CH12

Helag's mental strength increased by 3, but he didn't feel any different and was unsure of its effects.

"How are you feeling? Are you alright?" Emil asked, noticing Helag spacing out.

"I'm fine. I was just wondering why I fainted," Helag explained.

"I've heard many stories like this, but experiencing it firsthand is a first. There's still so much unknown in this world," Emil mused.

After leaving the northern lake, Helag and Emil continued patrolling other areas but found nothing unusual.

"After the wedding, I'll report the strange occurrences here to the baron," Emil noted.

"During spring and summer, this place is bustling, but no one ever mentions anything strange. The lake only has water in winter, which means the crying only happens when the lake is full," Helag summarized.

Thinking about the pale face he saw in the lake gave him chills. He knew it wasn't a hallucination.

As the sun set, the golden light on the snowy mountains created a beautiful scene.

At night, the wind grew stronger, howling more fiercely than the previous night.

"Woo… woo…"

The familiar crying sound returned, louder and clearer than before.

Helag lay in his room, ignoring the distant wailing.

Unexpectedly, the wind outside intensified, rattling his window.

"Woo… woo…"

The crying grew louder, seeming to come from right outside his window.

"Deep Blue!"

He checked Deep Blue's mini-map, which showed nothing outside—no animals or people.

"Woo… woo… ah!"

A piercing woman's scream filled the air, making Helag's head throb painfully. His vision flickered between black and white, and he felt on the verge of fainting.

[Unknown radiation energy detected. Suggest temporarily blocking hearing.]

"Block hearing!" Helag commanded immediately.

Suddenly, the world went silent, and his headache vanished.

Helag touched the window, confirming it wasn't his imagination. There wasn't even a breeze outside.

"I wonder how Emil is doing," he thought, realizing Emil couldn't block his hearing like he could.

He opened his door and found Emil's room empty, the bed still warm.

The bedroom was on the second floor. When Helag reached the first floor, he saw the front door wide open.

"Why would Emil go out so late?" Helag wondered.

Deciding to investigate, he searched the farm but found no sign of Emil.

Passing by Massimo's house, he heard loud snores. "This old man sleeps so soundly. No wonder he's been safe all these years; nothing can wake him."

"Could Emil have left the farm?"

At the gate, Helag's suspicion was confirmed. The iron gate, usually locked with a chain, had been cut open, and the gate was ajar.

Helag felt a sense of foreboding. Emil wouldn't leave without telling him, so something must have happened.

He grabbed his sword and bow, then set out to find Emil.

His first destination was the north, where the creepy lake was.

Moving swiftly through the night, Helag soon spotted Emil. Emil, in plain clothes and holding his sword, was walking stiffly towards the lake.

"Emil!" Helag called out, but Emil didn't respond or even look at him.

Helag tried to block Emil's path but noticed Emil's eyes were hollow and black, like the face he saw in the lake.

Emil walked past him, unresponsive to Helag's actions or words.

Helag considered knocking Emil out and tried to strike him, but Emil reacted quickly, swinging his sword to fend him off.

Emil continued towards the lake, seemingly intent on walking into the water.

The lake was deep and freezing. Walking into it would be fatal.

Desperate, Helag shouted, "Melissa is getting married! The groom isn't you!"

Emil stopped, his mouth slightly open as if to speak. His eyes gradually regained focus.

He turned to Helag, confused. "Why am I here?"

"You were like a man possessed, walking straight into the lake. I couldn't stop you," Helag explained.

"That sounds unbelievable," Emil said, puzzled. "I remember hearing a scream, then nothing until now."

"It's definitely the scream. Luckily, I blocked my hearing in time. Otherwise, we'd both be fish food," Helag realized.

"What could be in this lake that even a knight can't resist?" Helag wondered, staring at the calm water.

Emil, still shaken, was also curious but cautious.

Splash!

The lake suddenly stirred.

"Be careful!" Emil gripped his sword tightly.

Helag watched the lake intently. Deep Blue's mini-map showed nothing, but he could see two figures emerging from the water.

"Their armor… they look like castle guards!" Emil recognized the armor.

Helag had a realization. "Castle guards? So the missing guards must have ended up in this lake…"

The figures moved slowly towards them, revealing themselves as armored skeletons with rusty swords.

More figures emerged from the lake, making a total of five.

"Shall we try?" Emil asked, excited rather than scared.

"I'll take the left, you take the right," Helag replied with a grin.

Both were eager to test their skills against these undead foes.