Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Village of Fear (3)

#19

The two who ruined the festival returned to the room.

The inn was located right next to the village hall.

“Kwaak, heavy!”

Kale who laid Bran on the bed sat down on the floor while feeling disgusted.

Perhaps because the entire body was muscle it was not ordinarily heavy.

“Haak··· haa··· Bran, are you okay?”

“Of course. Keuk, fine and more!”

Turning over onto his back, Bran gave a thumbs up.

The pronunciation with the tongue thoroughly twisted was ridiculous.

“······Doesn’t seem so.”

Kale sighed.

Still it was fortunate he stopped him before a bigger mistake came out.

Just as he was about to say more, the sound of snoring began to be heard.

“Keueeek···! Pugeok!”

“What. Already sleeping?”

Kale let out a hollow laugh as if dumbfounded.

To cause that trouble and immediately fall asleep.

Yes. I have to say a word about this.

Mustering courage, Kale straightened his waist and began a lecture.

“Ahem, this time it was premature Bran. What were you going to do saying that kind of thing in a place where everyone is?”

Of course it was something he could do because Bran was asleep.

The alcohol also played a part.

“Even if the mood is bad it’s still rude. Unless it causes harm each person’s faith should be respected.”

“Kegeogeok! Puheuuuu!”

“···And even if it’s a festival it’s better to be a bit more wary of strangers.”

The village women flitted before his eyes and passed.

Recalling the appearance of clinging to Bran while emphasizing the bold figure the mood became bad again.

“······Women especially more.”

Kale muttered.

As expected men can’t be helped?

Just as he was chewing his lips unable to control the emotion he was feeling for the first time in his life.

“Got it. I’ll be careful.”

“Heukkyyaaak!”

Kale fell backward.

Suddenly an answer returned.

Raising his upper body, Bran sat facing him.

“So, no more things you’re upset about?”

“Y-you weren’t asleep? You were even snoring!”

“Would I get drunk just from drinking a few glasses of that beer?”

Bran giggled.

From the clear voice not a shred of drunkenness could be found.

Of course it was not ordinary beer, but compared to the Bottom Farm crops this much was cute.

A translucent window was floating before his eyes.

『You completely detoxified the sleep-inducing components of Sleepy Fruit.』

『Heart of Harmeno activates. Harmful effects from plants are reduced by half!』

『Toxin resistance increases slightly.』

Since it was poison extracted from plants it had even less effect.

Realizing the truth, Kale raised an eyebrow.

“S-sleeping pills were in it··· I thought the taste was a bit strange somehow.”

“It was quite strong poison. If you didn’t have Morning’s Blessing you would have fainted the moment you took a sip.”

“My. Why did they feed us this kind of thing?”

“These guys were intending to do this from the beginning. The ritual of offering silence or whatever is pure nonsense.”

Bran clicked his tongue.

The tricks were the same as when playing the game. Probably other parts are identical too.

Kale opened his mouth hesitantly.

“Um··· earlier sorry. Thinking Bran couldn’t hear I got excited alone for no reason···.”

“No. Rather it was good. Where is not stabbing the belly with a knife. Bran this unlucky bastard. Die once today! I’m happy that even that didn’t come out.”

“I-I never thought that!”

“I know too.”

Bran got up from the bed.

“Kale.”

“Yes?”

“By any chance have you served another god before?”

The voice was serious.

Looking down through the window rain was still falling in the village.

“No. Originally I only knew I had talent for Divine Power thanks to Bran.”

“Hmm··· really strange. Other than that I can’t guess.”

“······.”

“Whatever it is after today it will be fine so don’t worry. Say whatever comes to mind. We’re friends.”

Kale hunched his shoulders.

Hearing the word friend his ears slightly heated.

“······Friend.”

“Instead you also promise me one thing.”

“Uung?”

“Even if I show an appearance different from usual today don’t run away. There will be days like this occasionally, if possible I hope you understand me then too.”

It was a meaningful statement.

He was curious with what intention he was saying such words, but since he had no intention of leaving Bran anyway Kale readily nodded.

“Yes. Got it.”

“Good. Promise.”

Saying that Bran held out his pinky.

Kale tilted his head.

“What is this?”

“Ah. Is it an action that doesn’t exist here?”

Bran scratched his head.

He had briefly forgotten that this was not the original world.

“It’s a hand gesture meaning a promise. You also take out your pinky the same way and hook it.”

“L-like this?”

“Right. Only do it for promises that must be kept.”

Kale followed him.

The act of wiggling fingers and pressing them together was somehow enjoyable, so Kale ended up smiling without realizing.

It seems the first time since after ten years old.

After even stamping with the thumb Bran held a subtle smile.

“Thank you. I’ve disliked this village since before. I’ve never just passed it.”

“Before? Have you been here?”

“Coming directly is the first time. You’ll know soon. This place is actually···”

It was then.

A presence was felt beyond the door.

They were killing the footsteps as much as possible but they were definitely approaching this room.

“Wh-what?”

“What else. The residents who came to kidnap us.”

Bran answered indifferently.

“Seeing they came this quickly it seems I did scratch their temper.”

“Wh-what do we do? What should we do Bran?”

“I’ll handle it so stay still. Just don’t forget the promise.”

Kale nodded.

The promise is not to run away.

Approaching the door, Bran took position. The approaching footsteps stopped right in front.

Creeak···.

Along with the sound of rusty hinges creaking the door opened.

Two men with good builds entered the room.

One was holding a large sack, the other a club.

Just as they were looking around searching for the kidnapping target.

Clink.

A metallic sound was made from the left right away.

Reflexively turning their bodies the men frowned.

One silver coin that seemed just thrown was rotating precariously.

“······?”

Even before raising a question.

Bran who had been hiding behind the door rushed out.

Stab!

Turning the dagger once he stabbed the temple of the man who entered first.

“······!!”

The man’s eyes rolled back. Instant death.

Puhak! As soon as he pulled the blade blood gushed.

The body that turned into a lump of meat collapsed on the floor.

“Fuck, what···”

The remaining one was astonished.

Even before the voice that broke the rules and leaked spread in the room, Bran grabbed his face.

At the same time he stabbed both arms and legs once each with the dagger.

Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab.

The man whose tendons of the limbs were severed sat down.

The scream blocked by the palm rang out inside the mouth.

“Uuk, keueuup! Keuheueuup!”

“Shh. It’s still time to keep the mouth shut.”

Bran whispered.

The eyeballs revealed through the finger gaps were shaking rapidly.

“I came after a long time so my memory is hazy, the ritual is held in the barn basement right?”

“Uup! Ugeugeuk!”

“Is it right?”

Stab. The dagger was stabbed into the thigh again.

The man’s body shook greatly.

Kale was watching that scene without even being able to breathe properly.

“If you just stop the bleeding you can still live. If right nod your head.”

“······!!”

The man nodded his head rapidly. At the same time the dagger cut his neck.

Slash! Blood that surged like a fountain wet the face.

The body going limp.

Confirming the pupils had loosened, Bran removed his hand from the man’s mouth.

“As expected short swords are convenient. Longswords are still difficult.”

“B-B-Bran···?”

Kale stammered.

The atmosphere had completely changed from the Bran so far.

He had killed in Blackstone Fortress too but it was different from then.

Should it be said more emotional.

Fine anger was tinged between the calm actions.

“Let’s go. Kale.”

“Wh-where?”

“We have to save Uncle Leodorn. He should still be alive so don’t worry.”

Bran wiped the blood on the dagger by rubbing it on the man’s clothes.

From the indifferent expression not even the guilt of a butcher who slaughtered a cow could be found.

“And, it has meaning only if you go.”

It would be good if the relationship with Rawiena improves on this occasion.

****

“···Ugh.”

Leodorn opened his eyes.

His head hurt as if a crack had formed in the skull. Memories were cut off sparsely.

He had handed the wagon to the innkeeper, and unpacked in the room next to the escorts.

After drinking the beer they treated··· what did he do?

It was the moment he barely raised his heavy head.

“My god··· what is this···.”

Leodorn was astonished.

He was trapped in an iron cage suitable for confining beasts.

The luggage had all disappeared.

The two arms that went behind the back were tightly bound with thick rope.

A space reminiscent of a demon’s temple was unfolding beyond the bars.

“A-am I dreaming now?”

Judging from the headache sadly it was not a dream.

An indescribable stench was stabbing the nose. Remains were scattered everywhere.

Occasionally there were animal ones but mostly human bones.

Poles where torches were burning were connected as if forming a path.

“···Delpa.”

Raising his gaze along the torch path some altar came into view.

An altar made by carving rock.

A giant woman’s stone statue was erected behind it.

Leodorn gasped.

“Huff.”

About a hundred men and women presumed to be residents were gathered in front of the altar.

Strangely there was not a single child. None among them opened their mouths.

From the hardened faces not a speck of joy anger sorrow pleasure could be found.

Just as he was overwhelmed by the bizarre scene he was seeing for the first time in his life.

“Huhu, have you come to your senses?”

“This voice is···!”

Suddenly a heavy voice was heard from behind.

A familiar tone.

He had a memory of exchanging greetings with this person before entering the inn.

Hurriedly turning his head, Leodorn opened his mouth in astonishment.

“E-elder?”

“I’m glad you look healthy. I was worried you might not endure the medicine because of your age.”

The person who introduced himself as the village elder was standing.

The appearance of putting a sack with only eye holes on his head was indescribably bizarre.

However, the reason Leodorn was really surprised was not the elder.

The two men who had been escorting him were standing next to the elder.

Leodorn shouted.

“Damn it, what the hell are you doing?!”

“You’ll know soon. Take him to the altar.”

When the elder instructed the escorts opened the iron cage and pulled Leodorn out.

Even if he wanted to resist strength did not enter the body.

“Let go, let go! You bastards!”

The two escorts instead of answering only quietly smiled.

Only then did Leodorn notice that something was seriously wrong.

“You guys, surely the reason you kept saying to take the mountain path···!”

“As you guessed. We were members of the village from the beginning. Bringing people like you was their mission.”

The elder smiled.

The residents’ gazes were focused on him.

Helplessly dragged out, Leodorn was made to kneel in front of the altar.

Meeting eyes with the woman’s stone statue he trembled and shuddered.

“Oh··· ooooh···!”

“Express reverence. Our god. The Silent Dancer, Lady Igra.”

The elder said in a voice filled with joy.

Igra took the form of a woman without a nose and mouth.

The appearance of only bulging both eyes was indescribably bizarre.

Black and murky airflow was circling over the surface of the stone statue.

“A-no···.”

Leodorn’s breathing quickened.

He remembers hearing it when young. One of the pieces of advice senior merchants had given.

There are countless things a merchant must be careful of, but among them cultists who serve evil gods must really be careful.

If by any chance you are captured you will of course meet a terrible death you never thought of, and your soul can even be seized by the evil god.

The altar with dark red bloodstains stuck could not have its original color guessed.

The elder said.

“You wait a bit. Because Lady Igra likes children’s screams the most.”

“Y-you guys, surely to those children too···!”

“Since we went to fetch them they should return soon. The big child seemed to have noticed something, I’m curious about the expression when put on the altar.”

The elder let out a sinister laugh.

Even though covered he seemed to know what expression he was making.

Turning to the stone statue he raised both hands and offered a prayer.

“Great Igra. This time too I will offer the first scream that rings out in the silence.”

Flare! The torch in front of the stone statue surged as if answering.

Leodorn’s face contorted with despair.

No matter how strong the friend named Bran if he falls to the poison it is useless.

I have to come up with some countermeasure!

Just as he was groaning while wracking his hazy head.

Creeeeeak···.

Along with a gloomy metallic sound the door of the underground temple opened.

“Ah. They’re here.”

The elder’s face brightened.

It took longer than expected. Surely they didn’t kill them?

Just as he was about to say such words.

Stab!

One dagger that flew from the door gap pierced the elder’s brow.

“······?”

“What.”

Thud. The elder fell backward.

Leodorn and the escorts froze. It was a death without reality.

The part where the dagger was embedded was turning red.

“Perfectly gathered. This is why I waited until prayer time.”

A mid-low voice rang out.

Everyone in the place looked in the direction the sound came from.

One of the boys who should have been trapped in the iron cage was standing at the entrance of the chapel.

The face was covered in blood. A club was gripped in one hand.

Paaaaaa···!

Dusky morning light was wavering along the surface of the club.

Bran opened his mouth.

“I’ll say in advance.”

The mood was not good. Seeing it in reality even more. Trauma is something everyone has.

The underground chapel of the village that serves the evil god Igra.

Most of the skulls scattered at his feet were children’s.

Staring at a shoe smaller than a palm, Bran looked at the residents and ended the words.

“Don’t think of returning alive anyone.”

Thud. The chapel door closed.