Chapter 36

Chapter 36

[Translator Clara]

[Proofreader Demon God]

The night in Hastin was silent. The only things shining were the crescent moon and a cluster of stars hanging in the sky. The only audible sound was the chilling hooting of an owl. Like most human villages after sunset, there were no visible people wandering the streets.

Perched atop the highest point in Hastin, the spire of the Counts residence, Patrick gazed down at Hastins night scenery. As he had barely managed to climb up using a summoned familiar through a magic stone, the tall spire provided a panoramic view of Hastins territory.

Silently contemplating, Patrick slowly removed his helmet, and a blue glow emanated from the empty eye sockets.

Its already more than half decayed, he murmured.

Hastin was crumbling.

Raising his head slightly, Patrick could see the grand square in the distance. It was once called the main square of the town, a bustling place where numerous residents used to come and go. Now, it had completely collapsed, and it was impossible to even gauge its original circular shape. Since it was the source of the Black Disaster, there was nothing left but ruins. The places where the mausoleum stood, where the fountain in the square was, all covered in debris.

This time, he turned his gaze to the right. In the vicinity of the massive castle walls surrounding the Counts residence, there was an open space. The surrounding grass suggested it was an artificially created open space, probably burned to create it.

In the center of the open space, there was a wide pit. From the pit, a familiar smell wafted through the air.

It was not a smell that could be sniffed with the nose. It was an instinctive smell that undead beings could feel, even from a distance. Yes, it was the smell of decaying bodies. The bodies that were once called residents of Hastin were entangled in a grotesque manner.

Bodies cause plagues. If corpses scattered throughout the village start to decay, there could be an outbreak of disease in the village. However, burying them individually would be challenging due to the sheer number of corpses.

Its a more common occurrence than one might think, piling up difficult-to-handle corpses like that.

Because its a disaster.

To humans, the existence of Devourer is akin to an ambiguous disaster.

Its not surprising that corpses accumulate in the wake of a disaster passing through.

Without saying a word, Patrick turned his head to the left. The left area seemed to have suffered less damage, and outwardly, it looked quite intact. However, it was likely deteriorating inside. Within the territory surrounded by the massive castle walls, there was probably not a single place left unaffected.

After finishing his thoughts, Patrick turned his gaze once more.

The last place where the eye sockets stopped moving was right below, the castle of Hastins lord.

Ive been curious for a long time.

After the Black Disaster descended on Hastins main square, Count Etark, the lord of Hastin, took his own life by hanging.

His suicide was a unilateral decision and an impulsive act. How would the imperial family accept it?

Theres no need to think too deeply about it.

Certainly, they must have been enraged. Their plans had gone awry. Internally, there was a need for a target to vent their frustration about the assault of the Black Disaster. Externally, they needed someone to take responsibility for the consecutive failures in suppressing the ancient core.

Trying to hold someone accountable, the sudden action taken by the Count was, in essence, disobedience to the imperial orders. To exaggerate a bit more, it could be interpreted as an act of rebellion.

In that case, who is the current lord of Hastin?

Through the open window, a girl cautiously peeked her head. The room beyond the window was warm, illuminated by a bright light, as expected, coming from a continuously burning furnace.

Certainly, it was the same room someone had been using until just now. Simultaneously, it was now an empty room.

Alright.

The girl, who had only revealed her face, muttered with a determined expression after confirming the vacancy once again. Immediately afterward, she reached out her arms and grabbed the window.

Whether it was an uncomfortable posture or the process of struggling outside the window, both seemed to be laborious for the girl. She displayed no expertise. The way she clumsily managed things, it seemed as if she was inexperienced, almost to the point of wondering how she managed to sneak in through a second-floor window.

Completing the grand process, the girl, now inside the room, gasped for breath. Disheveled pink hair obscured her view. She roughly swept it aside with her hand, revealing the girls cute face. It wasnt clean; the messy face suggested days without washing. Even though she was at an age when she should care about her appearancehowever, she didnt seem to care at all. With a lively smile, she seemed content.

Although she hadnt stayed at this inn before, she could be sure this was probably the most expensive room here. Who could these people be, staying in such a place when the village was in such a state? Judging from the circumstances, they were undoubtedly outsiders.

Rich outsiders, probably. Well, thats fine, the girl thought. Somehow, it felt like the guilt in her heart was diminishing, not a bad feeling.

Since she didnt know when the guest would return, she had to finish her work as quickly as possible. The first thing the girl looked for was food.

However, there was no food to be found. Changing her target quickly, the girl picked up items at hand.

The first thing that caught her eye was a black coat haphazardly thrown over the bed. As the girl picked up the coat, she furrowed her brow.

The black coat was so worn out that it was hard to tell if it was clothing or a rag. It was dirty, suitable for someone living on the streets, like herself.

Wasnt this guest, not a rich person?

Although suspicious, she didnt have the luxury to dwell on questions for long. The first thing the girl noticed was that there was no one else in the room.

Did they take luggage with them?

It was strange, but there was no time to ponder. The girl first sought out food. But there was no food. Startled by her own actions, the girl unintentionally blurted out, Why is there nothing here!

The girl, surprised by her own outburst, covered her mouth, silencing herself. Then, silence.

After a long stillness, the girl took a deep breath, opened her eyes wide, and looked around.

No sound of someone coming back yet.

Having rummaged through every place where valuables might be hidden, all the girl had in her hands was still the black coat. Clearly disappointed, she openly displayed her frustration on her face and, lastly, turned to the dresser right next to the bed.

Thud!

The sound of wood scraping against wood. And the sound of something rustling in the last compartment made the girls eyes light up. Overwhelmed by joy, the girls face turned all shades of red. With a pounding heart, she opened the drawer.

And, What is this? she said, holding up a long, white object. After hesitating for a few seconds, the girls expression turned pale as she grasped the identity of the object.

[Translator Clara]

[Proofreader Demon God]

Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2