Chapter 11: The Cry in the Night

"Don't overthink it. The Baron is in good health; there's no real danger," Emil said, reading the concern on Hutson's face.

"Then why all the secrecy?" Hutson asked, his brow furrowed.

Emil's expression darkened. "It's said that Simon of Behrad has contacted a mysterious sorcerer."

"A sorcerer?" Hutson's interest piqued. "They actually exist?"

"I've never seen one myself, but I have no doubt they do. Otherwise, the Baron wouldn't be this desperate to seek reinforcements."

He took a sip of wine before continuing. "The feud between the Baron and Simon's family is ancient—one that can never be resolved. But things took a turn for the worse recently. Simon's youngest son died in a horse race, and in his grief, he went mad, convinced that the Baron was behind it."

"The Baron is a Grand Knight—no ordinary man could ever threaten him. Simon must have realized this, which is why he sought out a sorcerer. But the price of such power? Who knows what he had to offer in return."

"When the Baron learned of this through his informants, he pushed for the marriage alliance with the Duke of Tulip. With the Duke's influence in play, even a sorcerer would think twice before acting against the Baron."

"As long as the Baron remains alive, the people of this land are safe."

Emil's gaze turned distant. "So tell me, how could I possibly be with Melissa? The Baron made it clear—we are not meant to be together. This marriage must succeed, and I had to leave to ensure that nothing interferes with it."

He sighed and looked at Hutson. "Do you know why I brought you here?" His voice carried the weight of something unspoken.

Hutson shook his head.

"If I hadn't, the Baron might have eliminated you."

Hutson's eyes narrowed.

"That day in the training grounds—you overheard my conversation with Melissa. The Baron is a ruthless man. Anyone who might endanger the alliance… he wouldn't hesitate to remove. The safest place for you is here, at the Pumpkin Farm, far from his reach."

"I see…" Hutson murmured. He hadn't expected the situation to be this dire.

"Does Melissa know any of this?" he asked.

Emil shook his head. "Not yet. Perhaps one day, she will."

"When is the wedding?"

Emil drained his cup, the firelight flickering in his tired eyes. "In a month. The Baron will personally escort Melissa to Limlu Province for the ceremony."

By custom, since Baron Buck's status was lower, the bride's family was responsible for delivering the bride to the groom's household. A wedding feast would be held at the castle before departure, a final farewell to her homeland.

The two drank deep into the night.

Outside, the wind howled, rattling the wooden shutters against the walls.

Then, amidst the wailing of the wind, another sound emerged.

A whispering sob.

Emil froze, his hand tightening around his cup. "That sound… does it not resemble someone crying?"

Hutson laughed, shaking his head. "You're drunk. Wind howls like that when it blows through narrow spaces."

"No," Emil said, his tone unusually serious. "Listen carefully."

Hutson hesitated, then focused on the sound beyond the walls.

The wind moaned… but beneath it…

A muffled, eerie wailing.

Hutson inhaled sharply. It was unmistakable. There was crying in the wind.

"Massimo warned us—no matter what we hear, we must not leave our rooms at night," Emil muttered, his face grim. "Perhaps the missing guards weren't killed by wild beasts after all."

"This place is cursed," Hutson agreed, suppressing a shiver. "We shouldn't act recklessly. Massimo has survived here for forty years. If staying inside is the key, then we follow his example."

Emil nodded. "Tomorrow, we'll investigate."

For now, they would not risk venturing into the night.

Hutson returned to his room. The wine warmed his body, and soon drowsiness took over.

Outside, the wind continued its mournful song.

And the crying never stopped.

Yet, as Massimo had said—so long as they did not step outside, nothing would happen.

Sunlight poured over the farm.

Hutson and Emil awoke unharmed.

The sky was clear, the air crisp with the scent of earth and frost.

Massimo lounged in a wooden chair, soaking in the morning sun, the very picture of ease.

Emil approached. "Massimo, did you hear any crying last night?"

The old man squinted. "What?"

Emil stepped closer, repeating his question.

"Crying?" Massimo mused. "You must mean the wind. I used to hear it when I was younger, but my ears were damaged long ago. Now I can barely hear you talking, let alone the wind."

Hutson exchanged a glance with Emil.

The Pumpkin Farm was surrounded by mountains. The source of the crying was impossible to pinpoint. There was only one way to uncover the truth.

"We'll search the area," Emil decided.

Hutson mounted his horse, scanning the land before them. In the distance, snow-capped peaks rose against the sky.

The crisp air filled his lungs, and for a moment, he felt free.

"Let's start with the north," Emil suggested, glancing at the map.

They rode toward the northern expanse, where the mountains loomed over a deep lake.

"This lake is unusual," Emil said as they arrived. "It only holds water in the winter. The rest of the year, it dries up completely."

Hutson frowned, staring at the still surface. "That's strange."

Kneeling at the edge, he peered into the water. A sudden dizziness washed over him.

"Something's not right."

He leaned closer, instincts screaming. There was something in the depths.

Then—

A pale face surfaced.

Neither male nor female. Empty sockets where eyes should be.

And then—

A whisper, crawling into his mind.

"Warning… Warning…"

"Unknown radiation energy detected! Effects: unknown!"

"Hutson! Wake up!"

A firm shake jolted Hutson from unconsciousness. He blinked rapidly, disoriented, finding Emil's face hovering over him, etched with deep concern.

"What... happened?" Hutson muttered, his voice thick with confusion.

"You collapsed by the lake," Emil said grimly. "I've been trying to wake you for ages."

"I... collapsed?" Hutson's memory was a blank slate. But then, a flash of an image seared through his mind— a pale face beneath the water, bloated and lifeless, as if it had been submerged for an eternity.

"There was someone down there!" Hutson said suddenly. "A body... I saw it at the bottom of the lake."

Emil didn't question him. Instead, his grip tightened around Hutson's arm, and he began pulling him back from the lake's edge.

"I looked too," Emil admitted, scanning the water warily. "But I saw nothing. That only makes it worse. If something in this place caused you to collapse, then we shouldn't be here. My instincts tell me this place is dangerous— far beyond our reach."

There was no hesitation in his voice, no reckless curiosity. Emil was a warrior, but he knew when to walk away from something beyond his control.

Hutson, however, wasn't done.

"Unknown radiation energy detected..."

The AI chip system text flickered before his eyes, cryptic yet undeniable. His mind raced, trying to grasp its meaning.

"Detected energy resonance with host's physique. Energy stored within body. Usage unknown. Insufficient data available."

"Spirit Power increased by 0.3."

Hutson's breath caught. His Spirit Power had changed.

It had never changed before.

Food, training, battle—all his efforts had only ever increased strength, agility, and endurance. Spirit Power had remained stagnant, an unyielding constant. Even Baron Buck, a Grand Knight, only had 1.3.

And yet now—his own had risen?

"Check body data."

[Hutson Merlin: Strength 2.0, Agility 1.6, Endurance 2.2, Spirit 1.5.]

He stared at the numbers, his thoughts churning.

Something from that lake had changed him. Something ancient. Something unknown.

And he had no idea what it meant.