Kingdom Come: Deliverance, but Warhammer 40k

The young nobleman dragged Henry along as they ran.

The roaring sounds from behind gradually faded into the distance.

The two passed through several long corridors and rushed down a stone staircase into a storage room.

The heavy iron gate was slammed shut by the backhand.

Clang.

A piece of rust fell off the door panel.

Only after confirming that it was safe did the young nobleman release his grip. He staggered backward, sliding down the wall and sitting on the ground, the flintlock pistol slipping from his palm.

Only the rapid breathing of the two people could be heard in the enclosed space.

By the dim light of the oil lamp, Henry took a serious look at the man in front of him for the first time.

He looked to be no more than twenty years old, probably younger than Henry.

His face did indeed bear some resemblance to the ancestors of the Carlos family whom we had seen before.

He just felt a stronger sense of being alive.

His anger, his sorrow...

The young man's chest heaved as he clenched his fists.

"Traitor..." the man said, his voice hoarse.

"Damn traitor..."

There are demons... blasphemous creatures.

His shoulders trembled uncontrollably as he suppressed the emotions that threatened to consume him; a raging fire of anger burned within his chest.

"If it weren't for their interference..."

"If those cowards hadn't abandoned their faith..."

"The Carlos family can hold out for many more years..."

"If we can hold on for a few more years... the Empire's supply fleet will surely return... the Emperor has never forgotten his loyal followers..."

He seemed to be persuading others, but more like he was brainwashing himself.

"We have stored food, ample weapons, sturdy walls, and knights... We can clearly continue to hold out!"

Without warning, he slammed his fist into the stone wall beside him.

  

The rough wall scraped his skin, and blood trickled down between his fingers.

"Those bastards betrayed the God-Emperor! They betrayed their families!"

"They have betrayed the glory of their ancestors!"

"If I survive, if I can bring them back, I will personally send all the traitors and God-Emperor's men to the stake!"

"Let the flames of purification burn away their proof of life! Let them atone to the God-King for eternity!"

The roar echoed back and forth in the narrow storage room.

Then, the volume gradually decreased.

"Bastard, bastard!"

"Hmm."

In the end, only a sob remained deep in his throat.

He kept his head down, like an orphan who had lost all support.

"God Emperor, if you could hear me."

"Please have mercy on the Carlos family..."

"We can sacrifice ourselves honorably, but please protect our souls and do not let the dead be dishonored."

His last murmur was barely audible.

"Please...end my elder sister's suffering..."

"She's had enough..."

The room fell silent once more.

Henry leaned against the opposite wall without interrupting.

He probably understood the relationship between the young nobleman in front of him and the driver.

Recalling that horrific scene, even Henry felt a tightness in his chest; the plight of his fellow human beings filled him with anger.

The forces of chaos never disappoint when it comes to disgusting people...

He was so worried about Salia, the beautiful white flower, how was she doing now in Baitouwo?

I need to get back quickly...

Henry waited for the young man in front of him to calm down.

He raised his handcuffed hands, letting the chains rattle.

"That thing."

The young nobleman looked up, his eyes red-rimmed. "What is it?"

"Could you please help me untie this thing?" Henry shook the metal lock on his wrist. "The road ahead is probably going to be difficult, and having my hands tied is really getting in the way."

The man opposite him paused for a moment, seemingly realizing that the person in front of him had been wearing shackles all along.

Henry then added a comment.

"If you're planning to fight your way out, I can help you."

"Don't let my appearance fool you, I'm actually quite capable in a fight. At least two or three heretics wouldn't be a match for me."

The young nobleman stood frozen in place.

Then he shook his head, his expression bitter.

"You're just an ordinary citizen."

"There's no reason for the empire to expect commoners to protect nobles." He leaned against the wall and stood up. "It has always been the nobles who protect the commoners."

"I'm sorry, you must have found this amusing."

After saying that, he picked up the flintlock pistol from the ground, took two steps back, and aimed the muzzle at the metal connection of the electronic shackles.

boom!

The gunshots were deafening, and sparks flew between the two men.

The keyhole of the shackles was shattered by a bullet, and the broken chain fell to the ground with a thud.

Henry stretched his newly freed wrists.

The man who fired the shot tucked the pistol back into his waistband, the grief in his eyes now suppressed.

"Keep going down the passage."

"At the deepest part is the family sanctuary, where the survivors are all located."

He walked past Henry and placed his hand on the storeroom door.

"As for me..." The man drew his long sword from his waist.

"The disgrace of the family must be executed by my own hands."

"I will use their blood to wash away the shame of the Carlos family."

The young nobleman left.

The footsteps were quickly drowned out by the continuous roar of artillery fire outside the corridor.

Henry was left alone in the storeroom.

He looked at the electronic shackles broken in two on the stone floor.

He has now regained his freedom.

Logically, he should have packed up and left immediately.

They secretly slipped out of the castle through a hidden passage, getting as far away from the mess left by the Carlos family as possible.

It would be best to escape back to Baitouwo Town overnight, since Salia is still waiting for him there.

The thought of that blond hair seemed to calm my agitation considerably.

The cultists couldn't possibly be large enough to attack every settlement in the area. As long as the castle could hold them off, Whitehead's Nest would be safe for the time being.

But given her personality, if she heard any rumors, she would pack her bags and run out to find me.

She's a stupid girl.

If I don't get back quickly, she'll really be in danger...

Henry slid down against the stone wall.

He was well aware of his own limitations; he was just a pharmacist, and even with the system's help, he was nothing more than a stronger cannon fodder.

Running away is the only way to survive.

But the image of that young nobleman praying by the wall just now just wouldn't leave my mind.

Even though they were on the verge of collapse, they still insisted on that bullshit rule of "nobles protecting commoners".

They believed that as nobles, they would receive the protection of the divine emperor, be able to defeat all enemies, and single-handedly turn the tide of the war.

How arrogant!

Henry grabbed a handful of hair in frustration.

"Damn it... he just happens to be a good person."

Even if the other party is a scoundrel who treats ordinary people like dirt, he can now leave with a clear conscience.

But he could only watch helplessly as the guy who had saved him went to his death.

He couldn't get over that mental hurdle.

He possessed power, far more power than that nobleman...

He sighed and pulled the phonograph Ian had given him from his pocket. He pressed his thumb on the red record button.

Henry opened his mouth, but suddenly forgot all the prepared remarks he had made.

After a long pause, he managed to squeeze out two sentences into the empty room.

"Salia. If you heard this recording, I'd probably be back in the Emperor's arms."

"Although he may not necessarily like me."

He spoke casually, as if he were talking about someone else's story.

"Don't cry. I've always been most afraid of you crying. It gives me a headache when you cry."

"Don't always think about doing dangerous things. Learn to protect yourself. In the future, marry a reliable person. It's best to find someone with a normal mind, someone more normal than me."

He chuckled self-deprecatingly.

After a long pause, he finally uttered his last few words.

"Sorry, I said something you didn't like."

Release the button. The room fell silent again.

Henry tucked the phonograph into his inner pocket.

He propped himself up on his knees and picked up the rusty machete next to him.

"Damn it, they had already decided to run away."

He complained, but his feet changed direction.

He pushed open the door to the storeroom and followed the corridor where the young nobleman had left.