Chapter 176 Ch. 176: Memories [10]

176 Ch. 176: Memories [10]

On their way, they encountered a few monsters along the way, but none posed a significant threat. After half an hour, they finally caught sight of a faint flickering light amidst the dense foliage in the distance. With each gallop, the light grew brighter, revealing a picturesque scene of numerous quaint cottages within the village. Black-robed men moved about, some engaged in conversations while others tended to the wounded.

Entering the village, all eyes fixated on them. Unfazed by the attention, Adrian guided his horse toward a woman with vermillion hair, engrossed in a conversation with Graham in the village square. However, Adrian furrowed his brow as he surveyed his surroundings. It was then that he noticed only the lifeless bodies of the black-robed men strewn across the ground, devoid of any signs of deceased villagers. 'What the hell are they?'

Dismounting from his horse, Adrian approached Annelise. As her gaze fell upon him, drenched in the blood of the monsters, she couldn't help but roll her eyes in boredom, 'Look at him. He chose not to partake in the massacre, yet he ventured into the forest to slay some monsters. What's the difference here?' nOVelB1n

Shaking her head to dismiss the useless thoughts, Annelise beckoned him to follow her and Adrian obediently complied. They moved deeper into the village, where the number of people dwindled, until they reached a cottage. The soft glow of a single candle welcomed them as they stepped inside. The interior of the cottage held little to captivate the eye. The small room was adorned with simple wooden furniture, and the floor was made of compacted earth. Adrian closed the door behind him, and Annelise's voice resonated through the room. "I have found the Sacred Orb you were searching for, however—" Glancing towards the source of the sound, Adrian found Annelise seated on a chair, her legs crossed. "You must fulfill your promise; you must officially join the Chronoites Religion. This entails attending a meeting and embarking on a mission assigned by the Pope—Our Holy Father."

"You're..." Adrian's words trailed off, unable to fully comprehend what stood before him. Amid the silence, the figure opened its arms, inviting Adrian for a hug. Reluctantly, he approached it. As the figure embraced him, he couldn't help but feel the icy sensation that ran through his body, contrasting sharply with the warmth he longed for. "It's... cold," he mumbled, the realization sinking in.

"Ha!" A bitter scoff escaped Adrian's lips before he let out a weary chuckle. "Ah, how foolish of me," he admitted, finally understanding the cruel truth. Gently removing the figure's arms from his body, he took a step back, creating distance between them. "While you imitate my mother, you aren't my mother."

At that moment, a dagger materialized in Adrian's trembling hand. He lifted the blade, his tired eyes reflecting on its polished surface. With a heavy sigh, he tightened his grip on the dagger and swung it towards the figure's neck, severing its head. —Thud!

The body slumped to the ground, and the clay head rolled, eventually coming to a stop at the tip of his sabaton. "I should have realized sooner that once a living being is dead, there is no way to revive them—not even a God's power could do it," he lamented, his voice filled with regret. Adrian brandished his dagger once again, but before he could act, a man's urgent voice pierced the heavy silence. "Priestess Annelise, the First Prince, and Marquis Gilmore's armies are approaching," the man urgently reported. Annelise, who was leaning against the cottage outside, clicked her tongue in annoyance as she straightened herself. It was clear that Nathaniel and the Marquis were trying to track Adrian. Returning her attention to the subordinate, she asked, "How are our forces faring?" "Half of our wounded soldiers are still under treatment. Engaging in a battle against them is not feasible at the moment." However, before Annelise could formulate a response, the door next to them swung open, revealing Adrian standing there, declaring, "Tell me where they are. I'll fight them."