ALL NOVEL Chapter 25: Totem
Zach barely had time to look away from the skull and focus on his food again before the three eye sockets lit up with a dark brown flame, eerily similar to the torches shedding light on the underground tunnels and rooms.
The tasker kneeled toward the skull with both fists and one knee against the floor. Zach looked at the tasker with raised eyebrows and retracted his hand as he looked at the skull.
"...I greet the Great Ugor?" Zach spoke hesitantly. The only reason he could think of for the tasker's reaction was if the skull wasn't just a symbol of this Great Ugor character. The flames in the three eye sockets also swiveled and moved like eyes trying to orient themselves.
"Ah ah hah!" A cutty laughter rang out from the depths of the skull and sent shivers down Zach's spine.
"There is no need for such nervous formalities, young Zacharia Evandiel. I am a great being, but unlike the stuffy surface dwellers, I do not need the ass-kissing of others as confirmation of such a fact." The Great Ugor's voice sounded slightly hollow due to the skull, but it still carried incredible weight. Zach didn't have a choice but to listen to it.
It was similar to how everyone had been forced to hear the principal's every word when he held his speech during the entrance ceremony. The power behind the words forced them straight into the listener's brain, whether they wanted it or not.
Of course, Zach wasn't planning on not listening to the person who seemed responsible for his current situation.
Zach glanced at the kneeling tasker.
"Kaha! Of course, if someone wants to show their loyalty and respect, I won't refuse it!" The Great Ugor spoke as if he saw Zach's look.
'I guess those flames aren't moving for nothing.'
Zach carefully looked at the Great Ugor's totem for a moment before finally building up enough courage.
"...Where is Ya—Where is my familiar?"
"Yes, the angelic battle maid. We separated you from it. But don't worry, it is intact and unharmed. Well, we had to restrain her a little. But it is an S-rank familiar, so it will be fine." The Great Ugor spoke dismissively of Zach's concerns.
Zach frowned. The Great Ugor didn't answer his question. He also had a very disrespectful attitude toward Yanael. Zach didn't like it. Alas, there wasn't much he could do.
"Are you going to let us go?" Since the Great Ugor seemed up for conversation, Zach decided to try and get as much as he could by talking.
"Haka!" The Great Ugor's strange laughter rang out again before abruptly cutting short.
"The short answer is no."
"What?"
"Well, I know you don't know anything about us, but we're technically enemies. Opposing sides, I guess you could call it. You come from above the surface and I am the leader of those who live under it, in the Underworld. You're a smart lad, I'm sure. Think about why you haven't heard of us before."
Zach didn't need to think when the Great Ugor had already given the answer.
"Those great beings of the surface you mentioned are keeping your existence a secret to prevent widespread fear and panic."
"That's the reason I was looking for. Now, why would they do that?"
"Because you're dangerous and your existence or goals threaten the lives of the people on the surface."
"...A biased way of looking at it, but it's not incorrect. Now then, the final question! Or questions.
"Why would I let you go if what you said just now is true? And in the same vein, why am I keeping you alive and even giving you my valuable time and our precious resources?"
Zach was incredibly doubtful. It could all be an elaborate trial or test by the academy. But it seemed too far-fetched. At the same time, why would the Great Ugor reveal everything so easily? He was sitting there on the table claiming to be an enemy of all humanity.
Well, he was asking questions to let Zach make those claims. But he said Zach's guesses were correct.
However, he also hinted that it wasn't that simple.
The biased answer and the words about the precious resources. Zach also felt there was something else.
But there could be another reason why the Underworld's existence was a secret. What if they weren't kept secret because they were dangerous but to prevent them garnering sympathy?
If it really was a matter of conflicting opinions between the kind of great beings the Great Ugor was talking about, violence was certainly involved, and violence meant death.
"You mentioned opposing sides…" Zach spoke after a few moments of silent thought. He had a guess as to what the Great Ugor wanted, but he still had to confirm it.
"Yes, I did."
"You're trying to bring me over to your side."
"Well, you certainly aren't humble. Yes. Although you have a long way to go, as proven by how easily you were captured, an S-rank summoner is wanted wherever they go. I also can't let the surface raise another loose cannon."
Zach's spine grew cold at the Great Ugor's last sentence.
"...And if I refuse?"
"I'll give you some time to think about it. Eat your fill, rest, and ask the tasker next to you any questions you might have." The Great Ugor's voice didn't allow another expression of refusal. Zach nodded.
But before the Great Ugor could retreat his consciousness, Zach spoke,
"What about my friends?"
"Mm. That depends on them. Of course, if you join the Underworld, I will spare them even if they do not join us. They will have limited freedom, but they will be intact."
Zach gulped.
"C-can you…hold off on doing anything to them until I make up my mind?"
The Great Ugor was silent and the dark flames flickered slowly. Zach wondered if he had been too slow and the Great Ugor had already left. However, the air around Zach slowly grew colder until something thudded against the wall.
The tasker went over and knocked on it to open a shelf.
Zach's eyes clearly saw what had made the sound.
"My time is expensive. Another poor attempt at stalling and your friends will pay the price."
The hollow eyes of the miner from the prison met Zach's horror-stricken ones.