Erich stretched his arm toward the sky. Immediately, a huge brown pigeon landed on his forearm.

Unlike the pigeons commonly used, in the Watch, they used these large pigeons to carry important and bulky documents.

Though it looked unimpressive, as a carrier pigeon, it was worth its weight in gold. And as Erich sent the pigeon off again, his eyes narrowed.

"... Is this a reply from the Black Citadel?"

It seemed Barnes had already guessed the contents of the letter. Erich simply nodded.

"That's right."

Erich took out the document from his coat and thrust it at Barnes. The contents aside, it bore the commander's seal.

"It's confirmed. Understood."

"So, what about Max?"

"Max is..."

Barnes furrowed his brow for a moment. Erich had been curious to see how Barnes would react at this juncture.

'Would a guy obsessed with discipline really turn in his own brother to abide by it?'

For Erich, this was simply a pure question. But Barnes replied nonchalantly.

"Max is in this village. But he's not under my custody right now."

"Didn't I say this would happen! You're trying to make excuses after hiding him away..."

"That's not it. Max is under the protection of the village chief right now."

"... What?"

Not just Frederick, but Erich's eyes also widened. Then Barnes's face darkened as he continued.

"Max came here badly wounded. But it wasn't because of me. The chief of this village and Max have known each other for a long time."

"So, the one tending and hiding him is the village chief?"

"That's correct."

It was the moment when Erich's hypothesis kept hitting the mark. Max and the chief were acquainted.

If so, the reason this village attained such prosperity might well be related to some force behind Max.

'But Nicholas doesn't have that kind of wealth. If he did, he would've seized it for himself already.'

Erich furrowed his brow. If his intuition was right, this matter wouldn't end with Nicholas.

"Tsk. Then there was no need to ask you anything, was there?"

Frederick scowled, annoyed at being bothered for nothing.

"No, if Barnes hadn't confirmed this, we wouldn't be able to put pressure on the chief. If we stormed in demanding Max, he'd just feign ignorance."

"But one of our men saw someone heading toward the village."

"That's just circumstantial evidence. It doesn't directly prove they're hiding him here."

"Tch... So what now?"

"We go to the chief and have him hand over Max."

At that, Frederick grinned, baring his teeth in satisfaction.

"Heheh, so now we just get rough with everyone here?"

"... Of course not. There can't be that many helping the chief among the villagers."

"You mean not all of them are on his side?"

"Of course. The more followers he has, the more mouths he has to feed. By contrast, the fewer people who know, the bigger his cut. Isn't that right, Barnes?"

Barnes nodded. Then, surprisingly, something odd slipped from his mouth.

"Then am I to be replaced?"

"Replaced?"

"Didn't you promise the villagers to swap me out for another Watchman?"

"Oh, I did. But that was a lie."

"... What?"

Erich faintly curled his lips. Why would he replace Barnes just for the villagers' sake? He wasn't failing his duty—in fact, he was following the rules admirably.

"Even if you're a little stiff, you're doing well enough. It'd be nice if you were a bit more flexible, though."

"I can't believe you lied...."

"There's only so much you can say in a pigeon message. No need to waste it on trivialities. More importantly, there was something interesting in the reply."

"An interesting story...?"

"About Max and Barnes. The two of you."

At Erich's words, Barnes's eyebrows shot up.

"The two of you—your birthplaces were left blank. I'm guessing you're both illegitimate children born to Watchmen on the Great Wall."

"... Is that important?"

"It is, for this particular matter."

Barnes said nothing. Erich continued.

"Every Watchman takes an oath—not to wed, not to have children. But you two were born. Someone broke the oath."

"...."

"So the Watch chose to recognize you, but only as non-existent. Like the countless other illegitimate children strewn along the Great Wall."

"It was Nicholas who vouched for us and let us live as humans."

"Right. For guys like you to be acknowledged, you needed a solid guarantor. That would explain why your brother Max is so loyal to Nicholas."

"Do you suspect I also swear loyalty to Nicholas?"

"... No."

― Snap!

Erich flicked his finger swiftly. A small pebble shot from his hand, grazing Barnes's cheek.

― Dribble.

A small crimson line of blood trickled down Barnes's cheek. But only for a moment.

― Ssshhh.

As if someone had fast-forwarded time, the wound closed up and not even a speck remained.

"Just as I thought."

"...! Wh-What the hell...like some kind of lizard!"

Frederick's eyes, standing nearby, went wide. Erich had suspected it all along, but for Frederick, this was a first.

"You and your brother were only useful to Nicholas because he could use you. But useful for what? How do you have such regeneration?"

"...."

Barnes quietly lowered his head. Erich knew that Barnes's silence was as good as a confession.

― Oooh.

A faint crimson light flickered and faded in Erich's eyes. As he mixed his sixth sense and sight, Barnes's condition became clear.

'Barnes's body is falling apart.'

Barnes hadn't gained the superhuman strength or physique that the Orca-roid effect bestowed—only the side effects.

From that, Erich inferred immediately that Barnes was a "test subject" for an incomplete Orca-roid.

"The Orca-roid I saw was already perfected. Its effects and side effects were both evident. I've never heard of side effects like yours. That means the one you took must have been an unfinished Orca-roid."

"... That's right."

"Then let me ask again. Did Nicholas test an incomplete drug on you and Max?"

Barnes bit his lip. Erich's question constricted around him like a snake.

"Yes, he did."

Again, the light gleamed in Erich's eyes. Barnes's body was collapsing and regenerating simultaneously. But the collapse was happening faster than it could heal.

Erich focused on this side effect: 'regeneration'.

'Even the future Watch could never find the formula for Orca-roid. All they could develop were antidotes to suppress the symptoms.'

But at this moment, Erich realized why the formula had never been found.

'Orca-roid inherently grants regeneration. But the effect is so weak, no one ever noticed.'

But now, Erich quietly smiled. Barnes's answer gave him two things.

One, a bargaining chip to make Max talk. And two: the formula for Orca-roid.

"...!! That's...amazing. How do you get something like that?"

"Offer up your remaining lifespan, that's all. Frederick."

"Huhhh...."

Frederick's gaze turned from amazement to pity.

Thus, Erich formed a new theory.

Nicholas took in the two brothers. But Nicholas would never do something unprofitable, so taking them in must've served a purpose for him.

How did he use them? Erich, knowing what Nicholas had done before the regression, already had the answer.

'Orca-roid.'

But whereas Max, deeply loyal to Nicholas, withstood Orca-roid's side effects and served as his blade, Barnes could not. That was where their destinies diverged.

"You must have accepted drugs to suppress the side effects in exchange for turning a blind eye to Morris's smuggling. Am I right?"

"... Only half right."

"Half? What am I missing?"

"Max worked for Nicholas to get my medicine, yes. Occasionally, someone would deliver a box for me."

"And?"

Barnes slowly pulled up his sleeve. His bare skin was already turned violet, oozing with pus.

"But I never even touched the stuff."

"... I see."

Erich had expected that Barnes, for survival's sake, might've made that small exception.

That would've been understandable. But contrary to his expectation, Barnes hadn't accepted even a minor shortcut.

"So you weren't aware of the villagers' smuggling, either."

"I didn't know. Which explains how Max knew the chief."

Yet, seeing Barnes's dying body, Erich gave a faint smile.

"... Hmph, if anything, the situation's gotten better."

"Oh come on, even for a cold-blooded noble, isn't that a bit much to say to a dying young man...?"

"Frederick, what do you take me for?"

Frederick averted his eyes from Erich's cold glare.

"Thanks to this, we have new leverage for negotiating with Max."

"... Then after this, am I to remain in the village?"

"Well, to conduct a proper investigation, you'll leave here anyway. Do you have to stay for some reason? You're oddly attached."

"... I can't leave the village yet."

Erich responded nonchalantly to Barnes's words.

"Worried about ringing the village bells? I'll assign someone else in your place, don't fret."

"Another Watchman won't know how things work. No, they won't even try to prepare."

"What are you talking about?"

"I've always worked as a stationed Watchman in outlying villages. But this place...this place is truly different. This place is...dangerous. I can feel it."

Hearing those words, Erich suddenly recalled the disappearances in Morris village, and asked.

"What do you mean, exactly?"

"... You want examples?"

Barnes looked a bit surprised.

"Why? Surprised I didn't dismiss your words as nonsense?"

"... A little, yes."

"I don't care about your musings, just talk."

Barnes hesitated, then began.

"When I stand guard, I often feel a strange gaze, as if something's watching me..."

"And?"

"... The gaze is so cold, it feels like my bones are freezing."

"Do you always feel it?"

"No. Only when the temperature drops suddenly and I'm on high alert."

"Ever met the owner of the gaze?"

"No, never."

Barnes trailed off. All things considered, it was simply a weird hunch—never confirmed by direct encounter.

He bit his lip. He knew that, on its own, this would simply be dismissed as nonsense.

"That's troubling..."

"Is that so?"

"Frederick, would relocating the Black Snake outpost closer here cause issues?"

"...?"

Barnes's eyes widened. Surprisingly, the man before him was taking him seriously.

"The spacing will get weird, but who cares? There are plenty of stranger stations."

"Thought so. Bring it up when you return."

"Even if I do, doubt anyone'll listen unless you're an officer."

Barnes glanced between Erich and Frederick as they bickered about recommendations. Why? Why would they believe his wild stories?

"Are you actually taking me seriously?"

"Hm? Was it a lie?"

"It's the truth, but..."

"That's enough. A stickler like you couldn't lie to save your life. If you're saying all this about rules, clearly something's up."

"...."

Somehow, hearing that brightened Barnes's expression a little. Conversely, a moment of worry flickered across Erich's face.

'... Maybe, we'll come face-to-face with something we shouldn't.'

Erich glanced toward the dark forest beyond the palisade. The "cold gaze" he felt when he came here, Barnes's testimony as a resident Watchman—

All of it heightened Erich's sense of foreboding. Still, he tried to deny it.

Because such ominous signs always...presaged the emergence of the dead.

***

That evening.

The chief of Morris village hurriedly summoned the residents to the meeting hall. All who gathered were his close followers.

He waved his arms anxiously as he spoke.

"... Damn it. You mean he's checked through the entire village?"

"What could happen, really? All he did was carry a ledger around and take a quick look here and there."

"You fools. Until now we could fend things off, but someone with a sharp eye could easily spot something suspicious."

"H-How?"

"Ha.... Why do I even bother with idiots like you."

The chief clutched his pounding head. He'd made the mistake of underestimating the Watch as idiots. Had he not, he would've hidden things better.

"I should've known things were turning for the worse when Max showed up with an arm missing."

"Shouldn't we just run for it now...?"

"Run where, exactly?"

"Um, if we head south..."

The chief closed his eyes, massaging his throbbing head—as if trying to hold back his anger.

"My God, could you be any more brainless."

He exploded in a tirade.

"Go where, exactly! You think the south is just next door? Cross the continent with all that gold and cash? You must have shit for brains!"

Everyone fell silent under the chief's shout. Eventually, one resident raised his hand hesitantly.

"Speak."

"'That one's' power—we use it to wipe them out. It's only two of them, after all."

"... That's one way. Make it look like an accident, bury the evidence, and play dumb. Still, something feels off."

"What is?"

The chief wracked his brain.

"It's been twenty years since 'that guy' put me here when I was almost forced into the Watch. We've smuggled across the Wall, both me and him lining our pockets. What we buy and sell is none of our concern."

"So?"

"And now, after being so cautious, why is he suddenly pushing for a violent solution as soon as it looks like things might go south? No matter how I look at it, something's wrong."

"Do you think so?"

"I do... Haa."

"But maybe 'that one' is getting anxious as well?"

Getting anxious? The chief softly stroked his chin. Was 'that guy' ever in a hurry?

"I don't know for sure, but my source told me about a man named Erich just yesterday."

"You even hear about things like that?"

"The commander pays special attention to him, and recently, he supposedly even had a private meeting with Mikhail."

"That's a problem...?"

"That alone isn't the issue. But there's no way 'he' doesn't know. Why would someone so cautious suddenly target the one being watched most closely by the Watch right now?"

"... Because he's a nuisance?"

"You people are a nuisance in my life. Seriously."

The chief irritably rubbed his already balding scalp.

"If we're not careful, we could be taken out along with them. If the village and Nicholas disappear, no threads lead back to 'him' anymore."

"T-That can't be..."

Panic clouded the villagers' faces. Anxiety spread among them.

"Then should we just let things pass quietly?"

"No, that guy came after Max. He won't give up easily, and it doesn't look like Max is going to simply disappear for us, either."

The chief leaned back in his chair and sighed.

"Checkmate. Damned if we do, damned if we don't."

After a moment's thought, the chief seemed to come to a decision. He turned to a resident.

"Report to him. Say we'll do as he wants."

"... Weren't you just worried about 'that one' being dangerous?"

"Shut it. I have my own plan."

"Ah, yes, sir."

But even then, his lackeys glanced about, each reluctant to be the one to go.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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