Chapter 35 · Ereccia's Truth
The bright red blood had long since stained the soil a reddish brown. A faint blood mist hung in the air, while countless dark red tentacles twisted their bodies madly around the entire perimeter. The flesh that occasionally fell from them could no longer be identified as belonging to any particular limb.
"What an absolutely breathtaking sight, Lord Ereccia. Don't you agree?"
Atop a mountain not far from Ereccia, a man in a military uniform gazed at the nearby city, which had already become a living hell, with an intoxicated expression. Whenever the mountain wind carried distant screams to him, his sick smile grew even more twisted.
"Selos, are the soldiers ready? Not a single person is to escape."
The man named Ereccia did not answer the previous question. He merely stared coldly at the city below and asked his own question. He was the ruler of that city. Under his leadership, the city named Ereccia had once been built, and under his leadership, it had gradually prospered.
Likewise, under his leadership, the city named Ereccia had become hell.
"Of course, Lord Ereccia. I guarantee that not a single lowly commoner will escape the test site."
Selos turned and bowed to Ereccia. A sick flush appeared on his face, and his bloodshot eyes made him look utterly terrifying. The gentle, kind man he had once been as captain of the city guards—who had worn a smile even when dealing with commoners—was nowhere to be seen.
"Mm! Everything is for His Majesty the Emperor!"
Ereccia nodded coldly, but when he spoke of His Majesty the Emperor, fervent faith burned in his eyes. Decades ago, he had received an order from the empire to travel to the empire's frontier, assimilate the residents fleeing from other kingdoms, and establish cities there.
That day, tens of thousands of imperial soldiers received the same order as Ereccia. Towns began rising one after another along the frontier of the Eastern Empire. During that time, countless residents from other kingdoms fled into the Eastern Empire and settled in those towns.
This city was the second one built under Ereccia's leadership. It stood atop the ruins of the previous city named Elzia, while the location of the giant rat tribe's Underground Kingdom, deep within the sewers, was the only evidence left behind after the previous city's destruction.
"For His Majesty the Emperor!"
Selos clenched his fist and struck it hard against his chest, responding with a sick and fanatical expression. He then turned and headed toward the Ereccia below. As for the soldiers under his command, they had long since stationed themselves at every exit outside the city.
Anyone who escaped would be seized by the soldiers guarding the exits. Every person would be examined with special instruments. Those with special abilities would become experimental subjects for the empire, while the rest would be killed and thrown back into the city.
"Reporting, sir. No one has escaped so far."
Outside the city gates, a soldier in black armor hurried over when he saw Selos approaching, saluted, and loudly reported.
"Tch! What a bunch of useless trash."
After hearing the soldier's report, Selos looked contemptuously at the tentacles writhing around the city gates. They had done things like this many times before, but previously, at least some of the residents had managed to escape.
Some of the experimental subjects with the bloodlines of ancient human heroes in the imperial laboratories had been captured at times like this. After all, under the threat of death and slaughter, those lowly commoners might awaken the bloodline power within them in order to survive.
"Forget it. We've captured plenty of experimental subjects lately anyway. Just guard the exits properly. Not a single person is allowed to escape."
The next second, Selos waved his hand, signaling for the soldier before him to leave. Although he was somewhat displeased that they had failed to capture any new experimental subjects, it was nothing serious. The next batch of refugees from other kingdoms was already on its way, and soon this city would be rebuilt again.
As for why no one had discovered what they were doing, that was of course because every survivor became an experimental subject. Moreover, everyone involved in this plan was utterly loyal to His Majesty the Emperor and had been granted "power" by him.
"Yes!"
The soldier saluted, then returned to his post and fixed his gaze on every exit from the city.
Elsewhere, deep in the pitch-black sewers, Tuka's party was struggling toward a certain destination. The foul water and sludge beneath their feet had already turned bright red. The pungent stench of blood mingled with the sewers' own foul odor.
"Stop!"
Gordon's voice suddenly came from the front of the group. In an instant, everyone unconsciously held their breath. Even Tuka's eleven-year-old son clamped both hands over his mouth, not daring to make the slightest sound. His brown-black eyes were fixed fearfully on the path ahead.
Several hundred meters away from them, in a sewer around a bend, three Shadow Guards were surveying their surroundings with scarlet eyes. Their bodies were formed from shadows, allowing them to blend almost completely into the dim sewer. They made only the faintest sounds as they advanced, like ghosts gliding through the darkness.
Several minutes later, the Shadow Guards finally left and headed elsewhere.
Seeing this, Gordon did not emerge immediately from his hiding place. Instead, he waited several more minutes. Only after confirming that the monsters had truly left did he signal to the people behind him. The others finally relaxed.
"Gordon, we really owe you one. Without you, we would never have escaped."
Tuka stepped forward and lightly patted Gordon on the shoulder. Earlier, after reuniting with Keith and Nina, they had secretly carried out their original plan and entered the sewers. They were heading toward a sewer route leading outside the city, which they had discovered during a previous mission while pursuing a monster.
Along the way, their familiarity with the sewers, Gordon's keen senses, and the sludge coating everyone's bodies had helped them remain undetected by the monsters. The black sludge made them difficult to spot, while its foul stench concealed their natural scent. They were able to detect the monsters in the sewers each time before encountering them and continued onward through one close call after another.
"What are you talking about? Don't forget—we're comrades who've faced life and death together."
Gordon raised his head and gave Tuka a faint smile. However, with his face completely covered in black sludge, he looked somewhat comical.
"Mm! Keep your spirits up. We're not far from entering that sewer passage. Once we reach it, we'll have a chance to escape."
As he spoke, Tuka raised his head and surveyed the surrounding environment. Thanks to his familiarity with the sewers, he easily determined their location and roughly estimated how much longer it would take them to escape.
Behind Tuka, his wife was gripping their child's arm tightly. Fear that she could not conceal filled her eyes. Even now, she still did not understand what had happened. Why had monsters suddenly appeared in the city?
If Tuka and Gordon had not arrived in time, she and her son would have died beneath the claws of the monsters just like their neighbors. Moreover, everything she had seen along the way had made her realize that, of all the people in the city they had considered home, the few of them might be the only survivors left.
"Nina, how is Keith?"
At that moment, Tuka turned to ask Nina, who was at the rear. After Keith's wounds had been bandaged and he had taken the potion, he had remained unconscious. Nina was carrying him on her back.
"His breathing has stabilized. He should be fine."
After speaking, Nina turned her head slightly and glanced at Keith on her back, her eyes filled with worry. She knew that Keith's current condition was only temporary. Even if they escaped successfully, Keith would be practically crippled. Having lost one arm, he could never become an adventurer again. Besides, the wounds covered in sewer sludge would become infected later.
Whether he would survive was another question entirely.
Some readers have mentioned that the protagonist has not appeared for a long time. Actually, not even a day has passed in the world of the story. Also, this section contains a very important foreshadowing, and a major supporting character is about to be born.
For Daida, I want to flesh out her experiences and personality until she becomes a vivid, fully realized character. Or rather, I want to write the entire book that way, instead of making it just a series of dry, superficial events.
As for the protagonist, he'll appear immediately after this section of the story!