The Fake Saintess and the Elf Warrior

"Don't panic!"

Naka's resolute roar silenced Tatsia, who was about to run after her. Hearing that Naka was nearby and unharmed, Tatsia withdrew her footing and focused all her energy on maintaining her balance. Soon, the tremors subsided. Once the dust settled, Tatsia noticed a door had suddenly appeared where the wall had been on the right side of the giant statue. Unlike the other wooden doors in the building, this was an iron door.

"The mechanism here is the weight-sensing device beneath these stone sculptures. The weight each sensor must withstand is essentially a digital code, serving as the unlocking mechanism for this secret passage. Too heavy or too light a weight won't work, so each stone sculpture has a different weight."

"Naka ​​said calmly. The reason she could figure this out so quickly was simply because the Demon King's castle also had similar mechanisms to prevent adventurers from intruding."

"Naka-nee! It really is just like you said!...Huh?"

Seeing the long-awaited new path finally appear before her, Tatsia excitedly ran towards it. But when she actually placed her hands on the iron gate, she noticed something strange: no matter how hard she pushed, she couldn't open it. She also thought she might be facing the wrong way, so she tried grabbing both doorknobs and pulling hard, but the door wouldn't budge an inch. Tatsia let out a surprised sound.

"What's going on? Is this door fake?"

"It's only natural that it can't be opened. Have you forgotten that there's something very important in the story?"

Naka walked to the statues of the king and queen, who had not yet returned to their positions, and gently knocked on them.

"In this story, the king and queen met their end in death. You're just leaving them here perfectly intact; that's not what the story says."

"...I see"

Even Tatya understood the meaning behind Naka's words. She raised her longsword, aiming it at the two statues placed side by side.

"ha!"

With a swift swing of the longsword, the two statues were cleaved in two at the waist. The plaster casts of their upper bodies crashed to the ground with a dull cracking sound. But mixed in with the cracking sound were two crisp metallic clangs.

Naka crouched down and brushed aside the fragments of plaster, quickly pulling out two objects that gleamed brightly in the moonlight. They were two keys.

"Well done. I was worried you might have cut the key in the wrong place, in which case we'd have to break down the door."

"Don't make fun of me, Sister Naka..."

"Now that we have the key, let's hurry up and leave. We shouldn't stay here any longer."

Below each of the two doorknobs on the iron gate was a keyhole. Naka carefully checked and found the corresponding keyholes for the two keys, then inserted them and turned them simultaneously. "Click," the iron gate opened. A new path appeared before them beyond the gate.

"It worked! But... why did you have to design it so complicated?"

"have no idea"

So, if the residents wanted to get to the third floor, did they really have to go through all this trouble every time? Tatya couldn't understand the purpose. Naka said she didn't know, but she knew in her heart that such a complicated mechanism must have been intentional. There must be important information behind it that the homeowner had spent so much money to create, information they didn't want outsiders to know. Most likely, it was something that had been weighing on Naka's mind...

Thinking of this, Naka quickened her pace. Ahead lay unknown territory; who knew what awaited them? Tatya followed Naka, wary of their surroundings. Heading to the next area.

But before leaving, Tatia turned back to look at the chapel one last time.

Having survived the perilous first floor, they expected a major battle on the second floor. But what stood before them was merely a simple puzzle. What was the purpose of this chapel? Tatya didn't ask, knowing that even if she did, Naka wouldn't be able to answer. She simply kept it as an unsolved mystery, keeping it to herself.

But why? Even though she safely passed the second level, Tatia had a very ominous feeling...

The chapel seemed to occupy most of the second floor. The newly appeared corridor was narrow and short; after a few steps, another staircase appeared ahead. The third floor was now in sight.

What would the third floor be like? What would appear there? As they walked up the stairs, they were all making their own guesses and imaginings. When they stepped onto the last step and the answer was finally revealed, they were all speechless with astonishment.

Tatya never dreamed such a scene could exist in the world. The outcome was roughly the same as Naka had guessed, but she never imagined it would reach such a scale and extent.

Before them lay a massive laboratory filled with countless culture tanks, various surgical instruments and equipment, and books scattered across the floor inscribed with strange writing.

Some of the culture tanks were broken, but those that remained intact contained many things: organs, wolf demons, and naked humans. The wolf demons and humans, their fates unknown, floated with their eyes closed in the strange liquid.

Radial bloodstains were everywhere—on the floor, on the surgical equipment, on the walls. What had happened here was self-evident.

Unlike Naka, who was somewhat prepared for the possibility of biological experiments being conducted here, Tatya had absolutely no idea whatsoever. When such a surreal and illogical scene unfolded before her, she could do nothing but stare blankly. Her mind was a complete blank. After a long while, she could only manage to utter a single question.

"What, what is this, Sister Naka..."

"You can tell just by looking."

"No, I don't know! Why, why is there such a place? What exactly is this place...?"

While the inexperienced Tatia was still in a panic, Naka had already gone inside and started rummaging through the books on the floor.

"Tch, what kind of script is this?"

However, most of the books were written in a language Naka couldn't understand, offering no useful information whatsoever. Frustrated, Naka threw the book behind her, landing it at Tatsia's feet.

Tatya picked up the book. Naka didn't recognize the words, but Tatya knew them.

"Sister Naka, this book is written in Elvish."

"What? Elvish?"

Naka quickly returned to Tatya's side.

"What does it say?"

"Let me see... This looks like a monster encyclopedia, used to introduce the physical structure and habits of various monsters..."

If that's the case, then it's not a book worth paying attention to. Naka went back into the laboratory to continue searching for clues. She gave any books she couldn't understand to Tatsia for translation. It turned out that most of the books Naka couldn't understand were written in Elvish.

The books themselves were hardly anything special. But the Elvish language made her very uneasy. Very few humans understood Elvish. Furthermore, the books themselves didn't contain any information unique to elves; similar books could be found in many human bookstores. Even humans who understood Elvish had no need to specifically use Elvish books as a reference.

In other words, the person conducting the experiment here is probably an elf.

"Sister Naka, why are there so many books in Elvish here? Could it be...?"

Finally, even Tatsia began to care about this matter. Her race should have been on the verge of extinction; apart from herself and her father, there should be no other elven survivors. If she had to say, there was only one exception… Thinking of this, a chill inexplicably crept into Tatsia's heart, and she dared not think any further.

"This is... a research report!"

Amidst countless incomprehensible characters, finally, some text Naka could understand appeared. It was a torn report written in human language. Naka took out the other sheet she possessed and compared it; the tears matched perfectly. Only when the two sheets were pieced together did they form a complete report. The entire report's content was now crystal clear.

"!!"

After reading the information above, Naka couldn't help but gasp. Although she had a premonition, she never expected that someone would actually do something so contrary to basic morality and ethics. And there were even numerous successful cases of this.

At this moment, Tatsia also came over. Naka didn't show much surprise when she entered the laboratory, and she quickly started looking for something on the floor after entering the room. It seemed like this was the place she was looking for. Recalling Naka's mention of "plan change" on the first floor, Tatsia believed that Naka must know something that she didn't. She boldly asked...

"First published on 705u.com - Book Club"

"Sister Naka... what exactly are you doing here? What are you looking for? You just said you wanted to change the plan... did you already know about this kind of laboratory?"

Naka hadn't told Tatsia about this. But now it was clear she could no longer hide it from her. Naka simply told her the truth.

"Do you remember that wild boar we first met?"

"Wild boar? Ah, that's it..."

A boar-type monster, scientifically known as Inosishi. Tatya and Naka met because of a dispute over ownership of that boar. But the boar, which should have died, suddenly revived and went berserk. This is exactly what Naka was referring to.

"What happened to that wild boar?"

"Look at this."

Rather than explaining it herself, it was more direct to let Tatsia see it for herself. Naka handed the report to Tatsia. Tatsia carefully read through the horrifying contents written on it and was speechless.

"Monster body modification... How could anyone be doing something so horrific..."

However, what Naka gave her was a copy of the report given to her by the orc general Kemre. It contained nothing that could reveal Naka's identity, only records of several monsters going out of control. It wasn't the report Naka found in the mansion. The contents of that report were far more terrifying.

"Didn't you just wonder what the purpose of such a large chapel on the second floor was?"

"Yes, yes, but how did you know, Naka?"

Naka saw right through Tatsia's inner thoughts. She had initially been concerned about these issues as well, but after reading the report, everything became clear.

"Because I'm puzzled too. This mansion is full of signs of damage, but there's no blood. Such a large house couldn't possibly be a place where one person lived. If many people lived here but were attacked by wolf demons and wiped out, the absence of blood doesn't make any sense. Those wolf demons wouldn't know how to, and wouldn't, clean up bloodstains. That chapel was clearly prepared for gathering large numbers of people at once. So where did all those people go?"

As Naka finished speaking, Tatsia's unease grew stronger. She didn't want to come to that conclusion, but it was the only possible conclusion...

"This mansion itself was a massive experimental facility built for human experimentation. And the humans who should have been here were the wolf demons we've encountered along the way. In other words... someone transformed humans into wolf demons!"

The fact that Tatsia couldn't believe was finally revealed by Naka. This wasn't just her speculation. The report in her hand recorded everything in detail.

The researchers who wrote this report captured many innocent villagers and lone soldiers from nearby Naku Village and other villages, imprisoning them in this mansion. Then came the cruel experiments. Many died during the experiments. Those who survived were transformed into monsters almost identical to wolf demons, but generally possessing abilities far superior to ordinary wolf demons. This is precisely why the wolf demons' strength exceeded Naka's expectations.

"Who...who could have done something so cruel..."

Tatia asked through gritted teeth. She couldn't believe an elf could commit such a heinous act. It couldn't possibly be that person's doing... She hoped Naka would say a different name. But in the end, her hopes were dashed.

"The signature is Vilia, so it should be a woman."

"No way! You're lying to me!"

Upon hearing the last name, Tatsia roared angrily. Her sudden outburst caught Naka off guard.

"Takia? What's wrong?"

Whether it was sadness or anger, Tatsia kept pounding her head and tearing at her hair. When she spoke, her voice trembled uncontrollably.

"No, it can't be...it can't be her...because, because...Velia is my mother!"

"....What?"

"Give me!"

Tatya snatched the report from Naka's still-dazed hand. She hoped Naka was lying. She didn't want to meet that person again under these circumstances... But in the end, she still saw her mother's name at the very end of the report. Disheartened, she palely read out the last paragraph.

"For the next month, I will be experimenting with my most perfect creation. For it, I'm willing to abandon my family. I swear on my honor, this creation will satisfy you. Researcher: Vilia..."

After reading it, Tatsia's hand fell limply to her side. Perhaps it was fortunate that her mother's disappearance wasn't due to being captured by bad people. But the word "abandonment" pierced Tatsia's heart like a sharp blade.

Years ago, she threw herself into her father's arms, asking if her mother had abandoned her. Her father simply smiled and said it was impossible. That scene was still vivid in Tatsia's mind. She never imagined that it was her own father who had deceived her. Whom should she believe? Whom should she not believe? How should she face all of this now? She didn't know. She just stood there, stunned.

Naka, however, was different. She was more interested in the preceding content than in her role as a researcher.

"The most perfect work? Could it be...?"

Just then, a powerful force suddenly slammed into the wall, producing a loud noise and shaking.

decisive battle

From the day Tatia could remember, she regarded her mother as her pride, no less than her father, a warrior.

Mother: Vilia is a high-ranking saintess. Her father said that her mother's dream from a young age was to heal the sick and wounded. She not only relied on healing magic but also used her profound knowledge of biology and medicine to help elves and humans suffering from illness and injury. The elven race possesses unique abilities that humans cannot learn, so even incurable diseases and terminal illnesses that human saintesses could not cure were easily treated by her mother. Therefore, not only the elven kingdom but also many humans sought her medical help. Tadiya was proud of her mother. In her eyes, her mother was the savior of all patients, an angel in white.

If they found her mother, her father's illness could surely be cured. Then the three of them could start a happy life together... Was this too much to ask of a girl who longed for a complete family and a peaceful life? Tatsia thought it shouldn't be. But why wasn't it?

Images of every day spent with her mother replayed endlessly in Tatsia's mind. Were they all illusions? Behind the cured patients, were they the research results of countless innocent lives lost at her mother's hands? Was her mother's smile actually a mask of impatience, a desire to distance herself as quickly as possible? The questions multiplied, and Tatsia's mind grew increasingly blank. She couldn't understand, and she dared not think about it. She had no other way but to empty her mind and escape reality.

"...Hey! Hey! Tatya! Stop spacing out!"

But she was eventually pulled back to the harsh reality. Naka was forcefully slapping Tatsia's cheeks.

"Na... Naka-jie?"

"I know you're feeling terrible right now. But there's no time for you to wallow in your feelings, get ready for battle!"

A tremendous sound and tremor emanated from the wall in front of them. With each tremor, the cracks in the wall widened. It wouldn't be long before something burst through the wall.

For a fleeting moment, Tatia considered giving up and becoming food for the wolf demons. What meaning was there for her, abandoned by her own mother, to continue living?

But seeing Naka beside her, and thinking of her father far away at the base, Tatsia knew this wasn't the time to give up. Her mother had abandoned her, but there were still people on her side. She suppressed her grief, temporarily putting her mother's situation aside, and raised her sword, awaiting the arrival of the one on the other side of the wall.

"Sister Naka, this is probably..."

"Yes, the wolf demons here aren't this energetic. This guy is the leader, and the one your mother said was her most perfect creation, right?"

"..."

Previously, Tatia had only considered the creature about to break through the wall as the quest objective; defeating it would scatter the nearby wolf demons, allowing Naka to return and complete the quest. But now, Tatia had a different idea.

The most perfect creation? Is this it? For it, her mother was willing to abandon herself and her father? Then Tatsia was determined to see just how good this so-called perfect creation really was. Tatsia, whose sole purpose had always been to complete missions and collect rewards, was now unusually filled with fighting spirit. She wasn't fighting for money; she was fighting for the sake of fighting.

If I can overcome this challenge, I can prove to my mother that she didn't need to abandon me for it. If my mother looks at me with new respect, she might give up these harmful experiments and come back to me.

This feeling is like that of an eldest child who feels their parents' love has been stolen by their younger siblings. To be precise, it's a kind of jealousy. Although naive and wishful thinking, at this moment, this thought is the best motivation. Tatiana can now unleash potential she could never normally achieve. She impatiently pointed her sword at the wall and roared...

"Bring it on! I'll kill you!"

As if in response to Tatia's declaration of war, the fragile wall cracked completely in the next instant.

What appeared there was a colossal creature two or three times larger than a typical wolf demon, nearly five meters tall. Its entire body was covered in green fur, and blood dripped from its claws and teeth. This size and fur color, unlike any other wolf demon, was enough for Tatsia and the others to believe that this was the leader of the wolf demons.

The green wolf demon's chest shone brightly. A purple magic circle was imprinted there. The pattern, identical to its emblem, indicated that it was also one of the enhanced and modified monsters. Naka immediately reminded Tatsia to pay attention to this.

"Aim at that magic circle. Even if you cut off its head, it won't help if you don't attack there."

"I see!"

With that, Tatsia rushed forward, assuming a fighting stance. Seeing Tatsia blocking its way, the green wolf seemed to also feel a surge of fighting spirit. It let out a deafening roar, brandishing its sharp claws as it charged towards Tatsia.

"Well done!"

Tatsia was more than happy to see the green wolf attack. She wanted to see if this monster was worth her mother abandoning her family, spending years, and killing many people to complete it. But Naka immediately sensed something was wrong and quickly spoke up to stop Tatsia.

"Don't rush! That guy's roar just now..."