CHAPTER 309: LOVE HELL - DORIAN’S PART (14)

You could clearly see the displeasure on Mr. Andersen’s face.

He was using his very demeanor to pressure the humans.

A strong gust of wind suddenly swept through the entire mansion. The furniture trembled and swayed, yet Mrs. Andersen’s expression remained utterly calm—just like back in the church—as if neither of them could sense any of the changes happening around them.

Hermes frowned, his tone low and firm as he warned, "Don’t speak of anything you see."

Sure enough, a piercing cat’s cry echoed when his words fell. A black cat darted across their view right before the door and bolted toward the entrance. A woman in a white dress was standing there—her wide eyes fixed unblinkingly on the people inside the mansion.

There seemed to be faint sobs carried by the wind—yet a lost soul could never find its way home.

Liam’s heart suddenly trembled. A strange, pressing emotion rose within him, compelling him to speak.

She’s right there—she’s right there! Why isn’t anyone acknowledging her existence?!

Austin, standing nearby, instantly noticed Liam’s odd behavior. Before Liam could utter a word, Austin clamped a hand over his mouth.

Liam trembled uncontrollably. Alice quickly stepped forward, activating her ability to cleanse his contamination swiftly.

"Aaaaa! She’s right there, she’s right there! Can’t you see her?! She’s staring straight at me—it’s terrifying!"

Just then, Mrs. Andersen suddenly let out a shrill scream. She collapsed into Mr. Andersen’s arms, trembling and repeating the exact words.

Mr. Andersen’s face twisted with fear as he looked toward the door, then turned back to the group with fury. "What are you all doing?! She’s right there—why are you still standing around instead of dealing with that vile thing?!"

It was like a play—where the hunters, too, played the role of prey, ready to be cut down at any moment.

At this point, if they wanted to maintain their cover, they had no choice but to point out the woman. But the moment they did, their fate would surely be the same as Finn’s—without a doubt.

"Please, don’t panic. That thing cannot enter this place."

At that moment, Dorian’s voice suddenly echoed through the air.

Mr. Andersen looked at him in surprise. "It can’t enter here? Truly?"

Dorian nodded, his tone solemn and righteous. "That’s right. I’ve set up a barrier outside—temporarily, it should be able to block its entry. However, to completely eradicate it will take some time."

[Ha ha ha, with that calm and serious expression, who can even tell if he’s lying or telling the truth?]

[Has anyone else noticed? His ears are turning red.]

[Wait, seriously? So that’s what he tells when he lies? Dorian, please confirm!]

[Is he really a god? He feels like the least intimidating god ever.]

[Wow, already talking smack, huh?]

The Andersens’ expressions grew visibly darker. Mr. Andersen seemed clearly displeased with this outcome. "You’d better finish this as soon as possible!"

With that, he led his wife back to the dining table, showing no intention of inviting anyone else to join them. The facade of gentleness he’d worn before was torn away without the slightest hesitation.

Once Mr. Andersen was out of sight, Hermes turned toward Dorian and said, "Thank you for your assistance."

Even without Dorian, they would have handled it—but his intervention had made things smoother.

Dorian waved his hand dismissively, smiling. "Think nothing of it. I didn’t actually do anything. There’s no barrier—the woman couldn’t have entered this place."

Everyone: "..."

So that’s why the Andersens suddenly looked so furious.

Just then, Liam stared at Dorian and asked, "Did you see that woman holding the black cat earlier?"

Dorian smiled gently at him but said nothing.

Liam grew anxious. "You did see her, didn’t you? You must have seen her!"

Before he could make a scene, Hermes’s threads shot out and wrapped him tightly like a cocoon—only leaving his nose exposed so he could breathe.

They couldn’t mention the woman or the cat without inviting a curse. Liam’s current state clearly showed he’d already been contaminated.

"We need to resolve this quickly," Hermes said grimly. "Otherwise, tomorrow it might be our turn to be tainted."

And once none of them remained sane... There would be no one left to stop them from walking straight to their own deaths.

"If that woman can’t enter the mansion, then there must be something here that she fears," Alice said thoughtfully.

Nyx nodded. "Perhaps that’s Mr. Andersen’s secret—something connected to a ritual."

The group agreed to keep watch over the Andersens’ movements that night.

Before that, they had already searched every area within and around the mansion they could reach. But clearly, if the truth could be uncovered so easily, this place wouldn’t be considered a deadly dungeon.

Finally, night fell.

The Andersens kept a strict routine—by nine o’clock, they had gone to their room, and by ten, all the lights in the mansion were out.

When the couple returned to their bedroom, the humans quietly left theirs.

Alice, Austin, and Liam hid in the main hall, observing any sign of movement, while Hermes, Nyx, and Fiona kept watch in the corridor on the third floor, concealed in the shadows as they waited for the Andersens to appear.

As for Dorian, he, of course, remained in his own room. None of the humans dared to disturb him.

At that moment, Dorian sat quietly inside, the bright lamplight illuminating every corner of his room, casting a shimmering, golden glow across his hair.

His gaze lowered slightly as he spoke softly, "Don’t say that. The humans will overcome this. I’ve seen it—they are remarkable."

"Opportunity always walks hand in hand with danger. They risk their lives to protect the world. That, in itself, is something precious..."

[What’s wrong with him?]

[Who is he talking to? Is there someone else in the room? This is creepy.]

[I thought he’d be the most normal among the gods...]

[Spoke too soon, apparently.]

Suddenly, every light in the mansion went out.

It was ten o’clock.

Just as they had expected, the door to the Andersens’ room creaked open over thirty minutes later.

Mr. Andersen glanced around nervously. After confirming no one was nearby, he hurried down the corridor toward a room at the end—a dusty iron door that looked like it hadn’t been touched in years.

Careful not to disturb the layer of dust, he opened it and slipped inside.

In the darkness, thin threads slid quietly into the keyhole, probing the space within—no signs of life.

Hermes gave a gentle tug, and the iron door swung open before them.

Inside was a pitch-black chamber, so deep that not even a sliver of moonlight could pierce the gloom...