The Whereabouts of the Carriage

Squish squish.

“Hehehe…”

Master was gently stroking my hair.

That cold yet warm touch, running from the crown of my head to the nape of my neck, sent shivers down my spine.

Being in Master’s arms, just having my hair stroked, was enough to make the world perfect.

This is happiness…

How long had I waited for this to happen.

For three long years, I had waited only for Master, tending to the labyrinth and embarking on a perilous journey to find Master.

All that effort and waiting were rewarded in this moment, this happiness.

“Rico, what are you thinking about?”

Master pinched my cheek and asked.

“Nothing! It’s just that being with Master makes me so happy.”

I could feel my cheeks turning red.

Master smiled softly and continued to stroke my hair.

Master’s smile was as gentle and mysterious as moonlight.

That smile alone could melt my heart.

Why weren’t we heading home…?

Oh right!

We were waiting for the carriage!

Now that I thought about it, the carriage still hadn’t arrived, which was strange.

It felt like a lot of time had passed…

“Miel!”

Flutter flutter!

A blue butterfly flew to my shoulder as usual.

A faint light emanated from its small body.

Miel always fluttered around me, staying close.

“Miel, how long have we been here?”

Miel plucked a few strands of my hair.

Ow!

At this rate, I’ll go bald…!

《It’s been a week.》

“A week?!”

Goodness, a whole week had passed.

Time had flown by.

Being with Master made me completely unaware of the passing time.

“Master, if it’s been a week for me, does that mean you’ve been here for two months?”

Master nodded.

“Yes.”

Master’s calm response contrasted with my growing anxiety.

Something wasn’t adding up.

When we left the kingdom, the estimated travel time was clearly stated.

It should have taken only a month and a half at most…

“Master, the carriage was supposed to arrive in a month and a half. But it’s already been over two months and it still hasn’t…”

Nis, who had been having tea on an ice mound in the distance, approached us.

“This is troubling. Something must have gone wrong.”

“Hmmm…”

Master frowned slightly.

What could have happened?

Had we simply taken a wrong turn?

Or was there an accident?

Or perhaps…!

“Master! We need to catch those ninjas!”

***

The view outside the window was unsettling.

A dull, murky field of purple and black stretched endlessly.

Dead trees jutted into the sky like bones, and the air was eerily still, without even a breeze.

The sky was covered in ash-gray clouds, hiding the sun.

Occasional lightning flashed, but there was no thunder, creating an eerie phenomenon.

At a glance, it resembled Nis’s Zone of Death, but the timing didn’t align with our expected arrival at the reception area of the Diance Empire.

I focused my magic to visualize the map.

A blue map of light appeared in the air.

I tried to gauge our current location, but the surrounding terrain didn’t match the map.

“This is strange. We should still be within the territory of the Heshet Empire…”

I shook my head, observing the area more closely.

This landscape was far from the normal appearance of the Heshet Empire.

“Is this Nis-nim’s domain? But Lycoris hasn’t returned yet…”

Levi pressed her face against the window and asked, her voice tinged with anxiety.

“No, that’s not possible. Even if the carriage is fast, it’s impossible to arrive in a month.”

Suddenly, the swaying of the carriage felt unusual.

A faint vibration was growing stronger.

This wasn’t just due to the bumpy road.

My keen magical senses detected an unusual energy.

Suddenly, a strange creature passed by outside the window.

It looked like a wyvern but had a body made of stone.

That thing…

A gargoyle…?

Behind it, creatures resembling chimera-like cockatrices and minotaurs moved in a group.

None of them were normal monsters.

They all had deformed and mutated appearances.

“What… are those?”

Levi asked, her voice trembling.

Her hand instinctively moved toward her bow.

“Could this be… the Demon Territory…?”

The words slipped out of my mouth.

“We should ask the coachman.”

I opened the window and leaned out.

The coachman in black was driving the horses with his head bowed.

His movements seemed stiff.

“Coachman! Where are we headed? It seems like we’ve taken a wrong turn!”

I shouted, but there was no response.

Only the wind replied.

“Coachman?”

Still silence.

Somethings wrong.

“Light!”

A bright light flashed from the tip of my staff.

The horses startled and stopped abruptly.

The carriage shook violently, nearly throwing me forward.

“What’s going on…?”

Levi asked, her face filled with worry.

Her expression was tense.

“The coachman’s condition is strange. I need to check.”

I replied calmly, though I felt a ominous premonition.

I got off the carriage and approached the coachman’s seat.

He remained bowed, unresponsive.

A faint purple aura swirled around him.

I gently touched his shoulder.

“Coachman?”

He slowly lifted his head.

A chill ran down my spine.

His eyes had no focus.

His completely white pupils stared into the void.

Dry saliva stains on his lips.

These symptoms…

Were characteristic of a high-level mind control spell.

“This is bad!”

My voice was laced with urgency.

Levi jumped down and stood beside me.

She too saw the coachman and gasped.

“He… he’s…?”

“No, he’s alive. But he seems to be under a powerful mental spell.”

Levi’s words left me momentarily stunned, but I explained as calmly as possible.

Flutter flutter!

Cecilia flew down from the carriage and joined us.

Rote also floated around, circling us.

They both seemed concerned about the coachman.

The insect-like monsters of Lycoris were surprisingly intelligent.

Though Glacia remained indifferent, still lying inside the carriage.

“This…”

Examining the coachman’s eyes, I noticed purple droplets coming from his ears.

This was clearly a transformation beyond mere mind control.

I cast a diagnostic spell.

Purple energy flickered around his body.

This resembled necromancy I’d studied, but it felt different.

More primal and powerful…

“Dispel!”

I tried a purification spell, but there was no response.

The purple aura completely ignored my magic.

I attempted a stronger spell.

“Liberation!”

A blue light enveloped the coachman’s head, but the purple aura devoured it instantly.

The magic resistance was too strong.

Stronger than any magic I’d ever encountered.

“Not working…?”

Levi asked, her voice filled with worry.

Her face showed signs of despair.

“My abilities aren’t enough. If only Lycoris were here, with her authority…”

I thought of Lycoris’s apostle authority.

Her power could purify any mental corruption.

“Is there anything I can do?”

“For now, please tend to him. His condition is deteriorating rapidly, so keep him as comfortable as possible.”

“Got it!”

Levi immediately took bandages and herbs from her bag.

With skilled hands, she disinfected his wounds and administered the herbs.

She brought a blanket from the carriage and gently laid him down.

“This should stabilize his condition for now…”

Levi’s skills were truly impressive.

As a hunter, she was naturally adept at first aid.

“You’re amazing.”

Looking around, I organized my thoughts.

Records from numerous books flashed through my mind.

The landscape before us perfectly matched descriptions of the Demon Territory.

“This place… it really does seem to be the Demon Territory… in the northeast of the Heshet Empire, the domain of demons.”

I tried to stay calm, but the gravity of the situation was clear.

“The Demon Territory…? Then what happened to the coachman is…”

Levi’s voice trembled.

Her fists clenched and unclenched involuntarily.

“Yes. It’s likely the work of demons. Their mind control is notoriously brutal. The victim’s consciousness remains aware but unable to act, feeling all the pain and fear.”

I explained, recalling my knowledge of demons.

Levi’s face paled.

Her hands shook slightly.

“So… the coachman is still aware of everything…?”

“It’s very likely.”

My heart felt heavy.

Levi’s anxious expression made the situation feel even more dire.

Deep down, I grew more worried.

‘What if we’ve entered the Land of Death…? That would be truly dangerous…’

I mentally visualized the continental map.

Beyond the Demon Territory lay the Land of Death.

A mysterious region barely charted on maps.

Cecilia suddenly flapped her wings anxiously.

The flame butterfly’s wings glowed brighter than usual.

She created small flames to light the darkness.

Rote also sped up her circling, forming what seemed like a protective barrier.

It was as if they sensed unseen danger.

Movement came from inside the carriage.

Glacia finally stirred and came out.

Normally, she wouldn’t bother even if danger loomed, but this time was different.

The insects’ instincts must have detected something significant.

Suddenly, the ground trembled.

Thud. Thud.

A rhythmic vibration, like the heartbeat of a colossal creature, began to grow.

A mix of academic curiosity and primal fear drained the blood from my face.

And then, a deep voice echoed from the ground itself.

“Kheh kheh… Welcome to the Land of Death…”