Chapter 09
“This is unbearable! Sir Barren, you’ll have to make a sacrifice for me!”
Kiiing.
When I expanded my view, I saw a massive man with a large scar on the crown of his head. He was wearing something like a white priest’s robe.
At that moment, the man who looked like a priest roughly shoved another man clad in dirty armor.
“Stop! If I die, what will happen to the children and the elderly?!”
The armored man barely budged despite the priestly man’s strength.
They were struggling while pointing at the mansion. Standing beside them was a small girl, trembling uncontrollably, not knowing what to do.
“There are a lot of people here.”
Somehow, these two didn’t seem normal either. But since one wore a priest’s robe, at least they weren’t criminals.
I decided to rescue them. Even in a world turned upside down, there seemed to be quite a few survivors.
“Hey! Wait a minute!”
I shouted with all my strength, but with them both throwing temper tantrums and fighting, there was no way my voice would reach them.
I ran toward the new group. Then, my eyes met those of a messy brown-haired girl.
“Gah! O-Old Man Eugen! A-an angel has appeared…!”
What did this cutie just say to me? When I take her home, I’ll make Killian’s peach cake and feed her plenty.
I paused in my running, feeling pleased, and opened my mouth to speak.
At that moment, the chubby man scooped up a handful of ash covering the ground and threw it at the armored man.
“Ugh!”
“Divine punishment! You ungrateful wretch!”
The priestly man pushed the armored man, who was writhing in pain and unable to open his eyes.
At that moment, my group and I hadn’t fully closed the distance yet.
Swoosh!
From somewhere, magical arrows curved through the air and struck the armored man.
“No, no!”
I screamed and ran toward him. For a moment, the arrow seemed to change direction, grazing him before embedding itself in the ground and disappearing.
“Kyah! Sir Barren!”
But the armored man was already injured. His tousled blond hair framed a handsome face, smudged with soot on his cheeks and armor. He clutched his side, staggering.
“Ugh, don’t come this way! The mansion’s curse…!”
The girl tried to run toward him but burst into tears at his words. The elderly man beside her bent over, desperately consoling her.
Meanwhile, the chubby man spotted me faster than anyone and threw his arms up in triumph.
“I’m alive! I’m alive! Lavalé didn’t abandon me after all!”
Seeing the greasy face of the chubby man, I hesitated. That guy had just used others as test subjects to save himself.
Is this what Killian meant by the worst-case scenario?
But I couldn’t leave him behind; the girl and the elderly man who cautiously clutched my sleeve demanded my attention.
Damn it, what should I do? If only Killian were here, could he have made a wise decision?
“Are… are you an angel, sister?”
While I was lost in thought, the girl, barely around ten, sniffled and asked.
Looking around, the armored man was already slumped to the ground, panting in pain.
Behind the chubby man were two very thin horses. They were tied to a carriage that looked ready to collapse.
“You’re the owner of this house. Where did you come from?”
“Sniff… I live at Rueunga, number 31…”
In this world, addresses no longer mattered. The girl lowered her head as if she knew this.
I had no choice but to speak.
“Let’s get inside for now. You’ll be safe if you stay with me.”
Honestly, I wanted to leave the chubby man behind, but I knew he would stubbornly follow anyway.
I asked the elderly man with the girl to release the horses.
Even animals that couldn’t understand language instinctively followed me, judging they would survive if they did. The horses obediently trailed behind.
“Hey, you crazy young lady of the Artur mansion. First, shouldn’t you show me some respect?”
As I approached the armored man with the girl, the chubby man blocked my way, lecturing me.
I sighed and spoke.
“I’m not crazy, and I don’t even know who you are.”
“What did you say? How dare you not recognize me, Sandro, the devoted Archbishop of Lavalé?”
What is he talking about? I sidestepped the chubby man and crouched in front of the armored man.
The magical arrows had disappeared, but the wounds were severe.
“Can you stand on your own? If it’s difficult, I’ll help you.”
“…I know it’s a lot to ask, but ugh! If you lend me a hand, I’d be grateful.”
The armored man exhaled laboriously, forcing a smile. His lake-blue eyes welled with tears.
“If only I had met an angel sooner… my comrades could have survived, ugh!”
“Sir Barren! Let’s go quickly.”
The brown-haired girl helped lift him. We slowly made our way toward the mansion.
Being outside this long felt like being trapped in a steam sauna. I was panting.
How did everyone manage to survive out here? I feel like I couldn’t last a moment.
“Almost there. Hang in there a bit longer.”
Meanwhile, the chubby man pushed past the elderly man holding the reins, trailing closely behind me.
Each time his massive weight hit the ground, ash scattered into the air, making the old man cough.
I genuinely didn’t want to bring this guy along… Right now, I desperately needed Killian.
I shook my head and glared at the scorching sunlight beating down in this unbearably hot weather.
“Angel?”
The girl looked up at me with large violet eyes. Despite being messy, her clothing suggested she was from a noble family.
But why was she being so cautious? Could it be because of the chubby man?
I clicked my tongue and stared straight ahead. At the mansion’s entrance, Killian was leaning slightly, arms crossed.
“You’ve brought a lot of parasites with you.”
“Huh? What did you say?”
Thinking I misheard, I asked again. Killian smiled brightly.
“Our Marie is just too kind—it’s a problem. Give them here.”
He stepped out of the entrance, squinting in the heat, and took the armored man from me.
Despite the man’s large build, Killian easily lifted him.
“Is there a clean room on the second floor?”
“I only cleaned my room while tidying the hallway today.”
“Then let’s lay him there.”
“…As you wish.”
Suddenly, veins bulged on Killian’s hand as he held the armored man.
‘Guess he doesn’t like it.’
But there was no helping it. I couldn’t leave the patient in a dust-filled room.
Killian went upstairs without complaint. I wanted to follow and help treat the armored man, but first, I needed to explain to the other survivors.
“Let’s start with introductions, shall we?”
I bowed to the girl. She looked around the mansion, then gazed at me with watery, wide eyes.
“My name is Rita. I’m eleven… and this is Old Man Eugen. He’s our family’s steward.”
I hadn’t realized he was wearing tattered clothes. Old Man Eugen was someone our house definitely needed.
I approached the elderly man with the warmest smile and offered my hand.
“Nice to meet you. I’ve actually been looking for a steward…”
“Thank you for saving us, Angel.”
Old Man Eugen swallowed his tears, bowing repeatedly. His wrinkled, rough hands bore scars and burn marks.
Rita looked scruffy but was uninjured. It was clear how diligently Eugen had protected her.
“And…”
I reluctantly glanced at the chubby man. Wasn’t he an archbishop? But he acted far too rough.
“Prepare a place to wash and some food immediately! I intend to cleanse my body before praying to Lord Lavalé!”
The archbishop demanded as if he had been waiting for this moment.
“Follow me.”
I wanted to throw him out immediately, but once inside, I couldn’t just send him to certain death.
That was my last shred of conscience.
Now, what to do about the horses standing idly at the entrance? I’ll have Killian give them water and find something for them to eat.
Ignoring the archbishop, I surveyed the surroundings. Then, he murmured in awe.
“Even with all that chaos outside, why is this mansion untouched? Mathieu, is it that crazy girl’s power?”
