THIBV - Chapter 42

'What?'

There was a small window in the cabin, no bigger than the palm of your hand. It didn't open, but it was glassed in to let in the sunlight.

I moved the wooden crate and stood on it, wiping the foggy glass with my hand and looking out beyond it.

"Oh my God."

Penelope was setting fire to the cabin when she went out with the matches.

She took some dry grass and scattered it over the burning fire, then looked at Bridget, who was standing by the window and laughed like a madman.

Then, he saw Cedric and the servants running from afar and ran in the opposite direction.

I couldn't believe it.

'You even do this?'

I feel like I had this thought just a little while ago.

Isaac and Penelope looked alike, but who would have thought that they looked exactly alike in even the most absurd and horrifying ways?

Anyone can become possessed by magi and lose their sense of reason.

In such cases, people usually try to harm themselves.

There aren't many people who would try to harm others like this.

This was not the work of magi, but rather a manifestation of her usual selfishness.

Black smoke suddenly surged in through the cracks in the walls.

"Cough! Cough!"

I coughed as I moved the rags that had been piled on the fireside toward the center of the cabin.

It was just to buy some time. If a fire started there, it would be uncontrollable.

Soon after, Cedric's voice was heard outside.

"Madam! Madam, are you there?"

"Cedric! I'm here! Help me! I'm trapped!"

"Oh my God."

Cedric stamped on the fire with his feet to keep it from spreading any further, then waved his coat over the fire and gave instructions.

"Bring me the dirt! Quickly!"

The servants who came with them ran around trying to get some dirt, but the surrounding area was full of grass, making it difficult to dig the ground with their bare hands.

"Isn't there anything like an extension?"

"We have to break that lock!"

"Get out of the way!"

The servant pushed Cedric away and reached for the lock.

But Penelope had set the fire right under the door, so the latch was already red-hot.

"Oh, hot! This won't work."

"Let's see what we can do with this branch!"

Someone brought a sturdy-looking branch and struck the lock, but the rusty lock was at the wrong angle and wouldn't come off easily.

"Someone go to the mansion and get an axe! I need to break through the wall!"

Cedric shouted.

In the meantime, the flames had already risen to the roof.

The old wooden walls were cracking and peeling, providing a perfect breeding ground for fire.

Cedric came to the back of the cabin and bumped into me.

The hut walls were so old that they looked like they would collapse if the men tried hard enough, but surprisingly, they were sturdy.

"All together! One, two, three!"

Thud!

"One, two, three!"

Thud!

The planks that made up the wall only bent but did not break.

I crouched halfway down the hut, covered my mouth and nose with a handkerchief, and waited for help.

I could see the fire reaching all the way to the ceiling.

'It's okay. It'll be okay.'

There are so many people trying to help, so what could possibly happen?

My heart was pounding with anxiety, but I tried to remain calm.

The black smoke was so thick that I couldn't see anything. I was overcome with fear.

All that was visible was the hot, fierce red light emitted by the flames.

The fire that had entered the cabin slowly crept towards the hem of my dress. I grabbed the hem of my dress and reduced its volume as much as possible.

"Madam! Are you okay, ma'am?"

Outside, Cedric called out to me desperately.

At that moment, sparks flew to the rag that I had moved.

In an instant, flames engulfed it.

Hurrruk!

Even amidst the black smoke, the blazing flames gave off an intense light, imprinting a terrifying presence on me.

'It's the end.'

It looks like it won't work.

Even Cedric and the servants, who were right next to me, seemed unable to save me.

I sat down, my mind racing.

The only person I think of when I'm about to die.

'Julian.'

I swore to dedicate this life to him. I decided to save him, but I died in vain.

"I'm sorry, Julian..."

That was when.

Wooooow!

My shadow rippled and vibrated greatly.

A large shape suddenly emerged from there.

"Wh... what..."

The shape took shape in the blink of an eye.

He was a knight wearing black iron armor and a helmet.

There were two black holes in the face of the helmet.

It had no mouth and yet breathed out black breath.

Gooooooooo.

It looked similar to Magi. but it was clearly different. It was something completely different.

Compared to its pitch-black darkness, the magi seemed like nothing more than ashen.

Even the light from the flames could not illuminate the pitch-black darkness inside the helmet. It was a hole that swallowed light.

Are you an emissary from hell?

I took a step back without realizing it.

The black knight turned away from me and swung the hammer he was holding at the wall.

Bang!

The flames tried to engulf it fearlessly, but the black knight stood above the fire, silently swinging his hammer as the fire struck him.

Bang!

In just two passes, the wall was partially split.

The Black Knight put down his hammer. It turned into smoke and was absorbed into the knight's body.

He turned to me, hoisted me onto his shoulders, and dashed toward the cracked wall.

'Ugh!'

Bridget couldn't even scream due to the tremendous power and momentum.

Woozikkun!

The split wall burst apart, unable to withstand the black knight's stony body and strength.

"Lady!"

"Gasp. that's...!"

"Ugh, ugh!"

"It's a monster! Save me!"

Cedric and the servants took a step back when they saw the black knight and I suddenly emerging from the burning hut. Some even turned around and ran away.

It was understandable. Suddenly, something unidentifiable emerged, a huge thing that looked at least two meters tall, wearing creepy black armor, and having empty holes where its eyes should be.

"Madam, put her down!"

Cedric, barely able to muster up his courage, swung the branch.

But it bounced off helplessly as soon as it touched the knight's arm.

Cedric's hands shook. His face turned pale.

There is no human being who would not be terrified at the sight of such a thing.

I, who had been hanging on the black knight's shoulder, came to my senses and stopped Cedric.

"I'm fine. Cedric! I think he's trying to help me. Don't attack him."

Only after hearing my voice did Cedric feel a little relieved.

"What the heck is this?"

"I don't know. It just suddenly popped out of the shadows."

I cautiously patted the black knight on the back.

I thought it might be intangible since it was made of smoke, but unlike the mass of magic, the black knight had substance and I could feel the solid feeling of armor at my fingertips.

"Excuse me... Can you give me a lift?"

But the black knight didn't seem to hear.

It began to stride forward, weaving its way through the others.

It was just walking, but it was moving at an incredible speed, Cedric ran, hitting his thighs in an attempt to somehow move his trembling legs, but he was unable to catch up with the black knight and kept getting further and further away. 

"Madam!"

"Cedric!"

A bewildered me raised my head and reached out to Cedric.

But the black knight carried me around his shoulders and walked silently.

It was a steady gait as if there was a destination somewhere.

I was dragged away helplessly, not knowing where I was going. All that was visible was the broad back of the black knight.

How long did it take? The black knight surprisingly quickly put me down.

"Oh!"

The black knight, who seemed to be helping but had rough hands, was rough when he put me down as if he was handling a piece of luggage rather than a person.

I squeezed my eyes shut just before crashing to the floor.

But contrary to expectations, the black knight did not throw me away.

It just handed me over to someone.

"Come in."

Low, dry voice.

The black knight followed the order and went back to where he was, into the shadow.

My eyes sparkled at the familiar voice.

'Julian!'

He was right in front of my eyes.

Julian, who was looking down at me with dry eyes, frowned at the sight of me looking miserable and covered in soot.

"..."

I reassured Julian, who moved his lips but ended up not saying anything.

"I'm okay. I'm not hurt."

Only then did he turn his gaze from me and gesture to a certain place.

I was surprised to see that.

"B, Bridget..."

Isaac was kneeling on the dirt floor.

With Penelope, who ran away.

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