Chapter 72 - The Count’s Domain (2)

Countless processions were streaming onto the drawbridge leading to Veldana, the city of the Staviana demesne. The crowds stretched on without end, one line following another. Merchants, monks, pilgrims, mercenaries, migrants, travelers, adventurers, provincial nobles... People from every walk of life filled the queues.

Yohan was among them. He had already spent hours waiting his turn. With so many people flocking here, the inspections were taking quite some time. He was bored to death, but the others seemed accustomed to it and showed little reaction. Getting into Veldana had always been difficult.

Yohan yawned despite himself. Smiling, Ilea slipped her index finger into his mouth. His expression soured slightly.

“Bored?”

“A little. No, actually, I’m bored to death.”

What an utter waste of time.

“It’ll be our turn soon. Be patient a little longer.”

“Can’t we just show them the invitation and go in?”

Ilea pointed to the next lane. No one was waiting there. Every so often, a few ornate carriages arrived and passed through the inspection in an instant. That lane was probably reserved for high-ranking officials and guests invited by the Count. Yohan was entitled to use it, too. He had the Count’s invitation.

Yohan shook his head.

“The Count mustn’t know we’re here.”

If they used the neighboring checkpoint, word would certainly reach the Count that House Miyatro had come to visit. That was not what Yohan wanted.

Ilea spoke.

“Is there something you need to do without the Count knowing?”

“That’s right. I’ll need a little help from you.”

Here in the Count’s domain, Ilea’s mere presence was an enormous advantage. With her beside him, many things would be far easier to handle.

Ilea smiled.

“Starting now, then.”

It was Yohan’s turn to be inspected.

“I’m counting on you.”

A soldier in iron armor approached.

“Present your pass.”

An identification plaque, a family seal, or a travel permit would suffice. Yohan held out a blank sheet of white paper. The soldier’s face twisted.

“Is this a joke? There’s nothing on it.”

Ilea addressed him.

“Look a little closer. You’ll change your mind.”

At the same instant, her blue eyes flashed. The soldier froze briefly, as though time had stopped. A moment later, he spoke.

“Pass!”

Ilea glanced at Yohan, her eyes crinkling in a subtle smile.

“Something like that, right?”

Thanks to her, they could enter the city without exposing their identities. Yohan nodded.

“Well done. Keep doing that.”

The two proceeded straight into Veldana.

* * *

First-time visitors to Veldana were often cowed by its overwhelming grandeur. The spires cleaving the sky seemed to warn them not to dream of climbing so high, while the intricately interwoven canals imposed a subtle sense of control. Few cities in this age were as prosperous and orderly as Veldana. Every country bumpkin who arrived from the provinces gaped in astonishment.

Yohan and Ilea were a little different. Neither found Veldana particularly impressive. In Yohan’s original world, cities like this appeared only in history books. Having lived in a far more advanced civilization, he saw Veldana as a relic of the past.

Ilea’s position was much the same. She possessed some of her predecessor’s memories. Compared with the glorious ancient civilization of witches engraved in her mind, Veldana was insignificant. Buildings raised by human labor did nothing to impress her.

Yohan and Ilea merely regretted the time they had wasted. Yohan spoke.

“Let’s get moving before it gets any later.”

“Where are we going?”

“To Deathshadow.”

Deathshadow was the shadow encircling the entire city. Darkness concealed within splendor, it bore the burden of the prosperity aboveground, a place where desire and corruption settled layer upon layer. All the malice excreted by wealth and power filled Deathshadow.

The filthier Deathshadow grew, the brighter Veldana shone. Without Deathshadow, Veldana as it stood today could not exist.

Ilea looked down at the ground beneath the city.

“Deathshadow. From the sound of it, somewhere down below, then.”

She could feel the malice seething underground against her skin. Being a witch allowed her to sense it.

Yohan nodded.

“We need to find an entrance first. Can you manage that?”

Only a handful of entrances led to Deathshadow in this vast city. He would eventually find one if he sifted through his memories of the original novel, but it would waste precious time.

Ilea spoke.

“Just follow me. I think I’ve already found one.”

She slipped out of the crowd and set off. Yohan followed at once.

* * *

On Veldana’s outskirts, the scenery was markedly different from the splendid city center. Shabbily dressed people passed between weathered stone buildings. Their faces were full of listlessness and gloom. Each seemed to have a harrowing story of their own.

Debt, gambling, drugs, crime, epidemics... Whatever the reason, all of them had been driven out of the city center. Their gazes trailed Yohan and Ilea, clinging with desire, envy, and wariness.

Ilea smiled as she spoke.

“I feel like prey.”

Their clothing was out of place in a slum like this. Anyone would take them for provincial nobles newly arrived in the city. They probably looked as though they had lost their way. Perfect targets.

Rich nobles who knew nothing of the world, wandering through a slum without so much as an escort. If someone attacked and killed them, it would practically count as death by natural causes.

Yohan clicked his tongue.

“I’d rather get there quietly, without any trouble.”

“We’re in luck, then. Nothing happened at all.”

Ilea came to an abrupt stop before a narrow alley.

“Is this the entrance?”

“Yes. It should lead to Deathshadow.”

The alley’s interior was uneven and lumpy, like the inside of a snake’s belly. There was no one in sight. Only an unpleasant stench wafted out from time to time. This was one of the entrances to Deathshadow.

“Let’s go in.”

No sooner had Yohan finished speaking than an old woman approached from behind.

“Young ones, that isn’t a road. Turn back.”

Ilea gave a gentle smile.

“You mean well. Thank you for your concern.”

Witches could sense malice. She felt no wickedness in the old woman. The woman was genuinely worried about Yohan and Ilea.

Yohan drew a silver coin from inside his clothes.

“For your kindness.”

The old woman took it, at a loss.

“S-so much money...”

She had received enough to cover a month’s living expenses. Afraid someone might see, she immediately hid the silver coin inside her clothes. When she looked up again, Yohan and Ilea were already entering the alley. Watching them, she traced the holy sign.

“Saint Marziel. Please protect those little lambs.”

* * *

The atmosphere changed the moment they entered the alley. For one thing, it was far too quiet. There was not the slightest sign of another person. The stench grew worse, and a chill hung in the air. Low screams seemed to mingle with the sound of the wind.

Was he imagining it? Unsettled for no clear reason, Yohan looked at Ilea. She seemed utterly at ease. She was even wearing a faint smile.

“I can feel someone watching.”

Yohan turned away again.

“Not you, Yohan.”

The alley was clearly deserted, yet he had the strange feeling that someone was watching them. A tingle ran down his spine. He swept his gaze around.

“From the windows?”

Every building along the alley had windows. A cloudy film of dust prevented him from seeing through the glass.

“It seems so.”

The entrance to Deathshadow was a den of thugs, drug dealers, and vagrants. From time to time, they preyed on outsiders who lost their way. Kidnapping people and taking them deeper underground could earn them a fortune. Heretics and mages paid handsomely for living humans.

Yohan spoke.

“Ignore them. We didn’t come here to deal with thugs and junkies.”

“What did we come for, then?”

“A weapon to use against the Count. We’ll probably have to go all the way to the deepest part of Deathshadow.”

Interest flickered in Ilea’s eyes.

“The depths of Deathshadow. I’m looking forward to it already. I can’t wait to get there.”

The farther they walked, the thicker the malice became. They were only at the entrance, yet concentrated wickedness was rising from below. To a witch, this was a deeply intriguing place.

Yohan stifled a groan.

“That may be difficult.”

Two men were sitting in a corner up ahead. They watched Yohan and Ilea, snickering.

“Lost your way, my lord and lady?”

“Tsk, tsk. How did you end up all the way down here?”

Yohan and Ilea ignored them and walked past. The two men rose.

“She’s fucking gorgeous up close. Is she a doll or what?”

“Let’s have some fun before we sell her.”

“Idiot. We won’t get a turn.”

“I wouldn’t mind the boy, either.”

The snickering men followed them. Ilea smiled.

“I rather like how transparent they are.”

A whistle came from behind.

“Hey, miss, you like it? You’re a wild one!”

“I’m first!”

“Turn around for us!”

“I hear you’re a real beauty!”

“Too pretty to sell, they say!”

More and more voices joined in. The footsteps multiplied along with them. A sizable crowd of thugs had probably gathered behind them.

Yohan clicked his tongue.

“So much for arriving quietly.”

“Since it’s come to this, let’s gather them all up and deal with them at once.”

“Let’s.”

Driving the prey together made for an efficient hunt.

The two kept walking for a long while. Only after some time did they finally stop. They could go no farther. Dozens of people were blocking the way ahead.

Yohan looked behind him. Thugs crowded that direction, too. They were completely surrounded.

Ahead of them, a hulking man seated alone in a chair spoke.

“Strip.”

He regarded Yohan and Ilea with a cruel smile.

The thugs shouted.

“Don’t know what strip means? Strip!”

“Take your clothes off, you little shits!”

“Underwear too! Everything!”

“What’s taking so long?”

They were quite excited.

The hulking man raised a hand to silence his underlings, then spoke.

“Last chance. Strip.”

Ilea looked at Yohan.

“That should be just about everyone, shouldn’t it?”

“Probably.”

“I’ll begin.”

Just as mana was about to gather in her hand, Yohan caught her arm and lowered it.

“Wait. We should get what we can out of this.”

He pointed at the sky. The sun was setting. Ilea nodded in understanding.

“Making a profit is important.”

The hulking man erupted.

“Strip!”

At that instant, the sun sank from sight. Darkness settled over them. Yohan’s figure abruptly vanished.

The hulking man sprang from his chair, eyes wide.

“Where did he go?”

He felt something on his shoulder and immediately turned his head. A pitch-black hand rested there.

A chilling voice reached his ear.

“Stay seated.”

Unfathomable strength forced him back into his chair.

“B-boss...?”

“B-behind you!”

Something was strange about his underlings’ expressions. They were terrified.

As the hulking man tried to look behind him, the chilling voice spoke again.

“No, no. Don’t look away. The play I’ve prepared for you is about to begin.”

Ilea smiled and clapped her hands.

“I can’t wait!”

Maphel’tan’s red eyes flashed. At the same instant, the grotesque demonic tongue spilled from his mouth.

『 From this moment on, kill one another (Z’thar Vek’tor Mhaal). 』

The Words of Command burrowed into everyone’s minds. The hulking man’s eyes quivered.