Leveling Up by Executing Monsters

Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Welcome to Arkham Town

The steam car drove for half an hour, twisting and turning down unfamiliar streets until it gradually reached the deserted suburbs.

By now, the sky outside had gone completely dark. Aside from the illumination of the car’s headlamps, there wasn’t a speck of light to be seen. Even the headlamps couldn’t penetrate far before their beams were swallowed by the thick, inky blackness.

The surroundings were utterly silent. Apart from the roar of the steam engine, not another sound could be heard. It was as if the entire world had shrunk to the small space within the car.

Lloyd tried to peer into the distance, but could only make out a dark, undulating silhouette—perhaps a mountain range cloaked in night, or a colossal beast lying dormant in the shadows.

The two girls in the back seat also sensed the change in atmosphere. Evelor pulled back, shrinking into her seat, and asked in a tiny voice:

"Where are we?"

Miss Desda, who had arranged the outing, was also growing restless. She asked:

"Uncle Randolph, how much longer until we arrive?"

The butler turned his head to look out the pitch-black window, considered for a moment, and replied:

"Please be patient, everyone. It will begin shortly..."

The words had barely left his mouth when the steam car slowed down. The engine’s roar gradually subsided, and the vehicle came to a complete stop in the middle of the road.

A look of panic and confusion instantly appeared on the butler’s face. He slapped the steering wheel hard and muttered:

"What’s going on? Didn’t I just have it serviced?"

With that, he got out of the car, lifted the hood to inspect the engine, and then gave the vehicle a few hard kicks, attempting a bit of percussive maintenance.

It was, of course, a pointless effort...

"My apologies, Miss. The car has broken down for some reason. It won’t move."

The butler explained, his expression awkward. He kicked a tire forcefully, looking especially agitated.

Miss Desda grew anxious as well and quickly asked:

"Then... what should we do?"

"I see a small town not far ahead. How about you go there and find someone to help fix the car? But you three will have to go on foot. I’ll stay here and keep watch."

The butler was quick to offer a solution, pointing ahead.

Lloyd looked in the direction he pointed. In the distance was a magnificent, brightly lit scene. From time to time, fireworks soared into the sky, suggesting some kind of lively festival. Faint sounds of cheering and music could also be heard.

He suddenly remembered that he, his sister, and Miss Desda had come for the sole purpose of attending this festival.

He then said:

"Then I’m afraid we’ll have to trouble you for now, Mr. Leonard. We’ll bring someone back to help as soon as we can."

Miss Desda could only nod helplessly.

"Then... we’ll head over first. Uncle Leonard, please be careful."

Evelor, however, said nothing. She just moved closer to Lloyd and clung to his arm, looking particularly uneasy.

The three of them set off toward the town, but they hadn’t gone far before Miss Desda suddenly stopped in her tracks.

"I don’t feel right about leaving Uncle Leonard all by himself. Why don’t we ask him to come with us? We can just abandon the car if we have to. My family has plenty of them..."

Lloyd thought for a moment and nodded. Evelor, naturally, didn’t object.

The three of them turned around and started groping their way back through the darkness.

But after walking for more than ten minutes, they still couldn’t find the broken-down steam car. They called out the butler’s name but received no reply.

It was as if he and the car had both vanished into the darkness.

The three of them began to panic. With a sob in her voice, Miss Desda asked:

"How can we not find him? What do we do now?"

Lloyd, however, remained relatively calm. He looked up at the town, which was now close at hand, and suggested:

"Let’s go to the town and find help first. Maybe we just took a wrong turn? Leo... Leo... Mr. Butler is probably still waiting for us where we left him."

"Then let’s hurry to town."

Evelor said, taking Lloyd’s large hand in her small one as they walked toward the town.

After just a few steps, the trio arrived at the entrance and saw a sign posted by the side of the road:

’Welcome to Arkham’

The words were written in a vivid red pigment. It was thick and sticky, seemed faintly warm, and gave off a pungent, coppery-sweet smell. It wasn’t yet dry and was still trickling slowly downward, leaving streaks in its wake.

It looked just like blood that had yet to coagulate.

Lloyd and the two girls didn’t notice this detail. They were too busy dealing with a crowd of enthusiastic townspeople.

Beautiful young women placed lovely garlands of flowers around their necks, handsome young men danced and sang around them, and cheerful older men smiled while playing joyful melodies on an assortment of instruments.

The trio was instantly swept up in the joyous atmosphere, escorted by the throng of townspeople to a spacious plaza.

The plaza was even more lively. Cheers, clamor, and applause were unceasing. A dazzling array of stalls lined the square—some sold delicious snacks, some offered fun games, and others put on exciting performances, making one eager to join in the fun.

Miss Desda’s eyes were immediately drawn to a rather boisterous stall—an air gun shooting gallery.

A woman of action, she grabbed Lloyd’s arm and dragged him in front of the stall. Shaking her body coquettishly, she said in a wheedling tone:

"Lloyd, I want that one! The biggest rabbit! Shoot it down for me!"

Evelor, however, wasn’t fond of such violent games. She took Lloyd’s other hand, pointed to a nearby Divination stall with a Crystal Ball, and said in a similarly wheedling tone:

"Yi, I want to go play over there. I want to find out when I’ll get taller."

As for Lloyd himself, his gaze kept drifting toward another stall.

A stunningly beautiful dancer was performing there, her attire fiery and daring, revealing great expanses of her fair skin. She had a pair of delicate, elegant feet, and every step she took seemed to land right on his heart, leaving him feeling utterly captivated.

’Maybe it would be best for the three of them to split up here?’

But then Lloyd froze. He rubbed the bridge of his nose forcefully and asked:

"Did we... forget something?"

Miss Desda tilted her head slightly, then broke into a brilliant smile and said loudly:

"Hmm? Forget what? I think you’ve forgotten your promise to spend the whole night having fun with me!"

As she spoke, she took the initiative to link her arm with Lloyd’s, like an intimate couple.

Seeing this, Evelor, who was standing to the side, looked ready to jump out of her skin. She quickly threw her arms around Lloyd’s waist and threatened in an adorably fierce tone:

"Yi is mine! He’s been mine since we were little! Don’t you dare try and steal him from me! Or I’ll bite you!"

Lloyd stared blankly at his sister and Desda, stunned for a long moment. Suddenly, he shook his head violently.

"No... This isn’t how it’s supposed to be!"

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