Casopi

Counting all of them, the total number of these sculptures amounted to 23.

Hans' eyes stayed on guard as he could perceive magical fluctuations from these sculptures. Although it's faint and weak, that doesn't change the fact that these things might be some sort of monster.

Of course, he's not certain about it but considering their creepiness being emitted in the air, it's just right to be wary.

Crack—

The sculptures cracked and a white light was seemingly inside of them. It tried to break out, increasing the cracks appearing on the sculptures. They were small, just the size of a regular basketball but this only strengthened his grip as he slowly approached the nearest one.

"Sculpted monsters?"

He hadn't encountered something like this and he had no idea if his guess was even right.

Shu—, crack—

As if a chick was breaking out of its shell, the sculptures cracked rapidly. Immediately, Hans raised his sword and slashed the sculpture's head.

Slash—

However, before his blades could reach them, the light burst. A small shock wave spread around the basement, repelling his swords together with his body.

Hans flew and crashed onto a nearby wall, shattering it from the force of his momentum.

Crash—

The light intensified and Hans covered his eyes from its blinding rays. It took a little while before the light dimmed and gradually vanished.

"Huh? Where am I?"

"What is this?"

"Is this the land after death? I thought it was a paradise?"

Hans was awoken from his daze by the sound of people chattering around him. He scanned the surroundings and determined that he was still in the basement.

However, he's not alone anymore. It was cramped with 23 people wearing different attires. Some of them have a broken breastplates while others have completely damaged clothes.

Even then, they all have something in common.

'They look like the sculpted figures earlier.'

But to be sure, he had to ask these people.

"Who are you?" Hans asked confusedly. He toned down his voice politely as he could.

Startled by his voice, everyone turned their heads towards him and knitted their eyebrows.

"Are you guardian of heaven?" everyone asked in unison. They glanced at each other and saw the broken gears they were wearing. According to their last memories, they died.

In their eyes, everyone around must have died from a battle. However, due to Hans being unscathed and the condition of his clothes being fine, they assumed that Hans must be some sort of guide or guardian that will lead them to paradise.

"No, I'm not. Why are you—?" Hans was interrupted by another person.

"Is this hell perhaps?" He glanced around the room and continued, "But is it not hot?"

Bewildered, Hans stared at them dazed, analyzing every bit of information he gained from that brief conversation.

Everyone looked confused and they were constantly saying if this place was paradise, hell, or heaven. The only plausible reason they would say this was if their last memory was them dying.

'That's right, although they seemed alive…'

As Hans probed their aura, his eyebrows scrunched together. A person would always have this vibrant life energy around them which indicated that they were alive.

However, as he inspected these people, they lacked that. This only happens when a person is dead or they were…

'A necromancer's summon.'

But that's unlikely. Hans knew what a necromancer's summons looked like. What's more, if they are owned by a necromancer, their mana signatures should be similar but that wasn't the case for them.

Meaning, they are different individuals with wisdom and intelligence.

'But why are they alive?'

A creature without life energy surrounding them was basically a dead creature. As his mind delved deeper into his puzzle of thoughts, Plundy's voice pulled him back.

[Did you notice it?]

'Huh?'

[Did you notice it?]

Doubtful, Hans alternated his gaze between everyone but he didn't find anything unusual.

'Hang on…'

Hans narrowed his eyes and observed their movements once again.

Everyone was frantically surveying the room with their eyes so the movement of their heads entered his sight. However, as his eyes looked down to their feet, his expression gradually darkened.

He stood up from the broken rubbles and readied his sword.

'Is this what you're talking about?'

Although everyone could turn their heads and move their hands, their feet were seemingly rooted in the ground as no matter how much he peered in it, no one moved from their position.

It's as if they were bound there from the start.

[Yes. They can't move their feet so I thought that was strange.]

'Thanks. I would have missed it.'

[...]

When Hans was certain that the distance between them widened by two meters, he cleared his throat to capture everyone's attention.

They looked at him with puzzled eyes.

"What's wrong?" One of them asked.

"Can you… use your mana?"

"Mana?" Everyone tilted their heads before nodding in realization, "Hang on, let me try."

One by one, they spread their palms and acted like they were conjuring something from them. Their thick green nerves popped out of their foreheads and they forcefully tried to let their manas out.

Some were transferring mana into their weapons while a few put their hands on the wall hoping that it would stick like super glue.

However, no matter how much they attempted, no one managed to succeed.

"Sorry, but I can't use mana. It just doesn't flow out."

"Same here."

"Well, we're dead. That's just normal."

"Mm, that makes sense."

Hearing their voices, Hans nodded. He looked them in the eyes and spoke in a serious tone.

"Did all of you die in the Casonar Village?"

Everyone raised their eyebrows. They took turns in explaining their deaths.

"I died there. I was tasked to deliver supplies then I stayed there and…"

"I investigated the disappearance in the village but before I knew it, I'm dead."

"I was killed by the village chief. I saw it."

Everyone was killed and coincidentally they were killed here— the Casonar Village. They seemed clueless about the events unfolding right now. They didn't even consider that they are still in the land of the living.

[Will you kill them?]

'No, they already died.'

[Ah, that's right.]

Killing them wouldn't even give him skills. It's just a waste of time but the mastermind of all these might be using them to lure him out or…

At that moment.

"What's happening!!?"

"My body is moving on its own! I can't control it!"

"Arggghhh!! Why can't I control my body!!! What is this!!!"

Suddenly, all of them awakened their mana and dashed towards Hans.

Swish—

The ground exploded as their foot kicked it. In an instant, they arrived before Hans and smashed their fists in all directions.

'Block or dodge?'

He wanted to block it and then counterattack but there are still people above. Just the shockwaves alone could already slay them. Death was inevitable but if he wanted to reduce the casualties, he'd had to lure these people away from the village.

Hans leaped in the air and pierced through the flooring all the way to the ceiling. He looked down and saw others crouched on their knees as if they would follow.

'Probably, 5 miles away from here is enough.'

If what he guessed was right, the majority of these knights were at least an elite of their ranks.

Thud—

Hans smoothly landed on a house roof and rushed outside the village. The 23 people followed him behind. They cast their movement skills, trying to catch up to his running speed.

However, sensing that it was futile, some of them unleashed an attack.

Swish—, Shu—

Hans leaped into house roofs after another when suddenly, he felt the temperature rapidly rising. When he looked behind, a giant blazing arrow was on its way toward him.

'Shit!'

Either if he dodged or blocked, the people below would be scorched by the flames.

[Don't think about them anymore! The mastermind is probably watching this so don't show any concerns towards them or he'd just target you emotionally until you can't even protect yourself!]

'Fuck it.'

Hans clenched his teeth and took a deep breath before he quickened his pace. The wind was seemingly ripped by the sudden increase of his speed.

Swish—

At that moment.

Boooom—!

A loud explosion reverberated throughout the village. Hans just closed his eyes and suppressed his emotions despite hearing the screams of help and agony behind him.

The enemies continued firing a barrage of attacks but fortunately, they were already out of the village when that happened. Hans didn't stop and continued luring these people 5 miles away from the village.

After a short period that felt like an hour, Hans kicked the tree branch for one final jump before he landed on the ground. He turned around and waited for the enemies to come.

[Eclipse]

To prepare, Hans blended into the shadows.

Swish—, Swish—, swish—

Several figures landed on the open field. Everyone examined the surroundings, trying to find their prey.

"Where did he go?"

Their eyes have contained a trace of doubt. Although they maintained their minds, someone is suppressing them to the point that they felt like this wasn't even their bodies anymore.

They could only watch through their eyes and feel through their skin.

Hans switched to another angle. The target is the one that seemed like the weakest of them all. Readying his blades, Hans flashes forward and instantly beheaded the man.

Slash—

Everyone was alerted and they quickly turned their heads to look but Hans already vanished once again.

"He's an assassin!? I thought he was a swordsman!" One of them shouted.

Despite their numbers, one of them is only speaking. Meaning, that particular person must be the one with the most control which also means that this person was the strongest of them all.

'Are they puppets?' Hans thought.

Originally, he wanted to gain information about the mastermind through them, that's why he's not killing them immediately. However, since they were merely puppets, it doesn't seem possible to ask anymore.

Rustle—

Hans exited his stealth and revealed himself. Everyone tensed up and they gripped their weapons tightly.

"Who are you?" Hans' question was directed at the tallest person, which was also the strongest of them.

"Oh, you found out already?" The man crossed his arms.

"They were your puppets. I thought they were merely being controlled but it seems like that wasn't the case."

"Really? Didn't you talk to them? I was just suppressing their minds so you could be wrong."

"No, you… are all of them. I already see through your lies."

"I see then, this is meaningless anymore."

The man swiped his hand and all the 23 people turned back into wooden sculptures. But now, there was another figure who stood alone there.

He wore a robe so identifying his face wasn't possible. His perception couldn't penetrate his clothes either.

"I was surprised by how you managed to live this far. Even that royal knight didn't get to have this treatment. You're extremely lucky, aren't you?"

Hans didn't play with his nonsense and straightforwardly asked, "Who are you? What's your purpose?"

"I'm Casopi, the puppeteer. My purpose is to eliminate the Harisan Empire. What about you? Are you here to kill me?"

Hans' pupils contracted, thinking of Eleane's merciless death.

"Yes."

Casopi frowned and the light on his eyes dimmed before a sinister grin formed on his lips.

"Hehehe~, that's the funniest joke I ever heard."

With a swift push of his robe, Casopi took out three of the five small sculptures hanging from his belt and threw them in the air. In an instant, they turned into a monster, a human, and a race with long pointy ears—an elf.

"These are my three powerful puppets. Soon, you'll join their ranks so enjoy yourself and let me carve that masterpiece-like face of yours!" Casopi declared as leaves swirled on his body before he vanished.

Hans grimaced. Looking at the three puppets having the same strength, cold sweats oozed out of his forehead.

He could fight one. Two is still manageable. However, fighting three of them together would be tough and winning might not be possible.

[You can abandon the mission if…

…help is needed to clear it.]

'I can't even abandon it anymore.'

If he ran, they would chase. it's pointless to run when he knew that he wouldn't be able to outrun them.

'I am...cornered.'