Now she's crying… This is awkward. Better leave before things get even worse.
"I guess my job is done then. I'll leave you alone," Auren says, still staring at the emotional Rakshala, a sight completely new to him.
Normally, she's calm, composed, and feels as though she knows everything, completely incapable of these reactions. I had an almost 'godlike' impression of her. This feels weird to me.
"Wait, Auren," Rakshala says softly. "Forgive me for getting emotional. I truly am grateful and won't forget what you've done for me."
She then delivers a genuinely heartwarming smile, unlike any Auren has ever seen before—entirely different from the countless polite yet empty smiles she typically gives.
"Okay, this is becoming annoying. Your reaction just proves you underestimated me, believing I wouldn't be able to succeed. You're starting to piss me off," Auren says, crossing his arms stubbornly.
"Haha, perhaps you're right. I'm sorry I ever doubted you," she says warmly, reaching out to pat his head. Auren instinctively dodges—but the moment he moves, his vision abruptly turns completely scarlet.
What is this?!
Auren frantically moves his head, but everywhere he looks, he sees only deep, scarlet red. He quickly shuts his eyes, but nothing changes.
Finally, he activates his En, immediately regaining his bearings. He is still standing in front of her.
What's she trying to pull?! What's going on here?!
"What are you doing?!" Auren yells, but he doesn't even hear his own words.
A drop of sweat slides down his forehead, but in the next instant, his vision suddenly returns. Rakshala is standing in front of him, gently patting his head.
"You're still a child—there's no need to act so grown up. You should enjoy this and let yourself be spoiled a little," she says with amusement.
"…I assume your hatsu…changed?" Auren asks cautiously.
"You're always so serious. I suppose that's what makes you cute. It appears that when my eyes turn scarlet, my ability evolves. Previously, I could merely see and hear what my target experienced. But now, it's different—I can actively impact their vision and hearing. I have to test all limits and possibilities later. Interestingly enough, I could see perfectly through your eyes, despite your sudden inability to do the same."
"I specifically asked you not to use your hatsu on me," Auren complains, angrily staring at her.
"It was just a little test," she says innocently.
"Is there some price you have to pay for this new ability?" Auren asks carefully.
I initially assumed she'd gain the Emperor Time hatsu, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Could each Kurta awaken a different, unique ability? This is terrifyingly powerful. Losing your sight and hearing instantly…what can you even do against that? And she doesn't even need proximity to her target—just to keep the target within her En range. Is there a cost associated with this ability, or was Emperor time the exception?
"Oh, were you expecting that I put restrictions or conditions on my ability? No, my new power simply awakened naturally. It does use more Aura now, though. Previously, the cost was so minimal that I could maintain it for half a day. While my eyes are scarlet, my maximum duration has probably dropped to around two hours," Rakshala calmly explains.
"More importantly," she continues excitedly, "my En radius expanded to over a kilometer. Looks like I'll have plenty of work ahead of me!"
…Maybe I shouldn't have restored her eyes. I think I've accidentally created a monster. At least the only real limitation is that she can only target two people simultaneously, given that she has only two eyes and two ears.
"This ability is frighteningly strong…" Auren murmurs quietly.
"I suppose I'll be traveling quite a lot in the future," Rakshala says cheerfully. "I'll need new residences in several countries—especially close to government buildings, like those of the V5, as well as near major corporations," she continues, her scarlet eyes locking onto Auren, lips curving into a monstrous, unsettling smile.
"I've also changed my mind. I'll be paying you after all. How much exactly…why don't you decide for yourself? With this new ability, I can access any information from virtually any major company or government. Before, my limited radius prevented access to the most secure places, but with this reach, nothing will stop me anymore," she explains, her disturbing smile growing even wider.
What the…? What is she planning to do… if information is leaked, it could be fatal. She can manipulate the stock markets. Sell that information to rival companies, even manipulate whole economies!
Auren clears his throat. "Forget about the damned money. Listen, you know how people can impulsively misuse newfound power—I'm sure you're aware of that. You'll ruin everything if you get intoxicated by power."
Rakshala's eyes fade back to their calm blue as she gazes warmly at Auren, still smiling gently. "You're such a kind boy. You can act gruff if you want, but it doesn't change how I perceive you. Truly, there's nothing for you to worry about. I'll handle everything carefully, precisely, strategically, and most importantly, patiently. You can leave everything to me. Now, it's my turn to surprise you."
If only she knew… Kind? She's completely crazy.
"Well… I'll see you later," Auren says, turning around to leave.
"There will be a meeting in a few days—please attend, will you? You can't miss it, as it'll be held at the marketplace."
So directly in the center of our little hole, meaning every single resident will participate…
A few days later, exactly as Rakshala hinted, she stands on a small stage, cloaked in a striking, scarlet-red robe, still wearing her visor.
Yeah… she's acting totally normal. I hope she hasn't actually snapped and developed a god complex. I'm seriously having regrets right now.
About a thousand people stand before her, while a row of Elders sits at the side. Auren recognizes Grunah, Buno, Bunu, and three other Elders he's only seen briefly before, never having spoken with them directly—two women and one man. Standing to the side, not far from the Elders, Auren carefully observes them.
One of them must be responsible for carving out the mountain—probably that bald, muscular guy. The Elder in charge of the Nen Oaths must be one of the women. They're not as old as I imagined; both look around their forties.
Neffi, who's next to him, whispers excitedly, "It's pretty rare for the Leader to do this. Isn't this exciting? Everyone really loves her! Nobody even dares question her."
I do…. This feels increasingly like a cult, especially with those Nen Oaths involved…
"My dear family!" Rakshala's voice suddenly echoes through the mountain.
Immediately, as her voice resonates within the hollow mountain, everyone, including Neffi—but excluding Auren—claps passionately, clearly excited as they stare up at their leader.
"We have achieved a lot in these past years, haven't we? As someone who has mostly observed, I'm incredibly proud of you all. We live good lives here—everyone works hard, has opportunities, and no one judges anyone for who they are. In the years ahead, we will accomplish even greater things, and I'll personally ensure that happens. However, to realize our ambitions, I'll need to travel extensively, and I won't be home for a while. Elder Grunah will oversee day-to-day operations in my absence. I trust there are no objections?"
The crowd immediately nods, clearly approving of her choice.
Grunah stands briefly, respectfully bowing towards Rakshala, then sits down again.
"There's one more important matter you should be aware of. I see Auren standing in the audience. Please join me on the stage," Rakshala says with a gentle smile. "Make way, and let our young friend through."
Auren sighs heavily, not moving. Despite his reluctance, the crowd parts smoothly, as if choreographed, forming a direct path straight to the stage.
Should I just walk away?
"What are you waiting for?!" Neffi urgently whispers, pushing him forward. "Move!"
Auren reluctantly moves towards the stage, ignoring the curious stares from the crowd.
Finally, he reaches the platform, effortlessly leaping onto it, standing next to Rakshala and giving her a visibly annoyed look.
"Even without using my ability, I can clearly sense our lovely boy here isn't happy about being called up. Isn't he adorable?" she teases, prompting laughter from the crowd.
"Seriously, did you drag me up here just to embarrass me?!" Auren snaps, crossing his arms irritably.
Has she lost it?
"That couldn't be further from the truth. I simply have an announcement to make," Rakshala says smoothly, turning towards the audience.
"I hereby appoint Auren as my successor and elevate his position to vice-leader. He will share every privilege I hold. His commands shall be treated as mine. The only limitation is that I reserve the right to veto his decisions if necessary, but since I'll be away for quite some time, this shouldn't happen often."
A stunned silence falls over the mountain.
Yes, that confirms it. She's completely lost her mind!!
Suddenly, an explosion of cheers erupts from the crowd, echoing through the mountain. Everyone applauds enthusiastically, cheering for Auren.
Rakshala smiles, clearly satisfied by their overwhelming reaction. It takes over a minute for the applause and cheers to finally quiet down.
"What do you think, Auren? How about giving a small speech?" Rakshala urges him, gently guiding him toward the microphone.
Auren reluctantly complies, looking out at the crowd of happy, almost ecstatic faces still cheering for him.
Are they serious? Also, why does this feel strangely familiar?
"This is a dumb decision! I'm still new here! How can you people even cheer for me? Do you even know me? Besides, I don't know anything about politics and management. I'm lazy, self-centered, and prioritize myself over others. Please, stop this foolishness," Auren protests openly, shaking his head in disbelief.
Rakshala's smile broadens. "You see, my dear family, this is precisely why I chose Auren. I assure you, he's more than earned this position, though his actions have largely remained hidden. To give you a small glimpse—he has personally brought in over 50 billion Jenny in profit for our community. He has helped me directly, our dear daughter Neffi, and even three of our Elders. Most importantly, he has just openly rejected absolute power while making seemingly logical arguments. You can trust my decision—Auren won't let you down. Now, I'll periodically return to update you all. Keep up the wonderful work, and I promise our future will be brighter than ever."
The crowd erupts again, their cheers echoing even louder throughout the hollow mountain.
"..."
"..."
"..."
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