ASLD 46

Chapter 46

As soon as Franz shouted, Betty pulled me down and shielded my head.

The eerie sound of wings beating filled the air, and at the same time—ping!—an arrow’s tip deflected off its mark.

So they missed the one that had gotten this far down.

Well, it figured. Betty said she hadn’t seen a flying type in six years. For Franz, this was probably his very first time facing one.

Just stepping up to fight it without panicking was already impressive.

“Kieeeek!”

Thud!

The flying monster dropped first, a sword buried in its belly. Then Levi came skittering down the wall barehanded, moving with catlike speed.

“…You killed it?”

I hadn’t even noticed him jump in.

Levi nodded, pinning one of the monster’s wings under his boot as he wrenched his sword free.

I found myself staring into its blood-red eyes, which poured out not blood and entrails but swarming insects.

…want to see you.

Again. The pounding in my head.

That voice—faint, whispering, as if it was meant only for me.

“Young miss?”

As if bewitched, I slipped out of Betty’s arms and moved toward Levi.

Just as he raised his sword to strike the monster’s heart, I reached out as if to stop him.

Want to see you.

This time, I heard it clearly.

And I wasn’t the only one.

“…What?”

Levi tilted his head.

But the monster only flailed its wings again, and Levi, unfazed, plunged his sword once more into its heart.

I stared at the monster’s body as it dissolved like a popped balloon, and then I asked,

“Levi. You heard it too, didn’t you?”

“…Yeah.”

His face, usually unreadable, showed rare unease.

Of course it was strange. Impossible, even.

If Levi hadn’t confirmed it, I’d have thought I was losing my mind.

A monster spoke.

But no—that wasn’t quite it.

It wasn’t that it “spoke.” More like… it moved something into us. A message passed directly through.

Hard to explain, but it didn’t feel like normal words.

What was this? What on earth was happening?

Even if the original story didn’t feature monsters much, and I only read half of it… still, this is way beyond what I know.

Maybe I’d skipped over some important foreshadowing earlier? Something crucial I’d missed…

“Young masters! One of the mid-types got away!”

Really?! Why would you let one of those slip?!

At Nina’s shout, I wailed and buried my face back into Betty’s chest.

Forget the original story—monsters were just terrifying. I hated them. I was just a small-town girl who dreamed of living a long, healthy, uneventful life.

Betty patted my back to calm me, murmuring,

“Normally, they don’t miss anything bigger than a small one down here…”

“Then why are they missing them today?!”

“Ah… probably because we’ve got a few gaps in the formations for the large-class units.”

“…Gaps? Oh.”

Right. The ones I’d tossed in with Eva.

I sniffled, feeling a twinge of regret. Maybe I should’ve taken them down more slowly.

Monsters were swarming in larger numbers than usual, the battle was happening in pitch-dark night, and now, thanks to me, there were holes in their ranks.

Even Benjamin’s well-planned defenses had assumed a full force.

“Grrrrrr!”

For a moment I thought it was January.

But no—it was just a monster, standing there in the shadows.

Its growl sounded exactly like a wolf’s. Same size, too. The resemblance was uncanny.

“Arf! Arf!”

It even lunged like one.

Levi swiftly dodged and went for its flank.

Compared to when they fought small monsters, both Levi and Franz moved with far greater caution.

They struck and withdrew, caught their breath, circled for openings.

Even with Levi’s sword piercing it, the beast only staggered before charging again.

And despite Franz’s arrows embedded in its body—three, maybe four—it fought on without slowing.

This is taking too long. Too exhausting. They’ll wear out.

Small ones—rabbit-sized, bird-sized—were nothing like this.

And at the front lines, there were dozens of these.

No wonder things weren’t getting cleaned up despite all this time—it was just a matter of endurance.

“…Betty. The underground prison—it’s not inside the mansion, right?”

“No, young miss. It’s in the wine cellar…”

“Then let’s go. Now.”

I tapped Betty’s shoulder urgently.

Levi had just barely brought down the wolf-like beast when he spun around.

“Where are you going?”

“The prison. Just for a bit.”

“Stay here.”

He looked up at me, expression flat but eyes firm.

“If you’re out of my sight, I can’t protect you.”

“Levi…”

“Ugh.”

“Let’s at least protect your brother first.”

Franz, meanwhile, looked like he was about to develop acid reflux from how hard he gagged while retrieving his arrows.

Neither he nor Levi showed it much on their faces, but they had to be nearing their limits.

“I’ll be quick.”

“It’s dangerous…”

“I want to protect you too. That’s why.”

Since I didn’t have the strength to fight, the least I could do was bring in reinforcements.

Levi seemed momentarily at a loss for words. I took the chance to signal Betty.

Clutching me tightly, Betty sprinted toward the edge of the garden.

Then I saw it—flickering lights in the distance.

Was that side safe? That was where the village houses were.

From the scattered torches and rising commotion, it looked like they were struggling just as badly as us.

“…Didn’t you say your house was over there, Betty?”

“Yes, young miss.”

“Then your family…”

I couldn’t finish. Betty’s expression was far from bright.

“I do worry. My grandmother’s knees haven’t been good lately.”

“So… it would be hard for her to escape…”

“She might get too excited at the rare hunt and run off recklessly again.”

“…Right.”

I sighed. I was too tired to argue anymore.

Sure. Why not. Betty’s frail grandmother could go samba dancing with a monster. Anything was possible at this point.

Soon, a wooden door appeared in the garden floor.

Not just sweet wine hidden below—but a grim prison as well.

Betty opened the door, then set me down.

Crunch!

“Graaaaah!”

A monster rushed in, and Betty drew the daggers strapped to her thighs, stabbing it down.

She planted herself at the entrance, blades in both hands, and said,

“Young miss, go straight ahead. On the far-left wine rack, look for the bottle with the red label. Be careful. I’ll guard the door.”

“Got it! I’ll be back quick…!”

Without wasting a second, I rushed down the stairs.

The deeper I went, the colder it grew. At the bottom stretched endless shelves of wine—priceless bottles even to my untrained eyes.

No time to admire them. I headed straight for the leftmost rack.

“Red label, red label…”

I spotted three or four.

I pulled down the lower ones first—just ordinary wine.

Then…

“Ugh, too high!”

The last bottle was far above me, just barely within reach on tiptoe.

I strained so hard my whole body cramped, finally grasping it—

Slipping!

I clenched my eyes shut, bracing for the crash.

But no shattering came.

Instead, when I opened my eyes, the bottle dangled on a thin wire, and a heavy grinding echoed—

Kuuuuugung.

Wow. A secret door.

Straight out of a movie.

The wine rack shifted, revealing a hidden passage.

Like the cellar, it was dimly lit, colder, eerier.

Step, step.

My footsteps echoed as I entered a hall lined with iron bars. The first person I locked eyes with was—Eva.

“You…!”

“Ah, stop. I don’t need you.”

I was busy. And she wasn’t trained anyway.

Still, being head maid earned her a private cell, while the rest were crammed together.

I ignored her shouting and walked straight to the servants’ cell.

Boom, boom, boom!

Dust and dirt rained from above with every rumble of the battle overhead.

This place might collapse. I had to be quick—Betty would worry.

I squatted down and addressed the blankly staring servants.

“You hear that chaos? Monsters are invading. Get out and help.”

“What…?”

“No time for long explanations. And don’t even think about running if I let you out.”

A few averted their eyes guiltily.

Idiots. No wonder they’d sided with Eva.

“Think carefully. This is Bastion. My father will return soon. This might be your last chance. Run, and you’ll only shorten your lives. But if you fight well… who knows? You might be forgiven.”

They glanced at each other, then nodded eagerly.

Good.

“…But there’s one problem left.”

“…What is it?”

“How do I open this?”

“Ah, see that hole? Stick your thumb in, twist until it clicks, then push with your other fingers… ah, but your hands are small. Right, both hands—yes, yes, just like that. Very good, young miss!”

They praised me as though I were a prodigy locksmith until the door finally swung open, and they scurried out, bowing and scraping.

“Go on, get up there and kill some monsters already.”

I waved them off and was about to follow when—

Grab!

A hand shot through the bars, clutching my clothes.

I looked down at Eva, who still hadn’t given up.

“Enough already, Eva.”

“…You think the master will let you get away with this?”

That confidence—where did it come from?

I almost laughed, but then paused.

At Lady Katrin’s funeral, why had Wolfgang draped his coat over her shoulders?

Maybe she wasn’t his lover, but… maybe he did care for her.