When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 112
Chapter 112
When the attendant boy entered the room after being called, darkness filled the space.
The shutters were closed, the lamps extinguished.
The boy, startled, stopped midway through opening the door, seeing two guests sitting like ghosts in the darkness, their faces obscured.
‘They looked normal when they checked in… Are they… lunatics?’
He gulped nervously, his throat tightening.
“D-Did you call?”
“Yes. We called you because we have a few questions.”
The low voice sounded especially eerie in the darkened room.
The boy answered, his voice trembling, “Ask away.”
“Sit down here first.”
A low chair was placed where they pointed.
Even insignificant people didn’t usually offer their own seats to attendants.
So, ordinarily, he would have been surprised and even touched by these guests’ consideration.
But now…
‘Why are they offering me a seat… just how long are they planning to keep me here…?’
If the room had been completely dark, he would have asked if he could open the door slightly.
But after entering, he noticed a small window in the far corner, slightly ajar, letting in just enough light to make out his surroundings.
However, rather than being reassured by the light…
‘It’s the same room I see every day, but why does it feel so creepy?’
He gulped again.
Afraid of offending these strange guests and facing their wrath, the boy quickly sat down where they indicated.
“What… can I do for you?”
Just then, the man sitting before him pulled something out of his sleeve.
He held it out towards the boy.
“Before that, look at this. Do you know anything about this token?”
Token?
The room was so dark that he couldn't see what it was.
Only after squinting and examining it closely did he realize what it was.
‘Gasp! Why do these people have the merchant’s token…?’
When Sehwa first visited Merchant Ji, she had only intended to ask about the disguise technique.
But Merchant Ji had helped them more than they had asked for.
Not only had he prepared clothes for them to wear while disguised, but he had also given them his merchant token, saying they could receive assistance if they showed it at places with a specific mark.
This was one of those places.
She didn't know why he was helping her so much, but he was the one who had rescued her from the Mystic Ruler’s flames.
That wasn’t something one could do with ordinary resolve. Sehwa decided she could trust him based on that fact alone.
After verifying the token, the boy lowered his voice and answered all their questions sincerely.
“You’re asking about Madam Cheon at the outpost? She hasn’t been seen for a few days.”
“A few days? Did you see her before that?”
“Yes. We called her Healer Cheon. Thankfully, she always used her free time to walk around Dansa City and help those who were sick. But she hasn’t been seen for a few days.”
“......”
“She disappeared for a few days once before, and later reappeared with an injured ankle… So everyone’s worried that she might be sick or something might have happened to her again.”
‘Injured her ankle?’
Sehwa’s face paled, even in the darkness.
Given her position as a healer, her mother was incredibly cautious, more so than others.
She didn’t even walk quickly, so for her to have injured her ankle…
Baek Giha, glancing at Sehwa’s tightly clasped hands with concern, asked the boy another question.
“Do you know anything about a residence with a red gate?”
“A red gate?”
“Yes. A large residence located at the end of the street, to the east.”
The boy’s face paled instantly.
“I think it’s best not to be curious about that residence.”
“Why?”
“Many high-ranking people frequent that place. You’ll get into big trouble if you show too much interest.”
Even though there was no one else to hear, the boy looked around and lowered his voice.
“I don’t know for sure, but I’ve heard that a very influential person from the Central Territory is backing it. Almost no one who gets involved with that residence comes out unscathed.”
“Unscathed?”
“Well, that applies to those of us without a clan. They hold banquets there sometimes, and they usually hire dancers for such occasions, right? But some of those dancers disappear after finishing their work.”
The boy’s voice trembled slightly, as if he were afraid.
“At first, we thought they must have gone somewhere better. Perhaps they caught the eye of someone important and were taken to the Central Territory. But even so, they should at least tell their families, or if they couldn’t, there should be some news from them later. They disappear without a trace, and no one knows where they go, even after years.”
“......”
“Also, they used to hire people for chores from time to time. Back then, people competed fiercely for the chance to work in such a fine residence, not knowing any better.”
“And?”
“They were punished severely for even the smallest mistakes, so after a big event, carts full of corpses were taken out. The merchants on the street cater to those who visit the residence because they spend a lot of money, but people like us avoid any association with that place.”
“Do you know anything about the two women who live in that residence?”
“Women? Two? Ah, are you talking about the two young ladies? They haven’t been here long. One of them comes out every night to enjoy the street performances, but other than that…”
“You don’t know anything else?”
“No.”
“Alright. You can go.”
After the long questioning, the boy left the room.
“I have to go there now.”
As Sehwa stood up, the man covered her hand with his large one.
“Yes. Let’s go together.”
“Mother…”
Sehwa bit her lip hard.
“What if something happened to Mother? What if she was taken by the Mystic Ruler, or…”
Baek Giha knelt before Sehwa, who was trembling slightly. He lowered his body to meet her gaze.
“Don’t worry. No matter what it takes…”
He pressed his warm lips against her cold forehead.
“…even if I have to wage war alone, I will bring the Madam back safely.”
Since they couldn't transform yet, they covered themselves in black clothes and concealed their faces with masks that reached just below their eyes.
However, they returned empty-handed after searching the outpost thoroughly for half a day.
There was no trace of her mother, not even any of her belongings, inside the large outpost.
‘If even her personal belongings are gone, could she have left on her own?’
Her mother hadn’t been seen for several days.
Sa Yeonju and Ju Suyeon had arrived here a few days ago.
Was this just a coincidence?
‘No way.’
Anger flared in Sehwa’s eyes.
“I have to go to Sa Yeonju.”
As Sehwa spoke through gritted teeth, Baek Giha nodded.
She and Baek Giha quietly flew to the large residence and hid inside.
It was late at night, but the residence was still awake.
Lights were on in most of the rooms, and servants and maids were hurrying around.
Yet, the only sound was the chirping of insects.
As they entered the abnormally quiet residence, Sehwa, her anxiety growing, whispered to Giha, “Let’s split up.”
“What?!”
“Mother might be somewhere in here. The residence is large, so it’ll save time if we search separately.”
“…Alright.”
He wanted to go with her, but Sehwa’s suggestion was reasonable.
So they agreed to meet again before dawn and split up, each taking a side of the hallway.
Suppressing her presence so as not to be detected by the maids hurrying along the hallway, Sehwa moved as quickly and carefully as she could, searching the residence.
However, she couldn’t sense her mother’s spiritual power anywhere in the quiet hallways.
Just as she was about to venture deeper, not giving up…
Crash—!
A sharp shattering sound reached Sehwa’s ears.
It was the first time she had heard a sound other than the footsteps of the servants in this large, quiet residence, so she naturally turned towards the source.
There weren't many places to hide and approach unseen.
If she was careless, she would be easily discovered by those passing through the hallway.
Just then, a sliding door on the left side of the hallway suddenly burst open.
‘!!’
Sehwa, startled, leaped to the ceiling and hid among the triangular pillars.
Maids, their faces devoid of emotion, poured out into the hallway and lined up.
Someone was being dragged out from between them, crying.
“Please, Madam! Please forgive me just this once! Madam!”
One of the maids was being dragged away, held by the others.
A familiar face emerged from behind them, her eyes cruel.
It was Ju Suyeon.
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