Return of the Calamity-Class Death Knight

[Translator - Kie]

[Proofreader - Kawaii]

Chapter 347: The Hasken Family (3)

***

The dwarf led Countess to an underground food storage in the inner castle.

"My lady!"

"Mother!"

Other family members were already gathered in front of the storage. More dwarves stood beside them.

Count Haksen immediately embraced his wife and asked.

"What on earth is happening? Suddenly these dwarves appeared and brought us here."

"I'm not sure either. Some monsters appeared outside... Where are Olivia and Ballad?"

"We're here, Mother."

Countess sighed in relief seeing her daughter-in-law and son-in-law safe.

"Ahem."

One of the dwarves cleared his throat loudly, drawing everyone's attention.

"I understand your confusion, but we must flee immediately."

"How can we escape from here?"

Count Haksen asked.

This was an enclosed underground space. The dwarf's words seemed nonsensical.

"Step aside for a moment."

The dwarves moved the Haksen family back and began tearing up the storage room floor.

"W-what? What are you doing?"

As they finished, an underground tunnel was revealed.

The tunnel stretched westward, large enough for an adult man to walk upright. Peculiarly, two thick iron bars ran along the tunnel floor.

On top of these bars sat an elongated cart, big enough to seat six people.

"What is this?"

Count Haksen asked.

"It's a transportation method created with our Hammerfell City's technology. We call it a subway."

"Sub...way?"

"It's still in the testing phase, so there are some issues... Well, no one's died riding it. Broken necks, maybe, but no deaths."

Despite the dwarf's nonchalant tone, the Haksen family's faces turned pale.

"This subway leads towards the capital's water supply. Go there and request help."

"If we go... what will happen to you? Do you have another means of escape?"

The dwarf gave a bitter smile at Count Haksen's question.

"We must remain here."

"Why can't you escape with us?"

"Those monsters arrived through dimensional portals. There's nothing stopping them from using those to catch up with the subway. Someone needs to stay behind and hold them off."

Count Haksen's face hardened.

The dwarf continued with a wry smile.

"Don't worry about us. We're not that weak."

"But..."

"We owe a debt to Damien Haksen. Ensuring your safe escape is how we repay that debt."

Hearing this, Count Haksen had no choice but to comply. He took a seat in the cart with his family.

"Alright, start it up!"

One of the dwarves pulled a device on the wall.

With a clank, the cart shot forward at lightning speed.

* * *

What just happened?

Veronica questioned herself as she lay face-down on the ground.

What transpired in that instant?

The moment the enemy clenched her fist, everything was torn apart. The skeletons, Miya, Munchi, Dominico, and herself.

Ah, I've been cut.

Her entire body felt like it was on fire. It was due to the wounds from being sliced all over.

It's hopeless after all.

In truth, Veronica already knew she couldn't defeat that monster.

How could she not know? She was now at Master Class.

But why did I choose to fight?

Even beasts knew when to pick their battles. The usual Veronica would have fled without fighting.

Yet, Veronica decided to face that monster. Without a moment's hesitation.

Right. It was for Countess.

She finally remembered why she chose to fight.

It was to buy time for Countess, no, the entire Haksen family to escape.

It was ironic. She, who once derived pleasure from killing, was now risking her life for others.

Though she thought it foolish, she didn't regret it.

If anything, she felt more urgent. That monster was far stronger than Veronica had anticipated.

To ensure the Countess's safe escape from that monster, she needed to buy even more time.

"Urgh..."

Veronica struggled to her feet. Blood trickled from wounds all over her body.

"Oh? You're still alive?"

Veronica twisted her lips and spoke.

"Why? Does it bother you?"

She had already resigned herself to death. So she intended to go out in a blaze of glory.

"If it bothers you so much, try killing me."

Veronica had to muster all her strength just to utter these few words.

"..."

But Dorugo didn't immediately kill Veronica. She just tilted her head and examined her.

"Your face seems familiar somehow..."

Just as Veronica was about to provoke her again,

"Hm?"

Dorugo began looking around with a puzzled expression.

"Theta, check again where the Haksen family is."

"..."

"Why aren't you answering?"

"It's nothing."

Theta said, closing and opening her eyes.

"They're moving towards the capital."

"Moving? With skeletons surrounding the castle? Let me borrow your senses."

Dorugo grabbed Theta's hand. Instantly, everything Theta felt and saw was transmitted to Dorugo.

"Ah, I see."

Dorugo said, looking towards the capital of the Apple Kingdom.

"They're moving underground. Those dwarves must have pulled some tricks."

Dorugo turned to Veronica with a smile.

"I wondered why you were being so reckless... You were trying to buy time for their evacuation. It was all in vain."

Dorugo gestured towards the capital, and suddenly, five or six people appeared in mid-air.

Veronica's eyes widened in shock when she saw their faces.

The Haksen family.

Those who should have escaped Spring Castle by now with the dwarves' help had appeared here.

"What's going on...?"

"We... we were just underground a moment ago."

The Haksen family members were equally confused and at a loss.

At that moment, Countess caught sight of Veronica.

Seeing Veronica covered in blood, Countess screamed and rushed over.

"Veronica!"

Countess exclaimed as she supported Veronica. Veronica looked at Countess with trembling eyes.

"Veronica?"

Just then, as if suddenly remembering, Dorugo spoke.

"Ah, now I recall. Killer Ghost Veronica Sanchez. The one who rejected my alliance offer."

Dorugo asked with a curious expression.

"Why is a serial killer who gets pleasure from murder protecting the Haksen family?"

Veronica couldn't understand what Dorugo was saying at all.

Just as she was about to retort, Count Haksen stepped forward and spoke.

"...Who are you to attack our castle?"

Though fear was evident, his voice remained steady.

Dorugo smiled as if surprised.

"I see you're quite the capable figure. I have no reason to hide it. It's because of your child."

"Child? Do you mean Damien?"

Dorugo nodded at Count Haksen's question.

"What do you intend to do to Damien... to my son!"

Count Haksen shouted angrily. Dorugo replied with a cheerful laugh.

"Your son simply won't listen, you see. I intend to teach him a lesson."

"You piece of trash!"

Unable to contain his anger, Count Haksen lunged at Dorugo.

However, he couldn't reach her. He hit an invisible wall.

The impact was so strong that his forehead split open and bled. Yet, Count Haksen's anger didn't subside.

"You scum! Do you plan to use us to threaten Damien? Not a chance!"

"Threaten? Such lukewarm actions won't make Damien Haksen repent."

Dorugo's eyes glinted dangerously.

"I'm going to plunge you all into the depths of hell. I'll make you experience every pain a human body can endure."

Dorugo's voice dripped with the scent of blood.

"Even after death, you won't find peace. I'll hold onto your souls. That's when the real fun begins. There are countless ways to torment a soul."

Dorugo said with a dark laugh. Watching this, Count Haksen swallowed hard.

But his fear was short-lived. Gritting his teeth, he spoke.

"Just try it! It won't go as you wish!"

"Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. I love subjugating people like you."

Dorugo gestured. A black skeleton emerged from the ground and grabbed the eldest daughter Louise by both arms.

"Louise!"

"Darling!"

Ballad rushed towards the skeleton to save Louise.

But the skeleton kicked him away effortlessly.

"In my experience, parents are weak to their children's suffering. Even the most principled person quickly surrenders when they hear their child's screams."

Dorugo looked down at Louise's stomach and grinned.

"And your daughter is even pregnant. It's been a while since I've had such an interesting toy."

At Dorugo's words, Count Haksen's face turned deathly pale.

"Y-You trash! Let Louise go!"

Dorugo reached out and caressed Louise's cheek. Louise squeezed her eyes shut.

At that moment.

Someone grabbed Dorugo's hand. Dorugo asked with a puzzled face.

"What are you doing?"

The one who had grabbed Dorugo's hand.

Theta spoke in a respectful tone.

"Mother, how about stopping here?

***

[Translator - Kie]

[Proofreader - Kawaii]