"So this story—you believe it to be true?" Sunflower asked.
"Obviously." Dawn leaned forward. "Did you not see all the things the witch said would happen? They've all come true. Food is a big problem in Tresia. Many people are malnourished and have grown weak, which led to widespread disease. Just because you live in the palace doesn't mean you shouldn't keep tabs on the locals and what's going on outside."
Dawn sat up straighter. "You can consider this training to become the next chief. Anyway, moving on… I believe that boy is the disaster the witch unleashed upon us." He crossed his fingers and awaited Sunflower's reaction.
"Him!?" she burst out. "He doesn't even have his memory and doesn't understand magic! How is he a threat? Aren't you being OVERLY CAUTIOUS?" She emphasized the last words loudly, trying to taunt him.
"Overly cautious, you say?" Dawn gave a faint smile.
"That's what my master and the village's former chief, Dust, used to tell me."
He stood and walked toward his office window as he looks at the pit of soil where Lance's body had been buried.
"Don't underestimate the curse of a witch."
The words sent a shiver down Sunflower's spine.
"So… in five days, if nothing happens, then we're safe?" she asked, clinging to a shred of hope.
Dawn shook his head. "No. If nothing happens, it means the curse has moved on—Lance was only partially corrupted. The curse will find someone else." He continued solemnly, "It could take years for the next one to appear… or just a few weeks."
"Then is there no way to avoid this?" Sunflower asked, desperate.
"The curse grows stronger over time," Dawn said. "If we keep killing the cursed, like we did with Lance, then the next one will be stronger. Eventually, one will destroy us all. The only way to stop this is to break the curse. But according to the journal left by Chief Dust, they once summoned the best mage from the West. Even he couldn't break it—and that was two hundred years ago." His voice dropped. "Now, hardly any mage dares try without risking their life."
Sunflower looked down, hiding her eyes from view. "So… your village is doomed. And there's nothing we can do?"
"Not everything is bad," Dawn said, trying to reassure her. "Lance was weak. And the ones who come after him—at least the first few—might be weak too. If the curse resurfaces slowly, over years, the village might survive for centuries. But if the cursed appear weeks apart… we might only have six months."
"I'm guessing leaving the village and splitting up wouldn't break the curse?" Sunflower asked, a sliver of hope flickering.
"No. That would be worse. The curse would make us suffer individually, making us easier targets."
She thought for a moment, then her eyes widened. "Wait—you said if nothing happens in five days, the curse moves on. So… what are we supposed to expect in those five days?"
THUD!
The room went silent. Sunflower and Dawn turned sharply toward the sound—it came from the safe.
"Why are my worst fears coming true?" Dawn whispered.
"What did you hide in there?" Sunflower asked cautiously.
Dawn's face turned grim. "What else? It's Lance's head."
THUD!
This time, the safe was knocked over, landing flat on the floor with a loud crash.
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
The pounding grew louder. More deliberate. Alive.
THUD!
The sound continued, louder, heavier—relentless.
"Hurry—take your men and burn the corpse we just buried," Dawn whispered.
"Why are you whispering?" Sunflower asked, puzzled.
"Why else? Because I don't know if he can hear us. Maybe he can, maybe he can't—but we must stay alert. By now, his corpse is probably in motion just like the head. They're trying to reconnect. Don't let them." Dawn's voice was tight with urgency.
Sunflower nodded and dashed out of his office, shouting for her men. She grabbed a shovel and hurried toward the spiral staircase.
It took twenty seconds for her men to arrive. Together, they began digging with fierce desperation.
Their expressions turned to horror.
The body was gone.
"Shit!" Sunflower threw her shovel to the ground and turned back toward the stairs. "Keep looking for the body—even if it takes all night! And burn it the moment you find it!"
"Yes, ma'am!" the men replied, digging deeper into the pit and expanding the search around it.
Meanwhile, in Dawn's office...
The sound had stopped.
"Why did it suddenly stop?" Dawn wondered to himself. "I should check."
He bent down, lifting the safe with effort. Sweat streamed down his forehead.
"Truly… a witch's curse must not be taken lightly," he muttered.
The safe had cracked open from underneath, along with the wooden floor. The head was gone.
"It escaped… but I can't follow. The hole's too narrow." Dawn's mind raced, trying to formulate a plan.
Sunflower burst through the door, her eyes wide. She saw the broken floor and quickly pieced together what happened—but before she could act, Dawn raised his hand.
"Stop."
She froze, eyes locked on him.
"There's no point," he said with a sigh. "It's already escaped. Tell your men to stop digging—it's a waste of time."
"Are you serious!? If that thing gets out, the village is in danger!" Sunflower shouted, trying to change his mind.
"I know that," Dawn replied calmly, "but I also know it's no use. You saw it yourself. This curse—it's alive. Intelligent. There's no way it would let itself be found so easily. By now, it's probably fifty meters underground, reattaching its head and healing the damage from smashing into the safe and the floor."
He rubbed his forehead, deep in thought.
"I have a question," Sunflower said. "What if we capture Lance the next time he comes near the village? Wouldn't that stop the curse from moving on?"
"No. It won't work." Dawn shook his head. "The curse doesn't follow logic we can understand. There isn't a rule—it can't kill Lance directly to replace him. But it can also manipulate events, twist luck, or even use sheer force to free him. Keeping him far away is our best chance."
Sunflower stayed quiet.
"Go get some rest," Dawn said. "This is just the beginning. We don't know how long it'll take for Lance to fully recover or come back. Rest while you can. I need you at full strength."
"Yes, Boss," she said, turning to leave. She shut the door behind her.
Pearl Town – Crownshade Division 6
Knock, knock.
"Come in," said the chief.
"Good evening, Chief," the commander said, stepping inside.
"Oh—Commander! Already finished?" the chief looked surprised.
"Yes, but not because I'm efficient. There's simply very little information on the West. I asked my contact at HQ to pull all related reports, but with the busy season, it'll take about a month to arrive."
He handed the report over.
The chief flipped through it with a frown.
"This is useless. Just food supply routes and a large forest. No intel, no minerals, nothing useful for gaining the upper hand over the villagers."
"What should we do?" the commander asked.
The chief tapped the report thoughtfully.
"A month is too long. Maybe Rose and Henry need help. We can't wait that long." He stood. "Commander—since you just compiled this, you're the most suitable to go. Take twenty of my men and be cautious. If your life—or theirs—is at risk, retreat immediately. The mission isn't worth your lives."
"Understood, sir. I'll leave first thing tomorrow." The commander saluted.
The chief nodded as the door closed behind him.