Chapter 31

*Thud!*

As Silbern’s spear tip smacks Jonathan, he collapses to the ground with a thud, covering his mouth but lifting his head defiantly.

“Whatever the reason, I don’t think I can accept this kind of behavior right now.”

The tension is thick. Silbern grips her spear tightly, as if fighting the urge to swing it immediately.

“Kihik! Puhahat!”

“Hey! Stop it!”

Sharen yells angrily, and Jonathan clamps his hands over his mouth, but his gaze remains fixed on the chaos around him. It’s like he can’t help but want to take it all in.

Finally.

“This jerk—!”

Unable to hold back, Silbern swings her spear roughly, smacking Jonathan’s temple.

*Whack!* Jonathan passes out instantly, but that unpleasant smile on his face remains, frozen like ice.

“What the hell is going on?!”

The massacre of the Andes villagers was already overwhelming, and now Jonathan’s antics are giving her a headache. Silbern sighs deeply and looks at Sharen.

“Since he’s from Helmunth, Sharen, you keep an eye on him. The rest of us will head inside and assess the situation.”

“Ah, got it!”

Sharen steps on the fallen Jonathan with one foot, keeping him in place while the rest of the group heads toward the chaos. Isaac and Silbern take the lead.

“What kind of lunatic…”

“Just as Anna mentioned, there are traces of specific body parts being removed.”

The swarming maggots, parasites, and flies make it hard to see clearly, but there are signs of eyes and thumbs being gouged out.

“Ugh.”

Anna steps back, feeling nauseous, and starts searching the perimeter. Meladik also keeps his distance, staying alert.

Isaac had mentioned earlier that the deaths were recent.

“Why would someone do this? Organ trafficking?”

“Then they would’ve kidnapped them. Eyes and thumbs aren’t exactly in high demand.”

“Right… So what? Did they just loot the place and torture people for fun?”

“Possibly.”

Isaac glances around.

“But it doesn’t seem like it.”

Silbern bites her lip, catching his meaning.

“Valuable items are still here. It wasn’t a robbery.”

Usually, bandits would strip a village bare, leaving nothing but bones. But here, the Andes village is eerily intact—just devoid of people.

“Then I’m even more confused. What the hell is this?”

Silbern slams her spear into the ground, frustration evident. The mystery of their deaths weighs heavily on her.

“Dammit, if only we’d arrived a bit sooner, we might’ve been able to save them.”

While listening to her lament, Isaac is deep in thought.

He’s certain of one thing.

‘It’s a ritual.’

Not bandits, not organ traffickers—someone mutilated specific body parts for a purpose. They weren’t after material wealth but using people as sacrifices.

‘Judging by the way things are piled up, it seems like they haven’t started yet. If it’s a ritual using people, it’s no ordinary spell.’

It’s something even more sinister than the possession ritual that affected Polu.

‘Wait…’

Suddenly, Isaac wonders.

‘Did Polu die in the past life?’

Isaac’s efforts had uncovered the Blackhand family’s secrets from the Transcendental Tribe’s Baek. That’s why Polu, a Blackhand, joined Reconnaissance Unit 5 and fell victim to the possession ritual when attacked by the Yeti.

‘In the past life, Polu didn’t die.’

That much is clear.

Assuming the massacre in Andes village didn’t happen in the past life either, there’s a connection.

‘Both incidents involve rituals.’

Did the Transcendental Tribe member who cast the spell on Polu come here?

Did Polu’s death change something?

Goosebumps rise on Isaac’s skin as he places his hand on his sword.

“Silber—!”

Just as he’s about to shout, someone walking from the foothills toward the village catches his eye.

The air grows heavy.

The once pure northern wind turns foul, leaving a sticky discomfort in his throat.

The figure has long hair reaching their ankles, dressed like a bride. The thick book in their hand looks too heavy to hold with one hand.

Their pale skin and the pair of horns on their head make it clear they’re not human.

“That guy, right?”

Silbern’s gaze is already fixed on them. The others, overwhelmed by their presence, stay silent.

“Ooh.”

If Baek resembled a tiger, this man looks like a demon from mythology. His teeth protrude menacingly, but his demeanor is oddly gentle.

“Reconnaissance Unit 5! I’ve been wanting to meet you!”

He seems to know them well.

“Do you… know us?”

At Anna’s question, the man smiles.

“Of course. You fought valiantly against my vessel. It was quite a struggle to set up that possession ritual, you know.”

He places the book over his heart, closing his eyes as if mourning Polu.

“The ritual activated unexpectedly, catching me off guard. That’s why I’ve come here.”

“You’re the one who—?”

“Ah, my apologies for the late introduction! I am Northemus! You could say I’m Polu’s master.”

Polu’s death, which didn’t happen in the past life, has brought another calamity.

‘This is insane.’

Isaac keeps his hand on his sword but doubts whether drawing it would help.

Last time, with Baek, they could retreat to the Malidan Wall and rely on Uldiran Caldias. But here, they lack the strength to take down a Transcendental Tribe member.

‘Is it even possible?’

No matter how much he thinks about it, the answer is no. Even if Silbern has grown stronger, fighting a ritual-wielding Transcendental Tribe member is still beyond them.

“Hoh.”

Northemus, aware of the gap, exudes confidence. But his gaze shifts unexpectedly to another man.

“Lady of Helmunth? Would you mind moving your foot, please?”

“Huh? Me, me?”

“Yes, even if it’s just a half-penny, you look like a precious comrade.”

At his request, Sharen looks flustered and glances down at Jonathan.

But she doesn’t move her leg.

Seems like she’s feeling like she’s losing something.

“I, I don’t want to!”

“Haha, this is quite a predicament.”

Northemus closes his eyes for a moment.

Then, with a grin, he makes a proposal.

“How about this? If you leave your comrade behind, I’ll pretend I didn’t see you. You can also pretend you didn’t see me and move on.”

“Bullsh—!”

“Watch your tongue, Caldias.”

Northemus’s killing intent instantly silences Silbern, who had been holding back.

“I don’t want to be disturbed, so I’m letting you go. I’m showing mercy without you even begging for your lives, yet you should be grateful.”

There’s no arrogance or lies in his demeanor.

Just the confidence that he could easily kill them all.

He shifts his gaze from Silbern to Sharen and grins.

“Lady of Helmunth, you must grant my request. Otherwise, I’ll have no choice but to kill all your comrades.”

“Uh, uh…”

As Sharen hesitantly steps back, a black, sticky substance forms at Northemus’s fingertips.

It moves through the air, reaching Jonathan.

Eventually, Northemus cradles the unconscious Jonathan and brings him to his side.

“Even if it’s just a half-penny, you’re my comrade.”

Northemus lovingly strokes Jonathan’s cheek.

Jonathan’s skin begins to turn red, veins bulging.

“Well, the deal is sealed. Ah! Could there be a better day for all of us?”

Northemus raises both hands and laughs brightly.

“I’ve gained a comrade, and you’ve saved your lives! Truly a time of grace and blessing! Let us praise the gods!”

The thick book in his hand flutters in the wind.

Seeing this, Silbern quietly asks Isaac beside her.

“Should we fight…?”

“We’ll die. Absolutely.”

He’s more dangerous than a demon.

“Farewell, everyone. Especially you, Lady of Helmunth. I hope you remain unharmed.”

Northemus bows deeply.

Meladik and Anna subtly step back.

But Silbern just stands there, stunned.

“Huh?”

Because Isaac hadn’t moved.

“I thought you were the wisest, but you’re surprisingly stubborn, aren’t you?”

Northemus grins as he looks at Isaac.

“Didn’t you just say we shouldn’t fight?”

Did he hear even the whispers from this distance?

While marveling at the Transcendental Tribe’s superior physique, Isaac replies.

“If we turn our backs now, we’ll die.”

“……”

Northemus’s gaze turns cold.

His gentlemanly demeanor disappears as he relaxes his shoulders and holds his book to his chest.

“How did you know?”

“The Transcendental Tribe doesn’t spare humans.”

“Hmm, you seem to know about us. But just as humans are all different, so are we.”

“Maybe.”

But not this guy.

“A lunatic like you wouldn’t let us go peacefully.”

“A lunatic? No, have you ever seen such a kind lunatic?”

Despite the tension and cold stiffening his body, Isaac answers without backing down.

“You don’t believe in gods.”

“……”

“A guy like that, dressed like a saint, holding a book like it’s a scripture. Those who pretend to be divine without faith are usually lunatics. Or con artists.”

“Huh, huhuh.”

Northemus tilts his head, letting out a creepy laugh.

“Quite.”

His gleaming eyes lock onto Isaac.

“Wise.”

His low voice feels like the overture of an orchestra.

Soon.

Something is about to begin, the atmosphere growing heavy.

“Ugh, huuuuk!”

Jonathan groans as he wakes up.

Black patterns spread across his body, their origin unknown.

The whites of his eyes turn black, indistinguishable from his pupils.

“Ah, my comrade.”

Northemus greets Jonathan with a bright smile.

“How does the world look to you now? I’ve prepared a ritual for you to sever ties with humanity!”

He holds the book to his chest and elegantly points to Reconnaissance Unit 5 with his other hand.

Like a waiter guiding guests to their seats.

“Feast. Consume them. And thus, my comrade! Prove that you are one of us!”

At his words, Jonathan raises a greatsword.

His once-neat teeth elongate with a creaking sound, resembling a vampire from folklore.

“Now! Together, we resist the world, comrade—!”

Thud!

The greatsword pierces through the book and shoots toward the sky.

Crimson blood drips from the blade as Northemus, pierced along with the book, tilts his head and glares at Jonathan.

“Co… comrade…!”

“No…”

Tears well up in Jonathan’s blackened eyes.

“I… am not…”

“Comrade!”

“I am…”

With a sob, Jonathan struggles and mutters.

“A proud and great… knight of Helmunth.”

At Jonathan’s answer, Northemus’s face twists into a vicious snarl.