Chapter 4. The Count's Daughter Died.
Leaning against the window, Ji-hyuk pondered deeply. If the count had truly summoned a necromancer to raise his daughter, she had to be somewhere in the inner castle. But reanimating a corpse was just that—making it stand and move. A mindless thing like that was nothing more than a monster.
...Just a corpse monster. Not his daughter anymore, just a ghoul.
Of course, he had something to confirm first. And conveniently, dusk was falling. Perfect timing to avoid prying eyes.
He slipped out of the lodging building and headed to the cemetery in a secluded corner of the inner castle. The door there was secured with a thick padlock. But for Ji-hyuk, picking a lock like that was child's play.
He'd bought a few iron picks earlier when he'd gone outside the castle. After a quick scan of the surroundings, he worked the lock open with expert finesse. Click—it sprang free with a light pop.
Done. He pushed open the heavy iron door and stepped inside. Grrrind—the massive thing scraped against the stone floor, echoing with a metallic groan.
A musty stench hung in the air of the eerie mausoleum. He struck flint against the candlestick he'd brought, lighting it with a few sharp clinks, and scanned the interior. Then he searched for the count's daughter's resting place.
...Here. Ji-hyuk spotted the iron plaque reading Rillianna. Next to it, withered flowers were jammed into a vase.
The coffins were neatly slotted in like shelves in a cabinet. He checked the compartment holding the count's daughter's coffin with his candlelight. And compared it to the others.
...As expected. Only Rillianna's coffin had less dust accumulated around it. Clear signs it'd been pulled out and shoved back in.
Of course, that alone wasn't conclusive proof. Ji-hyuk pressed his palm flat against the side of the coffin. Then he spread his mana, focusing intently.
Empty. The coffin was completely empty.
His bad premonition had been spot on. Ji-hyuk pulled his hand away and let out a long sigh. This made it highly likely the count was an accomplice.
But it still wasn't decisive evidence. Without finding the count's daughter turned ghoul, it all meant nothing.
Ji-hyuk carefully exited the mausoleum, relocked the door, and hurried back to the lodging. By then, night ravens were already blotting half the sky. The sun had dipped below the horizon.
He entered his room and slumped onto the edge of the bed.
...I've figured this much out. But the next part was the problem.
If he had more time, maybe. But tracking down the count's ghoul daughter before dawn in this massive castle? Impossible.
Sure, she was probably tucked away in some secret chamber the count had prepared. But sensing something suspicious, the count wouldn't touch it until they were gone. No need to leave loose ends.
And even if he got lucky and found the ghoul, the real issue came after.
...Would finding it change anything? Shoving it in the count's face might just make the bastard clam up—or worse, silence them to cover it up. Summoning a necromancer was a grave crime. Even for a count, it'd be hard to bury.
Stripping away the excuses, a single day was just too short. Getting this far was thanks to his seasoned instincts from experience.
...No choice. Have to drop it.
Having reached that conclusion, Ji-hyuk crossed to the hero's room. She looked at him with a pouty smile.
"How's it going?"
"Confirmed the count's daughter's corpse isn't in her coffin."
Her smile vanished in an instant at the news. She seemed to grasp just how big this had gotten.
"...And?"
"Looks like the count lured in a necromancer and turned his dead daughter into a ghoul."
"Evidence?"
"Haven't found any. Yet."
Haa—the fairy let out a long sigh. She stared at him steadily. And as expected, the words tumbled from her mouth.
"...Let's stop here. It's too dangerous. Drop it."
Of course, Ji-hyuk had planned to anyway.
...But he wasn't backing down that easily. Logically, he had the high ground. She couldn't argue her way out of it.
"If you'd just help a little, hero, we could solve this."
"You... still don't get it?"
Her voice dropped low.
"This is the count's home turf. We're right in the middle of it. You think we'd survive if he came at us for real? I can't even guarantee my own safety."
"You told me to find evidence."
"That was... haa..., before I knew it'd blow up like this. I would've told you to stay out if I'd known."
"Necromancers are public enemies on this continent. How can we just look the other way?"
"...Sometimes you have no choice. I have my limits too. You wanna turn this place into our grave?"
Of course, Ji-hyuk understood Elraim's position. With just one healer and one mercenary, what could she do? If the count went all out, even she wouldn't make it.
Still, sloughing it off without even pretending to care was pathetic. Seeing that stirred his spite.
...Was I always this righteous? Nah.
Ji-hyuk was plenty cowardly and rotten himself.
...This fairy bitch was just worse.
"That's an order. Drop it. Got it? There's a line to how much you can push."
"...Understood."
He'd planned to drop it anyway. Might as well pin the villain role on this hero fairy entirely. Then he could play the good guy forced to stand down by orders. Call it pay for his day's work.
"But what if it blows up?"
"What else? Pin it on the count. ...You said he creeped you out too."
"True, but... no solid proof."
The fairy spread her pretty palm wide.
"Enough. Drop it. Why worry about hypotheticals that haven't happened? Focus on real problems right now."
"...Yes, hero."
"Now get out. ...Oh, and don't say a word to Bella. Got it?"
"Yes."
Ji-hyuk left the room.
...Ugh, that smug little shit.
Of course, the fairy knew this wasn't something to brush off. But no choice. Even if the count was a good guy, shake his foundation with proof like that, and he'd turn in a heartbeat.
...Most did. Die one way or another, might as well try sealing lips first.
The hero rubbed her temples with her fingertips.
What a pain in the ass this mercenary peon was being. Just roll with it and move on...
Still, he'd backed off without too much fuss, so he knew this wasn't kid stuff.
...Maybe he'd already given up inside.
Of course, she had escape plans ready for worst-case scenarios. If shit really hit the fan like he said, sparks could fly her way. She'd never have become a hero without that foresight.
Fool.
...But oddly, he stuck in her mind.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"We rested very well. We'll never forget your hospitality."
"Splendid. Let's meet again if fate allows."
"Yes. Farewell."
The hero and the count exchanged goodbyes. The hero's group boarded the carriage. Creak—the cart carrying the three rolled out of the city.
Staring at the receding Chronostan, Ji-hyuk exhaled sharply through his nose.
The hero already knew about the ghoul horde. Unless the count was an idiot, he'd take measures to keep it from escalating.
And since it wasn't in his memories, it thankfully didn't blow up big.
...Have to trust that and move on.
The fairy's face wasn't relaxed either. Probably guilt over dereliction of duty, despite the circumstances.
But Ji-hyuk had no desire to harp on a dropped issue. Didn't want to torment the fairy more...
Strictly speaking, failing to resolve it reflected partly on his own shortcomings too. So this thorn pricked him as much as her.
"By the way, did yesterday's thing work out?"
Bella, oblivious to the details, asked Ji-hyuk. He flashed an easy grin.
"False alarm. No issues."
"Really? ...Good."
The innocent maiden took it at face value. The fairy pretended ignorance, staring out the window. Ji-hyuk turned his gaze outside too.
Bella stole furtive glances at him.
...She just wanted to keep looking at him. After yesterday, she'd fully admitted her rational attraction to him.
It was an unstoppable current. Even if one-sided.
Is this... love?
The word made her heart pound.
Of course, she'd liked people before. Natural when people meet. But this intensity was a first.
Simple fondness and deep affection were worlds apart. She felt the difference crystal clear now.
Bella wanted to catch Ji-hyuk's eye. Wanted him to look at her. Wanted to see him smile.
...Wanted him to love her.
Reaching that thought, she unwittingly glanced sideways at the hero beside her. The hero faced the window, face hidden.
Whenever she saw the hero, her confidence plummeted. Fairy Elraim was beautiful and capable.
...Didn't want to compare, but couldn't help it.
Does Ji-hyuk... like the hero too?
Bella burned with curiosity. It gnawed at her.
She was dying to know his heart. But timid as she was, she lacked the guts to ask.
She could only stew in silence. Her nature.
Unrequited love. Watching him was enough—yet she craved his gaze too. A contradictory ache.
Only now did she grasp how torturous it was. Far from the dry words she'd skimmed in novels.
Back then, she'd found the heroine frustrating for not confessing.
- Just say you like him. What's so hard?
...It wasn't that simple. Far more tangled emotions wove through it.
The fear of confessing and ruining everything—she felt it viscerally now.
Still, the novel's heroine won the hero. She was pretty and kind.
...But Bella wasn't. A better, prettier woman sat right beside her.
Reality wasn't a novel.
"Bella, you okay? Stomach bothering you?"
"...Huh? Oh, no."
"Your face looks off..."
"No, I'm fine. Totally healthy."
Bella forced a smile. To seem normal. To hide her crush.
Ji-hyuk quirked his lips up too.
"Glad to hear it."
His concern warmed her. And hurt more.
- I like you.
The words stuck in her throat.
Ji-hyuk turned away. Bella stared at his profile a while longer, then slowly lowered her eyes.
The carriage raced on across the endless fields.