The Empire Corps had recently received an intel that Matthew and Angelica were at Nielitz and promptly teleported themselves there and upon arrival, they interrogated the villagers.
"Where are they?!"
"I don't know!"
"Lying with us could get you trialed for treason and sentenced to death!"
Anna was sitting on the floor with her hands bound behind her back, her body was badly bruised with violet spots all over her torso and knees. She was being questioned by Grant who is holding a wooden club.
"Please, she really didn't know where they went."
"Village leader..." [Anna]
"If she won't talk, then you talk old man." [Grant]
"After the woman killed those gangsters we hastily sent them off from fear of retaliation!" [Village Leader]
"Even after seeing one of your residents get beaten you still won't tell me where they are?!" [Grant]
Grant raised the club as he prepares to smack the old timer, but was stopped.
"Stop it, Grant."
"What Hughes?" [Grant]
Hughes had grabbed the club.
"Can't you see that they are afraid?" [Hughes]
"Despite your intimidating appearance, you are always a softie." [Grant]
"Captain I'll talk to them." [Hughes]
"... Go ahead." [Lionel]
"Captain!" [Grant]
"Stand down Grant." [Artemis]
"Shut up Artemis! I'm not talking to you." [Grant]
Grant faces Lionel.
"I cannot help but notice the preferential treatment you are giving to everyone except me." [Grant]
"It's not that Grant." [Lionel]
"What is it then?! Do you want me to tell my father?" [Grant]
"You should learn from Hughes." [Lionel]
"To be soft? It doesn't always work that way, Lionel!" [Grant]
"G-Grant..." [Lynnette]
"You too! Lyn... ... ... sorry I was outta line." [Grant]
Grant halted when he noticed Lynnette wince at his tone.
"... Artemis, heal the woman." [Lionel]
"Got it." [Artemis]
"I will heal her captain." [Lynnette]
"Thanks, Lynnette, but you need to conserve your energy for the teleportation." [Lionel]
"O-okay..." [Lynnette]
Artemis knelt before Anna and took out a potion bottle from the inside of her quiver.
"I've finished asking them, captain." [Hughes]
Hughes walked towards them and behind him is the village leader bowing at him.
"What did they say?" [Lionel]
"He said that they passed through here on a wagon looking for supplies where they traded your cinquedea for magic crystals. They were asked to leave when they killed a whole gang that attempted to wipe out the village. They went to that road southeast maybe towards Witzlarn." [Hughes]
"Magic crystals?" [Artemis]
"They aren't that bad if they chose to help the village." [Lynnette]
"Yeah..." [Hughes]
"Witzlarn..." [Lionel]
"What's wrong Lionel?" [Artemis]
"Nothing. Lynnette, prepare to teleport us to Witzlarn immediately and everyone be prepared when we get there." [Lionel]
~~~Angelica~~~
It had been four days since we have left Nielitz. I wonder how the village is keeping up with the changes?
"Cmon Angelica sing with us!"
Jody edged me to participate while poking my side with her elbow.
"I don't sing..." [Angelica]
"No need to be shy. It's just us here." [Jody]
Spencer, Jody, and Matthew were all singing a song that I was not familiar with. I never really paid much attention to the songs in this world because I was so busy learning other stuff. Like my body, magic, swordsmanship and again my body, yeah I'm a fan of narcissus, joke.
"Hmm..." [Angelica]
I thought of a song that would be good for my voice.
"Hi no michiru kono heya
Sotto toki wo matsu yo~
Kizukeba fukan de nagameteru hako
Onaji mesen wa naku~
Itsushika kokoro wa hakushoku futoumei
Yuki ni ochita hikari mo chiru~" [Angelica] {1}
Despite being a delinquent and the shitty life that I've had I found refuge listening to songs that are mostly related to anime. It's just that there is something in their songs which give me an uplifting feeling, despite not being able to understand them.
"Kumo kara koboreru tsumetai ame
Me wo harasu no wa tooi harukaze dake~
AZAREA wo sakasete
Atatakai niwa made~
Tsuredashite tsuredashite
Nante ne~
Shiawase dake egaita otogibanashi nante na
Wakatteru wakatteru
Soredemo ne
Soko e ikitai no~" [Angelica]
Ok, that's enough. I better stop now or else I'd get sued lol.
"Your singing is really-really great Angelica." [Matthew]
"D-did I really sound that good?" [Angelica]
"Umu." [Matthew]
Matthew nods as he compliments my singing.
"What language was it?" [Jody]
"I... uh... learned it from a traveling minstrel. Yes! A minstrel!" [Angelica]
"At least your singing is much better than my wife haha-ow?!" [Spencer]
"You were saying?" [Jody]
"Ow-ow-ow I get it, I get it!" [Spencer]
It seems that Jody is grinding Spencer's foot, she's also giving him the death smile.
Protip, never anger your wife!
"If you sing you'd be popular Angelica." [Matthew]
"Heheh, but no thanks. I prefer being an adventurer." [Angelica]
"Is it really fun being an adventurer?" [Jody/Matthew]
"It is fun, you can go anywhere. Do a bunch of quests and fight alongside your frien..." [Angelica]
I feel depressed all of a sudden...
"Ah, Let's talk about something else." [Jody]
I wonder how is everyone?
"Angelica?" [Matthew]
How is Steven and Michelle? I'm worried that Michelle may do something drastic in order to search for me... and Steven stopping her will all he can...
Did grandfather's health improve? Are Mooly and the sisters eating well? What about Mrs. Helen and the shop? The school? Maria? Irvine? Blake...
"ANGELICA!" [Matthew]
"Ah, eh?" [Angelica]
"You were having this grim look that was scaring us." [Matthew]
"Sorry if we asked something that we shouldn't." [Jody]
They were both apologetic and kept on bowing their heads.
"No, no its okay. It's just that people who are important to me may think that I'm now dead..." [Angelica]
"Why would you say that?" [Spencer]
Spencer asks as he leans back from the driver's seat.
"I was separated from them when an undead wyvern destroyed Pilapil village." [Angelica]
"A wyvern?!" [Matthew/Spencer]
"Whats a wyvern?" [Jody]
"It is a really really big and strong monster." [Matthew/Spencer]
They're in complete sync. I'm surprised that Spencer also knows what a wyvern is despite being a farmer.
"I saw the Empire soldiers parade a dead wyvern once, but only its head." [Spencer]
"How huge was the head?" [Jody]
"I don't exactly remember, but the size did scare the hell out of everyone." [Spencer]
"So what happened after Angelica?" [Matthew]
"We've managed to beat it, but the at the cost of the village caving in on itself... that is when we got separated..." [Angelica]
"I'm sure that everything is fine." [Jody]
"I hope so..." [Angelica]
I was hugged by Matthew from behind.
"Everything is gonna be okay." [Matthew]
"Thanks..." [Angelica]
I could see Matthew holding back his tears. Hey now, I should be the one crying...
"Anyway, let's change the subject." [Spencer]
When Spencer suggested changing the topic I immediately jumped to it.
"What place are we going to pass through next?" [Angelica]
"If my memory serves me right we will soon be at the town of Witzlarn." [Spencer]
"Didn't they abandon that town recently?" [Jody]
"Really? I hadn't heard any news of that." [Spencer]
"My dads long time friend is from there. They said that the soldiers just sprung out of nowhere and evacuated the place due to unknown reasons." [Jody]
"Kind of creepy." [Matthew]
"Yeah." [Jody]
"Should we avoid going there?" [Angelica]
"There is another route, but its very difficult to pass through." [Spencer]
"How difficult?" [Angelica]
"Well, we're talking about cliffs with a drop numbering in the hundreds of meters and the area is prone with landslides." [Spencer]
"Better not to risk the wagon then, but we are allowed to pass through there?" [Angelica]
"So far there was no word of a blockade and at Herxheim, we also haven't heard of anything happening there as merchants pass them through it all the time. So I think we should be okay." [Spencer]
"What about the route that you took going to Herxheim?" [Angelica]
"That one is further away which took a lot of time, this route was suggested by a fellow merchant as a shortcut." [Spencer]
"I see." [Angelica]
After some time we arrived at Witzlarn...
This place is sizable and well developed despite it being only a town. The paint on the buildings still looks rather new and at the distance, there were a couple of them still left in construction.
We are unfamiliar with the place so we navigated each corner in order to look for an exit. The place is so eerie and as they said it is indeed abandoned, but the weird thing is I couldn't even hear any birds. In Nielitz even with a few buildings, you could hear the birds chirping everywhere. I have a bad feeling about this...
Witzlarn is a town that situated at the base of two mountains, which is a good place to build a fortress/castle. It is a natural choke point to prevent invaders from entering the Empire. But... why abandon such a place of vital importance? Could the frequent landslides be the cause or was it something else?
We turned to a corner and saw a wagon blocking the way. So I went down to investigate.
This one seems like it had been here recently. It was a bit high so I tiptoed to get a look inside. There were a few things which I presume is someone's belongings neatly placed at the corner of the wagon. I couldn't get a good look because it was at the opposite side from me.
I walked by the side and saw a couple more wagons right in front of it. When I got to the front I saw the part where they chained the horses where of which were broken. It seems like it was damaged deliberately... just when I noticed... I caught a whiff of a foul stench.
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It smelled just like... ... ... blood?!
I briskly walked back and whispered to Spencer to turn the wagon around.
There are too many red flags... I don't want to stay here any longer, we better head out while we still can.
"Why are turning back?" [Jody]
"We will take the alternate route." [Angelica]
"Isn't this one safer?" [Matthew]
"The alternative is much much safer." [Angelica]
"If Angelica says so then I'll trust her on that." [Spencer]
I'll use the earth crystal to reinforce the path. Hmm... on second thought I'll just pave a road and improve it like I did in Dalio.
(Neiigh!!)
From watching movies I knew that when horses make that sound whenever they were spooked.
"Spencer, floor it!!" [Angelica]
"Floor... what?" [Spencer]
"Argh! Get us out of here now!!" [Angelica]
I jerked back when Spencer pulled the reins so swiftly that it made the horse fucking wheelie which almost tipped us over.
(Tak-tak-tak-tak-tak!)
"Where is that sound coming from?" [Angelica]
While I was trying to pinpoint its location the tent of the wagon sunk down all of a sudden.
"The roof!" [Matthew]
(Tear!)
I drew the sword in preparation but didn't cut at the tent as my fire enchant may burn it. Also, the wagon is shifting left to right so using the wind and water enchant will be a problem. Then... an idea hit me. I rummaged through one of the sacks and took out an earth crystal. I brought it next to the tent and used its effect, turning it into a concrete-like roof.
The thing on top realizing that it cannot tear through the tent jumped at Spencer who is at the front together with Jody.
"Eah?!!" [Jody]
"Jody!" [Spencer/Matthew/Angelica]
I moved to the front and Jody came flying towards me pushing me back inside.
"Jody are you ok?!" [Angelica]
Matt and I checked her for injuries and saw four scratches on her arm.
"Spencer pushed me in... Spencer... help, Spencer!" [Jody]
"Matt!" [Angelica]
"Got it!" [Matthew]
Wasting no time I maneuvered through the maze of sacks and got to the front, from there I saw Spencer pushing and kicking at something while simultaneously steering the wagon despite with wounds all over him. Truly a man that should be looked up upon.
As I got closer the stench of decay flew to my nostrils and made me gag.
"Get off me, you damn ghoul!" [Spencer]
Ghoul? An undead?!
The ghoul from the looks of its skin has been decaying for some time, it had bite marks all over its body where a good chunk of flesh is ripped off. It had a mixture of red, brown and dark spots on its skin and it had one eye
It attempted to gnaw at Spencer, but he's putting up a good fight. Carefully I waited for an opening before slashing at the ghoul. As a weak undead, the fire enchant would be my best option.
"Hyah!" [Angelica]
When it had gotten on top of Spencer I shaved the back of its torso exposing its spine, being an undead it didn't even faze it. I tried again and managed to amputate an arm, afterward, I kicked it off of Spencer and it fell from the wagon tumbling multiple times before hitting a fence and impaling itself.
"Angelica, help!" [Matthew]
"?!" [Angelica]
"I can manage... go tend to them..." [Spencer]
"First Aid!! Sorry, Spencer, we will properly threat your wounds later." [Angelica]
I head back inside and there was a ghoul hanging at the back of the wagon pulling on Matthew's leg. I saw Jody trying to pry Matthew but to no avail.
I was about to cut its hand but stopped when I saw three ghouls all on fours crawling ridiculously fast towards the wagon. We still haven't left the town, it may have been the pinging of the horseshoes that attracted them, but damn... as undead, they sure do move fast, which reminds me of a certain game {2}. Being melee I wouldn't even dare to engage in a large group.
Kate did say that it forced countries to bond together despite their differences in order to eradicate the undead. God, I could only imagine what nightmare it could've been for those guys who engaged them.
The three ghouls leaped simultaneously so I slashed the nearest one mid-air using the fire enchant. Due to its trajectory, the other half of its body flew inside the wagon. I then focused my attention back on the two oncoming ghouls. I briefly reset the position of my sword and stabbed one in the skull spreading brain matter all over Jody and Matthew.
"Eek!!" [Jody]
Next, I glanced over to the last ghoul and was about to slice at its neck, when...
(Grab!)
"Aww?!!" [Angelica]
The instant I felt pain surge through my body I stared down only to see the ghoul that I had hit earlier. What was left is it's upper torso, left arm and head, it grabbed my thigh and bit at my calf.
I got bitten?! I raised the sword and was about to cut it down but was interrupted mid-slash, when the last ghoul landed on me and we fell inside the wagon bumping into the sacks of magic crystals. It was on top attempting to get a clear bite, I was going to stab it beforehand, but the one at my feet ripped off the part it was biting which made me flinch and drop the sword.
"Argh?!!" [Angelica]
"Angelica?!" [Matthew]
I and the two ghouls scrambled on the sacks of crystals a few of which pricking my body with its sharp edges. Using my arm to shield me from being bitten at the neck, I was instead bitten multiple times on the arm and leg. Kicking and punching don't work on them as they feel no pain and being an undead they were much stronger in physical strength.
(Crack!)
"Ahhhhh?!!!!!" [Angelica]
The ghoul on top twisted and broke my right arm whilst biting at my left, while the other kept on tearing at my leg. The amount of pain I felt was so insurmountable that I wasn't able to think straight.
"First Aid!! First Aid!!" [Matthew]
Matthew was holding the magic crystal that I've imbued with my novice level healing spell. I created a few of them just in case we run out of his pills. The effects of my spell were only able to halt them temporarily.
"Rwnfngb?!" [Ghouls]
There was a brief pause in their attacks and I reached for the sword and struck down the one at my feet, hitting it at the temple and shaving off its skull cap. When I flinched due to the force of my strike it deflected the sword's trajectory towards my leg slicing a part of my flesh injuring myself.
"First Aid!!" [Matthew]
"Gyargh?!" [Ghoul]
The ghoul turned its head at Matthew which made Jody froze.
Pulling myself together I staggered towards the ghoul grabbing it from behind and shoving it out. The ghoul that was hanging crawled up exposing its head and as it did that I delivered a swift kick to its face. It released Matthew and rolled alongside the other ghoul.
When the two ghouls recovered they again gave chase.
"Fuck you..." [Angelica]
(Snap!)
(Boooom!)
I snapped my fingers and the two ghouls were erased from existence by the Explosion spell, the spell was quite powerful that it shook the entire wagon.
Afterwards, my feet folded and I slouched on the sacks.
"I got bit..." [Angelica]
At the corner of my eye, the sword came into view. I held it and placed it at my neck.
"I'm bitten..." [Angelica]
Memories of watching zombie films flashed through my head, the conversion after the bite made fear crept over me. The number of times I was bitten may speedup up my conversion into an undead...
"Angelica, stop!"
"I'm going to turn like them..." [Angelica]
"Angelica!"
"No... I don't want to be an undead..." [Angelica]
"Angelica snap out of it!"
"I'm scared..." [Angelica]
"ANGELICA!!"
"Matt... hew?" [Angelica]
"You're not going to turn into an undead!" [Matthew]
"I... am not?" [Angelica]
"Yes, now put away the sword." [Matthew]
"But... I got bit..." [Angelica]
"That doesn't matter, c'mon now give it to me." [Matthew]
"O... k..." [Angelica]
My eyelids felt heavy...
"Angelica? Angelica!! Jody, hold her up and open her mouth!" [Matthew]
"But! She had already lost a lot of blood!" [Jody]
"Jody!!" [Matthew]
"Y-yes!" [Jody]
As my vision fades I felt something entering my mouth, moments later my body felt warm all over.
"Angelica, are you okay?" [Matthew]
"Is she fine?" [Jody]
"Angelica?" [Matthew]
"Ahh... what happened?" [Angelica]
Still quite dazed I answered him.
"You idiot! You were this close to dying!" [Matthew]
He scolded me as he used his two fingers to show how little time I had left.
"Hah... next time listen to me ok?" [Matthew]
Sighing in relief he checked Jody next.
"My wounds are gone?" [Angelica]
I checked myself and saw the chunks of flesh that are ripped off earlier are restored. I even touched the place I got bitten just to be sure.
"That stuff is amazing Matthew." [Angelica]
"Thanks for the compliment, now... how do we clean this up?" [Matthew]
Arms crossed with his hand under his chin he looked at the wooden floor. I followed his gaze and spotted a pool of blood that was under me, it stained my clothes and is a little bit slippery.
"Matthew can you also give Jody and Spencer that medicine?" [Angelica]
"Already on it." [Matthew]
As I said that Jody had already popped a pill inside her mouth and Matthew was on his way towards the front.
"Now then..." [Angelica]
I used the water crystal to wash the blood on my clothes and off the floor, it seems I needed some soap to rinse off the blood completely. Then, I used the fire crystal to get myself dried.
It has been a while since we have left the village and are now on the cliffs, it was about seven hundred meters above overlooking the village and five hundred meters away. As we were there I made use of the earth crystal and created a level road, since the place is prone to landslides I made a roof that was embedded with earth crystals and hid them for obvious reasons. I also made a small opening at the cliff side every fifteen meters or so.
I refused to create a tunnel for one, it will require both fire and wind crystals for the lighting and also ventilation. Two, creating a tunnel near that village is going to be a death trap for anyone passing through if those ghouls ever chose to move out and block both ends of the tunnel.
I was at the front with Jody and we both had the whole village in view. I noticed the wagons that were blocking our path earlier, I counted that there were more than two dozen of them. The one at the very front was overturned near the exit and the rest piled up from behind it, from the looks of it we weren't even as close to the center and it made me feel goosebumps. I have thought, what if we had gone deeper? The number of ghouls there may have been more than enough to overwhelm us.
The reason the merchants at Herxheim hadn't heard anything bad happening here is probably because there were no survivors to tell them... When we get to the next settlement I will ask the adventurers guild if they could do anything about it, or just spread the news that the place is dangerous.
While scanning the village from afar I saw a flicker of light and stopped Jody to see what it was.
References.
{1} Oregairu OP ->https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQpJ_ielWrc<-
{2} Left4Dead