“Ugh, ugh, ugh...”
A suppressed groan echoed through the dark space. The left arm of the man lying on the bare floor had turned black as if it had been burned.
The man's face twisted as if in pain, but he couldn't move. He was only wiggling his toes a little as if he were bound, even though he wasn't.
“That’s strange.”
Shadin, who was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the pentagram drawn on the floor, slowly opened his eyes.
He didn't even glance at the man sobbing in pain next to him, even though he was a Follower who had been serving him all this time.
“It’s very strange.”
He shook his head as if he didn't understand. The curse Shadin had placed on Erne was a curse using his 'true name'.
It was a curse that could be placed if one knew the true name and had effects such as mental confusion and memory loss.
This was a double-edged sword that was intended to retaliate against the court case while also making Erne attack other people.
If Erne decides to swing his sword, probably no one in the mansion will be able to stop him.
Everyone in the mansion will die by Erne's hands, and Erne, who has regained his senses, may lose his mind again upon seeing that.
Either go mad and die at the hands of the police, or take his own life. This was the fate of most people afflicted by this curse.
Although it was a spell that had a killing effect, the probability of it being properly cursed was low. Shadin also tried it with the mindset that he would lose if he lost.
Since this is a curse on a name, you must know the true name when placing this curse.
True name. That is the real name. The name that the soul recognizes as its own name is the true name.
'I called the author's name, but there was no response.'
At first, Shadin called the writer by her name, 'Izina'.
The curse takes its toll the moment it is triggered. However, there was nothing wrong with the sacrifice Shadin offered.
'It wasn't Gina, nor was it a pen name.'
No matter what name he called, the curse did not come. Feeling sorry for having prepared so many things, Shadin finally shouted, “Erne Rhineland.” Then the curse accepted the sacrifice.
Shadin was so shocked that he laughed for a long time.
'No matter how immersed you were in the character, you probably wouldn't have recognized your real name as the character's name.'
Shadin still thought the name he used in his past life was his own.
No matter how cool Erne is, she's following him to his identity? Even though their genders are different?
'Then isn't Erne a possessed person?'
However, the actions Erne has shown so far are things that only a possessed person could show.
'By any chance, then, Judith Harrington?'
Judith is possessed?
Shadin had thought that Erne had taught Judith how to make incense so that she wouldn't be caught as a possessed person.
But what if Judith was possessed in the first place?
“We’re back. Outside...”
As Shadin was in confusion, Akan returned. Akan was speechless as he saw his comrade lying on the ground groaning in pain.
“The bread smells good.”
Shadin looked back at Akan. A delicious smell wafted from the bag of bread in Akan’s hand.
“By the way, Arkan, have you ever heard from Mr. Cliff about Judith Harrington?”
“Are you talking about Judith Harrington?”
Shouldn't we first explain what happened to our colleague lying there?
Akan protested with his eyes, but Shadin was lost in his own thoughts and could not see his expression.
“Did you say that woman died and came back to life?”
“I haven’t heard anything like that.”
"Is it so?"
Shadin shrugged and stood up. He frowned and tapped his thighs, feeling his legs go numb from sitting cross-legged.
“The smell of bread makes me hungry. Please bring it to my bedroom. Oh, and tea too.”
Shadin left the room without even looking at his Followers, who were writhing in pain and anger.
The portraits of Erne and Judith were burned. They were burned again and again until they were completely reduced to ashes.
The ashes were placed in a birch box and buried deep in the ground, to prevent any curses attached to the painting from wandering around.
That took three full days, during which time Erne and Judith searched for the hiding place where the priest was said to have been staying when he visited Viscount Wilbur's residence.
It was because of the godmother's request.
“Can you help me find something that was touched by the priest’s hands? A handkerchief would be fine, a pen would be fine. If possible, something that has been on the person for a long time would be even better.”
The Followers, who were willing to cooperate in anything if only he could avoid the death penalty, readily revealed the location of the hideout. However, there was nothing in the hideout.
According to the betrayed Followers, he had already packed his bags in advance, intending to head south the day the adoption was approved by the court.
Erne and Judith went just in case. As expected, it was in vain.
“You know this is absolutely not right, right?”
“I know, how many times do I have to tell you?”
Erne waved his hand at Cain, who was chattering beside him.
After having found nothing in their hiding place, Judith and Erne decide to search the mansion of Viscount Wilbur.
Fortunately, the Viscount Wilbur's residence was closed to the public after the Viscount Wilbur and his son were arrested and all of their servants were taken in for questioning.
So maybe there are still things left that the priests used.
But how would Judith and Erne know which items belonged to the priest?
So they decided to seek help from someone they knew: Gary, the very same Followers who had betrayed the priest and fled first.
The problem was that Gary was in prison. For treason. It took someone powerful enough to bring him out to Viscount Wilbur's house.
“If he escapes from here, it’s over for me. His Majesty will not leave me alone.”
Cain looked at Gary's back with anxious eyes. Erne threatened him and Judith begged him so earnestly that he took Gary out for a moment.
But the Marquis was so anxious that Gary might do something foolish.
“Even if he runs away, I won’t catch him and bring him back. That’s fine.”
He don't know why they brought in twenty security guards and stationed them at every door.
Erne shook off Cain, who kept clinging to him and approached Judith and Gary.
He never moved more than a step away from Judith. He did not allow her to move further than he could reach.
Cain clicked his tongue at the sight.
“If that’s the case, why don’t we just tie each other up with rope and walk around?”
“I made that suggestion, but Miss Harrington said no.”
"I guess you don't like any strings other than bathrobe strings," Erne muttered, causing Judith, who was walking ahead, to flinch.
Judith looked back at Erne as if telling him to stop talking nonsense. Cain clicked his tongue.
“Erne, that’s an obsession.”
“Protection. I don’t have that kind of taste either unless Miss Harrington runs off and does something like that.”
"It might be for Miss Harrington," Erne muttered, glancing at Judith again.
The moment Judith turned around in a fit of rage, saying she didn't have that kind of taste, Gary, who had been fidgeting in the corner of Wilbur's room, suddenly stood up.
“Found it.”
A silver knife gleamed in Gary's hand, whose two hands were tied with rope. As soon as Erne saw the blade, he hid Judith behind his back.
“...That, that is something used by priests.”
Gary, who had no intention of threatening Judith, lowered his hand awkwardly. Judith, standing behind Erne, was equally embarrassed.
“This is a ceremonial silver knife used when preparing for sorcery.”
Gary passed the knife to Cain. Cain wrapped the knife in a handkerchief and put it in Erne's pocket.
“While preparing the drink for the exchange, Viscount Wilbur brought him a new silver knife. The priest seemed to like it, so he put the old one away here.”
Gary's gaze turned to Wilbur's chest of drawers. While preparing the drinks for the exchange, Shadin mostly stayed in Wilbur's room. In the meantime, he used Wilbur's room as if it were his own, even though he was on the verge of death.
Thanks to that, his belongings were able to remain.
“Will this put a curse on the priest?”
Gary asked, his face looking a little bitter.
“Well, I think I’ll do something similar. Would you prefer not to do it?”
Judith secretly tested Gary. Only Gary knows whether the silver knife is Shadin's or not.
If Gary is determined to deceive, Judith has no choice but to fall for it.
“No, please, as quickly as possible. I don’t know what he’ll do.”
But Gary shivered as if all his emotions had been stripped away.
“If things don’t go as planned, the priests get angry like fire. Where will the sparks fly? They will go to those who follow them.”
Even though he had betrayed and fled, Gary was worried about his remaining comrades, including Akan.
“Maybe he’ll throw something.”
“I don’t worry if he just throws things away. When was it? Yes, I think it was right after he failed Sir Erne’s necromancy and fled the capital.”
At that time, it had not been long since Shadin had been possessed.
“As soon as the priest regained the energy he had lost during the forced march, he started causing a ruckus. He tried to break the poisoned jar.”
"Why?"
“He said things didn’t go as planned, that the goal was right in front of you but then got messed up? Yes, that’s definitely the case.”
A suppressed groan echoed through the dark space. The left arm of the man lying on the bare floor had turned black as if it had been burned.
The man's face twisted as if in pain, but he couldn't move. He was only wiggling his toes a little as if he were bound, even though he wasn't.
“That’s strange.”
Shadin, who was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the pentagram drawn on the floor, slowly opened his eyes.
He didn't even glance at the man sobbing in pain next to him, even though he was a Follower who had been serving him all this time.
“It’s very strange.”
He shook his head as if he didn't understand. The curse Shadin had placed on Erne was a curse using his 'true name'.
It was a curse that could be placed if one knew the true name and had effects such as mental confusion and memory loss.
This was a double-edged sword that was intended to retaliate against the court case while also making Erne attack other people.
If Erne decides to swing his sword, probably no one in the mansion will be able to stop him.
Everyone in the mansion will die by Erne's hands, and Erne, who has regained his senses, may lose his mind again upon seeing that.
Either go mad and die at the hands of the police, or take his own life. This was the fate of most people afflicted by this curse.
Although it was a spell that had a killing effect, the probability of it being properly cursed was low. Shadin also tried it with the mindset that he would lose if he lost.
Since this is a curse on a name, you must know the true name when placing this curse.
True name. That is the real name. The name that the soul recognizes as its own name is the true name.
'I called the author's name, but there was no response.'
At first, Shadin called the writer by her name, 'Izina'.
The curse takes its toll the moment it is triggered. However, there was nothing wrong with the sacrifice Shadin offered.
'It wasn't Gina, nor was it a pen name.'
No matter what name he called, the curse did not come. Feeling sorry for having prepared so many things, Shadin finally shouted, “Erne Rhineland.” Then the curse accepted the sacrifice.
Shadin was so shocked that he laughed for a long time.
'No matter how immersed you were in the character, you probably wouldn't have recognized your real name as the character's name.'
Shadin still thought the name he used in his past life was his own.
No matter how cool Erne is, she's following him to his identity? Even though their genders are different?
'Then isn't Erne a possessed person?'
However, the actions Erne has shown so far are things that only a possessed person could show.
'By any chance, then, Judith Harrington?'
Judith is possessed?
Shadin had thought that Erne had taught Judith how to make incense so that she wouldn't be caught as a possessed person.
But what if Judith was possessed in the first place?
“We’re back. Outside...”
As Shadin was in confusion, Akan returned. Akan was speechless as he saw his comrade lying on the ground groaning in pain.
“The bread smells good.”
Shadin looked back at Akan. A delicious smell wafted from the bag of bread in Akan’s hand.
“By the way, Arkan, have you ever heard from Mr. Cliff about Judith Harrington?”
“Are you talking about Judith Harrington?”
Shouldn't we first explain what happened to our colleague lying there?
Akan protested with his eyes, but Shadin was lost in his own thoughts and could not see his expression.
“Did you say that woman died and came back to life?”
“I haven’t heard anything like that.”
"Is it so?"
Shadin shrugged and stood up. He frowned and tapped his thighs, feeling his legs go numb from sitting cross-legged.
“The smell of bread makes me hungry. Please bring it to my bedroom. Oh, and tea too.”
Shadin left the room without even looking at his Followers, who were writhing in pain and anger.
***
The portraits of Erne and Judith were burned. They were burned again and again until they were completely reduced to ashes.
The ashes were placed in a birch box and buried deep in the ground, to prevent any curses attached to the painting from wandering around.
That took three full days, during which time Erne and Judith searched for the hiding place where the priest was said to have been staying when he visited Viscount Wilbur's residence.
It was because of the godmother's request.
“Can you help me find something that was touched by the priest’s hands? A handkerchief would be fine, a pen would be fine. If possible, something that has been on the person for a long time would be even better.”
The Followers, who were willing to cooperate in anything if only he could avoid the death penalty, readily revealed the location of the hideout. However, there was nothing in the hideout.
According to the betrayed Followers, he had already packed his bags in advance, intending to head south the day the adoption was approved by the court.
Erne and Judith went just in case. As expected, it was in vain.
“You know this is absolutely not right, right?”
“I know, how many times do I have to tell you?”
Erne waved his hand at Cain, who was chattering beside him.
After having found nothing in their hiding place, Judith and Erne decide to search the mansion of Viscount Wilbur.
Fortunately, the Viscount Wilbur's residence was closed to the public after the Viscount Wilbur and his son were arrested and all of their servants were taken in for questioning.
So maybe there are still things left that the priests used.
But how would Judith and Erne know which items belonged to the priest?
So they decided to seek help from someone they knew: Gary, the very same Followers who had betrayed the priest and fled first.
The problem was that Gary was in prison. For treason. It took someone powerful enough to bring him out to Viscount Wilbur's house.
“If he escapes from here, it’s over for me. His Majesty will not leave me alone.”
Cain looked at Gary's back with anxious eyes. Erne threatened him and Judith begged him so earnestly that he took Gary out for a moment.
But the Marquis was so anxious that Gary might do something foolish.
“Even if he runs away, I won’t catch him and bring him back. That’s fine.”
He don't know why they brought in twenty security guards and stationed them at every door.
Erne shook off Cain, who kept clinging to him and approached Judith and Gary.
He never moved more than a step away from Judith. He did not allow her to move further than he could reach.
Cain clicked his tongue at the sight.
“If that’s the case, why don’t we just tie each other up with rope and walk around?”
“I made that suggestion, but Miss Harrington said no.”
"I guess you don't like any strings other than bathrobe strings," Erne muttered, causing Judith, who was walking ahead, to flinch.
Judith looked back at Erne as if telling him to stop talking nonsense. Cain clicked his tongue.
“Erne, that’s an obsession.”
“Protection. I don’t have that kind of taste either unless Miss Harrington runs off and does something like that.”
"It might be for Miss Harrington," Erne muttered, glancing at Judith again.
The moment Judith turned around in a fit of rage, saying she didn't have that kind of taste, Gary, who had been fidgeting in the corner of Wilbur's room, suddenly stood up.
“Found it.”
A silver knife gleamed in Gary's hand, whose two hands were tied with rope. As soon as Erne saw the blade, he hid Judith behind his back.
“...That, that is something used by priests.”
Gary, who had no intention of threatening Judith, lowered his hand awkwardly. Judith, standing behind Erne, was equally embarrassed.
“This is a ceremonial silver knife used when preparing for sorcery.”
Gary passed the knife to Cain. Cain wrapped the knife in a handkerchief and put it in Erne's pocket.
“While preparing the drink for the exchange, Viscount Wilbur brought him a new silver knife. The priest seemed to like it, so he put the old one away here.”
Gary's gaze turned to Wilbur's chest of drawers. While preparing the drinks for the exchange, Shadin mostly stayed in Wilbur's room. In the meantime, he used Wilbur's room as if it were his own, even though he was on the verge of death.
Thanks to that, his belongings were able to remain.
“Will this put a curse on the priest?”
Gary asked, his face looking a little bitter.
“Well, I think I’ll do something similar. Would you prefer not to do it?”
Judith secretly tested Gary. Only Gary knows whether the silver knife is Shadin's or not.
If Gary is determined to deceive, Judith has no choice but to fall for it.
“No, please, as quickly as possible. I don’t know what he’ll do.”
But Gary shivered as if all his emotions had been stripped away.
“If things don’t go as planned, the priests get angry like fire. Where will the sparks fly? They will go to those who follow them.”
Even though he had betrayed and fled, Gary was worried about his remaining comrades, including Akan.
“Maybe he’ll throw something.”
“I don’t worry if he just throws things away. When was it? Yes, I think it was right after he failed Sir Erne’s necromancy and fled the capital.”
At that time, it had not been long since Shadin had been possessed.
“As soon as the priest regained the energy he had lost during the forced march, he started causing a ruckus. He tried to break the poisoned jar.”
"Why?"
“He said things didn’t go as planned, that the goal was right in front of you but then got messed up? Yes, that’s definitely the case.”
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