TOOCM 67

Chapter 67

The man hesitated, unable to continue.

As Kaiden had suspected, there was more to the story.

“I was just scared…”

He still seemed unwilling to confess. Rather than waste any more time, Kaiden decided to press him harder.

He drew his sword and pointed the blade at the man’s throat.

“Eek!”

“Lie to me, and I’ll cut you down right now.”

“I-I’ll tell you the truth! Please, spare me!”

Trembling violently, the man begged for his life.

Kaiden lowered his sword, and the man hurriedly began to speak.

“The petrified men… they all had something in common.”

“What?”

“They were the ones who lured Jane into the forest that night.”

Kaiden frowned, trying to understand.

Then realization struck him.

“You mean… they assaulted her?”

The man avoided his gaze.

“I-I had no choice. It was Charles, Jane’s fiancé, who led us. He’s the next village chief. He can practically do whatever he wants.”

Kaiden’s eyes burned with contempt.

No matter what excuse the man gave, his crime was no less disgusting than Charles’s. He had still taken part in harming an innocent woman.

Sensing Kaiden’s silence, the man grew increasingly anxious.

“That’s why Charles died first! I saw them going somewhere through the window that night. I told my friends it was Jane, but no one believed me. Then… they all turned to stone!”

His bloodshot eyes trembled with rage and terror.

“I’m the only one left! Jane killed them all! I attacked her before she could get me!”

His words were filled with such hatred that it seemed he would attack Jane the moment he saw her.

The knight beside him sighed.

“He’s always been obsessed with conspiracy theories.”

It was obvious the knight didn’t believe a word of it.

Just then, the door opened.

The knight turned and froze.

“Jane? Why are you here?”

“Sir…”

Jane stood there, pale and unsteady.

Despite having been attacked, she had come herself. Vivid bruises covered her neck, while smaller wounds marred her body.

The moment the prisoner saw her, he foamed at the mouth and collapsed.

Jane glanced at him before speaking softly.

“Just let him go. He’s pitiful. I don’t want the village disturbed because of me.”

The knight looked at her with pity, assuming she had come because of her grandfather.

But Kaiden immediately interrupted.

“No.”

“What?”

“I’m still questioning him. And I was about to speak with you. Your timing is perfect.”

The knight hurried forward.

“Your Grace, Jane is still recovering from the attack. Perhaps you should question her later…”

“No. I’ll do it.”

Jane took a breath.

“If it’s all right, could we talk at my house? This place is a little frightening.”

“Fine.”

Since Jane herself had agreed, the knight had no reason to object.

Kaiden left the prisoner in the knight’s care and followed Jane.

At the village chief’s house, a strange scent lingered in the air.

“My grandfather needed something to calm him down, so I burned some incense.”

Jane offered Kaiden a cup of tea.

Kaiden looked at her quietly.

“Did you already deal with the village chief?”

“…What?”

Her hand froze in midair.

Her eyes slowly reddened.

“You believe that man?”

Her trembling voice sounded pitiful.

But Kaiden remained unmoved.

Instead, he asked an entirely different question.

“You have quite a few wounds. Especially on your wrist.”

Jane instinctively hid her wrist.

“This is…”

“I was told you were only choked. Were those scars caused that night?”

The moment he mentioned that night, Jane’s expression hardened.

“…When did you figure it out?”

She lowered her head.

Her hair began to shimmer.

One by one, the strands twisted and transformed into writhing snakes.

Kaiden closed his eyes and assumed a combat stance.

“Since I noticed the foul smell on you.”

Jane fell silent.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t recognize the sedative poison in that incense?”

“You walked straight into my trap?”

“Not exactly. I cornered you first.”

Kaiden’s expression remained calm.

“Besides, poison doesn’t affect me.”

Jane suddenly hurled the scalding teapot at him.

With his eyes still closed, Kaiden effortlessly deflected it and struck her with the scabbard of his sword.

“Kyaa!”

Jane crashed into the wall.

The impact would have shattered the bones of an ordinary person.

Yet Jane slowly rose to her feet.

Then she charged.

Kaiden smirked.

“Definitely a beast.”

He subdued her without killing her, searching for the core just as Reina had instructed.

Secure the Medusa’s core. Removing it will save the host. It’s troublesome, but don’t kill her. If you do, the dark energy will engulf the village.

Since the host was human, Kaiden had no choice.

If the dark energy spread, anyone without proper aura training would be overwhelmed.

There was only one option.

He fought the Medusa with his bare hands.

At that moment, the door opened.

Reina and Michael entered with Celine.

“Reina?”

Kaiden glanced toward her in surprise.

That brief distraction was enough.

The Medusa’s snake-like hair shot toward him.

Slash!

Kaiden severed the snakes in an instant.

A powerful poison immediately spread through the air.

Michael covered his mouth with his sleeve and pulled Reina backward.

Ritsi flapped its tiny wings.

A powerful gust swept through the room, blowing the poison away despite its small size.

The Medusa immediately charged toward Reina.

She had chosen the weakest-looking target.

A fatal mistake.

Clang!

A wall of aura appeared between them, blocking the attack before the poison could spread any farther.

“Urgh!”

The Medusa was thrown backward like a ball.

Kaiden moved instantly, restraining her and covering her eyes.

“Grrr!”

Jane growled like a wild beast as she struggled violently.

Reina, however, fearlessly stepped forward.

“Stay back!”

Kaiden’s voice was sharp.

The situation was too dangerous.

Had he not protected her with his aura, she could have been seriously injured.

But Reina didn’t retreat.

Instead, she used Ritsi’s power and calmly pointed toward Jane.

“The necklace. That’s the core.”

Kaiden immediately understood.

He grabbed the necklace and tore it from Jane’s neck.

Her struggling body suddenly went limp.

But the necklace transformed into a snake and lunged at him.

Kaiden caught it by the head and pinned it down.

Reina was already prepared.

She held out a beast restraint.

“Don’t kill it. Put it in here!”

“What?”

“Hurry!”

She looked ready to grab the snake herself.

Her calmness in the face of such danger astonished Kaiden.

Why was she so determined to collect the core?

He didn’t have time to question it.

With a reluctant grimace, Kaiden placed the snake inside the beast restraint.