Volume 3 Chapter 171 Catacombs Date
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
He stepped out from the shadowed stone building, its dark gray walls tinged with a black hue.
Even though it was midday, the green courtyard enclosed by old red-brick buildings was cloaked in dimness.
Not a single house had windows facing the Catacombs. The silence was unnatural—almost too perfect.
”…Glasses.”
Kian walked forward, drawn toward the golden-haired girl like a moth to a flame.
Pain throbbed in his extended right hand—a wound left by the thorns that had erupted from Owl.
But the dull ache ringing in his mind barely registered anymore.
His eyes trailed over her form, lingering.
She stood quietly in the low grass. Her long blonde hair flowed down to her waist, and her red eyes sparkled like rubies. Her lips were soft, faintly tinted like cherry petals.
She wore a white short-sleeved blouse and a skirt that stopped above the knees. Her legs, slender and pale as porcelain, peeked out beneath the hem. The sight stung the eyes with a strange purity.
She looked older now—about seventeen. A few years had passed since the battle at Oswald.
The delicate smile on her lips was the kind that could steal anyone’s breath away.
”Glasses…!” Kian called again, stepping closer.
His emotions wavered—first confusion, then joy, then something bitter and sharp, like anger.
”Where have you been all this time?” he asked, his voice trembling. “I was really worried.”
”And yet,” she said calmly, “it seems you had more important things to do—like meeting all those other women instead of worrying about this one.”
”You saw that?” he asked, blinking.
”I was beside you in Ramsey.”
Kian’s breath hitched.
”Wait… then that voice I thought I heard in town… on the street…”
Glasses gave a slow nod.
”That was me. You thought it was your imagination, but it was really me.”
Kian reached out on instinct, fingers moving toward her right hand.
He wanted to touch her—anything to confirm she was really there.
But the moment his silver-clad hand made contact, it passed right through her.
”…!”
His gauntlet sliced through air.
”As you can see,” she said, her voice gentle, “I have no body. Only you can hear this one’s voice. Only you can see this one’s form. That’s probably how it is.”
Kian’s brows furrowed.
”What’s happening to you?”
Glasses shook her head slowly.
”I don’t know. I found myself in an alley behind Ramsey, and I’ve been wandering around the city ever since. You didn’t notice me. I felt alone again… a kind of loneliness that felt strangely familiar.”
”What are you saying?”
”Sorry,” she said with a small smile. “I mean, I don’t really understand what’s going on either.”
”Still…” Kian looked at her with relief. “I’m just glad you’re back. My journey… it really needs you.”
”Fufu. I’m happy to hear that,” she replied. “I understand the situation now. We’re heading into the Catacombs to investigate the sacrificial ritual left behind by Tobal Cain, right? I’ll come too.”
As she passed by Kian, her golden hair swayed in the air—though untouchable, it moved like something real.
”────”
”What’s wrong, Kian? Ah, does my hair bother you?”
”It’s not just the hair… you look more mature than before.”
”Do you mean the time at the ancient temple of Erynys? Or the fortress ruins?”
”Yeah. Back then, you looked like a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl. You were smaller.”
”Now this one’s body has longer legs and better functions,” she said with a soft smile. “Looks don’t matter much. Don’t let it trouble you.”
”I see…”
”If it’s just the hairstyle, I can change it whenever you want. Watch.”
She lifted a pale hand and waved.
In an instant, the long golden strands vanished, shrinking to the nape of her neck.
Her new short hairstyle, neat and polished, gave off a refined impression.
Where her long hair had felt untamed—like she’d just rolled out of bed—this new look was precise and graceful.
Then, as Kian stood there stunned, she reached out and gently pulled him back.
”If you’re ready, let’s go. Check the ritual quickly, then prepare to strike back.”
”Well, actually… the group hasn’t decided yet if we’ll fight the Union,” Kian said, lowering his voice. “Depending on how the talks go, we might end up running.”
”And if you run?” she asked plainly.
”…Then everyone in Ramsey will be sacrificed. The Thorn Demon will be revived.”
When the same thing happened eighty years ago, Aliona somehow stopped it.
So this time, they were putting all their trust in her.
If Izerland fell, Renaud and the others would probably step in. It might be enough.
Meanwhile, Kian and the others could slip out of the country through Franz and live quietly in the southern lands.
Honestly, Kian had no strong objections.
She had seen the rioters—about a thousand of them—commit unspeakable things.
She wasn’t an Owl, but even she believed that leaving Ramsey’s 11,500 residents to their fate wasn’t necessarily the wrong call for a human.
”Yeah,” she said softly. “That choice isn’t wrong either.”
”It was a mistake to stop Owl from killing those rioters in the first place,” Kian muttered. “We should’ve just watched from the balcony… but I jumped in.”
”The real mistake was getting involved with Ramsey at all,” she said. “You shouldn’t have greeted Tobal Cain. Shouldn’t have helped those people heading back to the ancient temple. You should’ve just walked away. Rean would have.”
”Yeah… In the end, I’m just a half-hearted person who can’t make up his mind.”
Glasses sighed and walked back to Kian’s side. She raised her hand and snapped her fingers.
Suddenly, the ground behind him bulged upward, and something struck his back with a solid thud through the armor of Silver Ice.
”Uwah!?”
”Get it together!” she scolded. “What’s done is done. No use dwelling on it. Look forward.”
”Talia…”
”I should tell you not to call me that, but… I guess it doesn’t matter anymore. Call me whatever you like.”
Talia—once ‘Glasses’—calmly lowered the earth she had lifted with her magic.
”Kian,” she said, turning to face him, “you already know, don’t you? You have no more path of escape. The moment you declared your protection to Tobal Cain in that square… that was it.”
”……”
Kian’s face twisted with frustration.
She was right.
Kian had been forced into the title of Master Knight by Maribel, then sent on a mission to inspect Owls. But not only had he let Owl slip past him, it led to the complete destruction of Ramsey’s residents—and now the Thorn Demon had been revived. If things reached that point, what would the inspectors have been doing all this time?
Maribel wouldn’t stay quiet. Neither would the neighboring feudal lords.
A decree would likely come: eliminate the Thorn Demon, no matter what.
If he ignored that, he wouldn’t just be exiled from Izerland—he’d be driven out of the entire Franz Kingdom.
A peaceful adventurer life in the southern lands? That was out of the question. If he followed Azrael and fled down there, they’d all be labeled traitors.
And if that happened… he couldn’t keep his promise to Sarah. He wouldn’t be able to help Linca’s family either.
Serena would never make it back to the Wolfmen’s pack, and Kian himself might end up wanted across the continent. At the very least, Oswald and the surrounding lords wouldn’t forgive him. A bounty on his head would be the natural result.
In the end, there really was no option but to face it head-on.
If someone wished to live in a civilized nation… they couldn’t afford to run.
Kian let out a long breath.
”So this means I’ve got no choice but to brace myself,” he muttered.
”I only told you to calm down and think,” Talia said, turning her back to him.
Her white miniskirt swayed with the motion, revealing a glimpse of her smooth, slender thigh burned into Kian’s vision. It was dangerously captivating.
He couldn’t help but think, I’d like to get stepped on.
”Stop turning into a pervert out of nowhere,” she snapped.
”Sorry,” Kian said with a chuckle, then sighed. “Haa…”
”Hey, Kian. They say a pinch is just a chance in disguise. I saw you stand up to Oswald with those glasses of yours and win. You can do it again. Let’s fight together—just like back then.”
”‘Glasses’… yeah. Thanks. I think I’ve got my thoughts in order now,” he said with a nod.
”Glad to hear it. Then let’s go.”
Kian nodded again and moved to stand beside Talia.
He meant to go down the ladder into the Catacombs first and sneak a peek under her skirt while doing so—but her mind was still unreadable. She had already gone ahead.
Still, his mood and confidence were a little better now.
The building that led into the Catacombs was made from old, soot-stained stone. But inside, the walls were sealed with clay-packed mud and reddish bricks. The corridor was narrow—tight enough that Kian had to squeeze through—but a bit further in, it opened up into a small plaza that looked perfect for kids to turn into a secret base.
At the center of the plaza stood a solitary pedestal, likely meant for holding incense.
On the right edge was a strange square space, encircled by stone walls.
Peering in from the side, Kian saw a small entrance. It led to a room just big enough for one person to rest inside. There was a desk, a few chairs, and boxes for storing small items.
Dusty black robes and ragged hats hung along the wall.
There were keys hanging there too—but the actual keys were missing.
That was because Kian was holding them now.
”Is this the gravekeeper’s room?” he asked. “There’s a candle on the desk… and a shriveled apple. Half-eaten.”
”Yikes! G-Giant roach!” Talia yelped.
”So what? It’s just a cockroach,” Kian replied flatly. “Graveyards are full of offerings. Offerings attract bugs, rats… even snakes and cats that come to eat them.”
”Gross. I want to go home.”
”You didn’t say that when we were crawling through the sewers chasing that glasses guy.”
(Still, could it be a spirit? Even if it looked just like it had in life, maybe its senses had been revived too. The constant chirping nearby was getting on Kian’s nerves, so he decided to leave the gravekeeper’s room quickly.)
”Wait a second,” Talia said, stopping him.
”What now? Don’t tell me you’re too tired to walk. I’m not carrying you.”
”That’s not it,” she said, her voice calm again. She pointed toward a wooden box used for storing small tools. “There’s something under that.”
”Huh?”
The moment she spoke, Kian’s vampire senses sharpened.
But something under the box gave off a strange mist—no scent, no heat signature. It was blocking his senses.
”It’s a stealth spell,” she said. “Pretty high-level. But even magic can’t fool my eyes. Let’s move it.”
They pulled out the gravekeeper’s chair and dragged the wooden box aside.
Beneath it, the floor looked like ordinary stone.
Talia moved her hand in a gentle gesture, calling on her magic.
A flow of power rose from the spiritual vein beneath Ramsey, like water in a hidden lake. It curled around a magical seal etched into the stone floor.
The pavement glowed briefly—then released a sharp stench of death.
”……”
Talia snapped her fingers.
The stone crumbled away, revealing the decaying face of a man.
”Insect eggs are starting to hatch,” she said. “About a week since death.”
”The gravekeeper,” Kian said. “The hair on that cloak… it’s his.”
”He was murdered and buried here,” she murmured. “Then who was watching over this place last night?”
Lifting his face from the corpse, Kian glanced at Talia’s lovely profile.
”Someone with a grudge against Tobal Cain, most likely. The Adventurer’s Guild,” Kian said. “There was some trouble before. After the children were killed, the Guild Master took temporary control.”
”Or it could be someone from the Union,” Talia added. “Tobal Cain used spies to gather intel on the Beastmen factions. Makes sense they’d do the same.”
”We might find something if we investigate,” he said, shaking his head, “but we don’t have time. I’ll have one of Owl Knights handle it later. For now, no Guild members are allowed near.”
”Good idea.”
Talia put up a sign at the entrance:
’NO ENTRY! CRIME SCENE! ADVENTURERS FORBIDDEN.
Kian of Izerland (Master Knight)’
Ever since Linca pointed it out, the title Master Knight had been getting more and more embarrassing. He still didn’t know what Maribel had been thinking. He’d definitely complain to her tonight.
”How’d you know the ritual would be in the Catacombs?” Talia asked as they left the room and descended the steps to the second basement level.
”It was Linca’s theory,” Kian said. “If they drew the ritual circle on the surface, the townsfolk might spot it or mess it up. And drawing it in the sky would be too obvious. That leaves underground. Most likely, it’s hidden even deeper—one level below where Owl’s undead were sealed. The lowest floor of the Catacombs.”
”Smart deduction. It was the right choice to bring that woman into our team. Take good care of her.”
”You don’t need to tell me,” Kian replied. “She’s my wife.”
”No, you are my husband,” Talia said with a smile. “But I won’t complain if you keep her nearby. Blood Servants are essential, after all.”
”Why are we even supposed to get married?” Kian asked, staring at her like it didn’t make sense.
”Rather, why wouldn’t you choose me?” Talia replied, tilting her head slightly. “I can’t understand that at all.”
”I want to sleep with a lot of women,” Kian said flatly, without the slightest hesitation.
Talia let out a long, tired sigh, brushing back her hair. “Why did I ever fall for someone like you?”
”You liked me?” Kian asked, a bit surprised.
”Yes,” she answered, her voice softer now. “I love you, Kian.”
(…She loves me?)
A small smile rose on Kian’s lips.
”I love you too,” he said.
* * *
Basement Level 3 was scorched black in all directions. The stench of burnt flesh clung to the air, heavy and choking. Even though there were ventilation ducts, it was hard to believe magic that destructive had been unleashed over and over again in such a confined space. If they hadn’t been careful, the mages could’ve suffocated.
Kian looked over a three-meter-wide section of the floor that had been completely blackened and exhaled a breath of relief.
(I’m glad I wasn’t here.)
No matter how strong you are, without air, you’re finished.
(Wait… can we kill Arminus like that? No air means death, even for him, right?)
”If we flood the area with large-scale fire magic… maybe we can kill Arminus by asphyxiation. Though it depends on Rufna’s magic,” Kian replied.
”We don’t have to rely on Rufna. As long as they’re not immortal, there’s always a way. Sarah and Linca fought Arminus before, right?”
”Yeah. The three of us faced him once. I nearly lost my head,” Kian said, giving a short nod. “Then they must’ve already started thinking up countermeasures.”
”That’s possible,” she replied. “Those two don’t fight fair. They’ll use any method they can. Not like you, who insists on swinging a sword.”
”But defeating someone that strong with tricks or poison doesn’t sit right with me,” Kian said, gripping his scabbard. “I want to beat him with my own sword.”
Talia let out a quiet chuckle. “I figured you’d say that. When you said you were scared of Arminus and running from Ramsey, I was honestly disappointed. But now… you’re still the same. A pure battle junkie.”
”I just can’t imagine a future where I beat him in a straight-up duel.”
”I’ve got a plan. I’m not sure you’ll like it, but… it might just give you the strength to defeat that hero head-on.”
”Wait, seriously!? You can do that?”
”It’s possible. But explaining it will take time, and we don’t have what we need here. Forget Arminus for now,” she said, pointing across the dark chamber. “See that? You can jump down to the lowest level from that secret stairway.”
She gestured to the far end of Basement Level 3, where rows of ancient coffins were placed like sleeping relics.
Kian followed her lead and let a few drops of blood fall onto a red-lined magic pattern carved into one of the coffins. The blood was absorbed instantly, and with a deep rumble, the coffin slid to the side, revealing a hidden staircase beneath a swirl of rising dust.
The stairs were sharply sloped, winding once and turning back as they led down into the deep underground.
After a minute of descending, they stood before a heavy stone door.
Kian pushed it open.
Beyond it was a vast hall, bigger than the old Izerland castle’s dance floor—the same one Oswald had shattered long ago. The place felt ancient. In the center of the hall, a massive scarlet magic circle stretched out like a blooming flower, shaped like a spindle.
”Whoa… it’s way bigger than a fir tree,” Kian muttered.
”This is an ancient vampire’s magic formation,” Talia said. “A four-layered structure. The lowest layer is the blood pact—the sacrificial ritual. The rest are for protection, concealment, and self-repair.”
Kian raised his eyes to the magic circle hovering five meters in the air.
”Talia, can you just break the sacrificial part?”
”Structurally impossible,” she replied. “I’d have to destroy the protective circle first. If I did that, Tobal Cain would detect it immediately.”
”I see…” Kian sighed.
He regretted not hitting Owl harder when they had the chance. If they’d sacrificed some of their own to just obliterate the whole castle with a magic sword, they wouldn’t be standing in this cursed place now.
(If Rufna’s barrier had worked perfectly, maybe we could’ve gotten a clean shot. But… it’s too late to think about that now.)
”Record the coordinates I’m about to give you,” Talia said. “They’ll be used for teleportation. Also, keep an eye on the insect golem.”
As she spoke, the ground near her swelled, and a butterfly-shaped golem emerged. Its delicate wings glowed faintly in shades of red and violet as it began to float gently around the circle.
”What is that?” Kian asked. “I thought I was supposed to call you Talia, not ‘Glasses.’”
”It’s a golem spell I copied from your childhood friend,” she said with a smirk. “It looked strange, so I modified it.”
”You copied it!? That’s the technique Sarah spent four years learning!”
Talia shrugged.
”I just watched and figured out the structure. Once you understand that, you can analyze and reconstruct it. The insect’s body needs precision, sure, but it doesn’t take four years. I do feel a little bad for Lady Sarah, though.”
”…”
”What’s that face for?” she said, puffing out her cheeks slightly. “I’ve been called a genius since back in Count Cain’s territory. Something like this shouldn’t surprise you.”
”So could you copy Natra’s swordsmanship too?”
”I could,” she replied. “When I fought the Silver Wolves, I picked up on the Mercenary King’s style, and even some beastmen martial arts. I could teach them to you.”
”You mean──?”
Talia hesitated for a moment.
But then, she said it.
”Azrael’s Dance Swordsmanship doesn’t match your style. But the beastmen’s martial arts… they rely on raw physical ability. That’s more your strength. It’ll make you a much better fighter.”
* * *
Back at the castle, they shared their findings with Serena at the entrance hall. Since it was still early afternoon, none of the others had returned from repairing the barrier or handling other tasks.
Later, a Knight working administrative support under Owl came to report.
Talia conjured a decorative chair and sat right next to Kian. As she had said earlier, her presence was concealed from everyone else. Even Serena, who usually noticed everything, only gave her a confused glance and then turned away with an irritated frown.
”──The organizer has been contacted by the union and will be escorted to the castle by evening,” the Knight reported. “Also, anyone wishing to leave Ramsey has been told to submit an application by noon tomorrow. The Adventurer Guild’s entrance is being used for that purpose, and the forms will be delivered later by the Guild.”
”Thanks for the report,” Kian said, nodding. “By the way, the Guild Master approved that use of the entrance and staff without any resistance?”
The Knight gave a vague nod. “Yes… well, the Adventurer Guild is semi-governmental. And, perhaps, the Guild Master feels some responsibility for the recent incident.”
”I see.”
”As for the corpses found in the Catacombs, I’ll assign a Vassal Knight to investigate. If anything comes up, they’ll report to you directly.”
”Understood. I appreciate it.”
”Then, if you’ll excuse me,” the Knight said with a bow before turning away. He gathered a few other Vassal Knights and began briefing them on the matter.
Replacing him, a group of around twenty women stepped forward from near the entrance, their movements elegant and poised. At the front stood Lady Kyuune, whose husband Julius had perished in the last attack.
”Lord Kian,” “Master Knight,” “Guardian Deputy,” they greeted with soft voices, gracefully adjusting the hems of their dresses.
Kian responded with a calm, warrior monk-style bow, the kind Azrael had shown him.
”Good day, noble ladies,” he said, offering a gentle smile.
”We’re hardly young enough to be called ‘ladies,’ you know,” one of the women near Lady Kyuune giggled, hiding her smile behind a pink feather fan.
Kian smiled back with effortless charm. “To me, everyone here looks like flowers in full bloom… Honestly, I might start blushing just standing here.”
”Oh my,” “How easily he blushes,” “So formal on the outside, yet so adorable underneath♡” came the playful voices around him.
Scratching the back of his head, Kian gave a wry laugh. “Ahaha… So, what brings you all here today?”
”Was Lord Owl really a monster?” the woman with the feather fan asked, tilting her head.
Another, dressed in white just behind her, leaned in curiously.
(If you want to gossip, please do it somewhere else…)
”We’re currently verifying the facts,” Kian replied, his tone professional. “An official announcement will be made once everything is confirmed—by tomorrow morning, if all goes well. I ask for your patience.”
”Um, Lord Kian… Is it true the Thorn Demon will be summoned?” Lady Kyuune asked softly, her eyes filled with worry.
Kian hesitated, then gave a careful answer. “At this moment, I can’t say. We plan to release an official statement this evening. It’s important for those considering evacuation to have accurate information. I’m sorry, but please wait just a little longer.”
”I understand…”
”Do you all intend to evacuate?” Kian asked, glancing around at the group.
The women exchanged glances, then gave him sad, knowing smiles.
”We’d like to,” one of them said quietly. “But we have nowhere else to go. Our homes, our land, our lives are all here in Ramsey. We can’t just abandon it all and flee.”
”We’ve decided to stay,” another said, lifting her chin. “We believe in Lord Kian, the man who defeated Lord Oswald.”
”That kind of trust… I’m not sure it’s wise,” Kian replied, but his voice lacked conviction.
Lady Kyuune shook her head. “We want to believe. If even you abandon us… we’re done for. We’ll die here, along with our children. But… at the very least, please save them.”
As if on cue, the women stepped aside, revealing a wooden box placed behind them. Inside it were glittering jewels, golden ornaments, and coins bearing the crest of the Franz Kingdom.
”We all talked it over,” Lady Kyuune said, her voice steady. “Please use this. No repayment needed. Just… protect Ramsey.”
Kian’s eyes widened. “I can’t possibly accept something like this.”
”Please take it,” Lady Kyuune insisted. “This is all we can do.”
Others stepped forward as well, faces filled with quiet resolve.
”We can’t fight, but we can use healing magic.”
”We can cook. We can wrap wounds.”
”We’ll work at the castle in shifts. Use us however you need.”
As they pressed closer, Kian took a small step back, flustered by the growing energy.
”I appreciate your spirit, but… what about your children?”
”We’ll leave them with our husbands.”
”Yes…”
Lady Kyuune took Kian’s hand gently. “We’ve already made arrangements. Those who are free will support the castle however we can.”
Several others moved closer, lightly placing their hands on Kian’s arms and waist, showing their agreement.
Some of their gazes… carried something more than duty.
”Haha, looks like the Master Knight is quite the popular one,” one woman teased, brushing her fan against his arm.
(‘Glasses’, please don’t just stand there. Help me!)
”I don’t know. Handle your own mess,” came a cold reply.
(Talia, please!)
The blonde girl turned her face away with a small “hmph,” as if uninterested.
Kian’s face flushed deeper as he felt one of the women’s soft curves pressing against his arm. He twitched slightly as someone’s hand brushed too low.
”My, what a striking and exotic gentleman~desuwa,” one murmured.
”And so strong too…”
”Um, um, everyone, could you please settle down for a moment?” Kian stammered, sweat forming at his brow.
Just then, the entrance doors opened with a low creak.
”We’re back, Kian,” Sarah called out.
”I’m home… Ahh, I’m so tired. Kian, are y-you there…?” Natra mumbled sleepily.
(Oh no…)
Seeing Kian surrounded by women, both girls froze in place. Natra’s face instantly darkened, a dangerous glint in her eyes. Sarah smiled sweetly—but the vein pulsing at her temple and the sharp crack of her fingers told another story.
”Ah, the jewelry—I’ll take custody of it,” Kian said quickly, his voice clear. “We’ll record all your names, and if possible, we’ll offer compensation after the war. As for your help at the castle, we’ll discuss it and give a final answer by noon tomorrow.”
With that, Kian passed off the matter to the administrative assistant knight and hurried toward the third-floor strategy room—the one that had once been Owl’s office.
”Sir Kian, I’m back,” Natra said coldly.
”Ah, Natra… Yeah.”
”Hehe, welcome back, Kian,” Sarah said, smiling sweetly. “How nice, being surrounded by such lovely ladies, hmm?”
”Ouch! Sarah, welcome back!” Kian yelped as she gave him a hard pinch on the side.
Natra puffed her cheeks and grabbed onto Kian’s arm with a sulky look, while Talia passed by behind them, shooting a sideways glare.
”You brought this on yourself, you playboy.”
Notes:
• Linca – Jibril’s favorite girl. High-ranking warrior monk woman from Shin, with strong abilities like ignoring attacks and poisons.
• Serena – Wolfmen Girl
• Arminus – Male. Leader of the Black Panther Tribe. Possesses extraordinary physical abilities, enhanced by the tribe’s unique technique that repels energy and magic attacks. His speed and strength surpass those of High Warlord Isthbaran. Wields the magic sword Balmung, capable of cleaving through an ice dragon with a single strike. His black fur provides camouflage in low visibility, making him nearly undetectable. Relationship: Leader of the Beastmen Alliance’s delegation.
• Count Cain – Talia’s father.
• Kyuune – Female. A noblewoman who lost her husband Julius (Owl’s knight) in a previous attack by the adventure. She represents a group of women who offer their support and resources to Kian in exchange for protection. Lady Kyuune is determined and willing to contribute in any way possible, even if it means staying in Ramsey during dangerous times.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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