“What do you mean trapped?” Hoyo asked, the panic evident in his voice.
“Think about it,” Ludwig replied, his tone clipped as his gaze flicked toward Kassandra’s pale, lifeless form. “Locked in a city. All exits are sealed. People are either dying—or worse, losing themselves completely. What does that sound like to you?”
“You think it’s some kind of plague?” Hoyo frowned, his hands clenching into nervous fists.
Ludwig exhaled sharply, a mix of frustration and exhaustion bubbling beneath the surface. “I wish it was something that simple. No, I think it’s more deliberate—a coordinated attack.”
The words hung heavy in the air, the weight of their implication pressing down on those present.
“What makes you so confident about this theory?” Alva Urbaf interjected, her voice sharp and cutting. “That’s a very serious accusation. Can you even take responsibility for saying something so reckless?”
Ludwig turned his gaze toward her, the annoyance flashing in his eyes unmistakable. “Who died and made you the chief of police?” His tone was ice, a stark contrast to the rising heat of his frustration.
“What?” Alva frowned, clearly taken aback by his hostility.
“I don’t owe you anything,” Ludwig continued, his voice rising. “You can take what I say with a grain of salt, or you can ignore it altogether. But don’t sit there trying to pin responsibility on me as if I’m some scapegoat waiting for the slaughter.” His annoyance was growing clear. It wasn’t anger he was incapable of it after all he could only mimic it, but annoyance? was a Ludwig specialty.
Ludwig stood abruptly, pushing his chair back with enough force to scrape the wooden floor. He crossed the room to check on Kassandra, his movements stiff with restrained anger.
“Wow,” Hoyo muttered under his breath, clearly caught between awkward amusement and unease. “I admire your selection of words, but… she kind of is the police, though.”
Ludwig shot him a questioning look. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“The Urbaf family,” Hoyo clarified. “They’re a ducal family, remember? They’ve got members in the Imperial Guard—”
“Her brother is in the Imperial Guard,” Ludwig interrupted, his tone sharp as he waved off the explanation. “Not her. And frankly, I don’t care. I just can’t stand people like her—thinking their influence gives them the right to order others around. If I say it’s a terror attack, then accept it or don’t. But don’t stand there trying to put the weight of the world on my shoulders.”
His voice carried through the inn, loud enough for the other patrons to hear. The murmur of conversations quieted momentarily as people turned their attention to the brewing confrontation.
“I-I didn’t mean it that way!” Alva stammered, flustered.
“Doesn’t matter what you meant,” Ludwig snapped, his gaze narrowing. “Words have power. Choose them wisely next time.”
Ignoring her further protests, Ludwig crouched down beside Kassandra, his fingers lightly pressing against her neck as he checked her pulse.
“She’s probably out cold because she hasn’t fully healed from yesterday,” Ludwig muttered. “Add to that today’s stress, mental exhaustion, and whatever’s going on with these stolen souls… Honestly, I’m surprised she’s still breathing.”
“You’re grim,” Hoyo remarked, his brow furrowing.
Ludwig’s lips twisted into a humorless smile. “The faster you accept reality, the faster you can deal with it. I’m heading out.”
He grabbed his mask from the table, sliding it over his face as he made for the door.
The djinn Ludwig had marked earlier was gone, its presence now far away, deep within the heart of the masquerade venue.
“Wait!” Alva called out, stepping between Ludwig and the door.
“What do you want now?” he asked, his irritation clear.
“I’m coming with you.”
“Do you even know where I’m going?”
“No, but I know you’re not as clueless as you seem,” Alva replied, her eyes locking onto his.
Ludwig sighed, exasperation etched across his face. “You’re going to be a pain.”
“I’m stronger than you, at least,” she shot back, her tone firm.
Ludwig frowned, his eyes narrowing as he activated [Inspect].
Name: Alva Urbaf
Race: Human
Title: N/A
Level: 35
The sight of her status gave him pause. Stronger than me, huh?
“What was that just now?” Alva asked, a shiver running down her spine. She hugged her coat tighter as if trying to protect herself from an unseen gaze.
“It doesn’t matter,” Ludwig replied curtly. “If you’re coming, don’t lag behind. But the moment you become dead weight, I’m leaving you behind.”
“What about me?” Hoyo asked, a tinge of panic creeping into his voice.
“Stay here. Watch over Kassandra,” Ludwig ordered.
Without another word, he pushed past Alva and stepped into the crowded streets.
The noise outside was deafening. People milled about, some confused, others enraged, as they discovered the severed communication lines and barred exits.
Alva hurried after Ludwig, pulling her mask into place as she tried to keep up. “Where exactly are we going?”
“Just follow me,” Ludwig replied tersely, his focus elsewhere.
His mind raced as he maneuvered through the throng of festival-goers. Whoever orchestrated this chaos clearly had no intention of allowing help to arrive. That much was obvious from the meticulous shutdown of all communication and transportation.
‘Whoever’s behind this doesn’t want help to arrive anytime soon… perhaps not even witnesses’
The thought gnawed at him, feeding his urgency. Kassandra’s condition was deteriorating rapidly, and if he didn’t act soon, she wouldn’t survive.
But Ludwig wasn’t naive. He knew the risks. If things went south, he had the lantern as a backup. The souls he’d collected would allow him to cheat death a few times if needed. It wasn’t ideal, but it was all he had.
“What’s your plan?” Alva pressed, her voice barely audible above the din of the crowd.
“Find the source,” Ludwig replied. “Shut it down.”
“And if it’s too strong to handle?”
Ludwig glanced over his shoulder, his expression grim. “Then I guess I’ll die trying.”
The weight of his words silenced her, but her determination didn’t waver. She tightened her grip on her rapier and kept pace with him, ready to face whatever lay ahead.