In the basement where Baby vanished, I retrieved my bag and explored the Beneviento estate. The grave's owner was Claudia Beneviento—likely Donna's sister. Damn confusing.
"Ah, I wanna forget that fast. Who's next?"
"Think it's... the monster Moreau in the lake beyond the windmill."
"Mama's boy ugly."
"I kinda pity that nickname."
Returning to the graveyard, we headed the way blocked by fake Mia. An old house appeared. As we neared, something crawled from the ground. Thought it was a Lycan, but no.
"Moroaica...!?"
"They're not just in the castle!?"
Skin-and-bone monsters. Victims of Dimitrescu and her daughters turned Moroaica. Crawling out in hordes. Even dual pistols wouldn't cut it!
"Run!"
"Ethan, this way! Something here!"
Following Evelyn, I kicked open the house door. Inside: mine-like things and a weapon. This is...! I grabbed a mine, set it at the entrance, took the weapon, and waited deeper in. Moroaica swarmed, triggered the mine—boom, scattered. Three entered. Eat this...!
"My dream come true!"
"Why's a shotgun here!?"
Triple shot. Blows off Moroaica faces—one hit. Rugged combat shotgun, unlike the previous. This'll help. Slung it with the sniper rifle, headed back.
"Might be more than the shotgun."
"Current you won't lose to numbers."
Continuing the path fake Mia chased, another house. Inside, a document: Donna had anthropophobia; after parents died, she spoke only through father's Angie doll. Adopted by Miranda, gained "power." Told to bring and plant yellow flowers; writer saw dead wife in dreams. Told Donna, who joyfully invited him, promising more meetings. Written by her gardener, probably. His fate... don't wanna think.
"So, those were illusions from yellow flowers."
"Your illusions, so I could touch and see."
"But what are those flowers? Why could Donna show illusions?"
"Giant hag's mutation like Jack's, black-clad loner's illusions like my old power... kinda suspicious."
Yeah. Their powers resemble Evelyn's... mold abilities. Pondering, back at Duke's square. He toyed with a familiar small doll.
"What's up? New weird hobby?"
"Fat guy playing dolls? Kinda gross."
"Oh? Know this?"
"Yeah. Bad memories only."
"My my. Need anything?"
"Selling. Buy this?"
Offered Angie doll. Selling Donna's precious thing? Revenge for the hell she put me through.
"Oh, selling. Thought for Rose."
"She'd cry seeing this..."
"Oh, Miss Angie. How cute."
"'Cute...? Not creepy?'"
We synced. Same feelings toward Angie doll. Yeah, creepy over cute.
"Yes, cute. Bisque dolls are popular."
"Huh?"
"Should've grabbed all mansion dolls."
That'd make me a thief. Perfect timing: sold grandpa's handgun, swapped for village shelf one. Could've traded Samurai Edge, but price sucked. Bought handgun and shotgun ammo used on Moroaica, prepped. Used four-winged fetus key to proceed.
"Map says... fishery ahead?"
"Fishery in mountains? Lake?"
"Says so, so yeah. ...What?"
"Something's out—!?"
Growl halted me, hand on back shotgun. Instant: massive furry beast burst through fence, bit my abdomen. Fangs tore flesh; I blasted shotgun to face, staggered it—barely effective. Fled into nearby house; it followed. Swapped to sniper rifle, hip-fired; it backed off entrance. Poured healing on gut. Safe for now.
"What the hell!"
"Without counter, you'd be chow."
"Like it's not your problem..."
"Not, but you're the edible one."
"That's what 'not your problem' means... Hm?"
Inside: exhausted man's corpse. Memo in hand: Chased by "that thing" around hut, fled here. Not just wolf—enjoys resistance. Could've killed with "that weapon" at windmill hut nearby. Ended begging Luisa's forgiveness. Probably her husband. Good intel.
"Windmill weapon... borrowing it."
"But how out?"
"You."
"...Ah, got it?"
She nodded, phased through wall outside. When I hear the beast... go.
"Hey! Say! Hey! Say! Ogre... wolf? This way! To clapping hands... Gyaaaaaaa!? Still scaryyy!?"
Evelyn's scream, smashing sounds. Exited. Saw her fleeing, shaking butt, waving, sticking tongue—taunting max. Beast chased instinctively. She's a rage genius.
"Here. Windmill hut."
Boom! Thud! Gyaaa!? Ignored rear noises, followed river, found target hut. Opened iron grate with key. ...Even if Luisa's hubby reached, no key—doomed. Inside: grenade launcher.
"This could work."
Not Lucas's Baker homemade—art-like pristine grenade launcher. Explosive rounds nearby. Bagged sniper, slung launcher, pocketed rounds. Headed to blasting sounds.
"Ya! Ya! Come if you can—!"
"Gooooaaaa!!"
"Ah, sorry, scary—don't bark!?"
There: Evelyn floating high, teary taunting; beast pawing air futilely. Aimed launcher at back—fired. Explosion flung it; reloaded, face hit. Evelyn finger-gunned, smirking. Hey, crude.
"Daam destwoy."
"Die, bastard."
Beast sank, crystallized bones left, calcified away. ...Calcification: mold infectee trait. This village... linked to Evelyn?
"Probably is. Suspicious stuff."
"Suspicious?"
"Just pisses me off if true—don't worry."
Tilted head at know-it-all Evelyn; heavy crystal bones, so back to Duke.
"Daam destwoy" suits Evelyn. And, Heisei never ends...!
Looking forward to next. Appreciate ratings, feedback, typos. More comments, faster writing.
---------------------------------------------------------
🚀 Want more?
📖 Unlock 10+ early chapters on my Patreon!
💖 Support me here: patreon.com/DaoistRoeoNQ
🔓 Get ahead of the story today!