Part 3 THE TRAVELLER CHAPTER XXVI Don’t Go Out

　　Unlike the mainland cities of Birkeland, Tingen, and Port Prizefighter, colonial islands such as Bansi lacked gas, and streetlights were sparse on both sides, with candles shrouded in glass, waiting to be lit.

　　Unfortunately, the wind had risen early today, and no one had been out since early evening, so the candles didn’t give off their light at the scheduled time, and the roads were dark, lit purely by the scarlet moon that loomed in the clouds.

　　The gale was much calmer than before, and at least Klein didn’t need to be distracted from his hat anymore.

　　A light mist filled the area, and the surrounding predominantly two-story houses were dark with closed windows and doors, as if they hadn’t been lived in for a long time.

　　Holding a dimly lit lantern in one hand and a sturdy cane in the other, Klein walked briskly through the extremely quiet street, approaching the direction of the Lime Diner pointed out by Danitz “The Flame”.

　　Woo!

　　A wind swirled through the mist, and Klein felt a chill on his neck.

　　He raised the right palm of his cane, making the collar of his double-breasted long gown straight and erect, completely covering his neck.

　　It was at this time that an image suddenly surfaced within his mind!

　　Within the image, a black shadow the size of a watermelon leapt out of the mist and instantly pounced on his ear.

　　Without doing any thinking, Klein counter swung his arm and lower arm and jerked out his cane.

　　Bang!

　　The sudden black shadow had just gotten close enough to be smacked in the front and sent flying backwards for a good length of time.

　　With the light of the horse lamp, Klein finally saw clearly what it was that had attacked him.

　　It was a head!

　　It was a head that had lost its torso and was hanging from its esophagus!

　　That head floated in mid-air, its face seemed to be dried up cheese with moldy spots, and the skin that flowed with yellowish-green liquid was clearly sagging and drooping, but it outlined the outline of the bones.

　　There were only two black holes left where its nose had been, its eyes were more white than black and bulged outwards, and its lips were mostly rotted, revealing sharply polished teeth mixed with blood and water!

　　Shit! “Blaze” Daniz cursed as his heart trembled slightly at the sight.

　　Even though he had explored many treasures and fought many monsters, something this disgusting and frightening was rare.

　　He had a classical revolver in his hand at some point, and pressed his elbow down, about to fire.

　　At that moment, he saw a pure and clear light fall from the sky and land on the head that had been jerked a little stiff.

　　Ah!

　　A miserable scream was issued, and that dried and hideous head quickly evaporated and dissolved into ashes, leaving no trace whatsoever.

　　Really weak! Daniz subconsciously commented.

　　Germaine Sparrow this monster is the “sun” pathway? It doesn’t look like it …… should be relying on magical items …… Just now, before I realized it, Germaine Sparrow had already discovered the enemy and attacked, it’s really strong …… Danez quickly turned his attention to another aspect. shifted his attention to another aspect.

　　His thoughts had just had a moment to sink in when out of the corner of his eye, he saw a similar head flying out of the side fog and attempting to bite at his neck.

　　Bang!

　　Daniz pulled the trigger without panic.

　　The brass-colored bullet accurately hit the moldy head, shattering the other party’s brow, leaning back, and stalling in midair.

　　Immediately afterward, a ball of crimson rapidly swelled within Danez’s vapidly held left palm, and flames began to linger.

　　He leaned forward, dragged his arm, and “threw” the flame, letting it hit the rigid head with a bang.

　　As the flames rose and burned red, the skin of the head quickly scorched and blackened, emitting a cauldron sound.

　　However, it lunged forward as if unaffected, its mouth wide open and about to bite Daniz’s neck.

　　Such a change is somewhat unexpected Daniz, almost too late to dodge, busy shrinking his neck and body, rolling forward, barely dodged this fatal damage.

　　Inside his left palm, once again there is a red presentation, but the flames did not expand, on the contrary, inward contraction, layers and layers.

　　In a second’s work, Daniz was in the midst of dodging and threw the orange fireball that was only the size of an eye.

　　Controlled by his spirit, the fireball drew an arc halfway and flew accurately into the mouth of the shriveled head.

　　Boom!

　　With a flash of fire, the explosion propped up the flying head from the inside out, countless fragments along with blood spilling out into the surroundings.

　　Finally resolved …… Danez rolled over and stood up, breathing a sigh of relief.

　　He realized that this kind of monster that only has its head left is actually not easy to deal with, and Germaine Sparrow easily and simply killed one.

　　It was mainly because of the extraordinary ability of the “Sun” domain to restrain similar things! Danitz added in his mind with disdain.

　　As his thoughts swirled, he glanced sideways and realized that Germaine Sparrow hadn’t waited for him at all, and was running off into the distance at a trot with his cane and lantern, his black gown slightly raised back.

　　…… Shit! Wait for me …… wait for me! Daniz’s pupils constricted and he took large steps to catch up, not daring to stay by himself in the thinning mist and bleakness.

　　……

　　Inside the Lime Restaurant.

　　Donna looked at the white porcelain bowl set before her and the dark red blood clots held within it, remembering the strange sense of horror those customers had just felt as they ate, and the gurgling blood that had risen from the headless cloaked man’s neck.

　　Her throat wriggled and she nearly vomited.

　　Donna decided to forgo this delicacy, even if the strong aroma had burrowed into her nose.

　　She casually ate some salad and mashed potatoes and waited for the wind to stop outside, only to realize how slowly the wall clock moved on the wall.

　　Time passed as tables of customers checked out one after another and left the second floor, the place growing quieter and emptier.

　　Thud thud thud! Donna just found the sound of them stepping down the wooden steps so annoying.

　　Finally, she realized that the trees outside were no longer swaying, and the ground was littered with all sorts of debris.

　　”The wind has stopped!” Donna said excitedly, pointing to the window.

　　Her father, Uldi Blanche, the import/export merchant, pinched his forehead and growled lowly:

　　”Donna, where are your table manners?”

　　”But ……,” Donna was about to argue when Krivis raised his palm and pressed it downward:

　　”It’s 7:40 and dinner is winding down, we’d better get back as soon as possible, Banshee Harbor has a lot of bad legends about the night.”

　　Every merchant who lived off the sea was more or less superstitious, and even more so when it came to folklore, so Uldi agreed to Krivis’s proposal after a little contemplation.

　　He quickly paid the bill, led his family and bodyguards, and descended to the first floor.

　　Crivis was about to open the door and explore when a room next to him suddenly creaked, startling Donna into nearly screaming and taking her brother Denton’s hand in a death grip.

　　A figure stepped out, glanced at them, and said flatly:

　　”It’s fogging up, best not to go out.”

　　The figure wore a black tuxedo, no hat, a pair of glasses on the bridge of his nose, and a fleshy, almost round face.

　　”Mr. Fox, what is your point?” Clovis recognized it as the owner of the Lime Restaurant.

　　Fox said without much expression:

　　”In Banshee, on nights of fog and drastic weather changes, it’s best not to go out and respond to knocks on the door, or else, bad things may, happen to, you know, you.”

　　”Someone has already left in front of us!” Donna said loudly and emphatically as she became more and more frightened by what she heard.

　　Fox pointed to the various rooms on the first floor:

　　”They chose to stay overnight.”

　　Creak! Clang!

　　As soon as Fox’s words were out of his mouth, a door to one of the rooms opened, either lightly or heavily, and the gentlemen and ladies from earlier came to the doorway, gazing silently and quietly at Donna’s family, who were trying to leave.

　　”Perhaps we should respect the customs here.” Uldi Blanche said with deliberation, “Staying here for the night does not delay our embarkation.”

　　According to Krivis’ original experience, he should have followed Fox’s advice and stayed at the Lime Restaurant at such a time, but he thought of Germaine Sparrow’s reminder, a reminder from a mighty adventurer who could keep watch over Danez the Flame!

　　There are dangers lurking in Banshee Harbor …… didn t specifically refer to whether it was indoors or outdoors …… Cleves made a quick decision and said to Uldi:

　　”Mr. Blanche, please trust my expertise.”

　　”Yeah, I’ve seen a lot of folklore that doesn’t work substantially.” Tigre, another bouncer, agreed.

　　Before his words left his mouth, there was a sudden thumping sound at the restaurant’s main door, while continuous screams were vaguely heard in the distance.

　　”Look guys, there’s a knock, don’t respond.” Fox ventured in a not-so-quick tone.

　　Uldi shuddered inwardly and was about to choose to stay the night.

　　Donna, on the other hand, glanced at the gentlemen and ladies standing in their respective doorways, only to find their eyes indescribably strange.

　　”No, we have to go back!” The young girl emphasized in a near scream.

　　Krivis also felt the unspeakable oppression and the cold that seeped from within his bones, and once again emphasized his opinion:

　　”If there’s a problem, it’s more dangerous to stay here; the ship has guns and sailors with guns and knives.”

　　This reasoning convinced Uldi, and he signaled Crivis to open the door.

　　Crivis waited until the pounding subsided, and with one hand on the gun and the other pulling back, opened the door.

　　Outside, the wind was low, the darkness deep and foggy, as if harboring many, many monsters.

　　Donna pulled her brother, Denton, behind Cecil and took one step out of the restaurant.

　　Clang!

　　The door of the restaurant suddenly closed, making it impossible for them to ever return.

　　At this time, they were like ships in a storm, with only themselves left in heaven and earth.

　　Carrying a horse lamp, Cleves walked in front and suddenly saw something fly over, smashing into the ground and rolling a few times.

　　Donna and the others subconsciously looked at it, and there was a sound of horror.

　　It was a dried and moldy head!

　　Immediately afterward, they saw light.

　　The light descended from the sky, and the disgusting head then dissolved away.

　　”This …… “Uldi and the others swallowed saliva with difficulty, and their bodies shuddered.

　　Just then, they saw a dim light approaching from the depths of the mist.

　　It was a figure carrying a marquee, a half-height silk bowler hat neatly fitted, a long double-breasted gown the color of the black night, and a well-defined face that revealed a distinct sense of sharpness in its coldness.

　　”Uncle Sparrow!” Donna and Denton exclaimed offhandedly.

　　They felt only a momentary peace of mind.

　　Crane threw his horse-lamp to Danez beside him, carried his cane over, and calmly, without seeing anything unusual, addressed Cleves and the others:

　　”Go to the telegraph office first.

　　”Where are the Dimmersdales?”