Chapter: 61
After burying the cat’s corpse in the front yard, the three of them gathered around a blood-stained box placed in the middle.
A chilling warning. The announced attack tends to cause a state of continuous tension. It’s akin to guerilla tactics preventing the enemy from getting any rest during a war.
Therefore, the most reliable method is to find and deal with it first. Bennett stared at the warning and asked, “Can we track the sender?”
[If we get a bit more information. As it stands, it’s still insufficient. I analyzed the footprints that came and went in front of the mansion, but it looks like it was a different person each time. They all seem to have some physicality, though.]
“To summarize, it refers to a God and appears to be an organization capable of commanding multiple people. But it’s suspiciously strong, which raises more doubts.”
Listening to Niolle’s analysis, Bennett fell into thought, and beside him, Tara banged the table and vented her anger, exclaiming, “It’s definitely those guys from the Order of the Silver Twilight or whatever!”
“Don’t jump to conclusions. The Order of the Silver Twilight has no reason to interfere with the research. Abraham’s research, which calculates the speed at which a cosmic disaster is approaching, doesn’t seem to have any religious implications. This religious message could be a disguise.”
“Then who else could it be?!”
“Abraham mentioned he was a professor, a scholar. It might be a dispute with another scholar. That’s the most plausible reason for stealing or obstructing research.”
[But if a rival scholar orchestrated this… would they go to such chilling lengths? Putting surveillance around the mansion and even mentioning a God seems unnecessary.]
Niolle’s opinion was valid. Bennett nodded in agreement, then summarized his conclusion.
“I won’t deny that the Order of the Silver Twilight is suspicious. However, let’s make conclusions after finding solid evidence. After all, mistakes can happen.”
As Bennett pronounced “mistake,” he gave Tara a pointed look. Niolle’s sense of justice was definitely overly dramatic, but so far, there hadn’t been any particular cause for concern—unlike Tara, who clearly had a strong attachment to Abraham.
However, Bennett’s gaze went unnoticed. All Tara could do was bite her nails, thinking about whoever sent that malicious parcel to Abraham.
“I swear, if I catch that punk who did this, I won’t let them off easily!”
“Lower your voice, Tara.”
“Are you not even angry?!”
“It’s not worth getting that upset. After all, he is not one of us.”
And someone we had only met four days prior. Bennett swallowed the latter part of his words.
Moreover, Abraham was from another world. In the end, getting attached only leads to loss. Additionally, there were suspicious circumstances surrounding Abraham. What was so important about this research to the old man that he continued despite such threats?
“What we should focus on is a different matter. The Shining Trapezohedron, I mean. We need to find out what it is, how it looks, and who possesses it.”
[But how should we investigate that?]
“The crazy… wizard mentioned it in his report. That means the wizard was able to obtain information about the Shining Trapezohedron. There must be clues somewhere.”
[…….]
Niolle hugged her knees and thought deeply, before hastily writing something on the whiteboard as if she’d had an epiphany.
[Maybe the Academy, no, the University has information?]
“The university… Miskatonic? The place where Abraham is a professor?”
[Yes. I heard it’s an educational institution with many books. If it exists in this world, it would be recorded, so maybe in the library of Miskatonic University…]
“Exactly! We need to protect Abraham for the investigation, right? Since Abraham is a professor! He could take us to the university!”
Before Niolle could finish her sentence, Tara interjected with sparkling eyes. Bennett clicked his tongue at her obviously transparent motive.
They were at a crossroad. Should they continue the search while leaving Tara’s emotions as an unstable factor, or should they point it out and criticize her for it? Was it a matter to be resolved or tolerated?
Bennett weighed various aspects on a scale: the insane professor sending students to another world disguised as an academic subject; the search with guaranteed safety; the goodwill towards the kind-hearted Abraham alongside the risks that were becoming increasingly apparent.
And the rising irritation.
Bennett impulsively came to a conclusion.
“Or let’s ask Abraham to look into it. He knows a lot, so he’ll definitely—”
BANG!
Bennett slammed his fist on the table, cutting off Tara’s words. Then, he spoke in a low voice laced with venom.
“You seem to be misunderstanding something important.”
“What…?”
“Our goal is not to protect Abraham. In scenarios that call for sacrifices, it might even be beneficial for our situation if Abraham died. After all, it would eliminate a danger and provide us a base.”
“What?! H-How can you say that?! Are you saying you want to kill Abraham?!”
CRASH!
As Bennett brought up an extreme hypothesis, Tara sprang up from her seat, glaring at him and causing her chair to tumble over.
Bennett gritted his teeth. Quietly sliding his chair back, he stood up to face Tara directly, refusing to shy away from her glare. He had to achieve his goal. Therefore, he couldn’t overlook her childish behavior, which lowered the success rate of the plan.
He raised his voice.
“Listen properly. I did not say I would kill him. I said that, in certain situations, it could be beneficial for him to die. I’m making sure you’re aware of this—so you won’t hesitate at a crucial moment!”
“I can’t believe it! Do you not realize how well Abraham has treated us?!”
Anger flared in their eyes, and veins bulged at their necks.
“He’s a person from another world! This isn’t your home! Did we not form a team to prevent the coming bloodshed at the Academy?!”
“So you’re saying it’s fine for him to die just because he’s from another world?! Do you honestly think this place is just an illusion or a fake?! Do I need to remind you how precious life is? Is this just a given?!”
A confrontation between parallel lines. At its end—
“There is a hierarchy to life!”
“Don’t you dare try to take away my family!”
[STOP!]
CRASH!
Niolle threw a chair. It flew between Bennett and Tara, creating a loud noise as it rolled on the floor. Only then did both of them turn to look at Niolle.
The whiteboard she had set down was filled with phrases like “Don’t fight” and “How about we talk calmly,” but now it was just a mess of erasure marks.
Niolle took a deep breath, sighed, and then said,
[I’ll take Tara with me, Bennett. Tara. Let’s talk about this again tomorrow.]
“…Okay.”
“………”
The situation had reached its conclusion. Niolle led Tara up to their room, and Bennett, clutching his throbbing head, began to tidy up the messy living room.
This wasn’t something that warranted raised voices.
He could have worded things more softly, and perhaps remaining silent would have been the wiser choice.
Looking back, Bennett seemed genuinely angry. As he watched Tara openly share feelings with someone, he might have despised his own inability to do the same. If that was the case, it truly was a ridiculous situation.
After all, it was already far too late for him to go back to such a state.
Bennett thunked his head against the wall and murmured to himself. A bitter self-mockery slipped from his lips, stabbing at his heart.
“…Who am I?”
Someone who will do anything to get his younger sister back.
One who would create chaos and fear at the Academy, ultimately leading many students to their death.
A Black Wizard.
===============================================================
In Isaac’s room. Now, Niolle and Tara’s room.
The arrangement of furniture had been slightly altered, and the way the blankets were folded differed. Isaac’s signs were slowly being wiped away, making space for the two’s traces.
Tara climbed onto the bed and curled up. Heavily suppressed emotions hung in drops on the tips of her delicate eyelashes. A melancholic mood lingered on.
And Niolle quietly listened, allowing silence.
Tara murmured while staring at one of the walls. It seemed to be a monologue but also felt directed at Niolle.
“…You think I look weird too, right?”
[Yes. I think you’re odd. Abraham is a good person, and I want to help him too, but… Tara, you already see Abraham as family, don’t you?]
“…”
[I think Bennett’s words were too harsh. Sometimes, he acts as if you must sacrifice everything to gain something. But Tara… your attachment seems worryingly fast.]
Niolle sent her a concerned look. Her warm gaze seemed to melt Tara’s frozen lips, and soon, her scattered thoughts began to trickle out like a drip.
“…I don’t have a family. I had one, but they’re gone. We were really close too.”
[I’m listening.]
“Every morning when we woke up and saw each other… My mom and dad would look at me with blissful eyes. I also smiled back, just like them. I still miss that gaze.”
[I can imagine.]
“Sometimes in Abraham’s eyes, I see the sunlight I once saw in my parents’ eyes. When I receive that look, I remember the times I spent with my family and can momentarily immerse myself in joy.”
[What happened?]
At that question, Tara’s eyes widened, and she began to recount the past—residues of resentment still sticking to her heart like tar.
This occurred on a warm summer day.
===============================================================
#0: Tara’s Memory
The only wish of Tara, the girl from a small city working in a clothing store, was to live happily with her family. She didn’t desire a glamorous, rich life like a fairy tale princess but rather wished to just live a normal life like everyone else.
Waking up every morning, flexing her back with the resolve to do her best today, smoothing out the wrinkles in the clothes on display, prominently featuring the trendiest outfits, and seeing her dad off as he left to meet with wholesalers.
Guarding the clothing store during the day and when the sun hit the clock tower at a certain angle, she would change shifts with her mom and take a walk. In the evening, they would return home to… a warm meal shared with her parents.
She wished that such a routine would last forever.
But misfortune can arrive far too suddenly.
During summer, when the warm sun bathes everything, it is also a breeding ground for bugs and maggots. Under the warm sunshine, decay and contamination happen quite actively.
Was it the gravedigger’s fault who neglected to dispose of the corpses because of the summer heat? The guards who didn’t bother to patrol the back alleys? The beggar who stabbed a neighbor over a piece of stale bread? Or perhaps the lord who showed no concern for the lower classes?
Any way you looked at it, a plague spread throughout the city.
Many people groaned in pain, and Tara’s parents weren’t spared either. They gradually succumbed, day by day, covered in blue spots all over their bodies.
For some reason, Tara was spared from the plague. Determined, she scoured the city in an effort to save her parents. Her first stop was to find the priests.
The temple was bursting with people, filled with pitiful pleas for salvation. Tara fell among them.
Those who were wealthy or held power received treatment, but the priests turned away those who couldn’t boast such qualities. Tara was chased out, sent back to the streets.
Next, she sought out an alchemist and then a wizard.
But the answers were always negative. They said it was an unrecognized disease taking time to comprehend. They remarked that the plague wouldn’t reach the magic tower, so it wasn’t their problem.
No matter how desperately she tried, there was nothing she could do. Tara was left to watch helplessly as her parents wasted away by the day. Then, a miracle occurred.
The clothing store girl, Tara, was selected as a Saintess Candidate!
A flicker of hope arose. Hope that she could save her family.
She pleaded with the priests who came to her home, stating she would become a Saintess, dedicating her life to serving the Goddess. All she wished for was to save her family.
Their response was as follows:
“If the Saintess Candidate becomes a true Saintess, of course, your family would deserve to be treated well.”
Joy enveloped her. Just the fact that she could save her family brought her happiness. Her heart raced as if about to explode. If she became the Saintess… they might not live together like before, but they would surely live healthily, and she could occasionally meet them and share warm gazes.
Tara obediently followed their words. The lengthy ritual to become a saint began. She rode in a lavishly decorated carriage to the Goddess’s Church. For an entire week, she purified herself in holy water and stuffed her brain with the holy scriptures.
She dined on delicious food, pampered her hair with fragrant oils, and the priestesses carefully polished her nails. When a nervous Tara asked when she would become a Saintess and whether these rituals were necessary—
The answer was that it was a tradition that had to be upheld.
Anxiety arose within her. A month had passed. Were her family okay? The priests promised to look after them, so it must be so. Because…
The priests who once drove away clothing store girl Tara were now treating Saintess Tara with unwavering devotion. They adorned her with radiant smiles, longing for her blessings.
Remembering their condescending gazes left a bitter taste in Tara’s mouth, yet simultaneously, she found reassurance.
The power to flip their attitudes, as if flipping a hand, came with the title of a Saintess.
Hence…
It couldn’t possibly go wrong. They were family, after all! Unless some strange persuasion bewitched them, it was natural for them to be treated with utmost consideration.
They must be doing well. Surely, they must be.
She repeated this mantra to herself. However, as days passed, Tara’s complexion grew ever paler, her eyes filled with worry. The priests, high on the fumes of their faith, merely celebrated and reveled in the announcement of a Saintess.
The increasing religious fervor of the order only left Tara withering.
Once the long, meaningless ceremonies finally concluded, Tara received golden-trimmed flower petals showered upon her and a holy tiara amidst a crowd’s cheers. She was officially recognized by the order as the Saintess.
She returned in glory.
Having gained extravagance and honor beyond dreams, it was now her chance to give to her family. She could feast with them, be the Saintess’s family, and call the priests whenever they were ill. To honor her parents by stating that becoming a Saintess was all due to them.
There were truly mountains of things she wanted to do and give.
The clothes shop girl Tara transformed into Saintess Tara and returned to her family.
But her family was suffering from the plague—dead.
Saintess Tara became distorted.
After concluding her brief story, Tara murmured in a parched voice.
“The order didn’t grant even my single request: to save my family. Not for precious treasures or glory, but just that one simple thing… was all I wanted.”
[…….]
“That plague? It could have been healed with Divine Power. If the priests who came to fetch me had merely recited one spell instead of yapping about accompanying the Saintess, my family could have lived.”
While Tara’s eyes glittered with fury, her tone remained flat, as though she were too exhausted to express anger.
Divine Power means one is close to the Goddess. They chose not to use it; they wanted to savor the moment of the Saintess’s birth with the Goddess to revel in their religious joy. All while thinking that someone surely would handle it.
Ensnared in their faith, they regarded her family’s suffering as unimportant.
Therefore, she still harbored resentment.
Against the priests who disregarded Tara’s family in their fervor.
Against their words and actions.
Against those who sarcastically suggested she should be grateful for her rise from a mere commoner.
Against the speeches telling how she couldn’t turn away from the God’s love for her private feelings.
Against those advising her that now that it’s come to pass, she should just go with the flow; what’s gone is gone, after all.
She resented deeply. And this resentment spread like wildfire, eventually turning inward.
Should she not have ignored them and rushed to her family instead? Why did she ever trust those priests? What if just one of them had cared? While she enjoyed luxuries for a month, how much suffering had her parents endured?
Her defiance against the order’s commands became the maximum rebellion her conscience could allow—and she knew just how meaningless it truly was.
“I know. I know that none of this will bring back Mom and Dad.”
Tara punched the bed. Again and again. Then, with all the longing stored for her family, she finally poured out her heart.
“But, but… even if it’s just for a moment, even if it is in a completely different world, I still want to recall those happy times.”
[…….]
Niolle silently patted Tara’s back. Tara cried in Niolle’s embrace.
A faint pattern briefly sparkled in Niolle’s eyes before it vanished.
That night passed quietly, occasionally interrupted by muffled sobs.
===============================================================
Bennett couldn’t sleep. Was it due to the sobs he heard in the corridor or the turmoil growing in his heart? Suddenly, he thought of the night sky. He climbed the trapdoor’s stairs to the rooftop.
Abraham, counting the stars, turned around.
“Who’s there? Ah, it’s you.”
Bennett avoided the old man’s gaze.
Perhaps it was because of the guilt still lingering in his heart. Even if the subject wasn’t around, even if his intention had been to remind Tara of her purpose.
Saying it might be better to kill Abraham prickled at Bennett’s conscience. After all, the old man had treated them kindly.
Abraham stroked his beard several times before speaking quietly.
“Tara and Niolle haven’t come out of their room. Did something happen?”
“We fought.”
“I won’t pry into the details. But it seems you could use a change of scenery too. Mind if I sit beside you?”
“…Yes.”
Bennett dragged a round chair over and sat beside Abraham. The cool breeze and twinkling stars were pleasant. Still, the unusually dark sky likely reflected his state of mind.
Abraham spoke in silence as he peered through the telescope. Silence had a knack for inviting conversations, much like dangling bait while fishing. After a moment, Bennett suddenly asked.
“I saw the parcel.”
“It’s rare for the youth to heed an old man’s advice, I see. Since you’ve already seen it, what did you think?”
“Why do you keep on with your research? It doesn’t seem like it will end with mere threats. It’s not like you need to worry about a source of income.”
“So you’re curious about why this old man stakes his life on research, hmm?”
Abraham chuckled heartily. He turned from the telescope to face Bennett, rubbing his wrinkled hands together as he organized his thoughts.
“I’m not being obstinate just because I don’t have long to live. I still sincerely wish to live long. There’s so much I haven’t done and I’ve yet to reconcile with my daughter.”
“In that case, you should stop all the more!”
“But you see, this research will undeniably help humanity. Even if worst-case scenarios arise… it would at least provide people time to prepare for the consequences. Furthermore, if luck is on our side and we snag a few billion years of respite, who knows? It might yield clues to unlock the universe’s deep secrets.”
“Yet that same humanity is currently threatening you, Abraham, while sending things like cat corpses.”
From Bennett’s perspective, the world seemed overwhelmed by evil.
People killing others for their own desires happened more often than counting. It was almost as numerous as the stars up in the night sky. Even Bennett himself was one of those foreboding stars.
In such a harsh existence, it was natural to look out solely for oneself. Why bother with the welfare of others? To that, Abraham grinned wide, exposing his teeth.
“I know too. People can be terrible. They’re like flies, indifferent to whose corpse they’re standing on.”
“…………”
Bennett stiffened momentarily at Abraham’s harsh words, but the old man laughed heartily and continued.
“Do you know how many people I’ve met over my lifetime? Most live without foresight, ready to stab anyone before them. But if everyone returned such vile acts… it would merely create more despairing souls in this world. This is simple arithmetic of gains and losses.”
“And…”
“Isn’t contributing to humanity’s leap forward a rather cool aim?”
“Cool. You say?”
“Indeed! Every scholar dreams of such a thing. To save the world with a theory I’ve crafted. It’s been my dream since childhood.”
Bennett thought he was joking, but there was clarity and honesty in Abraham’s gaze. The old man’s eyes sparkled like a dreaming child.
It seemed childlike, yes, but…
Bennett found that he understood.
Like any boy, Bennett once envisioned being a hero. One who carried a sword, defeated villains, and rescued princesses.
Memories of that pure phase, eroded by time and circumstance, were reflected in the old man’s eyes.
A dream, it was.
His purpose remained unaltered. He would do anything to rescue his sister, even if it meant harming many in the Academy. However…
If he was simply afforded one chance.
If the object known as the Shining Trapezohedron could present a way that wouldn’t require harm to others.
Maybe. Just maybe. He would wish to embrace that path. Bennett felt a slight weight lift from his shoulders.
With a lighter heart, Bennett exchanged words with Abraham. The old man willingly participated in the conversation with the youth. They chatted freely.
And thus, the night deepened.
===============================================================
Morning arrived. As Bennett walked through the corridor, he encountered Tara. An uncomfortable silence lingered between them. Behind, Niolle pondered what she should toss if another fight broke out.
After a brief exchange of tense glances, Bennett broke the silence.
“I think my words were a bit too extreme. I apologize, Tara.”
“Did you eat something off?”
Bennett took a deep breath, organizing his thoughts before responding.
“My feelings haven’t changed. If we find ourselves in a situation that requires sacrificing someone, I would consider Abraham before either of you. So…”
“…”
“Let’s do our best to avoid that. Does this seem acceptable?”
“Sure, I guess. Yeah.”
Bennett extended his hand, and Tara took it. Niolle erupted into applause for their monumental reconciliation, thinking to herself that it was finally time to relax a bit.
That day, the breakfast table buzzed with warmth. Bennett, looking a bit more relaxed, conversed easily with Abraham. Tara also soaked up the atmosphere. To an outsider, they resembled a closely-knit family.
“Shouldn’t we at least start doing the dishes? Niolle and I have been taking turns all this time.”
“I only use two plates, but you use three. To make it fair…”
Just then—
CREEEEAK! The mansion door swung open.
Clack. Clack. The sound of heels echoed. A woman donned in an immaculate white dress, her snow-white hair flowing like a curtain, stepped into the house.
From her attire, or perhaps the distant look in her eyes, there was an air of mystique about her—like she had wandered in from another world.
Abraham’s eyes widened like never before, and his mouth dropped open.
“…Isaac?”
“It seems like the family has grown since I’ve last seen you, Father.”
Abraham’s daughter, Isaac, had returned.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.