Doggone Academy

Chapter 151 Taming the Madman (11)

Chapter 151 Taming the Madman (11)

The blue stag started to move slowly. Was it expecting me to follow?

I pondered for a moment. I couldnt dismiss the possibility that I was out of my mind. But then, we were already in the grasp of the Circulatory System. Following it seemed to come with little risk.

In the midst of this, Vivi suddenly slapped me across the face.

Slap!

You have to snap out of it. I cant afford to lose you, too. I wont allow it.

I appreciated her thinking of me as her own, but this womans hand was alarmingly strong.

Vivi violently grabbed my collar and slapped me again.

Slap!

If I have to, Ill bite you back to your senses. You must not break. Never, ever!

She seemed gravely worried that I might turn traitor like the guard. I understood her anxiety.

I took hold of Vivis wrist to calm her.

Its alright. I wont suddenly bolt off or swing my sword at thin air.

What is happening what did you see?

Theres a place we need to visit.

Youre following an illusion?

Our position has been revealed, and no matter how much we try to hide, we cannot escape the crows gaze. We must face it head-on.

You do sound reasonable. Ill trust you.

We had nothing to pack, so we promptly rose and left the place.

I slowly followed the blue stag, visible only to me.

Along the way, Vivi fashioned a long rope out of the stem of an aquatic plant.

She then called me to a halt.

Wait here.

Vivi tied one end of the rope around my left wrist and the other around hers.

What is this?

Its to ensure you dont run off in madness. And if we fall into a swamp, this will make it noticeable.

Being tied together could complicate things in a dire situation.

Then well cut it. Theres plenty to make another.

It seemed she had her own safety measures in mind, though it wouldnt be of much help. I thought that simply holding hands would suffice, but knowing Vivi, she likely wouldnt prefer that, so I let it pass.

As we continued, Vivi tugged on the rope to signal me.

Theres magic ahead.

You can sense magic?

I dont know where youre leading us, but I feel a strange magic constantly flickering before us.

Is there a magician ahead?

If there were, we would have known by now. Its a peculiar magic. Its in front of us, but it seems to lack a physical form.

Was she referring to the blue stag emitting magic? If so, it meant I wasnt seeing a hallucination.

Vivi stared back at me, her face tinged with spite, as if protesting that I too could feel magic.

She may not be able to use magic, but perhaps she senses magical energies.

Suddenly, a crow landed on a branch. I felt something was off, and looking around, I saw more watchers had joined us.

Vivi, noticing my grim face, followed my gaze and stared blankly at the flock of crows.

Those

They appear to be messengers for the master.

Master?

The entity regarded as the deity of this land.

They seem ready to feast on corpses at any given chance.

Theyre waiting for us to weaken.

I had told her not to be alarmed by the sight of the old womans head for a reason. Showing fear and panic in such a place would only provoke more mischief. It would be like a cat toying with its already caught prey.

It was interesting that the crows refrained from getting too close to the blue stag.

What was it? Where was the stag leading us?

Lets move on.

Alright.

Perhaps thirty minutes had passed, and the number of crows had swelled to such an extent that the vicinity seemed to darken. The stag maintained its radiance, guiding us still.

Vivi clenched the rope binding our wrists, her tension palpable.

Thud, thud, thud.

Suddenly, unfamiliar footsteps sounded.ViiSiit for latest novels

Both Vivi and I halted at once, exchanging glances. We had both heard it, so it couldnt have been a hallucination.

There were multiple sources of the sound, reminiscent of a herd of boars moving together, their heavy steps echoing all around.

There used to be a high-ranking mage who visited the duchy occasionally. He was very kind and always brought foreign cookies, and my young self would run to greet him before anyone else. He came to see my father, but he never forgot to take care of me. He was a warm person.

There was no mage among them.

Im aware. From what I remember, that mage was from Eternia. Once, the duchy sent a guard to greet him upon his arrival.

.

And then there was an incident where the mage disappeared along with his escort while on the way to the duchy. I was too young to understand the details then. The duchy was turned upside down, and since I never saw him again, it seems they didnt find him. Looking at these dog tags, I vaguely recall. These were the skilled knights dispatched for that mage.

We werent the first, then.

Yes, if we return alive, Ill mobilize the army to restore order in Barvisia, and their bodies will be reburied in the duchy.

Im glad youve found your spirit again.

Yes, seeing you fight made me realize theres no need to be afraid. Its all thanks to you.

Its an honor.

Vivi hesitated for a moment, then continued the conversation.

The way Ive treated you harshly all this time

?

No, never mind.

The good atmosphere was short-lived.

Once again, footsteps in the distance approached us.

I set Vivi down and prepared for combat.

The encounter with the ghouls was over quickly.

I showed Vivi the dog tags I collected from the dispatched ghouls.

Her expression was a bit odd.

These they are not worn by the duchys knights.

Then whose are they?

The holy knights of the capital.

Upon hearing that, an ominous feeling washed over me. Holy knights utilizing divine power turned into ghouls. It was a picture hard to comprehend.

I couldnt easily dismiss the connection with black magic.

It became clear. These ghouls werent encountered by chance. Something ruling this land had sent them to toy with us.

The situation was becoming intriguing.

And once the situation was settled, the blue stag reappeared, its radiant blue light growing dimmer.

Vivi spoke with lifeless eyes,

Seeing the holy knights like this it seems the entity were about to face possesses power beyond imagination. Even if we now give up and flee I wont blame you.

Id rather die than flee.

.

Vivi, with a look of resolve, pulled on my arm, then tied the lengthy rope around my wrist. The other end was already tied to hers.

If we are to meet our end on this land it wouldnt be so bad with a strong man like you by my side.

***

The blue stag came to a halt at a certain point.

What is this place?

Where the stag stopped, a black smog billowed like a curtain.

It seemed like a barrier, preventing the smoke from escaping.

This area was bifurcated as if split in half.

Vivi touched the front with her hand and said,

A barrier, a high-level barrier. Why is there such a powerful barrier in Barvisia?

I gently pulled Vivi back.

Just wait here for a moment.

The stag began to move again. It approached a spot in the barrier, brought its muzzle close, and exhaled sharply.

Part of the barrier started to open.

It created a passageway large enough for one person, and then the stag stepped aside, as if inviting us in.

Its blue radiance was almost completely gone now.

It opened a door as if its been waiting for us. Is this a sign inviting us in?

Vivis voice was tense with apprehension.

Are you ready?

Vivi slowly nodded her head.

I entrusted everything to you a long time ago.

I clasped Vivis wrist and stepped into the barrier with her.

Midway, I turned back once more.

The stag stood at the entrance, quietly observing us.

Then, the black smog reached out like a hand and began to coil around the stags neck. However, it did not resist and only continued to watch our last moments. Soon, the passageway closed, and we could no longer see it.

What had it wanted to show me? We silently advanced deeper inside.