WOSE Chapter 24

"It was a few months after the darkness appeared. Two people had already gone missing by then. Lady Kelgrida discovered the darkness in the mines was the cause and issued a large-scale prohibition order."

"..."

"Our child greatly admired Lady Kelgrida. The child obeyed Lady Kelgrida's words more absolutely than mine—her own mother's... I still don't really understand why the child entered the mines."

"Was there anything strange on the last day?"

"Nothing in particular... Ah, the child bought expensive liquor that didn't match our circumstances. Said we'd be able to live prosperously from now on, but wouldn't tell me the details. So I just thought the weapon being made recently had sold for a high price."

Said they'd be able to live prosperously from now on. Were those words hinting at a trip to the orichalcum mines?

But no matter how expensive orichalcum weapons were, their value varied wildly depending on the craftsman's skill. A young craftsman could never earn enough from a one-time job to raise up their household.

Lost in thought, she suddenly felt a piercing gaze. Noma was staring at her intently. Like someone waiting for something, hoping for something.

A familiar sight. In the past, after hearing tear-soaked stories in End Village, they'd fixed their reddened eyes on her.

Cold sweat ran down her back under the pressure, her head turning stark white. In the end, she'd imitated a saint and babbled the words they wanted without knowing what she was saying.

'I, I'll do my best so such tragedies won't happen in the future.'

However, Iyu lightly ignored the heavy gaze and spoke calmly.

"Thank you for sharing your difficult story."

It would be a lie to say she didn't pity the victims. But these people could easily tear flesh from her—a stranger—for their families.

So if she wouldn't tear off her own limbs for them again, sympathy was a luxury and a deception.

Iyu stood from the worn sofa without regret.

"I'd like to meet other victims now. Will you guide me?"

"What? That's it?"

Noma rose awkwardly, following her.

"There are many people we still need to meet. We should hurry."

"That's true, but..."

Not only Noma but even Darun made sour faces, yet when Iyu moved her feet, they all hesitantly followed her.

"Where's next?"

She urged Noma on, visiting the next house and asking similar questions. Then the next house, and the next, moving quickly.

The effort proved futile—the other houses resembled Brynja's case.

The houses held signs of life but still felt cold somehow. People wore shadowed faces as they grew angry, grieved, or sometimes dried up so completely their emotions crumbled.

Even so, none hesitated to pour out their difficult stories to the 'savior,' and through those conversations, she discovered several facts.

First, the victims showed no distinction by gender or age—old people, young women, sturdy young men, middle-aged men.

Second, every household was poor or had family to support. Finally, just before disappearing, they'd all rejoiced that they could now escape poverty.

Based on their stories alone, the circumstances suggested all the victims had accidents trying to strike it rich by entering the orichalcum mines.

But...

As Iyu suspected, some people didn't simply regard the 'accidents' as accidents.

"That morning too, we talked about the missing persons. I said I couldn't understand people making such reckless choices leaving their families behind, and then he had an accident in the mines! It really makes no sense..."

Triel, who'd lost her husband, cried out, soaking her handkerchief.

Iyu silently surveyed the chipped teacup and her husband's watch, shoes, clothes and such stored throughout the house—things she couldn't bear to throw away.

Why did they look gray even without a speck of dust?

If the word loss became an object, it would look exactly like those belongings.

Iyu's face hardened. She parted her lips toward the woman whose shoulders were shaking.

"You must hate what took your husband."

"Of course. If that mine really is the cause, I'd like to blow it up."

Triel muttered as if chewing the words. Iyu glanced at her reddened eyes as if she'd shed bloody tears, then opened her mouth stealthily.

"If, as you suspect, it wasn't a simple accident..."

Thud!

Then, a dull noise cut off her words.

Beyond the open door, a bear-like man stood glaring at her with a cold face.

The man's impression was as fierce as his massive build—particularly the scar running from his eyes to his cheeks created an ominous atmosphere.

"You've come?"

Judging by how calmly Noma and the homeowner reacted upon discovering the man, he wasn't a simple intruder.

The man lifted dozens of wood pieces he'd been carrying lightly and glanced meaningfully at the area below the door.

"Should I leave the firewood here?"

"Look at me. I asked for your help to receive guests and then forgot. Please leave it there."

The woman, who'd quickly wiped her tears on her sleeve, made an effort to greet the new visitor calmly.

The man poured out the firewood from his arms beside the door with a clatter, then strode toward them.

Iyu stared up at the fierce face that had drawn much closer.

'Was there a man like this when I came to End Village with Kelgrida?'

Back then, a larger group of people had come and gone, and it had been chaotic with people crowding together.

While searching her memory, the man stopped precisely in front of Iyu and abruptly extended his thick hand.

"I'm Ulrik. I'm helping the residents here under Lady Kelgrida's orders."

Iyu, who'd been rummaging through memories, vaguely recalled a fragment upon hearing his name.

'He was definitely one of Kelgrida's right-hand men.'

He was always outside, so she'd only heard his name occasionally at the estate.

'That outside must have been End Village? But if this man is something like End Village's manager, Kelgrida should have introduced him when we visited.'

It was very strange that she had no memory of actually meeting him.

Lost in thought, she only stared intently without even accepting his greeting, when Tamia beside her tugged firmly at her sleeve.

Only after meeting the child's bright eyes did Iyu come to her senses and belatedly clasped the extended hand.

"I'm Iyu."

Beyond the sandpaper-rough texture, she frowned at the grip strength—stronger than expected.

"It's an honor to meet the savior."

'For that, the attitude feels quite hostile.'

Whether he was uncomfortable with the existence of a 'savior' or uncomfortable with the story that savior had been about to tell—that required further investigation.

"I received news of the savior's visit to Lady Kelgrida one step late. I'll accompany you for the remaining schedule and assist you."

Ulrik, who notified her without asking her opinion, truly took on guarding her—or rather, monitoring her.

He watched closely as she asked questions, and when conversations about disappearances deepened, he subtly cut off the dialogue and urged them to move.

The man's interference continued until meetings with victims concluded without further gains.

Just as they finished the last meeting and stepped outside. Noma looked around at the exhausted group and suggested.

"Since such esteemed people have come so far, I'd like to at least offer you a meal—if you permit, I'll invite you to my humble home."

"Ah, but..."

Meeting people had taken more time than expected. It was still daytime, but darkness could fall in an instant.

When Iyu hesitated, Darun approached her side and whispered softly as if sharing a secret.

"Noma's apple pie is the best in End Village—no, in all of Smidrhame."

He clearly welcomed Noma's invitation.

'Tamia must be hungry by now too...'

In truth, they'd exhausted themselves talking and being wary of the unwelcome guest—moving immediately would be difficult. Iyu finished her judgment and nodded slightly.

"Thank you for the invitation."

"Rather, I'm honored."

On the way back toward the village entrance heading to Noma's house.

Still planning to follow—Ulrik remained one step apart from the group, trailing them.

"Does Ulrik actually live here?"

When she casually asked the old woman ahead, Noma glanced behind and shook her head.

"I understand his house is near the square. However, he comes as often as those who live here."

"...Is that so?"

Perhaps noticing she regarded Ulrik with suspicion, Noma added with a smile, creasing her wrinkled eyes.

"Though his face looks so fierce, he's someone we're grateful to for looking after us. When inconveniences or problems arise, he conveys them to Lady Kelgrida and resolves them quickly."

Would it be too wild an imagination if that felt like surveillance rather than protection?

Unable to shake off the uncomfortable feeling, they reached the village entrance.

Just as they were about to enter a modest house with yellow flowers painted all over the wall, someone came running frantically from the distance.

"Elder! Master Ulrik! S-something terrible has happened!"