How ironic. The way the Black Castle operated had something of the corporate grind about it. Fortunately, the freedom it offered was real.
Mulan lay in bed, watching the already gloomy sky outside grow darker, yet he felt no urge to sleep. There was the unease of an unfamiliar environment, but also a little excitement.
Contrary to what Mulan had imagined, Guy and Jenny hadn't seemed frightened by their surroundings or asked to stay with him or Dolly. Instead, both had shown considerable resolve, even a certain eagerness.
Remembering their first meeting aboard the Princess Niseriel, Mulan couldn't help chuckling.
"They're both good at putting on an act, too. Looks like I don't need to worry so much."
The four of them had merely been traveling companions. They might become colleagues in the future, but that didn't necessarily mean their paths would cross much. They apparently belonged to different departments, and even the areas where they could choose their homes differed.
At that moment, in a corner of the Black Castle, neither Guy nor Jenny was asleep. They were lying in the attic at the highest point of their house, peering outside. The night here was quiet, but far from peaceful. Occasionally, brilliant streaks of light like fireworks appeared in the distance, filling them both with apprehension and excitement.
"Guy, we finally have a chance to make something of ourselves!"
The boy clenched his fists in excitement, too.
"I'm going to get rich! I'm going to become powerful, buy whatever I want, and go wherever I want!"
"Hahaha! I'm going to buy loads and loads of pretty clothes and jewelry, eat loads and loads of desserts, and try the palace pastries only Her Majesty gets to eat!"
"I'm going back to the ship to show off, too!"
"I'm going to buy the Princess!"
"Hahahahaha..."
In a small house near the lake, Dolly lay on her stomach in bed, also unable to sleep, gazing blankly at the night outside. She had seen so many novel things, eaten delicious food she had never tasted before, and even heard wonderful music. It all felt like a dream.
"Being human really is better..."
A light, cheerful whistle sounded as Dolly began whistling the "Second Lieutenant Jonester March" she had learned.
Mulan opened his eyes. The first things he saw were enormous bones, staggered in orderly rows to either side. After a moment of disorientation, he finally realized something and sprang up, only to feel his footing slip. Instinctively, he reached out to steady himself.
Something thick, slippery, and disgusting coated his hand, while a bloody stench assailed his nose.
Mulan stared wide-eyed beneath him. It was some kind of organ, still twitching faintly, and the slime on his hand was dark red.
"What the hell is this place!"
Mulan fled in panic, stepping over the surrounding organs and scrambling across torn muscle and fascia. He squeezed between two enormous bones, then finally stumbled outside, covered from head to toe in sticky blood and fluids.
Barren land surrounded him beneath a dim sky. Mulan looked up at the place he had just escaped. It was an enormous carcass, though "carcass" wasn't quite right, because the organs inside were still struggling.
"Thump... thump... thump..."
The faint heartbeat had not stopped, yet blood no longer spilled from the severed vessels...
Mulan involuntarily backed away a few steps, but soon heard wet squelching beneath his feet. He looked down. These weren't puddles of water at all. Dark red liquid was everywhere.
All that blood came from the enormous carcass Mulan had been inside. He could even make out the path of its flow. Slowly but steadily, blood was still seeping from the carcass's head.
Wisps of red and blue light gathered around the carcass's head, becoming increasingly distinct. Mulan didn't understand what was happening, but instinctively wanted to get away, and his body acted on that urge.
"Boom..."
At their brightest, the light and mist abruptly vanished into the carcass's head, as though collapsing inward. From his angle, Mulan couldn't see exactly what happened to its head as he continued retreating, but he could see the change in the light.
A moment later, a tiny point of light rose from the enormous carcass's head. Though he was already very far away, Mulan immediately saw that it was a little eyeball. It seemed to be carried by the wind, yet also to bob through water, gradually drifting toward the distant sky.
The darkness overhead seemed to stir. It was neither night nor cloud, but something like a hazy mist shrouding the world. Now an unsettling light shone through it. Those faint, flickering things didn't resemble stars, but terrible, distant eyes, eerie and indifferent...
The wind picked up, lifting many things from the ground. Mulan drew his gaze back from the distance. It felt as though countless dandelion seeds were rising from the earth, spinning through the sky on the wind and dancing around him. Some were white; others were stained blood-red.
No, these weren't dandelion seeds. Mulan caught one and discovered it was a dark red feather.
Mulan released it, and the wind swept the feather away again, leaving a feather-shaped smear of blood on his palm.
"Hah..."
With a weary sigh, Mulan opened his eyes once more. This time, he was lying in the bed of his new home. His nightclothes felt damp; evidently, he had broken out in a sweat while dreaming.
Another bizarre dream, another night's sleep of abysmal quality.
Mulan didn't linger in bed that morning. He got up, pulled off his nightclothes to reveal his lean, muscular, scar-covered body, and headed for the bathroom.
Only the public bathhouse offered hot baths around the clock, but Mulan wanted something bracing. He went straight into the bathroom, filled the storage tank with cold water, and turned on the shower.
Jets of icy water poured over Mulan, making his muscles contract and his fists clench. Only after gradually adjusting did he let out a long breath. That left him much more alert.
Meanwhile, outside Mulan's house, a young man in a black uniform approached the door. After taking a deep breath, he pulled the bell cord outside. The bell attached to it inside immediately rang, but it wasn't particularly loud. Mulan was showering, and the running water drowned it out.
The young man received no response, but didn't dare leave. Even if Mulan had gone out, he wouldn't dare search for him elsewhere. He would have to wait here until Mulan returned.
"Ding-dong... ding-dong..."
"Lord Jonester, are you in there?"
After waiting a long while, the young man finally couldn't resist tugging the bell cord again and calling out. Mulan, who had just dried himself, finally heard the bell. He hastily pulled on a shirt, threw on a coat, and went straight to the door to open it.
"What is it?"
The young man outside startled at the door's sudden opening, then looked up slightly at Mulan. His wet hair and calm but appraising gaze made the young man think he had displeased him. He hurriedly produced a parchment scroll.
"Lord Jonester, I'm your personal courier. My name is Handel. You can ask me to do anything, even accompany you on missions!"
Mulan studied Handel carefully. The young man was half a head shorter than him, wearing a uniform somewhat reminiscent of a Japanese boys' school uniform, along with a round-crowned cap in the style of a Dierjia military cap. He had dark blond hair and pale blue eyes, and looked both nervous and eager.
"Come in and sit down."
"Me?"
Handel pointed at himself in disbelief. A lord of the Black Castle had invited him inside, and excitement immediately surged through him.
Mulan had already pulled the door fully open. Just as Handel was about to step inside, he hesitated. Lord Jonester isn't going to use me as some kind of experimental material, is he? There were plenty of terrifying rumors about the Black Castle. But after only a moment's hesitation, Handel entered.
Mulan shut the door and headed toward the kitchen, pointing to the dining table nearby.
"Have a seat. Tell me about yourself while I make breakfast. Oh, have you eaten?"
"Yes, my lord!"
Mulan nodded, lit the gas stove, and unrolled the parchment to read it. Once the pan was hot, he added some oil, then casually took four eggs from a wooden box nearby.
"Sssss..."
Two eggs were cracked into the pan one after another, followed by eight strips of bacon.
Apart from ready-made food, the little house already had basic supplies such as flour, cooking oil, and salt-even eggs. The Black Castle was clearly quite considerate, though he didn't know whether these were a one-time provision or would be replenished periodically.
By the time the fried eggs and bacon were ready, Mulan had finished reading the parchment.
An assignment already? I've only been at the Black Castle for a day. That fast?
"So that's how I was selected to be your courier, Lord Jonester. It's actually a kind of direct subordinate position, too. I may not look it, but I'm fairly good at fighting and shooting!"
By then, Handel had also finished explaining his background. Mulan had divided his attention between the two tasks, but had understood that Handel was a Digo local from a minor noble family. Through his own efforts and some connections, he had secured his current position.
Mulan set down the parchment and looked at Handel.
"Why did you want to come to the Black Castle? For ordinary people, being too curious about the other world is dangerous."
"I know, but this is one of the few opportunities within my reach. I don't want to spend my whole life being mediocre!"
Mulan smiled, brought his plate over, and sat down to eat breakfast. Since he hadn't bought bread, he ate only fried eggs and bacon. As for the cafeteria here, he had already asked about it yesterday. It was outrageously expensive.
"Since you know Digo and the surrounding area, come out with me in a little while."
"Yes, sir!"