"If my nose is correct, then Yukinotard was fooled by the meeting and eventually got trapped," said Acno.
We argued for a moment about what to do.The night sky slowly shifted into a gloomy, poolish grey.Then, suddenly—someone appeared before us.
It was a woman I'd never seen before.Her violet eyes glowed, and she wore all-black clothing, resembling a thief.But as soon as she stepped closer, a fragrance surrounded her—like a field of blooming flowers.The thought of her being a mere robber vanished instantly.
For the first time, I felt something strange—fear, tension... and a touch of attraction.It was like a demon disguised as an angel.
She raised her voice:"Wait, intruder."
Then her tone softened."I'm here to help you, not to harm you. Yukinotard is a high-ranking ambassador of the Revenant Guild. But he made a grave mistake by revealing himself to the Assassin Guild—our biggest rival. I know where their headquarters are."
She stepped closer."Help us, and the Revenant Guild will reward you."
Acno turned toward me at the exact same moment I looked at him.It felt like we were connected somehow—but no homo.
He whispered,"We're just fresh students. We won't even set a single foot into that house before we die."
I glanced at the mysterious woman again."There's nothing to lose. Even if we get hurt, she'll protect us. I mean, just look at her."
Acno's face turned deep red, his eyes now full of uncertainty and mystery.
"If you say so, then I have nothing to say against it," he replied.
I stepped forward."We accept your request."
The woman nodded and gestured for us to follow her.We leapt over rooftops and fences, crossing one shadowy corner after another, until we reached an ancient abandoned castle.It sat nestled between two houses that looked like they'd been torn apart by time itself.
She stopped and whispered,"Be careful. From here on, one wrong step could mean death. We'll take the back entrance. Stay silent. Don't expect anything."
We followed quietly.After jumping over a rusted fence, we entered a decaying garden—one that clearly hadn't been tended to in years.
The grass was overgrown.The flowers lay flat and lifeless like corpses.The air reeked of decay and filth—so strong, it forced silence upon us.
The woman reached a wooden door and slowly pushed it open.A blood-chilling sound struck our ears—someone being punched, tortured... and crying, as if they had already accepted death.
A flicker of light appeared from a nearby window.Someone inside had noticed something.
At first, I thought it might just be a coincidence—until I saw the woman's expression.She was frozen. Her eyes full of dread.A look so fierce, it could turn anyone to stone.
Then—footsteps.Heavy and fast, approaching rapidly.Louder and louder, until we heard a door creak open.
The next steps we took were the most dangerous of our lives.
And in that moment, a single thought crossed my mind:
If this world is being swallowed by crime and chaos... then I want to be part of it.