COMPANION & CORRUPTION

Evening wind blew through the gaps between the buildings, carrying with it the scent of dust, wood smoke, and human sweat, all mixed into one. Behind the massive stone wall surrounding the city, the atmosphere was far from peaceful. Refugees filled every corner of the downside district, setting up makeshift tents along the roadside, while others sat leaning against building walls with blank stares.

The fortress's downside district was truly not a comfortable place to live.

Old buildings stood tightly crammed against one another, some having even lost portions of their roofs. Narrow alleyways were crowded with people passing back and forth, carrying whatever meager belongings they had. Street vendors shouted to advertise cheap food, children ran around amidst the crowd, while guards stood watch at several intersections to maintain order.

In one corner of the district, Ennis stood beneath an old building alongside Taffi.

Ennis had not said a word for a while now. Her hand was still clutching the parchment envelope given to her by the old man prior. Her gaze was fixed upon the text written on the surface of the envelope, while her mind attempted to piece together the information she had gathered.

The task written inside was far from simple.

The location was quite far from the city, and based on the clues provided, the place was not just a ordinary dungeon. There was something that made Ennis feel uneasy ever since she first read the contents of the letter.

She did not know what was waiting for her there.

However, her instincts told her that this time it was far more dangerous than the Guerezza.

"Milady? Are you alright?"

Taffi's voice made Ennis shift her gaze.

The little girl stood beside her, both of her hands gripping the hem of Ennis's clothes. Her face had looked a bit anxious ever since they left the place where the slaves were kept.

"Is Milady thinking about something?" Taffi asked again.

Ennis looked down at her. "Yes."

Taffi tilted her head. "Is it about that letter?"

Ennis nodded.

Taffi fell silent. "Is the task very, very difficult?" she whispered softly.

Ennis then squatted down so she was at eye level with her. "The task written inside the envelope is in a very dangerous location. So, I will give you two options."

Taffi looked closely into Ennis's golden eyes.

Ennis raised one finger. "First, you stay here and wait for my return," she said, before raising a second finger. "Second, you come with me."

"But if you choose to come, you must obey every single word that comes out of my mouth without question. When I say hide, you hide. When I say run, you run—no matter what happens to me. Understand?"

Taffi swallowed hard. "If Milady tells me to run... what about Milady?"

"I will follow behind."

"Really?"

Ennis paused for a moment. She did not want to make a promise she could not keep.

However, seeing the expectant look in Taffi's eyes, she finally answered.

"I will follow you because I am not going to die out there. Trust me, okay?"

Taffi fell silent. A few seconds passed without a sound.

She stared at Ennis, who was covered in bruises. The image of Ennis lying covered in blood in front of the gate was still so fresh in her memory. On the other hand, Taffi was self-aware enough to know she wasn't of much help with the task Ennis had received. Yet, she refused to be left behind—dying together with Ennis sounded far better than being left alone.

Without uttering a single word, Taffi stepped forward and wrapped her small arms tightly around Ennis's thigh. She hugged Ennis's leg tightly, resting her face against the rough fabric of the cloak, shaking her head vigorously.

"I want to come with Milady," Taffi whispered softly.

Ennis let out a sigh, her hand rising to stroke Taffi's short red hair. "Stubborn," she muttered, though a faint warmth bloomed in her chest.

"I can watch over the child while you defeat the enemy. If you'd like."

A man's voice suddenly called out from behind them in a casual tone, cutting through the moment between the two. Ennis instantly stood up straight, reflexively turning her body while pulling Taffi behind her back. Her eyes narrowed sharply.

A man strolled casually out of the narrow alley beside the building.

At first glance, his appearance resembled that of a wanderer rather than a soldier. He wore a dark, fitted tunic layered with a thick, dark blue leather vest that protected his chest down to his waist. Several metal fasteners and leather straps crossed the front of his vest, while a wide belt wrapped around his waist, serving as a place to hang several small pouches and gear.

He stopped a few meters away from Ennis.

Ennis glared at him. "Who are you?"

The man smiled. "Just someone who happened to overhear your conversation."

"And you like meddling in other people's business?"

"Not really."

He shrugged. "I'm just looking for someone to team up with."

Ennis's gaze narrowed further. "And why did you approach us?"

"Because you look like a strong person who is capable of killing monsters." The man then pointed his chin toward Taffi. "I can watch over the child while you go chop up those monsters. How about it? Sounds good?"

"I'll do it on one condition, though."

"What is it?" Ennis asked briefly, wanting no beatings around the bush.

"I want 50% of the mana shards from the monsters you kill," the man stated bluntly.

Ennis frowned. Mana shards were valuable resources that commanded high prices. Asking for half of the loot just for the task of watching over a child was a rather steep price.

However, Ennis remained silent for a moment to consider it.

Her gaze flicked toward Taffi, who was peeking fearfully from behind her cloak, and then returned to the man before her. Fighting while protecting Taffi, who possessed no combat abilities whatsoever, was a perfect way to send herself straight to her death. Sacrificing fifty percent of the loot to ensure Taffi's safety was a reasonable compromise.

Ennis's expression grew even more serious. Her eyes locked onto the man's gaze.

However, was this person actually trustworthy?

"Okay," Ennis said at last.

"But if things get worse, promise me you will get this kid to escape, no matter what happens. Her safety is the top priority, not the mana shards."

Of course, if this man ever tried to abandon Taffi...

Ennis herself would sever his head without hesitation.

The man chuckled, then crossed his arms over his chest. "Don't worry. When you're in danger, I'm in the exact same boat. And frankly speaking—you're lucky, Lady. I'm exceptionally good at escaping."

Ennis merely stared back at him blankly.

The man then turned around and gave a casual wave with one hand.

"Alright, I'll see you near the entrance. Don't be late, Lady."

***

Half an hour passed since the agreement was reached.

Ennis and Taffi arrived at the city's northeast gate, where the man was waiting for them.

"Alright ladies, follow me," the man said, gesturing with his chin toward the outside.

The sun tilted toward the horizon, painting the sky with streaks of orange. The atmosphere around the gate was quieter compared to the downside district they had left behind. A few carriages passed in and out of the city, while guards stood at the sides of the gate with spears resting on their shoulders, occasionally inspecting those who passed by.

The man hummed a small tune, showing no signs of anxiety whatsoever.

Ennis walked a few steps behind him, while Taffi remained at her side. The little girl gripped the end of Ennis's cloak, her eyes occasionally flicking toward the wandering man in front of them. "Milady," Taffi whispered.

"What?"

"Can he really be trusted?"

Ennis glanced at the man.

He was still strolling casually with both hands behind his head.

"I don't know either," Ennis replied. "But don't trust anyone, Taffi."

"Okay, Milady. Besides, that guy also looks ... unreliable."

The man turned his head without breaking his stride. "I can hear you, you know."

Taffi immediately hid behind Ennis's arm.

Ennis merely raised an eyebrow. "Good. That means your hearing works fine."

The man chuckled. "You're starting to make me like you, Lady."

"I didn't ask you to like me."

"What a shame."

They continued walking past the gate.

Once outside the city, the cobbled road turned into a dirt path stretching toward the forest area in the northeast. The trees grew denser as they distanced themselves from the fortress. The sounds of city life gradually faded, replaced by the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves stirred by the wind.

The journey proceeded without much conversation.

The wandering man occasionally returned to humming his tune.

Finally, the man stopped at a small intersection.

"Almost there."

Ennis raised her gaze. "How far?"

"A few minutes."

That brief answer caused Ennis to simply nod.

They resumed their journey, venturing deeper into the forest. The path became increasingly narrow and unmaintained. Tree roots jutted out from the ground, while wild bushes grew on both sides of the path.

A few minutes later, a small clearing became visible among the trees.

Two horse-drawn carriages stood parked there. The horses pulling them were grazing peacefully, while several crates and travel equipment were stacked at the back of each carriage.

Ennis slowed her pace. Something felt off.

A familiar sound echoed from above the trees.

SWOOT! SWOOT! SWOOT!

Flashes of silver shot down rapidly, cleaving the air.

Three arrows sped forward, targeted directly at them.

Ennis reacted instantly.

Her hand pushed down on Taffi's shoulder, forcing the little girl to duck to the ground while her own body dodged aside. The three arrows whizzed past them and embedded themselves deep into the ground, just a few inches from the tips of Ennis's boots.

"Hey Nousa! Are you trying to kill me, hah?!" the wandering man shouted.

Instead of panicking, he stood there dusting off the dirt on his vest with his hands on his hips, staring up at the tree branch with a furious expression. He looked down at the arrows stuck in the dirt with a flat face. "... You really are annoying."

A sigh echoed from above the trees, followed by the rustling of fabric and leaves. The archer figure then leaped down lightly, landing smoothly on the ground. A teenage girl stood tall before them, her back against the sunlight filtering through the gaps in the trees.

Her silver hair with reddish streaks was tied high, several strands swaying with the wind. She wore leather attire, complete with shoulder, arm, and chest guards. She held a bow in her hand, while arrows were stored neatly in a quiver tied to her waist. Her face was beautiful, but the cold expression adorning it made her seem difficult to approach.

"You're late," Nousa stated in a cold tone.

Behind the girl, a young boy emerged, peeking shyly. His age appeared to be similar to Taffi's, with a innocent expression that stood in stark contrast to the hostile aura of the teenage girl. A few resemblances on both their faces made Ennis immediately realize that they were siblings.

The man grunted, then stepped forward. "Thank goodness I'm still alive this time."

Nousa merely stared at him expressionlessly.

The man then let out a long sigh before turning back and waving his hand toward Ennis. "Come over here, you two," he called out casually.

Ennis stepped forward, bringing along Taffi, who remained at her side.

"Nousa, meet Ennis, a swordswoman," the man introduced.

"She'll be joining us" he added.

Nousa glanced at Ennis from head to toe. Her gaze lingered for a moment on the sword hanging at Ennis's waist. "Are you sure she's worthy?"

"How rude," the man scoffed casually, chuckling while waving his hand in the air. "You know yourself that lately not many people are brave enough—or crazy enough—to enter a dungeon. I was lucky to find them."

Nousa did not reply to the joke. With a flat expression, she turned her body around without a single word. Her steps then carried her toward one of the horse carriages to inspect and tidy up the cargo.

Seeing his sister's rather harsh departure, the boy who had been hiding earlier slowly stepped out. He bowed his body somewhat deeply in front of Ennis and Taffi, trying hard to show politeness. "Sorry about my sister's behavior," the boy squeaked, his voice sounding soft and slightly hesitant.

He then offered a friendly smile. "Glad you joined us. I'm Reus."

Seeing Reus's politeness, the tension in Ennis's shoulders eased slightly. She looked down at the boy, then gave a faint nod. "I'm Ennis," she answered briefly, no longer as cold as before. She then shifted her body slightly to the side, revealing Taffi, who was still peeking hesitantly. "And this is Taffi."

Taffi blinked, looking at Reus, who was the same age as her.

There was a hint of awkwardness radiating from both children, but Reus's friendly demeanor caused Taffi to slowly exhale in relief and return Reus's small wave with a nod. "H-hello...?" she greeted awkwardly.

"Nice to meet you too, Taffi!" Reus greeted with a bright smile.

The wandering man then clapped his hands loudly, breaking up the introduction moment. "Alright! Since everyone knows each other now and there are no further objections, we had better hurry up before the sun sets."

Nousa, who was inspecting one of the crates, merely grunted.

They split into two separate carriages. Ennis, Taffi, and the wandering man boarded one carriage, while Nousa and Reus boarded the other.

Ennis helped Taffi climb into the cabin before she herself leaped up and sat at the doorway. Meanwhile, the man took hold of the reins in the driver's seat at the front. A few moments later, the whip cracked.

"Off we go!" the man shouted.

Both horse-drawn carriages moved slowly, their wooden wheels jolting over the dirt road filled with roots and stones. Before them stretched a vast forest heading northeast. And far beyond those trees, hidden away, was the dungeon that would be the destination of their journey.

***

The forest grew darker as the sun slowly drifted toward the horizon. The carriage wheels continued to clatter along the uneven dirt road, jolting hard every so often whenever they struck a tree root or a stone jutting from the ground.

Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was far quieter than it had been a few hours earlier.

Taffi sat on one side of the cabin, her small body resting against the wooden wall. The girl looked exhausted after the long journey, her hands tightly clutching a small bag of her own. Occasionally, she peeked outside through a gap in the curtain, watching the trees race backward along the path.

Ennis sat not far from her.

Ever since their departure, she had barely spoken a word. More often than not, her gaze was fixed outside the window beside the cabin, observing the changing terrain and the route they traversed. Now and then, her hand brushed against the hilt of the sword at her waist—an ingrained habit to ensure her vigilance never wavered.

At the front of the carriage, the wandering man held the reins with one hand. The breeze blowing from up ahead blew his slightly long hair into a minor mess. Looking at him closely, he was actually quite handsome. He glanced back a few times, as if feeling that the atmosphere inside the cabin was a bit too quiet.

Finally, he let out a sigh.

"Hey."

Ennis shifted her gaze.

The man kept his eyes on the road ahead. "About earlier, I'm sorry for what she did. That's just how she is. She didn't mean to actually attack you guys."

the man did not seem quite finished talking.

"Truth be told, this is our third time taking the test, And we failed twice."

Taffi, who had been quiet until now, looked up as well. "Why is that?"

The man smiled bitterly. "Because we weren't good enough."

Nousa, who was in the other carriage, could not possibly hear the conversation from such a distance. The man then continued in a more relaxed tone. "Our main goal is actually pretty simple. We want to reach the capital. As simple as that."

The man sighed continue. “unlike before, we can no longer enter the capital freely. To get in there now, you either have to be part of the nobility or someone important."

Ennis furrowed her brow even deeper. As far as she knew, people were free to travel from town to town without any significant hindrance.

Prompted by curiosity, Ennis asked, "Why is that?"

The man shot her a quick glance. "You really don't know?"

"No."

The man looked slightly surprised. "Did you just come out of a cave?" he joked.

Ennis offered no further explanation. She simply waited for an answer.

The man finally exhaled a long breath. "Well ... it all started with what happened a while back."

The man's gaze gradually shifted. His relaxed smile vanished. "Corruption."

"Back then, border officers let untested citizens slip through and enter inside without any inspection. And that was where the chaos began."

***

The man's memory brought them back to some time ago.

A modest house stood in the middle of a bustling settlement.

From the outside, there was not a single sign that something horrific was about to happen.

The sound of townsfolk chatting echoed from the street, a few vendors were still busy calling out their goods, while children ran between houses, laughing as they played. From an open window, the aroma of a warm meal wafted through the air.

Inside one of the houses, a man sat in the dining room with his family. A steaming bowl of food still sat before him. Just moments ago, he had been chatting with his child, until his body suddenly went rigid.

"Grahhh ...!"

The spoon slipped from his hand and clattered onto the floor. The man clutched his own neck tightly.

"Arghhh!"

"F-Father?"

The young boy sitting across from him immediately stood up. His face turned anxious upon seeing his father fall from his chair. "Father, what's wrong?" he asked.

The man did not answer, though his eyes remained wide open, staring at him.

Instead, his fingers dug even harder into his own neck until his nails pressed deep into the skin. Black veins began to emerge from under his skin, spreading rapidly from his neck toward his jaw and face like fast-growing roots.

"A-ahgg ... i-it hurts ...," the man's voice sounded raspy and broken.

The child took a step back. "Father … are u okay?"

The man's body suddenly contorted unnaturally.

Krek... krek...

The sound of shifting bones echoed clearly inside the room.

The skin along his neck and face gradually turned black. Its surface hardened and began to grow rough, dark scales. His eyes turned blood-red, while his pupils shriveled into thin slits. His neck then jerked awkwardly from side to side.

"F-Father... what's happening to you?"

The boy kept backing away until his back hit the wall.

The man slowly raised his head.

However, the warm gaze the child had always known was completely gone. All that remained was a hollow stare filled with madness and an impulse to kill.

"GRRAAAAH!"

He lunged forward instead of answering the child's question.

"A-AARGHH!"

The boy's scream echoed throughout the entire house.

A violent crash immediately followed, causing the walls of the house to tremble. A chair flipped over, followed by the sound of shattering objects and the faint screams of a young child echoing from behind the door.

Not far from there, a woman who was hanging up laundry instantly stopped what she was doing. Her hand was still clutching the edge of a cloth as she turned toward the house with a confused expression. "What's going on?"

She stepped off the porch, intending to check on her neighbor. But after taking only two steps, another scream suddenly rang out from the house next door.

"AAAAAAH!"

The woman froze. The sound lasted for only a few seconds before turning into the noise of objects being smashed, shrieks, and animalistic growls.

"What on earth ...?"

Then a third scream echoed.

Then a fourth scream.

A fifth.

A sixth.

Within seconds, the sounds erupted from all directions of the settlement, overlapping from house to house until they formed a deafening chaos. Doors were violently kicked open.

"There's a monster!" A man ran out while carrying his young daughter.

"Help! Help me!" A mother dragged her two children out of their house, while her husband followed behind carrying an axe.

"What is actually happening?!" someone shouted.

"They're infected!"

"Who?!"

"The people next door! They're turning into monsters!"

Those words acted like a trigger for the rest of the citizens, causing people to scatter into the streets in utter panic. Some carried valuable belongings, while others ran barefoot. Some parents desperately tried to carry their children, while younger ones helped family members who couldn't run.

However, not a single person truly knew where to run to save themselves. The main street that had once been filled with daily life had now turned into a sea of people moving aimlessly. People collided with one another, dropped belongings littered the ground, and the cries of children mixed with screams of terror.

"Run to the gate!"

"Don't go there! There are infected over there!"

"Get inside the houses!"

"Don't go inside, they can smash through concrete walls!"

"Guards! Call the guards!"

A woman ran down the street, constantly looking back over her shoulder. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her hair was disheveled, and one of her sandals had been lost somewhere along the way. Her face was overcome with terror, while both of her hands trembled violently.

"Help me!"

She nearly crashed into a man who was fleeing for his life.

"Please help—!"

A shadow suddenly leaped out from a narrow alley beside her.

BRAK!

The woman's body was slammed onto the ground. Her back hit the hard cobblestone so forcefully that her breath was knocked out instantly. She tried to get up, but both of her hands trembled violently when something came to a stand directly in front of her.

"Aaagh!"

A man—or at least, something that used to be a man.

His body had undergone a horrific transformation. Black veins spread along his neck, chest, down to both of his arms. His skin hardened into a layer of dark scales. His nails lengthened into sharp talons, while his eyes turned deep crimson without a trace of consciousness remaining.

"P-Please ...."

The woman crawled backward using her hands. Tears welled up in her eyes.

"Please help me ...."

The monster lowered its head. Its jaw opened wide, revealing rows of teeth that had transformed into fangs. "Grrrrr ...," a low growl escaped its throat. The monster bent its legs, then lunged directly toward her.

"AAAAAH!"

The woman closed her eyes tightly and raised both hands to shield her face. Her body curled into a ball at the corner of the street, as if hiding behind her arms could somehow spare her from the death about to claim her.

She could no longer even hear the surrounding chaos clearly.

Only one thought remained in her mind—she was going to die. But—

SLASH!

The sound of a blade slicing through the air rang out right beside her.

The woman gasped. Her body went rigid, but no claws tore through her flesh. The pain she had braced for never arrived. Instead, something warm splattered across her face. She slowly lowered her hands. Her eyes widened.

Am I still ... alive? she asked herself.

A soldier stood directly before her, his back turned to her. The man's body acted as a wall between her and the monster. A sword was raised in his right hand, while the tip of the blade still dripped with dark red liquid.

A few meters ahead of them, the monster that was about to pounce on her lay motionless. Its body hit the pavement, making a heavy thud that was nearly drowned out by the surrounding pandemonium. Blood from the monster trickled along the soldier's blade, dripping drop by drop onto the ground.

Drip.

Drip.

Some blood still clung to the soldier's face, wetting his cheek, forehead, and part of his hair. Yet the man seemed not to care in the slightest.

He merely turned his head slightly. "Are you injured?"

The woman opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Her gaze was locked onto the man's face. Just seconds ago, she was certain she was going to die.

"I-I'm …," her voice trembled.

The soldier briefly sheathed his sword, then extended a hand toward her.

"It's alright. Get up, Lady."

The woman stared at the outstretched hand before finally grasping it. The soldier pulled her up and ensured she could stand on her own feet.

"Can you walk?"

The woman nodded rapidly.

"Y-Yes ...."

"Then get away from here immediately. Don't stop in the streets."

The woman nodded once more. She hadn't even had the chance to utter her thanks when a roaring growl echoed from behind them.

"GRRAAAAH!"

The soldier turned around instantly. Two monster figures broke through the crowd of panicked citizens. One of them crashed into a cart, flipping it over, while the other pounced on a citizen who had fallen onto the road.

"Oh god ....," the woman backed away in terror.

The soldier immediately drew his sword once more. "EVERYONE, GET BACK!"

Several other soldiers came sprinting from the end of the street after hearing their comrade's shout. They swiftly formed a line, raising their shields and spears to block the two monsters.

"Hold them off!"

"Don't let a single one get through!"

Both monsters lunged simultaneously.

CLANG! Claws slammed into a soldier's shield, forcing the man back a few paces. Another soldier immediately thrust his spear from the side.

CHRAK!

The spearhead pierced through the monster's body. The beast roared and thrashed wildly, but a swift slash followed from another direction. Its body finally collapsed.

"The other one!"

"On the right!"

The soldiers quickly surrounded the second monster. The clashing of metal, the roars of the monster, and the screams of the citizens blurred together into one. For a brief moment, the woman thought things were coming under control. But then—

"I-I ...."

A faint voice drifted from the middle of the crowd.

A man suddenly collapsed while clutching his arm.

"What ...?"

He gasped for air. "Why does my body feel so hot ...?"

The soldier nearest to him turned around immediately. "Don't move!"

The man tried to stand, but his knees buckled once more. "Something is wrong ...."

The soldier stepped closer with caution. But his steps faltered when he saw something writhing beneath the man's skin. Black veins began to emerge from his wrist. Slowly, those dark lines crawled upward toward his arm. The soldier froze as he realized what it was.

"No way ...," he muttered, trembling.

The expressions of the other soldiers shifted, turning pale with fear as if witnessing something nightmarish.

The man raised his head, as though understanding his fate. "I ... I don't want to ...."

His eyes began turning crimson.

"EVERYONE FALL BACK!"

The soldier's shout came too late; one by one, the citizens were infected.

***

Several hours later, the forest outside the carriage window had transformed into a sea of shadows. The remaining sunlight only managed to slip between the gaps of the trees, forming golden streaks that occasionally flickered across the cabin interior.

The wandering man still held the reins in a relaxed posture. However, ever since he began telling the story of the corruption, the tone of his voice had changed. It was no longer as lighthearted as before.

"Well, that's what happened," he said. "Citizens who hadn't undergone testing managed to slip into the territory. And then everything fell into chaos."

Ennis remained silent.

She stared at the man from inside the cabin. "How many were infected?"

The man gave a small shrug. "Nobody knows for sure."

Taffi, who had been listening quietly all this time, hugged her small bag even tighter.

"Then ... did everyone there die?" she asked softly.

The man glanced back out of the corner of his eye. "Not everyone."

He let out a sigh. "But enough of them."

Ennis leaned back against her seat. "And the King? How did he react?"

The smile on the man's face vanished entirely. He stared straight ahead. "Enraged."

For a few moments, he said nothing.

"The King lost many of his soldiers during that incident," he finally continued. "Still in the midst of grief, the King flew into a rage. He relocated most of the important figures to the capital and tightened security there."

The man pulled slightly on the reins as the road ahead began to slope downward. "The gates were fortified. The number of soldiers deployed to guard the capital kept increasing, and inspections became far stricter. Common folk could no longer enter or leave the capital freely."

"So all the important people were gathered in the capital?" Ennis asked.

"Most of them, yes."

"And the other cities?"

The man paused for a moment. "Abandoned. Naturally."

That single sentence made the atmosphere inside the carriage grow even heavier.

"Of course, the government didn't phrase it like that," he continued. "They called it a security measure to ensure important people were saved and life at the heart of the kingdom could carry on ... though in reality, countless citizens are suffering out there." He let out a faint laugh, but there was not a trace of humor in it. The man returned his gaze to the road ahead.

"due to shards shortage Villages began to dry up and fall into ruin. Food supplies dwindled while the populace started to starve. People who once had homes, fields, and families slowly lost everything."

The man continues the talking “that emblem on the envelope of yours, belongs to the ashen family alchemist. He promised to gives access toward the capital If you completed the task.”