The Grand-Helper heaved a breath. “The monster in particular is able to walk on any surface, turn invisible, and summon a sword of pure golden light that can purify components. But unlike the light of an Invigilator, it purifies even faster and stronger. If one is not careful, one can lose all of their components in a matter of seconds.”
That can be a problem. However, for some reason, Karl recalled the golden light that came from Vin back when they fought the impregnating woman. Perhaps she had a similar component.
“That's that.” The Grand-Helper clapped, startling Lock, who at some point had fallen asleep. “That’s all about the monster, though it's also very, very strong… Now, for the castle. As you may have known, many things are distorted in it.”
And there was that feeling again. That feeling as if he was missing something.
“However, the castle is a giant energy construct. It constantly drains mana from those in it to power something. Perhaps the distortion or the monsters. Either way, the distortions seem to have something related to order.”
The world turned crisp.
There was nothing but darkness. No. Not darkness. It was as though the darkness was changing. Perhaps pulsing. Then there was playing. Music. A beautiful tune that brought about an odd sensation. Peace. Familiarity. What was it?
He saw a face. Stoic.
The vision shattered.
Just as the world around him blurred back into life, the ground began to shake. Trembling. Falls of dust descended from the roof. Karl had already expected that, so his eyes drifted to the leaders of the encampment.
His eyes flickered. They weren’t surprised!
The Grand-Helper seemed annoyed. Faus enraged. And Lock was… asleep.
“Sorry,” the Grand-Helper said. “This has been happening for some time now. We still don’t know the reason.”
“How many times exactly?”
“Three. Four. Not sure,” the Grand-Helper said.
Roughly the same amount of time I had those memories—visions. And also the dream with that mutant boy.
Soon, the quaking stopped, and the ground grew silent.
“Alright,” the Grand-Helper said. “That’s just about it with the castle. At least, all that we know of.”
After that, they had a brief conversation before Karl eventually left the room. Supposedly, the Grand-Helper wanted to speak with his leaders. Not that it mattered to him, but he still couldn’t help but think about what it was.
Well, whatever it may be. If it threatens me, I can always just destroy it.
Now that he was free, he thought back to the strange face in the visions. One thing that he picked from his visions, was that they usually triggered to give him a reward or power, or in relation to something else. Of course, the relation of most of them hadn't yet been figured out.
And given how he didn't feel any stronger, did it mean that the face had some relation to what was happening to the castle?
Karl racked his brain for a couple of minutes but eventually dismissed it. It would be something to think about later.
Karl walked past several scavengers. Something felt off. That much he knew. However, the problem was that he didn’t know what. It was a nagging feeling—annoying even. He knew there was something he was missing or perhaps not seeing. Or maybe he had seen it and simply hadn’t grasped it yet.
Karl shook his head, dismissing the thought. He would let it rest for now. After all, pondering something without knowing what it was proved fruitless. Thus, he moved to a certain part of the hall; there, a few women were serving food.
However, despite the cluster, men and women remained apart while eating.
Even in such desperation, they still cling to culture. Karl mused, knowing no such thing could ever happen to him. He took a spot in line, which resulted in many gazes drawing toward him—or more like looking down at him. It was annoying, yes, but even with all his enhancements, he was still not tall.
After suffering numerous gazes, he moved to a secluded corner and then began dining on his meal. The food in question was placed in a black stone-curved bowl. Likely, it was made from the very walls of the castle.
Disgusting.
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Sitting down, he scooped a spoon of an old sludge. It seemed to have some meat within it, but most of it was just bones. This again. Karl felt like laughing.
Once again, he had returned to this.
He ate nonetheless. After a while, Monica walked up to him, standing with a satisfied smile.
“You seem to be enjoying the company,” Karl said, taking another spoonful of the dish. It tasted horrible.
Monica placed her hand on her waist. “Yeah, yeah. So, what have you been up to?” she said. “I heard you were summoned by the leaders. So, what did they ask?”
Karl frowned a bit. Summoned? He shook his head, then looked at her. “They made me one of them.”
There was silence. Monica seemed confused, her eyes absent to his revelation. “What in the Black are you talking about?”
Karl took another scoop. “They made me a leader,” he said simply.
Monica remained still, and then slowly, a curtain of realization flowed over her expression. “What?” she exclaimed. “How? When? Why?”
“I’m strong,” Karl said.
“That still…” Monica seemed worried.
About me? he felt warm for some reason. He lingered a bit, then said, “I want you to join my team.”
Monica snapped out of her daze. “Ah.” She looked around. “I can’t. I’m part of Leader Faus’ team.”
“So?” Karl was a bit confused as to why that mattered.
Monica rubbed her hair. “He’s the leader… If I just leave, it would seem like I don’t have loyalty.”
Once again, Karl was dumbfounded. What were people even thinking? Loyalty? What? Again, he realized he would never be caught having such chains. He placed the plate beside him on the floor. And just as he did, children who loitered away from him cast hungry eyes on him.
He glanced at the plate on the floor, then back at them. But for some reason, his eyes moved to Monica, who still had a confused expression on her face. After that, he waved at the children, picked up the plate, and handed it to them.
They took the food ravenously, moving to a dirty corner and devouring it as though it was the sweetest thing they had ever tasted.
Karl watched them for a few moments, shaking his head. This isn’t loyalty.
He stood up, taking a step towards Monica. “I’m leaving.”
Her eyes widened in terror, and Karl smiled. He waved his hand and added, “For an expedition of sorts.”
“Ah.” Monica propped her head on her hand. “So that’s why you want me?”
No. “I need a navigator. Someone who knows the castle’s terrain. At least enough to guide us.”
Monica giggled. “I’m not from the Navigator Houses,” she said. “Even then... many others know the terrain. Maybe even better than me.”
Karl grew solemn but hid it well.
“But what exactly is this expedition for, anyway?” Monica asked.
Feeling no need to hide this particular matter, he said, “To hunt the monsters surrounding the encampment, or those wandering dangerously close to it.”
Monica clicked her tongue. “Not many would want to join for that,” she said. “The stronger survivors are already part of one team or another, under the leaders. So the only ones left…”
“Are the scraps,” Karl interjected. This was something he expected.
Monica frowned slightly before continuing. “The only ones left would only attempt to join if there was an assurance of food.”
Karl glanced across the gloomy hall. Not that any of them would be of help. At most, they’d simply be cannon fodder. Which is something I don’t particularly need. So… they need to be witnesses.
He shrugged. “I’ll take anyone I need.”
“Yeah, I suppose.” Monica turned, looking at the survivors. “Everyone here needs hope—for food, for safety.”
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After departing from Monica, Karl spent hours lying far more than he ever had to. From spinning tales about a possibility mentioned by the grand-helper of food being stored somewhere, to claiming he had supposedly seen some on his way back.
“Then why didn’t you bring it when you were coming?” one of the gathered people asked with a stern gaze.
Karl glanced at the figure, whom he could only see due to standing on a high bench. “That area is guarded by a monster.”
“Then why aren’t the other leaders attempting to kill it?” another asked.
Karl smiled faintly. “Have they ever been able to?”
The gathering grew quiet. By now, his exploits had been dutifully spread by Monica. Good girl. Karl thought, then addressed the group. “I alone have done it. So why not take the risk?”
Of course, once it turned out the food did not exist—or more like ‘had been eaten by the monster’—he would still have accomplished his goal.
After the silence, several hands rose from the crowd.
Good.
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The next day—or what felt like one—they were prepared to go on the hunt. A small crowd of survivors gathered to see him off, their hollow eyes burning with some hope or anguish. Though some carried spite and hatred, specifically the leader, Faus, standing off in the corner.
Not that it mattered.
Standing before the door of the encampment, Monica stepped up beside him. “This is stupid,” she said. “These people aren’t good, nor are they strong. Are you just taking them to kill them? What are they? Bait?”
Karl locked eyes with her, feeling a certain pang of emotion...After remaining silent for a couple of seconds, he said, “See what I do, then judge.”
She stared at him for a couple of moments, then sighed. Her back turned towards him as she walked into the crowd.
The door opened with a powerful series of clangs and creaks. And just like that, Karl was moving into the depths of the castle again. And who was his team? A navigator spotted by Monica, and some pathetic entourage of scavengers…
If he were weak, this group would be the end of him. But he wasn’t. This was merely a step toward his desire. He would use them as they tried to use him…
With that, he and his cohort walked out of the encampment.
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The darkness was the first thing that met them. Though some carried lamps and burners, Karl held his lighter in his hand, raising it like a fragile lantern. He moved calmly, following the male navigator.
He hadn’t asked for a name, but the man—or rather, boy—seemed barely eighteen, though he was older than Karl. He had coarse dark hair, hollow eyes, and a small, taut frame. He carried a worn-out book, constantly consulting it, touching walls, and making strange nods.
It looked like some repetitive ritual of some sort.
“This way,” the boy would say from time to time, which Karl, as his supposed employer, had to follow. And honestly, he disliked having to jerk to attention every time the boy said, “Here” or “This way.”
He sighed.
This was probably the first time he truly wanted the company of a monster. Although, since he had claimed to have seen a monster with some food, he often made contradicting calls on where they had to go. This bothered the navigator boy very much.
And that was something Karl liked.