Ch.124124. Winds of Plague (6)

The enemy had grown from one to two.

Not just beasts, but also intelligent species that were mortal enemies.

It was truly an awkward situation.

“Hey… what do we do now…? There are two enemies…”

“If those guys come after us…”

The humans were terrified, having just fled from the rats, and now facing the possibility of a combined attack from the sirens.

“We’re already short on manpower because of Shanberesh…!”

“Grr… those cunning humans…!”

The sirens, too, lacked the resources to deal with humans while defending the lake—their Maginot Line—from Shanberesh.

The meeting of these two forces was unwelcome to either side.

The wariness between them remained unbroken. If this situation continued, even if the rats were miraculously dealt with, war between the two factions would inevitably follow.

“Wait, that child…”

“She was with the humans?”

The interior of the sirens’ barrier was inaccessible to unauthorized humans.

Thanks to this, they were blocked by an invisible wall.

But one girl had stepped into the sirens’ territory. This was only possible because she was the sole human under the sirens’ protection.

What she wanted was just one thing.

“Senia…”

“Please, everyone, let them inside the barrier!”

To make everyone understand that now was the time for cooperation, not war.

***

Humans suddenly appeared on the west side of the lake. And among them, Senia emerged.

Although they didn’t treat her the same as the others due to a great debt they owed her, the sirens were still clearly displeased with the situation.

“Senia. Do you understand what you just said?”

“I do, Elder. But…”

“Don’t you think it’s too much to say such things when you know better?”

The village gatekeeper glanced at the humans, then cut in with a sour expression.

“They’re the ones who didn’t believe us and cast us out. They wouldn’t even listen to our explanations. You know how we’ve been treated since that day.”

It was already maddening enough to be falsely accused of harming humans, but they were even driven out beyond the borders of the duchy, the only livable area in the southern part of the Kempton continent.

This was a clear expression of hostility toward humans, requiring no further explanation.

“The sirens aren’t in a comfortable position either. If we help them and join forces, we might be able to drive away the beasts!”

“What if they accuse us again of taking humans hostage?”

“Reinforcements will definitely come. If we help them until then and prove that sirens never harmed humans…”

“We have plenty of proof. Proof that humans see us as enemies!”

Then others stepped forward to support this opinion.

“Hmph. After driving us out, did they ever leave us alone? No! They enslaved us, calling us a criminal race. They beat us mercilessly for allegedly doing something to the lake when we were just trying to draw water. They committed every evil deed imaginable! Don’t you all have something to say?”

“Some cruelly deceived us, then flayed our skin for their selfish gains, and my ignorant younger sibling became a slave.”

“My son went to the duchy, excited about finding a job. The reality… he died from overwork after having his magic forcibly extracted.”

“My sister—”

The victims continued to emerge endlessly.

Restraining those who still had much to say, the elder answered Senia in a solemn tone.

“Senia. You should understand by now. We fled here to survive. From those humans.”

It was the humans who no longer viewed sirens as fellow intelligent beings.

They didn’t even treat them properly, and repeatedly ignored their requests for help against the beasts, the common enemy.

As if that wasn’t enough, they falsely accused them. At some point, they began classifying sirens as enemies or beasts, cruelly executing those who pleaded their innocence.

It’s not strange that they treat humans as enemies.

None of the sirens, except for Senia, wanted to help the humans.

They didn’t care if the humans died, trapped outside the barrier and struggling. Despite their limited strength, the sirens refused to seek help from them.

“Do you really think that? That all humans are like that?”

In the past, relations weren’t bad—there were even human families who maintained exchanges with sirens.

Senia shouted, holding onto the hope of returning to those days.

“There were humans who wanted to help sirens. They weren’t like that! If we reveal both the source of the plague and the sirens’ power together, couldn’t public opinion change?”

But once again, the response was negative.

“Ha. People who wanted to help? Is that family still on the duchy’s map?”

“Those people. They’re all in prison for defending us, Senia. Their fate is uncertain.”

“…”

“Give it up, Senia. They are receiving the punishment they deserve for their crimes.”

To the east, the sirens were also in chaos, fighting the rats.

And in the midst of this, they were just going to watch as those humans became food for the beasts?

This wasn’t normal thinking.

If one thought about it, both sides were being pushed back by the beasts, so joining forces should be the priority. But now, only the flames of hatred burned in their eyes.

What should I do?

How could she persuade them?

She wished she could think of just one more thing, even if it meant burning her brain.

And then.

-Chirr!

“Chi, chirr! No, don’t go now!”

Someone’s pet lizard darted outside the sirens’ barrier.

—Hey, hey Junon!! On your shoulder!!

—Is it a beast…? No, a lizard? Where did it come from…

A lizard? Chirr is not just any lizard.

But why did Chirr suddenly run outside the barrier? As she turned her head in that direction, her brain suddenly sparked with a ray of hope.

“…!”

She found it. The reason why sirens must help them.

A reason they couldn’t refuse.

“If you don’t help now, it won’t just be humans who die.”

“We know that. It won’t be long before our bodies become food for the Devourers…”

The elder’s response was as expected, but Senia removed the ring she was wearing and showed it to them.

“You know my hair was originally black, right?”

“…!”

This ring was a siren artifact.

It was a collaborative work of the sirens, meant to conceal her distinctively black hair and her only secret.

Yet, Senia removed this ring as if she didn’t care if the secret was revealed.

Senia continued, undeterred.

“What if there’s someone like me over there too?”

“…What do you mean?”

At her words—what if there’s someone like her over there—all the sirens fell silent.

Of course they would. Senia was a stranger summoned from another world when all the sirens broke a taboo and combined their powers.

“The reason Chirr followed me so well. You said it wasn’t because I was special. What if there’s another Kal’Rix, as you call me, outside the barrier?”

Now it was clear where their gazes would turn.

What the sirens saw was not hatred, but a black-haired boy with Chirr on his shoulder.

A moment of silence fell, but it didn’t last long.

“Let them inside the barrier for now. We’ll talk later!”

Kal’Rix.

In Imperial language, it means familiar or summoned one.

However, when translated into the language of other races, it carries another meaning.

Guide.

Of course, it doesn’t refer to the god worshipped by humans who guides them.

Rather, it refers to the most noble being who protects and leads other races during crises that visit them occasionally.

***

‘How did it come to this?’

Although we received help from the sirens, things didn’t seem to be resolved smoothly.

“You can’t either?”

“Yeah… I can’t use magic. Must be because of this bracelet.”

“Damn, locking us up and preventing us from using our powers… what are these sirens planning?”

“Still, we owe our lives to the sirens for now. Let’s wait a bit longer.”

The proof was that all the humans were confined in this basement.

Let me recall that urgent situation… it was at the limit.

With the overlapping sounds of rats, I thought the main force might have arrived, but what I saw were beings with human forms, parts of their skin covered in scales, and webbed ears instead of normal ones.

That’s right.

Sirens, the ones that people from the Ardelion Duchy would tremble at and regard as enemies, were here.

We had no choice but to try crossing through their territory to find a better place, but there was an invisible wall marking their area, preventing everyone from passing through.

Why couldn’t we enter? If I reached out my arm, it would go through, but everyone else just bounced off.

Anyway, I couldn’t enter alone since that wouldn’t help me survive these beasts.

Beasts at our backs, the sirens’ barrier ahead. The fate of the remaining group was clear, and the sirens were also struggling in battle elsewhere. If we didn’t want mutual destruction, the most ideal solution was for the two races to join forces.

In the midst of this, Senia entered the barrier so naturally, exchanged words with them, and…

If it was that guy, he might have some connection and could negotiate with the sirens to help us.

However, even as time passed, the sirens didn’t lend their strength. Now that I think about it, Lumia had mentioned that the sirens claimed innocence and felt wronged. They might choose not to help humans even if it meant mutual destruction.

Realizing it was no use, I was about to approach them directly when something jumped onto my shoulder.

“Hey, hey Junon!! On your shoulder!!”

“Is it a beast…? No, a lizard? Where did it come from…”

‘This lizard…!’

Thinking back, I had already encountered a siren before.

If that child was here, they could testify in my favor.

I was about to enter to meet the sirens to inform them…

But there was no need.

‘By then, the sirens had already come to help us. After that, the remaining people went to deal with the rats on the east side.’

Afterward, saying they still couldn’t trust us, they put bracelets on the humans to prevent resistance and confined us in this basement.

That’s the story of how we managed to survive.

‘A basement that can’t be physically broken, four people per room. The next room is very close, but it’s quiet, suggesting that sound is blocked except at the main entrance.’

I’ve figured out almost everything I could. Still, I’m waiting because I think they must have some intention.

Also, Senia briefly visited and said she’d get us out soon, so I decided to trust and wait for now.

While waiting, one guy started complaining.

“I’m hungry though…”

“You’re saying that even in this situation?”

“But they should feed us! If those Scourge come back, we could help in an emergency!”

It was John who complained. Since he always lives by the strength of his meals, I just thought, “That’s typical.” Noel, who was trying to stop him, was also the same as always.

As one guy was complaining about being hungry, a young siren guarding outside the basement approached and asked.

“You humans call those rats ‘Scourge’? Hmm…”

“They’re self-destructive, so they’re definitely Scourge. I think it’s a fitting name.”

“Then what do you call them? Let’s hear how well you sirens named them!”

“What? Puhah! You’re quite a stupid kid, aren’t you?”

…Wait, this conversation shouldn’t be happening right now.

“Sirens once lived in the duchy, so they can communicate in Imperial language, that’s why.”

“Oh… r-really?”

“Yeah. At least there’s one smart guy among you.”

I managed to change the subject. While at it, I decided to ask about another matter.

“Never mind what you call them, I’m curious why you’re still keeping us locked up here.”

Immediately, the siren’s face hardened.

…Did I touch on something I shouldn’t have?

“I can’t tell you that. And one more warning: if you try to use magic, we’ll detect it through those bracelets, so it’s better to stay quiet.”

“Tch… so that’s why it was buzzing earlier.”

A warning. That means they won’t let it slide if we try anything funny.

With those words, he turned around and returned to his post.

…Meanwhile, John jumped up, grabbed the bars, and shouted, “Give us some food!! I’m hungry!!” As if that would get us any food.

‘Still, the room is surprisingly spacious.’

For a place to confine people, it’s quite comfortable. They even cast cleaning magic on each person before entering the basement.

At least it doesn’t seem like the sirens are going to execute us.

But then, someone who had been quiet until now spoke softly.

“Brother.”

The basement room holds four people. So there’s one more person. The last one was Cain.

And I remember this guy had been glancing at my bracelet since earlier, as if he and Senia had exchanged some signal when she visited.

“If you were alone, couldn’t you secretly escape from here, brother?”

It seems he knew everything all along.