Chapter 373: Bread and Dagger (71)
Chapter 373: Bread and Dagger (71)
I rummaged through the pockets of the sprawled-out corpse.
The man who had fallen victim to Avian’s hand was named Wolf. In the small village where I used to live, identification wasn't necessary, but it seemed the 'Headquarters' was different.
A blood-stained wooden tag glowed with an eerie light.
It was a stain that felt unpleasant no matter how many times I saw it. I tried to wipe the blood off with my sleeve but eventually gave up and washed it away with water from my canteen.
Droplets of water dripped from the wooden tag.
Before they could even hit the ground, the moisture turned to frost and scattered.
Such was the terrifying severity of the Northern cold.
The only saving grace was that Avian and I were perfectly fine despite the freezing temperatures.
I was a martial artist who had reached the level of an Expert, and Avian was draped in the snow leopard fur I had gifted her. There was no gap for the biting Northern winds to penetrate.
The only problem was the man who lay dead on the ground.
He had been wearing exceptionally thin clothing.
Perhaps he was naturally resistant to the cold. Otherwise, there was no way to explain his bizarre attire.
It was a frustrating reality.
Avian’s transformation magic was subtle. Not only did it perfectly mimic another person's appearance, but it was also nearly impossible to detect any trace of the spell.
Nevertheless, all magic has its limits.
No matter how skilled Avian was, it was impossible to fake one's clothing. In other words, those thin clothes had to become Avian’s disguise.
We had to worry about hypothermia immediately.
Just in case, I asked Avian.
"…Should we wait for another elf to come by?"
"We don't have time. Besides, I don't want to take the lives of my kin more than necessary."
Avian’s answer was firm.
It was a valid reason. I couldn't think of a proper rebuttal, so I could only nod with a faint groan.
To be honest, I was worried.
On the outside, she would take the form of a sturdy man, but Avian’s true self was that of a fragile girl. I wasn't sure if she could endure several hours in this sub-zero cold.
However, her resolve seemed unshakable.
It wasn't that I couldn't empathize with her feelings. Though she had drawn her blade to prove her will, her heart couldn't possibly be at peace after killing one of her own.
In the end, I couldn't bring myself to stop her. All that left my mouth were common words of concern.
"Be careful, Avian."
"Don't worry. I'm an elf, remember? I was born and raised here. Surely I can handle a few hours of cold."
As she spoke, Avian even straightened her shoulders.
She seemed to be trying to show confidence in her own way. Ironically, it only emphasized her lean, gaunt frame, which had the opposite effect of stirring my pity.
She had been eating much more lately, yet she was still like this.
With no body fat, it would be even harder for her to withstand the cold.
Still, I decided to play along with Avian’s bravado. I had no grounds to stop her anyway.
I nodded with an awkward smile. Only then did Avian begin her preparations.
We decided to wipe down and dry the blood-stained clothes first.
There was a slight delay as we built a campfire, but Avian was soon able to enter the 'Headquarters.' Her appearance had been completely transformed into that of Wolf.
I waited at a location a short distance away.
That didn't mean I had trouble grasping the situation. It was thanks to the crow perched on Avian’s shoulder.
This magic creature, a creation of the Empire, was remarkably efficient. Not only could it store images of what it saw and heard, but it could also share its vision with the caster in real-time.
Of course, there was the condition that it had to stay within a certain range.
For me right now, that didn't matter.
As I closed my eyes, an unfamiliar landscape surfaced. Along with it came a voice that tickled my ears.
They were the eyes and ears of the crow.
"Wolf, what's with this crow?"
"I don't know. It just flew down from somewhere and sat on my shoulder. Maybe it likes me?"
Avian was currently having a nonchalant conversation with a guard.
Seeing her again, the girl truly had a talent for acting. Had she received professional training, she might have become a dangerous spy operating in the shadows of human society.
It was a stroke of luck for humanity.
"Really? It's a bit suspicious… Could it be a dangerous animal?"
"Huh? This crow?"
Hmm, Avian hummed, stroking her chin. After a brief silence, the girl continued her slick excuse.
"Well, that might be true… but it's not like we can figure it out ourselves, right? Maybe I should ask Lord Leoric."
"Lord Leoric? Ah."
The guard listening to Avian’s excuse seemed to recall something.
Immediately after letting out a short exclamation, he gave a warm smile and patted Avian on the shoulder.
"Now that you mention it, Lord Leoric was looking for you. Wolf… you're finally being recognized."
What was this sudden talk?
It seemed Wolf had a prior appointment with Leoric. Judging by the guard's meaningful expression, I could guess that something special had happened to Wolf recently.
Though Avian and I had no way of knowing the details.
This could easily turn into a crisis.
However, Avian turned the situation around with a boisterous laugh. Instead of pretending to know, she chose to be vague.
It wasn't a bad strategy.
As proof, the guard simply laughed along with her.
There was no sign of suspicion.
"Thanks. I can't keep Lord Leoric waiting for even a moment… I should get going. Where is Lord Leoric right now?"
"In his usual spot."
Avian nodded and began to walk.
No one, including the guard, tried to stop her. In fact, a few people even offered passing words of congratulations.
Avian’s face was subtly tense.
She was fundamentally a timid girl. There was no way she welcomed such an unexpected variable.
If there was any consolation, it was that she no longer had to go through a tedious process to meet Leoric.
Before long, Avian stood before a shabby hut.
At a glance, it looked similar to where the village elves lived. Despite being the residence of a cult leader, it was a modest dwelling with no guards in sight.
However, both Avian and I knew.
Leoric was not a man who needed guards in the first place.
The martial power he possessed was close to that of a monster. No matter how much a martial artist trained, they couldn't possibly reinforce their body to that extent.
It was truly a 'forbidden power,' the hidden strength of the Dark Cult.
Avian’s body momentarily stiffened as she faced the encounter with Leoric. It was due to nerves.
Furthermore, as a sharp wind brushed past, Avian’s body, already clad in thin clothes, shivered.
There was no more time to wait.
Immediately after Avian stepped forward with eyes full of resolve.
I was soon able to witness the person I had been looking for.
The shabby hut was merely a disguise. Leoric’s true residence was in the basement.
It was a room that was bleak beyond words.
A stone bed and various surgical tools came into view one by one. Leoric was in the middle of them, groaning in deep thought.
"…Lord Leoric."
At that low call, the hideous middle-aged man finally snapped out of it.
A smile appeared on his face, which had melted into a mess. It was a benevolent smile that didn't suit his gruesome appearance.
Leoric looked at Avian, who was disguised as Wolf, and made the sign of the cross over his chest.
"Oh, Immanuel! Brother Wolf, you have finally arrived."
"I apologize for being late, Lord Leoric. I happened to find a peculiar animal…"
As she spoke, Avian pointed to the crow on her shoulder.
Leoric’s puzzled gaze turned toward me. More accurately, he was looking at the crow, but thanks to sharing its vision, I had the chance to examine Leoric’s face in detail.
He was a man with deep eyes.
It was clear he had once been a devout priest. Only a religious person who had disciplined their mind for a long time could possess such profound pupils.
That made it all the more questioning.
What exactly was the catalyst that had driven this man completely mad?
Leoric walked over with heavy steps and carefully reached out toward the crow. His fingers gently stroked the crow's head.
The crow did not resist, and Leoric showed a satisfied smile.
"What a cute animal. But do crows live in the coniferous forests?"
"I've seen them occasionally. But I've never seen one so unafraid of strangers…"
"Do not worry too much, Brother Wolf. Is this not also the will of the Lord? Though we are in the midst of tribulations, it is not good to have an attitude of rejecting all living creatures."
Avian bowed her head, pretending to be startled.
It seemed that was the typical way an elf treated Leoric.
To anyone watching, it looked like a subordinate serving a superior.
"I apologize. My learning is short…"
"There is no need to blame yourself. Sometimes I may be wrong, and you, Brother, may be right. Always maintain an attitude of questioning."
With those words, Leoric clapped his palms together.
It seemed he wanted to change the subject.
A gentle tone flowed from his mouth.
"Anyway, you've worked hard, Brother Wolf. Today, as promised, I have prepared a gift for you."
"A-A gift, you say…?"
"A 'Blessing,' of course."
At that unexpected answer, Avian’s body stiffened slightly.