Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Suspicious Village (3)
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Thud-
"This way."
"……"
The village center, following the chief.
It was early dawn, yet almost everyone had already gathered.
The villagers encircled the scene, keeping a slight distance.
"The victim is—"
"Mrs. Martha."
"……"
The one sacrificed overnight was the old woman, Martha.
She had been one of the suspects I'd eyed, so hearing she'd been taken so easily left a strange feeling.
Thud.
"What the…?"
The corpse's appearance was quite peculiar.
At the village's heart, smack in the middle of the large intersection.
A single red flower bloomed from her chest as she lay there, arms raised in triumph, smiling as if overjoyed.
Even on the dirt ground, all sorts of grass sprouted thickly around her.
Thump.
"Grandma…."
"……"
Turning at the voice, a little kid who seemed to have just arrived plopped down on the spot.
His eyes were vacant. A faint "aaah" sigh escaped his gaping mouth.
"It's because of me…. Because I was with her……."
As if it wasn't his first or second time, the others averted their gazes.
Drip, drip.
Tears flowed from his seemingly empty eyes.
I squeezed my eyes shut at the sight of him crying like a child, one beat too late, then opened them.
Swoosh.
"It's not your fault, so no need for that."
"Inspector…?"
"I told you, I'd avenge you in your place."
Holograms or whatever—seeing my younger self from childhood flashed in my mind.
This wasn't reality, the experiences were different, but I couldn't just stand by and watch.
Because I'd been there.
Always left alone.
"Do you remember anything from last night? When did you last see your grandma?"
"I don't remember…. It was just like always…."
"No noisy sounds in your sleep?"
"No…. I wake up easily, so if it was loud, I'd have gotten up…."
"Got it. I'll come by later, so go home and rest."
"……"
I ruffled his hair with a smile and turned to leave.
Not the best mood, but investigating was key to catching the culprit.
"No obvious traces."
"……I see."
The blacksmith near the old woman muttered softly.
No visible wounds or marks. Just the eerie flower and surrounding grass.
"Never seen a murder like this before…."
The chief's added explanation plunged it deeper into mystery.
I poked around everywhere possible, but as a layman, nothing stood out.
Maybe… something magical?
"I know what it is…."
As I thought that, the kid's voice came from behind.
"Huh?"
"That flower… Grandma gave it to me when she took me in alone…."
"You know what flower it is?"
"Yeah…. She said it means 'welcome'…. Like 'hurry in, nice to see you'… that kind of thing…."
"……Ha."
Figures the flashy scene was a message for me.
I hadn't assumed no special motive, but simple pleasure killing seemed likely now.
Swoosh.
I looked around, lifting my head.
'……No farmer.'
Hunter, merchant, nun… Checking faces, one was missing.
Eight villagers, all with sad, lamenting expressions.
'This is maddening.'
Headache from knowing the culprit was among them, including the absent farmer.
"Mrs. Martha…."
"Why would this happen…."
They all looked normal, making it worse.
"Damn… How long do we have to stay in this hellhole…."
How good an actor to feign grief amid this?
"……Dismissed. If you go out before I visit, I'll treat you as the culprit."
They flinched at my words, showing varied expressions as they turned away.
Harsh, I knew, but necessary to catch the killer.
Grip!
"You, stop right there."
"Huh…?"
"We'll bury her together."
I grabbed the kid's slumping shoulder as he turned to follow my words.
Please, just not this kid.
"So, the grass around her was probably all poison weeds too?"
"……Yeah, like the ones Grandma never let me touch or see."
"Never let you touch or see, but how'd you know?"
"I sneaked a look when she wasn't there."
Bold kid, impressive.
After burying the old woman in a temporary grave outside, I got more info from the kid.
Culprit likely knowledgeable in herbs, or close to the old woman.
Showed off the flower on the day I arrived, like putting on a display.
Even the decorations tied to the victim.
'Someone who knows poison weeds and flowers well.'
Or something beyond my guesses.
"Hey… bro."
"……Bro?"
"Should I call you Inspector?"
"Whatever."
"You said you'd avenge me?"
"Yeah."
"…Promise?"
'How powerless does he feel?'
I gave a wry smile at his words, hand on his head.
I didn't like him obsessing over revenge at his age.
"Where do you keep that welcome flower at home?"
"Second floor end, farthest room from the stairs."
"Where do you sleep?"
"Room next to the stairs on the first floor."
No nighttime noise meant no struggle.
She left willingly or the culprit could enter anytime unnoticed.
"…Ever seen that flower elsewhere?"
"Not sure. She said it's not common."
……Not common. Maybe traceable.
"Boy."
"……Me?"
"Yes, boy. You want revenge?"
"Yeah… Why the sudden formal call, bro?"
"You call me bro too. From now on, you're my assistant."
"……Got it."
I chuckled at his salute, like something he'd seen.
If I'd had a guiding adult, would I have chosen differently?
The case notebook updated.
New info added. Without the wiki, I'd never have pinned the death time.
"Bro?"
"……"
A faint smile as I ignored the puzzled voice beside me.
Temporary [One-Time Lie Detector] activated below the updated notebook.
- Use to detect target's lie once.
Wiki still said analyzing, but a new temporary feature linked to the notebook appeared.
'Time to deduce properly.'
"Bro!!"
"Sorry. So, where to, Watson?"
"My name's Timmy, bro."
"Okay, let's go, Timmy Watson."
"……"
I patted his back and walked on.
Didn't know the culprit yet, but after this welcome, time to reciprocate.
Knock knock-
"Mr. Philip, you there?"
"Yeah, give me a sec to come out."
Fifth house since the morning incident.
I knocked on the wandering merchant's place.
Creeak-
"Grandma-!!"
The moment the door opened, the kid beside me darted inside.
"Wait…!!"
"Sorry. He's taking it hard, checking every house like this."
"……Locked up here at that age, must be tough."
I grabbed the startled merchant as he turned, bowing in apology.
"Yes, I'll keep him with me for now. More importantly, Mr. Philip, questions."
"……Ask."
Just a kid wandering, no big deal—focus on my inspector queries.
Thus, using the kid's antics for entry.
Less resistance than me asking to search.
"What'd you do last night?"
"What else? Barred doors and windows, shivered till dawn."
"Hear anyone outside?"
"No way."
Timmy Watson had two tasks.
Thud- Thump-!!
First: Find rooms with the flower or poison weeds, or traces.
Second—
"Inspector!! Something suspicious here—!!"
"……?"
'No reaction.'
The suspect narrowed his eyes, pondering.
No sign of stopping the kid or explaining to me.
Not conclusive, but enough to rule some out.
'Chief panicked over basement key spot, but nothing major otherwise.'
Excluding chief, the four so far weren't too suspicious.
"Mind if I check?"
"Go ahead, I don't even know what he's on about."
Headed to the voice's source with the merchant.
"Must've been nothing. Sorry."
"He says mistake. Apologies for the bother."
Quick false alarm apology, then out with the kid.
Creeak.
"This really okay, bro?"
"Dunno… Thought it was solid."
Chief, innkeeper, widow, hunter, merchant.
Five raids, no hits.
Bad plan or no culprit there?
'Widow chat was tense….'
Heart pounding alone with her, but kid's yells helped.
"Left: blacksmith, nun, farmer… right?"
"Yeah."
Nun aside, blacksmith who lets no one in and absent farmer morning were concerns.
'Wish one was suspicious.'
For the lie detector. No clear target now.
No need today, but wanted clues fast.
"Let's go, Timmy Watson."
"Got it, Sherlock Holmes."
"Finally learned the name, assistant."
"Not the real one."
"Time to believe?"
Told him Han Seol means call me Sherlock Holmes.
Insisted real name, but this kid won't buy it.
Knock knock-
"Anyone home?"
Farmer's house, eye contact with kid.
His nod, I knocked and spoke.
Creeak.
"Ah, Inspector…!"
'Go, assistant!'
"Grandma—!!"
Dash-!!
"W-Woah…!!"
Door opens, kid squeezes in.
I spoke to the reaching farmer behind the thumping boy.
"Heard about today's victim?"
"Y-Yeah, chief told me earlier…."
Fidgety, I squinted and continued slowly.
"Where were you this morning?"
"F-Fields…."
"That time?"
"Woke early… yes…."
"Didn't know central incident?"
"D-Don't go that way……."
True or lie?
His unease made me frown.
Wondering if to use lie detector here.
"Inspector!! Something suspicious!!"
"N-No way…!!!"
'He's shaken…?'
Frowning at his fidgety turn.
"Mind if I…?"
"Uh…. Th-That…!"
Glancing at me, I quipped and headed in without permission.
Courtesy words. No waiting for agreement.
"W-Wait, Inspector!!"
"……"
Ignored the chasing farmer, found kid in second room from entrance.
Kid just shrugged.
Acting to bait, not real find.
"Mistake, sorry."
"…Seemed so."
"H-Ha…! F-Fine. Everyone errs."
"……"
Obvious relief twisted my face.
Swoosh.
Debating full search, kid tugged my arm; I shut eyes, opened.
"What'd you do last night?"
"S-Slept early, usual."
"Nothing overnight?"
"N-No…. Heavy sleeper…."
"Thanks for cooperating."
Short Q&A done, patted kid's back, left.
Thud-.
"No suspects, Watson?"
"Nah, nothing. Why? Farmer sus?"
"Most suspicious so far."
Shrugged at his tilting head.
Suspicion overflowing.
Absent from scene, only one panicked at kid.
But… too suspicious, felt off.
"Oh, see farmer's hands?"
"Hands?"
Tilted at sudden topic.
Didn't check. No need.
"I'm short, saw clear."
"Issue?"
"Kept clenching, fiddling fingers—"
Eyes closed recalling, trailed off.
"Fingertips blackened, under nails."
'Black under nails…?'
Frowned at details.
How do nails blacken?
Fine particles rubbed in?
'Farmer… soil likely.'
Sure, but my mind went elsewhere.
'Bloodstains.'
Dried blood turns black too.
Thud.
"Bro, here."
"……Nun's house?"
"Yeah."
Shook head at interrupting voice mid-suspicion.
Check last two, then sort info, use detector.
Knock knock.
Thus knocked nun's door—
"What is it—"
"Grandma—!!"
Door opens, kid full-speed past greeting nun.
Swoosh-.
"Eh…?"
"Hehe, Timmy. Can't burst into others' homes."
"……"
"Ask properly, get permission?"
Caught him.
Speed hard to react, yet she sidestepped, facing him.
"I-I wanted Grandma…."
"Mrs. Martha's… sadly not here. Sorry, Timmy."
"Okay…."
She hugged him lightly, stroked hair softly.
"Hehe, don't believe? Search together? Tea ready, rest as long as you want."
"……No need."
"Alright."
Kid shook head faintly at her inviting smile.
Nun soothed back briefly, stood, hands on his shoulders, turned us.
"So, shepherd, what brings you?"
"……Heard what you did last night."
"Knew incident night… prayed late."
"To God…?"
"Yes, please not punish your lambs harshly."
Nodded quietly at her words.
No big panic. Seemed natural, genuine.
No questions back, just gentle smile, stroking kid's head.
"……Hear outside during prayer?"
"No…. Didn't no— ah."
"Nun?"
She widened eyes, trailed; I asked back.
Awkward, pondering face up at me, slowly spoke.
"Unsure okay…?"
"Yes, fine."
"Heard… Hans' voice nearby maybe."
"Hans the farmer?"
"Yes, vague, thought mistake…. Might help you…."
"……"
"D-Don't want to suspect…! Probably mistake…?"
Farmer said slept early.
One lied.
Bitter expression like suspecting hurts, I bowed, left with kid.
"Bro, okay?"
"……What?"
"Couldn't enter nun's."
"……Yeah."
Still… she offered entry, probably fine.
Her block seemed permission, but Hans' voice info nagged more.
"Grandma-!!"
"……! What are you doing…!"
Next, blacksmith Otto's house.
To make up for prior miss, assistant charged at door open like light.
"Stop!!"
Startled blacksmith chased without hesitation.
True to rep of no entry, even kid—no, hand out, pursued.
Crash-!
"Mmph!!"
"Don't…! Wander…!"
Soon, kid grabbed by blacksmith at inner door to forge, fell—
Thud-
"Pardon the intrusion, Mr. Otto."
"……!"
I brushed past the fallen pair, lightly grabbed the doorknob.