The shadows in the portraits were just a small interlude. In the end, Lulunaka walked around all the portraits hanging in the hall. The filth that made the portraits hideous and terrifying dissipated one by one in the light of her lantern.
Moreover, this vile alchemist even dragged Dina along and introduced her to the people in the portraits. Dina had to look straight at the squirming things in the portraits until they were evaporated by the light of the lantern. She was only allowed to turn her head away.
This wasn't a good experience for Dina.
Being forced to look at those ancient and evil portraits wasn't a good thing. She wasn't a little girl who was afraid of ghost stories, but in such an environment, even a woman like Jessica felt uncomfortable. Naturally, she couldn't avoid … being afraid of things that girls would be afraid of.
Being manipulated by Lulunaka like this, she was afraid that she would really become afraid of this silent and dark space.
Although the portraits that were no longer infested with evil creatures had lost their disturbing filth, it didn't mean that the portraits were no longer reassuring.
Junia and Jessica stood in front of a portrait. The person in the portrait should be a certain generation of the owner of this old house, but the facial features couldn't be said to be unimaginable.
If it wasn't for the paint peeling off due to lack of maintenance, or if the portrait was deformed due to parasitism, then the man in the portrait with his dark eyes looked like …
"These eyes really look like the compound eyes of an insect," Jessica said.
Jessica said, "If you cover half of the face and only look at the eyes, then what you draw will be an insect."
"It's not just him," Junia said.
Junia said, "His ancestors are still fine, but his successors seem to be becoming more and more 'unique.'"
With this portrait as the center, one could see equally strange and interesting portraits extending to the left and right.
Looking to the left, the people in the portraits were dressed more simply, but there was no doubt that they were human. Looking to the right, however, these people in gorgeous clothes were becoming more and more like insects — at least in their faces.
"I hope they're just drawing for fun."
Jessica wanted to reach out and touch these portraits, but she retracted her hand. Although there was no evil in them, it wasn't a good idea to touch dirty things. "Now, some dignitaries also hope to deify themselves in portraits … or paint themselves like demons.
Of course, no one hangs them openly like this. After all, they will be condemned and even punished by the church. "
"The church's cross can't be hung in such a place," Junia replied. "There's no place for a cross to be hung here.
It will only darken the cross. "
At this time, Lulunaka was already standing on the stairs leading to the second floor........ and Dina, with a very pale face, followed behind her....
"The two of you, do you want to continue staying here, or do you want to go somewhere else with me?"
Junia and Jessica looked at each other and then walked over to Lurunaka.
They were not familiar with this place, but Lulunaka acted as if she had returned home. She moved freely and even knew everything about this place. As a guide, she was indeed qualified. But this was the strangest part.
She was too familiar with this place, so familiar that it made one wonder what she had experienced before.
When they arrived at the second floor, the corridor on the second floor was also filled with rows of portraits. However, the content was much more varied. It wasn't just portraits of people.
In front of the pictures Lurunaka passed a puff of smoke rose as more of the filth was "burned out" by the lantern.
The light ball that Jessica used for illumination had become unnecessary. She wanted to save as much mana as she could, so she canceled her spell.
Lulunaka's lantern was enough for illumination, and there was no more reassuring light than this, although the green color looked a little weird.
Junia followed Lulunaka, while Dina and Jessica walked side by side behind them.
He asked Lulunaka, "This place is strange, but does it have anything to do with what we are looking for?"
"Oh, you should be able to see something, right?" Lulunaka smiled at Junia. "Didn't you look at the portraits for a long time?
You should be able to see the strangeness of this place, right? "
Junia did not answer. Lulunaka continued, "Don't you think the people who lived here were fated to be insects?"
Junia did not think it was as simple as fate. The owners of some of the portraits looked like insects wearing clothes.
"Since they are a family fated to be insects, they naturally have something to do with what we are looking for now."
Lulunaka continued, "And in such an old house, other than the scary things, maybe there are some surprises?
Don't you think so? "
Junia did not want the surprises that Lulunaka mentioned at all, but now she was the one in charge, and he was the one asking for help. No matter what Lulunaka wanted to do, he could only cater to her.
With Lulunaka leading the way, they came to what should be a study.
When the door that had been closed for a long time opened, everyone smelled the musty smell that wafted out from inside. It was the smell of the disturbed air in the still space.
Lulunaka walked in first, and the other three followed behind her.
The study they entered was not small, and there were several bookshelves attached to the wall. Some books even needed to be climbed up with wooden ladders to reach them.
Instead of calling it a study, it was more like a small library with a desk.
Whether it was the bookshelves or the desk, including the decorative items, they were all covered with a thick layer of dust. Even if there were guests, they did not intend to raise the dust.
At the outermost part of the study, there was a window that allowed them to see outside. Looking at the direction of the window, they could probably see the scenery outside the manor if they stood there.
How long had it been since anyone came to visit here?
Only Lulunaka knew.
The dust here did not hinder Lulunaka. She walked to one of the bookshelves, pulled out a thick book, and began to flip through it.
"Hmm … What an interesting discovery." She said in a low voice, looking very interested.
Jessica also walked to one of the bookshelves and reached out to touch the spines. "The books here have been here for hundreds of years, right?
I think this would be a bookseller's paradise. "
"If you want these books, you can find someone to move them back when the time comes.
You know this place, and I don't think I can stop you from coming here to clean up in the future. "
Lulunaka said to Jessica without raising her head, "But I think it's better not to let people see some books."
Dina approached Lulunaka with a curious look. "Are these books valuable?"
Lulunaka suddenly raised her head with a strange smile on her face. "No, some of them will let you enjoy the warmth of being tied to a stake.
For example, this interesting book. "Lulunaka raised the book in her hand and let Dina see the cover of the book.
The cover of the book had pores but looked very smooth. The two did not conflict with each other. It had a light color and looked like it was made of some kind of leather.
Dina looked at it for a while, and her face began to turn green. She took a few steps back.
Junia and Jessica saw that something was wrong and walked over. Then, their faces changed at the same time.
What Lurunaka held in her hand was a book with a cover made of animal leather. However, this animal was not an ordinary animal, but an intelligent and rational animal called a human …
Books made of human skin, no matter the era, would make people feel scared and disgusted.
Lulunaka, who was holding such a book, smiled like a devil. "Look at you, your faces changed. How interesting."