Merlin followed Prat from behind and entered the castle. The moment he stepped into the castle, Merlin felt that the style in which the castle had been decorated seemed to be rather strange and unique.
Bright and colorful murals had been painted on the slightly yellowing walls. Some were blurred and indistinct, while others were extremely mottled. Practically, not a single one of them was clear.
"This castle seems to be very old, huh?"
Merlin asked Prat.
Prat nodded and said, "That's right. This castle is very ancient, indeed. Even the oldest person in the territory isn't clear when the castle was built. We only know that the castle is already very old, with at least five hundred years of history. Perhaps even more than that! The baron has gotten people to repair and maintain the castle ever since he moved in, but the decorations in his hall have never been touched. Their original appearance is still maintained."
Merlin nodded. Most of the buildings in this world were immensely fortified, and many castles could be kept for a few hundred to a thousand or more years. Perhaps this castle had been constructed by some aristocrat several hundred years ago.
"Oh, right. Where's father?"
Merlin looked everywhere, but all he could find were some servants. He could not see Old Wilson.
A glint flashed through Prat's eyes. He lowered his voice and said, "Because there have been great amounts of bandit activity around the territory lately, the baron has brought his men to patrol the areas surrounding the territory. He'd only return at night, roughly."
Although Old Wilson was not home, needless to say, there was a housekeeper within the castle, an extremely beautiful female housekeeper at that. After Prat handed Merlin over to the housekeeper, he left the castle to patrol the grounds outside.
The female housekeeper's body was particularly curvy. She was around thirty years of age, with bright red lipstick applied on the lips. Her eyes did not stop sizing Merlin up.
"Master Merlin, you've become tired after rushing through an entire day's journey. I've already instructed people to prepare hot water in your chamber."
Following which, the housekeeper brought Merlin into a spacious room with a gigantic bathtub inside, filled with steaming hot water.
"Master Merlin, allow me."
He did not know when, but the housekeeper had already shut the doors to the room and come to the side of the bathtub. It looked like she was intending to serve Merlin by bathing him.
Ever since Merlin arrived in this world, he had always been very inhibited. Now that he had come to a completely strange place, and faced with such a gorgeous woman, his heart immediately flared up with heat.
Splash!
Thus, Merlin took off all his clothes immediately and jumped into the bathtub. The housekeeper, with ever so charming eyes, smiled gracefully as she continuously moved her soft hands up and down Merlin's entire body.
Merlin narrowed his eyes slightly. Desire and heat arose and boiled quickly in his body. With a vigorous move, he grabbed the hands of the housekeeper and chuckled in a low voice. "Come in."
Exerting force with his hands, Merlin immediately pulled the female housekeeper into the bathtub.
Although the housekeeper still had her clothes on, the curves of her whole body were already exposed and evident, adding even more to the temptation. Her hands were also caressing Merlin's chest gently.
Merlin had been unrelenting in practicing the posture on the mysterious relief sculpture for long periods of time. Although he had never specifically trained himself, his body had become very strong and fit. Contained within his tight and solid muscles was a terrible explosive force.
At the moment, however, Merlin had his eyes closed. He was enjoying the touch of the housekeeper's tender hands.
"Master Merlin is the baron's son, indeed! This body is not inferior at all, compared to the great baron's!"
The beautiful housekeeper breathed into Merlin's ears, speaking softly.
"En? You what? You've served father before?"
Merlin's eyes shot open. He asked in a low voice.
The housekeeper pouted her lips as she laughed gently. "Of course! I'm always the one serving the great baron every time he comes to the territory!"
While she spoke, the housekeeper even held her ample bosom out, as though she was very proud of herself.
A hint of a strange expression appeared on Merlin's face, however. Although the housekeeper was riding on Merlin's body in an incomparably ambiguous pose, there was no longer any desire in his heart. Instead, he felt a sense of horrible disgust.
Merlin had already understood how most of the personal lives of the aristocrats were exceedingly atrocious. For example, having such a beautiful maidservant serve Merlin after she had been done serving Old Wilson was a common sight amongst the aristocrats. It was not a big deal, but Merlin was still somewhat unable to accept it.
"Go out, I don't need your service."
Merlin's voice was as cold as ice as he shooed the housekeeper out immediately; she was still in a daze.
With Merlin's entire body soaked in the warm water, the fatigue in his body seemed to be disappearing little by little. However, the desire and heat aroused by the beautiful housekeeper moments ago had caused his heart to be somewhat agitated.
Having no choice, Merlin closed his eyes and began to meditate with his back against the side of the bathtub.
Meditation must occur in the strange state of being real and unreal. Therefore, very soon, Merlin's emotions gradually calmed down. He seemed to have forgotten everything around him, and remained unmoving in the bathtub, completely immersed in his meditation.
Woo, woo, woo...
After who knew how long, Merlin's ears seemed to pick up noises that sounded like the whimpering of a baby.
Splash!
Merlin was awakened with a startle by this strange noise. He hurriedly stood up, but a shiver went through his entire body; looking down, he realized that the hot water under him had already cooled down. He had meditated for at least two hours.
"What's that sound?"
Merlin got out from the bathtub and put on his clothes, cocking his head to the side as he listened. He discovered that the whimpering noise was becoming more and more distinct, causing a chill to run down his spine.
Thus, he left his room and went downstairs. Coincidentally, he bumped into General Prat, who was on patrol duty.
"Uncle Prat, what was that noise just now? It sounded like a crying child."
Merlin asked in a low voice. He saw that there was no change at all in the expressions of the few guards next to Prat. It was as though they were already used to it.
It was pitch black outside the castle. Prat took two steps forward and said to Merlin, "Master Merlin, it's no big deal, actually. It's the sound of wind! At a location not far from the castle, there's a strange wind that blows often. That sound's caused by the strange wind. It's not some child crying."
"Oh? There's such a strange place? Uncle Prat, could you bring me to take a look?"
Merlin felt curious. He wanted to take a look at this strange wind that had been letting out those terrifying noises.
"Actually, there's nothing much to this strange wind... Since Master Merlin wishes to see it, let's go."
Prat frowned and hesitated slightly. However, perhaps remembering that the place was not far from the castle and could not be considered to be outside of the castle perimeters, he finally nodded in agreement. He ordered someone to bring him a candelabrum, lighted five candles and started leading the way.
Merlin followed after Prat closely.