Beneath the Perfect Mansion
— Tsk…
She turned her face away for a moment.
— Then go.
Her eyes returned to him.
Serious.
Heavy.
— But listen carefully…
She took a step closer.
— If it goes wrong…
Her voice dropped.
Dangerous.
— I’ll come get you.
Daichi nodded.
But inside…
He already knew.
This wasn’t about rats.
And this time…
He wasn’t going to run away.
Daichi got into the carriage.
Without looking back.
It was a long journey.
Silent.
About thirty kilometers to the mansion.
With every jolt of the road…
His mind would return.
The girl.
The screams.
Erza’s gaze.
When they arrived…
Daichi got out.
And stopped.
The mansion was enormous.
Much larger than any building in the village.
High walls.
Well-maintained.
Guards were stationed.
Everything seemed… perfect.
Maids were walking back and forth.
Organized.
In silence.
The nobleman followed behind him.
Straightening his clothes.
— Over there.
He pointed.
— A back entrance.
A man approached.
— Damian is going to take you.
Daichi looked.
The man just nodded.
Expressionless.
— Do your job.
Said the nobleman.
— Eliminate all pests.
— And their nests.
He smiled slightly.
— You will be rewarded.
Daichi didn’t answer.
He just followed.
The kitchen was large.
Bustling.
But… tense.
The cooks looked at him.
— So you’re the one they sent?
— Finally.
One of them pointed.
— They’re everywhere.
Daichi began.
Mice.
Small.
Fast.
So many.
He hunted them one by one.
One.
Another.
One more.
Time passed.
Slowly.
Heavy.
He found nests.
On the ceiling.
On the walls.
In hidden compartments.
He broke wood.
He ripped out boards.
More rats.
Always more.
— That’s not normal…
He muttered.
Hundreds.
Maybe more.
The smell was strong.
Rotten.
Even so…
He kept going.
Without stopping.
The sun was already beginning to set.
And the work seemed… endless.
That’s when he saw it.
One of the compartments on the wall…
It was different.
Deeper.
Darker.
Daichi approached.
He pushed aside the pieces of wood.
Inside there…
There was an opening.
It wasn’t a nest.
It was a passageway.
Narrow.
Dark.
Leading down into the mansion’s structure.
A cold breeze came from there.
And the smell…
It was worse.
Much worse.
Daichi stood still.
Watching.
— …
This wasn’t about rats.
He took a deep breath.
He gripped his sword.
And he decided…
To investigate.
Daichi squeezed through the opening.
The space was cramped.
The walls pressed against his body on both sides.
The wood creaked at the slightest movement.
— Maybe there are more nests here…
He muttered.
Trying to convince himself.
He moved forward slowly.
With difficulty.
Each step deeper into the darkness.
The smell was getting worse.
Damp.
Rotten.
Then—
CRACK.
The floor gave way.
— AH—!
Daichi fell.
The impact was sharp.
Violent.
— Ngh…!
The pain shot up his leg.
Intense.
He clenched his teeth.
Breathing heavily.
For a moment…
He stood motionless.
— Damn…
He tried to move.
His leg hurt.
But it still responded.
With effort…
He stood up.
And then he realized.
He was no longer inside the walls.
He was… beneath the mansion.
The place was dark.
Cold.
It's too quiet.
Daichi looked around.
Railings.
Rust.
Chains.
Shackles attached to the walls.
— …
The air grew heavier.
He took a step.
The sound echoed.
Empty.
An unlit candle lay on the floor.
Beside it…
Something.
Daichi approached.
Slowly.
And stopped.
A skeleton.
Dry.
Ancient.
Still bound by chains.
— …
The silence became suffocating.
Drops of water fell from the ceiling.
Drip…
Drip…
Drip…
The floor was damp.
Cold.
— That’s not…
His voice faltered.
— This isn't a kitchen…
He looked around again.
More closely.
That wasn’t a storage room.
It was a prison.
And no one there…
Had ever come out alive.
Part 5: The Secret Behind the Door
Hours later…
Silence returned to the mansion.
The rats had vanished.
The nests destroyed.
The work… finished.
Daichi washed his hands.
The water washed away the dirt.
But not the feeling.
Something there was wrong.
Very wrong.
— You.
The voice came from behind him.
Daichi turned around.
One of the servants.
— He wants to see you.
He nodded.
Without saying a word.
The office was large.
Luxurious.
Too organized.
The nobleman was sitting.
Calm.
As if nothing had happened.
— Then…
He folded his hands.
— Is it over?
— Yes.
Short answer.
The nobleman smiled.
— Impressive.
— More efficient than I expected.
He opened a drawer.
And took out a small key.
Made of dark metal.
Intricately detailed.
— As promised…
He held the key up slightly.
— You may ask for something.
Silence.
Daichi looked at the key.
