already outside their consideration.
Of course they were.
After all, the forces the Burning Heaven Society had brought here were never meant to deal with them in the first place.
“About the Masquerade behind you!”
All of this was a trap prepared for the Masquerade.
A force gathered to deal with the adversary who had obstructed them at every turn.
“…Huh? Mas… what?”
Of course, to Ken himself, it was a name he had never heard in his life.