Chapter 119: An Unexpected Apology and a Crimson Revelation

“Let’s head to the assembly point first. We can ask any questions later.”

And so, Lucia never voiced her questions. She and the others followed the other professionals outdoors, making their way to the plaza within the stronghold.

Numerous professionals had already gathered in the center of the plaza, where the Archmage stood upon the central altar.

Not long after Lucia and her group arrived, Julie Crimson and her companions also entered the plaza. Coincidentally, the two groups found themselves in relatively close proximity.

However, a fierce argument and conflict had erupted between them earlier. Both Lucia’s side and Julie Crimson’s side felt an increased aversion towards each other, making any further conversation impossible.

Once everyone had assembled, the Guardians once again took a headcount, ensuring all the young professionals were present. Only then did the Archmage on the altar begin to speak.

“Young professionals, you have all worked hard. Before I officially announce the rankings for this Monster Hunt Exercise, I must first explain the situation to you all and offer my sincerest apologies.”

With that, the Archmage immediately bowed deeply to all the professionals below the stage.

“What’s going on?”

“What happened to the Archmage? I don’t recall this kind of announcement during the ranking reveals in previous Monster Hunt Exercises.”

“Wait… do you remember how we were waiting at the city gates all morning? Did something happen to someone?”

“Really? Are there casualties?”

Seeing the Archmage’s demeanor, the crowd below began to murmur involuntarily. Although Lucia and her companions had returned safely, the other professionals participating in the Monster Hunt Exercise were unlike the Guardians, who kept track of participants.

They had only a passing familiarity with most other participants and hadn’t paid attention to whether anyone was missing. Now, witnessing the Archmage’s apology, they genuinely began to suspect that something tragic had occurred.

After a brief period of discussion among the crowd, the Archmage straightened up, resuming his role in maintaining order in the plaza.

Silence.

He had naturally overheard much of the discussion from the crowd while bowing. Now, he was ready to provide answers to their questions.

“Although this assessment did not result in any deaths among the professionals, the situation that arose was exceptionally perilous.”

“A group of unknown forces infiltrated the Lost City and attacked our professionals. While they held human professions, their bodies rapidly dissolved into blood after death.”

Upon hearing this, the crowd below grew restless once more. Julie Crimson’s eyelid twitched slightly. While the Church might not uncover the origins of these individuals, their very existence would at least be known to them. This meant exercising extreme caution should she wish to deploy these private soldiers again.

“Archmage, are you truly not joking? Humans turning into blood after death? Was it a special toxin? Or… is it related to Fantasy Creatures?”

One of the knights from the audience couldn’t help but ask. How could a normal human body undergo such a transformation upon death? This phenomenon could only be linked to either dark magic or Fantasy Creatures.

“Indeed. While their origins remain unknown, they undoubtedly possess some connection to Fantasy Creatures.”

Nodding, the Archmage responded to the knight’s question.

In fact, after Lovelenica and her group returned and reported to the Archmage, he had dispatched several other Guardians to the area Lovelenica described for verification.

Lucia claimed to be a Nun, and Imeline was of royal lineage. Their positions suggested they wouldn’t lie, yet it was crucial to be pragmatic. While trusting them, corresponding evidence and clues were still necessary.

As expected, upon arriving at the location Lovelenica had mentioned, the Guardians quickly discovered several pools of blood that had not yet fully dried.

A century had passed since the Great Lich destroyed the Lost City. Any bloodstains from that era would have long vanished. Furthermore, given the timeline, these blood pools could not possibly be remnants from the past.

Even more startling, the size and volume of these blood pools were clearly not the amount of blood that would gush from a wounded human. It appeared to be the amount of blood that could only be extracted by completely crushing an entire human body. Moreover, there wasn’t just one such pool, but several, unequivocally confirming the scene Lucia and her companions had described.

Furthermore, not a single trace of human tissue remained in those blood pools. If bodies had been crushed, there should at least be some bones or organ fragments left.

Instead, these were merely pure blood pools, filled only with crimson, viscous blood, as if even organs and bones had completely dissolved.

For these Guardians, seasoned veterans of battle who had fought countless deathmatches against Fantasy Creatures, severed limbs and broken bodies were commonplace. Yet, these utterly pure blood pools struck them as far more unsettling.

The only Fantasy Creatures in the Lost City were Specters, and none of their abilities could create such a scene. Therefore, what Lucia and her companions described had to be the truth.

“We have already sent people to investigate. While those individuals were not found, the blood pools they left behind are undeniable. Each pool contains the blood volume of an entire person, and we have suffered no casualties. Therefore, the origin of these blood pools should be quite clear.”

As the Archmage spoke, he placed a crystal ball upon the altar. Injecting it with magic, a projection immediately materialized across the plaza.

This was another example of Hillebach Duchy’s Arcane Technology, capable of recording and projecting images via special crystal balls. The projection displayed the scenes documented by the Guardians.

Upon seeing the blood pools in the images, no matter how difficult it was to believe, the crowd could only accept the reality of the situation.

Lovelenica had not yet reported the connection between the Incomplete Bloodkin and the Hillebach Duchy. If the Archmage were to learn of this link, his mood while using the arcane crystal ball would undoubtedly be quite subtle.

“The Church speculates that these mysterious individuals are likely connected to the Bloodkin.”

Speaking, the Archmage retrieved a Holy Cross. It was Lucia’s.

“Please observe, everyone.”

He drew out the lingering resentment from the Holy Cross, and it immediately emitted a faint white glow. Yet, in the very next second, a flash of crimson flickered within that light.

The crowd below erupted in an uproar. This was a Holy Cross specially crafted by the Church, capable of absorbing the aura of slain creatures. Only a minority of the professionals present were first-time participants in the Monster Hunt Exercise; they all knew that white represented Specters. How could crimson appear?

Only the Guardians who had previously clashed with the Bloodkin understood. That crimson hue, without a doubt, represented the race that fed on human blood, preying on humanity—the Bloodkin.

📚 Also on NHV Novels

Radioactive

#EsperXGuideActionAngst

Read Now →
Not interested