Chapter 180: 176 The Traveler

In the depths of winter, with snow falling in thick flakes, the traveler walked through snow nearly reaching his knees, carrying his pack, struggling with every step.

The traveler's head was covered by a thick cotton hat, and the heavy frost and snow added a natural mask to him; with his heavy clothing and taut canvas bag, it was almost impossible to discern his true appearance from the outside, making anyone who saw him from afar feel he was a clumsy bear carrying a shell, disheveled and fat.

The traveler raised his eyes to look at the cliff ahead, where a magnificent black castle stood.

That castle was his only chance to survive and endure this wrath of winter.

Even though the traveler knew that this eerie, gloomy black Gubao revealed signs of unease everywhere, and that even this cold, harsh snowstorm could only serve as a backdrop and could not mask its inherently bizarre and dangerous atmosphere, and even though the traveler knew that unimaginable deaths and murders must have occurred there, and that this trip might be a one-way journey, he still had to go.

To freeze to death in this blizzard, or to die a little later in the dangers existing within that Gubao... he clearly had no other choice, forced to choose.

Soon, the traveler arrived at a drawbridge between him and the Gubao; just by glancing down at the extreme cold and blue haze beneath the cliff, his heart had already nearly descended to freezing point, ahead of his life.

Walking with difficulty, he carefully crossed the drawbridge, which appeared fragile from being frozen stiff, and finally reached the gates of the black castle.

The traveler took a deep breath and summoned the courage to knock on the castle gates; fearing those inside might not hear, he also blew on his hands and continuously pounded on the door, shouting, "Is anyone there!? Is anyone there!?"

The gates were tightly shut, black and heavy, with snow piled high at the entrance; the poor soul outside shivered, his voice growing faint.

Just as the traveler was about to despair, the snow on the gates trembled, and the black gates slowly and heavily opened inward; a beam of dim, warm light hit the traveler's stiff face, and although the light was not dazzling, it made the traveler feel as pleasant and enchanting as the warm sun on a clear Christmas day.

But appearing along with the warm sun was a black shadow, pressing high over his face.

A thin, tall, and upright figure stood between the cracks of the opened gates, his chest held high; he held a lit candelabra, gradually raising it to his chest, the firelight illuminating his pale, gaunt, long face, his white hair combed back slickly, wearing a beautiful and exquisite tailcoat; he stood there with narrow eyes, standing coldly before the traveler.

He was elegant and proper; judging by his attire, he seemed to be the Butler of this Gubao.

The traveler's heart began to beat once more under the gaze of those cold eyes, but it beat cautiously, as if afraid of being heard by the other party, even though the howling wind of the blizzard was louder than everything else.

"Sorry to disturb you, respected gentleman. My name is Kelake, I am a traveler who happened to travel here and encountered a heavy snow; there is really nowhere else nearby, could you please let me rest here for a while? Once the blizzard passes, I will leave." Kelake swallowed, his throat aching from the cold air, and enduring the pain, he shouted loudly at the other party so that he could be heard clearly through the snow.

The Butler calmly looked him up and down, then retreated unhurriedly, clearing a path to let him in, "Please come in, Mr. Kelake."

"Thank you, thank you..." Kelake said, expressing gratitude repeatedly while quickly walking into the warm Castle with short steps.

Although the indoor temperature might not be truly warm, compared to the outside, the environment here was clearly better for survival. He stood at the entrance and, following the Butler's instructions, brushed off the frost and snow covering his body, feeling as if his body had suddenly become much lighter.

"Thank you again, kind sir." Kelake expressed his thanks to the Butler once more.

The Butler was like a puppet, always able to maintain his demeanor, as upright and elegant as before, and carrying an indescribable sense of distance; he said nonchalantly: "Hello Mr. Kelake, let me introduce myself, I am Walunte, the Butler here; welcome to the Castle of my master, Count Bluebeard."

"Bluebeard... Count..." The sound of Kelake swallowing his saliva echoed in the dull and lonely Gubao; his face, frozen red, made him look somewhat comical and ridiculous.

"Yes, please thank my master; he has always been kind-hearted, hospitable, and willing to help guests like you who are in need of his assistance. I will take you to see my master; I believe that once he knows, he will certainly welcome your arrival," Butler Walunte said calmly and mechanically.

As he spoke, he held the candelabra and walked in front, leading the way for Kelake.

On the way, Kelake discovered that the Gubao was intricate and complex, with countless stairs and corridors, and the lighting in different places was also different; this Gubao was like a maze.

Gradually, Kelake noticed the abnormality of the Gubao and could not help but ask the Butler Walunte leading the way: "May I ask, why are there no other servants to be seen in such a large castle?"

Butler Walunte responded indifferently: "This is because tonight is Christmas Eve; my merciful master let the servants working in the castle go home early for a reunion, leaving only a few servants to maintain the normal operation of the castle with me."

"... I hope they can return home safely." Kelake slowly raised the corners of his mouth, his gaze looking at the massive blizzard outside the window.

This blizzard had been going on for nearly a whole day.

Under Walunte's guidance, Kelake passed through several corridors and corners, arriving at the dining room in the Castle.

A fat nobleman with a white-haired receding hairline and a peculiar blue beard was sitting at the dining table, with a set of exquisite tableware laid out in front of him; he puffed out his big belly, his two huge hands resting on the tabletop, his temperament luxurious, quietly waiting for tonight's dinner to be served.

This person was the Count Bluebeard that Walunte spoke of, the master of this Gubao.

With the mutual introduction by Butler Walunte, Kelake and Count Bluebeard met for the first time; contrary to Count Bluebeard's terrifying and rugged face, when Count Bluebeard heard that Kelake wanted to stay here temporarily, his eyes almost lit up and he was grinning from ear to ear, truly as hospitable and charitable as Butler Walunte had said, immediately stating: "Mr. Kelake, welcome to my castle; your arrival is a miracle in this winter for me! Please be sure to stay here for a few more days!"

Just as Kelake was dryly laughing to express his thanks to Count Bluebeard, Count Bluebeard ordered Walunte to take Kelake to change into some better, clean clothes in the Castle, and then after he had changed, to come over and enjoy dinner with him, and also to have Walunte tell Hela, who was working in the kitchen, to prepare an extra set of tableware for Kelake.

Facing such enthusiasm, Kelake only felt somewhat at a loss; he stood in the room that Count Bluebeard had ordered Walunte to prepare for him for several minutes, and only when someone knocked on the door did he hurriedly put down his luggage and turn to open the door.

The person knocking was a cute blonde maid with twin tails; she had come to deliver clothes to him, "Hello, Mr. Kelake, I am Milaier, these are the clothes you need; there are several sets, oh, please be sure to wear this one first, I think it will suit you very well."

"... Oh, thank you, Miss Milaier." Kelake expressed his thanks to the maid with the sweet smile, then parted with her, closed the door, and threw the clothes he had received onto the bed.

Kelake stood where he was and took a few deep breaths, then rummaged through the backpack he had taken off, finally finding a pocket watch; he opened it to check the time and glanced at the night scene outside the window, "It is now 8:32 in the morning..."