Chapter 62: True Love as Blood
"What ballad?"
Although Arthur reminded himself not to delay, he couldn't help but ask. Koglgrim had said that every method for breaking a curse was found only after countless painful attempts. But Hanna claimed that the cure was hidden in a ballad?
Niren's gaze grew vacant, seemingly looking far away, or deep into the past: "It was a song about a Mula (Vampire) saving a Chernobog (Bear-Headed Monster). I can't recall the specific details now, but I only remember Hanna being very excited at the time."
"She said that as long as the two of us truly loved each other, the curse would be broken the moment my teeth touched the first drop of her blood."
Arthur highly doubted such a story, but given that Hanna had died recently, he pressed on: "And what happened next?"
Niren shook his head: "The moon came out earlier that day than usual. Before I could even drag her home, the beast-soul took over my body. When I woke up again, I was terrified. I expected to face Hanna's twisted corpse, but she was still sitting there, unharmed, though she wasn't so fanatical anymore."
The sound of Margareta stepping on dead branches and leaves was approaching from the distance, and Niren sped up his explanation:
"I didn't think much of it at the time, only thanking the heavens that she hadn't died under my madness. But then Rience suddenly showed up, accompanied by an annoying voice."
"That voice said that I carried the entire future of some great experiment, that my body and even my soul belonged to him, and therefore I was forbidden to attempt such a rebellious act again."
"He rambled on for a long time that day, but I only understood the final threat." Niren glanced in Margareta's direction, his voice quickening: "He said that if I truly lifted the curse, he would publicize the matter throughout the entire circle of mages."
'What kind of threat is that...' Arthur thought.
"An ordinary person might think it's no threat at all, but since you are a sorcerer, you must know that the magic circle is currently obsessed with researching how to turn ordinary people into super-soldiers, and one of the hottest areas of research is the werewolf."
How would I know that? Arthur nonetheless nodded, pretending he had known all along.
A werewolf's strength and speed are considered overpowered even among monsters, but even more terrifying is their super-healing ability, which once led people to believe these creatures were immune to damage from steel. It was shocking, however, that these sorcerers were so deranged as to use living people for mutation experiments.
Niren continued: "In short, according to that sorcerer, lycanthropy patients who have been cured are the perfect research material—beings that countless mages would stop at nothing to acquire. Even if I got rid of this werewolf body, I would eventually commit suicide in some bizarre way and reappear on some sorcerer's dissecting table."
"So that's the story!" Arthur finally understood the entire sequence of events, but he felt no joy.
The hunter's family was truly pathetic. The wife risked being bitten to death to save her husband, only to tragically die at the hands of his sister, who shared the same wish.
Margareta's footsteps were getting closer. Niren looked greedily in her direction, then smiled sadly:
"You see, Margareta can only suffer misfortune by staying with me. It's better to let me face this cruel fate alone."
"And please, don't tell Margareta any of this. Just let her believe her brother is a pathetic wretch who only blames others."
With that, he turned and walked deep into the forest without looking back. Soon, even Arthur could no longer see him. As a hunter, he was truly excellent at concealing his whereabouts. Perhaps those mages wouldn't find him so easily.
This time, Arthur did not offer him an invitation to travel together. After all, his most important task now was to fully realize the potential of his Golden Finger to cope with the increasingly grave crises ahead.
"I brought all the sheets from the house. Can we start lifting the curse now?"
A few minutes later, the sharp snap of a broken branch underfoot announced Margareta's arrival.
The slender country girl was clearly familiar with the woods; she managed to find her way back even while carrying an armload of bedsheets.
She looked around anxiously, softly calling Niren's name.
"Don't bother looking. Niren has gone."
Arthur was thankful he had prematurely raised his sound-dampening barrier, because Margareta's subsequent outburst was loud enough to shake the leaves from the trees:
"He's gone? What does that mean? Does he intend to remain a monster for the rest of his life?"
"No, his curse has been broken."
Arthur's words drained all the strength from Margareta. She collapsed onto the ground, murmuring:
"He still won't forgive me. But I really couldn't bear it anymore."
Arthur, concerned about her state, tried to reassure her:
"I doubt your brother meant it that way. He left a good amount of money for you, too."
When Niren left, he took Rience's pouch but left behind the wealth he had accumulated over the years. Though not as plentiful as Rience's stash, it was certainly less problematic to use.
Margareta took the coin pouch Arthur offered and instinctively brought it to her mouth to sniff it, as if trying to recall Niren's scent.
Is this girl out of her mind?
Arthur rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on, and prompted her:
"Where do you plan to go next? This money is enough for you to live in Vizima for over ten years. Why not…"
Margareta suddenly stood up, her tone resolute:
"I'm going to find him."
Another stubborn fool, Arthur sighed internally. But he asked one more question:
"How will you protect yourself? This world is full of dangers, and a vulnerable woman like you…"
Margareta bit her lower lip:
"I'm no delicate noble lady. I started helping Niren set traps for wolves in the woods when I was seven, and I was shooting rabbits with him by twelve."
"He left me a bow. I can use this bow to provide for and protect myself." Her eyes grew brighter as she spoke: "One day, I will stand before him and demand to know why he left."
"Even if he shoots me dead with an arrow, I cannot accept this silent parting."
What complicated feelings, Arthur thought, making one last attempt:
"Why put yourself through such hardship…"
Margareta: "Because I love him. My feelings for him are exactly the same as Hanna's were."
Fine then… Arthur did not argue further.
A clear judge cannot settle a family dispute. All that mattered was that she was leaving the village.
The night was largely spent. The eastern sky was beginning to show the first pale light of dawn. Arthur, taking advantage of the fact that no one was yet awake, quickly walked toward the largest and prettiest house in the village.
He still had some loose ends to tie up.
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