Chapter 39
Regarding the Safety Rules of the Haunted Ducal Castle
When I opened my eyes again, soft sunlight was streaming through the window.
The moment I realized the dark night had passed, a message window blocked the center of my vision.
[Caution! Excessive use of abilities may result in unbearable fatigue accumulating.]
“Ah-ha….”
How many times had it been? Including purification and restoration, I must have used it about four times in total.
I couldn’t determine the exact activation conditions of the ability, but from what I had experienced, it was understandable enough if I assumed it consumed a resource like stamina.
At any rate, after sleeping soundly, I felt completely refreshed.
But still—
‘Should I just go back to sleep?’
My body felt unbearably heavy, weighed down with fatigue.
Just as I was about to bury my head into the blanket and drift off again, a sudden vibration startled me upright.
“Uwah!”
—Is something wrong?
“Wh-what the heck?!”
The room was empty—only me inside!
While I sat frozen stiff, the curious voice rang out again.
—Miss Windsor.
“The Duke?”
On closer listening, to my surprise, it was Edwin’s voice.
My thoughts finally connected to something I’d forgotten—the crow keyring hanging securely from my waist. I unclipped it and examined it closely.
“Is that really you, Your Grace?”
—…It seems you’re safe.
Had he been waiting?
At the unexpected first contact, my lips curved into a faint smile.
—I heard you hadn’t returned last night, so I contacted you. Did something happen to endanger you?
Every time he spoke, the tiny crow’s beak moved.
I stared, fascinated, until his voice urged me again.
—The head maid is deeply worried.
“Ah, right. Of course. I couldn’t return yesterday for a reason. It’s a long story if I start explaining…”
Sure, there had been a moment when I had desperately needed Edwin’s help yesterday, but that had already passed.
“Um, anyway, I think I’m fine now.”
—Are you certain you don’t need assistance?
“Yes, I’ll be heading back to the castle today. I just have a few things to do beforehand.”
There was a pause, as if he were carefully choosing his words.
—Things to do?
“Mm, yes.”
—You’re sure nothing happened?
“I’ll explain in detail when I get back. Please tell the head maid I’m sorry for making her worry!”
Just then, a strange chuckle slipped from the crow keyring.
—How carefree.
“Huh?”
—Nothing. Return safely.
…Huh? I could’ve sworn he was being sarcastic. Maybe I imagined it.
Anyway, after ending the communication, I hastily straightened my clothes and stepped outside the room.
And there I bumped into Carol, who was just arriving with a cup of water.
“You’re awake?”
“Miss Carol, yesterday I…”
Wearing simple but clean clothes, she looked every bit like an ordinary young woman her age—except, of course, for the lack of facial features.
I hesitated, trying to choose my words, when she let out a small laugh.
“You collapsed suddenly. You must have been very tired.”
Well… that was true. I had unintentionally passed out.
“Haha, I guess so. But what about Mr. Scrooge?”
“Ah…”
At my question, Carol looked troubled, unable to answer right away.
When she finally spoke, it was something I hadn’t expected.
“I think… he went to apologize.”
“Apologize?”
She nodded carefully.
“He left quietly this morning, so I don’t know for sure, but yesterday he mentioned he would go to apologize.”
“…I see.”
I didn’t know what his usual personality was like, but judging from his memories, Mr. Scrooge seemed like a diligent and earnest type.
“Oh!”
At that moment, I suddenly remembered something I had completely forgotten.
Right—the villagers!
If I wanted to get back to the castle on time today, I couldn’t afford to dawdle.
Groaning, I pressed my forehead in thought, then quickly brightened.
“Miss Carol, do you have a basket?”
And so, here I was.
Carrying a basket filled with the victims’ severed body parts, I stepped outside.
Since everything wouldn’t fit in one basket, Carol had dug out an old cart and offered to follow me later, so I went ahead.
Walking down the desolate, empty road, I felt strangely uneasy.
Who would have thought that the quest tied to the Luden Trading Company would lead me all the way here?
After going through so much in a short span of time, I felt a little dazed. The grotesque arms and legs, when I looked at them again, almost felt like figurine models.
Following the old signposts along the road, I soon arrived at the village square.
And I saw him—
Mr. Scrooge, kneeling like a criminal on the platform in the middle of the square.
[You have entered a new area for the first time. Exploration reward granted: +300 Diamonds]
[New Area: <Duchy of Belmond – Central Square>
A vast circular plaza located at the heart of Monter Village. Once a bustling center for merchants and travelers, now only traces of its use as an execution ground remain.]
“…Hm?”
On closer inspection, it wasn’t just any ordinary square.
The gray stone floor was stained dark red, as though something dreadful had taken place there.
And at the center, my eyes landed on the platform where Scrooge stood—or rather, the execution stand.
A guillotine that looked long out of use, and even a gallows beside it…
‘Creepy!’
Why had Mr. Scrooge gone up there of all places!?
I knew it was to apologize for his wrongdoings, but still…
Sometimes indifference is harsher than reproach. And indeed, the villagers, perhaps out of fear, showed no sign of approaching him.
Instead, like spectators at a zoo, they kept their distance, whispering among themselves.
“I apologize. From now on, the Luden Trading Company will never again engage in unfair deals or harvest body parts.”
His low, steady voice carried with firm resolve.
At that moment, one villager beside me spoke up.
“Obviously just another trick to calm us down.”
“Using your sick daughter as an excuse for what was basically a scam? His Highness the Duke of Belmond will never forgive that.”
“Swindler!”
Those gathered in a circle around the platform were clearly people who had suffered at his hands.
Arms, legs… many were missing ears or fingers.
Then, someone suddenly shouted from the crowd:
“My daughter lost both her ears because of Carol! Now she can’t even hear properly anymore!”
Wait—what!?
I rose on tiptoe, trying to spot the speaker, but couldn’t.
Meanwhile, the voices of anger at Scrooge grew louder and louder.
“If only we could’ve gotten through the forest safely, this would’ve been reported to the Duke! That man deserves death!”
No.
At this rate, the villagers would surely unleash their fury on Mr. Scrooge.
What had started subdued was now quickly escalating, sparked by just a few outbursts.
What should I do?
After a moment of hesitation, I screwed my eyes shut and shouted at the top of my lungs—
“Ears…!”
Embarrassing or not, I had to do it.
“Whoever is looking for ears—!”
Flinch!
Startled by my sudden cry, the crowd stepped back a few paces.
Seizing the moment, I walked toward the direction the voice had come from.
“I’ll reattach your daughter’s ears! And fallen fingers, arms, and legs too!”
