CHAPTER 29: RECAP CHAPTER

" Author’s Note: This Chapter was published in the wrong volume due to a posting error. Instead of deleting it, I’m using it as a recap of recent events to keep readers updated. The story continues in the next Chapter under Volume 2. Thank you for understanding!"

---

At Caelen’s Room

Caelen stretched lazily, a soft yawn escaping his lips. "Another good work today again," he muttered with a smirk.

But no one responded.

The room had gone silent. Everyone just... stared at him.

He blinked, lowering his hands. "What’s the matter?"

They exchanged glances, then Reina stepped forward, arms crossed. "When are you going to explain to us what happened?"

Caelen tilted his head. "What do you mean by that?"

Veralia’s eyes narrowed. "The whole scene that happened. Your creepy laughter. The whole manipulation."

Ryan added with a raised brow, "We didn’t quite get how you figured out everything that happened."

Caelen clicked his tongue and sank into a chair. "Fine. I’ll explain. Where don’t you understand?"

Reina and Veralia yelled at once, "The beginning!"

Caelen laughed, ruffling his messy hair. "Alright, alright..."

He leaned forward, elbows on his knees.

"Remember how we figured out someone from the Crimson Hounds was behind the relocation of the bodies?"

They nodded.

"Well, where were the bodies found?" Caelen asked.

Reina answered, "In front of the motel."

"And who’s the manager?" he followed up.

Ryan said, "Selene."

"Exactly," Caelen nodded. "They placed the bodies there so no one would suspect. Hiding them in plain sight."

"But still," Reina said, "no one would believe you if you pointed fingers with just that."

"True," Caelen agreed, "but then I asked myself—who was the first person to arrive at the scene after the call for help?"

Veralia blinked. "Garrox?"

"Correct." Caelen’s eyes gleamed. "And he doesn’t live in the motel, right? So how did he get there first, before Selene, who literally works there?"

"They probably hid somewhere after dropping the bodies," Ryan added, piecing it together, "and then Garrox jumped in like a hero when someone screamed."

"Bingo," Caelen said, tapping his temple. "But even that wasn’t enough. It only raised my suspicions."

He stood up and began pacing.

"Now, let’s talk about their marriage," Caelen continued.

Reina leaned forward. "I knew something was weird! The way she always hushed him—"

"No," Caelen cut in. "That was normal. Couples argue. Maybe she just didn’t want him saying romantic stuff in public."

Veralia asked, "Then what made you sure?"

Caelen paused, then grinned. "Rings."

They all repeated in surprise, "Rings?!"

He nodded. "This village has a custom. All married women wear rings. I thought it was fashion at first, until we went to the market."

Call chimed in, "I saw it too. Women showing off their rings—saying it was their marriage symbol."

"Exactly," Caelen confirmed. "Even told an unmarried girl to hurry and get hers."

Reina’s eyes widened. "Wait... Selene wasn’t wearing one."

"And that was the final nail," Caelen said. "She didn’t have one because she wasn’t married yet. Just engaged. The entire act was a cover."

Veralia whistled. "So the custom’s strong enough she wouldn’t even fake a ring, huh?"

"Right," Caelen said. "They were really in love. About to get married. The village head probably promised to make that happen."

Ryan crossed his arms. "Which makes this another sad love story."

Caelen chuckled. "Now, the third clue."

He raised three fingers.

"When we went to the bar, I knew they’d be there."

Reina narrowed her eyes. "Are you sure it wasn’t just an excuse for a drink?"

Ryan gave him a flat look. "Be honest."

Caelen scratched his head with a guilty grin. "Okay... maybe just a little."

They all laughed briefly.

"But the plan started there," Caelen continued. "I needed Ryan drunk. Garrox was already good at pushing drinks on him."

Ryan sighed. "He really was."

"And the girls?" Caelen looked at Reina and Veralia. "I expected Selene to separate you. I guess Ryan did that job for her."

Veralia huffed. "You were using us?!"

Caelen smiled. "Only a little."

Reina pouted, "You’re terrible."

Caelen shrugged. "Anyway, once separated, I spiked a casual question about the bodies. Garrox panicked and dragged me away. Sedative smoke. Ryan passed out. I could’ve neutralized it, but I let it play."

"Classic villain moment," Ryan muttered. "He confessed everything."

"And that’s all I needed," Caelen finished.

Reina and Veralia tackled him suddenly. "You’re so smart, Lord Caelen!"

"Too tight—too tight!" he gasped, pinned beneath them.

Ryan sighed and looked away. "Women definitely have full control over the Lord..."

Eventually, Caelen wriggled free, breathing hard. "Anyway, the real culprit is the village head."

Ryan nodded. "No surprise there."

"But why would Garrox help him?" Veralia asked.

Caelen grew solemn. "For love. Selene lost her entire family—parents and siblings—all died the same day. People whispered that she caused it. No man wanted her. But Garrox stayed. Protected her. The village head used that."

"Manipulated their love," Reina growled. "Once I get my hands on him—"

"He won’t be the village head anymore," Caelen quipped, smirking. "He’ll be the village neck."

They burst into laughter.

Ryan pointed out the window. "There they are now."

Reina turned. "Who?"

"Garrox and Selene."

Veralia’s eyes widened. "Don’t tell me—"

"I didn’t kill them," Caelen assured. "They’re asleep in a happy illusion. I made sure of that."

Ryan smirked. "That’s more like you, my Lord."

"More or less."

Caelen stood up, stretching again. "Now then... we have a new lead."

"The library?" Reina asked.

He nodded. "Garrox gave me a location. We go tonight."

Ryan said, "Should we move now?"

"No. Night is better. If there’s a beast ready to devour us, I want to see the moonlight on its face."

Reina rolled her eyes and stood. "We’ll go prepare."

"Same here," Veralia said, following Reina.

"Good," Caelen replied. "I’m starving."

They left, and the door closed behind them.

---

Later that Night

They stood outside the motel. Moonlight bathed them in silver glow. The night was calm, but something hung in the air—like the world was holding its breath.

Caelen looked around. "Let’s go hunting."

They all nodded and moved.

Their footsteps echoed through the empty streets. The path twisted into the woods behind the village. Trees swayed gently, their branches whispering secrets.

"According to Garrox," Caelen said, scanning the dark, "the library should be..."

He trailed off.

The ground crumbled beneath them.

"Wait, wha—!" Reina cried.

A hole tore open, and they plunged.

---

Inside the Hole

Caelen hit the ground first, hard, with a loud thud.

"Ugh..."

He barely had time to stand before—

Wham!

Veralia and Reina landed right on top of him.

He groaned under the weight, muffled by Reina’s chest. "Mmmph—Reina—!"

Reina giggled, "That tickles."

Caelen struggled, coughing. "Can’t... breathe..."

Ryan landed last—on his feet like a cat. He flicked dust off his coat.

"That was a fall."

Caelen stood, brushing off dirt. "Tell me about it."

Veralia looked around. "Where are we?"

Ryan stepped forward, squinting. "I think... this is it. The library. It was buried underneath."

Caelen stepped toward the rusted iron gate in front of them. He pushed, and the gate creaked open with a shrill groan.

Inside the Library

A wave of cold hit them.

The air was heavy with silence and dust.

Shelves lined the walls, ancient and drooping. Books stacked high—some sealed with crimson wax, others bound in leathery covers that pulsed like living things.

A chandelier made of bone and crystal hung from above, lit by flickering green flames. Shadows danced on the cracked walls, etched with runes that seemed to move when no one looked directly at them.

The scent of dried blood lingered—old, forgotten, clinging to the stone like a haunting memory.

Reina clutched her arm. "This place... is wrong."

Caelen nodded. "We’re in the right place."

Ryan said, "What do we even look for?"

"Anything creepy that suggests a ritual," Caelen said. "But considering how everything here is creepy, that might be a problem."

Ryan moved to the nearest shelf. "I’ll check this side."

"Good," Caelen said. "Let’s split up. Search shelf by shelf."

They scattered.

Caelen blew dust off a book as he opened it, coughing. "Disgusting..."

Suddenly—

"Hey!" Veralia called. "You all come look at this!"

They rushed to her side.

She pointed at the shelf.

A small section had shifted, revealing a crack.

Ryan whispered, "Is that... a hidden door?"

Caelen narrowed his eyes. "How’d you find it?"

"I moved this book here," Veralia answered.

"Smart girl." Caelen smirked. "A hidden door, huh..."

Reina asked, "So... do we go in or what?"

Caelen stepped forward.

"Let’s move."

He reached for the edge and pulled.

The door opened.

They stepped into the darkness beyond.

And the door closed.

---

Somewhere inside the room

The chamber was rough and cold, carved from black stone. Crimson veins of mana pulsed faintly through the walls, casting an eerie red glow across the space. Faint whispers echoed—guttural, ancient—and the air stank of blood and burnt herbs.

At the far end of the room, a massive goblin figure lay on a cracked obsidian slab—her skin greenish-grey, her body chained with golden runes that shimmered faintly. Her mouth hung open in a silent scream, fangs bared, her eyes shut. Long claws rested stiffly against the stone, and the faintest mist curled from her fingertips.

A glowing red seal was etched into her chest, steady and slow like a heartbeat.

In front of her, a circle had been drawn in blood. Inside it, a girl lay motionless—her body bruised, her eyes shut, her limbs spread.

Hooded men stood around the circle, chanting low and deep. Their voices rose with each second, echoing off the stone like a storm building in the distance.

The blood circle pulsed.

The girl twitched.

The chants grew louder.

Then the circle lit up—bright red—and thin red strands shot upward, wrapping around the girl. Her body lifted slowly, trembling.

Her eyes snapped open. She gasped.

In a flash, her body shattered into red particles, drawn into the glowing seal on the goblin’s chest.

The chamber fell silent.

The glyphs dimmed.

The seal pulsed once.

And the men bowed their heads and whispered together—

"Offer accepted."

A sudden blast of smoke filled the room. The hooded men turned sharply.

At the entrance, four figures stood—eyes glowing.

Caelen stepped forward with a grin, his green eyes shining.

"Seems we’re late for the party."