Chapter 34: The True Culprit |
Allen had already raised Xal'atath, Blade of the Black Empire.
The dagger pointed directly at the brow of the largest kobold at the front.
"Little kobolds..."
His voice was low and calm, carrying an eerie rhythm:
"Your candles... have been snuffed out."
Mind Blast!
Invisible shadow energy erupted from the blade, like a massive unseen hand, violently gripping the kobold's head.
Its skull burst open like a ripe watermelon, blood and brain matter splattering everywhere. The headless corpse swayed twice before crashing to the ground with a heavy thud.
The remaining kobolds stood frozen for half a second.
"Ahhh—! Boss Goldfang is dead!"
"Run! The evil human wizard is coming!!"
"Help!!!"
Xal'atath's long-unheard voice suddenly rang out in Allen's mind, laced with undisguised displeasure:
"Don't you ever use me to kill those filthy lowlifes again."
Allen ignored her. Watching the kobolds flee in panic, he shouted after their retreating figures:
"Run, little kobolds, run! If you ever dare set foot here again, all your candles belong to me!"
His voice echoed between the lake and the mountains, startling a flock of waterfowl.
He sheathed the dagger, turned to face his dumbstruck companions, and shrugged as if nothing had happened.
What could he do? Right now, the only offensive spells Allen had were Shadow spells.
"Come on, let's head inside."
Worried that he might have frightened them, Allen didn't approach. Instead, they sent Morgan, the most righteous-looking among them, to knock on the door.
Morgan straightened the sigil of holy light on his chest, raised his hand, and lightly tapped on the wooden door.
"Mrs. Helene, I am a paladin of the Holy Light. The kobolds have been driven away by us. It's safe now. You can open the door."
There was a moment of silence behind the door, followed by a trembling, faint woman's voice:
"You... y-y-you... are you with that black wizard from just now?"
Morgan fell silent. He wasn't very good at lying. "We... are indeed together. But please believe me, he is a good man. I swear by the Holy Light."
Hearing Morgan say this, Allen felt a flicker of genuine emotion. He was actually willing to vouch for him by the Holy Light. Though Allen had a feeling that would eventually let him down.
Another long silence from behind the door.
Finally, the wooden door slowly creaked open.
Behind it stood a red-haired woman, her face gaunt, her body thin, her eyes deeply sunken.
"Who... are you people?"
Allen stepped forward.
"I am Allen Prestor, a noble from Alterac. If you've read the newspapers recently, you might have heard my name. We were sent by Sheriff Thomas to help you."
The red-haired woman shook her head blankly.
"Allen Prestor? Never heard of him..."
...Probably because her home was too remote. No newspapers.
Allen smiled gently, pulling out the token Varian had given him and waving it in front of the woman.
"This is a token personally granted by His Majesty the King. We are the 'Guardians of Women's Alliance' dispatched by the royal family, here specifically to help women like you..." He paused. "...who need assistance."
[Deception Check: 12 points, Failed]
[You've changed, Allen. Now you can't even be bothered to weave a halfway decent lie. Has the harshness of adventuring life worn down your edges, or has wallowing in comfort drained your wits? In any case, this woman doesn't believe a single word you say.]
The red-haired woman, however, let out a relieved sigh, apparently convinced by Allen's story. "That's wonderful. Thank you. Please, come in."
She opened the door fully and made a welcoming gesture.
Seeing her reaction, Allen was taken aback for a moment.
The others filed in, with Allen bringing up the rear.
Inside, the cottage was much cleaner than it appeared from the outside.
A crude wooden table, a few chairs, a cold fireplace, and several neatly folded coarse blankets stacked in the corner.
Everything seemed perfectly normal.
But both Allen and Wen Lei noticed the dissonance almost at once.
It was too clean.
Too tidy.
...Not like the home of someone with four children.
Allen looked around, his gaze eventually landing on Helene.
"Mrs. Helene, pardon my impertinence, but where are your children?"
Helene smiled gently, a smile that appeared perfectly ordinary.
"I sent the children to stay with relatives in Stormwind. As you can see, after my husband disappeared, I've been living alone by this remote lake. I simply couldn't protect them."
Wen Lei's heart, which had been in her throat, relaxed. She had been afraid that this poor woman's children might have...
As she spoke, Helene picked up a clay pot from the table and poured water into four cups.
"You must be thirsty after traveling so far. Have some water."
The four cups of water were neatly arranged on the table, the surfaces rippling slightly, reflecting the daylight filtering through the window.
Morgan reached for one of the cups, but Allen grabbed his wrist.
Morgan looked at him questioningly. Allen shook his head gently.
Stella wore a look of self-righteousness. That's right, you, the junior who joined last, why should you be the first to drink? If anyone, it should be our benefactor!
Stella stared at Allen with her big eyes for a while. When she saw he wasn't moving.
Heh heh. If the benefactor won't drink, then I'll drink first.
She stretched out her little hand to grab the water, but Allen slapped the cup out of her hand.
The cup hit the floor, water spilling everywhere.
Aside from the sound of the cup rolling, the cottage fell into dead silence.
Even Stella could feel the tension thickening in the air.
What was going on?
Wen Lei and Morgan both looked at Allen, completely baffled by his behavior.
Helene still stood there, that gentle smile plastered on her face.
"Why won't you drink?"
"Mrs. Helene, may I see a photograph of you and your children?"
The smile on Helene's face, at some unknown moment, had begun to twist.
"We can't afford that. Photos are a luxury only nobles can afford."
From outside, over the empty Crystal Lake, came a few long, drawn-out bird calls.
Allen looked at her calmly, speaking word by word.
"Mrs. Helene, we just came from Stormwind. We visited every single one of your relatives. None of them received your children."
Morgan looked at Allen in confusion. When did we ever visit Mrs. Helene's relatives?
Helene's breathing grew heavier and heavier, as if she was enduring something unbearable.
Wen Lei looked at Allen in disbelief. She seemed to guess his meaning. A terrifying thought flashed through her mind.
Could it be... that Allen suspected...
That the four children had already been killed... and the murderer... was their own mother...
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