In the Land of Leadale - Volume 2 - Chapter Ep

Epilogue 

Several shadows shuddered in the darkness. 

The location was within Felskeilo’s city center. The roads were paved with stone, yet a dozen or so trees still lined the area. They were a head taller than a two-story building, and the branches and foliage that stretched out on either side provided cooling shade. It was a beloved plaza where citizens gathered in the afternoon as they pleased and enjoyed a moment of respite. 

Mothers with young children met here for idle chitchat. 

Elderly couples who passed down the leadership of their families to their children would stop by to enjoy a brand-new lease on life. 

Troublemakers who had been kicked out of their old haunt due to redevelopment gathered under the shade of the trees to plan their tricks with a certain prince in disguise. 

And once night fell, and there was only the moonlight to guide people, the shadows of the trees began to take on a particularly eerie quality. No one would willingly enter this place once it got dark, not even the patrol guards. They would rather go to neighborhoods full of rowdy bars than wander around the plaza at night. 

By all rights, it was not a place where shadowy figures could run rampant. But no matter how frightened the guards were, they nonetheless made their way inside. 

For whatever reason, on this night they took only a quick glance around and made no attempt to enter. 

Under one of those trees… 

An unnatural shadow perched atop a branch among the foliage that reached toward the heavens. Normally, such a branch would bend at the slightest touch of a small bird resting its wings, yet even the weight of a human did not sway it. No one would be able to tell if anything was there even with the shadow present. 

There were similar shadows on the treetops surrounding the plaza. 

One was as big as three people. However, the number of arms it carried proved it was not human in any capacity. 

Another had a figure whose humanity was also highly suspect. It had no neck and clearly lacked the fleshiness of a person. 

Opposite these were two shadows that one would still call humanlike. However, their ears were long and pointed, and they had horns. They were in no way human. 

The silence carried on, until finally one of the horned, human-looking shadows spoke. 

“It’s about time we make ourselves known and get on the nobles’ nerves. We’ll use servants instead of sending out our own subordinates. Let’s make quick work of them.” 

The speaker was a man of considerable age, his voice quiet enough that only the one beside him could hear. But even the leaves were silent tonight, and his voice therefore traveled far. 

The odd shadows across from him nodded. The larger one went “Gu-gu-gu” as its body trembled with laughter. 

“We can decide the methods, right?” the other, thinner odd shadow asked the raspy voice. 

The humanlike shadow gave a small nod. “Off you go, then.” 

Upon receiving this brief command, the strange shadows disappeared into the treetops as if they had been swallowed whole. 

Only two shadows remained. The long-earned, horned figure who had said nothing thus far looked over its shoulder. The soft contours of her body marked her as a woman. 

“Are you all right with not meeting them?” she asked. 

“It would be pointless.” 

His reply was curt, and he disappeared into the treetops just as easily as the deformed shadows. Her own shadow simultaneously vanished as well. 

The wind blew through the trees and shook their branches as if it had only just remembered how to do so.