After finishing their breakfast, the group boarded the carriage once more and continued their steady journey toward the southwestern border.
By the time the evening shadows began to lengthen across the landscape, the carriage arrived at the outskirts of a border town. Generally speaking, a standard border settlement positioned near a major territory line shouldn't be in too terrible of a condition. After all, every border town functionally represents an international trading port. Since it serves as a gateway for merchants and goods, the baseline economic development is usually quite robust.
But the settlement standing in front of Flandre and her companions was entirely different.
From the exact microsecond their carriage crossed the outer boundary, a suffocating aura of absolute poverty washed over them, looking exactly as though the town had been personally graced by the Poverty God, Shion Yorigami, herself. The commercial shops lining the main street were incredibly sparse, with only a few ramshackle storefronts scattered here and there among vacant buildings.
The carriage traveled the entire length of the primary thoroughfare before finally locating a single, run-down inn, its main entrance hanging half-closed on broken hinges. Just catching a glimpse of the dilapidated entryway was more than enough to make any traveler lose any remaining desire to step inside.
"How about we simply head outside the perimeter and set up our tents in the wild?"
Noticing the deep, irritated furrow across Remilia's brow, Clever stepped up to her side and suggested softly.
Remilia was remarkably tempted by the librarian's proposal. It wasn't that she harbored any fear regarding whatever secrets the settlement held, but rather that the entire town exuded a deeply uncomfortable, eerie atmosphere.
"Very well," Remilia decided, scanning the dilapidated surroundings with a cool gaze. "Sakuya, head to the local shops along the street and purchase whatever basic food supplies and spices you can scavenge. We will establish our camp outside the town limits tonight."
Ever since their carriage had first rolled past the broken wooden gates, Remilia had been able to distinctly feel the sensation of hostile, prying eyes tracking them from all directions. These hidden gazes originated from the dark street corners, boarded-up windows, and narrow alleyways of the town. It could be argued that the sheer weight of the surveillance here felt significantly more oppressive and malicious than the invisible network they had encountered back in Zwillingstürme under the eyes of Empress Lieselotte and Empress Hildegard.
"Come to think of it, why on earth is this particular region so utterly destitute?" Hong Meiling sighed from the driver's bench, adjusting her grip on the reins. This was easily the most impoverished settlement she had visited since arriving on Terra. Aside from the obvious lack of material wealth, the entire town lacked even a single shred of natural human vitality. It couldn't even compare to the rough, desperate camps maintained by the Reunion Movement.
"Speaking of the local poverty, I don't actually believe that is the primary anomaly here," Clever countered, showing absolutely zero surprise at the economic decay. "After all, this settlement is directly adjacent to the badlands of Kazdel. Because it is a border town stationed right next to a territory that everyone across Terra dreads, actual merchant trade is pitifully scarce. Anyone choosing to live here must constantly worry about rogue Sarkaz mercenary warbands sweeping across the line to launch a violent raid, so normal economic development is out of the question."
Clever's expression grew deeply solemn as she looked back through the carriage window. "But setting the poverty aside, the demographic atmosphere here is far too bizarre. Along our entire drive through the center, we didn't spot a single child playing in the dirt or a single elderly resident wandering the streets."
The other companions nodded their heads in silent, analytical agreement. This exact observation was the precise reason Remilia had chosen to encamp outside the town walls; while she certainly didn't fear entering a confrontation, she harbored absolutely zero desire to invite a massive wave of tedious trouble for no good reason.
Before long, Sakuya Izayoi walked back down the street, carrying a small canvas sack containing only a handful of dried seasonings.
"The local vendors possess an incredibly limited inventory, and the baseline quality of the goods is remarkably poor," Sakuya explained with a soft, helpless sigh. "These few spices were the absolute best I could select from their shelves."
"It matters little," Remilia replied calmly, looking back toward the silent silhouette of the town. "This settlement clearly harbors significant underlying issues, so it is best that we maintain our vigilance tonight."
"In that case, should we move our campsite a bit further away into the wilderness?" Clever asked, her voice dropping into a low, anxious whisper as she felt the hairs on her arms rise.
"There is no practical necessity for that," Remilia said, shaking her head with absolute indifference. "This clearing represents the most geographically suitable spot for pitching our tents within the immediate sector; the environmental conditions further out are entirely too poor."
Although the master of the Scarlet Devil Mansion preferred to avoid unnecessary complications, she was far from afraid of a fight. If the residents of this strange town truly possessed the foolish audacity to creep out of the shadows and cause trouble for her household tonight, she wouldn't mind transforming this settlement into a completely deserted ghost town, exactly like the ruined village they had rested in the previous evening.
Because the darkness of night was rapidly settling over the plains, the companions worked with practiced efficiency to erect their tents and ignite a roaring campfire.
Following a quiet dinner, Clever found herself constantly shifting her gaze toward the distant, darkened silhouettes of the border houses, her instincts telling her that a sudden sneak attack was actively brewing just beyond the tree line.
"Can your specialized Originium Arts not perform passive reconnaissance?" Flandre asked, tilting her head curiously as she watched the librarian constantly strain her eyes in the dark. "Why do you always insist on using your bare eyes to look around?"
"Originium Arts are inherently volatile and dangerous constructs," Clever explained patiently, though her gaze remained fixed on the horizon. "Deploying them continuously over a prolonged duration places an immense physical burden on the operator's nervous system."
Despite her logical caution, the intensifying sensation of danger prompted Clever to breathe in deeply, actively triggering her sensory Originium Arts to execute a comprehensive wave scan across the entire layout of the town.
The very next microsecond, she let out a sharp, horrified gasp.
"Hiss... these people... what on earth is going on with them?!"
Under the precise, metaphysical radar of her reconnaissance arts, the entire population of the border town was currently gathered in total, motionless silence within the central square of the settlement.
If this were some localized cultural festival or holiday, the town square should have been vibrant with the sounds of singing, dancing, traditional gongs, and firecrackers. Yet, perceiving the scene through her arts, the entire community didn't look like an active populace that had simply gone to sleep—it felt completely, utterly dead.
There were zero lights ignited across the streets, no cooking smoke rising from the chimneys, and not a single trace of standard biological activity or conversation.
If that was the reality, then why had hundreds of citizens silently marched out of their homes to congregate in the central plaza? It was highly improbable that the entire population had collectively decided the summer weather was too warm and chosen to sleep flat on the stone floor together.
The key anomaly that sent a shiver through Clever's heart was that she had been actively monitoring the perimeter with her physical senses prior to activating her arts, yet she hadn't detected a single sound or movement indicating a mass exodus. The entire town had appeared completely dormant.
She quickly detailed her findings to the rest of the circle. Remilia, however, showed absolutely zero signs of surprise upon hearing the unsettling news.
"As expected," the vampire prince murmured coolly, raising her porcelain teacup to take a graceful, measured sip.
"Does this mean Flandre will have something fun to play with tonight?" the younger sister inquired, her eyes lighting up with sudden, childlike excitement!
"Yes, yes, absolutely," Hong Meiling laughed, stepping up behind Flandre to scoop the child up into her arms. With an affectionate grin, the martial artist hoisted Flandre high into the air in a perfect, dramatic display. "If those sinister individuals actually possess the courage to creep out and provoke our camp tonight, it will be up to our little Flandre to handle the cleanup."
"No problem at all! Leave every single one of them to Flandre!" the child cheered happily, her colorful crystals shifting slightly in the firelight.
Remilia remained entirely noncommittal regarding the impending threat. When evaluating the raw, large-scale destructive capacity of her household, Patchouli comfortably occupied the absolute top tier, followed immediately by herself and Flandre, with Hong Meiling anchoring their physical defense. Sakuya Izayoi's combat profile was distinctly unsuited for wide-area annihilation, her lethal skills tailored instead for flawless, precision execution.
The desperate conspiracies of a backwater border town posed absolutely zero threat to the safety of her companions; it could only be classified as a minor bit of amusement to break the monotony of their travels, no different from the pack of wild beasts they had casually dismantled the night before. Since Flandre had already enthusiastically claimed the task, Remilia couldn't even be bothered to stand up from her seat.
Patchouli, sitting quietly nearby, noticed the slight, distant look in Remilia's crimson eyes. The magician gently leaned her shoulder against the vampire's, her voice soft and full of familiar comfort. "What thoughts are currently occupying your mind?"
"Me? I was simply reflecting on the fact that it has been a remarkably long time since we last walked through the halls of the Scarlet Devil Mansion," Remilia admitted, turning her eyes toward her oldest friend with a rare, apologetic expression. "I wonder how the pristine state of the grounds is holding up in our absence. Furthermore... I feel a distinct measure of guilt for causing you to constantly run around across these rough territories for all this time."
She was well aware that Patchouli was an absolute, textbook shut-in who detested physical exertion and traveling. If it weren't for their deep, unbreakable bond of friendship, the magician would have never chosen to step foot outside her quiet library, let alone cross the borders of a dangerous world like Terra.
"You must not frame the journey in such a manner," Patchouli answered gently, a warm smile gracing her pale features. "While it is undeniably true that we have been traveling rapidly through a multitude of unfamiliar territories over these past months, I have physically seen more of the world during this single journey than I ever did throughout all my prior years combined."
She adjusted her grip on the ancient tome resting in her lap. "And I do not find the exertion annoying in the slightest. Just as the old human adage states: 'Read ten thousand books, travel ten thousand miles.' This expedition has broadened my personal horizons significantly beyond the boundaries of my old research."
Patchouli's gaze softened as she looked toward the flickering campfire. "Furthermore, exploring this world has granted me the unique opportunity to analyze an entirely new paradigm of texts and esoteric records that I had never encountered before, greatly enriching the depth of my collection. To have gathered such a massive treasury of knowledge, I am more than satisfied with a little physical running around. What's more... aren't you, Flandre, and the rest of our household right here by my side throughout it all?"