Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Unbearable Sight
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It was a sight too gruesome to behold. Deong rewrapped the bandages he had loosened.
The tattered flesh had healed in grotesque shapes. At least the medicine from the tech lab had kept it from festering—that was some small mercy.
It had been two days since they withdrew from the estate. Contact was overdue.
"There was quite the commotion yesterday," someone said.
"What about?"
"Lord Silder's estate. A spirit suddenly appeared and half-destroyed the place."
"Good heavens. Is Lord Silder all right?"
"Well, Lord Silder is fine, but they say Charlotte took a bad hit. That poor young lady."
"Oh no."
"I sent all my boys who work in carpentry over to the estate. She's the one who looked after us in tough times. We have to help out when it counts."
"I should do something too, instead of just sitting here. That's the right thing to do. I just hope Charlotte pulls through."
"That's what worries me too. She was always so cheerful— all the neighbors loved her. With all the rotten nobles out there, why did something like this have to happen to good people?"
Deong continued his meal while eavesdropping on the conversation. The guests who had come to the inn for breakfast were all talking about the estate incident.
Most sympathized with the noble and raged as if it had happened to them. Her reputation was excellent, just as the report had stated.
"That was good."
He said to the innkeeper and returned to his room. She didn't seem suspicious at all. Why had the captain ordered surveillance?
He couldn't even complain about losing his wrist—it was his fault for trespassing on private property without permission.
If the captain's instincts were off, he'd end up losing his wrist for nothing and wrapping up the investigation.
He let out a deep sigh. That's when a cat landed on the windowsill. It had finally arrived.
The cat peeked in from the window, then flinched and fled outside. The provisional contract was complete.
There was a knock. Three raps, a pause, then three more. Deong released his grip on the dagger hidden under the blanket.
"Come in."
The door opened. It was Blind, smiling as he entered. It was so unexpected that Deong forgot to greet him and just stared. He wasn't supposed to be here.
"Did you boil and eat your hand because you were hungry?"
Blind said. His mouth was as foul as ever, despite his handsome face. Deong replied with genuine delight.
"If I was that hungry, I'd have chopped off my forearm too. More importantly, I didn't expect you."
"The captain sent backup to this area. To this peaceful place with zero incidents. I thought he was pranking me while on vacation, but seeing your state, looks like there's something here after all."
Blind approached. Deong silently held out his severed wrist.
"Can it be saved?"
"You know the answer to that."
"Guess I'll have to find a fancy prosthetic."
"I'll recommend a pretty one."
Blind was in the same special surveillance unit's first team, but like Deong, he was often pulled from team duties.
Not due to lack of skill—quite the opposite. His talents were so exceptional that the captain kept assigning him special tasks. They were in similar boats all around.
"How'd this happen? Did you finally sneak into the empress's chambers like you've always wanted?"
"That would have been less unfair. Got done in by one of Silder's knights."
"I've told you a hundred times frontal assaults aren't your specialty."
"I was hidden. And at a good distance too. Far enough that I'd need a telescope to spot the target—get it?"
"And you still got caught."
"The moment I sensed it, I reacted, but I had to give up my wrist to a sword flying from way over there. I got lucky. If my reaction had been a split second slower, it wouldn't have been just my wrist coming off—it'd be the thing on my shoulders."
Blind crossed his arms. A furrow formed between his brows.
"Anything else I don't know, but spotting you while hidden..."
"He can do more than just hide well."
"Is that why you ended up like this?"
"You sure don't hold back with patients. Anyway, did you bring the messenger?"
Blind nodded and went to the window. He put the flute hanging around his neck to his lips and blew with all his might.
His face turned red as he plopped down on the bed.
"I've told the tech bureau a dozen times to upgrade this thing, but they won't listen. It's too hard to blow."
"They say there's no way around it if you want the sound to carry far. Plus, not many can even use it."
Deong peered out the window. It was about time. Far off, he saw a bird with wings spread straight.
"It's here."
He stepped away from the window. The bird folded its wings and shot through like an arrow, entering the room.
It landed gracefully on the floor and eyed Deong and Blind with its bulging eyes.
"Look at that glare. My finger still throbs from when that thing bit me."
Deong said. The captain's personal messenger, Albert, let out a low cry, as if demanding the item to deliver.
He placed the prepared report into the pouch on Albert's body.
"Thanks."
Albert hopped to the windowsill. It spread its densely gray-feathered wings and launched into the air.
"What happens to that guy if the captain dies?"
"No one knows. There are no recorded cases of familiars eternally bound like that. But why?"
"I told the captain: when you die, hand over Albert at least before you go."
"Good point. Yeah, pass on Albert first, then die."
Blind chuckled as he stood.
"Rest up for now."
"You?"
"I'll take over the mission you couldn't finish. Just surveil the estate, right?"
Deong shook his head.
"The captain tasked me with watching one woman. The one who did this to my hand."
"Name?"
"I'll describe her features. No info on Silder territory, so I don't even know who she is."
Deong described the surveillance target's characteristics. Blind named one.
"Probably Knight Dianne. Silder's closest aide."
"You've already started investigating."
"The captain didn't send me here just to humor you. I read up on Silder territory at the branch."
"Why would the captain put surveillance on her? He only issues these for persons of interest."
"Means Dianne's caught his attention that much."
"What's her past like? Must be flashy if the captain flagged her."
Deong lay on the bed. The pain relief was wearing off—pain throbbed from his wrist. He clutched his pounding head and waited for Blind's response.
"Nothing special. The branch info is all public level. For real details, we'd need the holy city archives, but that's not happening now."
Blind tossed a wooden case. Deong opened the palm-sized case to reveal familiar pills. He took one and asked,
"This?"
"Painkiller. Has anti-inflammatory effects too—take it. Tech bureau needs clinical trials anyway, and here's a perfect guinea pig."
"It won't kill me, right?"
"If it does, I'll look after your family."
"Nice not having family to worry about in times like this."
He popped the pill in his mouth and chewed. Tasteless. The sticky tablet slid down his throat.
"Gonna crash. Adrenaline crash—I suddenly feel exhausted."
"Rest properly and relocate."
"I know the protocols, don't worry. More importantly, be careful. That woman's no joke."
"If she caught you, stealth approaches won't work."
"What's your plan?"
"Perfect opportunity came up. The estate collapsed. Looks like they got caught in a spirit that appeared out of nowhere."
"I heard something like that."
"She's popular with the locals. Everyone's stepping up to help. The estate's swarming with people. Blending in will be easy."
"Overt observation's one way."
"I'll peek inside if I get the chance."
"Not recommended. I only lost an arm, but up close? It won't end there."
"Noted."
He wiggled his severed wrist at Blind. Blind told him to rest and left, closing the door.
Deong closed his eyes, thinking of the captain. He'd probably click his tongue first upon reading the report. Lost a hand and gained nothing.
* * *
"Hey, old timer. It's funny hearing this from a guy who's locked up another human, but listen. You'll regret it if you hurt yourself."
It had been four days since the old man, clutching John's note, appeared. He knelt in prayer, refusing food or water.
No use pleading with Guchi. He set cold porridge by the old man and turned to Kalligo.
"This is gonna cause problems."
"What can we do? It's his choice. I don't know what Jon told the old man, but he won't listen to us. Yesterday, even when we said we'd let him go, he didn't even acknowledge it. Speaking of, when's Jon's prophecy coming true? I'd love for those threatening guests to show up already. Waiting's getting old."
"What if they don't?"
"If the prophecy can't even get the first step right, it's not worth our time. We'll drop the wait, switch to investigating surroundings and searching for Gilliuud. And check the place Jon mentioned too. So let's give it one more day. What do you say, Lander?"
Lander, polishing his sword, replied, "Sure."
Guchi thought Lander's composure was impressive.
If their situations were reversed, he'd be flipping out. Hunting down whoever did this to his wife and built this place, eyes blazing.
Lander approached the old man.
"Have some food."
The old man remained silent.
"Do you want to leave?"
At the second question, he finally spoke.
"There's no escape. The moment you captured me, everything was confirmed. Demons will come here now. They'll burn everything and kill everyone. If I flee the flames, misfortune will befall my children. He said so—it must be true."
Then it happened. An unfamiliar cry echoed from the cave leading outside the village.
The distant wail cut off abruptly, and a gray-feathered bird entered the cavern.
It was a bird none had seen before. Thick, blunt beak, chicken-like crest on its head, but uniquely shaped—like a woman's well-combed hair, straight yet softly curved.
The bird folded its wings and perched on the altar. Next to Kalligo. From the vibe, Kalligo knew it well.
"It's here! It really came! Ah, the end has arrived!"
The old man cried out at the bird. His frail, hoarse voice filled the cavern. He slammed his head to the ground and trembled violently.
"What's wrong with you?"
Guchi asked, but the old man didn't answer. He just muttered faintly: Death cannot be avoided. I must die here.
As Guchi winced at the eerie sounds, footsteps came from the two-story stairs.
The steps grew louder, and finally, the visitor's face appeared.
"Good thing you're all here."
He was an elderly gentleman with neatly trimmed hair and a well-groomed beard. Guchi straightened up immediately. Blood stained the sword in the old man's hand.
(To be continued)