chapter 63

Following what looked like Dee, I crept toward the villa which was large enough to accommodate the population of a small village .

Sneaking past the guard wasn’t a problem at all .

To me, there’s nothing wrong with her staying here, but she should at least have said so .

「Maybe she hasn’t decided to settle down here yet…」, I muttered in the shadows .

Making sure to make as little noise as possible, I entered the mansion . I detected the presence of some humans — perhaps they were cooks or maids .

I hurried after Dee so as not to lose sight of her, climbing flight after flight of stairs to reach the highest floor of the four-storey mansion . Seeing her disappear into the furthest room, I trained my ears towards it with bated breath .

「Guess who’s back!」

The voice that replied to her seemingly belonged to a noble .

「No quest today, I see? Very well . You can take it easy today . 」

「…」

It seems like they’ve known each other for quite some time .

If this noble had fallen for Dee after meeting her for quest-related matters, and was helping her out, then I would have been relieved . A blessing in disguise of sorts, I’d say .

According to Lord Bardell, the adventurers had been vanishing since a month ago . His description matched what Neil and Roger had told me as well .

Adventurers don’t usually have a fixed residence . They’re continuously on the move, and even if they disappear, few people will notice, let alone care . What separates them from common criminals is the fact that they do have a place they frequent .

That place is the guild .

If both Dee and this noble had something to do with the mysterious disappearances, then I had come to the right place at the right time .

I can’t jump to conclusions, of course — I’ll have to eavesdrop a little longer .

Hearing footsteps from within the room, I quickly dived for cover . A moment later, a young noble came out, accompanied by Dee who had removed her overcoat .

I believe his name is Victor Darton, I remember seeing him in the army during the war . He was indeed the third son of a baron whose area of jurisdiction was somewhere in northern Ferland .

Walking on the carpeted floor, they talked casually as they made their way downstairs . Upon reaching the basement, Darton unlocked a door, dashing all my hopes immediately .

Have you ever seen a locked door in the basement that isn’t hiding something bad?

Seemingly having gotten used to this, Dee followed Darton into the depths of the basement . I followed them along a path paved with freshly-cut stones . It was cool to the touch .

Recalling the layout of the entire villa, I reasoned that Dee had entered the largest building — the one which Darton was in . We were now heading towards a somewhat isolated cottage . The closer we got, the more I could smell blood in the air . After checking that the coast was clear, I opened the door .

The stench increased tenfold .

I sensed that there were more people than just the two of them here .

「Ooooh! Hnng –! Nnnngh!」

「Here, go ahead . Just a little, okay?」

「Yep . 」

「…! …!!!」

Splish, splash — I could hear the jarring noise of running water .

I found another door in the back, so I quietly smashed the lock open and went inside .

「…」

A rotting stench permeated every inch of the room . Flies which looked like little black specks were buzzing around . On the walls various tools hung, coated a tarry black by oxidised blood .

Even the bed hadn’t been spared .

「Not just two or three victims, huh?」

Aside from the stale air and the streaks of blood that lined the walls, everything else was just speculation at this point . All I knew was that this was not a good place to be in .

I spotted a wagon as I looked around more . Multiple corpses lay there as I lifted the bundle of cloth covering it .

All of them were damaged beyond recognition .

I made out five or six people, but there could’ve even been ten — that’s how battered they were .

「…」

I get it now .

There was yet another door next to the wagon . Opening it, there was a staircase that went up, probably leading to the cottage above ground .

Some people there might still be alive . If that’s the case, then I might be able to get them —

「Ara-ara, if it isn’t Roland-sama . Never thought I’d meet you here of all places . 」

Whirling around, I saw Dee standing at the entrance, striking her signature hand-on-cheek pose . Her thin lips formed a smile, even though her eyes betrayed her true emotions .

「Neither did I . What are you doing in a place like this?」

「Guess I have no choice but to kill Roland-sama . 」

「It’s a shame you won’t be able to . 」

As soon as I finished my sentence, Dee made her move .

Launching off the ground, she did a 180 in mid-air and kicked the ceiling for momentum, barrelling straight at me . She would have killed the average human many times over before he could register those physics-defying movements .

「I see how it is . 」

I stuck my hand out, clutching Dee’s neck like a butcher selecting his next chicken to carve up .

「Gah… hack!? How did you see –!?」

I slammed her onto the bloodstained ground with all my strength .

「Guh –!?」

I had sparred with Dee for the practical assessment . That’s how I knew that she was weaker than me . There’s no way she can take me down, especially without a plan of some kind .

Standing on both of the struggling Dee’s arms to pin her down, I squatted, taking a good look at her eyes . I had been uncertain all this time due to the hood obscuring her face, but I could finally confirm my suspicions .

「’Dispel . ’」

From within Dee came the sound of shattering glass .