The Resurrected Immortal - Chapter 114: Subjugation of the New Species Magical Beast (7)
[This is... a bit much.]
Verdandi, who had witnessed the reenactment of the girl's memories, furrowed her brow, feeling something akin to the nausea humans experience.
"……."
[Child?]
As the reenactment of the girl's 'past' came to an end and the surrounding background returned to reality, Eunhyeon remained deep in thought without saying a word. Verdandi called out to him.
"……."
When Eunhyeon showed no reaction even after hearing his name, Verdandi, growing curious about his thoughts, began reading them.
What kind of magic could it be?
The words Marius had uttered—"You can just escape with your magic"—kept echoing in Eunhyeon's mind.
It's clear that Renat's magic is a means to drastically shorten travel time between the bandits' lair and Bram Village.
It was evident that, like the teleportation of high-rank digit magic users such as Illyana or the 'Gate' artifact Eunhyeon and Illyana had recently developed, Renat possessed magic specialized for escape and mobility.
And given that the magical beasts attacked the village, it seems this magic is also linked to summoning or deploying them...
Moreover, when Eunhyeon had first scanned the bandits' lair with his senses, there had been no sign of a personal workshop typical of an alchemist inside. Human corpses required a great deal, and the magical beast parts to synthesize with them would naturally need storage and management—yet no such space had been visible, which was puzzling.
Perhaps if Renat's magic interferes with space itself...
Not only transporting herself and her companions, but also the magical beasts, releasing them at the desired timing and location.
That makes it even more of a pain.
In conclusion, Marius and Renat had timed their escape for a dark night when the bandits were all asleep, then attacked the village to harvest corpses for creating a new unit of humanoid chimeras.
And sparing the little girl? What a fucking psycho.
There was no rational reason for letting the girl live—it was purely a sadistic act to subject her to horrific experiences for their own pleasure, a mindset utterly incomprehensible to human logic.
Indeed... they are not beings with normal thought processes.
Verdandi naturally agreed with Eunhyeon's assessment. Having viewed all the memories, Eunhyeon removed his hand from the girl's forehead, stood up, and scanned once more for any additional survivors.
Is this child the only living person here?
Eunhyeon nodded gravely at Verdandi's words, then carefully lifted the girl lying on the cloth spread on the floor and hoisted her onto his back.
Are you leaving?
Yes. Since they've moved using transportation we can't even fathom, further pursuit from here is pointless.
They had only uncovered the necromancy and bio-alchemy used to control the chimeras; the enemies' goals and identities remained unknown, leaving scant clues for tracking.
I'm heading back to the expedition for now. We can only hope Riod gets something from interrogating the captured bandits.
Even after noticing the anomaly with the humanoid chimeras left in the forest, the necromancer had fled with only the alchemist, ignoring the bandits. This suggested limitations to the alchemist's mobility or that the bandits were disposable pawns from the start.
Not much to hope for, but it's our only lead.
Hmm, and you're taking the child?
Of course. How could a kid survive alone in a ruined village? At least I'll drop her off at the nursery.
A nursery?
It's a place that takes in kids left orphaned or abandoned, like this one. I personally sponsor one. I'll leave her there.
A noble endeavor. A fine thought.
Children could be left alone for myriad reasons—parents dying unavoidably, like this girl's, or simple abandonment due to changing hearts, financial woes, or dire circumstances. Such tragedies were commonplace in this world. To spare them suffering and starvation in the cold, Eunhyeon sponsored nurseries with donations. Careful not to wake the girl on his back, he slowly made his way back to the expedition.
The search team's bandit purge proceeded far too smoothly.
The team, composed largely of high-rank adventurers skilled in wild skirmishes with only minor injuries from the humanoid chimera battles, reaped great benefits from their composition. High-rank adventurers, typically proud and resistant to orders, followed Riod's commands without complaint—convinced by his swordsmanship and legendary hero status that were no mere boasts. The kingdom's nobles, ignorant of his battlefield prowess, might scorn him, but to those on the front lines risking their lives, Riod was a hero incarnate. None viewed him with disrespect as the court nobles had.
While thoroughly searching the bandits' lair, Elenoa discovered the imprisoned women. Bursting through the door into the sealed space, she wrinkled her nose at the overpowering nightflower stench.
Five or six naked women lay sprawled about, their bodies defiled with indistinguishable layers of dried white semen. The stench from the fluids leaking from between their legs and mouths filled the confined area, nauseating and pervasive.
"Milady! You shouldn't go in there..."
Her guard knight Reno tried to stop her, but Elenoa ignored him and approached the women collapsed on the floor.
"I'm sorry... We were too late..."
"Ah... aaah..."
One woman, half out of her mind, looked up at Elenoa and babbled incoherently.
"Can you bring water and cloths? As much as possible."
"Water and cloths, milady?"
Reno looked puzzled, but Elenoa nodded, eyes fixed on the captives.
"At least... I want to help them wash. And bring cloaks or robes to cover themselves."
"Understood."
Having overheard Eunhyeon and Riod's conversation, Elenoa could easily foresee these women's futures after being gang-raped by countless bandits.
- Traces of sexual assault were found on the women's corpses as well...
Eunhyeon's autopsy report flashed in her mind. Raped by bandits until death, then synthesized with magical beasts—doomed to eternal torment as the necromancer's puppets even in undeath. The thought gripped her hands with fury. Reno brought a large waterskin and dry cloths, setting them beside her.
"Reno."
"Step out."
"But... I can't do that."
"...Then turn around."
"Very well."
Duty-bound as her guard knight, Reno refused at first but reluctantly turned away at Elenoa's compromise. Wiping away the crusted semen clinging to the women's bodies, Elenoa fought waves of revulsion threatening to make her vomit, steeling herself to clean them.
Before noon, the search team easily subdued the drowsy bandits, bound them all, and returned to base camp. Compared to the chimera battles, the bandit sweep ended so anticlimactically that the adventurers, brimming with energy, suggested immediate return to Fernin—but Riod refused.
Eunhyeon hadn't returned yet. Citing his solo pursuit of the escaped necromancer and alchemist, Riod quelled their protests. The adventurers, having faced the humanoid chimeras firsthand, had no desire to encounter them again and grudgingly accepted. Many secretly hoped Eunhyeon would slay the pair and return. But as the sun began to set without word from him—who had promised to be back before nightfall—Elenoa grew worried.
"What if... something happened?"
"Even if trouble arose, he's not one to fall easily. Still, he must return by tomorrow at latest, so no choice."
With captured bandits to escort and interrogate, the expedition faced issues of rations and fatigue. Knowing Eunhyeon's capabilities, Riod wasn't overly concerned and planned withdrawal at dawn.
"Worried about him?"
"W-why would I worry about him?"
"……."
This question feels familiar.
Elenoa's reaction was predictably consistent.
"He'd survive a jungle naked. Plenty of experience, sharp judgment. No need to fret."
"I-I'm not fretting... Just curious what happened to that necromancer and alchemist. They're... unforgivable."
Furious at their desecration of human corpses, Elenoa scowled.
"Captain! He's back!"
Elenoa shot up at the knight's urgent report and rushed out of the command tent.
"……? Were you in the middle of something important?"
"No, seems something more pressing came up for the lady."
Riod rose slowly and addressed the knight.
"Heading there now."
"Are you alright? Any injuries?"
"Yes. I'm fine."
Elenoa twitched an eyebrow at Eunhyeon's calm demeanor. She'd imagined all sorts of mishaps, but his composure made her feel foolish for worrying.
"You said you'd be back before sunset—why so late?"
"Circumstances."
"Circumstances...? Huh?"
Only then did she notice the blanket-wrapped bulge on his back, like a tortoise shell, tilting her head.
"Could you watch this child for a bit?"
"...A kid?"
"The sole survivor from Bram Village, the nearest one."
"Survivor... you don't mean..."
Elenoa paled, grasping the implication.
"Too late."
Eunhyeon turned to Riod, who had just arrived.
"Riod, I have a report."
"...Got it. To the tent now."
Riod nodded, reading the gravity from Eunhyeon's stern expression and subdued tone.
"Ah, I too..."
"The child's alright?"
"Yes. Just exhausted from lack of sleep—nothing else."
"I see."
He nodded and walked off, leaving Elenoa momentarily stunned.
"Wait... normally you'd say 'come along' or something? Same briefing for me too, right?"
Flabbergasted by his attitude, she laid the girl in an empty aid tent spot and hurried to the command tent, overhearing Eunhyeon and Riod inside.
"So, the alchemist has some spatial translocation ability. Limited, but enough to bridge the distance between the lair and distant Bram Village—highly threatening in application."
"Exactly."
"...This is beyond mere beast subjugation or bandit sweeps now."
"The village I found was just a small one. Who knows how many others they've hit with that mobility."
"The more villages raided, the more corpses—and chimeras bolster their forces. The longer it drags, the bigger they grow."
"And after small, hidden villages? Next targets are obvious."
"Mid-sized ones in noble territories."
Riod stood, summoning a knight.
"We're returning to base immediately. Relay to all expedition members."
"N-now, sir?"
"Urgent. Hurry."
"Y-yes, sir!"