CHAPTER 30: LAUGH WITH THE DEVIL

Caelen’s eyes fluttered open slowly. His head spun like a wheel ripped from its axle. A sharp ache bloomed between his temples, and his vision swam in and out of focus. The first thing he realized was the biting pressure on his wrists.

Ropes.

He sat up sluggishly, the rough stone beneath him biting through his clothes. His breathing was shallow, tense. The air was damp. Heavy. He looked around the dimly lit room. The torches flickered weakly, casting long dancing shadows on the cracked walls.

"Where am I..." he muttered, blinking against the haze clouding his sight.

A sharp scraping sound echoed from the darkness.

"You’re finally awake, huh?"

Garrox’s voice cut through like a blade dipped in poison. He stepped forward, his tall form emerging from the shadows. In his hand, he scraped a curved dagger along a whetstone, sending sparks fluttering like fireflies.

"I was getting tired of waiting."

Memories crashed into Caelen’s mind like a tidal wave.

The Broken Antler.

The laughter.

The drinks.

The smoke.

His eyes widened. "Ryan!" he cried out, struggling against his binds. "Where is Ryan?!"

Garrox didn’t flinch. He just smirked and nodded sideways. "Relax. Look to the other side."

Caelen whipped his head to the left.

Ryan lay sprawled across the cold stone floor, unconscious. His white-silver hair was disheveled, his cheeks scraped, and his wrists bound with the same thick enchanted rope.

"Ryan!" Caelen shouted again, urgency flaring in his voice.

Ryan groaned. He stirred, lifting his head slowly as he blinked in confusion. "Ugh... my head is spinning uncontrollably..."

Garrox laughed under his breath. "Can’t handle your liquor, can you? It’s a miracle you’re even part of their little golden crew. Only one without a lover, too."

Ryan blinked hard, squinting through the fog in his head. "...Garrox?"

Caelen leaned slightly forward. "Ryan, are you okay?"

"I think... I think I’m getting myself back," Ryan muttered, trying to move. He looked down and noticed the ropes. His eyes sharpened. "Why are we tied up?"

Caelen’s jaw tightened. "We were drugged. We fell for his trap."

Ryan’s face went pale. "But... Garrox was our friend..." His voice trailed off as realization struck. His pupils widened. The puzzle pieces clicked together.

The warm welcome.

The drinks.

The overly convenient information.

"Friend..." he muttered again.

Caelen’s voice rose like thunder. "Where are the girls?!"

Garrox clapped slowly, mockingly. "Oh, your precious goddesses? They’re fine. In perfect condition."

Then he turned back toward the door. "Darling, bring in the ladies."

Ryan’s eyebrows shot up. "Darling?!"

Caelen narrowed his eyes. "No... it can’t be—"

The door creaked open.

Selene stepped inside with a casual sway, wearing a satisfied smile. Behind her, restrained and fuming, were Reina and Veralia. Their hands were tied behind their backs with magical cords that glowed faintly.

The moment they saw Caelen and Ryan, their eyes sparked with fire.

"Lord Caelen!" they cried out, struggling forward.

Selene sighed like a bored actress. "Ugh, it was such a pain tying these two up."

Garrox grinned. "Thanks, darling." Then without shame, he leaned forward and kissed her.

Ryan’s eyes flared with disbelief. Reina’s glare could melt steel.

Reina barked, "You really think these ropes will stop us?"

She turned to Ryan. "Cut your ropes!"

Ryan nodded. "On it."

His eyes gleamed blue, and frost exploded around his wrists. Mana surged as a spiral of ice danced across the bindings.

Then—CRACK!

The ice shattered into shards.

But the ropes remained.

"What?!"

Garrox chuckled. "Don’t bother. Those ropes are enchanted. Not the weak ones from before. These were made from Dawnmere’s cursed vines and sealed with mana from the village well. Not even your flashy little ice tricks can cut them."

Caelen smiled faintly. "You’re welcome."

Garrox pointed his dagger lazily. "Still running your mouth even when you’re tied up. Classic Caelen."

Caelen shrugged. "Guess I’m just built different."

Veralia’s voice cracked, trembling. "Garrox, Selene... why? Did the Village Head force you? Did he threaten your families?!"

Garrox turned slowly. The grin on his face didn’t fade, but his eyes darkened.

"I want to ask you something, Caelen."

But Caelen cut him off again, smiling calmly. "Tatata... manners, Garrox. I believe I asked a question back at the bar."

Garrox sighed and finally gave a slow nod. "Ah... you’re right. I should answer that."

He leaned against the wall casually. "You know what? You all have done well. Very well. Figuring out the bodies were moved? That’s not something most idiots could do. So allow me to reward you—with a truth."

He raised one finger. "Yes. The bodies were moved."

Everyone froze.

"But by who?" he continued. "You suspected someone from the Crimson Hounds. Good guess. But ask yourselves—who could move the corpses without raising any alarms? Who walks freely at night? Who do the villagers trust enough to ignore even if they saw him dragging a bleeding body?"

Caelen’s eyes sharpened. His brain ran like a machine.

"Blend in... someone respected... someone always around..."

Then it clicked.

His voice was low and steady. "You. You moved the bodies."

Garrox clapped slowly. "Correct."

Selene added cheerfully, "Way to go."

The room fell into heavy silence. You could hear a drop of sweat hit the ground.

Garrox stepped forward. His voice turned icy. "Ever since you stepped into Dawnmere, we’ve been watching. I made sure to act like your friend, gave you smiles, drinks, stories. When you started getting too close to the truth, I lied. Told you it was a brawl. Told you it was nothing."

He paused, and his next words dripped with venom. "Then the Village Head contacted me. Ordered me to ’watch’ you. If you started pulling on the wrong strings... I was to cut the threads."

He smirked. "But I’m no brute. I didn’t want to get my hands dirty unless I had to. Darnis and Varek? Idiots. I was ready to kill them myself. You were kind enough to release them... and that made my job easier."

Caelen glared at him, pure hatred in his eyes. "So you pretended all along."

Garrox smiled.

Reina screamed, "You monster!"

Veralia whispered, her voice breaking, "So all of it... all the times we drank, laughed... it was all fake?"

Selene stepped close to Veralia, her eyes gleaming with superiority. "You still don’t get it, do you?"

She grabbed Veralia’s hair and yanked her head back.

Veralia yelped, her body recoiling.

"SELENE!" Ryan roared, rage exploding in his voice as he jerked violently against the ropes.

"Let her go!" Caelen snarled, his voice darkening like a thundercloud.

Garrox raised his hand.

"Now, now, Selene. Let them sit in their despair a little longer."

Ryan kept his head low, voice heavy with guilt.

"I’m sorry... my lord. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have gotten drunk. If I hadn’t, maybe none of this would’ve happened..."

Reina and Veralia quickly turned to him.

"No, Ryan," Reina said, her voice trembling.

Veralia added, "We should’ve stayed behind. We should’ve watched your backs... this is on us."

Garrox leaned back, smirking. Selene chuckled coldly beside him. Their laughter echoed across the stone walls, cruel and mocking.

But Caelen... Caelen didn’t say a word.

Then, suddenly—

He screamed.

A raw, piercing scream that echoed off every surface in the room.

He slammed his fist into the ground. Then again.

And again.

"Why?! WHY?!"

His voice cracked with rage and disbelief.

"Why couldn’t I see past it?! Why didn’t I notice?! Why did I let myself be fooled by YOU?!"

His fists bled. His breathing turned erratic. His head hung low like a broken man.

Garrox burst out laughing.

"It’s started. He’s fallen into despair. The mighty Caelen... is crumbling."

"Lord Caelen, please—" Reina begged.

"Calm down!" Veralia pleaded.

"My lord—" Ryan stepped forward, but froze, unsure.

Caelen didn’t respond.

He just... sat there, shaking.

Then—

He stopped.

The room went silent.

He lifted his head.

And grinned.

"Just kidding."

Everyone froze.

Then the laugh began.

Slow. Quiet.

It grew louder. Wild. Maniacal.

The room trembled with each breath he took.

Caelen’s laughter spilled out like madness set free.

His shoulders shook violently, his hair covering his face.

Then, as he looked up—

His eyes glowed bright green.

The glow wasn’t natural.

It was demonic.

Garrox blinked.

"What... the hell?"

Caelen stood up slowly, the ropes burning away around his wrists, disintegrating into ash. His body radiated with a terrifying aura—an energy that wrapped around him like writhing shadows.

Garrox flinched but tried to play it off.

"You’re losing it. You’ve lost your mind."

Caelen just kept laughing.

His voice echoed, distorted with something not quite human.

Even the girls went quiet.

Ryan’s hands trembled. "My lord...?"

Then Caelen stopped laughing.

He looked directly at Garrox.

The green glow in his eyes pulsed—like a serpent had awakened.

And then—he smiled.

A devil’s smile.

"...Oi, Garrox," Caelen said, his voice calm, but filled with ice and fire.

"Wanna play a game with the devil?"

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