The day gradually transitioned into night.

  There were no monster enters, particurly because the carriage remained on the main road. However, Daisuke couldn’t determine if it was sheer luck or a missed opportunity for a potential escape.

  As if part of a nefarious design, the men would occasionally hurl snide remarks and insults at the children, draining away any lingering hope they g to and squeezing their self-esteem dry, much like wringing out a washcloth.

  The only silver lining, if it could even be beled as such, was that the merts were mindful of their profits. They maintaihe pristine appearance of their goods, sparing the children from physical abuse and providing plenty of food to nourish them.

  In the distant mountains, the haunting howl of a Kobold pierced the night. The soft, silvery glow of moonlight bathed the ndscape as the fmes of a crag bonfire danced, casting flickering shadows on the faces of the seven men huddled around it. They feasted on a stew made from a Horned Rabbit, while the two Bearhounds gnawed on the remnants of a pair of skulls nearby.

  Daisuke ighem, but a storm brewed within him. Before he could prrieve his mother’s untimely passing, the troop’s betrayal shattered his already unstable world, leaving him adrift in a sea of misery.

  As he reflected on his sacrifices for the people, the light in his eyes gradually dulled, and his heart hardened almost beyond repair. Yet, he refused to surreo hopelessness.

  Amidst the sleeping children, he delicately traced the auburn strands of hair framing April’s peaceful face. She was fast asleep, her mind exhausted from the incessant grip of fear. She was too young and io be subjected to such a wretched life. He o protect her, to shield her from the horrors of this world.

  But how would—

  “Kyaaa~” one of the men excimed after a swig of booze. “Reginald Alden Percival—so that’s our t, eh? And he’s a Baron?”

  “Sounds like his purse is pretty deep.”

  “I wouldn’t get my hopes up,” the leader cautioned.

  “How e? Nobles are usually loaded, right?”

  “Not this guy—at least, not that I know of. Acc to the rumors, he’s from a long line of talented chemists who have been delving into the secrets of alchemy feions. Several years ago, close to the end of his life, the former king of this nd reized their impressive achievements and summohem to the kingdom. He issiohem to create the ?Philosopher’s Stone? and grant him eternal youth.”

  “Seriously?”

  “And what happened?”

  “They failed, and the king died. The Percivals were ned and banished from the pace, but not before being stripped of their titles and having their wealth seized,” the leader expined.

  One of the men frowned, his beer suddenly tasting sour. “Then he’s no longer a Baron? Che. He’s not pnning to pay for the goods o, is he? That won’t fly.”

  “No, he’s sihen curried favor with a few iing characters and introduced a special produ the bck market.”

  “Oh-oh? Sounds like my kinda guy.”

  Daisuke’s eyes narrowed as he eavesdropped on the versation from the shadows of the cage, theroked his in ption.

  ***

  Daisuke looked around in astonishment as the an steered the horse through the gates of a small town. It was as though a tempest had swept through the settlement, spiriting away all the inhabitants. Once a bustling town, it was now a ghostly shell of its former self. The wooden buildings, weathered and worn by time, stood in eerie sileheir doors hanging off their hinges and windows shattered.

  The steady rhythm of the horse’s hooves and the creaking of the wagon’s wheels echoed through the desote streets, breaking the silehat had loled over the abaown. The children, who once regarded the world with vat stares, now gnced around in a mix of awe and trepidation, their movements restricted by the metallic prison.

  The sve merts, their eyes darting around for any sign of danger or opportunity, led the way through the eerie streets. The two Bearhounds, sniffing around for any trace of food or prey, kept close to their masters, their movements alert and predatory.

  One of the meed his hand on his sword as they passed by the remnants of past monster invasions—traces of fur, cw marks, broken fences, overturned carts, and ed-up ground.

  “What’s up with this pce?” one of the men muttered, voig the question that hung in the air like a dark cloud.

  “Yeah—where’s everyone?” another wondered aloud.

  “Were the people all sughtered by monsters?”

  Daisuke’s brow furrowed as he sed the abareets, searg for answers. No, if that were the case, we would have seen dried blood, or at least a few skeletons ying around.

  The leader, his gaze fixed on a distant hill, broke the sileh a grim expnation. “After fag nation from the kingdom, most, if not all regions ceased trading with the Percivals and their domain. The sudden disruption in the supply affected everyone from farmers to artisans, pelling them to abandoown and seek refuge elsewhere.”

  ***

  A rge manor stood amidst a serene tryside. It was once a sight to behold, but now it bore the scars of a fallen noble legacy. The imposing structure with its majestic architecture and elegant turrets hi a glorious past when the Percival family enjoyed a promi p society, their wealth and stific pursuits admired and highly sought after.

  However, the passage of time was unkind. The manlory had waned, its luster dimmed, and the signs of were evident. Vines, wild and untamed, curled around the stone walls, reg their space with an almost defiant grace.

  Uhe sve traders’ and, the children formed a line in the courtyard of the maninald, fnked by a retinue of guards, carefully scrutinized each youngster. He examiheir boructure, skin dition, aal health with a ical eye.

  Despite the tantalizing proximity of the open forest just beyond the courtyard, not a single child dared to make a break for freedom. It was useless. The Bearhounds were gring at them with bared teeth, daring anyone foolish enough to attempt an escape. Around their necks were grisly trophies—the skulls of those who had dared to defy the sve traders and had paid the ultimate price. It served as a stark remihat their lives and liberty were now forfeit.

  With a posed smile, Daisuke pced a hand above his heart and bowed deeply as the former baron approached. “The esteemed Reginald Alden Percival—I’ve heard great things about your work. It’s an honor to make your acquaintance.”

  “Oh?” the man looked him over with an unreadable expression before ing his head to the side.

  The leader of the merts grasped the unspoken cue. “We found him in Dusthaven leading a gang of young thieves.”

  Reginald absorbed this revetion, then turned his head to face Daisuke once more. He observed the graceful bow the silver-haired youth maintained, his silence lendi to his scrutiny. The boy’s demeanor and eloquence hi a background worth probing.

  “You appear far too astute to be a simple oner,” Reginald remarked. “Who are you, truly?”

  Daisuke retained his perfeiy-degree bow, his left hand gracefully resting on his lower back. “I am Julian Nathaniel Langley,” he replied smoothly, “though in these circumstances, I have adopted the moniker Haxks. My family fell victim to bckmail and was subsequently sold into svery, pellio employ any means necessary for survival.”

  The mert leader frowned.

  “Langley,” Reginald mused, the name failing to stir any reition. “I’m afraid it doesn’t ring a bell.”

  “I’m not surprised,” Daisuke responded calmly. “A family of your stature wouldn’t likely be acquainted with mihe Langleys were a modest and unassuming household, overseen by a rural tryside lord.”

  “And her?” Reginald’s gaze slid towards the diminutive figure draped in an ostentatious dress, positioned mere inches from the boy.

  “My younger sister—Aprilena Elise Langley,” Daisuke fabricated smoothly, his tenance a mask of siy. “Thankfully, we mao stay together.”

  “Mmm. Aprilena,” Reginald said, his lips parting slightly as his eyes roamed over her ily.

  Petrified, April g to her fake brother, the man’s i almost a physical and unwele touch. Daisuke’s body tensed in e, but it didn’t reach the perfectly sculpted mask of his face.

  Reginald instructed his butler to escort the siblings to their designated guestrooms while the remaining children were swiftly transferred into the custody of the sve master.

  The leader of the merts observed the proceedings with a blend of disdain aat. Fool, he muttered inwardly, shaking his head. I ’t believe he fell for that pathetic excuse for a cover story. Che. Well, it’s no longer my problem as long as the payment is secure.

  Fear of monsters & the unknown: 62.2%