Please Kill Me - Chapter 58
“But, we can’t rule out the possibility that those from Offenbach might be up to something behind the scenes. They’re known for dealing with monsters, after all.”
“True, but our orders are strictly to eradicate the monsters. Whatever they’re up to shouldn’t bother us, so let’s not jump to conclusions.”
Spreading suspicions within the troop could lead to unnecessary discord. Vasily deliberately cut off Daria’s remarks coldly and turned away. However, he couldn’t just as easily dismiss the complex thoughts swirling in his mind.
‘The monsters are found dead in groups everywhere.’
It felt unnaturally blatant, almost as if someone had orchestrated it. Who could have done this, and when?
A name came to mind at that moment – Yekaterina Offenbach.
‘Could she have left Rostislav?’
But Vasily quickly dismissed the thought. Yekaterina was supposed to be under Leonid’s strict surveillance. Besides, how could she have made it all the way here alone? Especially when she was so clumsy with horses that she couldn’t even dismount without the footman’s help.
‘It’s impossible.’
Yet, the situation remained tense. With so many animal corpses around, it was strange that no monsters were causing a frenzy drawn by the scent.
‘Unnatural.’
It’s possible that the nearby monsters were all killed, which is why none have appeared despite the pervasive smell of blood. But in such a case, one would expect at least a few monsters to act out, unable to resist their hunger.
Soldiers and experienced knights, familiar with monster eradication, must also feel this unease about the absence of any reaction from the monsters.
So, they discuss finding the person responsible for the scene before them.
‘There are two reasons why the monsters did not appear in this situation.’
One, all the monsters in the vicinity have indeed been wiped out.
Or two, there’s a dangerously powerful monster lurking nearby.
Of course, high-grade monsters are extremely rare, which is why Vasily and his men could afford to be relatively at ease.
‘Let’s hope it’s not the latter.’
However, considering all possibilities, Vasily decided to change their course and proceed further. As much as Leonid trusted him, he have to achieve something substantial this time.
“Let’s move on—”
And then, he stopped abruptly.
The area, which had been lively just moments ago with discussions about the search, had become eerily silent. Not a sound of crickets or rustling leaves.
The scene remained unchanged.
The forest stained red, sunlight slicing through the tall conifers. It was past noon, the sky more blindingly white than blue, the distinct damp earth smell of the forest sharp in the air.
But that was all.
“…Daria? Anton?”
The knights who should’ve been around Vasily were nowhere in sight.
Just a moment ago, they were jesting and laughing among themselves.
Their sudden disappearance was absurd.
Vasily felt a chill run down his spine. The silence, laden with tension, seemed to strangle him.
‘Perhaps it’s some sort of illusion. Could it be a mental-type monster?’
Mental monsters were notoriously difficult to handle, known among all monster types for their trickiness. He slowly reached for the sword at his waist.
With a sheath’s whisper, the sword was drawn, echoing a sound similar to an animal’s cry. It was ready for an imminent attack. Moving forward cautiously, the knight’s throat tensed dryly.
‘Is it a parasitic or a physical monster?’
It could be both, as both types were capable of mental attacks.
What was certain was that he must not be swayed by whatever illusion the monster projected. Only when the illusion fails would the monster reveal its true form.
‘I must break free from this illusion.’
That was the only way to rescue the other knights and call for backup if needed.
Faces of his fellow knights flashed through his mind, tightening his frown. The thought of them coming to harm filled him with an unavoidable sense of guilt.
And at that moment,
“Sir Vasily, help!”
“Captain!”
Suddenly, from somewhere, screams pierced the air, causing Vasily to jerk his head up like a bird struck by an arrow. The voices seemed to belong to Daria, Anton, and other knights, which startled him.
However, this was merely an auditory hallucination on his part. Vasily tried to maintain his composure and shook his head. Yet, the sounds that followed grew even more horrific.
“Please, save us! Ahhh!”
“Uh, uhg, I don’t want to die yet! Aaah!”
Across the forest, the sound of something breaking and being torn apart was heard.
The brutal sounds of slaughter and screams shattered his rationality, leaving only desperation that constricted Vasily’s breathing.
‘It must be a hallucination.’
Though he knew it should be an illusion, he found it impossible to cling to his reason.
What if it wasn’t an illusion but reality?
What if, as he firmly believed it to be an illusion, his subordinates were dying?
Terrible fear and guilt seized him by the throat.
His hand holding the sword trembled uncontrollably, and without even looking at the path, he dashed towards the source of the noise.
“Just, just wait! I’ll, I’ll be there soon—”
But he had not passed even ten trees when.
