Ileil stood at the edge of the ruins, her silver hair stirred faintly by the heat waves. Black-gold embers drifted on the wind.
The wooden house’s wreckage smoldered with a low, sullen glow, occasionally crackling as timbers snapped. The wound on the girl’s shoulder still bled, soaking half her collar red, yet she stood straight-backed as if she felt no pain at all.
She stood straight-backed as if she felt no pain at all.
“Let’s go,” she said, turning to the others. She glanced once at the burned-out wreckage. “Well, that’s perfect. The clues we finally found are all gone.”
“That damn witch… Kol…”
Kaze slammed his fist against the ground, teeth gritted. Although Kol had always been a lazy good-for-nothing, he was still a comrade Kaze had known for years. Seeing Kol twisted into such a grotesque form by the witch and finally self-destructing left him unable to calm his emotions for a moment.
“Jet and Andre from Kol’s team too…”
Alyssa walked silently to Kaze’s side and placed a hand on his shoulder without saying a word.
“I will never forgive that witch who keeps committing evil behind the scenes…”
Prinshitt murmured under her breath. Lily and Alyssa together helped the limping Kaze along the path away from the site.
The cat-eared girl’s tail curled anxiously around her waist. Her amber eyes kept darting toward Ileil—specifically toward the shocking wound on her shoulder.
“Ileil… sister…” Lily spoke softly. “I’m sorry… I used up all my power. To save Uncle Kaze’s life, I could only…”
“It’s fine.” Ileil walked ahead without looking back, her right hand resting on her sword hilt in a constant state of vigilance.
“My life—is much tougher than this guy Kaze’s.”
Alyssa gave a cold laugh, spinning her ruby staff in her palm. “Stubborn little brat.”
She strode forward and grabbed Ileil’s wrist. “Stop right there. Don’t make it look like we’re leaving you out.”
“Wait—what do you mean ‘leaving out’…”
Ileil frowned, but before she could pull away, Alyssa had already slapped a bottle of pale-green potion into her hand.
“Drink it, or you’ll pass out from blood loss before we even reach the manor.” The female mage continued explaining,
“Someone like you who almost never takes magic potions can use this as an emergency remedy once in a while.”
The potion bottle glowed with an eerie luster in the twilight. Ileil stared at it for two seconds, then tilted her head back and drank it all in one gulp. The bitter taste spread instantly from her tongue to her throat. She forced herself not to cough, though her brows furrowed even tighter.
“Disgusting,” she evaluated curtly.
Alyssa snorted. “Good medicine tastes bitter, you little punk.”
Kaze limped after them, his face still pale. “Hey, what about me? I want to heal my wounds fast too!”
“You?” Alyssa shot him a sideways glance. “Get lost. Someone like you who already overdosed on potions before shouldn’t touch another drop.”
“…Fine.”
Kaze pouted, then immediately sucked in a sharp breath as the motion pulled at his wound.
……
The manor’s iron gate looked especially heavy in the twilight. The moment the group stepped into the courtyard, several maids hurried forward—only to freeze in place at the sight before them.
Kaze covered in blood, Alyssa’s robe torn, Ileil’s shoulder soaked red, the cat-eared priestess full of unease, and Prinshitt—who looked the most presentable but whose face was deathly pale. The air reeked of blood and charred wood, making the maids unconsciously take half a step back.
“Your Highness… what happened to you…”
“Go inform my mentor, Saint Dorias,” Prinshitt told the head maid, her voice carrying an unquestionable command. “Tell him we found important clues and need to discuss them immediately.”
“Uh…” The maid looked troubled. “As you know, Saint Dorias left this morning to meet Mr. Gro. They still haven’t returned.”
“They haven’t returned?” Prinshitt was slightly surprised. After thinking for a moment about whom to call, she quickly chose a new person.
“Then… the master of the manor, Lord Lokas, should be here, right?”
“He is, Your Highness.” The maid bowed. “I will notify the duke to come see you at once. Please wait a moment.”
The maids hurried away. Soon, Lokas von Kleist appeared on the main building’s steps. The young duke strode forward, his deep-blue coat embroidered with the family crest swaying with each step.
“By the dawn! What happened to all of you…” His voice cut off abruptly. His gaze swept over everyone and finally stopped on the blood soaking Ileil’s shoulder.
“Physician! Call the physician immediately!”
“No need to panic, Lord Duke.” Ileil spoke casually. “The urgent matter right now is to inform you of what we just encountered.”
Ileil glanced at Prinshitt, signaling her to speak. Prinshitt nodded and stepped forward, giving Lokas a rough summary of today’s discoveries.
“So things have developed to this point…”
Lokas drew in a deep breath and gestured inside. “Please come in, everyone. I need to know more details.”
…….
Inside the reception hall, the fireplace’s firelight stretched everyone’s shadows long across the walls. Lokas personally poured each person a cup of black tea. The deep-red liquid swirled in the cups, reflecting every exhausted face. The maids quietly brought clean bandages and ointment, then withdrew without a sound.
“So…” Lokas sat in the carved armchair, fingertips lightly tapping the table. “You believe Kol was the mastermind behind the recent disappearances?”
“Who the true mastermind is remains to be discussed… but he was at least one of the participants.” Ileil narrowed her eyes slightly.
“That madman left behind a sacrifice list—even including himself as the final offering.”
“Sacrifice?” Lokas’ expression grew subtle. “Offered to that low-tier demigod—Mor?”
“Not Mor. He wrote that it was offered to the ‘True God of Death.’” Prinshitt corrected him, her fingers unconsciously tracing the rim of her teacup.
“At least that’s what his diary said.”
“So that’s how it is… The clues to those missing people that Gro and I have been chasing for so long were actually hidden in the wooden house you mentioned.” Lokas asked gravely, “How did you learn about that robber named Kol?”
“The church’s Sister Emilia told us.” Prinshitt said. “Yesterday she sent someone with a message saying she had something to discuss with us today.”
Lokas nodded thoughtfully. The doubt in his eyes instantly cleared. “Sister Emilia has always been dedicated to helping the poor. She really does know a lot about what happens in town.”
But this answer did not satisfy Ileil.
“Don’t you find it strange, Lord Lokas?” Ileil raised an objection, her golden eyes looking straight at him.
“She knew far too many details… She not only knew Kol was a robber, she also knew he had a scar on his left eyebrow and even that he often went to the abandoned barn.”
Lokas frowned slightly. “Miss Ileil, what are you suggesting…”
“I simply feel that a nun’s knowledge of her confessors seems to go beyond the church’s normal scope.” Ileil spoke bluntly.
“B-but… Sister Emilia said all those details came from the robber himself during confession, and she read them in the confession records.”
Lily seemed unwilling to doubt the gentle-looking nun and offered a weak defense.
“You can’t let her words lead you around, Miss Lily.” Ileil glanced at the cat-eared priestess, speaking dismissively. “The timing, the location, the people—everything is too coincidental.”
Prinshitt did not deny Ileil’s view. She looked at her thoughtfully.
“You suspect Sister Emilia is involved in this?”
“I think… it’s still too early to draw conclusions.” Lokas interrupted. “Sister Emilia has served in Renn Town for over ten years. Her conduct is obvious to everyone. If she knows the confessors in great detail, it only shows she truly takes her priestly duties seriously.”
“Yeah… after all, I’m just someone following orders. If you want to indulge the people who tried to assassinate Her Highness and let them continue stirring up trouble, I have no objection.” Ileil picked up her teacup and spoke without any fluctuation in her tone.
“After all, I won’t die.”