Having spent years navigating the dark sewers, Bevis was plenty wary of the darkness.
As for Zorn, it went without saying. He knew full well the source of this terrifying dark power.
'If one were to be contaminated by the terrifying power sealed deep in the darkness, even a future World-level boss would likely perish here.'
'Escaping this place as quickly as possible was the wisest choice.'
As they sprinted, it was as if a tide was rapidly surging toward them from behind.
Zorn glanced back, and his scalp instantly went numb.
Behind them, countless gray rats were sticking and melding together in some indescribable way, forming a giant, furry sphere of flesh and blood.
A dense cacophony of sharp squeals, roars, bellows, and wails filled the air.
It followed their path, rolling toward them at an incredible speed.
'If it caught up to them, they would become sacrifices of flesh and blood—dinner for the rats.'
One after the other, the two of them sprinted for their lives.
Just as they felt their lungs were about to explode, they finally managed to climb out of the sewer, one after the other, still carrying Isaac.
"Quick, close it—"
Before Zorn could even finish, the old butler, Glangk, who was guarding the entrance, saw the dense mass of rats below. His expression changed drastically, and with a CLANG, he slammed the heavy manhole cover shut.
"Hold it down!" Zorn ordered, gasping for breath.
The old butler, Glangk, and the coachman, Old Nero, joined forces to hold down the manhole cover.
Immediately, a terrifying force surged up from below.
"THUD THUD... THUD THUD..."
The manhole cover rattled violently from the impacts, and the two men could barely hold it down.
Feeling that indescribable and terrifyingly strange power, both men's faces turned green with fear.
Zorn, however, narrowed his eyes, calmly and cautiously observing the scene. His hand was already in his pocket.
Inside was an "Evil Spirit Mark" drawn with fresh blood.
It was a power he had obtained just yesterday by praying to a certain hidden entity.
It could, for a time, block the Mysterious Power from the dark depths of the sewer.
'Of course, using it would come at a price. Zorn would avoid it if he could.'
'He had made considerable preparations for this operation.'
'He was confident he could escape, but the question was at what cost.'
'Of course, paying no price at all was the best-case scenario!'
'Deep underground, the terrifying Upper Ranker, the [Double-Ringed Snake], was sealed.'
'It possessed a formless and mighty will.'
'But the terrifying power in the tunnels right now was not the power of the [Double-Ringed Snake].'
'A terrifying Upper Ranker like that wouldn't appear at this stage.'
'Several hidden Esoteric Sects had their own plots and schemes laid out in Ogrande City, this place thrumming with the roar of the steam age.'
'This technique of fusing limbs, blood, hair, and bone into a terrifying sphere of flesh... Zorn recognized it at a glance. It was the method of the Esoteric Sect, [Forbidden Bloodline].'
'They were establishing strongholds deep underground, constructing altars and collecting sacrifices.'
'This [Rat King] was one of the fruits of their clandestine efforts.'
'They hoped to receive the favor of the Upper Ranker, the [Double-Ringed Snake].'
'This secretive sect had always been inhuman in their methods.'
'They longed to use Bloodline Power to pray for the favor of the Upper Rankers.'
'Then, by establishing a bloodline connection, they would transform themselves.'
'When disasters like plagues and mutations occurred...'
'...the methods of their sect could perhaps offer a temporary cure, giving people a glimpse of hope.'
'But every time they touched that ineffable Bloodline Power...'
'...it would lead them one step further into depravity and madness.'
'Until—they completely lost themselves and descended into insanity!'
'Of course, for him, the future [Evil Spirit Wizard], to say such things about others was rather hypocritical.'
'After all, it was a case of the pot calling the kettle black.'
'According to the original timeline...'
'...he was destined to be even more inhuman than those Esoteric Sects!'
'At least those Esoteric Sects gave people some semblance of hope.'
'But him... he was a pure source of terror, a walking sower of Death.'
Just as the faces of the old butler, Glangk, and the coachman, Old Nero, who were pressing down on the manhole cover, were turning from green to black...
"DONG—DONG—"
The solemn and magnificent bells of the Holy Fierce Sun Church rang out, growing louder as they drew nearer.
The sound of the bells, symbolizing the holy, the Sun, and fierce fire, cleansed the soul of everyone who heard them.
In an instant, the manhole cover, which had been bucking, rolling, and roaring like a wild bull, fell silent.
It was four o'clock in the afternoon, and the tolling of the church bells had quelled the agitation in the darkness.
On the verge of tears from fright, the coachman, Old Nero, knelt on the manhole cover, his trembling hands clasped before his chest.
"Great Holy Fierce Sun, your most devout believer thanks you for this deliverance!"
"To witness your mighty power at this moment..."
Having escaped disaster, Old Nero piously praised the great Holy Fierce Sun.
He was a faithful Believer of the Holy Fierce Sun.
"Hooo..."
Letting out a long sigh of relief, Zorn steadied himself against the carriage and stood up.
The gentle afternoon sunlight shone down on him, dispelling the chill from the sewers.
He faced the light, gazing at the white marble clock tower of the church, circled by white doves in the four o'clock sky of Ogrande City.
"Thank you, great Holy Fierce Sun!"
He too offered a soft prayer of praise.
At this moment, he too was a devout Believer of the Holy Fierce Sun.
...
Inside the carriage, Bevis watched as Zorn held out five one-gold-pound notes.
Bevis didn't reach for them. He spoke in a hoarse voice.
"I believe I've already been paid more than enough."
"This is what you've earned."
Zorn resolutely pressed the five gold pounds into the Rat Catcher Bevis's hand.
Looking at the gold pounds in his hand, Bevis's lips moved, but he ultimately said in a heavy tone,
"You are far too generous. I will be sure to tell Isaac all of this."
"If you ever have need of me, please be sure to find me at 1456 Ruke Long Street. If Isaac or I are not there, you can leave a message with the landlady. She is a kind, responsible, and reliable woman."
"As you know, our station as Rat Catchers is not well-regarded. Many people are even disgusted by the smell of the sewers on us."
"We even... receive scornful looks and insults just for passing someone on the street."
His tone was full of bitterness and helplessness.
Hearing this, Zorn couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.
One of his reasons for inviting Bevis on this "hunt" and treasure-seeking journey was to befriend him.
In truth, Bevis was an upright and kind gentleman.
If he were willing to use his Extraordinary Ability simply to "make money,"...
...then he would never be short of money. He could even live a life of considerable wealth.
But he never did.
The most fundamental sense of justice was embodied in him.
'And this light of humanity would one day guide the future [Legendary God Hunter] to ascend to the Legendary rank through martyrdom.'
"Oh, right!"
As they moved, Zorn suddenly thought of something.
"Once a week, I'll need a batch of live gray rats. And I will pay you handsomely."
Bevis quickly waved his hands.
"There's no need for payment. For us Rat Catchers, catching a few live rats is all too simple."
"I'll have Isaac deliver them to you every week. If you have any other requests, you need only ask."
Soon, the carriage arrived at the corner of Ruke Long Street.
Just then, Isaac groggily woke up.
After getting out of the carriage, Bevis took off his hat in a gesture of respect.
'Although he hadn't spent much time with the young gentleman...'
'...he had already committed him to memory. He was likely the only young nobleman in all of Ogrande City who would invite a master and his apprentice into his carriage.'
"Master, why was I unconscious? What happened?"
Isaac looked confused after getting out of the carriage.
Bevis watched the carriage recede into the distance before finally looking away.
"In the middle of the month, on the 15th, the Spirit Witch Lady said it will be a special day."
"Isaac, I think... you should be ready by now."
Upon hearing this, Isaac's heart trembled slightly.
'The gates to the Extraordinary World were opening for him.'
...