13 Mink Street

Everything seemed to fall silent at that moment.

In truth, when General Tafmann had told Ophelia to draw the curtains, Karon had already considered how he would react. The captain had said that if they were discovered, they should immediately break out using Light Arts. Karon had indeed prepared to do exactly that. He would first use Light Arts to blind those in the room, smash through the window’s glass, and then throw himself outside. After that, he would flee at any cost, run to some secluded corner where he would change into Church of Order robes, or simply sprint straight back to Bernard Hotel.

As for what would happen to the captain who was still somewhere inside the villa, Karon believed the man capable of escaping on his own.

However, the instant that Ophelia pulled the curtain open, Karon knew that escape had become meaningless. Even though black gauze covered his face so that only his eyes were exposed, Ophelia recognized him in a single glance.

She said nothing, but her eyes said everything. She knew exactly who he was, disguised or not.

Karon did not know why, nor did he wish to think about why. Escape no longer had meaning, and using Light Arts would be even more foolish, given that his identity was already exposed. If Darkmoon Island learned that he could also wield the power of Light, they would inevitably begin to question his so-called Darkmoon bloodline.

Ophelia did not scream. There was not the slightest trace of panic on her face. At the moment, she was smiling, as though appreciating a splendid performance staged by a master comedian, one who had perfectly built the suspense before finally the last reveal.

The one who seemed awkward was instead Karon.

Ophelia did not fully draw the curtains open, but left it slightly more than halfway. Karon braced both of his hands on the ledge while shifting himself sideways, staying hidden behind the curtain.

As soon as he was fully covered, he opened his mouth and controlled his breathing as carefully as possible.

Ophelia turned around and walked back to the bookcase, where she began to help Tafmann carry some books and notebooks down. The general eventually finished sorting everything and placed it all on the desk with her.

“There’s so many,” Ophelia remarked.

“Just an old, complete set of Light Epoch. What truly matters are these two notebooks, both records of what happened here on Darkmoon Island during that era. This notebook was left by Ancestor Bernard, and this one was left by that person.

“Fortunately, both of them had a habit of keeping a journal. As descendants, we should be grateful our ancestors possessed such a fine habit, hehe.”

“But Uncle, I understand why Ancestor Bernard’s diary would be here, but why is that person’s diary here as well...?”

“Because this villa originally belonged to him. You once asked why the decorations here look so unusual. It is because when he designed this villa, he preserved Darkmoon Island’s style while incorporating many of his own touches. One could say this residence carries the style of Light.”

“May I take these away?”

“I’m sorry, Ophelia, but not for now. These two notebooks must remain here. They cannot leave this villa. You understand what Light vermin represent in the present age.

“Especially now, when your father has only just managed to climb aboard the great ship that is the Church of Order, we cannot afford any disturbance or storm. Think of it as consideration for your father.”

“Yes. I understand. Then I will read them here?”

“Yes, read them here. I must now go to the palace to meet with your father and the elders. If I do not show my face, they may start to worry. Worry that I regretted my choice and wish to reclaim the position of clan leader.”

“How could that be...”

“Nothing is impossible, Ophelia. Sometimes matters do not move according to personal will alone, because behind a crowd stands behind you and is pushing you forward.

“But do not worry. I will handle things. I shall stay in the palace tonight. Remain here. My guard will stay stationed here for your protection. I will see you tomorrow. Do not read too late.”

“Very well.”

General Tafmann left the study, but Karon remained hidden behind the curtain. Not because he feared Tafmann might have forgotten something and would return, but because he simply did not know how to face Ophelia. How exactly was he supposed to explain why he was here?

After a long while, a voice sounded from the room, “How long do you intend to keep hiding?”

Karon sighed and stepped out from behind the curtain.

Ophelia was seated behind the desk. A notebook lay open before her. Her sleeves had been rolled slightly upward, exposing her fair wrists. Her hands were pale, and because she practiced swordsmanship, she did not have long nails or any sort of jewelry.

She looked at Karon and asked, “Why are you here?”

Karon answered honestly, “That is why I did not come out of hiding earlier; I still hadn’t thought of a reason to explain why I am here.”

“So your motive must be kept hidden?”

“Yes.”

“You could invent one. After I left the hotel, you followed my carriage here. Then, because you wished to see me, you secretly slipped into the study.”

“You would not believe that reason.”

“Sometimes what people wish to hear is not necessarily the truth.”

Karon pulled out a chair and sat opposite her. “I don’t wish to lie to you. I am accustomed to being honest with my friends. I feel deception would be an insult to you.”

In truth, even the matter of the Darkmoon bloodline had not been something Karon lied to her about. She had reached that conclusion herself. So when he said those words, he felt no guilt at all.

“Crude directness is not honesty.”

Karon nodded. “You are right.”

He knew she meant the events of that afternoon.

“Are you leaving now?”

“Yes.”

“I assume you are capable of departing safely on your own. I need not personally escort you out?”

“No need. Continue reading.” Karon stood and prepared to leave.

Ophelia did not try to stop him. Nor did she ask: Did you hear what my uncle and I said?

She chose to be calm.

Karon was about to open the study door when he heard footsteps outside. He could only flatten himself behind the door as the study door opened.

A maid stood outside. “Your Highness, the general instructed us to prepare a late-night meal for you. Would you like dessert as well?”

“No, I am not hungry. Also, whenever I am in the study, I do not wish to be disturbed over such matters.”

“Please forgive me.” The maid closed the door and left.

Ophelia shut the notebook, rose, walked to the door, and stepped outside.

Karon understood that she intended to escort him out.

He did not stand on ceremony and simply followed behind her.

At the stair landing, Ophelia stopped. “It seems that every time we meet, you bring me some kind of surprise.”

“This time truly was just an accident.”

“I will not tell my uncle that you were here, and I do not wish to question your purpose. However, that applies solely to tonight, and only until you walk out of this villa. After that, I will handle everything as I see fit.”

“Mhmm.”

At that moment, the door to the master bedroom behind Karon opened. Both he and Ophelia turned to look.

The door was open, but no one stood there.

“Your companion?” Ophelia asked.

It could not have been wind. The servants inspected everything in the villa daily, especially after learning her uncle would return here today.

“I came here chasing him. He infiltrated this place. When I left the hotel, I did not know whose villa this was, nor that you would be here.”

Ophelia entered the master bedroom, and Karon followed. A figure appeared on the chandelier on the ceiling. His face was covered by a deer head, the sort of mounted ornament one would hang on a drawing room wall.

Still, Karon recognized him by his clothes. The captain.

When it came to most things, the captain could truly be trusted without question. In such a short amount of time, he had even thought to change his disguise so that Ophelia would not realize that he was together with Karon.

That said, hanging from a chandelier with a giant deer head on was undeniably ridiculous.

“So you chased me all the way here.” After saying that, the captain reached forward and rotated a piece of the chandelier. It was an intricate fixture, but he only turned one section.

Instantly, ritual array light spread across the master bedroom floor.

Karon believed the captain had already prepared everything in advance, leaving only the final step untouched while waiting for him. Once the array emerged, white light flared.

A teleportation array.

The captain released his grip and dropped downward.

There was no sound of impact. He vanished directly, teleporting away.

Seeing this, Karon immediately shouted, “Stop right there!”

He charged forward as well, and the moment he stepped into the array circle, he disappeared.

The sudden activation of an unknown array within the villa alarmed the guards below. They were already rushing toward the third floor. At the same time, the light of the teleportation array started fading rapidly.

Ophelia did not wait for the guards. Before the array fully vanished, she stepped into it herself. With the final white flash extinguished, the array disappeared, and Ophelia vanished with it.

***

Bang! Karon landed in a patch of turf. He looked up and found himself in an extremely open area. Above him the sky stretched on endlessly, and behind him stood a stone monument. There were no words on it, only a handprint.

Where’s the captain? Karon was searching for him when he heard movement overhead again. Ophelia dropped down. Karon instinctively reached out to catch her, but she adjusted her posture while falling to land steadily on her own.

“Karon, what exactly is going on?” Ophelia demanded.

“I don’t know.”

“Then where is this place?”

“I have even less of an idea.”

“Who exactly were you chasing?”

“Light vermin.”

“Light vermin?” Ophelia frowned slightly.

Then, she abruptly spun around. A red glow appeared in her hand and slashed backward. Blood spurted as a black python was severed cleanly at the waist, yet even after landing, the half with a tongue snapped upward, lunging again at Ophelia.

“Order—Protective Wall!” Three black walls rose instantly and crushed the snake body down, pinning it flat.

Ophelia stared at the three walls before her. This was only one of the simplest Order Arts, yet in Karon’s hands, it felt completely different. Those massive, solid barriers were enough to make most attacks seem feeble by comparison.

“Your strength has improved greatly,” she said. She remembered their last meeting in Veyn. He had not possessed this level of presence then.

At least, not that he had revealed to her.

“I practiced more after you left Veyn.”

Before they could say more, six or seven pairs of green lantern-like lights appeared in the darkness, swaying rapidly closer.

Snake eyes. There were an astonishing number of pythons here.

Ophelia raised both arms. Two Darkmoon Blades appeared, looking like crimson whips as they sliced straight forward.

“Order—Purification!” Karon did not move forward to join in close combat. Instead, he remained in the back, continuously casting purification on Ophelia. The snakes looked terrifying. Ordinary people would stand little chance other than being eaten, but Ophelia had no trouble dealing with them. The only probably concern was whatever venom they might spray.

At last, every python was severed into neat sections. Karon thought that if there were a pot large enough, he could make a decent braised “eel” dish.

With so many snakes slain in their immediate area, the scent of blood grew thick. From nearby, they heard more rustling sounds. The blood was clearly attracting more pythons.

“Let’s go!” Ophelia did not choose to keep fighting. She waved to Karon, signaling retreat, at least for now.

The two ran forward, passed through a stretch of woods, and after some distance heard the sound of waves. Had they been teleported to the seaside?

Karon stopped. Ophelia looked up at the blood-red moon in the sky. “We are no longer on Darkmoon Island. The teleportation array sent us off the island.”

“Then where are we?”

“To the southwest of Darkmoon Island, where the scattered isles lie. We should be on some small isolated isle now.”

Karon remembered asking the captain earlier if it might simply be another teleportation array. The captain had replied that was impossible. Surely no one would teleport from Darkmoon Island to Darkmoon Island.

Very well then. They had been teleported to a lonely island at sea.

Where has the captain gone? At that moment, Karon sensed an unfamiliar fluctuation beneath the sand underfoot. “Careful!”

After warning Ophelia, Karon formed Darkmoon Blades in both hands and stabbed downward, only for the blades to shatter instantly.

The surrounding sand collapsed inward, and a python glowing green even in the night burst upward. Its head bore a fleshy crest like a tiny parasol, and its snake eyes carried a strange majesty.

It opened its jaws and spat a torrent of corrosive acid.

“Darkmoon Protection!” Ophelia raised a dark crimson barrier around them both. The acid splashed across it with a shrill hiss.

Karon had already tested the snake and learned that Darkmoon Blades could not pierce its scales. This was clearly no ordinary python. Even among demon beasts, it was a formidable one.

Karon spread his arms and began chanting. Two ancient black spears formed above him.

He glared at the python. Two Spears of Punishment shot directly toward it.

Boom! Boom! Two violent impacts rang out.

If sharpness could not break its scales, then brute force would have to do. Like striking heavy armor with a hammer instead of a sword.

The python let out a cry of pain. It had not been killed, but Karon’s attack clearly frightened it badly. It made no attempt to continue the fight and instead fled back.

Ophelia dismissed her barrier and looked back up at the distant Darkmoon in the sky.

Karon could not help muttering, “Is this island filled with snakes?”

“I did not know an island like this existed in this direction from Darkmoon Island, and it is not even far away. These snakes should not be able to exist here. Given their numbers, and such close proximity, they should have been long since discovered and hunted to extinction, even by fleets and armies.”

“So you mean this island has been hidden away?”

“Yes. Something around the island must be concealing it.” She turned to Karon, her expression grave. “We must return by teleportation array, as no passing ship will ever find us here.”

“Then we can only return to where we first arrived and try to activate the array again. That monument should be the trigger.”

Karon and Ophelia could only retrace their steps. The best possible outcome now was successfully reactivating the array and returning. Otherwise, by tomorrow—

No, not even tomorrow. Karon himself mattered little, but news of Ophelia’s disappearance was likely already causing waves on the island.

The serpent must have been frightened off. No snakes appeared on their return journey.

When they reached the monument again, the python corpses that had littered the ground were already gone. Only blood remained. The bodies had likely been dragged away by other snakes and eaten.

Ophelia crouched in front of the monument and began studying it. Judging by her manner, she possessed a deep understanding of ritual arrays.

Karon did not move closer. He knew the limits of his own knowledge.

Soon his attention was instead drawn to the patch of turf where he had fallen earlier. This area of grass looked distinctly different from the surrounding vegetation.

He crouched and grabbed at it. The texture was cool.

Not grass. More like... hair.

But how could the ground be covered in such a dense mat of hair? What lay beneath it?

Just then, Ophelia apparently triggered some ward on the monument. The stone began to tremble lightly.

Immediately, the turf began rapidly shrinking. Masses of black material withdrew toward the monument of their own accord. Ophelia stepped back beside Karon, equally bewildered, as the large grassy patch rapidly retracted.

As the false turf peeled away, what had lain beneath gradually emerged: row upon row of corpses, packed tightly together. Some still wore rotted clothing, while others bore remnants of white robes.

For them to have survived for so long in such a humid island climate without fully decaying... Those were likely priest’s robes.

When all the black hair had withdrawn beneath the monument, an entire mass grave was laid bare before Karon and Ophelia.

There were well over a thousand bodies.

The temperature had fallen without either of them noticing. A wind passed their ears that sounded like murmuring whispers.

When Karon looked back at the stone monument, he saw that words had appeared where none had existed before.

Heartfelt thanks for all you have contributed to Darkmoon Island. You are weary, and you have labored long. I invite you to rest here in eternal sleep. — Bernard

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