Chapter 434
Chapter 434
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: 2-104. Acalusia (6)
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The woman in the robe was unmistakably Erzsebet. Asel had to use every ounce of strength to keep from screaming. The moment he opened his mouth even a little, it felt like his heart would leap out.
Liz's words echoed in his ears.
- The young lady practically lives underground, or so it's said.
- The reason isn't clear, but the rumors are rampant. Like she's secretly searching for a treasure that can revive the late Miss Adeshan, without the family head's knowledge.
A treasure to bring her back. The late miss.
Asel's shaking pupils fixed on the woman's corpse.
'No way... that person is...!'
It was as good as confirmed. The identity of the tall beauty was Adeshan. Ronan’s fiancée, brought from another world, and the adopted daughter of the Acalusia family who had been as close as blood sisters with Erzsebet.
Erzsebet had set up here precisely to resurrect her.
"Haa... haa..."
Asel's breathing grew ragged. Right there in the crate where he was hiding, he could find traces of resurrection experiments. The clutter rustling beneath his butt consisted of finely crafted magic tools and expensive experimental materials. The corpse had probably been smuggled out in secret.
'...Incredible.'
At this point, awe overtook fear. He couldn't even imagine how dear she must have been. To not just mourn but dive into forbidden research no one had ever succeeded in.
Then the monster that had chased him was an experimental subject for the resurrection research?
Yeah, he definitely had to play dumb about this until he died.
Asel shuddered at her mad devotion.
"What is it? You're here?"
Suddenly, Erzsebet turned toward the door. A third party had arrived. Asel, who had been peeking through the crate's gap, ducked his head sharply. A voice came again from the darkness beyond.
"Hm? Why'd you bring Ajax here?"
"......"
Ajax. A name he'd never heard before.
No reply came, but Erzsebet continued unperturbed.
"He learned too much? What wind blew that made you decide this?"
"......"
"Hmph, you're always so thorough. That's what I like about you."
Laughter tinged Erzsebet's voice. The conversation continued despite no response. Sensing something odd, Asel tilted his head.
'...Who the hell is she talking to?'
Taking a deep breath, he cracked the lid open slightly. Through the narrow gap, he could see most of the lab, but no sign of Erzsebet's interlocutor. There seemed to be a very faint voice from somewhere, but it was just a whisper, impossible to make out.
Erzsebet, arms crossed, let out a chuckle.
"By the way, how'd you take him out without any strength to speak of? Ajax was pretty skilled."
As Asel puzzled over the word "taken out," a large lump suddenly flew into view and thudded at Erzsebet's feet. It was the corpse of a man whose face had turned blue.
Asel, recognizing the face of the man in pajamas, clamped both hands over his mouth.
'The guard captain...!'
No doubt about it. It was the guard captain who had escorted him and Ronan to the mansion. His bulging eyes were as cloudy as Adeshan's. The man who had dutifully performed his duties was now a corpse that could never stand watch again.
"Ah, you poisoned him. Gotta hand it to you for the clever tricks. I liked his loyalty, but... once he knew too much, no choice."
Erzsebet snapped her fingers. That explained the blue face—poisoned.
After a brief pause, she nodded.
"I know. The ones who came this time are no ordinary bunch. Especially the black-haired guy—he's got real skill. You can tell just from those filthy eyes. We should start by finishing off the redhead who looks like a moron."
"......!"
"Don't worry, that's how it'll go. Acalusia is the greatest house."
Erzsebet, giggling, turned to the woman's corpse. As she wagged her index finger left and right, the gray pupils followed it.
Snap!
Erzsebet snapped her fingers again, and the woman's eyelids drooped heavily.
"You think so too, right? Adeshan."
"Ah... aaaah..."
Erzsebet sneered. Asel felt a chill down his spine at her attitude—so different from what he'd imagined, treating her like a mere tool. Not a speck of pity or love showed in her curved eyes.
Was she really reviving her out of longing?
He was too shocked to even groan.
"What? Who's there?"
Suddenly, Erzsebet turned toward the crate. Lightning struck Asel's heart.
Red flames ignited above Erzsebet's right hand.
"Hm, I was just thinking one of the test subjects died alone anyway."
"......!!!"
"Maybe it didn't just rampage and die on its own?"
She started walking toward the crate. Asel, having closed the lid, fell into complete panic.
With each approaching footstep, his lifespan seemed to shorten. Racking his brain for a way to survive, he found no answer this time.
'I'm dead.'
Weak telekinesis wouldn't work on Erzsebet. Surrendering meekly would mean torture before death. Every imagined future ended with a whirlwind of flames incinerating him.
"Hm? Hiding here?"
The footsteps stopped right in front. Feeling a hand on the lid, Asel squeezed his eyes shut.
Boom!
Erzsebet flung the lid open with destructive force and raised an eyebrow.
"...What? Nothing here after all."
Inside the crate rolled only experimental leftovers. No human warmth lingered. Having heard the whisper, Erzsebet closed the lid and muttered.
"You must've misheard. Ghosts wouldn't be odd in a place like this."
"......"
"Got it. Got it, so shut up. I need to prepare for tomorrow."
The conversation ended there. Silence descended on the room.
The cold, blue light like a winter star illuminated Adeshan's coffin.
.
.
.
"Hwaaaah!!"
Asel screamed as he opened his eyes.
Bolting upright, a completely different scene unfolded before him. The gloomy lab was gone, replaced by a room filled with luxurious furniture.
"Haa...! Haaa...! Wh-what?!"
It was the lodging assigned to him and Ronan. A splendid chandelier glowed softly overhead. Looking around, Asel's gaze stopped at the blackened window. It had been morning when he lay down, but now utter darkness blanketed everything.
Touching himself all over, Asel clutched his hair.
"A d-dream? That was?"
Asel touched his face. His sweat-slick skin still held the underground chill. Unbelievable. Too vivid for a dream.
If it all happened in his head, how to explain the suffocation and pain he'd felt then?
"No... that can't be. I definitely...!"
Everything he'd gone through was undeniable reality.
The endless corridor, the eyeless monster chase, Erzsebet and the dead Adeshan—all of it!
Suddenly realizing someone who should be there wasn't, Asel gasped.
"......Ronan?"
No reply. Ronan, who said he'd just smoke and be back, hadn't returned. Ghostly white curtains fluttered at the half-open window.
"D-don't mess around! Ronan?!"
Still no answer. Images of Adeshan's corpse and the blue-faced guard captain flashed before him.
"...No."
Asel reflexively pressed the button on the nightstand. It called a maid when needed. But after a minute, no one came.
Panting roughly, Asel bolted out of the room like a madman.
"Ronan!"
He'd forgotten his coat. Erzsebet's cold laughter seemed to echo in his ears. Opening the door revealed a silent hallway.
As he moved to search for his vanished friend,
"...Mr. Asel? Are you alright?"
"L-Liz? Why are you here...!"
A voice came from nearby. There stood Liz, the maid, eyes wide. It was so late, she looked a bit tired.
Stunned, she spoke.
"You pressed the call button, didn't you? What happened? Your face... did you have a nightmare?"
"Th-that...!"
Asel stammered, words failing him. How could he explain what he'd seen? Telling her he'd dreamed of Erzsebet as a psychotic killer and Miss Adeshan's corpse would get him warm milk and pity at best.
Still, he couldn't stand by. Clenching his fists, Asel continued.
"W-we have to run. Something's wrong here."
"Pardon?"
"I can't explain properly. But I saw... something."
Asel grabbed her hands.
He didn't know why Guard Captain Ajax was killed. But Liz, serving Erzsebet, could end up the same anytime. No matter how he thought, what he'd experienced wasn't just a nightmare.
Liz blinked like a calf and smiled faintly.
"...Your hands are cold."
"Y-yes...? Ack!"
Asel's face flushed. Realizing his rudeness too late, he tried to pull away, but Liz gently enveloped his hands.
In her typical soothing maid voice, she continued.
"Calm down first. I'll stay with you, so tell me what happened?"
"Th-that... not here. F-first, where the hell is Ronan?"
"Weren't you with Mr. Ronan...? Mr. Asel, you're really worked up. Let's talk in the room..."
"You two. What are you doing there?"
As Liz tried to calm Asel,
A weary voice echoed from behind them.
Gooseflesh crawled up Asel's slender arms.
"Eek...!"
He knew that voice. His body froze as if under a spell.
Asel and Liz turned simultaneously. Just ahead at the corner stood a girl wrapped in a blanket over her shoulders. Her disheveled dark purple hair exuded a decadent air.
Liz bowed politely.
"Good evening, miss. What brings you here at this hour?"
"I came to see the two guests. There's something I have to say now or never. The other one's not here?"
"......For now, it seems so. Who knows where at this late hour."
Liz nodded on Asel's behalf. Asel couldn't even think of fleeing, staring only at Erzsebet. Her upturned cat-like eyes radiated the same icy aura as in the basement.
Hearing of Ronan's absence, Erzsebet eyed Asel with faint displeasure.
"Hm, can't be helped then. You come with me at least."
"......Pardon?"
Despite her indifferent tone, Asel froze solid.
Erzsebet turned and walked away without waiting for a reply.
-We should start by finishing off the redhead who looks like a moron.
Her voice from the basement echoed in Asel's mind.