Chapter 63: Veronica

Inside the grand castle that was now under the possession of Niko, silence was all around. Small rats could be heard moving about the floor, and entering little pockets on the wall. This miniature information network was something that NIko greatly valued.

The day has been uneventful thus far, as they had some minor success exploring around the area the day prior. Light passed through the grand windows showering the wooden floors with light particles, and everyone within the castle seemed to be doing their own thing, until suddenly.

“Knock! Knock!” a loud knock could be heard from the front door. The closest person to the fron door was Fumito who stood up from the sofa and made his way to the door to open it.

Creeak!

The huge doors made a sound as it was opened.

Fumito’s facial reaction made a full one-eighty as he noticed the person behind the door. His eyes were full of hatred and anger as he couldn't believe the shamelessness of the person behind the door to show up here in front of them now.

“What the hell do you want?” Fumito said in a deep tone, doing no work in attempting to mask the hatred in his voice as he said this.

The feminine voice behind the door echoed within the castle as it left the person's mouth, “Chill out Grandpa, I'm not here for you… Unless your old bones somehow managed to conquer this dungeon…”

There was almost a mocking tone in her voice as it came out slowly. Anyone who was there the day Niko and his group conquered the castle would be able to tell that this woman was none other than Veronica.

Fumito’s heart was beating at an extremely fast pace as his hatred and killing intent towards this woman was unfathomably large. If she had stayed in the castle and fought against the calamity that had hit them when they were swarmed by the ratmen in the castle, they would have probably had a higher chance of survival, and the people Fumito cared about could've lived.

“Hello? Old man step aside, you're getting red, are you flustered? Is being in this world for so long making you incapable of standing next to a woman? Who conquered this place? That voiceless monk?” Veronica once more took a few jabs.

Before Fumito could respond a voice appeared behind him, “Fumito don't fall for such lousy provocation, let me handle this.”

Niko was very well aware of the fact that Veronica had made her way up the mountain and to his castle. He allowed his spirits to let her make her way as he was intrigued by her purpose. He already had negative feelings towards her, therefore he wasn't afraid of taking a life.

Walking up to the door, Fumito nodded as he was slightly embarrassed for even letting his anger get the best of him. Moving to the side, Fumito allowed Niko to approach the door and meet face-to-face with Veronica. He wasn't stupid as he had placed several spirits around who were ready to strike at any moment in case Veronica had any ulterior motives.

Veronica, the cold-looking woman with her black clothing and hair, looked towards Niko with surprise. This insignificant nobody that almost went by without much of any recognition conquered this place? She then began remembering how some of the people in the group treated Niko, and she slowly understood that maybe there was more to him than she thought.

“Wow, who would've thought it would be you.” She noted.

Without a change of expression and with some seriousness Niko asks, “What do you want?”

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“Well, you know why I'm here cutie. I want my part.” Veronica spoke as she was very calculative with her body and facial movements.

Nikos’s face changed as there was a strange look on his face. It was as if he had seen something comical yet disturbing. he almost laughed as he held back his laughter but the attempt was plastered on his face.

“Your part?” Niko chuckled slightly

“Yes! Without my help we wouldn't have been able to complete the conquering of this castle, I have killed on our way up as well. And seeing how you've benefited from this, I would like some compensation… Think of it like how people hire mercenaries to do their work, I was just there to assist.” Veronica said.

Fumito, who was still fuming on the side, blurted out something, “You're talking so much out of your ass that your breath smells like shit.”

Veronica, who had a slightly pleasant look on her face, completely changed in a matter of seconds, “Old man shut your mouth! You are lucky to be alive and not dead like the rest of your dead friends.”

There was a mocking sound in her tone which made her sound sinister as she hoped her words stabbed Fumito like daggers, especially considering the fact that she was aware of how close Fumito was to those who died in the castle.

Fumito was ready to take out the [Longsword of Rust] and decapitate this woman right here.

Extending his hand to stop Fumito, NIko looked towards Veronica with killing intent, “If you don't leave this mountain in five seconds I'll make sure this is the last place you step. Take me letting you off now, as the reward. If I see you again, you won't get this chance.”

Veronica seemed taken aback as if surprised NIko would even say such things, “You can't be serious?”

“Five,” Niko began the countdown.

“I killed over ten of those stupid ratmen which aided you all!” Veronica yelled.

“Four.” Niko continued to count.

“You bastard, I'll make sure you pay for this,” Veronica spoke as black smoke surrounded her legs and she disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Closing the door, Niko turned around to face Fumito who wasn't pleased by how Niko handled the situation, “Why did you let her go? She might go and team up with the other territories. She has valuable information on us!”

“I have spirits stationed all around this mountain,” Niko assured Fumito, his voice steady with conviction. “If she makes even one wrong move and heads towards the Tera settlement's direction, they’ll intercept her. Besides, I doubt she’ll make it far on her own out there. She looked rough already, and there was a desperate, restless look in her eyes. She’s been struggling since she fled, but she doesn’t pose a real threat to us as we are now.”

Niko’s gaze softened slightly as he spoke, his tone calm but unwavering. “We’re better than her schemes, Fumito. We can’t afford to lose the last pieces of our humanity. If we start hunting her out of revenge, what separates us from her? It’s because you have a heart that you’re so angry about what she’s done. Don’t lose that, Fumito. It’ll only hollow you out.” Niko paused, looking back toward the trees. “Besides, it seems like she’s… Going the wrong direction...”

At the mountain's edge, where the forest grew denser, Veronica moved cautiously through the undergrowth, glancing back at the winding path she’d taken. Her face was pale and tense as she gripped the hilt of her knife tightly, her gaze darting from shadow to shadow, suspicious of every flicker of movement. Her clothes were unsoiled, her body still whole—but fear made her steps falter, her breaths shallow as she wove between the trees.

She could use the information she knew to use as leverage when negotiating for Tera's protection. But who would thought she would be ambushed by these despicable summons?

A sense of foreboding hung heavy around her as she heard the faint rustling sounds of creatures moving through the trees, faint but unmistakable. She squinted into the shadows, eyes widening as a group of spirits began to materialize from between the thick trunks, their outlines hazy yet unmistakably menacing. Their eyes were empty, and cold, reflecting nothing but the task they had been summoned for.

Heart hammering, Veronica turned to find another cluster of spirits creeping out from behind her, spectral ratmen with dull, shimmering eyes, their rusty daggers raised like grim sentinels blocking her path. She backed up instinctively, clutching the knife, her jaw clenched in fear and frustration.

Desperation flickered across her face as she raised her knife, a small, defiant gesture in the face of the relentless spirits. She knew it wouldn’t be enough.

Stumbling backward, she came to a stop, breathing heavily, her voice barely a whisper as she gazed upwards. The realization that her choices had led her to this point seemed to settle in her eyes, an acknowledgment of her inevitable fate. And then, letting out a strangled, bitter scream, she closed her eyes, as the spirits moved closer.

Her path, dark and littered with betrayal, would finally come to an end here in the shadows of the mountain she’d once climbed in search of freedom.