"What is this? What is this unpleasant feeling I'm experiencing?!"
"Why do I feel like I'm suffocating? What did that person do? Is he using some kind of magic?"
"The air feels heavier and heavier."
CRASH
The shield Shaden had been using shattered. However, those who had been trying to attack him suddenly lost focus-and even stopped paying attention to Shaden altogether.
"What's going on? Did you use a skill?" asked Leah.
She wasn't standing too far from him, since they had been surrounded after being accused of murder.
"This isn't a skill. They just can't resist the power that clashes with their own," Shaden replied, his eyes fixed on the scythe in his hand.
The scythe he obtained after solving that maddening puzzle was once wielded by the Archangel Michael. That meant the scythe now in Shaden's possession carried a divine power strong enough to affect the demonic forces rooted in the western region.
From the beginning, the idea of handing out food and supplies without expecting anything in return was a lie-pure nonsense. In a world like this, where even a drop of water is more precious than gold, there's no way people would be so generous-not truly.
"How many souls have you traded to Asmodeus in exchange for your endless food supplies?" asked Shaden.
His question caused those who had been gasping for breath to suddenly stop and turn to look at him.
"How do you know the name of the god we worship?"
"God?" Shaden almost laughed at the person who appeared to be leading the group of attackers. "You're clearly ignorant, so it's no surprise you were fooled so easily. The one you've been worshipping and offering human souls to-that's no god. It's a demon. You planted Mandrake so you could maintain communication with that demon and offer it whatever it demanded, didn't you? From the start, it made no sense for people to grow crops in soil tainted with monster aura. The only plants that can grow in conditions like this are those tied to demonic energy and mystic magical forces."
"What? Demonic plants? What are you talking about? Who here is involved with demons?"
Chaos erupted once again. Those who had come to this area believing it was a safe haven began to question how the region's managers had obtained so many supplies and food to distribute freely.
"Stop spouting nonsense! A murderer like you is just making excuses to escape this situation! Everyone! Attack him now!"
Shaden braced himself to defend against the mob, but then someone stepped in front of him. To his surprise, it was Leah. He quickly searched for Tery, who had been unconscious earlier, and felt relief when he saw her sitting against a nearby building. The woman gave him a weak smile and nodded gently, signaling that she was okay now.
Taking a deep breath, Shaden realized that no matter how powerful he and Leah were, facing this many people wouldn't be easy. Especially since they were now tainted by demonic energy.
"The food you've been preparing and distributing daily-it's been laced with Mandrake. That way, Asmodeus can take his sacrifices whenever he pleases. The first people who came here are probably already dead, which is why no one noticed. That's the only reason your operation lasted this long."
"What?! Are you saying the food we've been eating is demon-tainted?"
"No wonder it felt odd-even though they provided meals, beds, and supplies, they never asked for a single coin!"
"Does that mean Robert didn't die from a monster infection, but because his soul was taken by the demon?"
Thanks to Shaden's words, most of the people began to doubt their trust in the western region's managers. They started openly accusing the caretakers of deceiving and exploiting them by exchanging their souls with a demon.
"AND WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?!" the leader shouted, silencing everyone.
Now, the group was split in two-those who had known the truth from the beginning, and the survivors who now felt betrayed.
"Whether it's a demon or a monster that takes you, weak people like us are going to die anyway! You should be grateful I gave you food and shelter for free at the end of your lives!"
Shaden smirked. "That may be true. But there's something you haven't told them, Manager."
Everyone waited for Shaden's next words. The leader, on the other hand, began to pale, clearly shaken.
"If they die from a monster or fail a mission, they might still go to the afterlife, or at least have a chance to reincarnate after atoning for their sins. But if their souls are taken by demons... they become demon slaves forever, never allowed to pass on. Isn't that right?"
"W-what? Even in death, I'll still be suffering as a demon's slave? No! I'd rather be eaten by a monster!"
"Me too! I don't want that!"
The survivors now looked at Shaden with pleading eyes. "How do we break free from the demon's influence if we've already eaten their food? Please tell us! We'll give you all the coins we have!"
This time, Shaden fell silent. He turned his gaze toward the managers who were now grinning at him. They knew too-
That once a soul was bound to a demon, there was no way to undo it.
But of course, that's only what the managers believed. As a knowledgeable reader, Shaden knew more than they did.
Shaden smiled, causing the managers' expressions to shift in panic.
"You don't have much time. Head east, and find the Sacred Basil Tree. Only by crushing its leaves and drinking the extract can you break the mystical influence of the Mandrake. But..." Shaden's eyes turned cold as he glared at the managers now retreating in fear. "First, you must destroy every single Mandrake plant in this area. As long as even one remains, the demonic influence cannot be removed."
Almost immediately after Shaden spoke, the survivors who had eaten the tainted food began storming the fields.
But Shaden had left something out: if all the fields were destroyed, the place-and its managers-would also vanish. After all, the managers had already sold their souls to the demon long before the world collapsed.
"I knew you had knowledge of this world, but I didn't expect you to recognize the demonic essence in the western region so quickly," said Leah.
Shaden turned and offered a faint smile. They were now walking toward the largest soccer stadium in the city to prepare for their fourth mission.
"From the start, that place felt suspicious-like a forced illusion. Even before the world ended, people risked their lives just for a piece of warm bread because they had no money. How could anyone in this kind of world offer food with no payment in return? If the managers had asked for even a few coins for the food or beds, I probably wouldn't have suspected them as much."
Shaden was still supporting Tery, who wasn't able to walk properly yet, though she was clearly in better shape than before. Her complexion had started to return to normal.
"I sometimes wonder... if I hadn't walked up to you back then, when you were sitting alone in the corner of the education department, I probably would've died-maybe during the second or third mission. The best decision I ever made was approaching you, even though you looked pretty pitiful at the time," Leah said with a small laugh.
Shaden laughed along. Back then, he just thought he had a better chance of surviving alone. But Leah and her friends had turned out to be necessary, especially during the team mission.
"Thank you so much, Shad. I don't even know how to repay you. In the western region too, if not for your warning, I probably would've been one of those desperate people rushing east."
"I just did what had to be done. You're too valuable to die, Leah. I need you and your skills for the missions ahead."
Leah chuckled, and even Tery laughed softly.
"That stung a little-getting such a cold response after thanking you."
Tery added in her weak voice, "Exactly what I meant! You're doing great, Leah, sticking with someone who openly uses you."
Shaden shrugged and smiled. "That's just how it is. I need capable people like you both to survive... and to search for someone."
"Search for someone?" Leah asked, curious.
But Shaden didn't answer. He simply kept walking, still supporting Tery.
There was still so much to do. And he needed to grow stronger-strong enough to one day find that person, protect them, and repay everything they had done for him... even creating the book that saved him in this shattered world.
**