My Gacha System: Starting with a Divine Talent Tree.-Chapter 24: The Ravencourt Town [1]

[The Next Day.]

[At Dawn.]

The sun was barely peeking over the horizon as an old carriage moved through the broken roads.

Inside the carriage, two boys sat wearing old worn-out clothes.

Their faces were completely different from their usual selves as dust covered them completely.

They both were Eden and Abel, sitting on the opposite sides.

"...."

Eden sat uncomfortably as he felt his heart beating faster.

The morning air outside was cold and dry... the kind that bit through the cracks in the carriage.

Every bump on the uneven road made the wooden frame creak and the dust from the trail slip in through the gaps.

Eden shifted again, trying to ignore the itchy fabric of the rough clothes clinging to his skin.

The disguise was working, sure, but it felt like wearing someone else’s life.

Abel sat across from him, completely still, his posture far too proper for a supposed commoner.

His sharp blue eyes peeked from under the hood of his cloak, quietly studying Eden.

"You’re fidgeting," Abel said. His voice was calm, almost cold.

"I’m nervous," Eden muttered, crossing his arms. "I’ve never gone on a mission."

"Just let me handle all the work," Abel said, closing his eyes. "All you need to do is stay behind me."

Eden didn’t bother responding as he peeked out from the crack.

The town they were going to was already in view.

It was the place their father had found to be directly related to the slave traders.

’...Hard to believe they haven’t killed the noble in charge of this place.’

[<Politics is not that easy, Eden.>]

Eden nodded his head as he looked at his cracked hand.

Both mother and father had refused to see them off.

They both believed that their sons would return unharmed.

The carriage rattled over another patch of uneven stone before slowing down.

Ravencourt.

Even from this distance, Eden could tell something about the place felt wrong.

Abel opened his eyes again, following his brother’s line of sight. "You feel it too."

Eden nodded slowly. "Yeah. It’s... off."

The driver up front gave a low whistle as he glanced at the gate ahead.

"You boys sure you wanna go in there? Folks say this town eats men alive."

Abel’s tone didn’t waver. "We’re not here to live. Just to look."

The driver grimaced but said nothing more.

The carriage rolled to a stop before the gate.

"Let’s go," Abel said, pushing the door open.

Eden followed him out, landing on the dusty ground.

A single guard sat slouched by the entrance, spear resting across his lap, clearly asleep.

Abel walked past him without a glance. Eden paused for a second, staring at the man’s worn armor and pale skin.

[<That guard hasn’t eaten properly in days.>], Sana whispered.

’Yeah,’ Eden replied in his head, ’and he probably doesn’t get paid enough to care.’

He caught up to Abel as they entered the main street.

The further they walked, the more surprised they got.

Unlike what they had expected, the place was brimming with people.

They talked and walked around like it was a normal day in their life.

Eden blinked in surprise as he took in the sight before him.

Merchants calling out prices, children weaving between stalls.

This... wasn’t what he expected at all.

"...I thought this place was supposed to be dangerous," Eden muttered, keeping his voice low.

Abel’s eyes flicked around, scanning the crowd. "It is."

"Then why does everyone look so... normal?"

"...I-I don’t know," Abel replied, looking confused. "I have no idea."

Eden frowned as he looked around again; everything looked too good.

But when he looked at the people... they all had the same look on their faces.

...They all gave them a look of pity.

A woman bumped into him, muttering a quick apology without even looking up.

Her hands trembled slightly as she adjusted her basket.

Eden caught a glimpse of her eyes... dull, unfocused, like someone who hadn’t truly slept in years.

’...What the hell is wrong with this place?’

The more Eden moved around the place, the more he felt uncomfortable.

Abel, on the other hand, was planning on contacting his family.

Eden quickly turned towards him. "Hey, I will be right back."

Before Abel could stop him, Eden quickly moved towards the side.

He reached a quiet place as he drew in a deep breath. "Sir Tosin."

His shadow immediately flickered as a face appeared on it.

Tosin’s face immediately turned serious as he looked around the place.

"...You are inside the Ravencourt town?" he spoke, his voice trembling with anger.

"You know of this place?" Eden asked, crouching down.

"Yes..." he spoke. "That man brought me here."

Eden looked at him and then around him. "What is wrong with this place?"

"Everything," he said. "He has turned the daughters of these poor people into his slaves."

"...."

Things immediately clicked within Eden’s mind.

’...So, he’s using them as bait?’

Mirth had placed the parents of the people he targeted as local town folks to make it seem like this place was fine.

By keeping their children hostage, he made sure they couldn’t tell their condition to anyone.

Eden’s hands slowly curled into fists. His nails dug into his palms, but he barely felt it.

"Fuck..." Eden muttered, his voice low. "He’s using their own families to keep them quiet."

Tosin’s shadow-face darkened. "It’s just one of many towns that he uses."

Eden felt his stomach twist.

The cheerful sounds from the market now seemed distant and hollow.

"So all this," he whispered, "this fake normal life... it’s a cage."

"Yes." Tosin’s tone hardened. "He controls everything."

Eden’s jaw clenched. "How the hell has no one done anything about it?"

"Because Lord Cavell, the noble who runs this town—covers for him," Tosin gave a bitter smile.

"The guards work for Cavell. And Cavell... works for Mirth."

Eden’s breath hitched. "So even the noble here’s a puppet."

He let out a sigh as he stood up and walked back. "I will keep you in touch, Sir Tosin."

The man nodded and submerged back into his shadow.

’...I need to work on my mana capacity.’

The only reason Eden couldn’t keep Tosin by his side is because of mana.

He needed to have a huge reserve of mana to use a man of the calibre of Tosin at his full strength.

’....Hmm?’

Eden tilted his head when he reached the main street.

...Because he couldn’t find Abel anywhere near him.

Eden’s stomach dropped.

The spot where Abel had been standing just minutes ago was now empty.

People kept walking past him, expressionless and silent, their steps oddly synchronized.

’Where the hell did he go?’

≤He didn’t go far.≥ Seraph whispered. ≤But... I sense something strange ahead.≥

"Strange?"

≤Mana fluctuations,≥ she said. ≤Like someone’s suppressing it unnaturally.≥

Eden’s frown deepened.

He started walking in the direction Sana indicated.

The noise of the crowd faded with every step until only the sound of his boots remained.

The street narrowed, twisting toward the older part of town where even the morning light struggled to reach.

Ahead stood a small chapel.

Weathered stone, stained glass cracked and patched over with wood.

A church, but one that didn’t feel holy at all.

Eden stopped at the entrance.

’He went in there... didn’t he?’

≤Yes. I can still feel his mana trail. But it’s faint. Be careful.≥

Eden swallowed hard, his pulse quickening. "So much for staying behind him."

He pushed open the door.

Creeeak—

The heavy wood groaned as dim light spilled into the hall.

And immediately a blunt object was swung at Eden’s face.