Chapter 184: Beastly Deeds
Chapter 184: Beastly Deeds
In the northern coastal mountains of the Fiore Kingdom, a place that would typically be a prime tourist destination, the harsh winter weather and heavy snowfall had made the area inaccessible for months.
From the best vantage point for sightseeing, heading southeast would lead into a vast mountainous region. Not far from the entrance to these mountains, in a secluded little valley, a crude dwelling had been constructed by unknown hands.
In the outer room of this dwelling, four figures in black robes huddled around a small stove, warming themselves by the fire. A kettle on the stove emitted a steady stream of steam.
"Hey, the Ravens should be back soon, right?"
"They're always so slow, whether it's a simple task or a big one. It took them forever to catch a little kid."
"At least they're not as reckless as you, who can't resist killing someone in broad daylight. If we draw the attention of the Magic Council, we'll be in real trouble."
"Those fools couldn't find us in ten years, and tonight... tonight will be different."
The group chatted idly, their conversation tinged with anticipation as they discussed the events of the night to come. After all, the plan they had meticulously crafted for so long was finally about to come to fruition.
It had taken them a year just to locate the "Sleeping Place of Kainebert," and several more months to find the ritual to summon a demon. Setting up the altar and capturing the necessary sacrifices had been no small feat either.
Tonight, their long-held desires would finally be realized! No matter what the Magic Council or anyone else tried, they would not stop them.
The world would belong to them!
From the inner room, the sounds of children's voices and sobs drifted out, but the black-robed figures paid them no mind. They had grown accustomed to the noise. As long as the children remained alive, they were content.
In the inner room, a dozen or so children huddled in the corner, their fear palpable. Some of the children sobbed quietly, too afraid to cry out loud, knowing that a loud cry would earn them a lash from the whip outside. Others, who had been captured for longer, had cried themselves out and either stared blankly at the wall or had fallen asleep, only to wake up and continue their silent tears or lapse into a dazed state.
The black-robed figures cared little for the children's well-being, and the room reeked of an indescribable stench.
Among the children, two stood out for not crying or becoming numb.
"Brother, I'm cold," a little girl whispered.
"Come closer, we'll be warmer if we huddle together," the gray-haired boy replied, pulling her closer.
"Okay," the little girl snuggled up to her brother. "Brother, I'm hungry."
"Try to sleep, you to fall asleep, and you won't feel so hungry," the boy comforted her.
"Okay," the little girl obediently closed her eyes, but moments later, she opened them again. "Brother, why hasn't Lis come back?"
"She's home now. She was the first to pass the test. Go to sleep, and maybe when you wake up, we'll be in the next stage."
"Okay," the little girl agreed, closing her eyes once more.
The boy was lying. He had been deceiving his sister for a day and a night, telling her that this was a test arranged by their parents and the men outside. If they passed, they would become strong and powerful adults, and they would be rewarded with food and freedom. The others who were beaten were just too scared, and the men were only acting.
But he knew the truth. This place was dangerous, and Lis...
She would likely never return.
The boy surveyed the dimly lit room. There were no windows, and the walls were solid. The only chance for escape would be when the men outside fell asleep. But last night, a different group had been on watch, and they hadn't slept at all.
So, their only hope was to wait until they were taken out, just like Lis had been.
I hope she'll be with me when they take us out.
Creak~
The wooden door was pushed open, startling several sleeping children.
Some had tears welling up in their eyes, but they dared not cry out, for the man held a whip.
Crack!
The whip still fell, striking a child who hadn't been fully roused.
"Get up!"
"Ah! Waaah..."
The child cried out in pain but was immediately struck again, the pain in his arms and back making him want to cry more, but he dared not make another sound.
The cloaked figure scanned the room to ensure no one was still sleeping and shouted, "All of you, get out!"
The children, fearing the whip, shakily got to their feet.
The gray-haired boy carefully pulled his sister along, blending into the line.
Is this the chance?
But as he reached the outer hall, his heart turned cold.
Outside, there were at least twenty cloaked figures, more than enough to watch over each of the children.
The chances of escape were slim.
The cloaked figures herded the children out of their quarters and onto the path leading to the altar.
Some of the children, properly dressed in warm clothing, managed to keep going, while others, in thinner clothes, shivered as they walked, their lips turning blue from the cold.
The cloaked figures didn't care, as long as they didn't freeze to death before reaching the altar.
One of the figures, who had been left to guard the place, asked, "It's not even dark yet. Why are we rushing?"
"The raven hasn't returned and hasn't sent the agreed signal. It's possible he's been taken out. If we delay any longer, something might go wrong."
"That idiot... But if we hold the ceremony early, we won't have enough sacrifices. And the time isn't right."
"The Shadow Lord will find a way. At worst, Lord Karnib will be summoned in a weakened state, and we can always add more high-quality sacrifices later."
"I see... Hey! Those two brats! Grab them!"
...
"This place is a real pain to find."
Rod used a few pieces of clothing he had collected from Popp Town as scent sources for the Shadow Wolves to track.
He himself also followed the wolves for a while.
Unfortunately, either the time had been too long, or the Black Magic Cult had tampered with the children, making it impossible to pick up their scents.
In the end, he relied on the smell of blood to locate the altar.
Rod and Erza hid on a hillside not far from the altar, using two Stone Beetles disguised as rocks as cover.
The sunny side of the hill had less snow, and the addition of two more rocks went unnoticed.
From their vantage point, they could see a raised platform in the valley, constructed from stone and wood, with a dark red magic circle drawn on it.
With Erza's keen eyesight, she immediately recognized that it was drawn in blood. Whose blood, she didn't want to think about...
Erza was itching to charge down and cut those bastards to pieces.
"Not yet. We need to confirm the other children's condition first," Rod said, placing a hand on her shoulder. This wasn't the time for rash actions.
"I know," Erza whispered. "Any leads? Maybe we should..."
If Rod couldn't find a way, she was inclined to knock out everyone below and force them to reveal their hideout.
The environment was too open, severely hampering their reconnaissance, but at least they had found the people they were looking for.
"There they are. Someone is heading this way. They should arrive in a few minutes. And the children..." Rod clenched his teeth, "are with them."
What have these beasts done to the children?
(End of Chapter)
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