“Schville!”
“L, Lady. You have to hurry up and go…”
Glene seemed anxious and kept looking around and pulling me away.
‘I don’t have time to worry about Schville.’
Even now, in this situation, Georg would be preparing a ritual to open the passage by using me as a sacrifice, and I had to stop all of this before that and put everything back in place.
Nevertheless, my eyes keep falling on Schville, who is coughing up blood.
Is it because I feel guilty for leaving that child alone in that mansion when I was young?
I stretched out my hand toward Schville.
‘I don’t know if I can treat you.’
Still, I wanted to treat this child to the point where he stopped vomiting blood.
But I was a little puzzled.
Schville’s ability is to steal the life force of others, so why does it seem like there is no life force left in this kid’s body?
She said she killed Gale and the other siblings, so if their life force was taken away, there should have been some life force left in Schville’s body.
But there was nothing on Schville’s body. As if only an empty shell remained.
When I carefully placed my fingertips on Schville’s body and used my ability, a light green light flickered from my fingertips.
However, the light could not spread throughout Schville’s body and quickly faded from my fingertips.
“….”
There was silence for a moment.
Schville shook her head.
“No matter how much you try, it’s no use, sister. Because we have conditions.”
“Similar conditions?”
“Georg said that. Sister and I are very similar.”
Schville said, looking back down the dark hallway. A loud voice was heard from far away in the hallway.
“…Lady!”
Glene urgently pulled me in. I took a few steps away from Schville while Glene held my hand.
“Georg told me to keep an eye on Sister, but…I have no intention of stopping Sister. If that were the case, I would have stopped you a long time ago.”
Schville pointed to Glene.
“Before she opened the door to Sister’s cage. But I don’t plan on doing that.”
Schville coughed. At first glance, Schville’s physical condition was not very good.
“So just go. I don’t know where you’re going, but… just go, Sister.”
Schville turned around and stared down the dark hallway.
Soon after, knights wearing Raniero’s armor walked out from the end of the hallway.
It seemed like they were on patrol.
The knights pointed their fingers at us when they saw us standing in the hallway.
“T, there!”
“How on earth did she come out? I’m sure she was locked up!”
The knights ran towards us. Glene hurriedly pulled my hand.
“Miss, let’s go!”
I held Glene’s hand and ran to the other side of the hallway.
Schville stood tall in her place in the hallway, but the knights didn’t look at her.
As if she wasn’t there.
Glene and I ran away in a panic. The hallway felt unusually long. I ran, ran, ran, but there was no end in sight.
“Catch her! You can’t miss it!”
I could hear the knights chasing me from behind. If things continued like this, it was clear that they would be caught soon.
Glene also seemed surprised and held my hand tightly. I held Glene’s hand tighter and ran recklessly.
But then.
“….!”
“It’s here!”
Raniero’s knights appeared from across the hallway.
We hesitated and stepped back.
‘No.’
Raniero’s knights were chasing from behind, and they were blocking the front as well. It was clear that if things continued like this, there would be no way out of Raniero.
“Just give up. We have no intention of hurting you.”
They have slowly narrowed the distance.
We hesitated and stepped back again. There was no longer a place to run. If I was caught like this, I would be locked in the cage again and await the ritual time.
‘I can’t do that!’
I had to go to the World Tree.
I don’t have time to stay here like this. I felt anxious.
The knights approached in stride. They seemed to have no intention of really hurting me, putting down their swords and using only their hands to catch me.
It was then.
Boom—!
An incredibly loud sound echoed from the first floor of the mansion. Raniero’s knights turned their heads as if surprised.
Glene and I also opened our eyes wide when we heard a loud noise coming from the first floor.
‘What does this sound even mean?’
Is this the sound of starting a ritual? That can’t be possible. The ceremony takes place in a place with the best moonlight. There was no way the ritual would start at the Raniero Mansion.
Next, the screams of the knights and servants were heard.
“Aaaarggh—!!”
“S, save me!”
The knights who came to catch me also seemed shocked by the screams of the other knights.
“L, let’s catch her and go down.”
The knights were very embarrassed and grabbed my arm and Glenne’s arm.
My arm was suddenly grabbed, so I squinted and fought with my body.
“L, let go of this! Let me go!”
“Please stay still. Come down now and check the situation…”
However, the knight couldn’t finish his sentence.
Out of nowhere, a familiar black figure flew over and grabbed the knight by the neck.
“….!”
The knights quickly retreated. They drew their swords and aimed them at the black figure that attacked the knight who had grabbed my hand.
“T, that’s!”
I smiled brightly when I saw a black figure emerging from the darkness.
“Wolf!”
It was Arsene’s shadow wolf.
Soon, the howling sounds of wolves were heard outside the window. It seemed Arsene had arrived.
I could feel Glene also sighing in relief.
The shadow wolf growled at the knights.
But it wasn’t just one.
One, two, three.
The shadow wolves continued to increase. They all bared their teeth as they glared at the knights who threatened me.
‘It’s not just one, is it?’
Last time I saw it there was definitely a shadow wolf.
Has Arsene grown further?
At that time, the shadow wolves turned their heads and all looked at the same place.
I also turned my head and looked at where they were looking.
A huge silver wolf appeared from the darkness.
It was growling, with its sharp fangs like a well-forged sword fully exposed.
The moment my eyes met the wolf’s blue eyes, I had to do my best not to relax and collapse.
“Arsene.”
When I called Arsene’s name, Arsene instantly rushed towards the knights and overpowered them all.
When Raniero’s knights saw the huge silver wolf, they fled in panic.
Raniero was a bird and Arsene was a wolf, so it was natural for them to run away.
Shadow wolves pounced on the fleeing knights and caught them.
Arsene looked back at me, with Raniero’s knights crushed like pumpkin pies beneath his giant feet.
Then it stuck its huge head towards me and licked me.
“Arsene, Arsene… I really missed you.”
I hugged Arsene’s head with all my strength. My fingertips touched Arsene’s fur. I felt two blue eyes staring at me as if they would never miss me again.
At that time, a commotion was heard nearby. Arsene perked up his ears.
I held Arsene’s head and looked towards the source of the sound.
And at that place is,
“…Is Leona here too?”
The lion clan was wandering through Raniero’s mansion, picking out those wearing black robes.
Besides that, I thought I saw the tail of a snake clan at first glance.
Arsene blinked once as if to say yes. Long eyelashes fluttered softly.
“Arsene, I knew you would come.”
I thought that way the whole time I was locked in the cage.
Just like that time when I was trapped in the dark and collapsed, I thought that Arsene might find me and save me once again.
However, Georg was meticulous, and Raniero was more secretive and solid than I thought, so it was a thought I had put aside.
When I thought that Arsene had really come to save me, I felt overwhelmed with emotions.
I held Arsene’s cheeks in my hands and spoke while pressing my forehead against Arsene’s.
“Let’s get out there, Arsene. Let’s get me out of here. I have somewhere to go.”
Arsene blinked slowly again and bit me.
“Ugh—!”
Then, after placing me on his back, he looked back as if giving a command to the shadow wolves.
The shadow wolves dispersed, and only one of them remained, biting down on the back of Glene’s neck.
However, Glene shook her head with a pale complexion as if she wouldn’t go with us.
“Schville!”
“L, Lady. You have to hurry up and go…”
Glene seemed anxious and kept looking around and pulling me away.
‘I don’t have time to worry about Schville.’
Even now, in this situation, Georg would be preparing a ritual to open the passage by using me as a sacrifice, and I had to stop all of this before that and put everything back in place.
Nevertheless, my eyes keep falling on Schville, who is coughing up blood.
Is it because I feel guilty for leaving that child alone in that mansion when I was young?
I stretched out my hand toward Schville.
‘I don’t know if I can treat you.’
Still, I wanted to treat this child to the point where he stopped vomiting blood.
But I was a little puzzled.
Schville’s ability is to steal the life force of others, so why does it seem like there is no life force left in this kid’s body?
She said she killed Gale and the other siblings, so if their life force was taken away, there should have been some life force left in Schville’s body.
But there was nothing on Schville’s body. As if only an empty shell remained.
When I carefully placed my fingertips on Schville’s body and used my ability, a light green light flickered from my fingertips.
However, the light could not spread throughout Schville’s body and quickly faded from my fingertips.
“….”
There was silence for a moment.
Schville shook her head.
“No matter how much you try, it’s no use, sister. Because we have conditions.”
“Similar conditions?”
“Georg said that. Sister and I are very similar.”
Schville said, looking back down the dark hallway. A loud voice was heard from far away in the hallway.
“…Lady!”
Glene urgently pulled me in. I took a few steps away from Schville while Glene held my hand.
“Georg told me to keep an eye on Sister, but…I have no intention of stopping Sister. If that were the case, I would have stopped you a long time ago.”
Schville pointed to Glene.
“Before she opened the door to Sister’s cage. But I don’t plan on doing that.”
Schville coughed. At first glance, Schville’s physical condition was not very good.
“So just go. I don’t know where you’re going, but… just go, Sister.”
Schville turned around and stared down the dark hallway.
Soon after, knights wearing Raniero’s armor walked out from the end of the hallway.
It seemed like they were on patrol.
The knights pointed their fingers at us when they saw us standing in the hallway.
“T, there!”
“How on earth did she come out? I’m sure she was locked up!”
The knights ran towards us. Glene hurriedly pulled my hand.
“Miss, let’s go!”
I held Glene’s hand and ran to the other side of the hallway.
Schville stood tall in her place in the hallway, but the knights didn’t look at her.
As if she wasn’t there.
Glene and I ran away in a panic. The hallway felt unusually long. I ran, ran, ran, but there was no end in sight.
“Catch her! You can’t miss it!”
I could hear the knights chasing me from behind. If things continued like this, it was clear that they would be caught soon.
Glene also seemed surprised and held my hand tightly. I held Glene’s hand tighter and ran recklessly.
But then.
“….!”
“It’s here!”
Raniero’s knights appeared from across the hallway.
We hesitated and stepped back.
‘No.’
Raniero’s knights were chasing from behind, and they were blocking the front as well. It was clear that if things continued like this, there would be no way out of Raniero.
“Just give up. We have no intention of hurting you.”
They have slowly narrowed the distance.
We hesitated and stepped back again. There was no longer a place to run. If I was caught like this, I would be locked in the cage again and await the ritual time.
‘I can’t do that!’
I had to go to the World Tree.
I don’t have time to stay here like this. I felt anxious.
The knights approached in stride. They seemed to have no intention of really hurting me, putting down their swords and using only their hands to catch me.
It was then.
Boom—!
An incredibly loud sound echoed from the first floor of the mansion. Raniero’s knights turned their heads as if surprised.
Glene and I also opened our eyes wide when we heard a loud noise coming from the first floor.
‘What does this sound even mean?’
Is this the sound of starting a ritual? That can’t be possible. The ceremony takes place in a place with the best moonlight. There was no way the ritual would start at the Raniero Mansion.
Next, the screams of the knights and servants were heard.
“Aaaarggh—!!”
“S, save me!”
The knights who came to catch me also seemed shocked by the screams of the other knights.
“L, let’s catch her and go down.”
The knights were very embarrassed and grabbed my arm and Glenne’s arm.
My arm was suddenly grabbed, so I squinted and fought with my body.
“L, let go of this! Let me go!”
“Please stay still. Come down now and check the situation…”
However, the knight couldn’t finish his sentence.
Out of nowhere, a familiar black figure flew over and grabbed the knight by the neck.
“….!”
The knights quickly retreated. They drew their swords and aimed them at the black figure that attacked the knight who had grabbed my hand.
“T, that’s!”
I smiled brightly when I saw a black figure emerging from the darkness.
“Wolf!”
It was Arsene’s shadow wolf.
Soon, the howling sounds of wolves were heard outside the window. It seemed Arsene had arrived.
I could feel Glene also sighing in relief.
The shadow wolf growled at the knights.
But it wasn’t just one.
One, two, three.
The shadow wolves continued to increase. They all bared their teeth as they glared at the knights who threatened me.
‘It’s not just one, is it?’
Last time I saw it there was definitely a shadow wolf.
Has Arsene grown further?
At that time, the shadow wolves turned their heads and all looked at the same place.
I also turned my head and looked at where they were looking.
A huge silver wolf appeared from the darkness.
It was growling, with its sharp fangs like a well-forged sword fully exposed.
The moment my eyes met the wolf’s blue eyes, I had to do my best not to relax and collapse.
“Arsene.”
When I called Arsene’s name, Arsene instantly rushed towards the knights and overpowered them all.
When Raniero’s knights saw the huge silver wolf, they fled in panic.
Raniero was a bird and Arsene was a wolf, so it was natural for them to run away.
Shadow wolves pounced on the fleeing knights and caught them.
Arsene looked back at me, with Raniero’s knights crushed like pumpkin pies beneath his giant feet.
Then it stuck its huge head towards me and licked me.
“Arsene, Arsene… I really missed you.”
I hugged Arsene’s head with all my strength. My fingertips touched Arsene’s fur. I felt two blue eyes staring at me as if they would never miss me again.
At that time, a commotion was heard nearby. Arsene perked up his ears.
I held Arsene’s head and looked towards the source of the sound.
And at that place is,
“…Is Leona here too?”
The lion clan was wandering through Raniero’s mansion, picking out those wearing black robes.
Besides that, I thought I saw the tail of a snake clan at first glance.
Arsene blinked once as if to say yes. Long eyelashes fluttered softly.
“Arsene, I knew you would come.”
I thought that way the whole time I was locked in the cage.
Just like that time when I was trapped in the dark and collapsed, I thought that Arsene might find me and save me once again.
However, Georg was meticulous, and Raniero was more secretive and solid than I thought, so it was a thought I had put aside.
When I thought that Arsene had really come to save me, I felt overwhelmed with emotions.
I held Arsene’s cheeks in my hands and spoke while pressing my forehead against Arsene’s.
“Let’s get out there, Arsene. Let’s get me out of here. I have somewhere to go.”
Arsene blinked slowly again and bit me.
“Ugh—!”
Then, after placing me on his back, he looked back as if giving a command to the shadow wolves.
The shadow wolves dispersed, and only one of them remained, biting down on the back of Glene’s neck.
However, Glene shook her head with a pale complexion as if she wouldn’t go with us.
