Chapter 113: Abandoned Territory

Usually, when this gathering was held, the attention of every present party would always focus on the Rank-A Hunter leading the gathering.

However, this time the atmosphere was different, and even felt far heavier. Everyone’s attention was split into two spots. Namely, Killac’s figure, a Rank-A Hunter and legend to humanity in this current era, and the other one, a man whose origins remained unknown and who had somehow suddenly gained a position with enough power to determine the continued survival of humanity.

Each of them felt curious, full of questions they couldn’t quite bring themselves to ask. But since they too were among the veterans leading humanity’s fate, they didn’t display their own awkwardness and simply appeared calm and relaxed.

Then, amid the silence dominated by a deathly awkwardness, Killac, who had stayed silent for a while, finally spoke up.

"Alright, I don’t think any of you, or myself, want to drag this out. So, I’ll get straight to telling you about the current situation in the Abandoned Territory."

As a note, Abandoned Territory was essentially the same as Invaded Territory. The difference lay in the fact that Invaded Territory was territory that had already been assigned a designated zone level by the current great families, each of which was a territory occasionally visited by Hunters.

Then, Abandoned Territory was fundamentally a zone whose level couldn’t be measured. It covered the entire region that humans shouldn’t visit at this time. A region where, even a Rank-A Hunter had to be extremely careful.

So, the tasks held by Rank-A Hunters were actually quite numerous and burdensome.

Hearing Killac’s statement, each party hoped to hear something they were already used to hearing.

Like... the Abandoned Territory was still extremely dangerous, but no incident was going to throw humanity into chaos.

However, all of that was merely wishful thinking, just because it hadn’t happened for years didn’t mean it would never happen.

"And, well, I think something serious is happening. I’ve come back to warn you all to start tightening the defenses of the current safe zone."

That was exactly why each party looked somewhat startled hearing Killac’s statement.

"...What exactly is happening?"

"A Breach has opened."

"...Isn’t that something that happens often?"

Killac shrugged his shoulders and clicked his tongue with a hollow laugh. "Yeah, damn it, a Breach is something that happens often in the Abandoned Territory, but..."

He held himself back and looked randomly toward one of the parties.

"What if dozens opened at once? Even each one at a fairly high level?"

"W-why would something like that suddenly happen?"

"There’s not much of a clue about that."

Killac pulled a cigarette out of his pocket, intending to light it for a moment, then his gaze turned toward Julian.

He stopped, then put the cigarette back into his pocket.

"Maybe those damn cultists are up to something stupid again."

"The Church of Ascension?"

"Yeah."

Hearing that, every member of that party immediately wore a grim expression. They’d dealt with that Alien-worshipping cult for a very long time and always realized just how troublesome they were.

Not just because they were exceptionally good at hiding like rats, but also because they were extremely difficult to kill, like cockroaches once discovered.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Julian, hearing about that cult, was also sinking into his own thoughts.

He listened carefully and could immediately sense the potential danger coming, even though he felt no fear whatsoever.

’Aren’t they being a bit too insane?’

It was too early to make an accusation, but if this really was related to the Church of Ascension, then Julian could only show just how much he didn’t understand it.

’They’re trying to worship an Alien that fundamentally has an uncountable number of them. So, is there a possibility that they actually have one single figure that serves as the only one they worship?’

If so, their loyalty might be understandable.

Along with that, Julian remembered what Aveela had said. Regarding how humanity’s only remaining hope might actually have to surrender themselves to a stronger Alien in order to survive.

At first, that still felt like something that wouldn’t happen anytime soon. But all those thoughts kept getting disproven so quickly every time Julian thought about it.

Dozens of Breaches suddenly opening?

"Ah, the reason I’m accusing that damn cult is actually because the Aliens from the Breach, strangely enough, have always been running around and even cooperating to capture the cult’s members."

Killac added something that left Julian sitting there in deep thought. He didn’t need to ask what was on his mind, because at that moment, everyone probably had the same question.

"Could the cult have offended something about them?"

"How could that possibly happen?"

"Well, they’re trying to worship Aliens. Who knows, maybe they stepped in something during a ritual and made a mistake."

"Or maybe... they took something they shouldn’t have? I heard some Aliens have an extremely strong obsession with what belongs to them."

That discussion went around among the great family parties. Because, as Killac had said, there was no clue that could validate that accusation.

So, each of them began forming their own theories and reaching conclusions that were still invalid and needed to be thought through carefully.

"What’s your opinion? Lord Julian."

Julian turned when he heard, listening carefully, and somehow, Lurker across from him suddenly asked him for his opinion on the matter.

And instantly, Julian smiled awkwardly in his own mind.

’My opinion? Well, what can I say?’

Trying to reach a conclusion was impossible without a clear clue. So, Julian didn’t know what he should answer about that.

He stayed silent, quickly realizing that others were also starting to look at him with curiosity.

They were all curious about Julian’s opinion on this matter.

’Dozens of Breaches open, and then they chase after a cult that worships those Aliens...?’

If Julian assumed that was indeed what was happening, then Julian might lean toward the idea that the cult members had somehow started drawing anger from various planets.

Whether by stealing an item, a ritual mistake, or various other reasons, all of them were equally valid.

’So... wait—’

Julian suddenly stopped.

’Dozens of Breaches opening and starting to chase after the exact same single target? They’re working together?’

Wasn’t that genuinely strange?

Julian’s brow furrowed, he looked at Killac with a reaction difficult to comprehend, then spoke.

"...How could a Breach open successively like that? Even the Invaders who came out are each cooperating with one another, as though it were something already decided before they even arrived in this world."

Like... they’d already planned this, before they even arrived in this world.

Julian’s question then brought about a silence filled with sudden, abrupt anxiety.

Each great family party immediately realized the strangeness Julian was referring to.

Meanwhile, Killac, the man then fell into thought, then answered.