Louise Merdin, Recapturing the City (3)

Louises party defeated the Mahwa Tribes one by one and entered deeper into the castle. There were traps that aimed to shred the intruders, but they couldnt fool Saves eyes.

Just a little bit more

Kiiiiiiiek!

Louise advanced forward as she swung her short sword in a frenzy, and her members followed her silently as they understood her feelings. With their improved teamwork during their dungeon conquest, they understood what their members wanted without the need to talk. Although their party was less than a year-old, their cooperation looked like those veterans that worked together for more than ten years. Even though the Mahwa Tribes grew stronger than their kin in Yo-Ma Great War 2 through this lands conquest, they fell quickly against Louises party.

Enemy in the front.

Save spoke calmly as he wiped the blade of his halberd with a dried cloth. They were in front of the office where Marquis Merdin usually did his work. Louises party had already defeated the Mahwa Tribes guarding the door.

These Mahwa Tribes are communicating with one another through some means. The one thats in there already noticed our presence.

Yeah, but it doesnt matter. Lets go.

Save nodded at her firm words and lifted his halberd on the spot. The blade of the ax crushed the door of the office. A man was standing there with a face Louise was familiar with.

Silan.

Oh my, so it was my sister. I was uncertain till the end

Silan Merdin narrowed his eyes as if he were pleased to see Louise. His clothing was the formal ones that only the ruler of the city could wear. With the black and thin cane which the Marquis always carried, he seemed to have perfectly copied the Marquis.

With your fine acting skills, I almost fell for it. Luden, if I knew that you would become such an exquisite lady, I should have embraced you in my arms at least once.

Although this is a pointless question.

Louises eyes narrowed as she opened her mouth.

What did you do to our father?

You speak of an inappropriate topic. Your words are as if I harmed our father. He is, of course, healthy and well. Ah, and also, your mother

Louises eyes wiggled but didnt react. Save spoke to her as if he were concerned about something.

He is part of the Mahwa Tribe now. Not a human.

I know.

She somewhat expected that things would turn out like this from the moment she encountered the Mahwa Tribe. Silans abnormal state was already presumed whether it was by the Mahwa Tribe coaxing Silan or the Mahwa Tribe encroaching Merdin as Silan failed to carry out his task properly. Whether that thing was a Demon that wore Silans skin and had his memories or was the result of Silan collaborating with the Demons

Either wayyou were incompetent till the end, Silan.

Oh, this feels refreshing coming out from you, who abandoned your mother. I stayed behind to protect them by myself

Ridiculous talk.

It may be Silans fault that the Mahwa Tribes feasted in the city. She sneered and held her short sword.

Hand over that position, Demon. Merdin is mine.

Are you really after this position? You, of all people? Think about it. Are you after Merdin out of your sheer will? And not of others? The Luden I know would never have such thoughts.

Louise charged in. Her party was momentarily confused, but they supported her. Silan tried to block Louises charge with the mana shield he created by swinging his cane. Yet, the short sword containing purple mana made an eerie screeching noise and left a mark on his neck after destroying his shield.

Holy power.

Silan moved back, waddling, as he was unable to block her attack, but he still smiled. It was the smile of someone that looked down on others.

Youve escaped from your mother, who tried to take over the city by disguising you as a male, and now are you trying to become a clown for another god? You never change, do you?

It was everyones will except yours when they tried to entrust Merdin to me. If not, then do you seriously think that they were fooled by my disguise?

Louise sneered and chased Silan, who was backing off, which ended with Silan falling onto the floor. The light that shined from her sword enveloped her entire body like a purple comet.

It is solely my will to recapture Merdin. He just saw through everything and gave me the power to achieve my goal.

He wishes for what I want.

Following his will consequently leads to doing myself a favor.

He knows everything about me, yet he provides me with all that I need.

Yes, even my dark intentions and desires, everything!

So, demon, stop imitating humans and die already.

What does imitating humans mean in the first place!?

After Silan shouted, Louises sword moved toward him like a viper aiming for its prey. A dark, misty mana attacked her from his cane, but Lins barrier blocked it.

Krgh!?

Right after, a clean purple line became visible from the top of Silans head to his crotch. Instantly, dark and red petals blossomed from his body and filled the room. Enochs cleansing and Lins barrier reacted to completely protect the members but harming them didnt seem to be the enemys purpose.

Ha, he sure was a petty human till the end. I didnt expect him to be this useless. Dont you agree, marionette lady?

The members heard the thin and sharp voice of a woman. If Evan were here, he would have been amazed as he remembered it from seven years ago.

Of course, this was quite interesting. Such plays were famous a few decades ago. Consume the family member first and humiliate and betray the surviving family members based on the memories of the consumed one, then plant another seed of Mahwa Tribe to them.

Everyone, attack.

Flower petals and gruesome stems covered the office at some point. Nobody could pinpoint the location of the voice. But one certain thing was that Silan was no more than a time-killing doll.

It knew.

But she couldnt do anything about it. Although Louise and Silan competed for the succession, Silan was still her blood brother despite his silly mistakes in the past. The Mahwa Tribe intentionally disgraced him and taunted Louise. She tried her best to be cool and sliced him, but Louise considered it as a mistake.

This guy was a masterpiece. If it werent for this fool, it wouldve been impossible for us, the Mahwa Tribe, to spread our seeds into this city. He tried to borrow our strength to murder his own father, you know! He didnt even know who we were, accepting me for some kind of an enhancing potion

Whew.

At that moment, Save chopped off the root of the stem without a sweat with his halberd.

Krgh, Arrrrrggggh!?

Enoch, Lin. Concentrate your holy power here.

You really are a freak.

As expected from Save, trustworthy!

As instructed, Enoch and Lin focused their holy power to the stem root that was chopped. The scream of the Mahwa Tribe became louder.

Kiiiiiiiii!

It was quite hard to find it, but once you spot it, its easy to kill it. Good thing the Mahwa Tribe have weaknesses.

How, how didGrrrrrgh!

That Mahwa Tribe must have had a lot of questions. How did you find my heart? How did you slice them all at once? or Whats with the immense holy power!? among others. But the consciousness of the Mahwa Tribe ended completely before it was allowed to speak. Save calmly spoke as he watched the petals and the stems that covered the room wither.

The battle is over. I dont feel any presence stronger than that one nearby.

Thank you.

Louise confirmed that she didnt like Save. However, she was the one that told him to attack!

Then, how should we proceed next?

To the shelterthe hideout. Youve felt the presence of people in there.

Yes. But perhapsno, its nothing.

Save, who tried to say something, saw Louises stiff look, so he shut his mouth. Lucid, who was by their sides, silently yet precisely picked up the drop items.

Unnieuhm, Im sorry.

Sorry for?

Listening to your family history without your consent?

I didnt mean to hide it after all. You guys guessed it to some point anyways.

They were off on their way to the shelter from the office of the Marquis. The Mahwa Tribes were bluntly avoiding them, but thanks to Saves insane searching ability with Lucids covert movements, the members were marching forward as they eliminated all the nearby demons. Thats when Renail spoke to Louise, who wore a stern expression.

Dont listen to what those demons say, Unnie. They are deliberately insulting your family!

No, if it were Silan, he would have called in the Mahwa Tribe willingly. Hes that much of an idiot. But it doesnt matter.

Louise smiled lightly.

Master has given me the chance to solve my bitter past. Its a waste of time to feel sad at this moment.

Then Unnie, in here

I know.

Louise mumbled to herself as she stood still.

I know, so dont worry.

After pressing on an empty stone wall, the bricks started to move aside one by one, and a passage appeared.

I wont waste the opportunity given by my Master.

Louise stepped in first, and the seven members followed after.

Lucid, why did you appear all of a sudden?

Nothing. You cant see me now, can you?

Yup. I cant see anything.

Then its fine.

The secret passage was very long, and the path split into several routes. But Louise walked through the secret passage very naturally, although she hadnt used it ever in her life. After about five minutes of walking, they could see a metal door ahead.

A door that can only be opened by the descendants of Merdin

We can break the barrier with our holy power!

I am the descendant of Merdin, so everythings all right.

Louise smiled bitterly at Lans bright voice, who couldnt read the mood, and she put her hand on the iron door. A soft blue light went across the iron door in the form of a complicated shape, and a vast space was revealed as the door opened inwards.

Whoooa.

It was the shelter of the Merdin family. The food and drinks had anti-decay magic on them so that they could last for several years, and it had magic tools to observe the situation outside, and even arcade tools were there.

As expected from the man of power!

Enoch is always amazed by strange things all the time.

Ms. Louise?

While the members looked around and were amazed, Louise entered further inside. The shelter was quite long, but she soon reached her destination. There was just one door that had a lock on it.

Ludenis that you?

The voice of the person who dressed her as a girl and showed her the secret path four years ago was heard from inside.

Yes, mother.

Louise calmly answered and placed her hand on top of the lock. She couldnt break it easily. Lucid came forward silently and destroyed the lock. Louise nodded at him as a sign of gratitude and opened the door without any hesitation.

Ludenits really my Luden.

In the same room, her mother was there with an appearance that she still remembered.

Oh my goodness, youve grown up to be such a beauty.

Mother.

Her mother looked at Luden with a worn-out expression and smiled. Louise also smiled back and took a step forward. Renail stopped Save from saying something. As she shook her head weakly, Save bit his lip and stepped back.

Im sorry. I made you wear clothes that you didnt want, although you were this pretty

No, Mother. I didnt hate them. I look well both in a mans and a womans attire.

It wasnt her opinion. Rather, it was someone else that told her that. Come to think about it, it was a consoling word to ease the burdens placed on her, who was suffering from identity confusion, but maybe it was that moment Louise fell in love with him.

So, you can relax, Mother. I can rule over Merdin well with my current appearance.

Our Luden ruling Merdin. Yes, everyone believed that this day would come.

Yes, the day has come. So, you can ease your mind.

Louise laughed comfortably and stepped forward. It was that very moment that her mothers expression wavered. But before that, Louise swung her sword without hesitatingand beheaded the member of the Mahwa Tribe who took her mothers form.

Im very happy to see your face at the end.

Louises sword danced in mid-air. All traces from the mother were reduced into mana and disappeared before she had a chance to transform like Silan. She turned her head calmly after destroying the crystal.

Lets kill the rest of the Mahwa Tribe.

Her murderous intent faded as she left with her party. Then, it was after three minutes from then that the members confirmed the death of the creature that took the form of Marquis Merdin by someone whom no one could see.