STM 55

I wiggled my fingers, which were barely able to move, and took out a piece of porcelain that I had hidden in my sleeve.

It wasn’t easy trying to cut the string that tied my wrists while I couldn’t see them.

Moreover, I was cut by a sharp ceramic and blood flowed from my hand, but I was so desperate that he didn’t even notice the pain.

Just a little more, just a little more…..

Snap.

I was straining, and then I felt something snap. I tried to strain my wrist, and it really did loosen up a bit.

Ugh, just a little more! That’s enough!

One hand slipped out, though the stinging sensation of my skin being torn off spread quickly. At the same time, the iron door began to open.

What the hell, a weapon, anything that couId be used as a weapon?

I quickly looked around, but nothing caught my eye. Unfortunately, Mo mercilessly confirmed it.

[There is not a single tool in this room that can be used as a weapon.]

I swore without thinking.

“Fuck, if only I had a club……”

Right that second, a faint glow burst from near my chest.

What the heck? That twig that the Spirit of Poison gave me?

Before I could even panic, a long club was in my hand. The twig looked more bone-like as it grew larger.

Squeak~

“Huh? How did you wake up..?”

Just then, a thug came in, saw me, and stopped. I took advantage of that opportunity and swung my club at him.

Whee~~~!!!

Huh? The wind is unusually loud.

The rising emotion was drowned out by the loud noise that followed. The thug 1 suddenly floated up like a baseball hit by a bat and crashed into the iron door.

Screech! Crash!

“Ugh.”

With a final scream, he plummeted to the floor. But neither I nor the thugs saw him fall. Instead, our gazes rested on the iron gate. It was crumpled like a sheet of paper.

“……”

“……”

There was a moment of silence. It seemed as if the thug 2’s mind was as complicated as mine.

Why on earth is the iron gate so crumpled? If an iron gate can be like that, how can people be okay?

Our gazes simultaneously turned to the thug 1, then to the club in my hand.

“That… what is that?”

“What’s that?” thug 2?asked.
“Good question,” I thought.
Instead of answering, I swung the club at him to test it.

Wooosh~~~!!!

“Gah!”

This time, too, the person flew like a homerun ball. No, really, can someone fly that lightly and quickly?

Bang!!

He flew far down the hallway, crashed into the wall, and rolled across the floor. The sound of the thug slamming into the iron door was so loud it seemed almost comical, and the building briefly shook. The reason was simple.

Thud! Boom

The wall collapsed. I blinked silently, then Iooked down at the club in my hand.

What has the Spirit of Poison given me?

‎

‎

‎

‎

“You still haven’t found Baron Owik’s location?”

Ottma, who visited Torida late at night, was obviously frowning, perhaps because the news was not what he had expected.

Torida lowered his head further, not daring to look his opponent in the eye. He was afrai d of Zav, but even more terrified of the his right hand.

In reality, the person who will point a sword at you and cut you down is none other than this person, Sword Expert Ottma.

“His Grace, the Grand Duke Borhumi will be greatly disappointed. You understand, don’t you? You won’t get a second chance.”

“Adeye Lu is holding up better than expected.”

Torida protested sincerely, not knowing that he would be making such an excuse.

“I can’t understand why he keeps his mouth shut like that. Adeye Lu is clearly a brainless man who only cares about his appearance, but even after being beaten and his face was completely ruined, he didn’t flinch.”

Ottma also raised his eyebrows as if he found those words strange.

“Adeye Lu’s face is ruined, but he doesn’t open his mouth?”

“Yes, they say that after he nearly died, he’s completely changed…….”

“Stop making excuses.”

Ottma clicked his tongue and cut off his excuse.

“Your Highness has waited long enough. If, as you say, there’s a room in this mansion where the ancestral records are hidden, all we have to do is break down the wall and find it.”

She spoke coolly and turned to her subordinate standing behind her. She had already prepared well for this situation.

“Get ready to break down the wall.”

“No! They said this mansion is under the protection of a spirit, and that touching it could lead to disaster. Sillian was so afraid that even a broken window wouldn’t be fixed…”

“It’s the obvious thing that spirit masters fear the spirits leaving.”

Ottma cut him oft coldly and looked around. Despite the fact that the Owick family had made a considerable fortune from the poisonous plants, their mansion was dilapidated and run-down, like an abandoned castle.

But there was a reason for that. Owick’s ancestors were quite the cowards.

“B-but Sillian said anyone who harms this mansion will never make it out alive…”

“You believe that?”

Ottma gestured to her subordinates and helped Torida to his feet. She then forcibly placed the hammer in his hand.

Torida realized what she meant and was startled, about to drop the hammer, but stopped himself at the dire warning.

“Either try a curse that doesn’t exist, or die for sure now.”

Torida’s hands trembled. With the force of his back being pushed, he moved forward and stood before the wall. The sword touched his neck, which remained motionless.

“Ugh! I-I’ll do it.”

His face went pale as he raised his arms. He clenched his eyes shut and swung the hammer toward the wall.

Crash!

With a loud crash, the hammer sank into the wall. Everyone watched for a moment, but nothing unusual occurred.

All that was left was a thick layer of dust from the old, worn walls that filled the room, causing a tew people to cough.

When no sign of a curse appeared, Ottma laughed.

“So, you’re saying that you haven’t touched this old mansion until it reached this state, trying to please the spirit? You’re saying that they’re afraid of being abandoned by them.”

Torida turned his head blankly. Was that all? Losing a spirit’s favor?

Rumble

A deafening sound suddenly rose from below, shaking the floor. The building began to quake violently.

Suddenly, a deafening, loud noise echoed from the basement. Immediately after, the building began to shake.

Those who came to their senses belatedly opened the door to escape, but no one could escape. They had clearly opened the door, but behind it was not a hallway, but a wall.

‎

‎

‎

‎

“Why’s everyone so interested in Adeye Lu?”

Ennya tilted her head, watching the Owik estate from her hidden position. She’d come here after following Zav’s men under Tairok’s orders.

“Everyone? I’m not.”

Haas, her usual partner, yawned beside her. Most mages didn’t like fieldwork, but he specialized in tracking magic, so he was stuck doing it constantly.

“I don’t care what you think. I’m talking about the Grand Duke, the Borhumi side, all of them.”

“They probably have their reasons. Don’t bother thinking about it.”

Unlike Haas, who just wanted to finish the job and go rest, Ennya was too restless to let the question go.

“What’s so special about that guy?”

“He’s got a pretty face.”

Ennya frowned and turned to glare at him.

“Don’t tell me you’re saying our Grand Duke fell for Lu’s face?”

“What? No. I just mean he’s good-looking. He’s a fool who only knows men, why would the Grand Duke fall for him?”

“Maybe a fool, but he’s not someone obsessed with men anymore. He changed. They say if a man even touches him now, he breaks out in rashes all over his body.”

Haas, who usually didn’t keep up with gossip, stared wide-eyed.

“That sounds impossible.”

“It’s true. He nearly died.”

“Even so…”

“He was inside a monster’s stomach and made it out alive.”

“Okay, that explains it.”

Haas nodded seriously this time, then added,

“But even if he’s changed, the Grand Duke wouldn’t be swayed by someone like that. His reason always wins over emotion. He’s still unmarried because he plans to choose a partner who’ll benefit the family. Actually, lately, there’s been talk that his recent contact with that person might have to do with choosing a future partner…”

“That person? Who?”

Ah, Haas realized too late what he’d said and shut his mouth. But Ennya caught it and her eyes lit up.

“The Grand Duke’s finally decided to take a partner? Who is it?”