Episode 60 – Is there anyone who can talk more?
60. Is there anyone who can talk more?
Freeville, a small city with a population of 3,000 located in the southeastern part of the empire.
Still night.
The morning sun rises.
Time for people to wake up and start their day busily.
The residential area of Freeville was unusually quiet.
Without any sign of opening.
It’s as if he’s scared of even the sunlight shining on him.
Tightly closed doors, windows, and curtains.
Only the cool dawn wind hovered lonely in the still silence.
Not a single cat, dog, or even a bird was seen as if they were participating in this atmosphere.
aaah!!!
What broke the silence was a woman’s loud scream.
The sharp noise rang unusually loud in the empty city.
It seems like it was a signal.
Snap! Grumble! Squeak, leap!
The closed windows and doors began to open all at once.
The heads of citizens with pale complexions popped out one by one.
“Where are we again this time!?”
“I think it’s Gyutsu’s house…?”
“Damn…Damn….”
People rushed out of the house, muttering swear words.
It was as if an anthill had been overturned.
Sliding, trudging, trudging.
They came out and walked anxiously and nervously towards the epicenter of the screams.
I guess I didn’t sleep well last night.
Everyone had bags under their eyes and their faces were thin.
People flocked to the two-story house with the red roof.
Unlike other places that are tightly closed.
The front door and windows of the house were broken into a mess as if someone had torn them off.
Through the hole in that house.
“aaah! “aaah!”
A woman’s wailing escaped.
It was a desperate scream that made my heart ache just by hearing it.
“aaah! Gyutsu, Gyutsu!”
People crossed the threshold, clutching their trembling hearts.
“Great!”
The smell of blood.
As soon as I entered, the thick, fishy scent of blood hit my nose.
The smell was coming from the second floor.
It seemed like the energy of death was following along from above.
People climbed the creaky wooden stairs with stiff faces.
The length of the stairs was definitely short and narrow.
The sound of your breathing becomes so heavy that you can hear it in your ears.
My legs became heavy as if I had sprinted.
At the end of the hallway on the second floor.
“Huh! Hmm!”
A woman’s cries were heard through the torn door of the master bedroom.
At first glance, inside the room, there were red blood stains on the walls and floor.
“Woo-eup…!”
“Well, I can’t…!”
Some people with weak stomachs turned around and ran out.
I couldn’t stand the atmosphere.
The older men who had endured this and stayed behind walked forward with solemn faces.
“Huh!”
“Huh…”
An exclamation burst out.
People all took a deep breath and closed their eyes.
With a woman on her knees shedding tears.
Something lies in front of her.
Reddish and squishy.
The ‘thing’ on the bed.
It was difficult to believe that it was a human body.
Just.
It’s just like a piece of red meat.
If this wasn’t a place called the master bedroom.
If only there had not been the heartbreaking scream of the woman sitting next to her.
No one would have thought that it belonged to a person.
No.
I wouldn’t have tried to think about it.
If that is truly a human body, isn’t that such a terrible fact?
“Ugh! Hmm…!”
Sharp!
Finally, the woman, having exhausted all her strength, fainted and fell behind her.
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Some of her people who had come in helped her out and took her out.
The remaining men rolled up their sleeves and began to move, even though they were crying.
To roughly clean the room and retrieve the body.
Their movements like that looked quite familiar.
That’s right.
This has been happening without missing a day for the past three weeks.
Every night, five at a time.
Serial murders caused by attacks by unknown people.
This was throwing the entire Freeville into chaos and fear.
While the scene was a mess, not a single clue could be found.
Even though the house next door died, there was no sound during the night.
It was natural that the identity of the criminal or criminals could not be known.
The city’s guards stayed up all night working harder than ever, but it was useless.
When a patrolling guard was found in the same manner several times.
Now even they were scared and hiding.
I also asked for help.
A week ago, the city residents joined forces and called a mercenary group with a name called ‘Forest Owls’.
Everyone, without exception, went missing.
In just one day.
At least, it is clear that the killer possesses overwhelming force or irresistible power.
Just one.
The only clue that can be said is…
“This damning phrase has been written again.”
“What on earth do you want from us?”
A phrase written in the victim’s blood found at each crime location.
It was short and simple.
– Be afraid.
This was all it said.
I don’t know exactly what to be afraid of.
At least it was clear that the citizens of Freeville were in extreme fear.
A situation where a specific person is murdered every day without any rules or reasons.
They are not just killed, but in a very cruel and vicious way.
The fear of death is a fear that cannot be compared to anything else.
You never know when you might die without knowing it.
You may experience extreme pain and die without even screaming.
No matter what you do or how much resistance you try, you will eventually die.
The three facts completed in this way were enough to drive a person crazy.
Citizens lock their doors and windows.
I held on to the kitchen knife that I doubted whether I could swing it once.
After hiding myself under the blanket.
I had to stay up every night shaking with my eyes open.
Please.
I hope I’m not next.
I sincerely pray to God.
* · * *
The day after all first semester evaluations were completed.
Thursday evening, the first day of the holiday.
When the dark clouds that had been hanging around since morning finally started spitting out rain.
Leon and Aria were heading to the outskirts of Elaim.
Too-duk-duk, to-duk-
Heavy rain continued to hit their shoulders.
The water droplets could not penetrate the black hooded robe that covered the entire body and flowed down to the outside.
Besides that.
A mask that covers under the eyes.
Long black pants and shirt for high mobility.
Even hard combat boots.
Completely shed the appearance of an academy cadet.
He was dressed like a hitman or a secret problem solver.
However, it was as if he was wearing familiar clothes.
They felt more suited and comfortable the way they were now.
Jiying.
Leon glanced at the pendant he was holding in his hand.
On top of the black crescent moon pendant, small blue letters were written.
The pendant Hera gave her was an item that reminded you of her address when you infused it with mana.
And now it was calling for a place in the outermost part of Elaim.
If you go this far, it is actually the innermost part of the slum.
The shade of the shade of Elaim.
A place where even the security guards quietly turn away.
Of course, there was no problem.
Yes, it won’t be worse than Hevilon.
Blink-!
Gurgling!
The world blinked white for a moment, followed by a roar.
Shooaaa-
As soon as my ears opened, I heard the sound of heavy rain again.
Leon suddenly muttered.
“The weather is killing me.”
It was sincere.
Sometimes this weather is not bad.
In no time, they reached the vicinity of the address.
The streets, which were supposed to be full of trash, sewage, and butts, were completely washed away by the rain.
With the weather like this, there wasn’t a single rat, let alone a passerby.
There are only dirty, rotten abandoned buildings that seem to be haunted by wild animals.
In the middle of such a street.
A towering two-story building was emitting bright light through the window frames.
Although it was a building that clearly appeared to be in poor condition, it looked very fine compared to the surrounding scenery.
“If you just look at it, it’s there.”
“Let’s go right away.”
As we got closer to the building, a loud noise could be vaguely heard through the rain.
The sign above the main gate says ‘Dragon Claw Inn’ in large letters.
Next to it was a poor drawing that looked more like a cat’s paw than a dragon’s claw.
Leon and Aria opened the door and entered without any hesitation.
Kkiik.
Once inside, they lifted the wet and heavy hood and pulled down their masks.
And I looked around.
The first thing I felt was the strong smell of alcohol.
Ale, brandy, hard liquor.
A mixture of all kinds of scents attacked my nasal passages.
Leon immediately frowned.
Aria, who was standing behind her, felt an even stronger chill from her usual cold expression.
Tables and chairs are arranged in a chaotic manner.
Broken liquor bottles and glasses were rolling all over the floor and tables.
The entire first floor was a large bar.
Stairs leading to the second floor were built on both walls.
The bar was filled with many men.
There were some women as well.
What they all have in common is that they all have a rough and fierce look.
A loud voice that makes your eardrums explode.
Swear words that come out every time you open your mouth.
A table being slammed for no reason.
One or more weapons attached to each person’s waist.
He had the appearance of a typical mercenary.
They were laughing, chatting, and pouring drinks as they looked at the pair of man and woman who opened the door and came in.
Uncomfortable gazes were focused on the raindrops pouring down outside.
Aria is a beauty that will make anyone’s eyes widen when they first see her.
Excluding the small scars on his face, Leon looks like a neat-looking young man.
Just looking at their appearance, the two of them did not suit this situation or this place at all.
It took less than two seconds for someone to say a word.
“You kill me once!”
This is said with a short whistle.
He was a man with round eyes and lots of freckles on his face.
The raunchy accent was of just the right amount, enough to make the entire bar cry.
The people in the bar showed rotten smiles as if they agreed with that statement.
The man added right away without taking a breath.
“Just grab that with both hands! “I grabbed it and put it in between…”
The man’s words could not continue.
Because.
“······!”
A person with a dagger stuck in his mouth cannot speak.
—Boom!
The body of the man who fell backwards fell from her chair.
The bastard sword hanging on his waist tumbled across the floor.
The blood that flowed from the head began to wet the floor.
“······.”
Leon slowly lowered his outstretched hand.
Hot red eyes.
The colorful eyes flowed down in line with the sweeping gaze.
“Is there anyone who wants to talk more?”
Suddenly.
As if someone had pressed the stop button.
The loud noise stopped all at once.
What filled the empty intestines?
“””························.”””
It was an extremely deep and cold silence.