Chapter 8
"...an emerald rank ha..."
I spoke. Right now we are back to our inn, the [Moon Surface Inn] 5th floor, after the King booked the whole 5th floor, the highest floor of the inn
Munch
As I took a bite to the snack I ordered, a [Red-Berry Bread with Honey]. After I leave the forest and went back to our inn, to our room, I then saw the 2 sitting. Sheryl sat on the bed's couch, while Natsumi on the desk's chair, both were giving a bothered look, as if they were on the edge of the cliff. I then went over and sat beside Sheryl, and asked
"....darling….this is an impossible quest"
She spoke, I then gaze at Natsumi
"Darling.....this is something we can't win"
She said. I then took a deep breathe before letting the 2 continue
"The tavern's barkeep told me that there are already 50 people who went missing, excluidng the kingdom's Knights"
Sheryl spoke
"30 were all adventurers and....all of them were at mid platinum rank, with a party of 6"
As she continued
"I've also heard that the kingdom even sent a peak platinum rank, during a raid inside the forest...that party didn't came back"
"When I was about to head to our rendezvous, one of the folks in the market spoke about another disappearance"
This time it was Natsumi
"2 went missing. A mid platinum rank adventurer was the 1st one to be reported. The 2nd came a couple of minutes later. The 2nd one was about to be promoted to peak rank, th-"
"Wait what?"
I suddenly interjected. She was a bit surprise to my action, both are
"Went missing...just now? Inside the forest?"
I dumbfoundedly asked. Puzzled to my question, Natsumi then nodded
"That's impossible"
I spoke
".....why?"
"Darling you didn't..."
"I wasn't planning going deeper but-"
"You!"
Sheryl exploded as she heard my reackless action, while Natsumi look at me dead in the eye.
...…
"...[Concealment]..."
Natsumi spoke. After I explained everything to them to what I found inside the forest, well technically force to explain, as I was sitting with my knees on the floor, as the 2 scolded me simultaneously. The 2 then went in deep thought, as I told them to what I found, as I found nothing unusual deep inside, which is unusual
"No, it could only hide your body not your voice, that's why staying silent is a must"
As Sheryl object
"....[Object Disguise]?"
Sheryl then shakes her head
"Might be, but it isn't. [Object Disguise] could only cover a small range, like the hole of the dungeon back at the village. But for it to hide 50 people....that is something, impossible"
"....but how?"
Natsumi asked, as she was in dismay
"....."
Sheryl averted her gaze as she can't answer. The 2 then went silence, none spoke a word. I then took a deep breathe and spoke
"Let us investigate again. Last time we can't use Natsumi's [Gales Embrace] because of the thick fog, but as it may only appear at night, so we might have a chance to get a bit of information in the broad daylight. If by some chance we might not find any, the best choose we could go is to ask uncle"
I said
".....we also need to request aid from him. If the situation is worst as we thought, it's better to leave it to someone capable" (note: she)
"Mother might scold us we dare to meddle in, so it's better for us to give up if we found nothing" (note: nat)
The 3 of us then nodded to each other, after we planned out next action.
...
"[Gales Embrace]"
"...it's strangely, unusual here"
Sheryl spoke. After we took our breakfast, we then headed straight towards the forest at mid day, of course we asked permission towards Ellen - the one who took incharge of supervising us. After we entered the forest, I then asked Natsumi to use her skill, [Gales Embrace], which has a 9 meters range. As we roamed around the forest
"....strange…."
".....it's been...almost half an hour, but I found nothing"
"...."
The 3 of us was bewildered
"Let's go ba-"
CRASH!!
"!!?"
"...?"
".....what wa-"
"Sheryl! Natsumi!"
I screamed
Tsk
As I clicked my tongue. I was too late to give an order and react to the situation, as I was still in daze to what the hell was that loud explosion was. As we rushingly dashed ourselves forward
"Wait! Darling!"
Natsumi then stop us. Halting, she then went in front of us, wearing a puzzled look. After a bit, she then look at us
"Darling....were trap"
"What!?"
Sheryl doumbfoundedly asked, as Natsumi told us that we were trap, inisde the forest, which neither me, nor them noticed
"It's a barrier, a thick one too"
"How wide?"
"I'm....not sure. My [Gales Embrace] only have a 9 meters range, with 6 meters depth and tall, so within that range..."
"I see"
I muttered. I then scan the surrounding area. For half an hour, a barrier that we didn't knew was placed and trap us inside, then out of a sudden, a loud explosion came. We don't know if it came from the kingdom, or outside of it, we don't know
"Bless me, [Slyph]"
"Bless me, [Araneae]"
As I was lost in thought, the 2 then activated their respective blessing. I was grateful that these 2 could act independently, and initiatively. Natsumi then looked at me, asking for my permission, which I then nodded. She wanted to confirm how wide was the barrier range go
"Engulfed it, [Transmission Magic] [Rune Sphere]"
"Summon, [Cast-Transfer] [Jack]"
I then activated two of my skill, but I didn't use my trump card yet, as I don't know who are we facing with. It's much better to have atleast 2 or 3 hidden cards, just to be sure
(Natsumi's POV)
After I activate my blessing, [Slyph], I then dashed myself, and tried grasping the area of the barrier that was placed in front of us. After a minute or 2
"...this must be a joke"
I spoke, as I felt uneasiness. As I keep running in the forest, I wasn't only scanning the barrier size, but also the forest vicinity, so I keep my [Gales Embrace] activate. But as a minute pass, the barrier was outside my scope of expectation-no, it barge outside my expectation. The surrounding area was also peculiar. No birds, no incest, nothing, I found literally nothing
"..."
I was in daze, puzzled, anxious. I then turn myself and went back. I don't know who the fuck deployed the barrier, but one thing for sure, we are nothing but caged bird here, nothing but a trapped mice
(Elen's POV)
BANG!!
After the loud explosion, I then ordered the stationed guard to guard the gate, never let anyone go in or out. I then told the guard that was atop to scan the outskirt, while the remaining ones well come with me.
As a [Kingdom's Guard], we been tasked by the King to guard the kingdom. Our jurisdiction only goes from patrolling the kingdom's area, outskirt or inside, keeping the folks in line, and to secure the safety of the kingdom's people. The Knights also lend us their aid when it comes to patrolling. As I rush myself forward, I was able to arrive to the square
".....what the hell.."
"Kyyaaa!!"
"Ahhh!!!!"
"Please save me! Save me!!"
"No-no-nooo-ahhh!!"
"Arghh!!"
"Mommy!! Wahhh!!"
"Buahhhh!!!"
Growwll!!
Shaaa!!!
Kraaa!!!
I was stunned to the scene before me, as the square was filled with monsters. A {Sand Boar}, {Dessert Serpent}, {Humid Falcon}, and a {Devil Worm}, they are all attacking, devouring, and killing the citizens. One child was devoured by the {Dessert Serpent}. Cut in half as the monster munched her bottom half. Her organs spilled and blood flows, and tears drip from the child's dreadful eyes.
Another one was gnawed by 3 {Dessert Serpent}, ravaging her bones and flesh as the monsters split her body apart. 4 men were crashed by the Boar's charge. Their body was squashed as their organ splattered, and tainted the ground with their blood. Their broken bones and ravaged flesh were like a dead painting of an anamorphic art. 3 women were eaten by the {Devil Worm}. With its enormous sphere mouth, they faced horror itself. Some of the folks fell one by one from atop. Drag by the Falcon above, they fell like water droplets, and splattered beneath. Like a thrown raw egg, their body were busted and burst in the ground. It was a nightmare, a scene of carnage.
"Save the citizen first!"
"Evacuate them! Some of you flank the monster!"
"There are too many of them! We can-ughh!!"
He screamed as a {Desert Serpent} bits his neck
"...k-kn-knights..call the kni-ahhhh!!"
He yelled, as the rushing Boar bash his abdomen
"T-this is...."
The guards were desperately trying to take the role that was given by them. One by one they fought against those monsters. They truly fought valiantly. Some took down the Boar with their sword and spear, some took aim at the Falcon above, some were trying to corner the Serpent as they flank its side, some of them tried, they tried to fight, they tried to win, they tried but
"...."
But none of them could overwhelm the other. The Serpent twisted itself and curled the weakest of the guards, and squeezed the guard with its body that it captured, to death. The Falcon went above and used its speed to kill the guard below, swiftly cut the guard's head, and torn their body with its sharp claw. The Boars' took charge each guard they saw. Crashing their heads and bashing them like a fallen overripe fruit. One by one, each of the guard fall. It was carnage, a massacre.
I griply held the sword I hold in my right. We guards are trained from the time we took the role of the protecting the kingdom and the people. We were trained after we took this armor on. We trained ourselves to not be look down, neither to be ashamed. We trained, we trained, we trained
"...but why?"
I ask, as I saw one after another, my friends, my brothers, my comrades, one by one died and fell. I was hopeless as I watch them die one after the other
"Mommy!! Wahhh!! It hurts mommy it hurts!!"
I then turn my gaze to a child's cry. Just a distance away from me, a little girl was lying down as her half of her body was gone. Her blood spilled and her organ were exposed. Seeing that, I then dashed myself forward
Tch!
I clicked my tongue, as 2 {Dessert Serpent} came at me. {Dessert Serpent} is an early gold rank monster, like a {Lizardman}, they have 2 human like arms attached to their body. I griply hold the sword in my right, and dashed myself to the Serpent at my right. I then bend over just a waist of that monster, and swing my sword
"[Slash]"
I then spin myself from the right and swing my sword from below
"[Diagonal Cut]"
And cut the monster. I then dashed myself to my left, and confront the 2nd serpent
Shaa!
As it screamed and attack me, I then dodge its tail that it swings at me. I then dashed myself. I then swing my sword from my left
"[Slash]"
"!!"
As I was about to connect my 2nd attack, 2 citizens ran towards the child, a couple I guess. The man was anxiously looking around the area, with sweat dripping from his forehead, as the woman hurriedly approached the child. As both got near, just a distance away from her
MUNCH!
"!!!"
Like a flash of sunlight, it took just a second for it to happen, as the man's head flew, as his jaw till below was detach. The woman was now gone, vanished like she was devoured by nothingness, then the child that was just a distance from them...smile? The child made an ominous smile as she watched them disappear. It then stood-no float up - like a pole. Its body was attached to something below the ground, painted in an abyssal black. Then the ground move-
"Guah!"
I screamed, as I was hit by the {Dessert Serpent}s tail. I rolled thrice before halting. I then used my sword as a cane, and hurriedly stood up. The Serpent then dashed itself towards me.
Shaa!
As I was still at early gold rank, that attack wasn't fatal, but unbearable. I then intercept the enemy before me, as I griply took hold of the sword, putting all of my strength into it, then waited, patiently waiting
Shaa!!
"Ahhh!"
And swing my sword from my left, and did a diagonal cut
"!!"
But this damn monster was able to dodge it, just an inch away. As my attack was so shallow, the {Dessert Serpent} then grin. As not to let the opportunity go to waste, it then use its long neck, and stretch itself towards me, and open its wide jaw
Swissh
Shaa!!
"!"
Swoosh
Shaaa!!
The serpent cried, as both of its eyes were shot by an arrow each. As to not let this chance get away, I then swiftly cut its defenseless neck
"[Slash]"
Thud!
Its head and body then fell, stumbling down the ground
"Hey! Are you alright?"
A voice then came and called me. I then turned my head around, and saw the person who assisted me. That person was standing above the roof of the house behind me, a woman
"....I-I'm fine, thank yo-look out!!"
"Huh?"
I screamed as the woman was then suddenly attack by a {Humid Falcon}. With its sharp claw, it rip the woman's body in half as she turned around - half of her left arm, and cut half of her right. Her bottom-half rolled from the roof, and bounce till it hit the ground, while her upper-half flew just a distance away from the 2nd Serpent I just killed
"...ugh.."
As I heard her meek voice groan in pain, I then dashed myself
"Momma?"
I then halted myself as I saw that monster again. That creepy child was now in front of the girl. It wore a reddish-pink dress, with a hair till her shoulder high, with a ribbon on its side, and a polka dots design, stared at the woman in front. I could only grit my teeth and clench my fist, as I turn my gaze away from her, and run towards the house behind me
(Author's POV)
The woman was in daze as it slowly got up. She then looked at the situation she were in, and saw that half of her body was now gone. Despair painted the woman's face, as she then looked to her front. A child was standing, with half of her body was gone, and her organs still attached to her broken body, looked at her with her empty eye socket. The child then smiled and spoke
"….momma…? Momma? Momma!"
"N-n-noooo...get away! Get away from me! You freak!! You disgusting freak!! Get away from me!!"
The woman screamed in terror. The child who wore a joyous smile was dyed in an omnious look of hatred
"Mom..ma"
"Noooo!!! Please save me! Help me!!"
As the woman struggle, and use her remaining strength to move. As she was cut into 2 she could only crawl. She crawled as fast as she could. She crawled as far as she should. Dragging her pitiful body away from the monster, trying to get away from the devil, from the demon before her, trying to escape death
"Ahhh!! Save me!"
She screamed as she dragged herself forward
"Please!!!"
She cried as she plead
"Urghh! Ahhh!!"
Tears fell from her eyes as she crawl as fast as she could, away from the monster, away from the devil, but
Munch!
She was then swallowed by the thing below her
"…not....momma…."
(Elen's POV)
After I ran away like a coward to the woman who assisted me, I was now staying in the 2nd floor of the house. I then went to window, and looked to what was happening outside
"...."
I was speechless, as if my words were forcibly taken away from me, as I saw people after people getting eaten, ripped, torned, devoured, crashed, and smashed by those monsters. The whole square was now dyed by those peoples blood. But it didn't stop just that, the west area of the kingdom was also under attack. I can't see it clearly, but those screams and smokes indicate they aren't different from the situation I was in, the square was in. I then hurriedly went to my right, and opened the window
".....what the hell is happening?"
I asked, as the same scene deluge the right side
".....Knight...yes! The Knights! Where are those fucking bastards?!"
I angerly asked. The Knight were supposed to be the pillar of the kingdom, as they swore to protect it even if it cost them their own life, but where are they? Where are those bastards who supposed to be better than us? Where?!
Bang!
" Fuck!"
(Creeper's POV)
"...Sheryl"
"Yes"
As I called Sheryl, both of us then put our guard up, scanning the vicinity, looking around the area
Rattle Rattle
"Darling"
After a couple of minutes came, Natsumi came back
"Darling we need to-"
Krrrkrkrkkrrrrkkrrrr
"!?"
As Natsumi was about to report her findings, a sound of sword that was being drag in the ground resounded
".....darling…."
Sheryl spoke in meek voice, as she holds both of her daggers. Natsumi then took an arrow from her quiver, and took aimed. Both were ready, and prepared. So I then envelop myself with my flame, and summoned a flaming armor, [Flame Clad]. I then surround my fist with my flame aura, and called another weapon, [Flame Knuckles], then alter it to [Flame Gauntlet], and took hold to my sword as it release a blazing heat. Sheryl then bend over, and touch the ground below to where her shadow reside
"[Shadow Duplication]"
And activated her skill, as she summoned another her, her double
"Combine them, [Meld]"
"[Tempest Storm]+[Tempest Storm]+[Gales Embrace]+[Sparrow Shot]"
"Summon, [Cast-Transfer] [Runa de Cresta]"
"Engulfed it, [Transmission Magic] [Ember]"
I then envelop Natsumi's arrow with my flame. The lime color that surrounds the arrow was then coated with a vermilion paint around it
"Boost me, [Flame Boost]"
I then boosted the arrows power and speed, giving it more lethality
Swoosh
Natsumi then fired the arrow as she released it from her bow. Like a roaring dragon, the flaming arrow released a wave of flame, as it swiftly flew straight ahead to its target, casting its deadly heat as it forwardly rush
Clank
Boom!
"!!!"
"....it parried...it?....what?"
Sheryl dumbfoundedly asked, while Natsumi was in shocked, as her attack that was boost with her [Meld] and mine was parried. The arrow that was supposedly pierce the entity in front, explodes at its right, which caused the 3 of us to perplexed
Krkkrrrkkrrr
The sound of its sword grow louder and louder, nearer and nearer, but we wouldn't wait for that entity to show itself, so we then dashed ourselves back, and rushingly hasten our movements. Sheryl then used her double to attack the enemy in front. Boosted with [Shi'en no Shuen], [Araneae], [Swift Feet], and [Abyssal Blade], it then attacked and dashed itself forward, we can then use the time it will create for us to escape, but
Crash!!
The 3 of us was surprised to the sudden loud crash behind our back, as it was the same time Sheryl's double went
"Darling!"
Sheryl shouted as she looked at me, anxiously, indicating that our decoy, her double didn't even last even a second to that monster
Tch!
"Combine it, [Meld]"
"[Tempest Storm]+[Tempest Storm]+[Gales Embrace]+[Gales Embrace]"
"Engulfed it, [Transmission Magic] [Ember]"
"Boost me, [Flame Boost]"
"[Hornet Sting]"
"[Void Increment]"
Natsumi then took another arrow from her quiver, and boost it with her melding, while Sheryl then grabbed 4 of her needles. I then boosted both their weapon with my [Ember], and [Flame Boost]. Natsumi and Sheryl then both halted, as they then shoot their attack towards the unknown entity behind us, and dash themselves afterwards upfront
Bang! Bam!
The impact with Sheryl and Natsumi attack created a loud explosion
"!!"
Like a ringing bell, my instinct warned me, so I then hurriedly look back, and saw the monster that was behind us, already an inch-distance from us. Clad in black armor, as it holds its giant sword, griply tight with its hand. I then halted as I stomp my left foot forward, while I use my right as a support, and stretch my right arm to at least parry the swing that this monster was about to make
"Boost me, [Flame Boost]"
"Burst, [Amun Rukh]"
Sheryl and Natsumi then both leap away from the collition that the 2 of us about to make
Bam!
Crack!!
"Ughh!!"
I exclaimed, as my right arm that recieve that monster's swing, broke. Dislocating and crashing some of my arm's bones. That monster then used the momentum, and spins itself from the right and swings its giant sword again. I then slid my left foot back, and stomp my right forward, and use my left arm to counter it
"Boost me, [Flame Boost]"
"Burst, [Amun Rukh]"
Bang!
Crack!!
"Argh!!"
I groan again, as my left arm meet the same fate like my right has. Both of my arms was now useless
"Darling!"
Swisshh
I then duck and used my right foot to propel myself back, and twist my body and landed, and dash myself forward while dodging the arrow, and the impact that it would create
"I got you"
Sheryl said, as she grab my broken left arm, and carried me along with her double
"No! Get away!"
"!!!"
"Darling!"
Bang!!
(Natsumi's POV)
"Grrrr!"
As I grit my teeth and clench the bow I was holding. After darling confronted that monster, that out of nowhere catch up to us, flat-loli and I then leap away from the fight. I then went up to the nearest tree, and positioned myself, and tried to assist darling during the fight, but the fight didn't even last a second, as darling already sustained a fatal damage during their exchanges. Both of his arms were now broken, useless, while the monster didn't even get a scratch on its sword, not even a small dent, none. I was furious, so I took an arrow from my quiver, and took an aim to that monster
"Combine it! [Meld]!"
"[Tempest Storm]+[Tempest Storm]+[Tempest Storm]+[Gales Embrace]"
"Darling!"
I screamed, after darling heard my call, he then propel himself back, and dash away from that clad monster. I then took a shot, releasing a storm like shot towards that freak, but
"!!!!"
But rather parrying or dodging it, it took the arrow as it catches it in mid-air, and stomp its left foot forward, and throw the arrow I just shot at it, towards darling
'SHIT!'
I then hurriedly look back
"No! Get away!"
And anxiously shouted
(Sheryl's POV)
"[Shadow Duplication]"
I muttered as I invoke my skill, after I saw darling getting beaten by that freak, but thanks to that monster, I could still summon my double.
[Shadow Duplication] let me duplicate my shadow, and create a clone of myself, with a duration of 60 seconds. Thanks to my eager training, I was able to extend it. After casting this skill, it will take 4 hours for me to summon another, but thanks to that monster destroying it in a mere seconds, I could still summon it.
I and my double then dashed forward, as I saw darling trying to get away from that monster, after that cow-tit shot a strong arrow towards that monster. We then hurriedly went towards darling, to get him away from the explosion. I took his left, while my double took the right, and carried him along as we move forward, without looking back, as we used [Swift Feet]
"No! Get away!"
Natsumi shouted. I then used my double's vision.
[Shadow Duplication] has another skill effects, it could share both the double and user's senses, as if they are one. As I was short and was covered by darling's shoulder, I could only use my double. It then hurriedly looked behind, and saw an incoming attack that was fired at us. The arrow that supposedly to be shot at that monster, was now heading our way, for unknown reason. My double then pushed me and darling from the side, as it intercept the incoming attack. I then swiftly covered darling from the explosion, as I wrapped my body around him
Bang!
The two of us then rolled over, as the shockwave of the impact was too great, but I still hold and covered darling just to protect him. We then halted a distance away from the explosion, as we stumbled on the tree's root. I then stood up and worriedly look at darling's condition, but
"....da-darling!"
I exclaimed, as I saw some black like tattoes wrapping around his neck
(Natsumi's POV)
After that flat-loli swiftly dodged and took darling away from the explosion, I took another 4 arrows from my quiver, and took aim to that monster
" Combine it! [Meld]!"
"[Tempest Storm]+[Gales Embrace]+[Tempest Storm]+[Curve Shot]"
Swoosh
And fired the arrows from my bow towards that monster - 2 at its the top, and 2 at its side. I then jump to the right and took another arrow from my quiver, 2. I then took aim at that monster center, while I was in mid-air
"Combine it! [Meld]!"
"[Tempest Storm]+[Tempest Storm]+[Gales Embrace]+[Sparrow Shot]"
Swish
And shot it. After I landed, I then rushingly dashed myself towards darling and Sheryl's location. I then used another skill I just got during our 4 days venture
"[Sandstorm]"
And covered the 3 of us away from that monster sight
(Sheryl's POV)
After Natsumi invoke her new found skill, [Sandstorm], I then took a [Magic Scroll] from my pocket, [Transfer], a skill like [Teleportation] but had a fixed and short distance location to be teleported. It costed us 6 gold coins, which we brought 2 years ago. Darling said it's much better to have one than none. I then opened the scroll, and invoke the skill stored at it
"[Transfer]!"
After a bluish-light covered us like a pillar of light, and a huge magic circle with a 8 edges star at its center, and 4 magic circle surrounding it, we were then able to teleport back to the place I mark, our room in the 5th floor of the inn we are staying in.
After we have safely transfered, I then hurriedly look at darling, as the black tattoo marking in his neck was now almost reaching his cheek bone, so I then rushingly stood up, and dash myself towards our bed, as I placed our bag next to it. As I was about to pass our bed's side
"Sheryl!"
Out of sudden, Natsumi then shouted as she glanced towards my side, towards the wall of our room. I then took 3 needles that I wrapped from my thighs, and throw it towards the wall
"[Hornet Sting]"
"Ughh!"
I then halted myself as twist my body, and used my right foot as a break. As I heared a man's groan from the other side of the wall, I then glance towards Natsumi and spoke
"Take care of darling!"
"Got it!"
She replied. I then dashed myself towards our room's door, and took my daggers out. I then kick the door open using my knee
Bang!
"...."
But as I forcibly open the door, I found no one outside of our room, except for the blood stain that was on the floor. As I was also infected by darling's cautious habit, I then rushed myself forward with my guard up, and traced the penetrator using the blood it left
(Natsumi's POV)
As we got back to our inn, I then saw Sheryl glancing at darling. As I hurriedly looked, I then saw some black like tattoes on his neck, that was reaching till his cheek bone. Sheryl then swiftly stood up, and run towards our bed, she might trying to get the vile that we put in her bag
"!!"
I then hastenly glanced towards our room's wall, as my [Gales Embrace] detected another enemy outside our room.
Just to get to where darling and Sheryl was, I used [Gales Embrace] to boost my speed, which I then didn't di-activated after we got back, there I found a sneaky mice unexpectedly
"Sheryl!"
I called. Sheryl then looked at me, and saw me staring at the wall. She then took some of her needles that she placed under her dress, that was wrapped around her thigh, and throw it. The needles pierced the wall and pass through it
"Ughh!"
A man's groan then screamed outside of our room. Sheryl then twist herself as she halted, and then glaced at me
"Take care of darling!"
"Got it!"
I replied, she then rushed herself towards the room's door. After she run out, I then hurriedly went to our bed, and took the vile inside Sheryl's bag, the vile that we brought during our shopping back in our city - 3 [Health Vile]. I then opened the vile as I took out the wooden cover, that covered the vile's top. It made a tong sound. As I was about to make darling drink it
"Ughh!"
He groaned, as he gritted his teeth. I was anxiously in panic, but I got myself together and chug the vile
"Mwa"
And made darling drank the potion, as I kissed him. After I made darling drank 3 potions vile, his broken arms were then healed
"Phew"
As I breathe in relief. But as I was about to celebrate darling's recovery
"Ugh!"
"Ahh!!"
Darling then groan in pain, as the black tattoo marking that was halted due to the potion, went berserk as it climbed from his cheeks bone to his forehead, and almost covering his entire face. I was panicking, uncertain to what I do. I just stared at him and held his hand, frightened to what will happen to him
"Stand back!"
Until a familiar voice then spoke. I then turned around and saw
".....I-Isabelle..?"
As out of nowhere, the 3rd lover of darling came-no, sprouted out of a sudden, like she teleported to us. She then took something from her ring, a potion bottle from her [Storage Ring]. She then drank the whole potion bottle, and placed both of her hands to darling's cheeks, and kissed him. After a few minutes
"Phew~!"
"Thank goodness"
Both of us then breathed in relief, as the tattoo markings on darling's face were now gone, slowly vanishing from its neck
"That was a cursed"
"What?!"
I exclaimed, as I questioned the word that came out from Isabelle's mouth
"That black tattoo thingy is a [Cursed Mark]. Thankfully I still have a reserve of a high potion of [Potion of Dispel] that I got during my last quest"
She spoke
"Then if-"
"There is nothing to worry, that curse wasn't lethal, yet. But it's much better to cure it before it got worse. So then"
She then looked at me
"What happen?"
She asked, as she frowned, and furiously gazing at me. Isabelle was enraged