[Translator - Kie]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
Chapter 347: The Hasken Family (3)
***
The dwarf led Countess to an underground food storage in the inner castle.
"My lady!"
"Mother!"
Other family members were already gathered in front of the storage. More dwarves stood beside them.
Count Haksen immediately embraced his wife and asked.
"What on earth is happening? Suddenly these dwarves appeared and brought us here."
"I'm not sure either. Some monsters appeared outside... Where are Olivia and Ballad?"
"We're here, Mother."
Countess sighed in relief seeing her daughter-in-law and son-in-law safe.
"Ahem."
One of the dwarves cleared his throat loudly, drawing everyone's attention.
"I understand your confusion, but we must flee immediately."
"How can we escape from here?"
Count Haksen asked.
This was an enclosed underground space. The dwarf's words seemed nonsensical.
"Step aside for a moment."
The dwarves moved the Haksen family back and began tearing up the storage room floor.
"W-what? What are you doing?"
As they finished, an underground tunnel was revealed.
The tunnel stretched westward, large enough for an adult man to walk upright. Peculiarly, two thick iron bars ran along the tunnel floor.
On top of these bars sat an elongated cart, big enough to seat six people.
"What is this?"
Count Haksen asked.
"It's a transportation method created with our Hammerfell City's technology. We call it a subway."
"Sub...way?"
"It's still in the testing phase, so there are some issues... Well, no one's died riding it. Broken necks, maybe, but no deaths."
Despite the dwarf's nonchalant tone, the Haksen family's faces turned pale.
"This subway leads towards the capital's water supply. Go there and request help."
"If we go... what will happen to you? Do you have another means of escape?"
The dwarf gave a bitter smile at Count Haksen's question.
"We must remain here."
"Why can't you escape with us?"
"Those monsters arrived through dimensional portals. There's nothing stopping them from using those to catch up with the subway. Someone needs to stay behind and hold them off."
Count Haksen's face hardened.
The dwarf continued with a wry smile.
"Don't worry about us. We're not that weak."
"But..."
"We owe a debt to Damien Haksen. Ensuring your safe escape is how we repay that debt."
Hearing this, Count Haksen had no choice but to comply. He took a seat in the cart with his family.
"Alright, start it up!"
One of the dwarves pulled a device on the wall.
With a clank, the cart shot forward at lightning speed.
* * *
What just happened?
Veronica questioned herself as she lay face-down on the ground.
What transpired in that instant?
The moment the enemy clenched her fist, everything was torn apart. The skeletons, Miya, Munchi, Dominico, and herself.
Countess exclaimed as she supported Veronica. Veronica looked at Countess with trembling eyes.
"Veronica?"
Just then, as if suddenly remembering, Dorugo spoke.
"Ah, now I recall. Killer Ghost Veronica Sanchez. The one who rejected my alliance offer."
Dorugo asked with a curious expression.
"Why is a serial killer who gets pleasure from murder protecting the Haksen family?"
Veronica couldn't understand what Dorugo was saying at all.
Just as she was about to retort, Count Haksen stepped forward and spoke.
"...Who are you to attack our castle?"
Though fear was evident, his voice remained steady.
Dorugo smiled as if surprised.
"I see you're quite the capable figure. I have no reason to hide it. It's because of your child."
"Child? Do you mean Damien?"
Dorugo nodded at Count Haksen's question.
"What do you intend to do to Damien... to my son!"
Count Haksen shouted angrily. Dorugo replied with a cheerful laugh.
"Your son simply won't listen, you see. I intend to teach him a lesson."
"You piece of trash!"
Unable to contain his anger, Count Haksen lunged at Dorugo.
However, he couldn't reach her. He hit an invisible wall.
The impact was so strong that his forehead split open and bled. Yet, Count Haksen's anger didn't subside.
"You scum! Do you plan to use us to threaten Damien? Not a chance!"
"Threaten? Such lukewarm actions won't make Damien Haksen repent."
Dorugo's eyes glinted dangerously.
"I'm going to plunge you all into the depths of hell. I'll make you experience every pain a human body can endure."
Dorugo's voice dripped with the scent of blood.
"Even after death, you won't find peace. I'll hold onto your souls. That's when the real fun begins. There are countless ways to torment a soul."
Dorugo said with a dark laugh. Watching this, Count Haksen swallowed hard.
But his fear was short-lived. Gritting his teeth, he spoke.
"Just try it! It won't go as you wish!"
"Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. I love subjugating people like you."
Dorugo gestured. A black skeleton emerged from the ground and grabbed the eldest daughter Louise by both arms.
"Louise!"
"Darling!"
Ballad rushed towards the skeleton to save Louise.
But the skeleton kicked him away effortlessly.
"In my experience, parents are weak to their children's suffering. Even the most principled person quickly surrenders when they hear their child's screams."
Dorugo looked down at Louise's stomach and grinned.
"And your daughter is even pregnant. It's been a while since I've had such an interesting toy."
At Dorugo's words, Count Haksen's face turned deathly pale.
"Y-You trash! Let Louise go!"
Dorugo reached out and caressed Louise's cheek. Louise squeezed her eyes shut.
At that moment.
Someone grabbed Dorugo's hand. Dorugo asked with a puzzled face.
"What are you doing?"
The one who had grabbed Dorugo's hand.
Theta spoke in a respectful tone.
"Mother, how about stopping here?
***
[Translator - Kie]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]