Chapter 35

◈ Chapter 35: Nightcrawler

The Rickson mansion was filled with tension as Terina Ryanhall and her two subordinates appeared.

The police officers who were examining the crime scene straightened their bodies and saluted her when they saw Terina.

"Te, Terina Countess! It's an honor to meet you! I'm Inspector Teboran!"

"Oh, really. You must have worked hard."

"May I ask, if it's not too much trouble, why Countess Terina is here?"

"Didn't you hear? As of this moment, the investigation of the murder at the Rickson mansion has been taken over by our Security Bureau."

"Se, Security Bureau?"

Inspector Teboran, with his long beard and mustache, swallowed hard.

He thought it wasn't just a simple murder case, but if the Security Bureau was involved, it must be an incredibly dangerous situation.

The Security Bureau rarely intervenes unless it's a really serious matter.

"Excuse me! Everyone, withdraw!"

The inspector and his subordinate police officers quickly left the scene.

Now, their job was to block the hyena-like reporters who were eyeing the incident inside the mansion at the gate.

Once the prying eyes were gone, one of the two subordinates, a young-looking maid, relaxed her shoulders.

"Phew. It was tough to set the mood."

"Tsk. Enya. Even without prying eyes, act in a manner befitting the Nightcrawler Knights."

The senior Lloyd's reprimand made the maid, Enya, roll her eyes.

"But, Senior. No matter what, there's no need to go that far here, right?"

"Enya, you..."

"Stop it, Lloyd. As long as we don't show this in front of others, it's fine."

"See? Even the Commander says so."

"This little one is really something."

Subordinate Lloyd eventually shook his head and gave up.

The Nightcrawler Knights, being an elite group that guards the heart of the empire, were a place where only the best gathered, but they were also a place where seniors and juniors could speak freely.

This was because Commander Terina herself liked such an atmosphere.

That doesn't mean the discipline was lax.

Handling their tasks more clearly and precisely than anyone else was a long-standing tradition of the Nightcrawler Knights.

Most importantly, the fact that the discipline of the Nightcrawler Knights hadn't collapsed was evidence of the current commander, Terina Ryanhall's, formidable control and charisma.

"Don't forget why we're here."

"Yes."

"Yes."

This case was not a simple one; it was evaluated as a major incident that required the involvement of the Security Bureau.

Especially, the connection to the Cryptids and black magic was so significant that Commander Terina herself had to intervene.

"Until now, it was just a rumor, but Velbot was a man who had been on our Security Bureau's watch list for suspicious activities. His sudden death by a monster can't be seen as a mere coincidence."

Terina's words made Lloyd and Enya nod.

The three of them immediately began searching Rickson's room.

A broken window, which seemed to be the point of entry for the intruder, and black marks, which could be the traces of a burned monster.

And the blood, presumed to be Velbot's, scattered around.

According to the witnesses, a monster appeared and Rickson was killed.

Given that their statements were consistent and coherent, it was hard to believe they were lying.

They moved around for over ten minutes, looking for any possible clues, but didn't find anything significant.

Just as Lloyd was about to say something, thinking they had thoroughly searched everything, Terina, who had been deep in thought with her arms crossed, suddenly walked briskly towards one of the walls.

"Commander?"

"Here it is."

Terina was looking at the wall covered with paintings.

Velbot, being one of the richest men in Leathbalk, had decorated his spacious room with all sorts of luxurious artworks.

Approaching the wall, Terina touched the frames of the paintings, and then moved a mural in the corner to the side.

"Commander? Why that painting?"

"There's a space behind it."

Before anyone could ask if it was true, Terina's gloved fingertips touched the center of the wall.

With a creak, the wall slid open to the side.

A secret space, only about 1 meter wide and tall.

It wasn't large enough for someone to enter.

"What is this?"

Enya asked, looking at the empty space with curiosity.

Terina, with her arms still crossed, spoke in a casual tone.

"Judging by the size and location, it was probably a place to hide a secret safe."

"A secret safe?"

"Velbot Rickson was a notorious rich man and a wicked businessman. He must have hidden funds and black money to avoid the empire's scrutiny."

"Is this safe where he kept them?"

"But the safe is gone."

Lloyd, who seemed to have realized something, spoke with a heavy face.

"Someone must have taken it."

"Right."

"Then who took it? The mansion's staff? Should we start by interrogating the butler, who seems the most suspicious?"

Shaking her head at Enya's enthusiastic suggestion, Terina replied.

"No. It would be meaningless. The butler isn't involved in this."

"Huh?"

"Someone like Velbot wouldn't have confided his secret funds to anyone. He must have hidden them thoroughly, known only to himself."

"But it's empty here."

"Just because he didn't tell anyone doesn't mean no one knew."

After all, Terina had discovered this secret space.

"Businessmen, rich men, and merchants all think alike. They don't like opening bank accounts. They prefer to keep cash and gold coins within reach, where they can use them immediately. It makes them feel more at ease."

"Then who took it?"

"We'll find out. But my guess is that whoever took the safe is connected to Rickson's death."

"But Velbot Rickson was eaten by a werewolf, right?"

"I'm starting to doubt that. Look at the remaining traces. Half of this large room's floor is burned. It was burned by magic, so it didn't spread into a fire. It was a precise area of flame, yet it's this large."

"That means..."

"Cryptids, even werewolves, are no more than 3 meters tall, and that's very large. Even if you burned such a creature, it wouldn't leave such a large trace."

People who actually saw the werewolf initially mistook it for a 'monster.'

They might have been mistaken due to the darkness and fear, but the traces told a different story.

"The conclusion is that someone was involved in Velbot Rickson's death. An unnatural death. The appearance of a monster. And Velbot's bad reputation. There's a lot left to investigate."

What particularly troubled Terina was the skill of the unknown intruder who had taken the safe without leaving any trace.

Even if they searched with a keen eye, the intruder had left no evidence, as if the safe had never existed.

'No way. There was definitely a safe here. At least until last night.'

The fact that dust hadn't settled on the floor was proof.

Even in a sealed space, air and dust would eventually accumulate.

So, who could have taken it?

This feeling, like trying to grasp a faint mirage, was strangely familiar.

'It feels so familiar, almost like déjà vu.'

Terina Ryanhall couldn't help but recall a memory from the past.

A few years ago.

There was a thief who had caused a stir across the continent.

He moved as if shrouded in the darkness of night, so mysterious that no one had ever seen his true face.

He easily broke into any place with the strictest security, stole valuable items without leaving a trace, and made many rich people cry and rage.

The phantom thief, Arsène Lupin.

'Could it be that thief... No, no. He stopped his activities years ago. Could he be moving again now?'

But the method still troubled her.

Even if it wasn't him, it could be an acquaintance, accomplice, or disciple.

"Lloyd."

"Yes, Commander."

"Was there anything unusual among the other incidents in Leathbalk?"

"Um, yes. One of the abandoned factories in the industrial zone was completely burned down. On the same day Velbot died."

"That's where it is."

What could cause a fire in an abandoned factory?

Especially in a remote location where people's attention rarely reaches.

"Let's go."

* * *

The werewolf incident that had caused a stir in Seorun and Leathbalk came to a close with the death of the notorious rich man.

By the way, I was lying in bed in my room at the moment.

'Ugh. If I had known, I would have prepared better. Fortunately, there's no class today, or it would have been a big problem.'

The itching in my body was less of an issue than the floating sensation in my head and the subtle onset of a migraine.

Lying in bed, I took out three pills and popped them into my mouth.

Crunch, crunch.

To others, they might look like headache medicine or painkillers, but these were chewable mana potions that replenish magic power.

Usually, magic power is recovered automatically over time or through potions.

But with the current advanced alchemy.

Magic recovery potions can be made by grinding them into powder and mixing with water, or, like me, by mixing with starch and making them into pills.

Powder or pills are easier to store and carry than potions.

So, chewable mana potions are not particularly rare in this world.

Now, the difference lies in how effective they are.

The key in alchemy is the efficiency of the effect relative to the materials used.

Effect

Risk

And efficiency.

These three factors are combined to rate the potion from the highest 1st grade to the lowest 10th grade.

The pills I'm currently taking are my original recovery potions.

Due to my current 'constitution,' I had to slightly increase the risk to maximize the effect.

Since it's my special formula, it doesn't have a grade, but I think it would be rated quite high. And I'm eating it now as a substitute for a meal.

'I used too much power. I always finish things quickly, but who knew it would be a black magician who had transformed his body like that.'

The Bug Brothers.

Because of the older brother, Veron, I had no choice but to use 'real magic' that isn't from this world.

Magic that incorporates the occult and mythological knowledge from the world I originally lived in.

The problem is that the aftereffects are no joke.

The reason I regularly take magic power replenishing pills is because of this magic.

[━━━━━]

Voice.

The voice that had been tormenting me gradually faded and eventually disappeared.

This voice can only be suppressed by using magic, so I ended up with a constitution that consumes magic power just by breathing.

As a result, I have to regularly replenish my depleted magic power.

'Feeling better.'

As the headache subsided, other thoughts came to mind.

The werewolf incident was now under control thanks to my intervention.

Since I burned everything to ashes, there would be no evidence from the werewolf to trace.

The only issue would be the witnesses at the scene.

'Aidan.'

The first-year student who had stopped me from killing the werewolf.

He had brown hair that wasn't particularly noticeable and a likable appearance.

But what made him stand out was his character.

He risked his life to protect his friend and volunteered to help even when he might be in danger himself—rare behavior even in Seorun.

Yes.

If I had to describe him, he was like a protagonist from a shonen manga or novel.

In my memory, he was a model student who always paid close attention to my classes with bright eyes.

Unlike others who learned magic as if they were being chased, he entered Seorun because he genuinely loved magic, a hardworking enthusiast.

Such a student had witnessed the secret of the werewolf.

If this were a game, the title [Act 1: The Werewolf of Seorun] might have just appeared.

'I might be under suspicion for killing the werewolf so recklessly.'

Fortunately, Leo and Tais Priad, who were with him, didn't notice.

But if Aidan tells them, the story could change.

How did a first-year student get involved in such an incident and get so close to the truth?

Without intending to, the situation has become complicated.

I rubbed my forehead with my hand and pushed my bangs back.

In this situation, there was one method that came to mind.

'Should I kill him?'