"Huh? Look! There's light up ahead!"
After wandering through the sewers for an indeterminate amount of time, the two brothers were a mess—unkempt, disheveled, and caked in grime.
During this period, they hadn't encountered any truly world-ending threats—mostly just rats, slugs, and the like. Since the energy Godwyn had bestowed upon them hadn't been fully depleted, they didn't even have to worry about finding food. Consequently, aside from looking a bit pathetic, they were actually doing quite well.
In fact, Mohg had taken this time to finally master the Golden Dynasty training method Godwyn had taught them. After comparing his progress with Morgott's, he discovered that his training efficiency was actually superior. This meant his earlier struggle to learn it was entirely his own issue—though, naturally, Mohg refused to admit that.
In truth, the higher efficiency was due to Mohg's superior physical talent. The initial lag in his learning progress was merely a soul-level adjustment period; he simply needed time to adapt to the fundamental laws of this new world.
Hearing Mohg's exclamation, a spark of excitement flickered in Morgott's eyes. After spending so long in the pitch-black abyss of the sewers, he had nearly forgotten what light looked like.
Since their first attempt, they hadn't started any more fires. There was no worry of cold down here, and fire only served to attract the attention of predators living in the darkness. They had been in the gloom so long they had almost lost all concept of time.
Soon, they reached a gap in a large, fractured pipe that led upward. They formed a human ladder, and Mohg scrambled out first to scout the area.
He was greeted by a massive open space filled with a labyrinth of crisscrossing pipes. Small lanterns were placed along wooden walkways built atop the pipes, and several wooden crates were scattered about.
The familiarity of the scene left Mohg momentarily dazed.
Holy crap... did I accidentally stumble into 'where the dream began'?
"Mohg? What's the situation out there?" Morgott, still below, frowned with concern when he heard no response.
"It's safe," Mohg called back. He reached down and grabbed Morgott's hand, pulling him up and out of the pipe.
"Phew... I don't know why, but being out here makes even the air feel fresher..." Morgott said, taking a deep breath after climbing out.
"That's definitely a hallucination," Mohg replied, sniffing the air with a look of pure disgust.
"Let's head that way. Looks like we can climb up over there."
"Mhm."
Morgott nodded, casting a glance at the ground far below. Beneath the pipes, sludge was piled high, and wastewater flowed constantly into deeper drainage pipes. However, what caught Morgott's attention most was a massive, twitching tentacle he thought he saw in the depths below.
He didn't dwell on it, simply making a mental note to avoid that dangerous area if they ever had to descend to the floor.
Mohg, meanwhile, had naturally noticed the "Lobster-bro" lurking down there. He had absolutely no intention of provoking it right now. He had no desire to be turned into a kebab by the "Leyndell Anti-Air Sniper Spit," even if he suspected that the giant crayfish probably tasted delicious...
As they climbed onto a higher pipe, Mohg spotted a small wooden door nearby. He jogged over and eased it open just a crack, peering outside cautiously.
That familiar street, the faint light filtering down from above... everything tugged at his memories. However, he still wasn't 100% certain this was the exact spot he remembered. In the area he knew, there should have been those annoying Imps.
Perhaps because the Royal Capital isn't at war yet, they haven't stationed Imps here? Or maybe... the walls of the Leyndell Catacombs below haven't been breached yet, so the Imps haven't escaped?
Mohg figured either was possible. At the very least, they had reached a relatively safe zone. There were even a few "Big Brothers"—full-grown Omens—visible in the distance. He wasn't sure what these adults thought of Omen children, but seeing that their horns hadn't been sawed off, he assumed they were also of royal blood.
After a moment's thought, Mohg took the risk and slipped outside.
Just then, voices drifted down from a ladder above. Several figures wearing white hoods, black robes, and heavy aprons adorned with the Erdtree crest began to descend. Behind them followed several attendants with burlap hoods and a handful of Leyndell soldiers.
Perfumers?
Mohg froze upon recognizing them. He felt a wave of relief; if Perfumers were coming here, it meant the Omens in this specific sector were of the more "civilized" variety.
"What is it? Why are you just standing there?" Morgott asked, curious.
"Some Perfumers are coming down, along with some other Omens," Mohg explained, finally pushing the door all the way open and stepping out.
The moment the door opened, the soldiers and attendants reflexively raised their crossbows, aiming at Mohg with extreme caution. But when they saw two small Omen children emerging, they exchanged looks and lowered their weapons.
One of the Perfumers, clearly intrigued, slowly walked forward. She knelt on one knee in front of Mohg and pulled out a handkerchief, gently wiping the filth from his face.
The look of profound pity and compassion in her eyes made Mohg feel a bit awkward—especially considering how many of her kind he had slaughtered back in the game...
"Poor children... I never expected to find Omens so young down here..."
Mohg looked at her in surprise. The voice was unmistakably feminine.
His shock stemmed from a simple fact: having killed so many Perfumers in the game, he had always assumed they were all men.
But he had to admit, the Perfumers as a group truly were gentle—sometimes so gentle that their compassion drove them to madness.
Wait... if that's the case... does that make them 'yandere'? Mohg's mind began to wander into some very strange territory. If so, does that mean every Perfumer lady has a 'yandere' sub-trait?
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My : https://[email protected]/AuAuMon
Elden Ring: As the Consort, I Reject Miquella (51 Chapters – Ongoing)
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