“That’s too much…”
I apologized as I patted Millia’s head, who turned away with a pout.
“I’m sorry. But that was the only way.”
“Still, getting your head thrown around is unpleasant!”
Honestly, I can’t really gauge what that feels like, but it sounds like it would be bad. I mean, when you’re on one of those spinning things at the playground, you get dizzy like crazy. Imagine feeling that in 3D… even someone who never gets motion sickness would throw up.
Next time, I’ll have to ask for permission first.
If there’s a next time, that is.
“Johann, what are we going to do now?”
As I was heading back to Yeomyeong-gwan through the passage I made, I glanced at Millia, who was asking the question. My mind was chaotic.
3rd Platoon Captain.
Witch.
Disappearance Incident.
Combining the information I’ve gathered so far, those three clues are definitely linked.
That means if I dig into the 3rd Platoon Captain’s background, I might get useful information. If I add the knowledge I remember from the original story, I might even be able to reduce the number of victims. It’s going to be hard work, though… but when have I not struggled in this scenario?
“Do you remember that annoying guy we met earlier today?”
“Yeah! He was super annoying!”
“That guy seems related to this incident.”
“The creepy guy?”
“Exactly. That jerk… I’d love to just kidnap him and interrogate him, but that’s probably not feasible.”
Or is it? What if I just secretly kidnap him? As the saying goes, “True support is removing the source of the victimization,” so if I just capture the 3rd Platoon Captain, extract the information, and then get rid of him, won’t that skip an entire case?
That attractive option crossed my mind, but I quickly suppressed it. I’m not alone in this. I have Millia to take care of as Karina’s escort knight.
Ultimately, the most reliable way is to deal with the 3rd Platoon Captain within legal boundaries, after all.
“Inquiry investigations will be tough. The Security Force… there’s not enough evidence to request their cooperation.”
Realistically, the best way I know from the original story would be to hide near the location where the disappearances occur and launch a surprise attack. It might be problematic, but if I can manage to rescue a victim, I’ll at least get some evidence.
“…Do I have to go crazy digging?”
“Huh?”
“I think I need to dig more tunnels.”
“…Isn’t that tiring?”
A worried look swept across her face. I lightly tapped Millia’s head and spoke up.
“We have to do what we have to do.”
“I’ll help too!”
“Thanks.”
“Hehe.”
I’m tired. First, let’s get some sleep.
I headed to Yeomyeong-gwan with Millia.
————————————
The classroom next to the cafeteria in the main building.
The remote classroom from the Magic Department.
The underground classroom from the Alchemy Department.
The open space behind the storage of the Knight Department.
Over the course of three days, I dug tunnels in a total of four locations.
These were the disappearance locations mentioned in the original work. I summoned Millia and Elisa, gave them some vague reasoning, and we started our stakeout.
Using Elisa, we began our watch. Millia was at the Magic Department, and Elisa at the Alchemy Department. Finally, I took my position in the Knight Department. The plan was that if we marked all three places at once, we might catch a clue from at least one of them, which would help us solve the case.
Of course, this only applies if a disappearance incident actually happens, just like in the original story.
…I can’t help but feel like a soldier with this plan, but it seems like there’s no better option than this given my limited resources. With lacking power, wealth, and force, I have no choice but to do this.
I chewed on dried meat while waiting for someone to enter the classroom. Whether someone comes or not is uncertain, but stakeouts are all about patience anyway.
It’s already been two days like this; I hope we get some results soon. How long do I have to survive on dried meat?
“Status Window.”
[Johann Quartz]
Age: 19
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Occupation: Escort Knight
– Traits –
Insight: B
Digging: A+
Woodworking: A
Processing: A
Pharmacy: C+
Dexterity: B
Anatomy: B
Survival: S
– Skills –
Crafting: A
Repair: B
Dismantle: B
Automatic Translation: A
Please allocate Trait Points.
Trait Points: 3
-Missions-
– Get to know the Witch
Reward: 2 Trait Points
Since I’m already spacing out, I opened the status window.
There was really nothing else I could do to pass the time quietly.
“…Should I allocate points to Insight?”
That was the thought that popped into my head as I gazed blankly at the status window.
Considering ‘Insight’ is usually useful in situations like this, wouldn’t it be beneficial to allocate points there?
At the very least, it should cover for my meal expenses.
Let’s see…
How do I allocate stats?
I poked the stat window with my finger, feeling a plastic-like texture. I wonder what material this is. Can others touch it? Oh dear, I should stop with these pointless thoughts. For now, prioritizing stat allocation is crucial.
I carefully pressed down on the part that says ‘Insight’ with my finger.
[Would you like to invest Trait Points in Insight?]
YES / NO
“Of course YES.”
As I hit YES, one Trait Point disappeared.
…And the rank didn’t go up.
What gives?
“Are you saying that I can’t raise the rank with just one point?”
Then I’ll invest the other 2 points as well.
[The rank of Insight has risen to A grade.]
…What changed?
I stared blankly at the status window, but I couldn’t figure out what was different. I mean, what would I realistically discover in a tunnel? Maybe it’ll become apparent when I meet someone or have to investigate something? I closed the status window and pricked my ears at the tunnel’s exit.
“…Is that…?”
“…A boy.”
I couldn’t hear the voices very well. But still, I could at least tell it was a male and a female voice. Is it a hit or a miss? I wondered how Millia and Elisa, who were at the Knight Department’s storage at the back and the underground classroom of the Alchemy Department, were faring.
“…Break up.”
“…Tina!”
Oh.
Oh…
I perked up my ears, eavesdropping on the conversation of a couple or something.
“What’s wrong!”
“…It’s because of that first-year kid…”
“That was… just me trying to get close like… like a…”
In an interesting twist, I paid keen attention, thoroughly enjoying this drama of a crisis-filled couple’s love and war. They sounded so captivating in 3D Dolby surround that this was by far the most exciting tale I had eavesdropped on during my decade of being possessed.
That guy definitely got caught cheating.
Look at how brazenly he’s shouting ‘It’s a misunderstanding!’
Cheaters are always giving the same old excuse that it’s all a misunderstanding. Get a bit more creative with your excuses! Like, “She’s actually my half-sister!” Sure, it’ll end in disaster, but at least it’s something.
“…Oh!”
“…Dahlia! Christina!”
I hear a sobbing sound. Clearly, the female student named Christina is crying.
…Christina?
That name rings a bell. I’m pretty sure she’s not the heroine. But where have I heard it before? I went deep into thought as the vibrations softened beneath me.
It really feels like I’ve heard that name before.
…Oh.
It was only when the sounds died down completely that I remembered the owner of the name Christina.
Christina de Estang.
The eldest daughter of the famous Count Christina family known for their trade, she was a character who gives out side quests towards the beginning of the main storyline. Being the daughter of a merchant family, she generously rewards you with money, making her a lifesaver in tight situations. Not a heroine, but still useful.
But does she have a boyfriend?
…That’s not what’s important right now.
I stood up from my spot. This place was a dead end anyway, so I thought it wise to regroup and exchange information.
“…I hope the other side had some harvest too.”
I took out my magical engineering communication device from my pocket. It was something I blew my entire fortune on. I wondered if anything was going on on their end too, filled with a creepy sense of anticipation as I pressed the power button.
“Hey, can you both hear me?”
[We hear you well!]
[Yes, it’s clear…!]
“Any results on your end?”
[No one has come by here! I’m so bored!]
Looks like Millia’s side is a bust. Then how about Elisa?
[Uh, uh… we haven’t seen anything yet… er, someone just came in…! It’s… ominous… here!…!]
“I’ll be there soon, so wait quietly!”
Her voice was urgent.
I immediately stuffed the communicator back in my pocket and ran towards the tunnel.
————–
‘Scary…’
Elisa was covering her mouth with her hand, straining to listen to the conversation beyond the wall.
“…Who are the gods?”
A woman’s voice filled with caution penetrated Elisa’s ears.
“I… don’t know.”
The voices coming from beyond the wall were faint, but with her ear pressed closely to the wall, Elisa was trembling, her hands slick with cold sweat.
‘What if I get caught? If I get caught…’
An ominous future loomed in her mind.
Herself collapsed in a pool of blood, kidnapped and unceremoniously treated like a rag doll,
Tied to a tree like witches of old, burned at the stake.
All sorts of paranoid thoughts swirled through her mind. It wasn’t unusual. Ever since she almost got slaughtered as a child just because she was considered ‘ominous’ by her parents, her paranoia had become as close as a best friend.
“Doing reckless things won’t keep you safe!?”
“…But to start a business, you have to take risks.”
‘…It’s Cain.’
It was only a voice she’d heard once, yet she immediately recognized the identity of the one speaking. She could never forget that unsettling voice.
“…Since you’re here, you won’t be able to escape.”
“Sa… Save me…”
“Screaming won’t help you. I’ve cast soundproof magic.”
The sound of multiple footsteps echoed. There were several of them. The likely abduction target was just one girl. The voices coming from beyond the tunnel hadn’t reached yet, so if this continued, the student would be captured first.
‘W-What should I do?’
I need to buy time until Johann arrives. But what can she, who’s hiding behind the wall, do? She knows how to unlock the secret passage through Johann, but she didn’t dare touch the doorknob, shivering in place.
‘Maybe I’ll die…’
If she opened the wall and appeared, she could buy time.
But the probability of being harmed would also skyrocket.
‘If I just stay quiet…’
It’s just a student she doesn’t even know. Is it really fine to let someone she’s not even friends with get kidnapped?
A malicious thought started to eat away at Elisa from her toes.
If she stayed quiet, that girl would be taken, and the situation would come to an end. Then, all she’d have to do is collect whatever evidence might remain, and that would be enough to push forward with solving the case.
Yeah.
That would be enough.
“Don’t come any closer!”
‘Noooooo!’
Images from the past flickered before her eyes. People tried to kill her, claiming she was an evil being simply because she supposedly inherited ‘Witch’s blood.’ The professor Lennon, who had taken her in after she desperately fled.
What did he say again?
‘If you perform good actions, you will become a good person, and if you perform evil actions, you will become an evil person.’
She didn’t want to become a bad person.
Recalling the professor’s words, more like a father figure to her, she quietly touched the doorknob of the secret passage.
‘I can do this.’
With all her might, Elisa swung the door open and shouted.
“This way!”
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