Chapter 106: Formatting
The innkeeper merely shrugged. It was an attitude that showed neither the means nor the will to verify.
Department of Magic?
Yes. An entire village was devastated, you know. A mage came in person to lead the investigation. You do know what a mage is, dont you?
It would be unlikely for someone who could haul a carriage as big as his not to know, but the innkeeper asked just in case.
Yeah, Im aware.
Ahaha. Right, right. It would have been embarrassing for me if you didnt know. Actually, I only found out what a wizard was myself back then. Theyre said to be individuals with tremendous power. They can even conjure lightning and thunder Anyway, they conducted a thorough investigation and left, so it must be true. Ever since then, we make sure to cook our food thoroughly.
Ian nodded as if he was listening intently, but his mind was racing. If an entire village had been wiped out as the innkeeper said, it was indeed a significant matter.
But
They dispatched the already understaffed Department of Magic to investigate a local town? Mages are those who wield magic, not ones to be bothered with investigations. Usually, special investigation teams are under the jurisdiction of the Administrative Department, not the Department of Magic.
Like Berti Erica, for instance. Molrin might also fall into that category. It was a fact that those dispatched to various local areas were somewhat predetermined if they belonged to the Administrative Department.
Let me know if you need anything else.
Sure, thanks for the soup.
Ill call you when dinner is ready.
Screech.
As the innkeeper bowed and left, Beric immediately grabbed the bread with both hands and stuffed it into his mouth as if hed been waiting for this moment. It seemed he had learned to maintain some semblance of dignity by now.
So, is that dog living in Danil alone?
If thats the only household, then yes.
But you said all the villagers are dead. What about the dogs food?
Ian glanced sideways at Berics nagging, catching the last piece of bread disappearing into his mouth. Beric, sensing Ians gaze, reluctantly pulled out the half-eaten piece from his mouth.
Here, its yours.
What am I supposed to do with something thats been in and out of your mouth? Just eat it. I was surprised you were so worried about a dog.
Its not, dont worry. Its for gathering information. That damn mutt. It dared to bite my hand? Next time we meet, its dead.
Next time? When is that?
Ian smiled faintly. It was suspicious that the Department of Magic was involved, but the journey to the capital was long. He had no intention of going back that way.
Knock knock.
Ian. Its me.
Ah, come in, sir Romandro.
Romandro, who had settled in the next room, entered dressed for an outing. Beric wiped his mouth and looked up at him curiously.
Going out so close to nightfall?
They only sell beer here.
Good heavens.
I thought Id take the opportunity to pick up a few necessities. Ahem.
Ill come with you!
No, thanks. If I go with you, a 10-minute errand will turn into an ordeal. Anyway, Im heading out. Need anything?
Beric, flatly rejected, clicked his tongue and licked his soup bowl clean. Ian shook his head and scanned the old menu on the wall. The selection was decent, but nothing seemed particularly rejuvenating.
As you head out, tell everyone not to hesitate to order whatever they want to eat. Drinking is fine, but remind the coachmen that were setting off early tomorrow.
Right, will do.
With those words, Ian handed Romandro a purse filled with travel expenses.
And lets take the route through Longuin tomorrow. Its the only place where the bank is open.
Is that so? Understood. See you later then.
Yes, dont overdo it.
Got it!
Romandro left the room with a chuckle, as if excited by the adventure ahead. Despite the challenging winter journey, Romandros demeanor somehow made it feel like a leisurely trip.
Thump!
Ian, Im full and warm, no need to go to the imperial palace Guhh!
Did he just fall asleep talking?
Beric, who had been joking around, suddenly fell into a deep sleep. Ian was reminded of a saying about pigs in a certain region that fall asleep while eating.
There must be some affinity with those creatures.
Ian chuckled at the absurdity and began to clear the dishes. Then, he too surrendered to the bed, seeking a brief respite in sleep.
***
How much time had passed?
Thump! Thud!
Ian was slightly awakened by the vibration coming from downstairs. Judging by the candle on the table, which had burned down to about half its size, it seemed a couple of hours had passed. Beric was passed out, mouth agape. Ian rubbed his face against the pillow, frowning.
Why is it so noisy downstairs?
Crash! Clang!
In his half-asleep state, Ian couldnt quite make out the noises. It sounded like something breaking, or maybe not
Uaaaah!
But when a scream pierced the air, his eyes snapped open, and he reflexively sat up.
Beric.
Why
Get up. Somethings happening outside.
Its about time to eat, isnt it? Yaaawn.
No, not that
Tiptoeing footsteps approached.
Bang! Crash!
The sound of someone moving from the first floor to the second was unmistakable. Doors along the corridor seemed to be flung open one after another.
Beric, finally sensing something was off, blinked in confusion. Still lying in bed, he fumbled for his sword.
Bang!
Beric threw the blanket towards the opening door and lunged forward, thrusting his sword through it. The figure seemed human, but
Thud!
Huh?
Berics eyes widened at the unfamiliar sensation. It wasnt the feeling of piercing skin, slicing through organs, and the spurt of warm blood he was expecting.
Whoosh.
As the blanket fell, the assailant was revealed.
What the?
Although the face was covered with a mask, the eyes behind it were unfocused. More disturbing were the black skin and the foul stench wafting through the air.
Ian, covering his nose with his sleeve, muttered,
Beric, step back for a moment.
Huh? Oh, okay.
Despite being attacked by Beric, the assailant showed no reaction. There was no trace of blood on the sword as it was withdrawn. Confused, Beric inspected his sword, and as he did, the assailant contorted its body unnaturally, twisting its head from side to side.
Why the hell is there an undead here
Undead, a term for corpses that do not die. Did this mean there was a necromancer nearby?
The undead staggered and then started mumbling something incomprehensible as it banged its head against the wall.
-er.
What the hell is it saying?
Shh.
Outside, the chaos continued with screams, roars, and the sounds of intense fighting. Ian and Beric listened intently, trying to make out the undeads mumbling.
-Uuurrgh.
?
It was just meaningless noise. Yet, the voice sounded eerily familiar, reminiscent of the dog they had seen during the day.
Crash!
Just as Ian realized this, noise came from outside the door. This time, it was real people, not undeadbandits, to be precise.
Aha, here you are. The guys with the horse and carriage downstairs?
What the f*ck is going on here?
Beric, annoyed, flicked his sword as the bandits chuckled and moved to enter. The undead, however, stood firm, blocking their path.
Whats this? Why is it doing that?
The bandit tried to push it aside, but the undead wouldnt budge, as if it were protecting Ian and Beric from getting any closer. Without hesitation, the bandit slashed its limbs off and shoved it aside.
Slash! Thud!
The undead fell forward lifelessly. As it looked up at Ian and Beric, a flicker of life seemed to pass through its eyes before fading away. The bandits then advanced, swords drawn.
Where might you be heading? With a convoy that size, your purses must be quite heavy. Mind if we take a look?
Thrust!
No sooner had the words left the bandits mouth than Beric, lightning-fast, plunged his sword into the mans belly. Unlike the undead, warm blood dripped from the wound.
Didnt you ask how this was going down? You piece of shit.
Gah!
Ah, right. This feels more like it. Finally, it feels like Im actually stabbing something.
Beric smiled contentedly at the sight of the dripping blood. The bandit, in shock, could only blink, staring at his pierced abdomen, before letting out a scream that burst forth as if to communicate the extent of his pain.
Aaaargh!
As if to demonstrate his agony, he lunged at Beric, who effortlessly grabbed his face and slammed it against the wall.
Crack!
Kuuurgh
Once more.
Crash!
The first impact broke the mans nose, and the second shattered the door, leaving him crumpled. Ian, leaving the still-gazing undead behind, stepped into the corridor.
Please, spare us! Spare us!
Arrrggghhh!
Is this all the food youve got? Wheres the rest of the storage?
Th-th-theres nothing else, just beside the stable!
Looking down from the railing, Ian saw a gang of bandits holding the inns staff hostage while looting. They filled moldy sacks with whatever they could find, leaving a trail of blood in their wake.
Slash!
Aaargh!
Ian massaged his forehead, trying to make sense of the situation.
It seemed the feeling of being watched earlier in the day was indeed due to these bandits. They must have been waiting for nightfall after seeing the carriage enter the village.
Beric.
Yeah?
Beric was nonchalantly stepping on the head of the fallen bandit. Ian grasped his forehead, channeling magical energy into him.
Zzzing.
There are bandits downstairs. It seems weve inadvertently drawn them here.
So, you want them all dead?
Keep some alive if they might be useful for questioning.
Beric, wiping his sword on his upper garment, leaped downstairs with the lightness of a child rushing to receive a present.
Thump!
What the?
While Beric was clearing the way on the first floor, Ian hastily grabbed only the essential belongings. Then, he turned to the undead.
Hey. Were you that dog earlier?
-
No response. The undeads severed head could only twitch its mouth, its eyes darting up and down, beginning to lose their vitalitya sign that whatever connection it had to the undead was slowly severing.
-Uuurgh
With a groan, pus oozed from every orifice in the undeads face. It was the death of death itself. A viscous green liquid seeped into the floor, and Ian, with a heavy sigh, stepped over the corpse.
Crash!
Ah, come on! Bring it! Bring it, you f*cks!
Beric was thoroughly enjoying himself, wreaking havoc on the first floor. Aside from a dozen bandits turned into bloody messes, all the small items in the store were utterly destroyed.
Beric!
Huh?
Enough, lets hurry to the stables!
Ian rushed out the back door. Not far off, he spotted a wooden gate leading to the stables. Stepping outside, the gravity of the situation became unmistakably clear.
Crash!
Screams and flames were rampant everywhere. Women clutching their children fled barefoot, while men armed with makeshift weapons confronted the bandits.
Lord Ian, whats happening here?
Ah, you!
He was one of Romandros subordinates, apparently having been out drinking, his face flushed and struggling to grasp the situation.
Our carriage is gone.
What did you say?
As Ian entered, the agitated horses shook their heads wildly. True to the subordinates words, the spot where the carriage should have been was eerily empty.
All our stuff was in that damn carriage.
Not just their belongings, but important items including magic stones were loaded in it. Ian massaged his forehead, murmuring.
You need to find sir Romandro immediately. Hurry and gather everyone.
Yes, understood.
Ian, what about me?
Beric, you
Thats when they heard it. The distinct sound of rallying cries from the townsfolk, possibly the guards from Karenna responding. Reinforcements from other regions would likely arrive soon if they could just hold out a bit longer.
Whistles!
The rampaging bandits started whistling, signaling each other. It was clear they were calling for a retreat.
Catch those running away.
Can we kill them?
Even better.
Oh yeah! Berics going in~!
With Ians approval, Beric dashed outside like an arrow.
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