Author: arnlian

Horrible rumors have been spreading in the Eastern Dark Forest for a long time.

 

There were rumors that beings who went against God’s providence lived in the forest.

 

Some even claimed to have seen a monster in a horrifying shape in the Dark Forest.

 

However, there were so few people who visited the Dark Forest that wandering sightings were regarded as mere ghost stories.

 

Only a few knew that monsters truly lived in the Dark Forest.

 

Something resembling a beast.

 

Something resembling a human.

 

And now something resembling a fantasy species that is close to extinction.

 

The Holy Empire, Hilderd, referred to such beings as ‘monsters’.

 

And managing that monster has been the old duty of the Count of Basilian.

 

“Kkeek, kek, kueek…!”

 

“Keeek!”

 

The monster had a disgusting appearance.

 

The skeleton was similar to that of a human, with the skin dripping and barely clinging to the bones.

 

It was so gross that if you have a weak stomach, you would vomit the moment you saw it.

 

However, Kiern swung his sword carelessly.

 

When the jet-black sword grazed, the monster was neatly sliced in half.

 

Dark red blood splattered belatedly from the smooth-cut part.

 

Kiern, who backed away lightly to avoid the blood, frowned.

 

Red eyes flashed with a dangerous light.

 

“….”

 

Kiern paused his sword for a moment and took a breath.

 

It wasn’t because he was tired or exhausted.

 

A sweet voice rang in his head.

 

 

“Kiern.”

 

 

A voice as vain and beautiful as a midsummer dream whispered words that drove him mad.

 

 

“Kiern, I love you.”

 

 

That was a bad sign.

 

No more blood to be seen here.

 

A rational decision was made to stop at this point today.

 

But at the same time, Kierne felt the urge.

 

It was the urge to hear more of the voices.

 

It’s okay even if it broke him.

 

He had been patient for too long….

 

He licked his dry lips with his tongue.

 

The hand holding the sword strengthened, and blue veins swelled on the back of the hand.

 

An alluring smile bloomed on his lips.

 

It was the moment he was about to swing his sword again.

 

Beeee!

 

A new cry was heard.

 

Kiern looked up at the sky.

 

A large hawk was circling in the blue sky.

 

The following knight blew a short whistle, and the hawk immediately flapped its wings and drew closer.

 

He saw a red cloth tied to the hawk’s leg.

 

It reminded him of the little child he left behind at the castle.

 

When he thought of the delicate petal-like pink eyes staring at him, his foggy mind returned a little.

 

He almost did something crazy again.

 

Kiern, mocking himself, swung his sword and wiped off the blood as he commanded.

 

“Take a break.”

 

At Kiern’s command, the knights pushed back only the monsters they were dealing with and withdrew their swords.

 

Kiern, who handed over his sword to the servant, went straight to the knight in charge of a compendium.

 

The knight, who was reading the letter he received from the compendium, was startled and straightened his posture.

 

“There was a problem in the castle.”

 

“Problem?”

 

Kiern smiled lightly and asked again.

 

Then the knight became even more nervous.

 

He broke out in a thick cold sweat and moved his stiff tongue.

 

“It is said that there was an attempt to kidnap miss Chesha. Fortunately, young master Ishuel found the miss right away.”

 

Kierne raised one eyebrow.

 

“Unexpected. I thought Karha would be the one who found her.”

 

“It seems that young master Karha was eating.”

 

“Aah….”

 

“The kidnappers are imprisoned in the dungeon, and young master Karha is going to interrogate them himself.”

 

Kiern nodded lightly and held out his hand.

 

The knight, who was quite surprised, noticed what he wanted belatedly and dedicated a letter from the compendium.

 

Kiern smiled and read the letter.

 

Since it was sent with the compendium, it was, of course, only a brief summary.

 

He deliberately checked the written contents even though it had been reported by the knight.

 

He just wanted to.

 

By the time he read all the letters among those who were surprised at his unusual behavior, his head, which had been foggy like fog, was quite clear.

 

Kierne threw the letter to the floor.

 

The shadow under his feet swallowed the letter in one gulp.

 

“Return to the castle.”

 

At Kiern’s order, the knight commander immediately stepped forward and dissuaded him.

 

“But we haven’t been able to reduce the number of monsters yet.”

 

“A day is fine. Let’s come back tomorrow. For now….”

 

Kiern drooped his eyes.

 

He said while pretending to cry.

 

“I can’t do anything because I’m worried about my youngest daughter who I left at home.”

 

 

***

 

 

Scratch, scratch.

 

The quill glides smoothly across the paper.

 

At the tip of the nib, graceful handwriting was born.

 

Chesha looked at Belzeon, who was handling the paperwork, with curious eyes.

 

‘You seem to work harder than Kiern?’

 

Indeed, he looked more like the count than Kiern.

 

“Older brother.”

 

A thin voice called out to Belzeon.

 

Ishuel, holding Chesha in his arms, moved closer to the desk.

 

Then, he put Chesha down on the desk.

 

“I want to have this.”

 

Belzeon, who had only been looking at the papers so far, finally looked at him.

 

Ishuel laughed.

 

Chesha thought that Belzeon cursed with his eyes.

 

Belzeon inserted the quill into the holder.

 

“You did something useless.”

 

Despite the cold criticism, Ishuel didn’t care.

 

“It would be nice to have such a pretty and cute thing in our house. See. Is she as pretty as me, brother?”

 

“….”

 

“She has no fear. She suits Basilian well.”

 

Ishuel grabbed Chesha’s hands, one on each side, and moved them around.

 

Chesha, who had been struggling with what he pulled, made a disgusted sound.

 

Then Ishuel giggled.

 

“Hate it?”

 

“Hate itz.”

 

As soon as she answered, a finger pricked her cheek.

 

It was a mean touch, like poking soft bread.

 

Chesha raised her eyebrows and gave an angry expression.

 

‘You wanna die!’

 

However, it did not pose any threat.

 

Ishuel smiled as if she was cute.

 

“So you can talk. I thought your tongue was cut off.”

 

“… I have tongue.”

 

“Really? Try to stick out your tongue then.”

 

She didn’t know why he was so annoying.

 

Still, since he was the one who saved her, Chesha stuck out his little tongue and showed it.

 

Bleh, Ishuel giggled again as she stuck out her tongue.

 

Chesha frowned.

 

Although acting loose, Ishuel has great strength.

 

She couldn’t see it properly because she was buried in the flowers….

 

Morgan and the one-eyed man were subdued by an 11-year-old boy without making a sound.

 

Chesha looked at Ishuel as if examining him.

 

Then, Ishuel pressed his face closer as if asking her to look at him more.

 

“Eew.”

 

Hated it, Chesha sighed and pulled back.

 

Belzeon, who was watching the two of them, snorted and said,

 

“Are you going to join the Count’s disgusting acts?”

 

“What…. I’m still not sure about that.”

 

Ishuel shrugged as he held Chesha back in his arms.

 

“I just like her. Enough to be a little sister.”

 

“Ishuel.”

 

“Yes, brother.”

 

“You’re not saying this because you don’t know that this isn’t an ordinary adoption .”

 

“I know.”

 

The eyes of the two boys met.

 

While staring at each other without backing down, Ishuel smiled lightly.

 

“But I think it will be fun.”

 

Did he think that they couldn’t communicate well?

 

Belzeon, who had given up on the conversation, moved his eyes to look at Chesha.

 

“You there.”

 

At the cold call, Chesha pretended to be startled.

 

“Leave the castle. I will help you.”

 

‘What are you talking about? I haven’t even investigated it properly yet.’

 

She could never have been kicked out like this.

 

Chesha diligently expressed her intentions.

 

“I like thish place the best.”

 

Beelzeon blinked at Chesha’s answer.

 

He asked as he was perplexed.

 

“Why…?”

 

“I like Daddy.”

 

When she clearly stated her intention, Belzeon jumped up and put his hand on the desk.

 

And leaned to the front.

 

Chesha opened her eyes wide at the sudden distance.

 

Bright red eyes peered right in front of Chesha’s eyes.

 

Beelzeon muttered as he was examining them meticulously, clinging to her eyes until his breath touched them.

 

‘…It doesn’t seem like she’s been mind-controlled.”

 

How can she be suspected of being mind-controlled for praising Kiern?

 

It was the moment when she could know Kiern’s reputation.

 

Belzeon sat back in the chair and wiped his face dry with his hand.

 

He muttered, frowning his straightened eyes.

 

“You like Count Basilian. Not knowing what he’s up to….”

 

She came all the way here to find out about that.

 

Chesha looked at Belzeon with innocent eyes.

 

Belzeon’s eyes flickered briefly at the innocent expression.

 

He who was amazed looking at the small and delicate body that could walk, looked at Ishuel

 

“What do you want to do?”

 

“About what, brother?”

 

“I’m asking if you’re going to help the count.”

 

Belzeon’s eyes became sharp like a blade.

 

“The disgusting act of bringing the dead back to life.

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Comments (3)

  1. Ok so using my very smart brain: she is his child and they are her brothers. I have zero doubt the “person” they are referring to when saying “she looks similar” is her mother but they all don’t know that cause the potion changed her age and appearance enough to hide that fact. But her ability to beguile people is similar to his dark magic/mind control but bcs she’s part fairy she can also cast illusions etc etc.

  2. Yeah, the count and Chesha’s mom were a thing and he went insane after she died. I have a good idea of where the story is kind of going but I’m intrigued nevertheless. Thank you for the chapter!

  3. So, how old was Richesia when she stamped the Inquisitor? I’m kind of confused by the timeline. She must be his daughter and her mother is likely the one they are trying to resurrect.
    She doesn’t like the sound of chains. Is it because she was hunted by the inquisitor or she was with her mom when she was caught, maybe?