Chapter 171: Danger at Home

Chapter 171: Danger at Home

Heading toward the so-called Rosary, they took the long way around the mountain, and gazed down across the endless seas.

Hundreds of blackened dots were shrouded under the ocean waves. As it was approaching winter, the once calm oceans looked like they were now taken over by an angry spirit. Crash after crash, the waters were quickly becoming chaotic.

Soon, not many would dare travel the endless waters in fear of their own lives.

“Do you think it’s the Leviathan’s doing?” Calum’s expression was sombre as he looked at the Spawn hidden under the waves.

“What does it matter?” Rachelle brushed up against Astrid’s shoulders as she continued down the mountain staircase, down toward the rest of the town.

“Of course it matters.” Calum spun around. “Why would it not?”

“Would it change anything?” Rachelle said without turning her head. “If the Leviathan turns up, then there’s nothing we can do but fight. If it’s not the Leviathan’s doing, then it’s something else that we need to fight. In the end–we just need to fight. Rebirth is already prepared to face the Leviathan, so does it matter what monster it is?”

Calum huffed a breath. “Well–”

Astrid shrugged and chuckled. “There’s no arguing with that. We just fight.” She placed her hands behind her hand and strolled behind Rachelle.

Thanks to the chaotic waves from the high wind, it spat salt water all around the island. Her golden hair was rough and sorely needed a good combing. But she didn’t care. All that was on her mind was her future opponent.

From their detour, it took them a few extra minutes before they descended back into the main hustle and bustle of Mount Hullbeck.

Astrid was about to ask where the Rosary was, until a perfume assaulted her senses. It wasn’t an uncomfortable smell like most perfumes, and that was saying a lot considering Astrid hated the vast majority of perfumes. Or maybe that was just because the nobles back on Rebirth used it one too many times.

Regardless, it was a soothing smell. Like she was back in the forests Eyamos, adventuring. But twitching her nostrils, she could make out something else deep within the perfume. Blood.

At first, it was pretty, but it had a danger lurking within.

Astrid raised her guard. Her shoulders tightened.

“What’s wrong, my lady?” Leena took a step closer.

Astrid glanced around at her surroundings. No-one seemed to care about the hidden smell, or perhaps they couldn’t detect it in the first place.

She sifted through her memories in an attempt to recall the Rosary, but all that arrived was nothing but a blank slate. Well, apart from the fact that Yursa had something to do with it. And that Brett and the others were chased out from Mount Hullbeck because of his actions.

However, with a quick check of Identify to the people in the area; it was clear they were all high Level adventurers. She even recognized a few familiar faces from Rebirth.

Turning a corner, it was clear what the main attraction was. The strong adventurers streamed into a large building that had long green vines growing from every surface of the building. IT was obviously made from brick, but it was impossible to make them out from the thick foliage.

Looking a little closer, each vine was covered in razor-sharp thorns. They were as red as a rose. They would have been beautiful–if not for the bloody undertones of them.

So that’s what the smell was. Astrid noted. Since she was nearer the building now, she could feel a thick surge of mana within. It was evident there were multiple strong magic users within. If it wasn’t that, then it was just one person. But from her experience of dealing with Avemoth, she guessed it was the former.

“Hey, just so we’re all clear, don’t go mentioning anyones dog.” Rachelle addressed the team.

Everyone nodded. They had heard of Yursa’s prickly skin whenever her pet was mentioned; it was best to steer clear of talking about it.

“What were they saying?”

“Well I’m not bloody omniscient, am I?” He chuckled. “But if I were to guess, then it’s obviously something about the dungeon that Astrid, and the second year Wayfarers underwent. The spy was probably trying to uncover something about what happened in the dungeon.”

“What could be so important as to spy on Lord Sinwen–isn’t that just inviting death?”

George scoffed. “Nowadays? I’m not so sure. Lord Sinwen hasn’t been active for–how many years exactly? I can’t even remember his last mission. My guess is that all the nobles have caught up to him in strength by this point. I think it’s true too, the spy managed to get away, after all.”

“Oh come on George, you said it was just a guess–now you’re saying the spy got away?”

“Besides, that goes against what other people are saying.” One man with his back turned said.

“Like what?” George asked.

“I heard that the man responsible for breaking the Sinwen castle walls was hunted down, and slain out on the ocean.”

“I even heard that it was a pirate king. And he slaughtered him with just a look of his thunder-like eyes.”

“Who’s really bullshitting here?” George shook his head. “Besides, with what’s happening on Rebirth right now–only those mad enough would travel back there.”

Astrid looked in his direction. Curious as to what he meant, but the others simply just nodded their heads. It was as if they all knew what he was saying, as if it was common knowledge. Either that, or she had arrived after the talk.

She needed to know.

Placing her hands on the table, she stood up. Everyone gave her curious glances as she walked over to George’s table.

“What happened on Rebirth?”

George looked at her while his friends turned around.

“Were you eavesdropping on our conversation?”

“Yes, I was.” Astrid stared at them from the darkness of her hood, then took out a bag of money. “I will pay.”

George was about to get angry, but a man that still hadn’t turned his back placed his hand on the table. “George, we could use all the money we can get at this point. The repairs aren’t going to pay for themselves.”

George took a breath. “Alright Jak, I get it.” He looked at Astrid. “What do you want to know?”

“You said only those mad enough would travel back to Rebirth–why?”

“Because,” George sat back in his chair as he gnawed on a piece of chicken bone. “There’s some sort of disease going around Rebirth. Anyone that catches it becomes some sort of man-eating monster.”

“Strong too,” Jak said. “Or maybe it’s more accurate to say that they undergo an evolution. Far surpassing their previous strength. Everywhere is shut down. Top, middle, lower. All of it. No-one is allowed in or out. People would be mad to go there, because you would just be turned away. With no fuel, you’d be stranded in the ocean.”

Astrid took a deep breath. Countless thoughts rampaged within her mind.

What was the cause? And was her family okay?