Echoes of Truth

Inside the basement, the dim torchlight flickered.

Ansu stared at the hideously ugly Elder Hall. "Eyes?"

"That's right, eyes!" Elder Hall looked behind him and waved away all the cultists, including Ms. Mary.

Once only the two of them remained in the basement room, he continued.

"Since you have already joined our Echoes of Truth, you should already be clear about our origins and sacred mission, right?"

Ansu hadn't expected him to start preaching doctrine right away.

To be honest, this was the first time he felt these guys were genuine, bona-fide cultists.

Because the World Ending Witch - Celia really wasn't your typical cultist.

"I don't know."

Ansu shook his head, feigning confusion. After all, Celia had never mentioned any of this to him.

"You don't know?" Elder Hall was momentarily stunned, then his expression turned indignant.

"That crazy witch! She recruits members for the cult but doesn't even mention our doctrine?"

"Such reckless behavior! Does she even know what she's doing? Does she want to defect??"

Ansu thought to himself that she really would "defect" in the future.

Or rather, she would become the "cult" herself, because she would slaughter every elder who opposed her...

Celia was even more "extreme" than the cultists.

"That bastard! She's become so arrogant. If I had known, I should have nipped her growth in the bud!" Elder Hall fumed as he thought of something, his anger rising. He glared at Ansu again.

"Fine! Since she hasn't said it, I will convey our sacred mission to you!"

"Listen well." His tone softened slightly. "We are the successors of the Second Era's Great Magic Empire. Our mission is to restore the brilliance and glory of the Ancient Magic Era!"

Elder Hall truly looked as if he were moved by some "sacred calling." His tone and expression were incredibly sincere and focused. Of course, in Ansu's eyes, he perfectly fit the stereotype of a cultist.

"We have always been dedicated to researching the ultimate mysteries of magic and exploring the truth of the world, so that this filthy, fallen world can return to humanity's beautiful and pure pastoral era! Unfortunately..."

Elder Hall let out a regretful sigh. "The current world has been stolen by false gods and their lackeys. The beautiful era is gone, never to return..."

Ansu silently watched this self-indulgent elder, thinking that if he hadn't played the game, he might have actually believed this nonsense.

These cultists talked a big game, but they merely committed atrocities in the name of truth. Wherever they went, they brought only death, corruption, and panic...

"So..." After finishing his grand speech, Elder Hall finally got back to the point.

"Since you have joined the cult, you have a responsibility to work for its future. I have a very important matter that requires your assistance."

"Since you are the one Celia chose, you must be able to feel what a dangerous person she is." Elder Hall let out a cold sneer.

"Before you, none of the people the organization sent to her survived. You will surely meet the same end. Don't think she's keeping you around because she values you! Hahaha, she just found a new toy. You have no idea how malicious that crazy witch can be..."

"So, Elder Hall, what you mean is..." Ansu frowned.

"Only I can save your life." Elder Hall looked as if he were placing great importance on Ansu, patting him on the shoulder. "But the premise is that while you work for her, you must also work for me."

"For example?" Ansu asked hesitantly.

"It's not as difficult as you think. You only need to let me know when we need you..." Elder Hall narrowed his eyes. "Where she is and what she's doing. That's all."

"Oh..." Ansu fell into thought.

Celia wanted him to be her eyes and ears to investigate the school, while Elder Hall wanted him to secretly monitor Celia...

What kind of double agent plot was this?

It seemed Echoes of Truth was far from the monolith he had imagined. Since Hall mentioned "we," it meant there were others behind him. This was likely a power struggle between Celia's teacher and another faction...

"Elder Hall, this might be a bit difficult..." Ansu put on a hesitant expression. "If Lady Celia finds anything suspicious, she will definitely kill me..."

Elder Hall's demeanor suddenly shifted, his gaze turning sinister in an instant. "Do you think you have a choice?"

Ansu cursed inwardly. Then why did you bother telling me all that just now? Was it just a cutscene?

"Don't worry, when the day comes, you won't have to do anything..." Elder Hall gave a cruel laugh. He opened his withered palm and moved a slowly wriggling insect toward Ansu's mouth.

"What is that thing!?" Ansu stared intently at the worm that was inches away.

The worm seemed to receive Elder Hall's command. The closer it got to Ansu's mouth, the more vigorously it twisted, eventually appearing eager to crawl inside.

"It will merge with your body and transmit information to me. No one will ever find it..." Elder Hall stared at the tense Ansu.

"But if you dare to disobey my orders, it will slowly burrow into your organs and gnaw at your heart, making you die in excruciating pain..."

Ansu wasn't afraid of bugs, but he couldn't stand the thought of one crawling into his mouth.

Just thinking about that thing wriggling inside his body made his skin crawl...

He struggled hard, pulling against the ropes to stay as far away from Elder Hall's large hand as possible.

"Wait! Wait a second!!"

"Can't we skip this part? Elder Hall! I promise I can be your spy! Really! I'm very familiar with this kind of thing now!"

Elder Hall sneered, once again trying to shove the insect in. "If promises were useful, there would have been no wars in this world! Stop talking nonsense and swallow it!"

Damn it! Ansu really couldn't take it anymore.

【Magic Immunity】

He stopped pretending!

He had seen insect magic in the game before. This seemingly physical ability actually fell under the category of magic, and as long as it was magic, he could block it!

With a sizzling sound.

The insect in Elder Hall's hand instantly dissipated as if melting. He let out a sharp hiss of pain, as if he could feel it himself.

"You... what did you do, kid!" He was stunned. He hadn't expected this brat to actually know magic.

Moreover, he couldn't even tell what kind of magic that counter-force was!

Ansu struggled against the sturdy ropes.

The crisis forced him into a state of high concentration. In his desperation, he even broke through three stages of progress!

【Mage's Hand (Learned) (Learning Progress: 50/50)】

An invisible hand appeared behind Ansu and helped him untie the ropes.

"Mage's Hand?"

Taking advantage of the moment the other party was on guard, Ansu lunged toward a nearby torch and gripped it tightly.

According to the game mechanics, the best way to counter insect magic was fire.

Of course, this little bit of fire probably wouldn't do much, but it was better than nothing.

Ansu didn't want to play along anymore. It was a dead end anyway. He'd rather die quickly than swallow a bug. He'd prefer these cultists hack him to death.

"You..." Elder Hall stared at Ansu, who was holding the torch. "You really surprised me... You have so many secrets. How did Celia let someone like you into Echoes of Truth?"

He immediately reached out a hand. That half-human, half-insect hand surged toward Ansu.

"I'll have to take you back and study you carefully..."

Ansu was forced to use the torch to block, but the moment he swung it—

A powerful surge of magic appeared in the dim basement.

"Who is it?" Elder Hall's expression shook.

"Why is it you ugly thing again? I already gave you a beating once. Why can't you learn your lesson?"

Celia's crisp, pleasant, yet slightly mocking voice echoed from somewhere in the darkness.

In the next second.

Elder Hall clutched his severed arm in agony.

"Aaaaaah—!"

Massive clusters of insects, charred by Black Flame, fell to the ground. The air was suddenly filled with an aroma that one would usually find at a barbecue stall.

This grilled scent actually made Ansu's revulsion toward the bugs fade a little.

Ansu immediately looked toward the direction of the voice. Celia slowly stepped out from the darkness.

She glanced at Ansu expressionlessly.

"Hmph."

"What a troublesome fellow..."