Chapter 80: The Vanishing Children

Goooooo!

With a tremendous roar that shook the entire forest, hundreds of black vine-like figures surged forward.

What emanated from their movements was even more ominous than the sound of rotten branches breaking—like the screams of a living tree writhing in agony.

“They’re… becoming more and more human-like.”

At first, they looked like mere shadowy vines, but as they drew closer, they began to form grotesquely distorted limbs and the vague outlines of faces.

“What the hell are these damned things, anyway?”

Retina grinned madly as she gripped her sword tighter.

“Your Highness, please step back!”

Martin swung Sunfire as he stepped forward.

The flaming blade sliced through the air, tracing a brilliant arc.

Slice! Whoosh!

The burning vines shrieked and recoiled.

Retina, and Shakan as well.

All of them fought with every ounce of strength they could muster, striking down their foes.

But the problem was...

“There are just too many!”

There were simply too many of them.

When one strand was cut down, ten more took its place—it was endless.

And if you simply severed them, they’d squirm back together, regenerate, and attack again.

“Damn it, what kind of monsters are these…?”

They were unfazed by arrows, so Shakan also wielded swords in both hands as he moved.

“Sis! This is too much for just the two of us, isn’t it?”

“If you’ve got time to talk, start slicing.”

Retina spun nimbly through the air and slaughtered three at once.

“Damn it.”

Watching that, Rohan clenched his teeth.

‘If only I had some martial skill.’

Surely, he could have helped in moments like this.

All he could do was wield a torch and sear the scattered bits of flesh.

Rohan couldn’t help but feel pathetic.

“Ugh.”

He brought the torch close to a fallen vine arm, but the arm lashed out, nearly taking his head off.

Sizzle!

He quickly pressed the torch against it, and the arm twitched in pain.

Scratch, scratch, screech!

The hand attached to the arm was long and pointed.

It clawed at the ground wildly, gouging scratches before finally going still.

“Hoo.”

To think that even a single arm could threaten his life.

Once more, he was struck by how incredible those fighting on the front lines were.

“Hm? Now that I think of it…”

Rohan studied the marks left by the vine arm on the ground.

“These… I saw them before, didn’t I?”

When they were searching for the missing scouting party.

He’d seen some strange claw marks.

And now, the claw marks before him and those he’d seen then looked strikingly similar.

“No way?”

Had these things appeared there, too, back then?

Just as Rohan’s face turned grave—

Screeeeech!

A blinding silver flash tore through the air with a deafening noise.

Thwack! Fwoooosh!

Flaming arrows buried themselves in the shadowy vines, instantly setting them ablaze.

“What the—!”

When Rohan looked up, his eyes widened at the sight of arrows cutting through the sky.

Thwip-thwip-thwip-thwip-thwip!

A storm of silver arrows painted the heavens.

The burning shafts riddled the shadowy vine army in an instant.

Grrrrrk!

Grk, grrrrk!

The struck vines writhed on the ground with agonized sounds.

“Those are…”

Rohan couldn’t help but gape in the direction from which the arrows had come.

Between the trees, Elphirian archers readied a second volley.

“Intruders, withdraw.”

With a cold voice,

A woman descended through the air.

Her silver hair shimmered like a flowing river in the sunlight, and her deep blue eyes held a biting chill.

The bow slung across her back was enormous, with the World Tree’s crest engraved at its center.

“Luna…?”

Retina’s eyes went wide.

“Retina, it’s been a while. But let’s save the greetings for later, shall we?”

The woman, called Luna, snapped her fingers as she issued a battle command.

“Moonlight, deploy.”

At once, the waiting close-combat Elphirian warriors scattered from the trees and leapt down.

They looked like brilliant moonlight descending.

“How dare you, of all places, set your filthy feet here.”

Luna let out a low growl, drew her bow, and pulled back the string.

The tip of her arrow aimed—

Screeeeeeech!

Right where Rohan was standing.

“…!”

Rohan froze, holding his breath, as an arrow whistled past his ear, sending his hair flying.

Screeeech!

Only after turning his head did he see a shadow vine just a step away, clutching an arrow embedded in its face and writhing in pain.

With the arrival of the Elphirian warriors, the situation quickly reversed.

The vines were swiftly dispatched, leaving only ashes behind.

“Retina, are you all right?”

“I’m fine.”

Retina, drenched in the ooze of shadowy vines, shrugged.

“Ha! Now that’s what real Elphirian warriors look like! Luna, it’s been a while, huh?”

As Shakan greeted her warmly,

“The runaway has some nerve to act so familiar.”

Luna shot back, causing Shakan’s shoulders to droop with a sheepish expression.

“Are you the human Lord Nas invited?”

Luna’s attention turned to Rohan.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“You’ve brought ominous things with you.”

“……”

Was all of this happening because of him?

He couldn’t be sure.

“For now, we’re all heading to Silvaren. Third company, clean up here before joining us.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

A few of the Elphirian warriors nodded, and Luna glared at Rohan’s group as she spoke.

“What are you waiting for, not following?”

“L-let’s go! Yes, we’re coming, Luna!”

Shakan flinched and urged the others onward, and Rohan arched an eyebrow before moving.

“Who is she?”

He quietly asked Retina.

“Lunavelin. Head of the Silvaren scouting party. Twin sister of Aravelin, the World Tree’s Prophet.”

“Ohh.”

So the famous Aravelin had a twin sister?

“And she’s also…?”

To Rohan’s words, Retina nodded with a grin.

“That’s right, she’s a ‘Silvarenian’.”



---



“Duke, a messenger pigeon has arrived. One I’ve never seen before.”

At Malta Castle, an unfamiliar messenger pigeon had been found.

“Judging by the leg band, it seems to have come from the Imperial Palace. But it’s a bit different from the ones His Majesty usually sends.”

At the aide’s report, the Duke of Malta received the letters.

There were two pieces of paper: one completely sealed, and one simply folded.

The unsealed one likely bore the recipient’s name.

The duke unfolded the paper and checked the contents.

“It’s a letter for His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Ah, but it’s far too late for that.”

It had already been two days since Rohan’s party departed.

Whoever sent the letter must have thought Rohan was still here.

“I’ll keep this safe. They said they’d return after Silvaren, so I’ll deliver it then.”

“Yes, understood.”

“By the way, Aide, I heard a woman’s gone missing recently?”

At the duke’s question, the aide nodded.

“That’s correct. Her name is Melissa, second daughter of Gonta the physician. She was cooking with her family, but vanished at some point.”

“My, Gonta’s daughter, you say. Have they found any trace?”

“Not yet. We’re searching the area thoroughly, but… there’s been no sign so far.”

The duke let out a quiet sigh.

“It’s worrisome. I hope nothing’s happened. Do what you can to maximize the search party.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The aide gave a respectful bow and left the office.

“I can only imagine how her parents feel.”

The duke shook his head gently.

He knew—he had children of his own.

He knew how difficult it was to raise a child to adulthood.

And now, his precious daughter had vanished overnight.

Knock, knock.

“Who is it?”

“Father, it’s me.”

At that moment, someone entered the duke’s study.

“Lala!”

The duke’s worried face instantly brightened.

“Father!”

The visitor was none other than his youngest daughter, Latsya.

Latsya ran up and hugged her large father.

“What brings you here?”

“I’m playing hide-and-seek with my brother and sister. I figured if I hid here, they’d never find me!”

With a mischievous grin, Latsya made the duke smile warmly as well.

“Well, an excellent choice. Hurry and hide. If your brother or sister comes, I’ll tell them I haven’t seen you.”

“Father, you’re the best!”

Giving a big thumbs-up, Latsya hid inside the wardrobe on one side of the study.

Thinking of his youngest giggling alone inside, the duke found her so adorable he could hardly stand it.

Knock, knock.

“Who is it?”

“Father.”

Peeking in,

It was his eldest daughter, Rosha.

“Has Latsya come by here?”

“Well, I’m not sure.”

The duke lied smoothly.

“I see. Thank you!”

Rosha, apparently losing interest, closed the door and left.

“Lala, I think they’re all gone now.”

The duke whispered toward the wardrobe.

“Your brother and sister have gone somewhere else. It’s safe to come out now, Lala.”

But the wardrobe remained stubbornly closed.

“Lala…?”

Had she fallen asleep inside?

The Duke of Malta went to the wardrobe and flung the door open.

“…!”

His eyes went wide.

Latsya, who should have been inside, was nowhere to be seen.

“Lala, Lala!”

He pulled out every piece of clothing with his large hands, but all that remained was the empty wardrobe.

He even lifted the wardrobe aside in one motion, revealing nothing but solid walls and floor.

“W-what is this! Is anyone out there?!”

“Yes, Your Grace!”

The soldiers guarding the door rushed in at his call.

“Find Lala, now!”

“Pardon? Lady Latsya was just here, not long ago—”

“No, she’s not here. Search every corner of Malta Castle, immediately!”

“Y-yes, understood!”

Seeing the duke’s expression, the soldiers realized the gravity and dashed off.

“Lala… W-what is happening…”

His youngest daughter, right by his side, had vanished without a trace.

It was something that could not, should not, happen.

The hands of the man once called the Brown Bear of the North trembled helplessly before his daughter’s disappearance.

And then, suddenly, he recalled what the aide had said earlier.



—She was definitely with her family preparing dinner, then suddenly disappeared.



“No… could it be…”

The recent inexplicable disappearances of scouting parties.

The disappearance of Gonta’s daughter, Melissa.

And now, Latsya vanishing right before his eyes.

“Something… is happening.”

He bit down on his lip until it nearly bled.

“What’s the matter, my lord?!”

Hearing the commotion, the aide rushed back.

“Lock every gate in the castle and restrict all entry and exit. No exceptions! If you find anyone even remotely suspicious, bring them to me at once!”

“…! Yes, Your Grace!”

The aide hurried up to the castle’s tower.

To announce the emergency and seal all of Malta Castle’s gates.