“Hilda, it’s unfortunate, but life doesn’t always go the way you want it to. Sometimes you’re forced to walk a path you don’t desire. However, as you walk, you may come to realize it’s not as bad as you thought. Now, let’s stop wasting time and go fetch the young master. Don’t try anything foolish, or I won’t stand idly by. Surely, you can manage that much?”

Hubert’s tone was calm, almost soothing, but it left me with no choice but to bite down on my lip in frustration. Images of Joanne—bleeding, begging for forgiveness, and trembling in fear of the demon—kept flashing through my mind. Even if her days were numbered, wasn’t this far too cruel a way to die? As I stood frozen, unable to leave Joanne behind, Hubert took a step out of the hospice’s shadowed entrance.

“Don’t let human compassion drive you to make the wrong choice, Hilda. If you handle this properly, the young master won’t overlook your contribution. I’ll personally make sure he knows of your efforts, so think wisely.”

“……”

“Once you’ve brought the young master, you should come back in with him. That woman raised you, didn’t she? She might want to see you in her final moments.”

“Map Unlocked! You can now enter the Palzgraff Estate Hospice.”

The message hovered in the air, stark white against the dark, oppressive backdrop of the hospice. The building’s interior seemed brighter now, as if lit up by some malevolent invitation. Feeling hollow, I turned back toward the mansion, overwhelmed by a sense of powerlessness.