25 Lost Ruin of Drazuba (3)

"The masks smell like blood." Acedia complained as she closed her nose.

After killing those cultists, Connor and Sandy, we took their clothes and disguised as them.

Although Acedia wasn't very proficient in 'deception magic', she could still use the basics, namely changing the hair and eye color and slightly altering one's voice.

"Then it won't be of use to us for very long." Sighing, I put on the mask.

The smell of iron that lingered on it immediately entered my nose as I did that.

However, as there was no other way, I just had to endure the stench for a short while ― until we got the required information.

Even if it was an abandoned one, a kingdom is still a kingdom, and as such, its size is gigantic.

Of course, we had the option to just run around and wreak havoc, killing everyone in our sight and just torturing them until we got our answers, but that would be just plain inefficient and stamina-consuming.

Not only that, but there's also no guarantee that they would tell us the truth, even if we torture them, as almost all of them are mindless lunatics, who blindly follow their goddess.

In their eyes, nothing is more equal than the familiar embrace of darkness, which didn't really make sense to me, but there is a reason why most cultists seem insane, right?

By carefully isolating one and then giving them a sense of belonging right after, making someone fully dependent on you is not hard.

Cultists are essentially brainwashed people that fully believe that they are right, which is the reason why they can't be saved.

They won't believe you, no matter what you say to them, as they are too immersed in their subjective perception of reality.

"At first, I wanted to try to infiltrate the group, but it seems like it isn't possible with these masks." I turned to Acedia. "It looks like we're going to have to change our plans."

Pulling out my sword, I positioned my arm as I looked in Acedia's direction. "I'm sorry, but this is necessary."

STAB

***

***

"Is she the one who infiltrated our area?"

"Yeah. She was really strong..." The disguised Zenith held onto the stab wound on his stomach, seemingly huffing in pain. "I barely defeated her...but my wife..."

Dropping to the ground with his knees, he turned his head over to the burned ashes of 'Sandy'.

"..I couldn't save her..."

His voice broke down as he said that, shaking uncontrollably with a mix of different emotions. Anger, sorrow, and sadness were mixed together in his trembling voice, making him sound like he really meant what he said.

"It's okay." One of the women in the group put her hand on his shoulder, seemingly consoling him. "You tried your best."

'Get your hands off him, you dirty wench!'

Acedia wanted to scream at her ― and she would have― if it wasn't her task to stay quiet and act like she was unconscious.

Although she closed her eyes, she could still know everything as she used the surrounding Mana to 'feel' and observe everything that was happening.

And she didn't like what she saw.

She was already always jealous during his mercenary times when other people contracted him, but at least he didn't have the chance to flirt with other women during his mercenary work.

He was always like that.

Completely uninterested and inexperienced in everything that included feelings, although she had to admit that it also made him endearing at times.

Even though he always acted tough and keeps up that cold facade of his, he showed her how kind and caring he can be in the past and she was sure that he still was, even if he didn't know it himself.

When he killed the parents, for example, for a hundredth ― no, a thousandth― of a second, she could see a glimpse of guilt in his eyes, even if he wasn't aware of it himself.

After all, a mentally sane person could never just kill without remorse, even if they deserved it.

With experience, the guilt of killing might dull down, but it rarely ever disappears.

While Zenith was a cold person, he wasn't a monster.

"Dad, what happened to mom?!" The voice of a young boy asked his 'dad', as he arrived at the scene. Although he was young, he could still understand the severity of the situation. "Please don't tell me that she's..."

The cries of a young girl erupted, probably the daughter of that middle-aged couple.

"I'm sorry..." Zenith grit his teeth.

At this point, Acedia couldn't identify anymore if it was Zenith acting or his true feeling as he said that.

The boy turned around to Acedia in a quick motion and pointed his finger at her. "You fucking whore! You deserve nothing but the worst! I..."

His voice broke down as he said that, tears flowing out of his mask.

"I will fucking kill you!"

The kid's voice inhabited genuine anger and frustration, and those emotions were all pointed at her.

Acedia tightly bit her lips as her heart started racing.

She couldn't help but feel guilty about her actions.

Even if they were part of a horrible cult and deserved it, she still took the mother of a kid away.

But her feelings probably didn't even compare to the guilt Zenith was feeling, as both of those kids tightly wrapped their arms around him, hugging their supposed 'dad', trying to give him reassurance.

"It's okay, kids."

Zenith tried to cheer them up.

He tried to cheer up the children whose parents he had killed.

What an ironic and cruel twist of fate, isn't it?

"Take that, wench, and throw her into the prison!"

Those were the last words that Acedia heard before a bag was put over her head.