Chapter 106
The innkeeper just shrugged his shoulders, clearly showing neither the means nor the will to verify anything.
“The Ministry of Magic?”
“Yes. Isn’t it a matter of an entire village being wiped out? I heard the wizard himself came to lead the investigation. Ah, you know what a wizard is, right?”
Since the man was pulling a carriage about my size, there was no way he wouldn’t know, but the innkeeper asked just in case.
“Yeah, I know.”
“Ahaha, good, good. I’d have been embarrassed if you didn’t. Honestly, I only learned what a wizard was back then myself. They say they have incredible powers—can summon lightning and thunder in a flash… Anyway, since they conducted a thorough investigation and left, it must be true. After that, we always make sure to cook our food well.”
Ian nodded as if listening attentively, but his mind was racing. If an entire village was wiped out, as the innkeeper said, it was definitely a serious matter.
But…
‘They sent Ministry of Magic personnel to investigate a small provincial town? Wizards are supposed to wield magic, not do grunt work like investigations. Usually, special investigation teams fall under the administrative branch, not the Ministry of Magic.’
Like Erika Verti, for example. Moldo probably falls into that category too. Those assigned to various provinces under the administrative branch are usually a fixed group.
“If you need anything else, just let me know.”
“Thanks for the soup.”
“I’ll call you when the meal’s ready.”
With a creak, the innkeeper bowed and left. As if waiting for the signal, Berrick grabbed a piece of bread with both hands and stuffed it into his mouth. Still, it seemed he’d learned to keep up appearances now.
“So, that dog lives in Danil? Alone?”
“If that’s the only inhabitant, then yeah.”
“They said everyone in the village died. What about dog food?”
At Berrick’s chatter, Ian glanced sideways at the last piece of bread disappearing into his mouth. Berrick noticed and pulled out the half-eaten piece to offer it.
“…Here, it’s yours.”
“What am I supposed to do with bread that’s been in your mouth? Just eat it. I was just curious because you seemed so worried about the dog.”
“It’s not worry, it’s information gathering. That mutt bit my hand! Next time I see him, he’s dead.”
“Next time? When’s that supposed to be?”
Ian smiled faintly. It was suspicious that the Ministry of Magic was involved, but the road to the capital was long. He had no intention of going back there.
Knock, knock.
“Ian. It’s me.”
“Oh, Romandro, please come in.”
Romandro, who had unpacked in the next room, entered dressed for going out. Berrick wiped his mouth and looked up at him curiously.
“It’s almost night. Where are you off to?”
“They only sell beer here, apparently.”
“Oh my, what a world.”
“Since I’m out, I’ll pick up a few things while I’m at it. Ahem.”
“I’m coming too!”
“No. If I go with you, it’ll be over in ten minutes, and I’ll just be dragged around. Anyway, I’m just stepping out. Need anything?”
Berrick was flatly rejected and clicked his tongue, licking his soup bowl. Ian shook his head and glanced at the worn menu hanging on the wall. The selection was decent overall, but nothing that would really soothe his fatigue.
“If anyone wants something on the way out, tell them not to hesitate. Alcohol’s fine, but remind the coachmen to set off early tomorrow.”
“Got it.”
Ian said this as he handed Romandro a pouch containing travel expenses.
“And tomorrow, we’ll take the route through Longin. The bank’s only open there.”
“Is that so? Understood. See you later.”
“Yes. Don’t overdo it.”
“Yeah, yeah!”
Romandro chuckled excitedly as he left the room. It was a tough journey in winter, but his cheerful demeanor made it feel like an adventure.
Flop!
“Ian, full and warm, no need to go to the palace… burp!”
“Did you just fall asleep while saying that?”
Berrick, who had been joking beside him, suddenly dozed off. Ian recalled a story about pigs in some province falling asleep mid-meal.
‘Maybe I get along with them better than I thought.’
Ian let out a dry laugh at the absurdity and cleared the dishes. Then he lay back on the bed, ready to enjoy a short nap himself.
How much time had passed?
Bang! Thud!
Ian’s eyes fluttered open at the vibrations from downstairs. Judging by the half-burned candle on the table, a couple of hours had gone by. Berrick was still out cold, mouth agape. Ian rubbed his face and frowned.
‘Why is it so noisy downstairs?’
Crash! Clang!
Half-asleep, he couldn’t make out what the sounds were. Something breaking? Or not?
“Ahhh!”
But when a scream pierced the air, his eyes snapped open and he sat up reflexively.
“Berrick.”
“What…?”
“Get up. Something’s going on outside.”
“It’s about time to eat anyway. Haaahm.”
“No, not that…”
Pat-pat-pat!
Bang! Crash!
Footsteps came up from the first floor. It sounded like every door down the hall was being flung open.
Berrick finally noticed something was wrong and blinked. Still lying in bed, he groped for his sword.
Bang!
He threw the blanket toward the opening door, then quickly jumped up and shoved his sword through it. The figure was human, but…
Thud!
“Huh?”
Berrick’s eyes widened at the unfamiliar sensation. It wasn’t the feeling of flesh being pierced or blood spurting.
Swish.
As the blanket fell away, the intruder’s form was revealed.
“What the—?”
Their face was covered by a mask, but their unfocused pupils were visible through the gaps. Most striking was their blackened skin and the foul stench of rot.
Ian covered his nose with his sleeve and muttered,
“Berrick, step back a little.”
“Huh? O-okay.”
Despite being attacked by Berrick, the figure didn’t flinch. No blood dripped from the sword as it was withdrawn. Berrick looked around in confusion, and the intruder twisted their body unnaturally, turning their head from side to side.
“An undead? What the hell are they doing here…?”
Undead—a general term for corpses that don’t die. That meant there was a necromancer nearby.
The undead staggered, then slammed its head against the wall, mumbling something.
-…uh.
“What’s that bastard saying?”
“Shh.”
Outside, screams and the sounds of fierce fighting continued. Ian and Berrick held their breath, focusing on the undead’s words.
-uuuurgh.
“…?”
Just meaningless noises. But the voice was strangely familiar—eerily similar to the dog they’d seen earlier that day.
Bang!
As Ian realized this, footsteps approached outside the door. This time, it wasn’t the undead but real people—thieves.
“Ah, there you are. The guy with the horse and the innkeeper, huh?”
“Damn, what the hell is going on here?”
Berrick flicked his sword irritably, and the thief chuckled as he tried to enter. The undead stood firm, blocking the way.
“What the hell? What’s with this thing?”
The thief tried to shove it aside, but it stood its ground, as if warning them not to come closer. Without hesitation, the thief slashed off its limbs and pushed it aside.
Shhhhk!
Thud!
The undead collapsed weakly. Its eyes brightened briefly as it looked at Ian and Berrick, then went dim. The thief stepped forward, sword raised.
“Where are you folks coming from? Pulling a carriage that big, and that pouch looks heavy. Let me check it out.”
Poke!
Before he finished speaking, Berrick stabbed his sword into the thief’s belly in a flash. Unlike the undead, blood dripped steadily.
“I asked how things are going, you bastard.”
“Ugh!”
“Ah, that’s more like it. Now I feel the pain.”
Berrick smiled with satisfaction as blood dripped. The thief stared at the wound in disbelief, blinking rapidly, then screamed in agony.
“Arrgh!”
He charged at Berrick, screaming in pain. But Berrick caught his face and slammed him against the wall.
Crack!
“Guh…”
Once more.
Bang!
First his nose broke, then the door shattered as he collapsed. Ian, still wide-eyed, left the undead behind and stepped into the hallway.
“Help! Please, help!”
“Ahhh!”
“Is this all the food you have? Where’s the rest of the storage?”
“T-the stable next door is all there is.”
Looking down over the railing, Ian saw the thieves looting the inn’s staff, sweeping everything into moldy sacks, leaving a trail of blood behind.
Shhhhk!
“Ahhh!”
Ian pressed his forehead, trying to make sense of the situation.
It seemed the gaze he’d felt earlier that day had indeed belonged to the thieves. They had waited until nightfall after seeing the carriage enter the village.
“Berrick.”
“Hm?”
Berrick was stomping down hard on the head of a fallen bandit. Ian gripped his forehead and channeled magic into him.
Zzzzzing.
“There are bandits below. Looks like we lured them here.”
“So you want me to kill them all?”
“There’s a lot to ask, so leave a few alive.”
Berrick wiped the blood off his sword on his shirt and jumped down. His steps were light, like a kid going to get a present.
Thud!
“W-what the—?”
While Berrick was clearing a path on the first floor, Ian quickly grabbed only the essentials. Then he addressed the undead.
“Hey. Are you that guy from before?”
—…
No response. The head dangled, mouth twitching silently. The eyes rolled rapidly up and down, losing their life. It was a sign that whatever was keeping the undead tethered was slowly breaking.
“Ughhh…”
With a groan, green pus oozed from every hole in the undead’s face. It was the death of death itself. The thick, putrid liquid seeped into the floor, and Ian swallowed hard, stepping over the corpse.
Bang!
“Ah, come on! Get in here! Get in, you bastards!”
Berrick was having a blast, turning the first floor into a mess. Dozens of bandits were soaked in blood, and every little thing in the shop was smashed to bits.
“Berrick!”
“Huh?”
“Stop and hurry to the stables!”
Ian hurried out the back door. Not far off, he spotted the wooden door leading to the stables. Stepping outside, the gravity of the situation hit him.
Bang!
“Ahhh! They’re back!”
“You crazy bastards! Get lost!”
“Please, help us! Please!”
“Evacuate the kids first!”
Flames and screams erupted everywhere. Women ran barefoot, clutching their children, while men grabbed anything they could use as weapons and fought the bandits.
“Ian, what’s going on here?”
“Oh, you!”
One of Romandro’s men, flushed from what looked like drinking, was struggling to grasp the situation.
“The carriage is gone.”
“What?”
Inside, horses tossed their heads anxiously. The spot where the carriage should have been was completely empty.
“The damn carriage had all our stuff.”
Not just the stuff—there were magic stones and other valuables. Ian pressed his forehead and muttered, “You need to find Romandro immediately. Gather everyone, quickly.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Ian, what about me?”
“Berrick, you—”
At that moment, a different kind of shout echoed faintly from the resisting villagers. The Karenna guards had arrived. If they held out a little longer, reinforcements from other regions would come.
Whistle!
The bandits, who had been wreaking havoc, blew whistles to signal each other. It was a clear call to retreat.
“Catch every one of those running away.”
“Can we kill them?”
“Even better.”
“Hell yeah! Berrick’s going in~!”
With Ian’s permission, Berrick dashed out like a bullet.