Chapter 6 – What Happened at the Festival (Part 4)

After watching puppet shows, performances, and eating more food, time passed, and it was already night. Most of the attractions were over, and the shops were closing.  

As they turned to leave, something caught Ellerdin’s eye.  

She gently tapped Fernan’s shoulder and whispered, 

“Fernan, look over there.”  

He squinted and looked down the alley.  

In the dark alley, people in robes were moving busily.  

They weren’t just moving; they seemed to be searching for something.  

A devil knows a villain when he sees one. Fernan immediately recognized what those people were up to.

‘I have a bad feeling about this.’  

However, Fernan quickly lost interest and looked at them indifferently.  

He had no intention of dispelling the darkness lurking beneath this city.  

That was the work of the righteous. He was closer to evil than good, so there was no reason for him to help others.

However, there was only one reason he hesitated.  

Because Ellerdin wanted it. Her nature would surely want to chase after them right now.  

As he expected, Ellerdin whispered in his ear.  

“Fernan, can we follow them for a moment?”  

Thinking her voice in his ear was lovely, Fernan smiled.  

“If my wife wishes, anything.”  

He waved his hand to hide both their appearances. At their sudden invisibility, Ellerdin marveled.  

Spotting the people disappearing between the alleys, Ellerdin grabbed Fernan’s hand.  

“Let’s go quickly.”  

They hurriedly ran into the alley.  

***  

“Is this the right place?”  

“I’m telling you it’s here! The last guys also went in here!”  

“Damn it! How many minutes have we been doing this!”  

A man grumbled irritably, pulling off his robe.  

He was wearing a white mask on his face. He shone a flashlight on the wall, searching for something.  

“What are they doing?”  

Ellerdin whispered to Fernan.  

“They’re probably looking for an entrance.”  

“An entrance?”  

“I found it!”  

Just as Ellerdin asked again, the man feeling the wall shouted.  

When he turned off the flashlight and pressed somewhere on the wall, yellow magic spread across the wall, revealing a large door.  

From the whirlpool-like area, a person emerged. He was also wearing a white mask.  

“Invitation?”  

A modulated voice was heard.  

‘If they’re using voice modulation, they’re not first-timers.’  

Thinking that, Fernan looked at the man coldly.  

“The invitation is here.”  

One of the robed people took out a white paper from his bosom.  

When he handed over the paper, the man who seemed to be the gatekeeper turned it around and inspected it. He took out a stone and placed it on the paper. A small light emanated from the stone and soon disappeared.  

“Enter.”  

At the gatekeeper’s words, the robed people all entered the whirlpool.  

‘To think they even have a magic detector…….’  

Fernan furrowed his eyebrows. It wasn’t something mere thugs would have.  

‘It might be bigger than I thought. Should I call Mollek?’  

Handling humans could be left to Mollek.  

However, he was worried about Ellerdin. Hearing rumors about people disappearing in large numbers after attending the festival might sadden her.  

Of course, he could manipulate memories or erase them to avoid eliminating humans, but that required a large amount of magic.  

He couldn’t reveal his hidden identity just for such humans.  

Fernan whispered quietly in her ear.  

“Ellerdin, let’s go back. This place seems dangerous.”  

At his words, Ellerdin nodded in agreement.  

As the man who seemed to be the gatekeeper disappeared, the yellow magical whirlpool in the distance was slowly closing.  

But just then, a faint sound entered her ear just before the whirlpool closed.  

“Save me……”  

“I don’t want to die. Why are you doing this?”  

At the desperate voice, Ellerdin gasped and looked ahead. But the whirlpool was firmly shut.  

The brightly lit wall returned to its original state, and darkness fell again.  

“Fe… Fernan.”  

Ellerdin grabbed Fernan’s sleeve.  

“Did you hear that just now?”  

At her words, Fernan looked puzzled.  

“What do you mean?”  

“Didn’t you hear it? Just now, someone asking for help.”  

However, there was no change in Fernan’s expression. He hadn’t heard it.  

Ellerdin swallowed hard. She didn’t want to ignore the voice crying out from death.  

Something terrible seemed to be happening inside.  

Ellerdin clutched Fernan’s sleeve tightly.  

“Fernan, can we go in there?”  

At her words, Fernan’s expression hardened. Ellerdin flinched at his expression.  

It was only natural for him to react this way. Asking to enter there in this situation was like placing all the responsibility on him.  

It was incredibly selfish. How was it different from the lords who made false reports and caused trouble?  

But even so, Ellerdin couldn’t help but ask again.  

She had already heard the plea for help.  

“Fernan……”  

Fernan looked at Ellerdin silently.  

Contrary to her worries, he was calculating in his mind.  

How much power should I release to protect Ellerdin by my side? 

He wanted to prevent even the slightest danger from reaching her.  

Fernan smiled at her.  

“How could I refuse your words?”  

Ellerdin wanted it. He was her faithful servant. If she wanted it, he had to respond to her call.  

‘If they attack, I’ll handle it, and I’ll ask Mollek to clean up afterward.’  

Fernan sent a mental message to Mollek.  

• Master?  

Mollek responded with curiosity.  

[Come to where I am with Nisroch in advance. Enter when I signal. I’ll let you feast.]  

At his words, Mollek rose with a face filled with excitement.  

• Master, you must keep that promise~  

His yellow eyes curved to the sides.  

Hearing the voice filled with joy, Fernan sighed inwardly. He spoke to Ellerdin.  

“Instead, there’s something important you must do. Never leave my side.”

Ellerdin nodded with a determined expression.  

Fernan removed the invisibility magic from himself and put on a large robe. Then he hid Ellerdin, who was still under invisibility magic, inside the robe.  

He held her arm, placing it around his waist. His large, muscular body entered her embrace.

Beyond warm, the heat made Ellerdin flustered.

Fernan pressed the hidden part of the wall like the robed people did earlier. The yellow magic circuit appeared on the wall, and a yellow whirlpool appeared.  

A man wearing a white mask walked out of the whirlpool.  

“Invitation?”  

Fernan silently took out a white paper from his bosom.  

‘When did he prepare that?’  

Ellerdin looked at the invitation curiously. He placed a stone on top of the invitation.  

At that moment, Fernan flicked his finger, causing light to emanate from under the stone. Seeing the light from the stone, the man returned the invitation.  

“Enter.”  

Fernan held Ellerdin’s shoulder and entered the whirlpool.  

As the bright light enveloped them, Ellerdin tightly closed her eyes. As the light faded, a loud noise surrounded them.  

“Ah, it’s cheap, cheap.”  

“Take a look at this. It’s a limited edition, I tell you.”  

A crowd of people gathered on the narrow street. Merchants were selling their goods from their respective stalls.  

It was a scene similar to the festival earlier, but the difference was that they were selling items obtained through illegal routes.  

First, a large magic stone caught her eye.  

‘A magic stone of that size should be managed by the Imperial Family.’  

Ellerdin frowned as she scanned the surroundings.  

On the stalls were various items, from human organs to monster horns.  

‘Hmm……?’  

Fernan stopped walking.  

A massive presence was felt at the end.  

‘Could it be…….’  

Fernan squinted his eyes.  

Meanwhile, as Fernan stopped, Ellerdin looked up at him, wondering why.  

“Fernan?”  

“Ah… I was just thinking for a moment……. The voice you heard probably came from over there. Let’s walk over there.”  

Fernan led Ellerdin slowly.  

There was quite a distance from the entrance where they stood to the end of the illegal market.  

While walking toward the thick iron door, Ellerdin’s eyes caught sight of an old book.  

It was written in ancient language, titled “About the Mermaid Race.” The word mermaid made Ellerdin stop.  

Fernan naturally stopped and looked around as if browsing.  

“Oh my, customer. You’ve got a good eye. This is a book about the legendary mermaid race. It’s the only one left in this world.”  

Fernan rolled his eyes to look inside the robe. Although Ellerdin said nothing, he could feel she wanted the book.  

“The only book left… interesting. How much?”  

“Well, just 50 gold coins. I’m giving you a good deal.”  

Ellerdin gasped at the exorbitant price.  

Fernan waved his hand in the air to take out a pouch of gold coins. Without hesitation, he handed over the money, and Ellerdin hurriedly grabbed his clothes.  

Fernan looked down into the robe. She shook her head, mouthing that he shouldn’t buy it.  

‘……Cute.’  

Fernan thought to himself that he was glad he bought it, nodding his head.  

The merchant grinned as he received the money pouch. Fernan took the book and put it in his inventory before continuing to walk.  

Soon after, Ellerdin stopped again, causing Fernan to stop as well.  

Peeking inside the robe, he saw a sulking face. Her adorable expression made him chuckle softly.  

“Why are you making such a cute face?”  

“It’s not a cute face. Why did you buy that book? 50 gold coins…….”  

Ellerdin mumbled.  

Everyone knew how much could be done with 50 gold coins.  

With one gold coin, a family of four commoners could last eight months. Even the nouveau riche, known for spending lavishly, didn’t spend more than 200 gold coins on a single party.  

Especially with significant expenses due to territorial development, such spending was not wise.  

“I just wanted to buy it. I’ve recently become interested in the mermaid race.”  

Fernan replied playfully.  

“Mermaids?”  

Ellerdin asked, showing interest.  

But then, once again, a desperate voice reached her ears.  

“Save me, save me!”  

“Take me back home, get me out of here!”  

The scream-like voice pierced through her mind.  

Ellerdin staggered from the intense impact. Fernan, surprised, held her tightly.  

Ellerdin pointed to the iron door at the end.  

“Fernan… the voice came from there…….”  

Her head throbbed, making it hard to speak. Fernan frowned in concern.  

Despite straining his ears, he heard nothing but the sounds of people haggling.  

‘Is it a characteristic of mermaids?’

Even a demon like himself, unable to hear the sound, could only explain it by her being a half-blooded mermaid.