Night quietly fell. The sky was thick with clouds, hiding the stars and the moon. Noel was grateful it was this kind of night.
Under the cover of darkness, his actions would be much easier.
Guards patrolled back and forth around the fortress, but after a while, they would simply sit down to rest, making it clear the security wasn't particularly tight.
What made Noel uneasy, however, was the sinister aura emanating from the fortress. Even from a distance, it sent chills down his spine.
This place wasn't simple, and the information from the mayor alone wasn't enough. If he was going to infiltrate a place like this, he would need sharp judgment. After all, he was just one person against an entire guild.
From his initial observations, there were two guards outside. They didn't look like they were important, nor did they seem strong.
Their only purpose was to act as lookouts and sound the alarm if necessary.
"Wind: Thousand Leaf Scatter."
Countless razor-sharp blades of wind shaped like leaves danced silently around the two guards, who remained unaware that death was brushing past them.
They continued their patrol, sticking to their usual route.
The condensed wind blades quietly sliced through their throats. Blood sprayed, and the two guards collapsed without warning.
Noel panted heavily. This was probably the first time he had ever killed someone. Staring at the two corpses, he felt like he was going to vomit.
He closed his eyes, forcing himself not to look at the bodies. They didn't deserve his grief, nor his sympathy.
Noel stripped one of the guards of his cleaner uniform and put it on. It was far too big for him.
"Material Recomposition."
The uniform shrank, fitting perfectly to his size, while maintaining its exact appearance.
With this disguise, it would be easier to blur the enemy's perception as he moved further inside.
Noel began walking toward the fortress, imitating the patrol pattern. Along the way, he encountered no other guards, possibly because the fortress was simply too large.
But even after walking for a long time, Noel didn't see any other members of the dark guild. Perhaps he was unknowingly following the patrol route, which was why he hadn't been discovered.
One thing was certain: this fortress was enormous. He had been walking for ages and still hadn't reached the main hall.
Ahead of him was a duplex tower. He could choose to enter and investigate, although it might not be necessary.
After some hesitation, Noel decided to go in. There might be unexpected discoveries.
The door wasn't locked. He removed the iron latch from the outside and slipped in, then used wind magic to slide the latch back into place.
It was a flawless infiltration—silent and unseen.
But once inside, Noel immediately regretted it. Why was it so dark in here?
There wasn't even a torch lit. Was this building not occupied by the dark guild at all?
Noel felt frustrated. This decision had been pointless and inefficient.
He climbed the stairs to the upper floor, where another iron door stood, rusted and stained with horrifying streaks of blood.
Noel felt a chill. Why was there blood on this door? What was this room used for?
He already had a feeling that he wouldn't like what he was about to see.
But he had come this far, and if there was even a chance someone was still alive inside, he had to save them.
The door creaked open. A faint glow of candlelight spilled out, illuminating the darkness.
Noel scanned the room. The walls were lined with torture devices of various shapes and sizes, each stained with blood.
The most shocking sight was the large cross in the center of the room, where a woman was bound.
Her body was covered in whip marks, and even her face bore the scars of heated irons.
The dark guild truly had a twisted sense of amusement, doing something like this.
Noel clenched his fists, veins bulging, his hair standing on end. How could people do something so inhuman?
The woman on the cross saw someone enter and whimpered, "What, you're here to torment me again? Haven't you done enough? I'll tell you now, I, Alice, have dignity, and I will never submit!"
"I'm not here to hurt you," Noel replied coldly. This wasn't his business, and he saw no reason to explain further.
"Stay quiet. I'm here to save you, but don't mistake me for a good person," he warned, already irritated and unwilling to have anyone test his patience.
"I don't believe you! You're wearing their uniform—you're one of them!" Alice screamed, her shrill voice piercing Noel's ears.
Noel ignored her, using wind magic to cut the ropes binding her. Alice collapsed weakly to the ground.
"You really are here to save me?" Alice looked at him as if she were grasping a lifeline.
"Of course." But as Noel studied her face, he felt she looked oddly familiar, though he couldn't immediately place where he had seen her before.
Now he had a new complication: this woman. Moving alone was much easier.
Should he just leave her here and continue on his own? It would be the most efficient choice.
"I have other things to take care of. Why don't you stay here for now? You'll be safe."
Noel turned to leave. He had seen everything in this building, and there was no reason to stay.
"You're going to leave me here? What if they come back?" Alice cried out in fear.
"They caught me trying to escape once. If they find me again, they'll kill me. Please, take me with you!" she begged.
"Taking you with me is impossible. I'm here for their leader, and you would only slow me down."
"Besides, in your current state, you wouldn't be able to walk far before collapsing."
"You'd be nothing but a burden, do you understand?" Noel said, growing impatient.
"I…I'm the daughter of a count! If you save me, I'll give you lots and lots of money!"
That's when Noel remembered. She was the young lady who had once given him money out of pity.
It hadn't connected for him before, but who would have imagined that the high and mighty noble girl would now be tied to a torture cross?
It was too ironic to believe. Noel wasn't acting out of pity; he saw this as a transaction.
"Forget the money. I'll stay here until the one who tortured you is dead." Noel decided he would repay the debt he owed to Alice.
"How could you just agree like that?" Alice asked, stunned that he had changed his mind so suddenly.
"This is your kindness repaying you. You don't need to feel guilty about it, and I don't need your money." Noel replied flatly.
"Then, please, promise you'll protect me." Alice whispered, afraid of angering him.
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