Chapter 177
Chapter 177
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 177
Chapter Title: Ghost City (12)
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As the sun began to set.
I instructed Lloyd and El to scout the village's movements. If anything suspicious happened, they were to subdue the villagers immediately. Against villagers with no proper combat experience, the two of them would be more than enough.
‘I need to move fast.’
The demon was still here. To completely uproot it, it was crucial to strike now while it was weakened. Without any mistakes. Perfectly.
Accompanying me were Ayla and Legion. I had Ayla guard the door, then entered the chief's house. The door was naturally locked, but no lock could stand against the ‘Key that Opens Anything.’ I moved slowly, muffling my footsteps. Looking around, I saw that the windows were firmly barred and salt scattered along the doorframes in preparation for the coming night.
‘They’re afraid the ghost dogs might reach even here.’
From the kitchen, the sound of clattering dishes suggested the wife was washing up. I quietly approached the room with its tattered curtain. The chief, with half his body burned and his mobility impaired from exhaustion, was likely resting there.
“Keke.”
-What a lame stunt.
Grumbling, Dimacushel instantly swelled its shadow, engulfing the entire house. As the shadow spread black across the floor, walls, and everything else, the house was shrouded in darkness in an instant.
-Crash!
The sound of breaking dishes came from the kitchen—likely the wife dropping a plate. Seizing the moment, I slipped into the kitchen and pressed a dagger to her neck.
“Shh.”
“……!”
“Be quiet.”
“…….”
“Then you’ll be safe.”
The wife nodded and raised both hands. I used [Plant Bind] to wrap her entire body—from ankles to just below her nose—in vines, then set her aside in a corner of the kitchen.
“Wh-what’s going on! Dolores! Dolores!”
From behind the curtain, the chief’s angry voice called his wife’s name.
“Dolores!”
Hiding in the shadows, I quietly stepped beyond the curtain. In the darkness, I could see the chief flailing about in confusion. He had half-risen, still searching for his wife, unable to comprehend why she wasn’t coming.
I moved behind the bed and watched as he stared anxiously beyond the curtain. Unable to bear the ominous silence any longer, the moment he reached under his pillow for a dagger—
“You’d better stop.”
I pressed my dagger to the chief’s neck first. Though the darkness blinded him, he clearly felt the chill of the blade at his jaw and froze in place.
And after a moment.
“I was a fool.”
“…….”
“Not mercenaries, but rats I let into the village.”
I snorted at his words, spat through gritted teeth.
“Unfortunately, I am a mercenary. Just not a ‘stupid’ one.”
“What do you want? Have you seen the gold in the manor too?”
The chief whispered without waiting for my reply, his mouth twisting in pain.
“Fine. I’ll give you half of my gold.”
“……‘My’ gold?”
He’s completely mad. How long and how deeply had he been enthralled...? Keeping the dagger at his throat, I berated him.
“There’s no gold in that manor! Only the soul of a poor child wanders there. You still haven’t realized the horrific things you’ve done!”
“We defeated the evil mage and witch and protected the village! What do you know to babble like that!”
“……Says the man who wore the hood.”
My grip tightened on the dagger. At this rate, I might just slit his throat in rage. Barely containing my fury, I struck the chief’s neck with the blunt end of the hilt, knocking him out. I dragged his unconscious body out and slung it over Ayla’s back.
We headed for the manor.
“…….”
The sun had set, and the village shrouded in darkness was silent.
‘Like the calm before the storm.’
A wind blew from afar. Unlike the previous foggy, murky air, this was clear and fresh. It seemed the wind sent by the forest spirits had finally arrived. Ironically, with the fog lifted, the village looked small and peaceful. That must have been what the Dosson couple wanted too. Raising their beloved child in a small, peaceful village.
‘……But things aren’t always what they seem.’
“Master!”
Upon reaching the manor, El greeted me. I had El support the chief and entered. There, waiting at the door...
-Woof! Woof woof!
Was the ghost dog.
Its translucent tail wagged faintly side to side. Joy. I approached slowly and stroked its head. Unlike Ayla, it felt cold, like touching ice. But adorable.
“You’re the one who stole my butternut-berry-cold soup, aren’t you?”
Its tail wagged vigorously. It must have liked it a lot.
“And you’re the one who lured Ayla out every night?”
-Kiiing.
“Hey, I’m not scolding you. Just noting it.”
-Kkuuung.
Ayla, who had crept up, whimpered and rubbed her head against my shoulder—as if promising it wouldn’t happen again. I petted the heads of the two dogs—no, dog and wolf—for a while before standing.
I removed the Starfish Leather Gloves and stored them in my subspace ring. Having seen the power of the green flames, it was best to store items weak to fire damage ahead of time.
We dragged the chief inside the manor. Slapping his cheek hard, he groaned and opened his eyes. Realizing he was in the cursed manor, his face twisted in horror, and he began thrashing. I slapped him again.
-Smack!!!
“Gah…….”
“Where are the Dosson couple’s remains?”
The chief glared at me with flashing eyes. As if he already knew what I would do, he let out a vile laugh.
“No. No way. Those filthy ones can’t be buried in this land! If their corrupted souls curse the village……!”
-Smack!!!!
I slapped him again. Finally, dark red blood trickled from his melted nostril.
“This village is already cursed. Long before that couple arrived.”
Possible if the Crows were involved. They must have invested in this village for a long time to frame the couple. Clearing the fog, ruining the crops... Then feeding the villagers, desperate for someone to blame, the Dossons as prey.
“Tell me. Where are the couple’s remains?”
“…….”
The reason I sought the Dosson couple’s remains was simple. To return the poor girl bound to this manor to where she belonged. I couldn’t let her wander this place eternally without her parents. The torment of endless unwanted travel in an unwanted world—I knew it best.
If I found and properly buried the couple’s remains, their souls would find partial peace. Then the girl would follow her parents.
But the chief remained silent. Ugly greed sealed his lips. Smirking twistedly, I grabbed his nape and dragged him toward the ‘small room.’ He screamed and thrashed wildly, but a half-paralyzed man couldn’t overcome me. Throwing him to the floor, he gasped and looked up.
“If you don’t talk, I’ll make you the same.”
“……!”
“You know what happens to those who go underground, right?”
Of course he did. Hellfire had scorched half his body. He tried to back away, but the wall blocked him.
“I, I, I…….”
“Last chance. Where did you hide the Dosson couple’s remains?”
Finally, the chief knelt. Head bowed, he muttered for a long while before speaking.
“At... the village entrance…….”
“You bastard.”
Even in death, ensuring they’d be trampled underfoot forever. I signaled Lloyd.
“Go get them.”
Lloyd nodded and left the manor. Now we just wait for him to return with the Dosson couple’s remains.
‘……The village needs to stay quiet until then.’
* * *
The chief’s wife, Dolores, staggered to her feet. Shards of broken plates on the floor had cut her, but it was worth it. She’d cut through the tough vines.
“Ugh…….”
Mercenaries. The mercenaries took her husband. The village chief! They must be bewitched by the manor’s curse. She had to tell the villagers. Dolores left the house, battered as she was. After sunset, not wandering outside was one of the village’s strictest rules—but with the rule-maker chief taken, he’d forgive it. Clutching a torch, she pounded on dark houses and shouted.
“The chief! The chief’s been dragged to that cursed manor!”
People gathered, murmurs growing. One, two, three, four, five... The number of torches swelled beyond count.
Just like ‘that day.’
“Those mercenaries! The mercenaries are possessed by the ghost!”
“My god, has the curse of those mad mages bewitched the mercenaries too?”
“Evil things! This time, we must destroy the manor!”
“But what about the gold?”
“The gold will be fine. The gold.”
“Yes, as long as the gold is safe. Just the gold!”
The ominous flicker of torches enveloped the village, and the footsteps of madness-shaken villagers shook the earth. They headed for the manor—for the chief, no, the village, no, the gold! For the gold.