Dark rumors had long surrounded the Black Forest of the East.
Whispers claimed that beings defying divine providence resided within the forest.
Some swore they had seen creatures of grotesque form lurking in its depths.
Yet, because so few ever ventured into the Black Forest, such stories were dismissed as mere folktales.
Only a select few knew the truth—that monsters truly dwelled within the forest.
Beasts in human form.
Humans in beastly form.
And creatures resembling the now nearly extinct beings of legend.
The Hilderd Holy Empire referred to these abominations as demonic beasts.
And for generations, it had been the duty of the Basilian Count’s family to manage them.
—
“Guehck, keh, guueeck…!”
“Kkreeeek!”
The demonic beasts were revolting to behold.
Their skeletal structure was human-like, yet their flesh drooped and barely clung to their bones.
Anyone with a weak stomach would have vomited at the mere sight of them.
But Kierne swung his sword without hesitation.
As his jet-black blade cut through the air, a demonic beast was sliced cleanly in half.
Crimson blood belatedly spurted from the smooth wound.
Kierne nimbly stepped back to avoid the splattering blood, his expression twisting into a frown.
His red eyes gleamed with a dangerous light.
“…….”
Pausing, Kierne took a slow breath.
Not because he was exhausted.
A sweet voice echoed in his mind.
“Kierne.”
Like a fleeting midsummer dream, the voice was absurdly beautiful yet utterly maddening.
“Kierne, I love you.”
A bad omen.
He could not afford to spill any more blood here.
Reason dictated that he should stop for today.
And yet, an impulse welled up within him.
An urge to hear that voice just a little more.
It didn’t matter if he broke or shattered completely.
He had already endured for far too long…
He licked his dry lips.
His grip on the sword tightened, veins bulging beneath the skin of his hand.
A smile—dark and chillingly seductive—curved at the corner of his lips.
Just as he prepared to swing his sword again—
Piiiii!
A bird’s cry rang out.
Kierne looked up.
A large hawk circled in the clear blue sky.
At a short whistle from one of the knights behind him, the hawk flapped its wings and swiftly descended.
Tied to the bird’s leg was a strip of red cloth.
A small child, left behind at the castle, came to his mind.
He recalled those delicate pink eyes, staring at him with unwavering clarity.
His hazy thoughts regained a sliver of focus.
I almost lost control again.
Scoffing at himself, Kierne flicked his sword, shaking off the blood, and issued a command.
“Take a short break.”
At his words, the knights drove back the remaining demonic beasts before sheathing their weapons.
Handing his sword to his squire, Kierne immediately sought out the knight in charge of the messenger hawk.
As he read the letter retrieved from the bird, the knight stiffened, quickly straightening his posture.
“There’s a problem at the castle.”
“A problem?”
Kierne asked with an amused smile.
The knight grew even more tense.
Sweat beaded on his brow as he struggled to move his stiff tongue.
“There was an attempted abduction of Lady Chesha. Fortunately, Young Master Ishuel found her immediately.”
Kierne raised an eyebrow.
“That’s unexpected. I thought Karha would be the one to find her.”
“It seems Young Master Karha was in the middle of a meal.”
“Ah…”
“The kidnappers have been imprisoned in the underground dungeon, and Young Master Karha has taken charge of their interrogation.”
Kierne gave a small nod and extended his hand.
The knight, momentarily flustered, belatedly realized what he wanted and handed over the letter.
A faint smirk crossed Kierne’s lips as he read through it.
Since it had been sent via messenger hawk, the letter was merely a brief summary.
He had already heard everything from the knight’s report, yet he reread it anyway.
He simply felt like doing so.
As he finished, the fog clouding his mind gradually cleared.
Without a second thought, Kierne flicked his hand.
The letter fluttered to the ground—only to be swallowed whole by the shadows at his feet.
“We’re returning to the castle.”
At his command, the knight commander immediately stepped forward in protest.
“But we haven’t reduced the number of demonic beasts yet.”
“One day won’t make a difference. We’ll return tomorrow. For now…”
Kierne’s gaze slowly lowered.
He feigned a tearful expression and said,
“I can’t do anything because I’m too worried about my youngest daughter back home.”
Scritch, scritch.
A quill pen glided smoothly over paper.
Elegant cursive script flowed from its nib.
Chesha watched Belzeon process documents with curious eyes.
“He looks like he’s working even harder than Kierne.”
In fact, he looked more like a true Count than Kierne did.
“Brother.”
A soft, delicate voice called out to Belzeon.
Ishuel, holding Chesha in his arms, approached the desk.
Then, with a casual flick, he set Chesha down on the desk.
“I want this.”
For the first time, Belzeon looked away from his documents.
Ishuel beamed.
Chesha felt as if Belzeon was cursing at him with his eyes.
Belzeon placed the quill back into its holder.
“You’ve done something unnecessary.”
Despite the cold rebuke, Ishuel remained unfazed.
“Wouldn’t it be nice if our house had something this pretty and cute? Look at her—she’s as beautiful as I am, brother.”
“…….”
“She’s not even scared. She fits right in with the Basilians.”
Ishuel grabbed Chesha’s hands, moving them back and forth.
Chesha, forced to flail around in response, let out a sound of protest.
Ishuel chuckled.
“You don’t like it?”
“I don’t!”
As soon as she answered, a finger poked her cheek.
It was a mischievous touch, like squeezing a soft, fluffy bun.
Chesha furrowed her brows in anger.
“Do you want to die?!”
But her glare lacked any real threat.
Ishuel, finding her reaction adorable, laughed.
“You can talk, huh? I thought your tongue had been cut out.”
“…I have a tongue.”
“Really? Stick it out, then.”
She had no idea why he was being so annoying.
Still, since he had saved her, Chesha obediently stuck out her tiny tongue.
“Bleh.”
As she made a face at him, Ishuel giggled again.
Chesha scowled.
Despite his playful demeanor, Ishuel possessed formidable strength.
She hadn’t seen it clearly before, buried in the flowers…
But Morgan and the one-eyed man had been completely subdued by an eleven-year-old boy without so much as a squeak.
Chesha studied Ishuel, sizing him up.
Noticing this, Ishuel leaned in even closer, as if to show off.
“Ugh.”
Chesha recoiled in disgust.
Watching their antics, Belzeon let out a short laugh.
“Are you planning to take part in the Count’s grotesque schemes as well?”
“Hmm… I’m not sure about that yet.”
Ishuel shrugged and pulled Chesha back into his arms as she tried to escape.
“I just like her. Enough to make her my little sister.”
“Ishuel.”
“Yes, brother?”
“You do realize this isn’t just about taking in an adopted daughter, don’t you?”
“I do.”
The two boys locked eyes.
Neither backed down as they stared at each other—until Ishuel broke into an easy smile.
“But doesn’t it sound fun?”
Perhaps deciding there was no reasoning with him, Belzeon abandoned the conversation.
His gaze shifted to Chesha.
“You, over there.”
At the cold summons, Chesha pretended to flinch in surprise.
“Leave the castle. I’ll help you escape.”
“What is he saying? I haven’t even had the chance to investigate properly.”
There was no way she could let herself be kicked out like this.
Chesha made her intentions clear.
“I like it here.”
Belzeon blinked.
He was visibly taken aback as he asked again,
“Why…?”
“I like Daddy.”
She spoke clearly, enunciating every word.
At that, Belzeon shot to his feet, planting his hands on the desk.
He leaned in sharply.
Startled by the sudden proximity, Chesha’s eyes widened.
Crimson irises bore into hers, just inches away.
Belzeon scrutinized her with such intensity that she could feel his breath.
Muttering under his breath, he said,
“…It doesn’t seem like she’s been brainwashed.”
To think that simply complimenting Kierne could lead to suspicions of mind control…
It was a clear reflection of Kierne’s reputation.
Sitting back down, Belzeon ran a hand over his face.
His sharp eyes narrowed as he muttered,
“She likes the Basilian Count? Without even knowing what he’s planning…?”
That’s exactly why I’m here—to find out what he’s planning.
Chesha looked at him with an innocent expression, as if she knew nothing.
For a brief moment, Belzeon’s eyes wavered.
He gave Chesha another once-over—her tiny, fragile body was astonishingly small.
Then, he turned to Ishuel.
“And what exactly do you intend to do?”
“About what, brother?”
“Are you going to help the Count?”
Belzeon’s gaze sharpened like a blade.
“Help him with his grotesque attempt to bring the dead back to life?”
─── ･ ｡ﾟ✧: *. ꕥ .* :✧ﾟ. ───
