After defeating the strange girl, I made my way through the village.
I expected to be stopped by guards and asked to prove my identity—that was the whole reason I got the fake Identification Stone, after all. But it turned out to be completely unnecessary.
Not only was I not stopped by guards, but I could also enter the village freely without ever showing the stone.
Surprisingly, the village was in better shape than I anticipated. The houses were vibrant and neatly maintained, even though there weren't many of them.
What stood out more was the absence of people. The streets were completely empty. Still, I knew the village wasn't abandoned—I could feel eyes on me as I walked along the dirt road.
Then, I caught something out of the corner of my eye. Someone was watching me from a window. A woman with dark hair and equally dark eyes.
She immediately ducked when I made eye contact.
Strange.
I walked up to her front door and knocked.
Knock. Knock.
"Hello—"
Knock. Kno—
A click echoed, and the door abruptly opened. Before I could react, someone yanked me by the arm into the house and locked the door behind us.
It was the woman from earlier. What was she trying to do? I kept my voice calm.
"Why did you pull me like tha—"
She cut me off, her voice barely audible.
"Hey! Are you crazy?! Why did you just come knocking on my door?!"
Why is she whispering? And more importantly… why does she sound so afraid?
"I just arrived. I thought I could ask a few questions. I didn't expect to be kidnapped."
"Huh? Kidnapped? You're lucky I pulled you inside. You'd be dead otherwise."
I raised a brow. She sounded awfully confident in that claim.
"...Elaborate."
She sighed, pulling out a chair next to the dining table before sitting down.
"You're a noble, right?"
She glanced at me, looking for a reaction. I gave none, and she continued.
"Well, you don't have to answer. I already knew the moment I saw your clothes…"
"And? What does being a noble have to do with whatever's going on in this village?"
Her hands clasped together tightly.
"Everything. If you're a noble, you've got a high amount of magical energy. People like that have been captured by two strange women. If they resisted, they were killed on the spot…"
Two strange women, huh? That reminded me of the one who attacked me earlier.
I asked seriously, "And the mayor? What has he been doing? Shouldn't he have reported this to the Global Guild?"
When I mentioned the mayor, she averted her eyes.
"I don't know what the mayor's thinking."
Then, her gaze sharpened.
"Anyway, you need to get out of this village. Quickly. If you don't want to—"
I cut her off. "Can I ask you one more question?"
She frowned. "What is it?"
"Who lives in the big house on the hill?"
She hesitated but eventually answered.
"...The mayor. He and his family live there."
I rested my chin on my hand, deep in thought.
"I see…"
Both the woman and this mayor sounded suspicious. Why hadn't she left already? I saw no reason for her to stay. Well, no point guessing. I'd pay the mayor a visit and find out myself.
"Alright. I'm done here. I'll be taking my leave."
She looked at me, alarmed. "What do you mean you're 'done here'? Aren't you going to leave the village?"
I smiled brightly.
"Yes. I can't stay another second in a place where I might die just for being me."
I walked to the door and paused, glancing over my shoulder to offer her some advice.
"If you stay here, you will undoubtedly die."
She shot up from her chair, voice trembling.
"W-What do you mea—"
SLAM.
The door shut behind me.
That woman was pregnant. And judging by the aura I sensed, her unborn child had a considerable amount of magical energy—maybe even half the amount of the woman who attacked me.
According to Blue, magical energy increases with age. But there are rare beings born with immense reserves. By the time that child grows up, his magical power might even surpass hers.
He'd have around three tails worth of my power—almost double hers.
That was why I warned her. She might not know it yet, but she was now a target. So I ordered Blue to keep an eye on her. With her portal ability, she could jump in instantly if needed.
With that settled, I headed straight for the mansion on the hill.
I walked for several minutes until I reached the iron gate. Just like the village entrance, no guards were in sight.
I opened the gate and stepped into the front yard. Grass sculptures lined the wide stone path ahead of me.
The path led to the front door of what looked like a Victorian-style house—almost like a miniature palace.
I stepped onto the porch and knocked.
No answer.
I knocked again, louder this time.
Is the mayor out?
I raised my hand to knock once more—but then I heard a voice.
"Who are you? And what are you doing here?"
I turned. A young man in his twenties stood there, wiping his wet face with a cloth. He had blonde hair and striking emerald eyes.
Like a proper noble, I bowed courteously with a practiced smile.
"My name is Luarel Flast. I've come from the Global Guild to deliver a message to the mayor of Flora."
A complete lie.
"So, you're here for my father?"
I smiled. "If that person is the mayor, then yes."
He ran his fingers through his wet hair, sighing.
"My father's been missing for the last few days. That fool just had to leave the village at a time like this."
His tone was bitter. Not the kind of response you'd expect from a son who didn't know if his father was even alive.
I spoke. "Then the message—"
"I'll hear it. But first, let me change."
He walked past me, opened the door, and said,
"Wait in the guest room. First room on the right."
Without waiting for a reply, he went upstairs—likely to his room.
He acted with confidence. Like someone who understood his own worth. Immediately taking control of the situation.
I walked into the guest room. It was fully furnished, and a giant painting hung on the wall.
A family of four. A beautiful woman with silver hair and green eyes, a handsome man with blonde hair and blue eyes, and two children—a boy and girl about the same age.
A painting of a lovely family.
I sat down on a soft red couch across from another one.
There was a faint scent of herbs… or flowers? Strange. There were no plants in sight.
Then I heard it—a whisper, right behind me. A woman's voice, near my ear.
"And who are you?"
For a moment, I was surprised. But I quickly composed myself. I didn't even turn around—mainly because there was a knife pressed against my neck.
"I work for the Global Guild. Luarel Flast."
"Oh? And why would someone like you come to such a filthy place?"
The knife nicked my neck, drawing a bead of blood. But she wasn't the only one capable of delivering a fatal blow.
I'd already activated {Foxfire}, placing a flame behind her head. She hadn't noticed. If she tried anything, she'd be the one to get burned first.
I replied calmly, "To see the mayor. I have a message for him."
"Oh? And what if you just happened to die here?"
Before I could respond, a familiar voice came from the entrance. The young man from earlier.
I deactivated {Foxfire} just in time.
"Sister, what are you doing here?"
The woman instantly hid her knife in her sleeve and turned toward him with a bright, cheery tone.
"Brother~, I was just greeting our guest."
She looked at me with a sweet smile that barely masked the bloodlust behind it. "Right~?"
I smiled back.
"Yes. She was just sharing a few interesting things."
This family was off. A brother who clearly despised his father. A sister who acted like a trained assassin. Both of them moving without me sensing them.
Just what the hell was happening in this village?
And who exactly were the mayor and his family?