STVWDTD Chapter 3

A Man Crazed and Cruel

When he handed the sword embedded in the corpse to his adjutant, the subordinates who'd been holding their breath finally began to move.

"What, was it the young master?"

"If you're gonna run away, at least pick somewhere decent. Why the hell the Monster Forest? Did he plan this just to kill us?"

The Schwartz Duchy, called the Shield of the North. The search party dispatched from a duchy that maintained a knight order rivaling the Imperial family itself was a gathering of the North's most notorious troublemakers.

"What's it matter? Thanks to him, the captain's getting to blow off steam."

Captain of madmen. Commander of the Düberg Knight Order. Rodrick Schwartz.

The man called the Black Reaper had set out to find his younger brother, the heir to the family.

'Brother, wait. I'll find a way to break the curse! Don't look for me until then.'

Rodrick's face twisted mercilessly over the younger brother who'd disappeared leaving behind a single flimsy letter.

Once caught, he'd lock him in the tower and work him until he received the ducal title.

Setting aside the rampaging blood curse, the monsters that appeared constantly to soothe his twisted mood made excellent prey.

Thanks to that, his subordinates followed comfortably behind without getting their hands bloody. Not that they were inferior to his skill.

This small elite force that volunteered for assault duty and special operations surpassed even the Imperial elite's martial prowess.

"Hey, recruit."

A youth stood trembling in an awkward posture, unable to fit in among them. His face looked young, like he'd just reached adulthood, with a foolish expression.

"Yes? Yes! Sir!"

The youth who'd snapped to attention hurried over to them.

"Scared?"

"N-no sir!"

One of the subordinates clicked his tongue at the dazed-looking youth.

"Why the hell do these bastards send their initiation rites to us?"

"Because if they'll piss themselves at this level, Schwartz doesn't need them. All the weak bastards dropped out, only this one's left."

"This batch is unlucky."

"If he doesn't piss himself looking at our captain, he passes, right?"

The youth broke out in cold sweat during their giggling conversation.

Rodrick Schwartz, whom he'd only heard rumors about, had handed his heir position to his younger brother despite being the Schwartz Duchy's eldest son.

The reason being to wander battlefields, mad for blood.

Was the rumor true? The youth glanced at Rodrick and swallowed hard, chills running down his spine.

Not wearing even light or chest armor, he had only his heavy uniform jacket draped over his shoulders in light clothing. That ease was never recklessness.

A man whose very existence radiated an unapproachable aura.

Terrifying to the bone. A group more frightening than vicious monsters. The youth's face crumpled, wanting to escape this place.

He genuinely wanted to go home. Why am I even here?

"Move out."

The group moved at that low voice that brooked no refusal.

Caw— As if understanding his command, the crow began flying in the direction it had come from.

"Halt."

Before the imposing ancient castle, the search party was at a loss for words.

"Good god."

"What is that?"

After pushing through winding forest paths deep into the Monster Forest, there stood a castle, solitary and proud.

Even a small cabin in the Monster Forest would be suspicious, but a massive castle?

"Does this make any sense?"

Phew— One of the subordinates whistled, looking up at the ancient castle.

"Does a witch live here or something?"

"This is incredible."

The youth who'd been struggling to keep up gaped at the castle, as large as one of the duchy's annexes.

The building of unknown age had no outer walls or ramparts, just the main castle standing alone.

A castle standing alone in the Black Forest. Though the structure itself wasn't a monster, it radiated an ominous energy that sent shivers down his spine.

"Maybe the young master wasn't running away but got kidnapped by a witch?"

"Why's this bastard been going on about witches?"

"Think about it logically. A castle being in a place like this doesn't make sense, right? Current mages couldn't have set up something like this."

"As if witches exist. Magic of this level would only be used by the Imperial family."

"No way."

The Imperial power couldn't have reached the Monster Forest.

Those cowards in the capital were too busy dumping dirty, difficult work on the North. Those high and mighty types would never come here.

They looked around holding torches, but couldn't see an entrance.

There was no door in the solidly built stone walls. At this rate, they'd have to camp without even getting inside.

"Hey, crow. Is this really the place?"

Caw—

"Well, we need to see something to get in. We can't see a door, and all those high windows are blocked. Who even threw that jewel?"

CAW!

"Ow! That hurts!"

The ill-tempered crow pecked at the subordinate's head, expressing its displeasure.

"Puhaha, getting ignored even by a crow."

Behind the subordinates chattering nonsense, Rodrick frowned as he ran his hand over the castle wall's stones.

Thump. Thump. Without warning, his heart began beating ominously.

'Kill. Kill them.' Like a demon's whisper, vile temptation made his blood rampage, and Rodrick clenched his teeth.

He'd thought he'd be fine for a while after seeing monster blood. This damned curse still greedily craved blood, as if unsatisfied.

The madness spreading through society about him was a curse passed down through his family for generations.

The murderous urges eating away at him had reached a point beyond control.

Rodrick roughly ran his hand through his hair. He was reaching his limit.

A time bomb with a fuse no thicker than a hair. It wasn't difficult to sense his own end approaching.

'Not long now.'

His brother needed to inherit the duchy soon.

No—even faster, his brother needed to have children. To escape this damnable curse.

"Daren."

Unlike the subordinates chattering frivolously, the adjutant who'd remained at his side bowed politely.

"Yes, Commander."

"Numbing herb—Ugh."

In an instant, blood vessels expanded throughout his body and bloodlust radiated out. At the surging magic, the subordinates all drew their swords simultaneously.

Rodrick staggered, his blue eyes becoming bloodshot.

Emergency situation. Whenever, wherever Rodrick couldn't control his own body, they had to face him. Even at the cost of their own lives.

That was the search party's true mission. While supporting him, they had to be ready to kill him at any time.

When they all turned deadly serious from their playful state, the bewildered recruit just blinked without even drawing his weapon.

"Captain!"

"Get a hold of yourself!"

The corners of expressionless Rodrick's mouth curved up coldly. His eyes fixed on the recruit.

Just as he was about to charge at the weakest prey—

A massive magic circle appeared beneath Rodrick's feet, and he vanished without a trace.

Silence fell among those who'd been preparing for the imminent crisis.

No one could think to move. Among those who couldn't blink an eye, one opened his mouth.

"Uh, a kid?"

Where their captain had disappeared, some kid was crouched down with his head buried.

"The, the captain turned into a kid!"

Thwack— A gauntleted hand struck the man's head.

"You crazy bastard. Even the hair color's different."

"Is it a monster?"

"Doesn't feel like there's any energy though?"

"Everyone sheathe your swords."

At Vice-Commander Daren's words, they all sheathed their drawn blades.

"Kid?"

The crouched child's head shot up.

Unusually bright red eyes welled up. The large men started panicking.

"Who you sithter!"

Hup. Noel covered his mouth with his small hand. His tongue felt thick and his speech slurred.

Looking down at his body, he seemed to have shrunk even more. Hic. He must have used too much magic.

If Diana found out his body had gotten smaller, she'd think it strange. What if she rejected him as a creepy weird kid?

"Kid. Where did you pop out from?"

Hng. As tears welled up, the men backed away.

"He's, he's crying!"

"I can't handle kids!"

"Which, which married guy? Someone look after the kid."

"Baby. Are you okay?"

A gentle voice came through the chaotic confusion the grown men were creating.

"You're not hurt anywhere, are you?"

When the vice-commander spoke kindly with an expressionless face, the subordinates all twisted their faces strangely.

"My thithter'th inthide."

"Your sister?"

"Only I came out."

"Did your sister send this by any chance?"

Seeing the jewel he'd thrown, Noel nodded vigorously.

I see. Daren stroked the child's gray hair as if impressed.

"Wow, creepy. First time seeing the vice-commander like that."

Daren ignored the subordinates' whispering and focused on the child.

"Is only your sister inside? Or was there anyone else? Like a man with light sky-blue hair and blue eyes?"

The child shook his head side to side.

"Only my thithter and me."

"How did you get out here?"

"The magic went flash and I came out! I have to go rethcue my thithter!"

It seemed a trap spell had activated, switching Rodrick and the child's positions.

It happened occasionally on battlefields using ancient artifacts.

Daren, who'd been kneeling on one knee to match eye level, stood up with a sigh.

"Stand by here for now. Set up tents. We wait until the Commander comes out."

Right now, he was more worried about this child's sister than the missing Rodrick.

By now, Rodrick would have lost his reason and be more threatening than any monster.

If the child's sister came out as a corpse, what would he explain to this child? The vice-commander's face darkened.

The child's identity could be investigated after Rodrick emerged—it wouldn't be too late.

Several hours before the search party arrived at the castle.

Today's goal was the entrance hall on the west side. The only place they hadn't been yet.

The castle was so large its size was impossible to gauge, so the places they could explore were limited.

Besides, the castle interior was always dim, so there were limits to wandering around relying on candlelight.

They'd searched the east entrance for escape routes for a while, but all exits were completely blocked, so now they were heading west.

First, she planned to search for more escape routes and find the cursed object.

Since there was no telling when the crow would bring its master.

Even if it brought someone right away, she couldn't wait any longer.

She was terminal, could die at any moment. She had to move while she still had the stamina.

"Noel."

"Yes?"

"Do you hear something?"

A soft music box melody was playing. As the music box sound played, fog began filling the wide corridor.

Is this even fog? Seems like another trap spell activated.

"It's not going to be ghosts popping out again, right?"

As if answering her question, the candle flame in the candlestick she was holding blew out completely.