[VOL. 3] CHAPTER 4 RUINS

On the third day after we started our trip the flat road gradually turned into a slope.

Now we approached a gentle hill.

Hey, you guys, do you know where we are?

Crescent Moon talked to my seniors.

I gradually came to understand her despite the mask.

No, I dont know. Does big sis know?

Heres a famous place. Dont you know about the Orlea hill?

Back then there was a huge battle at this place, right? It was called the Battle of Orlea.

Whats with that? I never heard about this. Was it like this, big sis?

Oh, Drum-senpai is quite the knowledgeable person.

I bet he only did bad things when he was still in school.

Thats right, back then a huge battle between nobles took place here.

So whats with that, big sis?

Crescent Moon grins at Bass-senpais question.

Oh boy, my senior got caught in her trap.

About this, at this placethey appear. When night falls, you know?

Wh, what about them appearing? Come on, please dont make fun of me, big sis

Tha, thats right. We arent afraid of that kind of stuff, were already adults after all.

Thats not what your expression tells us, seniors.

It was a big battle so does that mean a large number of people died here?

Knopf comfortably listened to this.

Ehm, you dont have to carry on with this topic.

Thats right. It was a fierce battle until the middle but then a betrayal happened and it became unilateral.

The faces of Pick and my seniors listening to Crescent Moons story were a little too serious.

Countless bodies of murdered soldiers and commanders rolled down the hill and it is said the river was dyed red. Look, it should be the river we crossed over just a while ago.

Eeeeh?! I drank out of it.

Well, you probably dont have to worry. Since then these bodies wander around when night falls. Saying things like, where is the traitor?

Please stooop, Im not good with stuff like this!

Wha, what are you saying Pick, thats just superstition. Hey, Head?

Drum, please dont call me over.

Honestly, Im not good with those kinds of stories as well.

I dont have any supernatural senses, though.

Huh? Why is Akatsuki looking the other way? Could it be that youre weak against this as well?

Why does that fellow look so happy?

I thoroughly ignored Crescent Moon.

The clouds are somehow looking weird.

When I heard the cat girl Knopfs voice I turned to look at the sky and black clouds suddenly appeared.

Thats bad, well get caught in it.

At Crescent Moons exclamation, everyone put on their mantles hood in a hurry.

We hurried our horses but the rain became more intense.

Its inconvenient that rain gear like umbrellas and raincoats dont exist here.

Is there anywhere we can take shelter in?

Head, theres a building!

When I looked in the direction they pointed in I could clearly see the shadow of a building behind the hill.

Alright, we can take shelter from the rain there

We moved towards the building.

This, was this originally a church?

As I approached it seems to be a ruin abandoned a long time ago.

The door was locked with a simple lock but Pick opened it in no time and we were able to enter.

Oh, this somehow looks promising.

Bass-senpai joyfully said this.

Several broken banks were lined up there.

Although it was leaking here and there but at least we had a roof over our heads and its far better than outside.

We put down our baggage at a place without leaks and then took a break.

Bass, Drum and Pick, those three tore off a part of the floor boards then broke some chairs and used them as firewood to light a fire.

Thanks to that I can warm up my body and feel a little more comfortable.

Finding this good place really saved us.

This is probably a church destroyed at the time of that battle.

Following Knopfs words Crescent Moon looked around and started talking happily.

The rain got better but the sun was covered and it got really dark.

Lets see, looks like this place wasnt used in quite the long time.

Its kind of creepy.

My seniors are still pretty shaken by that story from a while ago.

Hey, you guys, go look if you can find some food in this room somewhere

Crescent Moon smirked while she instructed my seniors.

I dont want to! There shouldnt be any food in a place like this anyway.

Thats right, how long ago do you think it was that people lived here?

Seniors, dont resist.

In the end, we boiled some water and made dinner with the things we brought.

But for such a place to appear like this.

Its starting again, those ambiguous statements of Crescent Moon.

Thats why, be good and enjoy yourself, seniors.

The, theres no way that something will appear here, right?

Thats right, this place is a church in the first place?!

Joyfully listening to my seniors reactions Crescent Moon answered.

You guys dont know about it, huh? In the first place, a church is where ghosts gather. Besides, there were several sword cuts and traces of blood smeared on the chairs and the floor. Didnt you notice?

Eeh? I didnt notice that at all. Drum, did you notice anything?

No, I didnt notice anything. Where did you see that?

My seniors shook their heads.

Oh boy, they completely fell for Crescent Moons trap.

Now that you say it I definitely saw some cuts on the chair I broke a while ago.

Pick said this fearfully.

Crescent Moon nodded as she heard this and continued to talk.

Theres no doubt about that. The soldiers who lost escaped to this place. Then this place got raided by the winning side

Gulp.

I heard the sound of three people gulping.

Some of them died here while resisting. Then

Crescent Moon looked in the direction of the door in the before continuing her sentence.

The remaining ones surely escaped through there. However, they were completely outnumbered. I bet behind those doors are heaps of corpses.

Please stop it, big sis!

Thats right, dont scare us like that. What will you do if we cant sleep?!

Hehehe, you guys will take turns to stand guard today, though

Thats unfair! To be awake all alone in a place like this! Big bros, I leave it to you!

Wait a minute, Pick, dont decide it so forcibly! Thats it, Drum, youll keep watch alone. Ill do it tomorrow and you can rest.

You, what are you saying? Then you do it today and Ill do it tomorrow.

Finally, a quarrel between friends broke out.

Then.

Goton

Hey, did you hear that sound just now?

D, d, dont do that, big sis, even if you told us that, theres no way something would actually come out.

Th, tha, thats right, I know you enjoy scaring us.

Goton

Uwaaaaaa!

I, I definitely heard something. No doubt. From where, from wheeere?!

I think I heard it from there

The place Pick pointed at was The door in the back.

I also heard it. Hey, Mister Akatsuki, lets go and look whats going on back there

Thats impossible! Head, big sis, because youre still young please go ahead!

Thats right, its hopeless even if we go! So, please!

My seniors desperately begged me but I only said a few words.

Bass, Drum, go search the back a little.

Tha, thats, Head!

Thats mean, thats so mean, Head!

Even if you yell and cry I wont change my mind.

I mean, theres no way in hell I go there!