The sun had set behind the western hills, and darkness was drawing near.
As night descended, the city of Igwynt lit up gradually, its flickering lights heralding the bustling nighttime activities. Yet, in the outskirts far from the city’s heart, the shadows deepened, undisturbed.
Before complete darkness fell, the dim twilight cloaked the western outskirts of Igwynt. On a suburban road, three carriages moved in single file. The drivers urged their horses forward, the silence broken only by the rhythmic clatter of hooves and creaking wheels.
In the front and rear carriages, each carried a man in a long coat. Their gazes were fixed on the central carriage. Inside this middle vehicle, Dorothy sat quietly, illuminated by the faint glow of a gas lamp. She held a thick book in her hands, her face an image of studious concentration—or at least, that’s what it seemed.
So this isn’t the route to the city… and we’re getting farther away, she thought.
Seated in the carriage, pretending to read, Dorothy was acutely aware of the danger she was in. But she also knew she couldn’t let her unease show. Any misstep could provoke her captors and cost her the upper hand.
One carriage ahead, one behind. They’ve stuck with me the entire time. They’re clearly working together. This approach means they want to avoid drawing too much attention, she mused, flipping a page in her book as if engrossed.
Her calm exterior masked a flurry of thoughts. It’s probably the Crimson Eucharist. They haven’t given up on capturing me. And they somehow learned I came to Igwynt and even enrolled at Saint Amanda’s. Their intelligence network must be incredibly robust.
A cold smile flickered across her face as she turned another page. No matter what they’re planning, I can’t let them take me to their base. I did leave some arrangements back at the school, but it seems no help is coming. This time, it’s up to me.
Her mind raced. If I go any further, I’ll likely encounter more accomplices, making the situation harder to control. I have to act now. Dorothy analyzed the situation carefully. One driver and one passenger in each of the front and rear carriages, plus the driver in mine—five men in total. They’re likely all armed. This won’t be easy. I need the element of surprise.
Turning another page in her book, Dorothy revealed its hidden contents—not words, but a revolver lying snugly in a hollowed-out compartment. Only the first few pages of the book were intact; the rest had been carved out to create a paper-lined slot for the weapon. It was the same revolver she had taken from Edrick when she first arrived in this world.
Knowing she was being targeted by a cult, Dorothy always carried critical items with her, even to school.
Bringing a gun to class was risky… but it’s coming in handy now, she thought with a smirk, gripping the revolver with both hands. She raised it through the front window of the carriage, aiming at the driver who sat with his back to her.
After a deep breath, she pulled the trigger.
Bang!
The sharp crack of gunfire echoed as the bullet shattered the glass and struck the driver in the back of the head, killing him instantly. At such close range, Dorothy executed the shot with deadly precision.
The gunshot startled the drivers of the other two carriages, as well as the horses, which reared and neighed in panic. Dorothy’s carriage careened as the horse bolted uncontrollably. Wasting no time, Dorothy activated the necromantic power of her Corpse Marionette Ring, animating the lifeless driver.
Under the ring’s influence, the driver’s corpse moved stiffly, gripping the reins and attempting to steady the panicked horse. However, his efforts were largely futile.
Damn it, I don’t know how to drive a carriage, Dorothy realized. Though she could control the corpse, her lack of driving skills meant the marionette couldn’t manage either.
Thinking quickly, she commanded the corpse to draw its revolver and shoot the frenzied horse. Three shots rang out, and the horse collapsed with a pained cry. Before it hit the ground, Dorothy reactivated the Corpse Marionette Ring, imbuing the horse with necromantic energy. Its body, now under her control, steadied itself and turned the carriage around, galloping back down the road toward the city. The sudden maneuver allowed Dorothy’s carriage to narrowly dodge one of the pursuing carriages.
“Thomas, what are you doing?!” one of the men shouted.
“Come back, Thomas! Where are you going?!” The drivers of the two carriages behind shouted in confusion.
When their calls went unanswered, they spurred their horses to give chase.
Now, Dorothy’s animated driver and horse led the charge, while the other two carriages pursued relentlessly. A chaotic chase through the dim countryside ensued.
Seeing their quarry speeding away, the passengers in the trailing carriages opened their sunroofs and emerged, guns in hand. They shouted threats.
“Stop, Thomas! Or we’ll shoot!”
Their warnings fell on deaf ears. When Dorothy’s carriage didn’t slow, the men opened fire, bullets ricocheting off the carriage and thudding into the wood. One narrowly missed Dorothy’s ear as it whizzed into the cabin.
Damn… staying inside is too dangerous, Dorothy thought. Wrapping her hands in her sleeves, she smashed the already-damaged front window with her book. She climbed out onto the driver’s seat, finding relative safety in the open air.
From her perch, Dorothy directed the marionette driver to climb onto the roof, gripping the edges for balance while firing at their pursuers. Gunfire echoed through the dark countryside as the chase escalated into a full-blown shootout.