Ayen was more than familiar with how things could play out. The greater the hope, the more devastating it was if that hope were not fulfilled.
He was not even the focus of those gazes, but he already felt it a burden. What was more for Khal and Devion? The two espers who were already subjected to such expression for years?
Ayen could not imagine the pressure they had to endure.
"We are grateful for your presence..." Oros was honestly at a loss on how to treat or talk with the two. This was also expected.
Fortunately for him, Khal and even more so Devion and Ayen had no intention to prolong the pleasantries.
"I know." Khal nodded at him, his calm tone, which Ayen now dubbed a business tone, already surfaced. "Why don’t you brief us on the current situation first?"
Oros met his eyes and also understood. He was, after all, an official in charge of this city. Quickly, he grew solemn and began explaining the situation to them.
For a while, only his voice resounded inside the room. Once he was finished, he bid farewell and gave the three privacy. At this moment, with a backer of the SS-class esper, the morale on the front lines was becoming heated.
This was a good situation, but he had to return to stop them from doing something reckless because of excitement.
"This is going to be troublesome."
Devion’s words resonated with the two. He was not the only one sighing. Even Ayen, who was not going to fight on the front lines, could discern the situation.
Khal tapped the armrest with his finger.
"We already knew monsters can infect monsters. Dealing with them is fine, but attacking the humans is more troublesome."
They also needed to be cautious of the possibility of being cursed as well. About curses, they were more than familiar with their terror, and so they had to be wary.
"Ayen, what do you think?" Devion turned to Ayen.
In this situation, it was logical to think of his opinion. Ayen’s uniqueness was something to do with curses. His perception might be more than him, who only had an annoying whisper from time to time.
Khal also nodded and looked at him.
Suddenly being subjected to their gazes, Ayen was forced to think of a solution. He knew the reasoning behind it, but he had yet to find out about his own abilities, which was frustrating.
Moreover, this particular incident was highly connected to him. They could not absolutely wait for this curse to become stronger.
"I also don’t know. But I have something in mind. I think it’s worth a try."
Ayen’s words were not a bluff, even if it was just a hasty answer.
"What is it?" Khal asked.
Ayen looked at them. "Purifying it."
Yes. Just like his instincts wanted him. As for how? That was something to ponder about.
It sounded simple. Yet, they knew the complication about it. The two espers frowned slightly. If it were any other situation, they would have to object to Ayen risking his life.
However, this situation was different. They had no choice. If this curse got stronger without them doing nothing, it would ultimately target Ayen.
This was not just mere speculation. Ayen’s subconscious warning him was not a joke.
Khal and Devion exchanged glances as Ayen waited for them to make a decision. Unsurprisingly, the two agreed in the end.
"Okay. We can do it your way." Khal agreed.
Devion pursed his lips but also nodded.
"You can try to observe and plan what you have to do."
The two espers would not be able to help him with this. Everything would be in Ayen’s hands.
Ayen took a deep breath. The pressure had already begun to put weight on his shoulders. Suddenly having this responsibility in his hands, Ayen now could experience what his espers had endured.
He admitted. It was not a pleasant feeling. At all.
Regardless of his feelings, this fight had to continue, and so his plan had to be successful. No matter what, Ayen needed to accomplish this.
Once outside, Ayen looked up, and the urge from his deepest self started once more. Ayen subconsciously swallowed slightly.
It was like a craving. Ayen grimaced slightly.
Soon, he averted his gaze from the sky and continued following his espers outside.
They arrived in this city when it was already about to turn dark. The crowd outside was still considerable, but most had already returned to their homes or temporary settlements.
Most soldiers and espers also controlled the crowd and dispersed them. They were already notified that the two SS-class espers were observing the front lines, which were currently their first line of defense.
A wall was dividing the other side, which was quite eerie. Not that chaotic, but horrifying nonetheless. Just those espers patrolling could not help the fear from rising from the bottom of their hearts.
The unusual humans outside were not really attacking them, and it was mostly the monsters. But just looking at them smiling calmly with blank gazes sent shivers down their spines.
Most of all, the prospect that they might do the same if they were infected somehow by the same unknown disease was enough for them to tread cautiously.
"They have been standing like that since earlier?" Khal began his questions. They were now standing at the watchtower that was crudely made by an earth-type esper.
Beside them, Ayen and Devion were also observing the situation on the other side.
"Yes. They are only standing there and not actively attacking. But occasionally the monsters will begin their siege, so we have to station espers in shifts here."
Outside, there were millions of cursed humans. They almost had the same expressions, which was indeed terrifying. Ayen frowned and noticed the influence on them was not as deep as he thought.
The lingering curses on each individual were quite low. However, if it added up to millions, that was already a different matter.
"They are being controlled."
This point, almost anyone could see.
Oros agreed immediately.
"Yes, we also think so." He then sighed. "We sent some espers with keen perceptions to search for the controller, but... none of them returned."
Oros only felt heavy, but this was how it was. Death was something that chases them on each mission, or almost every day.
Khal shifted his gaze from the crowd and turned to Oros.
"You won’t find the controller."
Oros’s eyes widened slightly. Before he could ask, Khal continued.
"A curse. They are being controlled by a curse."
This time, Oros turned pale. Curses...
"What do you think, Ayen?" Khal turned to his companion.
Only then did Oros have a good look at the other person with them. It was not because Ayen was unremarkable. It was quite the opposite.
However, since he was with the two SS-class espers and even appeared intimate with them, Oros and the others did not dare to look at him for more than a second.
As an esper, Oros already realized that he was a guide. He could only guess one possibility in his mind.
It was probably the Guide that recently became a trending topic among the populace. SS-class esper’s guide, and the person who had a friend kidnapped by a direct descendant of the Nevaris Clan.
Still, Oros was confused. Why was Khal asking his guide’s opinion instead of Devion, who was also a fellow SS-class esper? He could only think of this.
No matter what the upheavals were in his mind, the three began to talk, starting with Ayen answering Khal’s question.
"The curse’s influence on them is not deep. But we have to be wary of their ability to corrupt others." He first said his observations, and the two espers nodded. Ayen continued, "About the controller..."
Ayen paused, glanced a bit at Oros, before he looked up at the sky. Khal and Devion could understand what he wanted to convey, remembering his dream of the black cloud.
As for Oros, none would want to fill him in. After all, this was about Ayen’s secret and safety.
Devion was somewhat exasperated.
"How can we go there? That’s a problem."
"You’re right. And it’s not something we can find by simply searching for it."
They could go with an aircraft, but who would say that there was indeed the black cloud, the curse manifestation, showing up there?
Even until now, Khal had yet to see the shadow Devion spoke of despite years of it being there. That was how curse manifestations were.
Ayen had no solution either, so he let the two discuss.
After a moment, Devion’s eyes gleamed slightly.
"What is it?" Khal quickly noticed it. Ayen also looked at him.
"I suddenly realized... curses needed a vessel. Even if this curse were unusual, they needed something to exist."
Ayen and Khal nodded. Even Oros, who was already sidelined, listened attentively.
"It doesn’t need to be a person. For this, it might be in an object. If our guess is correct and those madmen unleashed this curse, some of them were nearby."
Curses were like monsters and were seen in the dungeons. In this particular curse, however, traces of being purposely spread were uncovered.
There was no way it could grow to this extent in such a short time. So, the more plausible reason was that someone administered it at its spread behind the scenes.