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Chapter 47: Finding Pierre

They threaded through the dark alley, and after sprinting only a few dozen meters they ran into a horde of skeleton soldiers.

Unlike the skeletons they had fought before, these ones wore battered rust-iron armor and clutched chipped, broken swords.

Hearing the noise behind them, the skeletons all turned their heads toward Reiner’s group.

Martina was about to charge in and slaughter them when Reiner stopped her.

“Let me handle it; I’m a bit faster.”

He raised his staff and cast Fireball straight ahead.

“Creak, creak!”

The slowly approaching skeletons ignited under the Fireball, and in an instant the area became a sea of flames.

The air filled with a thick stench of burning flesh, and before long the skeletons collapsed in swaths.

Reiner noticed Junice staring at him and could not help asking, “What is it, do I have something on my face?”

Junice hesitated, then shook her head. “I’ll ask you after we get out.”

After clearing the alley, Nora leaned out and glanced toward the street.

“Master, there are monsters outside eating people.”

Reiner stepped forward for a look and saw ghouls crowding around a corpse at the corner of the street with several skeleton soldiers nearby.

They were tearing huge chunks from the body.

“Martina, clear them out and be careful… these skeletons are armed.”

“Got it.”

Martina dashed from the alley, hacked her way through the skeletons, and in half a minute nothing remained but scattered bones.

Reiner walked to the two corpses and gave them a rough inspection.

Although the bodies were chewed beyond recognition, one had distinctly female characteristics, so Reiner immediately ruled it out.

As for the other corpse.

Not a single part of him was intact; his eyes were gouged out, his entire face flayed, and his skull split open.

Reiner shook his head. “The face is gone; I can’t tell whether he’s the one we’re after.”

Before crossing over, he often watched true-crime videos on his phone.

He knew forensic experts could estimate age from skin, bones, and teeth.

But he had no idea how they actually did it.

Junice said softly, “We have seen 3 corpses so far; if they were a 6-man party, 3 are still missing.”

Just then Nora’s ears perked up again.

She closed her eyes, took a deliberate sniff, then grabbed Reiner’s hand. “Master, follow me.”

Martina and Junice hurried after them.

After running for a while, Nora ducked into a narrow alley and came to a stop.

“We’re here.”

Reiner followed her gaze and stared at the shadow ahead.

He started forward but Nora blocked him.

“Let me.” She lowered her voice, drew a dagger, and advanced.

After only a few steps, a man brandishing a short blade lunged from the darkness.

Nora dodged nimbly, making his stab miss.

Reiner raised his staff and aimed it at him. “Calm down, we’re not monsters.”

In the faint light the man lifted his head and locked eyes with Reiner.

His face was covered in blood, his eyes scarlet, and he muttered endlessly, looking clearly deranged.

Reiner judged him to be fairly young, and the prominent scar running down the bridge of his nose was unmistakable.

There was no doubt that this was the target of their quest.

Still, to be safe he asked, “Are you Pierre Craig?”

The man suddenly panted heavily and glared at Reiner in anger.

???

Junice yanked Reiner back by the shoulder. “Careful, his mind has been corrupted; he’s in a frenzy. Don’t bother asking; in this state he won’t answer anything. Few adventurers come into these ruins, and the features match, so it’s almost certainly him.”

“So what now, is he just going to stay crazy?” Reiner could not help worrying about Nora.

Although a good sleep had greatly improved her Spirit …

“If we take him outside, he’ll return to normal soon.”

“That’s good, but what if we don’t?”

Junice went on, “Then either a monster kills him, or his Spirit collapses and he becomes one himself.”

The moment she finished, Pierre lunged at them again.

While dodging, Nora hooked his leg, sending him face-first into the ground.

He climbed back up and roared in fury.

Reiner looked at Martina. “Put him to sleep for a bit.”

Martina stepped in, leaned back to avoid the slashing blade, and knocked him out with a smack of her shield.

Reiner moved up, kicked the short blade away, and tied him up with rope.

Two people were still missing, but the mission itself was done.

“Do you smell anyone else nearby?”

Nora shook her head.

Reiner looked at Junice. “Then shall we head back?”

“We have to; you can’t move freely while carrying him.” Junice sighed and added, “It’s a pity we haven’t figured this place out or found any treasure.”

“It’s fine, we’ll just come back often.”

Junice nodded.

The four of them began searching the ruins for a magitech stone that would let them leave.

Reiner hoisted Pierre onto his back and followed behind them.

After wandering the ruins for quite some time, Junice located a magitech stone in the street.

She did not activate it immediately; instead she carefully surveyed the surroundings.

“What is it?”

“Didn’t we say we’d come back? I’m memorizing the layout… when you frequent ruins, you need to know every magitech stone’s location so escaping is easier next time.”

Having explained, Junice walked toward the magitech stone.

When everyone joined hands, Reiner’s vision shifted violently.

In an instant they were out of the ruins.

Dawn was just breaking, so clearly only a day had passed.

Reiner pushed through the weeds, carrying Pierre on his back toward Melod City.

Junice yawned and mumbled sleepily, “I want to crash…”

“Are you heading home in a bit?”

“No, I still need to talk to you.”

“Talk? About what?”

Junice kept him guessing. “I’ll tell you later.”

At that moment Pierre stirred on Reiner’s back.

He struggled twice and asked irritably, “Who are you? My head’s killing me!”

“Back to yourself?” Reiner set him on the ground.

Junice crouched, pried open his eyelids for a look, then untied the ropes around him.

Reiner looked down at him and said quietly, “I’m Reiner, the adventurer your father hired to rescue you; what happened to your party in the ruins?”

Pierre held his forehead and gazed at him in confusion. “Ruins?”

Junice explained beside them, “After Spirit collapse there’s temporary amnesia; give him a moment and it’ll all come back.”

Pierre looked bewildered at first, but memories soon returned and his expression twisted in pain and horror.

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