Reborn As A Maid

Chapter 62: Chapter 62 - The First Demon General ( Part 6)

The church bell chimed once.

Echoing through the deserted village, then falling silent.

Not touched by anyone.

But chiming.

Inside the old stone church, every knight, every hunter, and every student instinctively grabbed their weapons.

The holy barriers surrounding the church flickered for a few seconds before settling back.

Headmaster Orion slowly stood up.

"Everyone remain calm."

Confident.

Strong.

Like any other person who would keep others from panicking.

But even he could not conceal the frown on his brow.

Because something was wrong.

Very wrong.

Outside...

Jennie stood under the night sky all alone.

Wind spirits huddled next to her.

Not playing and happy like usually.

But sticking close to her sides.

Making her think of scared kids hiding behind an older sister.

Gently touching one of the spirits with her fingertip, she said, "...It’ll be alright."

The little spirit raised its head to her, longing to believe her words.

Excalibur appeared next to her in his spirit form.

Silver hair swaying in the night wind.

Expression unchanged.

Except his eyes.

Fixed at the graveyard.

"They’re there."

Jennie nodded, "...I know."

Rows and rows of ancient graves were stretched under the light of the moon.

Nothing was moving. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

Nothing was breathing.

Yet...

Many pairs of eyes watched.

Waited.

Patience incarnated.

Inside the church...

Princess Lilia watched through one of the stained-glass windows.

"Jennie’s outside."

Lucas turned his head in her direction, "...I’ll bring her inside."

But before he could do anything...

Martha Morius calmly blocked his way, "...No."

Lucas blinked, "...Lady Martha?"

Martha crossed her hands, "Miss Jennie made her own decision."

"She wouldn’t stay outside for no reason."

Lucas frowned, "But it’s dangerous."

Martha looked at the silhouette standing under the moonlight, "...Yes."

"It is."

Then...

Unexpectedly...

She calmly poured yet another cup of tea, "If Miss Jennie believes she can cope..."

"I’ll trust her judgment."

Lilia smiled, "Me too."

Outside...

Jennie slowly started moving toward the cemetery.

Crunch.

Crunch.

The sound of her steps was interrupting the blanket of fallen leaves.

Open old iron gate rusted on its hinges. frёewebnoѵēl.com

Creaking quietly when the wind was passing through.

Beyond it...

Dozens of ancient graves lay under twisted trees.

Some gravestones cracked from age.

Other leaning to the side.

Almost every surface covered with wild vines.

It seemed forgotten.

Yet strange...

Not abandoned.

Jennie stopped before the first line of graves.

Kneeling quietly, she touched the cold stones with her fingertips.

The names carved on it were almost erased.

"...May your souls rest peacefully."

Whisper of the soft breeze answered her.

Then...

A faint whisper resounded through the darkness, "...Leave..."

Jennie slowly opened her eyes, "...I heard that."

Another whisper.

This one closer.

"...Run..."

The voice wasn’t sounding threatening.

It sounded...

Desperate.

Excalibur closed his eyes, "...The dead."

Jennie looked at him, "They’re warning us."

"They cannot manifest,"

"They can only whisper,"

His expression grew harder, "Whatever is underneath this village..."

"...Even the deceased fear it."

Suddenly...

Frightening scream resounded through the silence, "HELP!"

Jennie instantly turned her head.

It came from the eastern side of the village.

One of the students wandered off from the church.

"...Idiot."

She vanished.

Not making an explosion.

Not using magic.

Just disappearing in a gentle gust of wind.

Meanwhile...

A noble student wandered through the deserted village.

Breathing heavily, "...I’m sorry..."

"I didn’t mean to leave..."

Just going out for some fresh air...

He had heard someone calling his mother’s voice.

He followed it.

But now...

Unable to find the church.

All roads seemed the same.

All houses empty.

His hands trembling, "...Somebody..."

"...Please..."

A shadow passed through the roof.

He froze, "...Who’s there?"

No answer.

Second shadow appeared.

Third shadow.

Fourth.

Dozens of them.

Without faces.

Just human silhouettes made from black fog.

Their crimson eyes slowly opening.

First.

Second.

Twentieth.

Stumbling backward, he said, "N-No..."

The shadows didn’t make any sound.

But started approaching him.

Just as despair engulfing him...

Voice resounded through the street, "You really chose the worst possible time for a walk."

He turned his head.

Jennie was standing behind him.

Still wearing maid uniform.

Still carrying her composed smile.

He almost cried, "Lady Jennie!"

She sighed, "Next time..."

"Please get lost during daylight."

"...S-Sorry."

The shadows stopped.

All crimson eyes turned to Jennie.

Excalibur’s voice echoed in her mind, "These are not demons."

"They are..."

"...Shadows made from miasma."

Jennie nodded, "So they’re only scouts."

"Yes."

"And if scouts are already here..."

She said quietly, "...The real enemy isn’t far."

First of them suddenly lunged.

Jennie didn’t even pay attention at it.

Casually snapping her fingers, she created a small wind blade.

Invisible.

Elegant.

SHHHK.

Splitting the shadow creature clean in half and turning it into black fog.

The student was staring at her with his mouth hanging open, "...What..."

Jennie just smiled, "...You didn’t see anything."

"...B-But..."

"You imagined it."

"I don’t think I—"

"You imagined it."

"..."

"...Yes, Lady Jennie."

"Good."

The remaining shadows hesitated.

They had no feelings.

No fear.

But...

Some instinct buried in them recognized the girl standing before them.

Some aura she unconsciously emitted.

The aura of someone used to be at the top of the world.

One after another...

Shadow creatures slowly retreated into the darkness.

Jennie frowned, "...They’re reporting."

Excalibur nodded, "...To their master."

Far under the Gray Hollow...

Inside the huge underground chamber bound in ancient chains...

A pair of crimson eyes slowly widened.

Deep voice echoed through the darkness, "So..."

"The scent I remember..."

"...Is real."

Slow smile appearing on the face of the unknown person.

"Leonis..."

The ancient chains shuddering.

And for the first time in five centuries...

The Demon General of Ruin whispered the name of his greatest enemy.