Chapter 4
Shadow of the demonic illness
1
"Tae?"
"It is I, yes."
"The Archduke wanted to see you."
"I was not summoned by them. My services are now to you."
Greylancer was not deliberately sent to see the Archduke.
"If I ask you to go, will you come?"
"Yes."
"Those [dark thoughts]--you plan to show them off at the Grand Evening Party."
Greylancer's eyes narrowed. He saw something in Tae's mouth that he would have never imagined seeing.
It was a snowy day when Tae arrived from the Archduke's palace in the Southern Frontier.
Strong winds blew snowflakes against the transparent woman's cheeks, and it was thought to be the result of her expressionless face.
Even before a real wood-burning fireplace, her face and lips did not move except for blinking and talking. It had been the same until now.
And currently, there was a small smile.
Tae had noticed Greylancer's state of mind,
"I beg your pardon."
"May I ask why?"
As Greylancer said this, he had thought to click his tongue at her pitifulness. Had it been anyone else, he'd ask of them of the reason and get it over with.
Tae was silent for a moment, but could not avert herself from the Great Noble.
"--The Archduke doesn't know."
"Don't know what?"
"--He cannot hear the [dark thoughts]."
"What do you mean?"
Why did he ask such a question? Perhaps it was the reason why he was called Greylancer, for he had not the slightest interest in music played by human women.
"He cried when he heard my music."
This time, Greylancer's eyes shot wide open.
"The Archduke? You lie. Half of the Southern Frontier would be flooded."
"He said a bolt of lightning would descend on the whole Frontier. But the [dark thoughts] have nothing to do with tears."
"What does that mean?"
"Maybe it's alright if I say tears, then?"
"What exactly are the 'dark thoughts', Tae? I want to hear them, here and now."
"It's not the time for that yet. At least not until the time is right."
"I am a warrior, so I ask of this crudely. What happens to those who hear of it?"
Tae smiled softly. A chill ran through Greylancer's spine. But it wasn't a bad thing.
His colored lips moved slightly.
"I don't know."
"Are you trying to make a mockery of me?"
"No. Those who listen to the song disappear the same day. There are no exceptions."
Greylancer thought, and whether it was due to tremendous rage or sorrow, he quickly discarded it.
"I see. Then it is not the time to cry. Tae,"
"Yes?"
"Will that time ever come for me?"
"It is all the same if you are of life."
"Life? If you mean what you mean by life, then we are a people who should have nothing to do with it."
Ridiculous, Greylancer thought. Talking to this woman was becoming a manic strain.
"The life of night, the life of darkness is still life."
"So if I listen to his song, I too will disappear? Interesting."
Greylancer's gaze sees Tae's eyes averted from his.
That moment, the voice in the air from Yunus spoke, stating everything was ready.
"I have business to attend to. You should go and see the Archduke."
"I understand."
When Tae left, Yunus and staff officer Garamond entered in place.
"There seems to have been a little troubling incident with the Privy Council in the Capital."
Said Garamond, whose body was a head taller than Greylancer. His body also twice as thick. He was a warrior said to be so unpredictable for even Greylancer if they were to fight unarmed, and he had a sword with a blade 3 meters long.
"What's that?"
"Hm. I had just received word from one of the secret envoys you sent out that the Duke of Dylaum will be running for the presidency of the Privy Council at the Grand Evening Party."
"Ho?"
A fearless smile grazed Greylancer's lips, and his aide Yunus lips turned as he stared at a point in the sky with white fangs peeking out.
"Ho. So it wasn't the OSB who gave the Archduke a dose, but the shorty one."
"Shorty" was an abbreviation for shortbeard. Only the Archduke was unaware that he lost so much popularity due to his modest beard, which he thought was a good match for him.
Normally it would have been Yunus or even Garamond who would have spurt out, but not tonight.
"With all due respect, he is the kind of man who you shouldn't judge a book by its cover."
Said Garamond.
"He is right, my Lord."
Yunus agreed.
"He is a schemer who would ally with yesterday's enemy that killed his wife and children if necessary. The kind of man who desires to rule the entire universe. That's what's established."
"Who's their rival?"
Seeing Yunus face with their own, Garamond had a disgusted look.
"It's Archduke Bartholemew."
"That's not good."
Greylancer bitterly smiled.
"As I recall, Lord Shorty's goal was to repeal the autonomy of the Frontier Administration Bureau and have it concentrated in the Capital."
Both Nobles shuttered at the implications of that jest.
"Dylaum's Faction does not believe this to be an empty theory. They believe if we can reduce the entire human population by half in the Frontiers and move them to a Reservation Camp, it would then be possible to manage them from the center. They even state that there can be one Reservation Camp for each Frontier Sector in the future, their intent must be to further reduce the humans and aggregate them to one."
Having listened to Garamond's counseling, Greylancer muses,
"Halving the humans?"
He said.
"That is correct."
"Then is the best opportunity for them."
"..."
"If human blood were laced with poison that could destroy our bodies, there would be no mercy on every human in every Frontier. Doing away with half wouldn't cut it."
"My Lord, that's--"
"That's outrageous? What has Baird from the Intelligence Bureau said about this, Yunus?"
"Nothing."
"Hmm. You are a very cautious one."
"But to cut the humans down in half means cutting in half the volume of food served. How do you plan on compensating for that, shorty?"
The Great Noble turns to his staff,
"Garamond, I want you to collaborate with Baird in the Intelligence Bureau and keep an eye on shorty."
"Understood."
"This situation is of the same vector for the Capital and Frontiers. What awaits them is both humanity's destruction and shorty's glory. The King and Queen have almost brought down the Archduke's palace without his knowledge. The palace has fallen unnoticed, backed up by a wise bishop. Hmm. Everything here would make sense if their bishop is not a human."
Both Yunus and Garamond stared at their master in silence.
The master smiles. No other smile from this man have made another do the same.
"But though the palace has fallen, the King and Queen have not taken it. Not to forget that even the soldiers haven't been killed."
"Something's wrong."
Responded the younger brother, holding onto an empty bucket as he instantly responded to his sister's mumbling while she was pumping water from the automatic pump.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know. But something's not right."
"Oh come on, sister. I know all of sister's predictions come true."
The 12-year-old younger brother shook his body exaggeratedly and stared with criticism at his sister, who is four years older than him.
"I've been having strange dreams recently."
Said his sister, who seemingly looked as if she was dreaming of something.
"Huh?"
"--It's nothing. Moreover, we should hurry and get it done. The bucket's almost full."
"I got it. But what's so strange about the dream?"
"I don't know."
"Huh?"
The boy almost fell as he picked up the bucket and stared at his sister earnestly.
"You know it."
"--I don't know it."
"You know it."
Then the sister raises a hand towards east--the center of their village. The light of dawn beautifully illuminated the blue mountains adorned with white snow.
"It's dad. Seems the meeting is finished."
"It's 7 AM. What could he have a meeting for 3 three hours?"
While the siblings observed, their father, who was delicate for a farmer, skillfully maneuvered his cyborg horse in between plots, then dismounted and quickly headed into the main house.
Less than a minute after, their mother appears from the back door,
"Make haste into the house, Jennifer, Ralph. Your father wants a talk with you."
Five minutes after,
"We're moving?"
Said Jennifer with a roll of her eyes.
"We have to go right now?"
Said the younger brother Ralph, his mouth agape.
"Yes. Let Bluestar know too. We're going to be moving to the Central Zone."
"But why so sudden?"
"There seems to be a deadly infectious disease that broke out in the village of Dazu. The village chief was informed of this in the evening."
"Oh dear...we should check into it."
Said the mother Velda, with a raise of her eyebrows.
"We don't have time for that."
The father, Dieter, dryly states. His eyes full of dread.
2
"The disease doesn't affect us humans, seemingly only targeting the Nobility."
He said to the stunned family.
"It's why the Nobility are starting to kill off humans. I don't feel safe going to the Central Zone, but it's probably safer there than here."
"But it'll quickly fill up if we go to the Central Zone."
Said the mother Verda in a hollow voice, her face covered in both her hands.
"We have to move? Again? This is the 6th time already. Every time we moved to a new place, I had to work twice as hard as before. And just when I thought our life would get easier, it seems the god of plagues always awaits me. Something's going to happen, I...no more. I can't take it anymore. My energy and roots have exhausted."
"Mother, stay strong."
Jennifer encouraged her, but Verda's expression did not shift.
--Mother...she looks dead inside.
"Go and see Bluestar. We'll be leaving as soon as we're ready."
"I'll go check."
Ralph got up and ran out of the room.
"Well, well. Seems he took a liking to him."
Jennifer shrugs her shoulders.
It was three days ago when a young man came to rent a place for the night but was refused. Instead, he shot and killed a giant stink bug that had attacked the farm, where he was allowed to sleep in the barn. Despite promising to leave the next day, he was found lying on the verge of death the next morning, and as a result of the family's efforts to treat him, his fever finally went away and he recovered miraculously yesterday.
All were amazed at his incredible resilience despite his right lung and abdomen being crushed yet he was still unable to get up and was sleeping at the barn. Just as they were getting ready to move out, he came back with a jacket over his bandaged-covered body.
Everyone was unable to hide their amazement at their movement and expression full of life, giving the idea that he was nearly completely recovered.
"Seems like you're immortal."
The father spoke of everyone's thoughts.
"I thank you for helping me."
The young man charmed the family with his fearless face and friendly smile.
"Looks like you'll be able to make it somehow. I heard about it from Ralph, so allow me to return the favor."
"I appreciate your help."
The father nodded and the two shook hands.
Half a day after loading their belongings into their wagon, two android soldiers arrived on a battle bike and sidecar appeared. One got off the bike and said,
"Where are you headed?"
The machine's voice echoed with such cringe as to make the hairs on their body stand up.
"No, I'm just seeing a relative in the south."
Dieter responded casually.
"The Village Chief did not send out any notices to leave."
"I was planning to start one right now."
"Don't you lie to us."
Said the one at the sidecar. Their right hand rested on the long sword strapped to their waist. They had laser cannons in their fingers, but the Nobility had incorporated the tastes of the past into their control system.
"Tell us the reason for leaving."
"We were asked to help a hand out to some relatives needing to build a shelter for the winter cold."
The one who got off the bike raised their hand at the family.
"--What are you doing?"
"An order has just been received from the local magistrate. The humans are to taken to an abandoned castle in Sarel Village. Move quickly. If they refuse and try to escape, kill them. That is the order."
"This is unacceptable."
The father raised a fist. A crimson light pierces his chest.
A heat ray of 600,000 degrees was shot from the android's index finger and not only pierces the man's body but also the wagon's engine as well as setting ablaze the trunk of an oak tree before finally seizing.
"Father!?"
Jennifer ran to her father, who died instantly and had his back carbonized while Ralph, aware of his death, ran to the iron black murderers. His weapon was his fist.
The finger of death extends.
That moment, the two androids heads flew off into the distance with a beautiful tone.
The boy saw a young man stand between him and the androids, trying to pull back the weapon he had swung to the side. They were blades that protruded from the top and bottom of the grip, each a meter long and the blades slightly curved. The man staggered.
"Bluestar!"
The man gently pats the boy's hand from atop as he goes to support him.
"I'm alright. Just a little winded."
He taps himself on the chest lightly.
Ralph watched in amazement as the spear in his right hand shrunk down from top and bottom, turning into a cylinder of about 30 centimeters long.
Bluestar slips it into his belt, and turns around.
"Your father?"
He asked.
Both mother and daughter shook their heads simultaneously. The mother's gaze was downcast, while the daughter did not stray from his face.
"Let's postpone this for a bit."
Verda proposed to Bluestar.
"Very well."
The mother stands up from besides the body.
Bluestar turns towards the road.
The sound of an incoming railway. Even a child with excellent skills can tell.
Stopping in front of the jeep and sidecar was a young man that held the reins of their cyborg horse, who quickly dismounts and came over.
"I'm Ken Kurama, a Human. Were you the ones to take out these androids?"
Bluestar came before him.
"I did."
It was an unfriendly voice, as though he was a different person.
"You a big deal, it looks like. Those necks were made out of duramite steel, yet you cut them cleaned off. Not even a skilled fighter would have been able to pull that off. You aren't from around here, are you?"
"That horse has a Nobility emblem around its neck. You're from Greylancer?"
"Aye. I was newly hired three days ago. Don't look so scary there. I'm just a normie. I have no intention of doing anything to you. You're totally different from the wanted pictures I saw at the governmental office. I see you're lucky to have eyes for the kids."
"We were just about to leave shortly."
Said Bluestar.
"These children's father was just killed by those androids. They don't even want to speak with you."
"I understand. I'll be leaving right away. I merely wished to meet the man who cut off those androids heads so cleanly."
He stops laughing,
"However, no matter how talented you are, you'll always be bound to make at least one mistake every tens of thousands of times--like this!"
Kurama suddenly vanishes.
Before anyone was aware, the air shook and the sound of a dull impact resounded.
Kurama was caressing his right fist before a headless android soldier.
"Their electronic brain is in their head, but seems as though they had a support brain attached to their waist. Don't know about you, but this kind of ignorance can be fatal."
The manly face grinning at him gave a fearless smile on top of that,
"Thanks. I appreciate it."
"Alright, I better go. I'm running late."
"Where were you headed?"
"The Central Zone. I was planning on going with the general, but thanks to either my impatience or stupidity, I got lost and have been riding on my horse all night."
"What of the autodyne?"
"I ain't good with those kind of stuff. Nothing heavier than air can fly. Anyways, I'll be seeing ya when we meet again."
Once he mounted the cyborg horse, he began to run while encircling the horse's neck.
After making sure the footsteps have receded from the road, Bluestar returns to the family. One person was missing.
"Where's your mother?"
Jennifer looks up with her tear-stained face.
"I don't know--where is she?"
A dark premonition arose in all of the three's minds.
"I'll go look for her."
Bluestar heads to the main home.
Eventually, the mother was found in the barn.
Her body was hung from a rope tied to the ceiling beam, which jumped down from the second floor and had already stopped just 50 centimeters from the ground.
At the Central Zone's border, Greylancer dismounts from his autodyne.
His attendants were the "swordsman" Shizam and "gunsman" Gallagher. The incident between Kurama and the farm family will occur half a day later.
After he came down,
"What happened to Kurama?"
The employer looks at the autodyne with a displeased expression.
"Seems they couldn't keep up."
Shizam vaguely said. Saying something like, "even if I were to die, I wouldn't be given a ride."
"His punishment will come later--let's make haste."
At Yunus' urging, the group made headed for the guard post at the "Gate".
As for why they were able to pass through the guard post and enter the Central Zone, which possessed no special barrier, was because this land was under the direct control of the Sacred Ancestor.
Greeting them at the airport hall was Director Pados himself.
Greylancer rode in the same carriage as him while the others rode in another behind, and they started moving.
"Have any of those pests escaped?"
In response to Greylancer's question, Pados spoke--
"We have not received any reports from the magistrate's offices as of date. It was declared that anyone is to be sentenced to death if they attempt to leave their current residence, regardless of their reason is what I believe is the reason."
"A death penalty? Hmm, seems such a threat is necessary. Who made the decree?"
"Counsel Atoganother of the Eucria District."
The moonlight illuminated something huge in front of them.
The stone wall was 100 meters high and 30 meters thick, and was said to have living quarters and a weapons manufacturing factory at the top. The numerous spotlights were from torches. This was a protective wall that encapsulated the Central Zone with a diameter of 50 kilometers.
The gate was of the same size but made of wood, perhaps as a form of nostalgic hobby from the Nobility. It was 50 meters wide, but its size could also be said to be of nostalgic reasons. Perhaps the Nobility wanted to show off their spirit by making it bigger than necessary through their scientific prowess and gigantic buildings.
As they got to the gate,
"Before anything else, take your time at the observation post."
Said Pados.
"No. You guys can get off. Me and my direct subordinates will stay here."
He replied.
"I-I don't mind that, but there's been recent changes of the monster's situation inside. Even the number of extremely dangerous things is increasing. Furthermore, we've received reports from people who entered from the Frontiers are forming a strange group. By all means, please listen to my explanation before entering. We have chosen the most skilled subordinates among our own."
"Are they bodyguards?"
Seeing Greylancer's face twist into a sneer, Pados almost fainted thinking he made a grave mistake.
"They're useless."
"But..."
"There are strong men behind us, so there is no need to be considerate."
He said so with partial sarcasm.
Once they got to the gate, Greylancer ordered them to stop and gets off from the carriage.
3
Looking up, he can see a large gate dominating the sky. A dot of light flickering in the sky was perhaps an autodyne for security purposes given its movement.
"Archduke Bartholemew entered from the south gate, and was poisoned when he left. According to our intelligence agency's findings, the culprit's name is Charlotte Cody."
"Why did you not bring this up with us til now? Had we known, we would have driven her out and tortured her."
"Well, I haven't been to the Central Zone in a while. Moreover, I wanted my subordinates to get a warm up."
"No way...that's all it took to get you inside the Central Zone?"
"Why are you so frightened of these kids? Humans are to get along in peace."
"They are under the protection of the Honorable Sacred Ancestor."
"Then I am with you."
"No, but..."
At this point, the guard post director could no longer comprehend Greylancer's thoughts.
Behind them, Pados soldiers and the Great Noble's Escort looked up at the gate in wonder.
One of them strolled up to Pados,
"Here's hoping one of those pests enter the 'gate'."
"For what reason?"
"There was a one-sided massacre at the magistrate's office by the thieves."
"How many?"
"About 500 people. They were farmers from the villages of Musmerja and Tougec."
"Wouldn't the people at the magistrate's office have noticed them right away?"
"The thing is, they have the Sacred Ancestor's approval to traverse the Central Zone on a village-by-village basis."
"No way. I thought it was a mere rumor, but is that true?"
"Yes."
Pados stared at Greylancer in shock.
"Aside from the Honorable Sacred Ancestor's protection, which is given to those who desire to live in the Central Zone, such a thing is given even to the pests outside."
"I've heard of such rumors."
Greylancer remained unfazed. If any, he looked to thrilled, seeming as though things were going in his favor.
"How can we be of help?"
Asked the officer who came to inform him.
"Open the gate. There isn't much that can be done if they're given the Sacred Ancestor's protection."
"Very well. I'll be going too."
Greylancer spoke without hiding his evil sneer.
Then, with the communication device in his ear,
"Call the magistrate's office."
He spoke without hesitation.
"I am Greylancer. All killings of these pests must cease immediately."
A directional microphone built into the communicator in his ear analyzed his voice and, after some communication, the voice on the other side came through.
"I am Director Bitan of the Third Magistrate Office. Sixteen of our soldiers have died from these pests due to taking in their poisoned blood. If we leave these pests alone, the damage's will only increase in places where we can't reach them in time. Besides, there is no point in keeping them alive if they cannot serve to satisfy our fill."
"I am giving these instructions with that in mind."
As Greylancer spoke, a cold feeling came over him.
"I won't say this a third time. Seize the killings. Order all the pests to stay in their current living quarters."
"Understood."
"There's more. Each of the magistrate office's are to examine the blood of all villages under their control, isolate those with abnormalities and return those who do not have any to daily life. Do this immediately."
"Understood."
Regardless of what the other person on the side of the conversation thought, their voice came back with 100% obedience. No matter what he thought, they would faithfully carry out their order at the risk of their life.
"Let them pass."
Graylancer jerks his chin at the darkness behind him.
"Let them pass."
Pados commands with a superior's voice. He commanded the same communicator.
Voices calling for passage were heard in the distance. Soon, the sounds of countless steps, the creaking of carriage wheels, and the weighing of cows and horses approached. An overwhelming pressure came from beyond the darkness.
The people walking in the moon were all blurred and looked more like vague ghosts.
One of the people up front held a golden letterbox high above his head, with the emblem of the Sacred Ancestor engraved on its surface.
People silently passed by Greylancer, trying to reach the gate.
"Open the gate."
Pados raised his right hand.
Around the gate, which looked more like a building, there was the sound of people murmuring and several explosions.
The night roared. It was the gate creaking. The hundred-meter gate became two hundred meters, and whatever the size of the gears were, however thick the chains, the sound of coiling and interlocking between echoed through the night.
The white people didn't cease, silently advancing through the main gate until they were no longer visible.
"Let's go."
Hearing that voice, Pados realized that Greylancer was missing and at the drivers stand of the carriage, the Great Noble had given the cyborg horse a whip.
"When me and my men enter, close the gate."
Greylancer's shout could be heard from inside the gate.
Another horse-drawn carriage followed after from behind, and both disappeared into the depths of the night.
"Close the door."
Pados commanded. He dared not to open it again. He didn't want even picture what the demons from outside would look when added with the demons inside, but the image appeared in his mind and he froze under the moonlight.
He kept sprinting forward, looking on the side of the procession of "pests" and was on the verge of overtaking them,
"Hold on for a moment."
He called out. As he was about to go, the emblem of the Sacred Ancestor glittered in his eyes without a thought.
Putting a sudden stop to the carriage, Greylancer stares widely at the white-haired man at the forefront of the group of pests.
"You are the head who leads these pests wearing the honorable power of the Honorable Sacred Ancestor like it's a hat? Don't think it will last forever."
The old man was frightened by the deep, earth-tremoring voice that did not conceal his anger.
"No, no, no. This is a misunderstanding. I merely wish to give thanks to the Honorable Sacred Ancestor. Before I got here, villages were being killed off by the magistrate's all over the place. It's only thanks to this amulet's aid that we were saved."
"The massacre in the villages have already exploded. All those in the magistrate are to be rounded up and executed."
Cheers roared from behind the old man.
"Thank you very much. But, the other Frontiers..."
"I understand. That will be discussed later."
Right after saying that, he realized something,
"Are the other Frontiers in possession of the amulet?"
"I don't know..."
"Answer me. If you possess it, then could be inside the chest of the Honorable Sacred Ancestor that was given to you?"
"T-that's--"
"Answer me..."
Greylancer looked in the old man's eyes.
Sweat began to pour down the old man's face. The amulet was coming down, but he raises it.
"The Honorable Sacred Ancestor wants us, Humans, to live on--"
Greylancer nods.
"Good answer."
"To the Honorable Sacred Ancestor, and you, your Lordship--I thank you."
Perhaps it was what the old man said that stopped the Great Noble.
From the bowed people, Greylancer and his entourage separated and drove off.
A vast plain began to spread under the moonlight.
Here and there, lights were shining from what appeared to be the homes of Central Zone's residents. Apart from individual homes, a community was also likely formed.
"Don't get careless. The enemy has already detected us."
Greylancer's voice reached the ear of his men in the back.
An hour since the sprint.
They traversed from the center of the plain from north to south.
--Still no response? What are you doing?
Greylancer grumbled to himself.
---What sort of monster attacks only the Nobility without paying mind to these pests? Only the Honorable Sacred Ancestor would create such a thing, but kind of person can think up such a thing?
That was a question that both Nobility and Humans thought when thinking of the Central Zone.
A scream rang out from behind. It was the voice of the pests.
Greylancer stood on the coachman's stand and looks behind him.
The Escort was now changing directions. The driver was one of Pados subordinates.
About a hundred meters away, a black cloud-like object loomed over their figures.
"Halt!"
Greylancer ordered the carriages Escort.
The "Swordsman" Shizam stood up from his canopyless seat.
"Hang on, isn't that--"
It was a human.
"They say that Lord Greylancer has abandoned his people."
"Are you unaware of what the Honorable Sacred Ancestor did when they created the Central Zone? Behold."
Shizam already knew.
The clouds had left the humans alone and were headed their way.
"That's a 'Watchman' that checks whether one is human or not. It also checks for us."
"What if you are a Noble?"
"In that case, let us make haste!"
Without looking back, Greylancer increases his horse's speed. The Escort also rushed to follow after.
However, before they could take even another breath, the moon and stars above disappeared.
"They're here."
While Shizam smiled fearlessly, Gallagher raised the hammer of his rifle.
Something fell on the carriage.
It was a being with four limbs that dropped on Greylancer's carriage and quickly stood up. However, their face, arms, and legs were of a gaseous vortex--They were made up of clouds.
There were also two others of the Escort in the backseat--Gallagher and the coachman.
"Those are the monstrous cloud's limbs. Get rid of them."
With their approval, the sword on Shizam's back flashes. It cut its torso in half and vanished, only to transform into a gaseous state and flows toward the coachman, enveloping their entire body.
He fell forward with a strange cry.
A wooden wedge had pierced its body from behind.
"What a mere extra."
Greylancer drew his long lance. The clone, which had been pierced through the heart without pause when it appeared, dissipated into the air.
The surviving Escort also suffered the same fate as Greylancer's enemies, having been hit by Shizam's attack while trying to head towards Gallagher.
Suddenly, moonlight filled the air.
Greylancer did not avert towards the huge shape rising up, but kept his lance at the side.
Shizam was in the rear as the coachman.
"It ran off."
The Great Noble replied, hearing its cry,
"I see that it's a tough one. It'll be back. Gallagher, take the reins."
"What's the meaning of this?"
Shizam's face had turned black even in the night. It was rage. Escorts were very proud of themselves. Even if it were to clean after a mess, they would not have easily accepted the idea of their roles being taken from them. Even their superiors, who gave them the order would be caught in the crossfire.
"Their attack will resume soon. If this keeps up, it'll take us an hour to get to Charlotte's house. We'll take a shortcut."
"I can handle it myself."
"That is an order. Switch!"
In this case, he had no choice but to switch with Greylancer. Reluctantly, Shizam steps out of the coachman's seat.
Eventually, the edge of the plain, the edge of a cliff came into view. The path diverges from the left, and from there, it steadily descends to the bottom of the cliff.
The horses to go straight forward.
The cliff looms closer.
Shizam's eyes faded.
He remained silent as Greylancer's carriage disappeared, and his own is swallowed in a great abyss.
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