ALL NOVEL Chapter 382
…I feel like I’ve definitely heard this before.
“What? Grandson, you should never let her go!”
“Edmund~ Still, isn’t she a bit much?”
Watching two kind-hearted individuals immediately voice their opposing opinions, it seemed clear that neither was ordinary. Then again, searching for ordinary people in this mansion was asking for the moon…
But from my position, needing a powerful combatant as much as possible, it seemed necessary to make contact at least once.
Plus, I was personally curious about this individual named Hazel.
“Johann… Bringing in a dangerous person is…”
“Karina, don’t worry too much. We can just meet and check it out.”
“Indeed. It won’t be too late to think about it after we meet.”
“How intriguing.”
“Grandson, now you even bring a talking cat with you?”
“I’m not a cat.”
…So claimed Hecate while appearing in the form of a cat.
“What a strange cat.”
“Right, right!”
“I’m Hecate.”
“What a grand name! To give the name of a magical goddess from hundreds of years ago to a cat! Just like that! Ahahaha!”
Peymin exaggeratedly laughed, shaking her head side to side.
In other words, she was laughing with her neck twisted at a 90-degree angle. I firmly held Karina’s hand, frightened by her bizarre movements.
Karina seems surprisingly weak against things like this.
“That’s me.”
…Are they doing a skit? I couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity.
“First, I want to meet Hazel. Can you guide me there right away?”
“Understood.”
Let’s meet her quickly and make a decision.
“Grandson, I’m worried, so I’ll go too.”
“I don’t like Hazel, but I’ll go with you!”
“Thank you.”
I wasn’t sure if that was reassuring, but we headed to Hazel’s room with two additional people in tow.
————————-
The room where Hazel was confined had a door made of an unknown material, unlike the others. I casually touched the door and was dumbfounded to find that its strength was not much different from mithril.
They made a door like this just to confine one person?
“What on earth did she do to end up locked in here?”
“She caused a lot of trouble, you see. What you need to know is that if she cooperates, we can start the upcoming war holding a powerful card in our hands.”
“Grandson, still, be careful; she is a dangerous woman.”
“Right, right. She’s really~ dangerous, so I wouldn’t recommend taking her with you.”
Peymin warned me with a somewhat bitter expression.
“Once you go in, you’ll find out everything. Why she’s locked up and how dangerous she really is…”
As soon as he finished speaking, the door creaked open, creeeak.
Karina’s grip on my arm tightened further, as if pulling me in.
My arm naturally embraced her soft chest. Under normal circumstances, it might have been a bit risqué, but given the scene beyond the door, such thoughts quickly vanished into the recesses of my mind.
“Edmund. What’s the matter? Why did you bring your little brother?”
…Seems like there’s a good reason for her being locked away.
I pondered as I surveyed the bloodied chaos inside the room. What… blood is this?
“Hah. Hah. Hah.”
An eerie, precise laughter echoed. I locked eyes with a woman who looked at us, hunched over, holding what appeared to be a kitchen knife in her hand.
Though only a silhouette in the dark, her blood-red eyes stood out oddly, clearly revealing her presence.
…Anyway, this is my job, so I need to step forward.
I quietly turned my attention to Karina and exchanged a look. Karina noticed my intention and quietly released her grip.
Well then, shall we begin?
“Are you Hazel?”
“Is that a question you need to ask?”
Why is she speaking like that? It felt like I was listening to a malfunctioning doll; I couldn’t help but feel perplexed by her choppy speech.
“I am Johann Quartz.”
“Ah. You’re the successor?”
“Yes.”
“What do you want from me?”
“I need your help.”
“Help? From someone locked up?”
“Exactly.”
“How unique. I never thought there would be a rookie like you asking me for help.”
Footsteps were drawing closer. I thought I heard something dragging along the floor. Hazel gradually approached us, coming into the light.
And then, I heard the sound of someone gulping behind her.
Her body was covered in stitches, tears, and burn marks.
Each stitched area had slightly different skin tones.
Her face looked almost identical to the woman in the restraint suit behind me. No, I should say it was nearly identical.
Could it be… no way?
“Hmmm. Do you know who I am?”
An overwhelming sense of malice. It enveloped me like a heavy, grimy blanket, as if all the malice in the world was squeezing around me. It wasn’t unbearable, but it was enough to understand why she was locked away.
Could I really control such a person?
“I don’t know. But, Edmund recommended you.”
“Edmund recommended you to me, concerning matters of this world’s fate.”
“How strange. Me? Why not Jeron? Isn’t he better?”
Hazel asked us, her tone sounding somewhat like she was testing us. It was a question asked without specifying a target. Since I was unable to answer, Edmund naturally took over.
“Ah, he hasn’t been granted permission. As you know, he has a tendency to wander too much.”
“Heeh. Still, if you command him, wouldn’t he listen?”
“And, there’s no one more suitable for the war than you.”
“War?”
At that moment, I quietly interjected into the conversation.
“Indeed. The world outside is—”
As I began to explain the situation, Hazel, who had been listening with keen interest, chimed in.
“Sounds fun.”
True to her unconventional nature, her answer was anything but ordinary.
To refer to war as ‘fun’—what kind of person is this?
Is it really a good idea to take her outside?
If she’s indeed strong enough to change the tide of war, as Edmund said, then it may be worth it. But could I control her?
As I was lost in thought, Hazel opened her mouth. But the conversation wasn’t directed at me.
“Peymin, don’t you think it’s fun too?”
“Sis, you still haven’t changed that filthy temper, huh?”
So they really are sisters.
Slightly holding my forehead, I witnessed the strange dynamic of them growling at each other, or rather, it was more of a one-sided growl from Peymin.
What kind of complicated relationship is this?
“So you really are sisters?”
“Yup~ That woman is my damn sister.”
“That’s a bit too harsh, don’t you think?”
“Considering it’s for my sister, this is kind.”
Their nerve battle was far from playful. I quietly turned to Edmund, signaling him.
Shouldn’t you discuss this sort of thing beforehand?
“Both of you calm down. Aren’t you guests here?”
“…Sorry.”
“Our Pey is getting kinder, huh?”
“Shut up.”
“Hazel.”
“Got it, got it. That’s enough.”
“So, will you help us?”
“Do I have any choice?”
…I mean, who would refuse a chance to get a breath of fresh air if they were imprisoned?
Nodding at Hazel’s words, I extended my hand.
“Let’s do our best.”
“So this is what a handshake is?”
Hazel awkwardly shook my hand up and down.
———————-
“Hahaha! It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?”
“It’s been a while, Lord Vulcanus.”
“I’ve brought out new weapons to meet your expectations!”
“…Isn’t that a hammer?”
“It’s not an ordinary hammer!”
Vulcanus raised a rather large hammer high into the sky. Sparks of blue began to fly from the hammer.
“It’s a hammer that channels lightning! I’ve named it Mjölnir! Isn’t it amazing?”
…What in the world has he created?
The name doesn’t match at all.
“It truly is perfectly marvelous.”
“With this hammer, I’ll protect your back!”
“Thank you.”
I was genuinely relieved that this good-natured man was coming along.
“We’ve gathered four people now, so it’s time to head back.”
“Thank you for your help.”
“I’ve merely done what I had to do.”
“Then we will head back.”
“Oh, and take this with you.”
He placed something in my hand. Upon closer inspection, it was a ring adorned with quite lovely patterns.
“What is this…?”
“It’s a ring that proves you’re the successor of the Quartz family. I had quite the struggle making it, so don’t lose it. But even if you do, it’ll find its way back to you anyway…”
“I understand.”
“Then, I wish you victory in the war.”
He smiled and saw us off. Watching him disappear through the huge door, we quietly walked into the mist.