Episode 441: The Fall of the House of Usher (1)

The night walkers took advantage of the night and headed to the Usher family's estate.

A land filled with desolate wastelands, swamps, and tall rocks.

The Usher family's mansion can be seen standing tall on an island in the middle of a deep swamp.

Masyaf, a mansion as large as a fortress.

The gothic castle looked eerie, covered in water mist rising from the swamp.

Underneath the walls and windows, which were carved out of stone, there were countless dead, dry ivy vines that looked like there were cracks.

The windows, which have turned cloudy and gray like the eyes of a blue-blind eye, seem to be staring blankly into space.

Sticky, gloomy moisture rising from the swamp was spreading everywhere.

Moreover, the dark red energy spreading like an evil spirit through the water mist frowned all those walking at night.

"… … Red Death. "It has become much more serious than before."

Dolores said swallowing hard.

A terrible plague, or rather, an extreme poison that even caused the death of Cervantes, the king of spears.

This is casting a dark shadow of death over the entire Usher family mansion.

"I wonder if your father will be safe… … ."

"… … ."

Bianca bit her lip until it bled and held back her tears.

Tudor is silent while putting his hand on Bianca's shoulder.

Cervantes, the head of the Don Quixote family, was a long-time friend and rival of Roderick Usher, the head of the Usher family.

Now that Cervantes has met a tragic end by the Red Death, it is a luxury to hope for Roderick's safety.

But even if one knew this reality, saying it out loud was a different matter.

Not only was he famous for his direct remarks and harsh remarks, but even Camus, who was not very close to Bianca, did not say anything considering her feelings.

but. The Marquis de Sade, who was the only one who was completely oblivious to others' gazes, was still opening his mouth in his usual manner.

"The guy's air is so thick. "If that were the case, everything in the mansion would have been destroyed a long time ago, right?"

"Please shut up, you old prison escapee. "Before I crush you with a club."

Orca warned him, but Sade continued to talk.

"Hey, Mr. Bikir. At this point, I wonder if restoring the House of Usher would be of great significance. "It looks like it's been engulfed by such a strong miasma that there are already plenty of skeletons left inside."

"You don't know that."

Surprisingly, Bikir's answer was hopeful.

Bikir, who usually defaults to cynical and negative predictions, gave an unusually positive opinion this time.

Bianca asked urgently.

"Well, then you're saying there is hope? huh?"

"Yes."

Vikir nodded.

And then he opened his mouth to the audience.

"The Usher family was originally a family of contributors to the enemy country before the unification of the empire. It has been a very famous assassin family since ancient times. After the unification of the empire, they were the only one who could be counted among the seven great families even with a small number of people. "It's because of the skills of the family members."

Is there any other family for which the term "small elite" fits so well?

The clever Sinclair also recited some legendary anecdotes about the Usher family.

"It is said that in the past, when the emperor went to subjugate the Usher family, the Usher family wanted to have a one-on-one conversation between the emperor and the head of the family, with all the attendants behind them. Then the emperor said that he could defeat everyone, but not the two generals he really trusted."

The story behind that was something everyone knew.

The head of the House of Usher asked the emperor, 'Are you really not going to send those two men away?' The emperor replied, 'These two men are like my brothers. 'It's like my alter ego, so I can't separate from it,' he answered.

At this, the head of the House of Usher just smiled in silence, then opened his mouth and asked the two generals standing behind the emperor, 'Can you kill the emperor right now?'

Then the two generals who were standing firmly behind the emperor simultaneously drew their swords and aimed them at the emperor's neck.

With a look in his eyes that said he had been waiting for this command all along.

"… … Because of this incident, the reputation of the Usher family increased. The emperor also treated them generously because they had strong and secret powers."

Bianca nodded at Sinclair's words.

Since she was originally very proud of her family, she seemed to forget her worries a little when stories about past glory came up.

But the reality is harsh.

The once great House of Usher has now been eroded by the devil and is in danger of extinction.

Bikir calmly analyzed the current situation.

"Every single member of the Usher family is strong. Although the number is small, each individual's skills are excellent on average. Therefore, it is assumed that there are relatively more people who can resist the devil's magic. Moreover, the Usher family's castle, Masyaf, has many environmental conditions that can be fortified in the future. In terms of strategic value alone, it is comparable to Tochka. "It is a place that must be restored before a big war."

"I know everything from the geography of the territory to the structure of the mansion. "I will guide you."

Bianca said with a determined expression.

It was fortunate that both Tudor and Bianca were well-versed in the internal affairs of the family and had more knowledge than that of a typical small householder.

Among ordinary small-scale householders, there were many who did not know their own family circumstances well.

But Bikir shook his head.

"The House of Usher's mansion is full of mazes and traps. Moreover, the poison is so thick now that it is impossible for many people to enter. First, a small number of people must enter, lure out the demon, and settle it outside the mansion."

Then, the question remains as to who will enter the poisonous interior of the mansion.

If things had gone as usual, Bikir would have taken the lead.

"I can't go in."

This time, the case was different.

Bikir shook his head and said:

"Because I have to make other preparations in case I succeed in luring the devil."

In that case, the number of people who can enter the Usher family mansion is limited.

Dolores also spoke with difficulty.

"If it's holy water that can break through that poisonous fog, I think we can make enough for two people."

Even if she could squeeze out all of her divine power, it was only limited.

Two people who will infiltrate the Usher family's mansion and lure the devil.

It is obvious who one of them will be. It was Bianca.

This is because he knows the geography of the mansion well and is the target that Usher for Madeline, who currently controls the family, is anxiously aiming for.

"They say Aunt Madeline was particularly weak when she was young. He even said that when he collapsed after having a seizure, he was thought to be dead and was buried alive. When I think about it now, my aunt probably died at that time. "The devil must have taken my aunt's buried body."

After muttering, Bianca raised her head as if she had made up her mind.

"The devil is probably after my young and fresh body. "If I enter the mansion on my own and run away, they will definitely turn their attention and chase me."

Almost all of the night walkers who heard Bianca's words raised their hands.

"I'll go with you."

"I want to help too."

"Come with me, Bianca."

Sancho, Piggy, and Sinclair spoke.

But soon everyone's eyes were focused on one place.

Because Tudor stepped forward.

"Let me come with you."

"… … ."

"I have to pay off the debt from the previous day."

Tudor grinned, lifting the spear with his only arm.

Bianca also laughed with reddened eyes.

"It's still reckless."

"You have to know how to be reckless sometimes in front of a lady. "Isn't that chivalry?"

Tudor and Bianca look at each other and smile watery.

In that strange atmosphere, everyone had no choice but to give in to them.

However, Bikir, who was always calm and cool, broke the mood without any reason or notice.

"Are you sure you guys can do this on your own? This isn't something that can be done through love alone. "The probability of dying is much higher than the probability of living."

"Well, what is love!"

"Whoa, if someone hears it, they'll misunderstand! This is loyalty! "It's friendship!"

Seeing Bianca and Tudor denying it in surprise, Bikir tilted his head once.

And then he spoke again.

"good night. It seems like you have a lot of motivation, so let's trust it for now. However, I will tell you what you must follow."

Bikir's spell was simple yet difficult.

1. Go inside the house and lure the devil out.

2. Be sure to check whether the head of the family, Roderick Usher, is alive or dead.

Just two missions.

However, whether this mission succeeds or fails, there is a very high probability that the performer will die.

"Red Death has evolved further. And the types seem to be very subdivided. Even with my divine power, I won't be able to hold out for very long. About an hour at most... … ."

Dolores spoke in an uncertain voice.

But Bianca held Dolores' hand tightly and shook her head.

"That is enough. Thank you very much."

"Bianca… … ."

Seeing Dolores with tears in her eyes, Bianca tried to smile.

at that time. Bikir called Bianca.

"Take this and go."

"… … ?"

Bianca tilted her head.

What Bikir placed on Bianca's palm was a heart-shaped hairpin.

Before Bianca could ask what it was, Bikir turned his head and looked at Tudor next to Bianca.

"Take this too."

What Bikir handed to Tudor were two firecrackers.

One is red and the other is black.

Bikir opened his mouth in a serious voice.

"Check whether Rodrick, the head of the House of Usher, is alive or dead, and if he is alive and can escape together, set off red fireworks. If he is already dead or unable to move even if he is alive, set off black fireworks."

This had a deep relationship with the strategy that Bikir was preparing outside.

Bianca asked cautiously on behalf of everyone.

"Why are the colors of firecrackers differentiated? What does it mean... … ?"

To that, Bikir answered briefly.

"It would be better not to listen."

It was an answer that gave everyone chills and made them resolute.