Chapter 136: Searching for Traps
Kael froze completely.
H-how did she know?
How?
He could not make sense of her knowledge at all. Did that mean Arwyn had not been lying all this time? Had she perhaps really been telling the truth? But how could she have heard any of his conversation from the living room?
Even Seraphina, who had sharper senses than anyone, was not able to hear a single word from him despite being outside the room. So how could Arwyn have heard everything so clearly? It should not have been possible.
Unless she had some kind of ability that allowed her to hear from afar.
Kael had already seen her use two different types of magic with the same element. One was a strange kind of healing magic that he had never encountered or even heard of before, and the other was the way she used those green tendrils, controlling them like her own hands whenever she pleased.
So it would not be too surprising if she possessed another hidden ability, one that let her extend her hearing or her senses across distance.
Then suddenly, a memory surfaced in his mind. It was a moment ago when Seraphina dragged him into Arwyn's mansion. When the gate opened, Seraphina had spoken to the tendrils in a smug tone, as if she were speaking to someone living and conscious.
At that time, he thought she was joking or simply mocking Arwyn's strange habits. But after what Arwyn had just asked him, everything made far more sense. Seraphina must have been communicating through those tendrils or perhaps through something else, which meant Arwyn truly did have an ability to hear and sense from afar.
And now that he recalled it properly, before interrogating Darian, he had heard something... a small noise, something falling perhaps, and he had not thought much of it then. But now he was certain that something had been listening to him.
As it turned out, he had completely underestimated one of the Lieutenants of the Knight Order. He had every reason to, since there was almost no useful information about her anywhere. She was mostly known for her looks and her bold, wild attitude, not for her strength or her magical capabilities. In fact, he had never heard her name mentioned for any significant achievement that might have reached public attention. Most of the time, she stayed quiet and acted foolish, behaving as if she did not care about anything at all. Yet despite all that, she was not someone to be taken lightly.
"Damn it… I should have realized something like this much sooner. Of course she has been hiding her abilities so that she could use them when the time comes. That is exactly why Seraphina never questioned her about her false story and walked away so calmly," he thought, gritting his teeth. "Stay calm, you idiot. Do not panic. Just try to convince her somehow. You have to."
Feeling the warmth of her breath brushing against his ear, the nearness of her presence pressing slightly closer than he would have liked, Kael lowered his voice and whispered, "What do you mean, Arwyn?"
Arwyn stared at him for a moment, her eyes narrowing as if lost in thought, then she finally murmured, "It is nothing… I am just teasing you."
Kael's eyes widened slightly, and his lips parted. "W-what?"
Her eyes gleamed with cold amusement as she leaned forward just a little and replied, "If I am not wrong, then you must have some kind of ability that allows you to see through someone's hidden self or perhaps to sense truth and lies. That is how you figured out that Emy was the culprit, is it not?"
Kael took a deep breath, frowning slightly as her words struck too close to reality. He wanted to ask her something, but before he could say anything, she suddenly leaned away, turning on her heel.
Her long ponytail swayed gently, brushing against the air and almost against his face, but he instinctively stepped back a little.
Even so, the end of it still brushed across his cheek, leaving a soft warmth and a ticklish sensation that turned his cheeks slightly pink.
'This… this insane woman, what does she actually want from me?' he thought, forcing himself to calm down.
He quickly regained his composure and asked, "Are you not curious to know more?"
Arwyn paused mid-step and waved her hand casually without looking back. "I am not. You clearly want to keep it a secret, right? So by all means, keep it. I have no reason to tell anyone."
Then she turned her head slightly, and her lips curved into a strange, knowing smile. "After all, some things are better kept secret than spoken aloud."
At that moment, Seraphina, who had been walking ahead, suddenly stopped and turned toward them, her cold expression faintly touched with impatience. "What are you two doing back there?"
Arwyn raised her hand and called out with exaggerated cheer, "Coming, dear friend. Just wait for me a little, I am dying to give you a big, warm hug."
Seraphina gave her a long, disapproving look before muttering, "No need."
Then she turned away, continuing forward without waiting. Arwyn laughed lightly and hurried after her.
Behind them...
"Good guess, Arwyn," Kael thought, touching his chin thoughtfully. "Even though she only heard the same words Emy did, she still managed to piece together that much. And on top of that, she understood that some truths are better left unsaid. That is truly praiseworthy."
With that thought, he slipped his hands into his pockets and began walking again, his pace slow and steady as the dim light fell across his figure.
She was right. Whether it was about one's abilities or one's past, certain things were better hidden. Each of them was carrying their own secrets, their own burdens that no one else could see or understand.
"You have caught my interest, Arwyn," he thought quietly as a smile crossed his lips. "I truly want to know more about you."
---
Some time later, the three of them arrived in front of a small jungle filled with tall willow trees whose trunks were as thick as a healthy man's torso, their long slender leaves hanging down like a quiet waterfall that shimmered faintly under the moonlight.
But to call it a jungle was perhaps an exaggeration. It was more like a cluster of trees grown too close together, and if not for its size, no one would have considered it anything more than a grove.
And since it was situated within the town's boundary, the chance of encountering monsters was supposed to be none at all, although considering Kael's recent streak of luck, that assumption felt rather unreliable even to himself.
As the three of them stood there, Arwyn's gaze lingered on the shadowed outline of the trees before she frowned slightly and asked in a low voice, "Is that the same jungle Emy was talking about?"
Seraphina sighed quietly, "Yes, it looks exactly like she described. Although I would not really call that a description to begin with. But still, this is the place, I am certain of it. It even looks like the perfect hideout for a group of kidnappers."
Her words hung in the air for a moment. None of them spoke. Only the soft sound of the wind brushing through the willows filled the silence.
Eventually, standing between them, Kael shifted slightly and looked at the two of them with a thoughtful expression before asking, "So what do we do now? Should we enter the jungle and try to find the house?"
Seraphina turned to him and gave him a long stare, her eyes narrowing, "Are you stupid or what?"
Kael tilted his head a little, his eyebrow lifting as he said, "What does that have to do with going into the jungle anyway?"
Seraphina's brows twitched with mild irritation, "Everything, you fool. If this place really was the kidnappers' original hideout, then it is very likely to be filled with traps or worse, something that moves in the dark. But who am I even trying to convince at this point."
Kael let out a small sigh, shaking his head slightly before muttering, "I get it, I get it. You do not have to insult me every time, you know."
Seraphina turned her head slightly toward him, her expression cold but calm, "You deserve every bit of it, Kael. Whether you accept it or not does not change that."
Kael's eyes shifted downward for a moment before he muttered under his breath, "Tch. Whatever. Since Captain here decided to reject my perfectly reasonable plan of going straight ahead, what do you suggest we do now? Stand here and wait until someone conveniently comes out and greets us? Maybe in a month or two, if luck decides to be generous for once?"
Before he could continue, Seraphina gave him another sharp look and suddenly punched him lightly on the shoulder. "Stop running your mouth with those ridiculous guesses, Kael. You should know I am not the kind of fool who hesitates just because of a few traps."
Kael glanced away quickly, murmuring to himself, "Looks like one to me."
Still, deep down he was relieved that she had only hit his shoulder and not his face, since that would have been far more humiliating. Although even this small punch hurt more than he would ever admit.
Seraphina frowned, "What did you just say?"
Kael immediately raised his head and looked up at the night sky as if he had heard nothing at all, "Um, nothing important. I was just wondering what your grand plan is."
Her gaze lingered on him for a long moment before she turned toward the jungle again, her expression hardening under the moonlight. "We are going to search every inch of it. That is the only way to avoid getting caught in any traps."
Kael stared at her in disbelief, his mouth half open before he blinked several times and shook his head slowly, "Search every part of this jungle? You are kidding, right? Please tell me that was a joke, Captain, because if it was not, then maybe we should really consider my plan instead."
Ignoring his words completely, Seraphina spoke in a cold voice that made him instantly regret opening his mouth, "Oh, I must have said something wrong just now."
Kael frowned, "W-what?"
Seraphina glanced at him with a dark smile that carried more amusement than warmth, "It is not 'we', Kael. It is Arwyn. She is the one who will search every part of this jungle for us."
The moment those words left her lips, Arwyn's shoulders stiffened slightly while Kael's expression froze in complete disbelief. He understood what Seraphina had been planning from the very beginning.
The reason she insisted on bringing Arwyn along was not simply for company or protection. It was because she intended to use her. He could already picture it clearly.
Most likely, Seraphina wanted Arwyn to send her tendrils through the ground and the branches to test or destroy the traps before they could walk into them. It was an efficient plan, even clever, since traps were usually triggered by pressure or sudden impact, not necessarily by human contact, and Arwyn's tendrils could act just like human limbs when needed. If she applied enough force, they would work perfectly against whatever dangers lay ahead.
Turning her head slowly toward Arwyn, Seraphina's voice came out calm and quiet, "Do your job, Arwyn."
Arwyn let out a slow breath, a small gentle smile crossing her lips before she stepped forward without a word. She stopped at the edge of the grassy ground and knelt down carefully, placing one hand on the cool soil.
As her eyelids lowered, the silence deepened around them until only the sound of the soft night wind and the whisper of the falling willow leaves filled the air, as if the forest itself was holding its breath.
Crossing his arms together, Kael stayed behind Arwyn and beside Seraphina, both of them staying quiet the entire time, but his eyes remained fixed on Arwyn as if trying to understand the strange precision in her movements.
He had no idea how she was able to perceive certain paths for her tendrils to move throughout the jungle. It would not surprise him if she were simply following them blindly, relying on instinct to destroy the traps scattered around, but something told him that was not the case. Considering how she could sense or hear things from a distance just by using her ability, it was entirely possible that she was doing something similar right now to locate the safest route ahead.
...After a few moments of silence, Arwyn's shoulders stiffened slightly, and she swayed forward as though something invisible had pulled the strength from her.
She managed to catch herself with her hands and drew a few deep breaths that sounded heavier than usual, the kind one lets out when exhaustion starts to sink too deeply. She shook her head as if to clear the dizziness, then stood up again and walked toward them. Her gaze moved between Kael and Seraphina, quiet and unreadable.
Seraphina took a calm step forward, her voice steady and cold, "Did you spot any traps?"
Arwyn shook her head slowly, her expression drawn and weary. "No. I searched the jungle as thoroughly as possible, but there isn't a single trap inside it. Not even a single monster either. Everything appears far too normal."
Seraphina studied her face closely for a few seconds, as though trying to see beyond the words. "That's a bit concerning. What about the house?"
Arwyn turned and pointed deeper into the cluster of trees. "It's right in the middle of the jungle."
Seraphina glanced at the direction she pointed and tilted her head ever so slightly. "Did you search it?"
Arwyn gave a slow shake of her head once again. "No. I decided not to. Firstly, because it was beyond my range of perception, so even if I wanted to, I wouldn't be able to reach it in the first place. And secondly, because I already found nothing else within the area, so pushing further would've been meaningless."
Seraphina's lips curved slightly as she replied, "Good choices."
Kael watched the exchange for a moment, then leaned slightly forward, his tone casual but curious. "So, why is nothing inside considered concerning? You didn't explain that part, Captain."
Of course, he already had some idea about it, but there was no harm in asking. Questions made him look alert and engaged, and that was exactly what he wanted. The Kael they knew was not supposed to have much knowledge beyond what the knights shared, so it was better to keep up that impression while still appearing thoughtful.
Seraphina exhaled softly, but before she could answer, Arwyn's quiet voice filled the air instead. "Because the kidnappers want to lure us into that house. That's the reason there are no traps, no monsters, no guards, nothing at all. It's meant to pull us in."
Kael blinked at her, his face empty of expression. "Right? But isn't it also possible that the kidnappers used the house only as a temporary hideout and already moved Arienne somewhere else?"
Seraphina let out a short, humorless chuckle. "That might've been possible if Emy hadn't regained her senses at that moment."
Kael frowned slightly, confused. "What are you trying to say exactly?"
Seraphina turned her gaze toward the forest, her eyes dimming with something cold and unreadable. "It's quite simple really. There's another one of Queen's pawns currently in our custody. Unlike Emy, he never managed to break free from her mental attack. Instead, he's sinking deeper into madness with each passing hour. So tell me, why do you think Emy managed to regain her will while he didn't?"
Kael thought quietly for a moment before answering evenly, "Because Queen allowed her to?"
Seraphina did not respond, but Arwyn did, her tone soft and thoughtful. "Yes, something along those lines. Which means she wanted Emy to reveal everything about the kidnapping on purpose… just to draw us into that house."
Kael rubbed his chin lightly and gave a small shrug. "Ah, now I understand."
Arwyn gave him a slight nod as if confirming his thought.
Seraphina stepped ahead then, her tone low and steady. "Alright. If your questions are done, let's go pay them a visit and see exactly what kind of welcome they've prepared for us."
Without saying anything more, Kael followed behind them, matching their pace as the two women led the way through the narrow entrance of the jungle.
The two women walked ahead, their steps steady and their faces untouched by concern. That sort of fearlessness was to be expected from people like them.
Soon, they were moving through the jungle, surrounded by the willow trees whose slim, drooping branches brushed softly against their shoulders as they passed. The ground was uneven and covered with scattered roots. There was no clear path to follow, no footprints, no visible trails, nothing at all. Still, none of them bothered to move cautiously. They walked openly as if no amount of stealth would make a difference anymore.
After all, their enemies already knew they were coming, so there was no point in hiding. And with Arwyn guiding them, things had become far simpler than Kael had expected.
However, the deeper they went, the quieter the jungle became. The stillness wrapped around them in a strange calm that somehow made the silence feel heavier. The soft rustle of the leaves above sounded distant and hollow.
Kael could not help but feel a faint unease from the strange willow trees, their forms bending slightly as if they were watching. But he pushed the thought away quickly, and neither Seraphina nor Arwyn showed any sign of discomfort.
After a while, Seraphina finally broke the silence, her tone soft but clear. "How much farther?"
Walking ahead of her, Arwyn glanced back over her shoulder and replied, "Just a few meters ahead, I think… we're almost there."
Hearing that, Kael slowed his pace for a brief moment and looked behind him.
The sight that greeted him was only more trees, stretching endlessly into the dim light. He had already lost count of how long they had been walking, and above them the pale moon hung like a distant lamp that refused to help, simply following them without any purpose. If it truly wanted to be useful, it could at least shine a little brighter.
Shaking his head, Kael sighed quietly and quickened his pace, catching up to the two of them once again, walking a few steps behind with his usual ease.
The ground beneath his boots made a soft rustling sound, the only sign of movement in that stillness.
Then, it happened.
Something cut through the air, slicing it apart with a sharp whistling sound that made the hair on his neck rise.
Kael turned his head swiftly, his eyes scanning the dim surroundings, but at first there was nothing, no movement, no shadow, only that faint, unnatural sound echoing through the quiet air.
Suddenly, a brief glint appeared before his eyes, faint but unmistakable, and within a heartbeat, a long dark arrow shot out of nowhere, hovering just a mere centimeter away from his chest, ready to pierce straight through him.
Kael blinked once, staring at the arrow that almost seemed to shimmer midair, his expression frozen somewhere between disbelief and weary acceptance.
"Ah… can't these arrows at least announce their arrival beforehand?" he muttered under his breath, his voice carrying a strange mixture of exasperation and dry humor. "It's such a pain dealing with this kind of thing all of a sudden. And as a Kael, it's even worse. Let's see... will I be able to dodge it on time or not?"
He could, quite easily in fact.
But he wouldn't.
It wouldn't make sense for someone like Kael to move faster than both Seraphina's and Arwyn's senses could register. It would only raise unnecessary suspicion toward him, and even if he could excuse it later with some clever explanation about luck or instinct, it wouldn't really matter.
So instead, he braced himself quietly, waiting for the sharp pain that would follow.
And that was the moment when he felt two cold, piercing gazes aimed directly at him.
It seemed both women had been able to notice the arrow at the last moment.
---
(Chapter Ended)