United in Hatred Arc: Chapter 28.
The ringing in Winter's ears slowly subsided, the throbbing going away as the situation finally came down on him. The 'divine beauty' was nothing but a husk, her face full of tears, while her feminine figure was designed with several fresh bleeding wounds.
The exquisite white dress was now a simple, tattered robe. No longer exuding a hint of regalia or nobility. Winter felt sick, as if something was crawling up his throat.
"You were out there for a moment." Claudia Osser's voice was one full of relief and musical joy. Similar to a predator who finally had its fill.
The noble woman whimpered, letting out soft, hiccupping cries. Petel Stenenem kicked the noble woman's face, further damaging her 'divine beauty', causing her to lose a molar.
"Remember when they were talking about a storage case? Well, we found it." Claudia said with assured victory. She opened the metallic case placed atop the bed, revealing opened letters, various ledgers, and some wine.
"See? We're the good guys." Claudia gestured for the case with dried, bloodied, gloved hands. Winter approached the open case.
◆ [ Analyzing Item: Transaction ledgers for several black market groups and evidence of human trafficking and narcotic distribution. Verdict: Dairy farm is a front. ] ◆
Winter sighed, eyes deliberately distant; he gulped and turned his head towards the whimpering noblewoman. He also just realized the corpse of their mother, her throat was slashed, and her eyeballs were plucked out.
Not only that, there was a small pool of blood near the open window. Two young children, gagged and unmoving. He closed his eyes and opened his mouth.
"You, noble girl. Are you aware that your dairy farm is a front? That you're actually a human trafficking group?" He asked, clenching the scorch dagger in his fist.
The noble woman whimpered and cried. "I don't know. My parents handled all the business, as I told you. I don't know anything. I'm just seventeen..." She spoke as blood came out of her mouth, also losing another tooth.
Claudia Osser sighed and scorned. "Even if what she said is true, she benefited from a system of criminal oppression and relished in the comforts." She said with such revolutionary conviction, believing her words.
"Agreed. Oppression comes in all forms, be it active or passive. The punishment for such oppression is execution, a just consequence." Petel voiced with glee, focusing solely on the execution.
◆ [ Analyzing target: Injured and weak, unlikely to survive within the next few hours. No reason to lie, visible from body language and tone. Verdict: Possibly Innocent Victim. ] ◆
Bricks gave out an analysis.
"Let her go, she's not lying..."
Claudia sharply raised a brow. "Maybe she's not lying. I can see that." She smacked her lips. "However, she's still part of the oppressive class."
"What use is a movement when all you do is kill, not rehabilitate? Everyone deserves a second chance, everyone deserves to see their mistake and learn from it." Winter added with a shaky voice, eyes still focused on the whimpering noble woman.
"Agreed," Petel added, nodding his head, causing Claudia to raise a brow. "We've already shown the mistakes; now the rehabilitation must come next," Petel said, unbuckling his belt, dropping his leather strides.
"We've no time for that." Claudia nonchalantly added. "We have a lot to do."
"What makes you guys think that I support this? Support any of this? Why did you even bring me here? Why do you think that I would see your point of view? All I wanted was to take down Feledil..." Winter sighed, asking a barrage of questions.
His two allies have gone silent, eyes glaring at his back.
"Just because I was almost killed by a single noble doesn't mean I hate every single one of them. The only reason I stuck around was that I wanted to pay my debts."
"Winter, you don't mean that," Claudia said, anxiously chuckling. "This was probably too fast for you. We shouldn't have brought you on this mission."
Winter then picked up the injured and battered noble woman. "I'll tend to her wounds downstairs. I'll talk to you guys later."
Petel clicked his tongue and glared. "There is no middle ground. You're in a warzone, and mercy can kill." He said, voice rough and filled with scorn. "Remember, that kid stabbed you earlier? Even if it didn't do shit, he still tried to kill you." He buckled his pants.
Claudia relaxed her face, but it was still tense. "You planning to leave? Not possible at this point. We're in a war. There will be no half-measures unless you want the enemy to win."
Claudia insisted, trying to convince Winter, her voice was full of genuine worry. "The nobles and their sickening opulence, their selfishness, and their callous natures will be the end of all countries if they're not put in their place."
"Which is exactly six feet under," Petel added with brutal candor.
"I get it. You want mercy. I want that too, even if these nobles won't reciprocate it." Claudia stepped forward and grabbed Winter's shoulders, offering a reassuring touch as if he understood his current conflicts and was there to solve them.
"I won't become a murderer," Winter added.
Claudia then faced Winter, beaming a warm smile with a dried blood splatter on her face.
"You won't. You're also not the only reluctant person in our movement; there are plenty of people like you. You're still useful, you're still needed."
◆ [ Petel Stenenem's opinion of you has reached a dangerously critical low. ] ◆
Winter sighed, almost buying into her words. "You say that, but why is Petel currently creeping up on me with a dagger in his hand?" He said as Petel was about to stab him.
"Argh!" Petel roared in attack, but Winter swiftly dodged it. He then quickly dropped the noble woman and counterattacked. However, his counterpunch was intercepted by Claudia's slap, who then attempted a leg sweep.
Winter jumped just in time, but Petel slammed him with the giant shield. He was struck in the abdomen and was then sent flying, crashing against a clothing wardrobe.
"Winter, it doesn't have to be this way," Claudia said, cracking her knuckles.
"Enrage."
Winter said, letting out an explosive aura. It was the first time that his two former allies had seen this technique. It was overwhelming, causing them to second-guess the confrontation.
"Minor strength. Minor speed."
Both Claudia and Petel activated the same technique combination. However, Winter passed through them with relative ease, almost instantly appearing behind the two. "What!?" They both exclaimed in surprise.
"Just to let you know, I was starting to have a crush on you, Claudia," Winter said and heavily kicked their chest, knocking their air out of them as they both collapsed to the smooth wooden floor.
The injured noblewoman was surprised but said nothing.
◆ [ Claudia Osser's opinion of you has reached a dangerously critical low. ] ◆
"Y-you! Traitorous counterrevolutionary! A dissident! We welcomed you with open arms and yet you side with the crumbling status quo!?" Claudia said, wheezing and often cutting her words short.
"You two were trying to kill me." Winter sighed and picked up the injured woman. He turned to the two gagged children but then looked away. They were already long dead. The sole survivor of this small noble family was the noble daughter on his arms.
Claudia wheezed, trying to stand up. "We were trying to restrain you, prevent you from making a mistake." She said, vomiting out the wine she had consumed earlier.
Winter rolled his eyes and sighed, heading downstairs. "Then what? You already know my reservations about taking killing. Would you really let me go after what I've known?"
"They'll go after you. They'll deem you a traitor!" Claudia shouted, trying to move her body, but was unable to. That devastating punch in the chest sapped away all her strength; she didn't expect that kind of power.
...
...
...
Winter was now very far from the house and his two former allies. Before he ran away, he made sure to kill the horses to prevent any fast chase.
The revolutionaries from the guardhouse, surprised by his killing the horses, tried to stop him and then pursued him.
However, Winter was swift, periodically activating a technique to enhance his speed. They eventually gave up.
Winter then tended to the injured noble woman's injuries, providing basic first aid. He wrapped her in makeshift bandages made out of her already tattered dress. Aside from that, there really wasn't much that he could do.
The noble woman was still bruised, in pain, and mentally shattered. He let out a loud sigh as he thought of what would've happened to her if he hadn't intervened in time. He re-assessed her injuries, then sighed.
Even if her injuries were treated, she still couldn't walk since both of her feet and legs were repeatedly stabbed. As of right now, she was effectively limp. Her arms were repeatedly stomped, most likely broken.
"Even if I level up right now. The techniques that I'll get are most likely combat-based, nothing about support or healing..." Winter said, clicking his tongue.
"Only one option left..." Winter muttered and produced a vial containing white dust. It was the drug, Dusty, from Claudia. Earlier, during the fight. When she punched her chest, this vial came out flying and landed on his leather armor's neck collar.
Winter opened the vial and sprinkled a small amount of dust straight to the noble woman's nose. The noble woman jittered as she weakly darted her eyes towards Winter.
"She's in a massive amount of pain, and I don't have anything to treat her injuries properly; she'd succumb to the shock if left alone." Winter mulled.
"At least, she won't be quaking in pain when she's high." He sighed and looked around. He was in the middle of the forest. If it weren't for eyes adjusted adequately for night vision, he'd be panicking right now.
"This drug should buy me some time..."
...
...
...
The sun was rising, offering a clearer, brighter view of the forest. Winter looked up at the sky and gazed at the serene forest. It was beautiful. He couldn't help but always admire the scenery, even in dire situations.
However, the allure of the scenery quickly faded. He had a patient to tend to. The beauty of this world, while still worth admiring, slowly lost its taste.
Before, he'd gaze at this quaint forest scenery, breathing the fresh air. Now? It was another picture, only worth stopping for, but nothing more.
"I am starting not to like this world anymore..."
In his hands were various herbs and other useful flowers. Petel taught him several techniques and recipes, even allowing him to borrow his spare mortar and pestle. Winter then took out the borrowed tools and began creating a suitable herb.
The noble woman winced and started to hitch her breathing again. He then gave her another sprinkle of the vial, the white dust entering her damaged nose. After a few seconds, the noble woman slipped into a blissful trance.
He then made a small fire and skinned the squirrels that he hunted earlier. They were small, probably not even fulfilling, but it was better than nothing. Claudia taught her how to survive in the forest and wilderness.
He stopped for a moment, feeling a pang in his heart as she recalled her lessons. "What a damned shame..." He continued skinning and cleaning the squirrels.
"Almost there..." He said, trying to remember the exact recipe and simple procedure for making the helpful herb.
"Ack..?" A groan from behind the bushes. It was a bunch of goblins, armed with simple, sturdy sticks and branches. There were about eight of them.
The goblins smiled as they saw their prime target, an injured woman. They then slowly encircled Winter, who almost paid them no mind, continuing to prepare the meal and herbs.
The goblins screamed and shouted, already assured of their victory.
Winter sighed and covered his nose, sneering in disgust. "All of you smell like ass, damn."