The Safety Guidelines of The Duke’s Haunted Castle Chapter 41

Hehe, when I opened my eyes again, gentle sunlight was streaming through the window.

As soon as I realized the dark night had passed, a message window appeared in the middle of my vision.

[Warning! Excessive use of abilities may cause unbearable accumulated fatigue.]

“Ah…”

How many times had I used them? Between Purification’s Blessing and Restoration, I thought it had been about four times in total.

I still didn’t know the exact conditions for activating the abilities, but based on experience, it made sense if they consumed something like stamina.

After sleeping soundly, I actually felt quite refreshed.

Still…

‘Maybe I should just sleep some more.’

Whether it was because of the fatigue, my body felt as heavy as lead.

I buried my face back into the blanket, planning to drift off again, when a sudden vibration startled me upright.

“Eek!”

—Has something happened?

“W-What?!”

I was the only one in the room!

While I sat frozen in shock, the puzzled voice spoke again.

—Miss Windsor.

“Your Grace?”

Listening more carefully, I realized it was Edwin’s voice.

Only then did I remember the crow charm hanging from my waist. I quickly unclipped it and looked at it closely.

“Your Grace, is that really you?”

—…It seems you’re safe.

Had he been waiting?

Completely caught off guard by the unexpected call, the corners of my mouth lifted on their own.

—I heard you never returned yesterday, so I contacted you. Has something happened?

Every time he spoke, the little crow’s beak moved.

I stared at it in fascination until his voice urged me again.

—The head maid has been very worried.

“Oh, right. Of course she would be. There was a reason I couldn’t come back yesterday. It’s kind of a long story…”

There had definitely been moments yesterday when I desperately wished Edwin were there to help, but that was already in the past.

“Anyway, I think everything’s okay now.”

—So you aren’t in a situation that requires my assistance?

“No. I’m heading back to the manor today. I just have one thing I need to do first.”

He fell silent for a moment, as though choosing his words.

—Something you need to do?

“Yeah.”

—Are you certain nothing happened?

“I’ll explain everything once I get back. Please tell the head maid I’m sorry for making her worry!”

At that moment, a faint scoff came from the crow charm.

—You certainly sound carefree.

“Huh?”

—It’s nothing. Return safely.

…Wait? I could’ve sworn he’d just muttered something sarcastic. Was I imagining it?

After ending the call, I hurriedly straightened my clothes and stepped out of the room.

Just then, I ran into Carol, who was carrying a glass of water.

“You’re awake?”

“Miss Carol, yesterday I…”

Wearing old but clean clothes, she looked just like an ordinary girl my age.

Well… except for the fact that she still had no facial features.

As I searched for the right words, she let out a small laugh.

“You suddenly collapsed. You must have been very tired.”

“Yeah… I guess I was.”

Considering I’d unintentionally passed out, that was putting it lightly.

“Haha… I guess so. By the way, where’s Mr. Scrooge?”

“Ah…”

At my question, Carol hesitated awkwardly.

After a moment, she answered with something I hadn’t expected.

“I think… he went to apologize.”

“Apologize?”

Carol nodded carefully.

“I don’t know exactly. He disappeared quietly early this morning. But he told me yesterday that he was going to apologize.”

“…I see.”

I didn’t know what his personality had originally been like, but at least the man I’d seen in his memories had seemed earnest and steadfast.

“Ah!”

Suddenly, I remembered something I’d completely forgotten.

The villagers!

If I wanted to return to the duke’s manor on time today, I couldn’t afford to waste any more time.

“Hmm…”

I rubbed my forehead for a moment before brightening.

“Miss Carol, do you happen to have a basket?”

And so…

A little while later, I left the house carrying a basket full of the victims’ body parts.

Actually, everything hadn’t fit into one basket. While I was wondering what to do, Carol found an old handcart and told me she’d bring the rest, sending me ahead.

As I walked along the deserted road, the whole situation felt surreal.

Just yesterday, I never would’ve imagined that the quest involving the Luden Trading Company would lead this far.

So much had happened all at once that my head was still spinning.

Even the gruesome arms and legs didn’t seem so horrifying anymore. They almost looked like plastic figurines.

Following the old signposts scattered along the road, I eventually reached the village square.

And there I found him.

Mr. Scrooge was kneeling on a platform in the center like a condemned criminal.

[You have entered a new area for the first time. Exploration reward granted. +300 Diamonds]

[New Area <Belmond Duchy: Central Plaza>

A massive circular plaza located at the heart of Monter Village. Once a bustling marketplace filled with merchants and travelers from every region, only traces of its former use remain. It now bears the marks of having been used as an execution ground.]

“Hm?”

Looking around, I realized this wasn’t just an ordinary village square.

The gray stone pavement was stained a dark reddish-black, as if something terrible had happened here.

Following the stains toward the center, my eyes landed on the platform—

No, the execution scaffold.

There was an old guillotine that looked like it hadn’t been used in years, and beside it stood a gallows.

‘That’s terrifying!’

Why had Mr. Scrooge chosen to stand there?!

I understood that he was apologizing for what he’d done…

But sometimes, being ignored was even more frightening than being scolded.

The villagers seemed too wary to approach him. Instead, they stood at a distance like spectators watching an animal in a cage, whispering among themselves.

“I apologize. From this day forward, the Luden Trading Company will never again make unfair deals to take people’s body parts.”

His low voice rang out with unwavering determination.

Then one of the villagers standing nearby muttered,

“He’s obviously trying to trick us.”

“He used his sick daughter as an excuse to swindle people. His Grace the Duke would never forgive something like that.”

“Swindler!”

The people gathered around the scaffold were clearly victims of Mr. Scrooge.

Many were missing arms, legs, ears, fingers, and other body parts.

Then someone suddenly shouted from the crowd.

“My daughter lost both her ears because of Carol! She can’t even hear properly anymore!”

Huh?

I stood on tiptoe to find the speaker, but couldn’t spot them.

Meanwhile, the accusations kept coming.

“If we could’ve made it through the forest, we’d have reported this to His Grace already. That man deserves to die.”

No.

At this rate, the villagers were going to unleash all their anger on Mr. Scrooge.

The atmosphere had started out subdued, but after that first outburst, I could feel the crowd growing more agitated.

What should I do?

After hesitating for a moment, I squeezed my eyes shut and shouted,

“Ears…!”

Even if it was embarrassing, I had to do it.

“Anyone looking for theeeir eeeeaars?!”

Everyone flinched.

Startled by my sudden yell, the crowd stepped back a couple of paces.

Seizing the opportunity, I walked toward where I’d heard the voice.

“I can reattach your daughter’s ears! Fingers, arms, legs—I can put them all back!”