Let's summarize...
I was on an expedition to the city of Winterland, aiming to unravel the mysteries in the southern part of the kingdom.
After an unexpected twist of events, my squad found ourselves lost in a border town due to the unexplained failure of my teleportation magic.
To add to the complexity, we stumbled upon about twenty men dead in highly suspicious circumstances during our journey. Even upon reaching the village, curiously inhabited solely by women, we were met with silence from the villagers.
Things took a turn when I was summoned for a private meeting with the village chief, discovering that an unseen force terrified everyone in this place.
My response to this unsettling situation was pragmatic—surrender. My plan was straightforward: yield to those responsible and then decide whether to confront them with my sword or opt for a more peaceful resolution.
But now...
"Woah sob sniff- T-thank you!"
"W-We will always remember what you did for us."
A multitude of sobs filled the room.
"Okay, please stop!"
'This is embarrassing!'
Unable to endure the emotional display any longer, I intervened, gradually silencing the room.
"Very well, then tell me what you are going to do now," I said, eager to conclude the situation.
The women exchanged glances until most eyes settled on Cristina, the village head.
"They told us that if any man appears in the village again, we must do everything possible to direct them to a cave at the back of the village, in the woods. If they discover that we're hiding a man... they ugh- " Cristina said, attempting to hold back tears.
So, there is a mastermind behind all this?
Despite grasping that someone had threatened the women, making them fearful, it was challenging for me to assimilate that the disease causing the earlier men's deaths was orchestrated intentionally by an individual or an organization.
"Hmm, in that case, can you please guide me to that cave?" I asked, determined to unravel the mystery.
Cristina, along with the women who had misunderstood my actions as a self-sacrifice, decided to trust me.
"Natasha, please guide Mr. Franz," Cristina instructed.
A young woman, Natasha, stepped forward. Like the other villagers, she wore old clothes, yet her somewhat neglected appearance had a certain charm.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Franz, my name is Natasha. I'll guide you immediately to the cave; please follow me closely."
Thus, we left the room, strolling down the village's main street towards the forest.
As we walked in silence, neither of us spoke. I followed Natasha calmly until we reached the outskirts of the village.
???
Suddenly, Natasha halted in front of me.
But before I could question her about the sudden stop.
"Get out of here."
An irritated voice echoed.
"What?"
"Take your companions and get out of here!"
Natasha, who had shown a completely different attitude until recently, now wore an annoyed expression.
"Idiots like you who believe that sacrificing yourself for others is a heroic act are the most hateful!"
No, no, what's going on here?
Unable to comprehend the change in Natasha's attitude and her words, I sought an explanation.
"Wasn't everyone happy that I gave up in the first place?"
"As if anyone sane would be happy about something like that!! Those cowardly witches only think of themselves and even thought to cooperate with the culprits that made our village in this state!!!"
Natasha expressed her anger, gritting her teeth.
"You're not better, though. You crazy suicidal!"
Franz frowned at being labeled a crazy suicidal.
"If that is the case, you must be a great fool for trusting that everything I said before was true, don't you think? After all, I could have lied to escape from here as soon as I had a chance."
Contrary to my expectations, Natasha remained unconvinced.
"No," she asserted with determination.
"No? What do you mean?" I inquired with an annoyed expression.
"You didn't lie about anything you said before! Don't call me a great fool, I'm sure!"
"Hah, sure! Are you going to say that your feminine instinct told you or something?"
"NO!! ...Well, actually, it's something similar."
"You admit it then?" I said with a mocking expression.
"Idiot! I know it because of my unique ability!!" Natasha yelled, annoyed.
"Do you have a unique ability?"
To be honest, I was surprised to learn that Natasha possessed a unique ability, considering that only a small proportion of people who have awakened their mana can claim to have one.
Witnessing my surprised reaction, Natasha felt pleased.
"Heh, yeah, just so you know, I have an amazing unique ability that lets me know if someone is telling the truth or not."
"Oh, if that's the case, then it makes sense to trust that I didn't lie before. Please, forgive me; I was wrong this time."
My easy apology made Natasha feel ashamed of her previous attitude.
"Well, anyway, you must understand why I call you a crazy suicidal. If you want, I can contact your companions at your inn and tell them that you escaped through the woods so they can meet up there without problems."
Listening to Natasha's proposal, I pondered:
'I was annoyed by this girl's cheeky attitude before, but isn't she really a great person?'
Among all the people in the village, she was the only one who considered my safety despite putting herself in danger.
It might not be the most rational course of action, as she was putting the life of a complete stranger on the same level as the people of her village.
However.
It takes a big heart and courage to do it.
And I respected that.
"Natasha, I appreciate your concern, but you don't have to worry so much. I'm also someone with a unique ability, and I'm actually pretty good at combat. I mean, I don't plan on dying here, so you can safely return to your home after guiding me to the cave."
"You-"
Natasha wanted to yell at me again, but her unique ability confirmed that I was telling the truth.
"Aaah, fine, do whatever you want! But at least let me tell you some information."
"Are you sure? If you give me information and it's found out, you could put yourself in danger."
"It's the least I can do to keep you from dying too quickly!"
I smiled, appreciating Natasha's willingness to share information even at the risk of her safety.
"Heh, well, tell me the information, in that case."
Thus, hidden among various sounds of the forest, a conversation with valuable information ensued.
Information that greatly surprised me.
***
Deep in the forest, a large cave lay exposed to the naked eye. Observers might mistake it for a shelter for forest animals at night. However, the man slowly approaching the cave's entrance knew better.
In the forest, where visibility was already challenging with the help of moonlight, the cave's interior was pitch dark. Nevertheless, the man chose not to carry a torch.
'They could see me coming more easily if I had a torch with me.'
'Besides, it's not like I can't walk in this darkness.'
Indeed, the man walking confidently into the complete darkness of the cave was me.
I had spent the past four years training my mana and senses, enabling me to perceive my surroundings in a superhuman way. Emitting my mana as a wave around my body allowed me to sense everything within a limited range of one meter.
Even in this limited range, I could navigate the darkness without stumbling.
'This place is bigger than I thought.'
After about 20 minutes of walking in complete darkness, I finally saw a light ahead.
Silently, I approached the light, revealing an astonishing sight.
"How was the last experiment?"
"It didn't go well; his body wasn't able to handle the change, and he died soon after."
"Tch, these weaklings break very easily."
An intense smell of blood and death permeated the air from all directions.
In front of the entrance to a large structure, I observed two men dressed in black robes engaged in conversation.
Various thoughts flooded my mind as I witnessed the scene, with one prevailing concern...
'Experiment?'
Earlier, Natasha had recounted that a group of people in black robes had suddenly appeared in the village. They threatened to kill all the villagers, including children and the elderly, unless their demands were met.
Initially, it seemed like the typical case of bandits threatening a border village. However, the situation escalated when the demands turned out not to be for money or material goods, but for the periodic handover of male villagers to the criminal group.
Naturally, the villagers rejected this absurd proposal and attempted to resist, only to be swiftly annihilated.
Fear gripped the villagers, leading them to succumb to the demands. As time passed, grief and anger reached a boiling point, prompting the remaining men in the village to gather for a desperate final attack...
However.
They never returned.
To worsen matters, from that moment on, anyone leaving the village never returned.
Initially, my assumption was that the kidnappings were related to something like the slave trade. While kidnapping only men seemed suspicious, no other plausible explanation had occurred to me.
Until now.
'They are using the kidnapped men in some kind of experiment?'
What kind of individuals am I dealing with?
Indignation surged within me.
But there was no time for excitement.
Using my stealthy skills, I infiltrated the structure without being detected.
'This place looks like a laboratory.'
Long corridors with numerous rooms on both sides, strewn with stretchers and various items. However, the predominant sight was blood—abundant blood on the walls and floor, unfit for the general public.
'No. More than a laboratory, this place looks like a torture center.'
The gruesome scene horrified me.
While still traversing the corridor, I felt a substantial presence emanating from a staircase leading to a basement.
!!!
What is this?!
Instinctively, I drew my sword and headed straight to the basement.
An indescribable sensation overwhelmed me—a feeling I had never experienced before.
The instincts, honed through countless battles on the battlefield, told me.
'You have to eliminate this presence. No matter what.'