The crowd began to gather around the city gates. Their faces showed a mix of fear, anger, and guilt, thinly veiled by hatred. At the center of the assembly, the mayor stepped forward—a man in once-elegant attire now slightly disheveled, yet his eyes retained a cold, authoritative gleam.
"You brought this child back," he said bluntly, pointing at Sasha, who stood trembling behind Catherine and Thomas. "Don't you realize her presence here endangers the entire city?"
Thomas furrowed his brows, glaring at the man. "We brought her here because she deserves protection. Isn't it the duty of a leader to ensure the safety of everyone, not just those deemed 'worthy'?"
The mayor let out a long sigh, his gaze flickering to Sasha with an almost emotionless expression. "Her family has already been sacrificed to keep this city safe. It was a necessary sacrifice. They owed the city a great debt, and offering them to the monster was the most logical way to resolve it. By giving them up, we ensured the monster wouldn't target anyone else."
Sasha broke into loud sobs, her cries echoing through the silence that enveloped the crowd. "They didn't do anything wrong! My family was just trying to survive!" she cried between sobs.
Catherine stared at the mayor, her cold eyes betraying no emotion. "So, you justify cowardice as 'logic'? You sacrificed this family to save yourself and those you deem more valuable?" she asked, her voice dripping with undisguised contempt.
The mayor raised his chin. "It was a hard decision, but a necessary one. You two, outsiders, don't understand what it takes to maintain balance here. And I have no time for your lectures or threats."
The guards surrounding them raised their weapons, spears aimed firmly at Catherine and Thomas. "Hand over the child, or we'll force you out of this city," one of the guards warned.
Thomas, who had been silent since the mayor's statement, finally spoke. His voice was calm but laced with sharp irony. "So this is the real face of your social contract: sacrificing the powerless for the majority. You call this stability, but it's just tyranny disguised as justice."
Navigator suddenly spoke in their minds. "Are you satisfied playing the heroes now? Look at this reality. Even this city's leader, with all his authority, chooses to sacrifice Sasha's family for some so-called greater good. I'm sick of watching these people's behavior."
Catherine smirked faintly, though her expression was more akin to someone uncovering a deep lie. "You're not wrong, Navigator," she replied in her thoughts. "But I'm not one to act recklessly. Killing them now would be foolish. However, they must learn that exploiting others' weakness isn't a solution we'll let slide."
Thomas gave Catherine a knowing glance. "True justice doesn't stem from authority alone but from understanding moral obligation. If we let this happen, we're no better than them," he said, more to himself than anyone else.
Sasha stood behind them, her face a mixture of fear and confusion, but her eyes clung to Thomas and Catherine with a glimmer of hope. The mayor snorted. "So, will you surrender or resist?"
Catherine crossed her arms, her gaze defiant. "We won't hand her over. If you want to try and force us, go ahead." Meanwhile, Thomas stood firm, his hand resting on his sword's hilt, ready to defend Sasha no matter what.
The crowd grew restless. The guards growled, gripping their spears tighter, while Thomas raised a calming hand, trying to diffuse the growing tension.
"Listen," Thomas said with a controlled voice, "we're not here to cause trouble. But if you force us, I won't hesitate to teach you a lesson—without bloodshed, of course."
But his words only provoked the guards further. One of them advanced, spear raised, but Thomas moved faster. With swift precision, he twisted his body, grabbed the spear's shaft, and yanked it hard, causing the guard to stumble. Another guard fell to a calculated punch to the stomach—alive but incapacitated.
"This is your warning," Thomas said, glaring at the remaining guards. "Stand down, and we can resolve this without further violence."
Catherine observed from the back, her gaze cold but tinged with frustration. Poison isn't the solution here, she thought. The situation didn't call for her magic to be used recklessly. She understood Thomas's attempt to lead without violence, though it seemed a fragile method under the circumstances.
Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed on the cobblestone street. A large man in armor adorned with a silver insignia appeared, flanked by additional guards. Commander Carlos.
"Stand down!" Carlos bellowed, his voice like thunder. He drew a massive sword that radiated an intimidating aura. "I don't care who you are, but if you fight this city's guards, you'll face my wrath."
Thomas sighed. "Fine, Carlos. I didn't want to do this, but you've left me no choice." He unsheathed his sword, readying himself for battle.
The fight broke out. Carlos was a formidable opponent, each swing of his sword forcing Thomas to dodge with precision. Thomas relied on his agility, biding his time and waiting for an opening.
Meanwhile, one of the guards darted past Thomas and Carlos, heading straight for Sasha. In a sudden burst of speed, the guard raised his spear, aiming to strike the girl.
"No!" Catherine shouted. In an instant, she cast a spell, and a glowing green serpent emerged from her hand. Poison dripped from its fangs as it struck with deadly speed. The guard collapsed, his body turning blue as death took him swiftly.
But the silence that followed was short-lived. The dead guard's body began to move again, his skin darkening to an ashen gray, his eyes lifeless. He stood like a marionette controlled by unseen strings, his movements stiff yet menacing.
Thomas stepped back, narrowing his eyes. "What the hell is this?"
Catherine froze momentarily but quickly turned her gaze to the townsfolk. To her shock, none of them appeared surprised. Their faces remained blank, as though this was a normal occurrence.
"What's going on here?" Catherine whispered.
Navigator's laugh echoed in their minds, more sardonic than usual. "Oh, of course, this quest felt too easy after Goblin's Lair. You didn't finish that dungeon. The real dungeon is this city. I suspect everyone here in Lilac is undead, and the one controlling them is the dungeon boss. Find it, and finish this quest."
Thomas and Catherine exchanged glances, their eyes filled with sudden, bitter awareness. Around them, the atmosphere of Lilac Town was shifting. The air grew heavier, and the shadows of buildings seemed to move as if they had lives of their own. Meanwhile, the undead guard they had just confronted began to walk toward them, with the townsfolk and other guards watching in unemotional silence. Sasha stood trembling behind them but remained quiet.
"So, we're just pawns in a larger game," Catherine said coldly, tightening her grip on her cloak.
"Of course," Thomas replied with a small nod, his gaze sharpening as it fixed on Carlos, who stood unmoving, his expression now a shadow of his former self. "It seems we need to clear this dungeon using unconventional methods."
The crowd of Lilac's once-normal townspeople began revealing their true forms. Their skin peeled away, exposing dry and decayed flesh beneath. Their hollow eyes were devoid of life, but their movements brimmed with malevolent intent. With a collective growl, they lunged at Thomas and Catherine without hesitation.
Thomas, standing in the front, immediately raised his hand. "Enough," he muttered.
A dark blue aura began emanating from him, spreading outward in an expanding circle of energy.
"Leviathan's Influence."
In an instant, all approaching undead froze in place. Their bodies ceased movement, like puppets with severed strings. Though their lifeless eyes remained fixed on Thomas, they could no longer act.
Catherine took advantage of the moment without hesitation. Raising her hand, she summoned venomous serpents that shot through the air.
"If they can't move, this becomes easy," she remarked coolly. The poison from her magic flowed like a green river, coiling around the undead and reducing their bodies to ash.
However, Carlos was different. Though his body had also become undead, he continued to move, unaffected by Leviathan's Influence. Swinging his massive sword with brutal strength, he forced Thomas to step back a few paces.
"He's immune," Thomas muttered, readying himself. He was not skilled with a sword, but hesitation was not an option. With a swift motion, he raised his blade to parry Carlos's strike, sparks flying as the steel clashed.
"Catherine, focus on the others. I'll handle him," Thomas called out while holding off Carlos.
Catherine did not turn but gave a small nod. "Don't waste time, Hobbes. We need to finish this."
Carlos launched another attack, his movements crude but forceful. Thomas used his agility to dodge, aiming a slash at Carlos's arm. Yet Carlos's hardened body, now more like stone, sustained only a minor scratch.
Thomas retreated a few steps, carefully observing Carlos's movements. "This is no ordinary body," he thought. "I'll need to be smart."
Spotting an opening between Carlos's slow but powerful strikes, Thomas moved swiftly to the side as Carlos raised his sword for a vertical attack. Thomas thrust his blade behind Carlos's knee, successfully staggering him and throwing him off balance.
Meanwhile, Catherine continued to control the battlefield. Her venomous serpents targeted the undead one by one. There was no mercy in her actions, only cold efficiency.
"So much filth. So much chaos. Is this the price for this town's so-called stability?" she thought as she unleashed her next attack.
Carlos struck again, swinging his sword horizontally. Thomas leapt back, but the tip of Carlos's blade managed to graze his side, leaving a shallow yet painful cut. He groaned softly but kept moving.
"Stop resisting, Carlos," Thomas demanded firmly. "If you have any consciousness left, now's the time to surrender."
Of course, Carlos offered no reply, only relentless attacks. Thomas finally spotted his last opportunity. As Carlos raised his sword slowly again, Thomas drove his blade into Carlos's chest with all his strength, striking a fragile spot. The sword pierced through decayed skin and brittle bone, causing Carlos to stop moving and collapse.
Thomas exhaled deeply, withdrawing his blade, now coated in blackened blood. He turned to Catherine, who had just dealt with the last of the undead group.
"It's done," Catherine said while adjusting her cloak. Her voice was cold, but her eyes scanned their surroundings cautiously. "For now," she added.
Sasha, still trembling, stood behind them. Her sobs had quieted, but her fear remained evident. Thomas turned to her, noting that she showed no signs of transformation like the rest of the townsfolk. Sasha was still human, unlike the others who had become undead.
"She's not like them," Catherine muttered, staring at Sasha with an icy expression. Her furrowed brows betrayed her confusion. "How can she stay human when the entire town has turned into monsters?"
Thomas pondered briefly before a familiar voice echoed in his mind.
"She's the main subject of this quest," the Navigator explained calmly. "She won't turn undead; it would break the quest's narrative. Protect her. She may be the key to resolving all of this."
Thomas met Catherine's gaze. "Navigator has a point. If Sasha is central to this quest, we need to keep her alive."
Catherine scoffed. "Of course. Babysitting again." Despite her sarcasm, she gave Sasha a sharp look. "Fine. If she's important, we'll make sure she doesn't die."
Sasha didn't understand their conversation but felt slightly reassured by Thomas's protective demeanor. "Will… will this end soon?" she asked softly.
Thomas gently patted her shoulder. "Not yet. But we'll make sure it ends. That's a promise."
As they moved deeper into the town, a system notification appeared before Catherine and Thomas.
[Congratulations, the quest "Escort the Victim to Lilac Town Safely" has been completed.]
[Rewards: Base Gold x2500, Moondrops x300, Storybook of Heroes x50.]
Catherine glanced at the message and sighed. "Good. But we're still stuck in this hell."
Thomas narrowed his eyes, scanning the town teeming with wandering undead.
"We're not stopping here. Sasha's still terrified, and this town's too chaotic to leave like this."
The Navigator spoke again in their minds. "Of course not. You're not done. Continue forward. The dungeon boss awaits in the center of town, where the undead gather most densely. Prepare for a tougher fight."
"Perfect," Catherine said dryly. "At least we have a clear direction now." Rolling her eyes, she began walking ahead, venomous serpents ready to strike at a moment's notice.
Thomas motioned to Sasha. "Stay close. Don't fall behind."
Sasha hesitated but followed, her body still trembling. Together, they navigated the narrow streets filled with undead crawling from the shadows. Catherine deftly commanded her venomous magic, while Thomas protected Sasha with swift, calculated strikes.
As they neared the town center, the undead numbers grew. Looming before them was the mayor's mansion, a grand structure now cracked and overgrown with vines. An eerie green light emanated from within, illuminating the night sky.
"There," Catherine pointed. "If I had to guess, the mastermind is in there."
Thomas nodded. "We have to go in."
The Navigator chuckled softly in their minds. "Good. You're starting to understand. Don't let your guard down—this will be harder than you think."
Catherine smirked faintly at Thomas. "Harder? Sounds like fun."
Without hesitation, they stepped into the mansion's courtyard, where hordes of undead awaited. Their battle for the truth behind Lilac Town had only just begun.
***
Thomas Hobbes "Monster of Malmesbury"
Active Skill 1 – Leviathan's Influence
Description: Hobbes projects an aura of dominance that intimidates nearby enemies.
Effect: Reduces the attack and defense of nearby enemies by 15% for 10 minutes. Each enemy affected by this skill also gains the "Fear" status, with a 20% chance of being rendered unable to act. If the enemy's level is lower than or equal to Thomas Hobbes, this chance increases to 70%.