Chapter 295: The Depths of Darkness

<Author’s Notes>

The next chapter will be updated on May 20th (Friday), around 9:00 pm.

<Drunken Sword Party————- Foss POV>

Our Drunken Sword Party led the Sacraments and made an invasion while moving south.

There was still no contact or any word from Emperor Zera or Oyamada.

Right now, our Drunken Sword Party had just forced a town to surrender.

That’s one step closer to the Imperial Capital.

A light rain was falling.

The sun had already set, and the area around us was completely dark.

It was a damp and uncomfortable night, with the night air caressing my cheeks.

I, the Deputy Commander of our group, who was also in charge of the vanguard, met the hooded Juon.

[Oh, Juon.]

[Hello, Foss-san.]

Silence.

Neither of us saying anything, I turned my attention to the town at night, which is deserted except for the Sacraments.

Feeling where my gaze is directed, Juon turned down his gaze.

[Even if we do all these…… Even if we win against Mira, the name of the Drunken Sword Party will be etched in the memories of the citizens of Mira in a bad way for a long time.

[……We’re prepared for that. Me and Lili. Juon…… If that bothers you, I’m not going to hold it against you so……]

[Wait right there, Foss-san. I will not leave the group. I’ve decided to follow the Captain no matter what. Besides, I knew it.]

“Fuuu……”, Juon calmly showed his resolve.

[The current situation is that our family and friends are being held hostage. They are more precious to us than anything else…… Even Captain had people she had to protect. She’s prepared to have this infamy at Mira for their sake.]

This time’s mission……

We are instructed to show off the existence of our Drunken Sword Party in this place.

No matter what they have done here, the name of the Drunken Sword Party will be heard by Mira’s citizens.

[Don’t worry about it, Juon. The majority of the world’s opinion is that Mira is to blame for starting a war at a time like this. Well, I do have my own thoughts about the Goddess…… In any case, as you said, we’ll just follow Lili. Even so———-]

The lantern I had in hand illuminated the Sacrament standing in a faintly slumped posture.

[They sure are creepy. After they complete our orders, they just go into a waiting state like that. They don’t even respond to our words. No matter who is yelling or crying nearby, they wouldn’t respond without instructions. This one-sided communication…… I guess this would be what they are all about.]

They’re creepy.

If there’s no one among the Drunken Sword Party to give them direction, they’re no different than scarecrows.

Even if lightning strikes them, they will not react.

Also, it seems that they can’t respond to instructions that are too complicated.

They must be given something simple and easy-to-understand.

The Sacraments were indeed useful, but they will be useless when the commanders get done in.

[Right. Soldiers that don’t need food or sleep…… They certainly are convenient, but it’s just hard to think of them as comrades we’re fighting together.]

[There’s also the way they die.]

“Well……”, Juon looked down at two nearby corpses.

White muddy stuff is blending along the rainwater on the ground.

The bodily fluids of the Sacraments are white.

Apparently, if too much of this pours out of their body, the Sacrament will die, just like how people die by bleeding out.

At the same time as the Sacraments die, something that closely resembles white wings would vigorously rush out of their eyes.

This, so to speak, seems to be the signal of their death.

Another eerie thing is the common behavior of the two on the verge of dying.

Those two tried to hold hands with each other.

I don’t know what the purpose of their actions were.

It probably has some sort of meaning, but I don’t know what it is.

However, the Sacraments who seem to be approaching death want to hold hands with another Sacrament.

Slowly…… They would stretch out their hand and try to take the other Sacrament’s hand……

Silently……

[The fact that they’re unknown makes it hard for us to do anything.]

[I’m also worried that they might suddenly turn on us. After all, it’s Emperor Zera who they originally follow, right?]

[……That Emperor Zera himself smells suspicious. The former Emperor of Mira, who should have been dead by now, is alive because he has been bestowed a share of God’s power? Good grief, that’s just nonsensical…… Are Gods even allowed to do such a thing?]

[Speaking of which, why is he called the “Exiled Emperor” again?]

[He tried to transfer the Knight to the Goddess——— to Alion’s King, or so I heard? Mira’s First Emperor, Falken and Second Emperor, Dot…… The curse of these two Emperors must be broken, or so said Emperor Zera. So, he was stripped of his imperial title by the second heir to the throne at that time and the three Elected Imperial Households, and he was exiled from Mira…… From the little bit I know about history, I think that’s how it went———-]

[Foss———– Ahh, you’re also here, Juon. Can I have a word?]

[What’s up, Bigg-san?]

Bigg, drenched by the drizzling rain, pulled off his hood.

[A group of Golden-eyed monsters are heading this way. They may be monsters that Emperor Zera was unable to mutate. Let’s gather everyone to deal with them.]

[Unlike the Exiled Emperor, we are unable to increase the number of Sacraments. Considering our mission, I don’t really want to reduce the number of Sacraments as much as possible…… With this in mind, I think it would be better if we deal with that herd ourselves. Well, I feel much more at ease dealing with monsters.]

[It was as Juon said. You fine with that, Foss?]

[I understand. I’ll give some instructions to the Sacraments around here and catch up with you later.]

With those words, Bigg and Juon disappeared into the pouring rain.

Meanwhile, I was going to go around and instruct the Sacraments, starting with the closest one but———–

[Somebody!]

[ ! ]

A voice.

From a nearby house.

[Somebody help us…… My father!]

A young man’s voice.

[Leave, Taram! They’ll end up finding us! I will be fine! Just escape first!]

And following that is a deep voice.

This one sounded less youthful in tone.

[D- Don’t wanna! Definitely don’t wanna! I can’t leave you here, Father! If we could just at least move this……! D- D*mn it…… I can’t do it! S- Somebody…… Is there anyone there!? Help us…… Sniff…… Please!]

[Stop, Taram! I’m asking you, get out of here already!]

[I don’t wanna! Definitely don’t wannaaaaaaa! I will not give up! Kuhh…… D*mn it! Move, moooooove————-!]

————-Over there, at that slanting house huh.

Was it furniture or something fell over during the raid and that father of theirs got pinned underneath huh……

I quickly analyzed the situation like this———– but then, a thought popped into my mind.

It might also be a trap.

A trap by the enemy Mira’s side to try and lure him out.

That isn’t impossible.

However, the path I’m heading to was in their direction.

I can’t just forsake them there.

Leading the Sacraments to help them——— That won’t do.

It would only frighten him.

I found my feet heading toward the building where the voice was coming from.

With conflicting feelings in mind, I feel myself grinding my teeth as I walk forward.

……I guess I’m at least trying to atone for what I did to the town.

Before I can sort out my wavering feelings though, I realized that I have already stepped inside.

I didn’t even call out to the inside before entering.

Shallow and thoughtless actions, unlike my usual self.

If I’m too far from my peers, I avoid acting alone as much as possible.

I broke the Drunken Sword Party’s policy.

The rain was increasing in intensity……

Lightning flashed outside the window……

With my unsheathed sword in hand, I walked slowly to check on the situation.

But then, I noticed…… The cries for help had stopped.

[……Oi, I’m here to help.]

I heard no answer.

The dark interior is still silent.

Walking forward, I shined my lantern ahead.

However, I haven’t found anyone.

[Where are you? I’m here to help you.]

I called out a little louder, but I still received no answer.

Standing here, I could only feel ashamed for my shortcomings.

It really is a trap huh?

Or perhaps……

Afraid of the people who raided the town, they were hiding their breathing.

[If you need help, you can tell me! Rest assured, I mean you no harm! We certainly may have raided you, but most of the people in this town have already been evacuated and should be safe and sound……!]

I call out, raising my voice even louder.

But as I had expected, there was still no reply……

At that moment, the rain outside suddenly slowed to a crawl.

Stepping on the wooden floor, I entered the next room.

The creaking sound of the floorboards echoed through the room.

With the floors like this, my ears won’t miss even the smallest footstep.

If anyone approached, I would be able to tell by their presence and the sound.

The weather was also by my side.

It’s alright.

There wouldn’t be any problem———-

[………………………]

There’s something there……

It’s there……

Nearby……

I could feel the sensation of my own body temperature dropping rapidly……

Where is it?

Where are they?

I don’t know.

I can’t pinpoint their presence.

Pushing down these unpleasant impatience within me, I tried to listen even more carefully.

Sounds…… No, still can’t hear anything.

No……

Hearing something, I stopped in my tracks.

………………………………………….Overhead?

[————————–]

From above?

So they’re up above?

But…… why?

Shouldn’t there only be the ceiling above me?

Perhaps, do they have a hidden attic?

The sound of shallow breathing———– No, that’s the sound of my own breathing.

I can’t hear anything else again……

Is the sound of something breathing above so low that it’s being drowned out by the faint sound of rain?

……Haahhh…… Haahhh…… Haahhh……

The short sound of my breath.

Slowing my breath even more……

I make my breathing short.

……I can see my own breath……

My clothes that have absorbed the rain……

Cold……

Shivering……

As if it were winter.

It’s from above.

……What are they doing?

Don’t they have me caught in their trap?

Why won’t they commence their trap then?

No.

In fact, there might not be anything there.

Maybe, I was just so tense that I thought “there’s something there”?

Or perhaps, even the voices of that father and son———–

—–may have just been auditory hallucinations from this deep-seated sense of guilt.

I just want a chance to atone for my sins.

I may have just been subconsciously imagining———-

No.

It’s there.

It really is there.

It should be there……

……Haahhh…… Haahhaaahhh…… Haahhhaaahhhaaahhhh…… Haahhaahhaaahhhhaaaahhhaahhhaaahhh……

D*mn it.

I need to check what that is.

I don’t know anything.

I need to observe what that is.

I don’t———-

Pak!

Gathering my courage, I looked up towards the ceiling……

Towards———- the darkness……

And there……

I found eyes……

Red eyes……

[Gyaakkk!]

Thud.

T/N: Those eyes mentioned here, it wasn’t really mentioned if what Foss saw a single eye or two eyes.

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