Chapter 199: Chapter 199: Shadow of Corin Part 15
"Yes, so what?"
Given how long this elf had spent in the Empire, Dawood expected him to know at least some manners, but the elf before him was nothing if not insolent. Even though Dawood already knew that elves were a haughty race, he couldn't shake his displeasure. After all, he was a noble with the kind of power that had never been disrespected within the Empire.
He had grown up surrounded only by people bowing their heads before him, anywhere and at any time, so the sight of an elf standing tall with his chin raised was bound to annoy him.
Why would Fabio bring in someone like this?
The plan had been flawless from the start. Dawood couldn't understand why they needed to recruit some elf now. But Fabio had been adamant.
– If you use the noble souls of the elves as fuel, you will receive even greater rewards.
As if the soul of Lord Corin, a swordsman who was always counted among the Empire's greatest, was somehow not "noble" enough. Dawood felt a flare of indignation at the thought, but he didn't let it show. He wasn't hot-headed like his younger brother Louis. At the very least, Dawood was calm enough to think in terms of gain and make calculated moves. This was one of the many ways he was worlds apart from his brother.
Lord Corin's soul that was honed over decades like a blade radiated with sharpness with each swing, along with the souls of countless mercenaries who joined him…
The preparations were already perfect.
And if they added the soul of an elf to that…
Dawood had no way of knowing what would happen. He could only sense that the outcome would be even more complete, more perfect. Beyond that, it was an unknown, something beyond his comprehension. Unless one was a warlock like Fabio, grasping the mysterious forces that governed the world was exceptionally difficult.
"..."
If that was the case, he could only follow along.
"I've seen your skills."
Indeed, this elf possessed abilities superior to anyone in the subjugation. He would prove useful, even before offering up his soul. Perhaps Louis might even betray the orcs and completely wipe them out.
"So?"
"I have a proposal for you."
Despite the elf's insolent retort, Dawood answered calmly while maintaining his composure. According to Fabio, this elf had only joined the subjugation because he was desperate for money…
"I want to keep you by my side."
"..."
"If it's money, I'll make sure you're well compensated. Name your price."
Yet the elf only stared at Dawood in silence. The urgency was on his side; he had even promised a generous reward and invited him to name his own amount. And still, not even a word of thanks…
– Skreek…!!!!
It was then.
Dawood heard the sound of something leaping from behind the bushes. But he couldn't move. Combat had never been his strong suit. Even for what was expected to be an easy subjugation, he was heavily surrounded by guards. He was different from Louis. Very, very different.
Danger…!
The moment he looked back, Dawood realized it was already too late. A giant orc with green skin stood there; it was clearly an old orc with years of battle. The creature's yellow tusks—a trademark of older, stronger orcs—jutted out sharply; each one was thicker than a man's finger. Around its neck hung a necklace made of severed human ears, and there were too many to count. With blood bubbling at the corners of its mouth, the orc raised two axes high and charged toward Dawood. He needed to dodge. But where? How? With what chance? Damn it, why had Fabio sent him out here alone?
– Thwack!!!!
Before he could even assume the simplest, and most instinctive defensive posture of protecting his head with both arms, he heard something plunge into thick hide. No, it wasn't just a sound of impact. It was the sound of something piercing through.
– Fwish, fwish, fwish!!!!!
A fleeting silence passed, followed by the gushing sound of blood pouring from the orc's neck like a fountain. That's right. Hot blood was spilling from the orc's throat which was now impaled by two swords. Dawood stood there as he got drenched in the creature's blood. He just stared into the dimming eyes of the orc as its life ebbed away. And then…
– Crack…
– Slice!!!!
The swords that had pierced through the orc's neck sliced across and severed it clean. The snap of its spine and the thud of its head falling away sounded brutal.
– Thud!
– Roll…
The head bounced off and rolled into the mud a short distance away. As if unaware that it had been decapitated, the orc's body still clung to its two axes; it was only after a long moment that it let go and collapsed to the ground.
What in the world just happened…?
It had been only a fleeting moment. What exactly had happened? Dawood who was drenched in the orc's hot blood forced his frozen mind to work through the shock. So, the orc; it had jumped out to kill him, and then…
"Tsk."
That elf, looking like he could hardly be bothered, had killed it. And he had done it so very, very "easily".
As if the recent events had been nothing more than a lie, not a single drop of the orc's blood clung to the elf's sword. Under the moonlight, he gave the blade a quick glance before sheathing it at his back, then cast a sidelong look at Dawood. The latter involuntarily held his breath. The elf who snapped his neck and scratched his head said as if he really, really had no choice.
"You going to name your price or what?"
***
– Squeak. Squeak.
– Squeak. Squeak-squeak.
– Squeak?
Ah, honestly. These guys had some serious territorial issues. I darted along, trying to evade the endless nosy attention of the mice that insisted on acknowledging my presence and getting in my way. Forget about the cats; they weren't the problem. The problem was that all these mice seemed obsessed with the appearance of a new "mouse" like me. Their intrusions came in various forms, but the main one seemed to be…
– Squeak! Squeak!
Yep, that one.
As Louis had said, the castle was as overrun with mice as it was with cats. Naturally, being the [Cat Lord], I didn't have to worry about that, yet it only seemed to intensify the mice's concern. Apparently distressed by the fact that I didn't avoid the cats, the mice kept trying to show me the paths they used. Those narrow and dusty routes where no light reached.
Oh, come on, I said I'm fine!
I had been on my way to Dawood's room when, time after time, I found myself intercepted by mice. Unlike the cats, the mice lived in groups, and they seemed to consider me a "clueless mouse" and were constantly trying to lead me to safer spots. The more I ignored them and went about my business, the more they started interfering, until finally…
– Squeak!
The leader of the mice showed up. It was larger than the others, with a long tail and a torn ear; this leader mice wore a particularly stern expression (as stern as a mouse could manage, anyway) and it clamped down on the back of my neck while twitching its whiskers.
Oh, for the love of—!
– Squeak! Squeak-squeak! Squeak!
I struggled wildly, but I couldn't break free from the leader's teeth. Damn it, I should have transformed into something bigger! I had chosen a smaller mouse form to navigate these tight spaces; I never expected something like this would happen. Dangling from the leader's front teeth, I was dragged along by the others.
Sure, I could fix this whole problem by deactivating my [Beast Transformation] skill, but that would instantly cause another issue. Returning to my original form would crush these cramped tunnels and probably injure the mice who were trying to help me. No choice but to go along with it. Let's look on the bright side; maybe I would discover another passageway.
Surrounded by the mice, I was carried a good distance. Now and then, I heard the muffled voices of people left in the castle from beyond the walls, though I couldn't make out the words. I figured they were probably just chattering until suddenly…
"Si…nieeeeerd…"
Huh? Wait, why did I hear that so clearly?
Ah, it must be because I'm smaller…!
I focused as hard as I could, straining to catch snippets of the conversation happening beyond the wall.
"Laaaast tiiime…"
Last time.
"Innn the kiiiitchen…"
In the kitchen.
"Aaaanie..."
Annie.
"Vaaaaniiished…"
Vanished.
"Woooorrried…"
Worried.
The maids are worried that Annie, who was let go in the kitchen last time, has vanished.
I didn't hear anything more after that. The mice had passed by that wall and moved into another.
Tonight at midnight, I should meet with El to investigate this missing maid, Annie.
Even if it was purely by chance, I was fortunate to get a lead worth looking into. Whether I should be grateful for this or not…
People disappearing in a place where souls are sacrificed isn't something to ignore.
No matter how small the clue might be.
But anyway…
– Squeak! Squeak-squeak!
– Squeak! Squeak-squeak!
Just how far did these guys plan to drag me?
Who knew how many more dusty holes we had crawled through by then, but the place where they finally stopped was surprisingly spacious, warm, and cozy. In a little nest made of stolen cotton and cloth scraps that must have been stolen from the castle, a cluster of newborn baby mice were huddled together and sleeping. Apparently, they had assumed I was an immature, undersized mouse who hadn't fully grown yet. Damn, maybe I really should've made myself a bit bigger. Just as I was stewing over this, the lead mouse finally let go of me. Then it began squeaking at the other mice nearby; it was saying something I couldn't understand, though it seemed to be telling them to take good care of this clueless little mouse.
Where on earth am I?"
Could there really be such a warm and cozy place inside the castle? I looked around and noticed a faint light coming through a crack in the wall. Perfect; if I took a look from there, I'd be able to figure out where I was. I climbed up the bricks and made my way to the crack in the wall. Through the narrow vertical crack I peered…
Wait, that smell…
A sweet aroma of milk wafted through. Then came the scent of bread baking, butter melting, meat roasting, and the fragrant smell of fresh herbs…!
This is the kitchen!