162 - 24 Hearts

Title: The Land of Entertainment and Culture, Urun The room was filled with elegant furniture, a plush carpet spread out on the floor, a cabinet displaying rows of wine, ambient and luxurious stones inset in the ceiling emitting a subtle glow, and various recreational equipment including a billiard table. “...Is this merely a reception area?” Or perhaps it was a secluded spot for undisturbed rest. According to Rokshin, they were supposedly hiding elves here, but Yuda wondered where they might be. As he stood at the room’s entrance and took a cursory glance around, he expanded the realm of shadows. There was a palpable presence behind the sofa and at the counter with the wine display, people hiding and holding their breath. They were trembling in fear. Yuda was tempted to approach and play a little "peek-a-boo" to startle them, but considering that he was covered in blood with a pervasive scent of iron contrasting with the elegance of the room, he decided against it, fearing it might cause a heart attack. Instead, he walked slowly, making deliberate noise. Information relayed through the shadows indicated that there were likely four women hiding behind the sofa, and a single man by the counter. “I’m not here to kill you, so there’s no need to be afraid,” he said softly. Maintaining a safe distance, he approached the women by the sofa, revealing himself to them. Startled by the sight of Yuda, they flinched and clustered together, shivering with eyes brimming with tears, clearly on the verge of breaking down. Their fear-stricken appearance made him feel somewhat awkward. Although he had anticipated a reaction, he hadn't expected it to be this intense. “Heup!” Suddenly, a forceful inhale could be heard right behind him, followed by a vigorous swing. The person hiding by the counter had grabbed a wine bottle and was swinging it with all their might towards Yuda’s head. Though the attack came from behind, Yuda had anticipated it, making it easy to defend. Besides, the elves had seals on their bodies preventing them from using any magic, posing no real threat. He grabbed the attacker’s wrist with his left hand as it swung over his right shoulder. The grip was firm enough to hold without any struggle. Turning his head, he saw the wine sloshing in the bottle and behind it, a man whose eyes were frantically darting about. Yuda released the man's wrist, prompting him to hastily drop the wine bottle and step back. “Oh.” Catching the falling wine bottle, Yuda placed it back on the counter and removed his wooden mask. The cracked mask was stained with blood and scorched marks. After placing it on the counter, Yuda looked back. An elf was within arm’s reach. “Don’t be afraid. I have no intention of killing you.” “How can we trust that?” “Well, if you simply can’t trust me, there’s nothing else I can do…” Yuda reached out and tapped the sealing mechanism wrapped around the man’s neck, smirking as the man visibly trembled. Fear of death was a natural reaction for ordinary people. “You don’t really have any other choice but to trust me, do you?” Because they were powerless. Regrettably, this was the world’s law. To survive, one had to be strong. Activating Valentine’s dispel, Yuda unlocked the seals on the man's neck. “!” With a gentle snap, the leather strap fell away. The elf's eyes widened as he felt even a small amount of magic return. “How did you…?” “You’re making me repeat myself. We’re short on time, and all you can do is trust me. If you wish to return to the forest, you need to come along quietly.” Yuda shifted his gaze from the man to the women huddled together. Wearing silk clothing, they clung to each other with their eyes shut tight as Yuda approached. Their posture awakened a protective instinct, but he remained composed, releasing the seals from their necks. Observing their bewildered state, Yuda stood. Facing the door, he noted there was no movement, despite the dense smell of blood wafting in from the entrance. “Why is it so quiet?” Despite having only dispatched about fifteen mages upon entering the mansion, with many more guards remaining, and even though Count Sernik himself wasn’t visible, he supposed they might be waiting at the entrance to the basement. The thought made him sigh. Though managing to meet the elves and release their seals was a success of sorts, the real challenge now was escaping Urun. It wouldn’t be easy, would it? Donning a new wooden mask, Yuda turned back. “Now, please get up. We have to leave here.” “Can we…leave this place?” One of the elf women asked with watery eyes. Nodding, Yuda replied. “We must leave. This isn’t where you belong.” With a nod to follow, Yuda stepped out of the room. As they passed through a room filled with bodies, the elves grimaced, releasing small groans of discomfort. When he glanced back, they were hesitantly following, their legs shaky, yet eager to return to the forest. Though he found their slow pace frustrating, he refrained from complaining. As he reached the top of the stairs, prepared to shield them from any sudden attack, he found the house eerily empty. There was no one, at least none alive. The corpses scattered on the floor wore expressions of blissful peace. Though he had slain those who blocked him on his way down, he had not killed these. Sniffing, he caught a whiff of an unpleasant scent intertwined with the smell of blood. “Cherry blossom scent?” As soon as the scent hit him, Yuda frowned deeply. “What... Why is this smell here?” Casting a dubious glance at the lower halves of the dead men, he noticed something. Though their bodies seemed dried up with time, there was a soggy, dampness present. While Yuda couldn't comprehend how they could have been killed this way, it seemed these men had died in a peculiar act of over-exertion. “D-did you kill them like this?” one of the elves asked hesitantly. “Of course not. I can't kill people in such a manner.” Being a man capable of causing such a death was an absurd and horrifying thought. Yuda shot a withering look at the elf who had blurted out such nonsense, signaling her to be mindful of her words. Realizing the absurdity of her statement, she looked away in embarrassment. After this brief exchange, they resumed their cautious advance, keeping wary of their surroundings. “Who on earth caused all this?” Yuda pondered. It seemed as if everyone in the mansion had died in a similar manner, with no signs of life left. Even Count Sernik himself was found dead. At first, seeing him leaning at the mansion’s entrance gave Yuda a start, nearly prompting him to throw his dagger. Only after the Count didn’t move did Yuda realize he was dead. The Count’s trousers were similarly damp, suggesting the same bizarre demise, although his face was twisted in agony compared to the others' blissful expressions. Yuda moved to the window to assess the situation outside. The sight was the same. The guards employed by Count Sernik lay dead in the streets, but only those within the mansion's walls seemed affected. Beyond the mansion’s gate, there was a banging sound. Since this was a noble’s residence, it seemed unlikely anyone would immediately intrude, but time was short. Yuda knew he had to move quickly, activated his [Map], and gestured to the elves. “Let’s go. Follow me.” There was a designated place to head to. Having coordinated with Rokshin beforehand, they needed to make their way to the agreed meeting spot. Yuda led the elves through the rear of the mansion. Although the unsettling manner of their deaths was disconcerting, the clear path made escape easier. Yuda opened a large window and exited outside, where the elves, with some magic regained from the unsealed restraints, nimbly followed him out without assistance. “Can you manage this jump?” Yuda asked, gesturing to a wall over two meters high. The elves exchanged looks and shook their heads. One cautiously spoke up. “Right now, it might be difficult. We’ve just regained some magic... and it’s been years since we were captured by humans...” Seeing the other elves nodding in agreement, Yuda sighed softly before leaping onto the wall. The reason he had chosen Count Sernik’s mansion as a point of last resort was twofold: its proximity to the city wall and its location at the end of a row of mansions, with only civilian housing beyond the mansion’s back. Surveying from the wall, no one was around. With the surrounding alleys dark and desolate, Yuda climbed down and opened his [Bag], producing cloaks purchased from a general store and tossing them to the elves. Showing some awareness, they donned the cloaks and drew their hoods to obscure their ears and distinctive beauty. The size was generous enough to provide coverage, though one was short enough that the hem slightly dragged on the ground. Nonetheless, it didn’t hinder their movement. Yuda planted a climbing hook into the wall, scored a rectangle with it, and kicked to make an opening. With a thud, the wall fell with a puff of dust. “Run.” The elves were momentarily hesitant, but once one started running, the others quickly followed suit. After ensuring they were all safely out, Yuda reassembled the fallen wall before proceeding. Although passersby in the housing areas noticed Yuda and the elves, they cast only indifferent glances. BOOM! As they were running, a sudden explosion echoed from behind. Turning around in surprise, Yuda saw flames and dark smoke rising from Count Sernik’s mansion. The detonations didn’t relent, quickly engulfing the building in fire. The attention of those who might have noticed Yuda and the elves was promptly diverted to the burning mansion. “What are you doing? Run! We don’t have time to stand around. Keep moving!” Yuda urged. Though he felt their fatigue, there was no time for idleness. Pressing forward, they reached their rendezvous point where a man awaited. He raised his right hand upon seeing Yuda and the trailing elves. Yuda mirrored the gesture with his left, and the man led them inside. This was the prearranged signal. Yuda hurried the elves through the open door and shut it behind them. The man shoved aside a table in the kitchen, revealing a wooden board he lifted away to expose stairs leading underground. In preparation, candles lined the stairway walls, casting a guiding light. “If you take these stairs, you’ll make it outside the fortress. Hurry up. It takes time to activate the scroll to prevent memory recall magic.” Yuda acknowledged with a nod, thanked the man, and handed him several gold coins before ushering the elves down the steps. They descended cautiously but urgently as Yuda nudged them along. --- Author’s Note --- Some have asked how many more episodes are left, but truthfully, I don’t know either. Honestly, I really don’t.