Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1204: New Master of Arcane Hunter Organization: Part-2

”Who are you?”

Victor’s voice cut through the still air.

All eyes turned toward the newcomer... a lone figure wrapped in a deep purplish hood.

The shadows clung to their face, concealing every hint of a face. A faint curl at the corner of their lips hinted at a wry amusement, though the rest of their expression remained unreadable.

The hooded figure did not answer immediately. Instead, they tilted their head back toward the sky, as if the answer might be hidden among the clouds.

For a moment, they stood perfectly still, the only movement the faint rise and fall of their breathing... calm, unhurried, much like Master Snape used to do before delivering a verdict that no one wanted to hear.

Then, without lowering their gaze,

”New Master of this organisation... I suppose.”

The statement dropped into the silence like a stone into still water.

Everyone frowned.

”New Master? I don’t even know who you are. What the hell are you babbling about?” The first hooded figure’s voice cracked like a whip anger.

The purplish-hooded figure chuckled softly... They gave a small nod, as if humouring a child.

”Indeed... You haven’t seen me before. But that doesn’t mean.... he hasn’t.”

The words made the group stiffen. Eyes darted between one another and...

”M-Master Snape?” the voices muttered in unison, more breath than sound.

”Haha... so shocking, right?” The stranger’s tone turned teasing, tinged with amusement, as they stepped forward.

Their movements were deliberate, unhurried, boots making soft thuds against the stone path as they approached the table at the centre of the gathering.

They stopped before the tiny hooded figure and, without asking, placed a gloved hand lightly on their shoulder... a casual, almost friendly gesture,

”Check the system. I’m fairly certain your Master prepared for this exact situation... in case he died.”

The smaller figure hesitated, then gave a stiff nod. From beneath their cloak, they pulled out a slim tablet, its dark screen quickly flickering to life. Thin fingers danced across it, the glow painting the edges of their hood. Everyone leaned forward slightly as if the light might reveal something more than words.

The results appeared, and the small figure angled the screen so the others could see.

A single designation glared back at them.

The Hunter.

”Hunter?” Victor’s frown deepened.

The first hooded figure gave a slow, dismissive shrug. ”It doesn’t say anything about the person. Why should I trust someone who hides their face under a hood?”

The purplish-hooded figure — the Hunter — gave a low hum, almost a purr.

”Looks like you’re not convinced. Well... that figures.” They nodded twice, then turned and settled into the high-backed chair that had once belonged to Master Snape. Fingers spread across the tabletop.

”What about now, then?”

Without waiting for a reply, they pressed their hands down. Ten hidden switches clicked at once beneath their fingers.

Thud!

The ground quivered, a deep vibration crawling up through the soles of their boots. Gasps cut the air as the surroundings began to shift. The table and chairs seemed to groan, the wood and metal lowering smoothly, carrying everyone downward.

Ssssnnnggggg.

The mechanical grind of gears echoed all around them, mingling with the hollow scrape of stone. The walls seemed to shiver as unseen mechanisms pulled them apart.

A distant, almost mournful moan rolled through the air,

Then —

”ARRRHH!”

”WWWRRRR!”

”AWWWRRRAAAGHHHH!”

A weird, monstrous sound slowly echoed.

When the movement stopped, they were no longer in the garden.

They were underground... in a space so vast it seemed to swallow the horizon.

The air was heavy, tinged with a faint metallic tang. The ground stretched out in all directions, an empire-sized expanse, and scattered across it... movement.

At first, it looked like swarms of ants. But as eyes adjusted, the shapes came into focus — hulking forms of Monsters with... Origin Crystals.

Not just monsters.... The way they twitched, the occasional flicker of recognition in their faces... these had once been people.

Rational, living beings.

Victor’s skin dropped into a cold pit. His breath caught in his throat, and beside him, the hooded figure he had brought trembled violently in fear.

Hunter rose slowly from the chair, stepping toward the edge as if admiring a piece of art.

”Damn... he actually managed to get this level of beings. Talk about commitment,” they murmured, their tone carrying a hint of reluctant admiration.

”Y-You mean... Master Snape did all this?” The first hooded figure’s voice wavered, their eyes locked on the shifting sea of unnatural life below.

What in the world had they stumbled into?

If these things ever made it to the surface, there would be nothing left of the Empires.

Hunter gave a single nod. ”Who else? He’s been in charge for a thousand years. He did his work.”

”Then why didn’t he use it when he was in danger?” the first hooded figure asked curiously.

Hunter turned their head and gave a casual shrug, as though the question barely mattered.

”Maybe he didn’t want to reveal the truth about the ugly things his hands had done.”

Victor kept his gaze fixed on the purplish-hooded figure... There was no aura, no trace of life force... and yet, somehow, this presence felt exactly like Master Snape.

The figure’s lips curled faintly as they noticed the stares. Then, with a sharp snap of their fingers, the floor beneath them began to tremble again. The sensation rose up through their legs, a deep vibration in the bones, as the platform slowly began to ascend.

In the chasm below, the monsters tilted their twisted faces upward, watching with unblinking eyes. Their multi-colored hides glistened under the faint light, their snarls echoing upward as the rectangle of light above them began to shrink.

Darkness closed in around them like a lid being shut.

Thud.

In an instant, they were back in the garden. The flowers swayed gently, as if nothing had happened. Even the table was perfectly aligned, as though the descent never happened.

Hunter leaned back slightly, their voice smooth. ”Well, believe me now?”

No one answered.

Hunter nodded anyway, a satisfied little dip of the head. ”Good.” They dropped into the chair again. ”Then let’s get into business. The reason I summoned you all was—” Their gaze swept the table. A slight pause. ”Hmm... why the extra chair?”

A lazy wave of their hand, and one of the chairs shimmered out of existence, leaving only a single empty seat.

”Better. Now... since Snape failed to achieve what we wanted, I thought releasing those monsters into the Empires might serve as... a statement. A retaliation.”

Victor’s head snapped up. ”What do you mean? Now?”

Hunter chuckled lightly, almost indulgent. ”Haha... So hurry? What are you going to do? Warn your friend or something?”

Victor frowned but inwardly gulped.

The Hunter chuckled even more, ”Haha... so serious~ anyway, of course not, silly. Not now. But soon. Very soon. And when it happens... it will be a surprise to you all.” Their hands spread wide, as if embracing the thought.

Then their gaze shifted — sharp and precise — toward the figure standing behind Victor.

”Oh? Where are my manners? Who is that?” Their tone remained calm, ”You do know the rules. No outsiders are allowed in here.”

Crack.

The air pressed down hard on Victor’s shoulders, a crushing weight that forced his knees to lock in place. His breath caught. The sheer density of the pressure was staggering.

This pressure... heavier than Dora’s?

Someone stronger than Dora was here?

Hunter gave a faint, approving hum. ”Hmm. You’re holding up well. Not bad. Snape really did choose a strong batch. I like that. However, this will be the last time. You are not to bring anyone here again.” A small pause, then a dismissive wave. ”I’ll make an exception for today. But that’s it. You’re all dismissed.”

Before anyone could answer, Hunter was gone.

The tiny hooded figure disappeared as well, leaving only Victor, the first hooded figure, and the one who had come with him.

”To think... so many monsters living beneath us all this time,” the first figure murmured, voice low, almost defeated. Then, a slow, eerie chuckle slipped past their lips. ”Hehe... this is getting interesting... fu~fu~”

They stood, glanced once at Victor, gave a single dismissive snort, and vanished into the air.

Victor stayed seated, his eyes fixed on the empty tabletop. He had come here seeking answers... but what he had found ran deeper than he had imagined.

/Did you smell it?/

Victor’s voice reached out into the mind of the hooded figure beside him.

/... She reeks of you./

Under the hood, Nightfire gave a quiet groan.

Victor’s lips twitched before they slowly curved upward. ”I see...”