Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

Chapter 227  [Hollow Town] [9] [Ritual]

In front of me stood a living Redom...

...With no skin on its body.

I drew in a deep breath as the Redom let out a painful cry.

Its body distorted, blood dripping down from its form to the ground below.

I turned as I heard Arianell gasp, walking closer to me.

The distinct smell of blood suppressed every other scent in the forest.

"Why didn't we see it?" Arianell whispered softly, grabbing onto my wrist.

I didn't reply but looked at the beast closely.

Around its hind legs, it was bound by the branches of the surrounding trees, hovering just above the ground.

The dripping blood was collected in a small incline carved into the ground, slowly sliding deeper into the forest.

I glanced at the pitiful beast one last time before I turned around.

"A-Azariah?" Arianell quietly called, grabbing my hand.

"We can't do anything about it," I replied, looking at her seriously. "There's no point in saving it."

"At least kill it—"

"Not now," I cut her off, grabbing her hand. "Let's go."

Even though I wanted to free it from its suffering, I couldn't do it now.

I don't want to mess things up to the point where they become beyond my control.

Looking down, I followed the path of the carved incline on the ground.

It led us deeper into the forest, with the Redom's blood still slowly moving.

"Is this some kind of ritual?" Arianell asked, my hand still holding hers. "But why?"

"...Stay quiet," I whispered, glancing back at her.

"Say something, Azariah," she replied, her voice defeated. "You always do this, keeping everything to yourself."

I didn't reply, instead tightening my grip on her hand.

If what I'm thinking turns out to be true...

"...Azariah."

"I'm not hiding anything." After a long pause, I replied, "I'm just confused—"

My words halted as I felt someone's gaze on me, making my scalp numb.

I looked up, and right above us, I saw a human eye bigger than a football.

The eye watched us without blinking, with no head or corresponding body attached to it.

"Az—"

"Don't look," I whispered softly, looking back at her. "No matter what happens, don't look at the eye."

Confusion and anxiety were clear in her eyes as she gently nodded.

Without saying anything else, I moved forward, ignoring the eye, which quietly floated behind us.

"What is that?" Arianell whispered as we moved deeper.

"...A creeper," I replied softly. "A type of spirit, native to hell."

"W-wait, what?" she whispered, "What is this thing doing here?"

"How would I know?" I whispered back as the forest began to open up.

The light coming from the deeper part of the forest now illuminated the area, making me break the magic circle in my hand.

I already knew what I was about to see, so I drew deep breaths to calm myself down.

"Arianell," I whispered softly, looking back at her. "No matter what happens after this, do not scream, okay?"

"...What?" she replied, confusion filling her eyes.

"Just do as I say," I responded, and she reflected my seriousness by nodding.

Walking further for a few seconds, we quickly got a clear view of the source of the light.

A faintly discernible collapsed building appeared in front of us.

Flames engulfed the entire structure, making it resemble an altar.

Naked women floated around the building, their eerie laughter echoing.

I recognized one of them.

The woman who lived near the graveyard.

The carved incline on the ground made a circle of blood around the building, glowing softly.

"Ahh—"

I turned and quickly placed my hand over Arianell's mouth, muffling her scream.

She looked at me, her eyes filled with unfiltered horror.

I pressed harder on her mouth while I brought my face closer.

"They will be fine, don't worry," I whispered, looking into her eyes.

She nodded softly, and I turned back to the altar.

Around the area, the kidnapped children were bound to poles.

Long nails dug into their shoulders, legs, and hands, keeping them from falling to the ground.

...A clear cut across their stomachs, blood dripping from the wounds and mixing with the Redom's blood on the ground.

I clenched my jaw as I looked up at the top of the altar.

And to my dismay, my fears came true.

There at the top, a broken staff handle levitated, radiating killing intent so powerful it made my mind numb just by looking at it.

...One-third of Goddess Anant's primordial weapon.

The one holding part of her divinity.

I bit my lip as I slowly backed away.

Arianell looked confused as I dragged her along with me, my hand still covering her mouth.

After walking for a few minutes, I finally let go of her.

"I know that!" I yelled back, glaring at her. "But if I save them now, everyone in the town will die!"

"How?"

"Azariah, we need to save them," she said, looking at me.

"We need to return to the town," I replied as I turned around.

"Hey! No!" she yelled, grabbing me and twisting me around to face her. "We can't just leave them here!"

"I know that!" I yelled back, glaring at her. "But if I save them now, everyone in the town will die!"

"How?"

"I can't explain right now," I replied as I walked out of the forest.

"Azariah, please just tell me!"

"I will, but first let's get out of here," I whispered, glancing up. The eye still followed us like a shadow.

Covering my mouth with my hand, I thought for a bit longer.

I've already confirmed everything I needed to.

All that's left—

"Azariah!"

"What?!"

Turning around, I glared at her as she kept shouting.

"What's happening?" she asked, her voice pleading. "At least tell me something."

Placing both hands on her shoulders, I looked into her eyes. "Arianell, for once, just trust me."

"B-but—"

"Just trust me," I cut in, my voice serious as I gently squeezed her shoulders. "I will save everyone."

She looked into my eyes for a moment before nodding.

"Fine," she grumbled.

"Good girl," I smiled, patting her head once.

She glared at me, but I ignored her as I made my way out of the forest.

And just as we stepped out, the eye that had been observing us disappeared.

"Arianell, I have very important work for you," I said, turning around and looking deeply into her beautiful eyes.

"What?"

"Do me a favor and go back to town and meet with Aimar."

"What? Why?"

"Just do it," I said, my voice serious.

"And what about you?" she asked, "Where are you going?"

"I have some work," I replied as I turned around, "I'll see you in town."

"Hey! At least tell me something!"

She yelled, but I didn't listen. Instead, I continued down the unpaved road toward the graveyard.

But after a few seconds, I turned around to look back at her.

She was heading back to town, her steps heavy.

[She seems angry.]

'I know.'

I watched her retreating figure, and just as she entered the town, I turned and started walking again.

The eerie silence and darkness made it hard to move, but I quickly arrived at the graveyard.

The sound of children laughing and playing echoed, and I turned toward the noise.

I drew in a deep breath as the house came into view.

'...Don't show fear.'

I reminded myself.

'No matter what happens, don't show any fear.'

Small lanterns illuminated the house, their light flickering as the wind howled.

Opening the small gate, I walked inside.

Both children, laughing and playing, stopped and turned toward me.

The bull was still bound to the tree, lazily lying on the ground, staring at me.

"Go away."

Neplh.

Both children whispered.

Their eyes turned pitch black, jaws dislocating with a cracking sound.

Their mouths hung open as they both shouted in a demonic voice,

"GO AWAY!"

Neplh.

A misty wind rushed past them, freezing both children in an instant.

I glanced at them one last time before turning to the bull.

"Children are annoying, aren't they?" I said casually, grabbing a nearby chair.

Placing it with its back facing it, I sat down while keeping my eyes on the bull.

"You understand my tone, right?" I asked, looking at it. "It's quite different from the historical language of the past."

Resting my hands on the chair, I looked at the bull, whose eyes were now fixed on me.

"Ragnar did a number on you, didn't he?" I asked, and immediately felt a chill run through my body.

Ignoring it, I continued, "...Look what you've turned into."

A suffocating silence lingered between us.

And now I knew taunting wouldn't work.

"I need to talk," I said, my voice serious, as I stared at the animal. "Answer me."

A silence.

No reply.

I waited for a long while but heard nothing.

The silence dragged on so long I began to doubt my judgment.

"Sigh."

With a sigh, I stood up from the chair, looking away.

"What does thou want?"

A soft whisper echoed in my ear, making my heartbeat drop.