Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Suspicious Village (6)
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In the midst of the villagers gathered in the village center, the innkeeper's corpse came into view.
"Damn it..."
"Just who the hell is the culprit...! You think it'll come out if you kill us all? Huh?!"
It was quite different from when the old woman had been sacrificed.
No flowers or poisonous herbs as decorations—just her hands clasped together as if in prayer.
"..."
The most out-of-place thing, if there was one...
Impressive.
Was that the sacrificed woman was smiling brightly.
Just like the nun's smile at dawn.
"Inspector, sir... You really need to make a decision now..."
Thud—
Behind the village chief's troubled voice came the sound of heavy footsteps.
A blacksmith with a long object wrapped in cloth slung over his back.
And beside him, the kid clutching what I'd just handed over moments ago.
Crackle!
"Bro, this is really all we need?"
"Yeah, that's plenty."
I nodded slightly to the whispering kid, then turned to look at the blacksmith.
"Thank you. For hearing me out."
"...You're not confirmed as the culprit yet. If what I heard just now is true... we'll talk then."
I smirked at his matter-of-fact tone, then approached the village chief.
"Chief, it's time to reveal the culprit."
"...! You've found them?!"
The chief looked at me with eyes full of expectation.
All the villagers' gazes focused on me at once.
"Yes, Hans."
"Y-Yes...?"
"Step forward, please."
"..."
His hands trembled violently in fear as he barely managed to take a few steps to the center among the villagers.
"Every other night, you dream of killing a villager, don't you?"
"H-How do you...!"
"It was in your diary. The person you kill in the dream dies for real that day."
"Why would you read that without permission...! N-No... it was just a dream!!!"
He started to argue with me but felt the surrounding stares and hurriedly shook his head.
As he teared up insisting on his innocence, I opened the wiki and continued.
"You had a dream last night too, right?"
"W-Well, yes, but..."
"You killed the innkeeper in it."
"..."
The moment I activated the wiki's [Disposable Footprint Tracker], options popped up on my phone screen.
Selecting the farmer showed traces of him leaving his house at night and coming to this spot with the body.
The perpetrator is definitely the farmer.
My certainty turned into solid evidence.
He hadn't just dreamed it—he'd actually committed the crime.
"I didn't do anything—"
"It's fine. You're a victim too."
"Yes...?"
"You were manipulated. Every night, by someone's will."
"What do you...?"
The farmer's eyes widened.
Villagers tilted their heads, and the nun's brow twitched at the edge of my vision.
"Sadly, the dreams you had were real. Now we need to catch and condemn the true culprit."
"R-Real...?"
"You said you went to bed early every night, but you heard the blacksmith's noises."
"Yes..."
"I tested it. The sound doesn't reach your house even in light sleep. So, you were wandering outside at night, and the sound stuck in your subconscious."
I turned to the blacksmith, who nodded toward the farmer in confirmation.
"And your fingernails. It's almost gone, but there's a black mark inside."
"That's just dirt—"
"Yes, exactly. Dirt."
"Yes...?"
Swoosh.
With a glance, my sensible assistant approached with a flowerpot and a small ceramic dish.
"The dirt in this dish is from Hans's field."
"I-It looks similar, but..."
"Want to try putting it under your nails?"
"The color... is different...?"
Yesterday, I'd checked with the kid just in case.
To see if it was dirt or blood under his nails, I'd dug up his field.
And putting the dirt under my own nails showed the colors were distinctly different.
I thought it might be bloodstains.
But when the old woman died, there were no bloodstains at all.
If enough blood had splashed to stain under his nails, the scene wouldn't have been so clean.
And if it was such a small amount that it clotted in hours, it wouldn't have gotten under his nails.
"So you're saying this is a bloodstain...?"
"No, it's not."
Whoosh—
As I denied the farmer's words, my sharp assistant dumped the dirt from the nun's flowerpot.
Dirt soaked in water.
Dirt that looked distinctly blacker than from the farmer's field.
Of course, it might just be different soil because she used good stuff for her flowers. Didn't matter either way.
I'd found it poking around last night, as the nun mentioned.
The flowers she kept at her entrance—ones she saw often—were wilting.
I checked the soil to confirm, but it was soaked with water.
The flowers were dried and shriveled, but the soil was wet?
And it wasn't ordinary soil—maybe specialized for plants?
She just swapped the flowers.
Swoosh, swoosh—
"Looks pretty similar now."
"I-It does, but... whose is this...?"
"From the nun's house."
I shoved some fallen dirt under my fingernail, picked up a nearly withered flower, and smiled.
"Has anyone here received or grown the red flower that was on Mrs. Masa's body two nights ago?"
"..."
Silence. They just looked around at each other.
Of course.
The kid said from the start it wasn't common. A rare flower only an herbalist like the old woman would have.
And a villager who received such a precious flower—the flower of 'welcome.'
The nun who arrived by chance a year ago.
Swoosh.
"W-Why is everyone looking at me...!"
All eyes naturally turned to her.
The old woman who'd brought her on the verge of death.
No villager could forget the self-proclaimed nun arriving injured on a rainy day.
Even if the old woman gave her the flower when they were alone...
In this village, only one person fit.
"So... all those dreams I had were because of the nun...? D-Did I really... kill people? Kill villagers...?"
"Yes, that's right."
"How? When did this happen...? Why me of all people...!!"
"Who knows. I was about to ask you. Anything come to mind? Like spending time alone together over the past year, or her visiting regularly for chats."
I immediately questioned the suspicious point from the farmer's story.
Why pick the farmer? Because he was the softest?
Easy to manipulate? Good as a scapegoat if caught?
"Ah..."
"Something?"
"Last year's crops all failed... I thought praying to the gods might help, so we prayed together every day..."
"That must've been the starting point."
I didn't know how she controlled him, but if they'd spent time together for a year, she had plenty of prep time.
Maybe that's why she spent the year so quietly.
"Wait... are you saying I'm the culprit, Inspector...?"
"Nun... why me...?"
"Y-You can't just accuse someone over something like that! Hans is way more suspicious...!!"
"Of course, this alone wouldn't be enough. Nun, could you show us your usual scripture?"
"Why...? I don't have it on me right now anyway..."
I shrugged at her outburst and continued.
I knew she'd say that. That's why I mentioned she didn't bring it.
"Then I'll fetch it myself."
"N-No... I'll go get it—"
"Stay put, Sherlock Holmes."
"Good assist, Tommy Watson."
Of course I'd grabbed it ahead, you blockhead.
I told you to look around as much as you wanted.
I reached out to the kid, who handed over the scripture he'd kept safe.
Not 100% sure, but...
From the circumstantial evidence, I knew she was the real culprit—and obviously not a real nun.
Neither I nor the kid could read this scripture. It was all in unknown script.
Maybe the kid was too young, or I wasn't from this world.
Obviously not proof on its own...
"S-So what? It's just a normal scripture! For praying to the gods—"
"Philip."
"Y-Yeah?"
"You've wandered the capital buying and selling. You've been near churches, or seen people carrying scriptures."
"Ah..."
I trusted the merchant could testify if this fake nun was lying about being from the capital.
Even if not...
He might not remember.
People don't pay attention to everything.
But because he's human, and in this situation...
With the nun under suspicion and the inspector cornering her...
"Y-Yeah... I've never seen a scripture like that!!"
"That's what he says."
"No way...!"
"Forbidden book, forbidden! Never seen that script!!"
People would say what I expected.
Psychology works that way.
Maybe he really remembered.
"What are you all talking about!!!"
Now for the final step.
Swoosh.
I opened the wiki again and used the [Disposable Lie Detector].
Targeting the nun, I approached with a smile.
So damn confident last night.
"..."
"Nun, just one question. Are you the true culprit behind all this?"
"Of course not...!!"
I flashed a grin at the red letters on my phone screen.
Game over. Lock 'em all up.
"That's a lie."
"On what basis...?"
"A power from His Majesty the Emperor. Need more proof?"
"That's ridiculous—"
"Or should I explain step by step? Starting with how you controlled the farmer?"
"..."
Her expression slowly hardened at my words.
Smirk—
All the evidence was in.
The audience was hooked.
"Ahem."
In front of everyone speechless, I smiled at the village representative.
"Chief, the culprit is that 'fake' nun."
"B-But..."
"Don't believe him, Chief...!! It's all this man's scheme!!"
"I stake the honorable title of Imperial Inspector given by the Empire's Sun, His Majesty. If this woman isn't the culprit, I'll take responsibility, lead imperial forces, find the real one. And of course, I'll take my own life."
I was bluffing wildly, but it didn't matter.
She was the real culprit.
If I could just get the villagers' buy-in, the rest was smooth.
Pure bluffing game—make them believe me, and I win.
"I-I'll trust you... Anyone object to the Inspector's judgment...?"
"..."
"Why... why does everyone believe this man!!"
The villagers shook their heads at the chief's words.
Not fully convinced she was guilty, but hoping she was.
Desperate to escape this hellish village.
"Thank you for your wise choice."
No opposition. I gave a clumsy noble-like bow.
"Now, Nun. You're confirmed as the culprit. I have the right to immediate execution. Any last words?"
"..."
The nun who'd been shouting hung her head.
No excuses? Or no confidence to deny?
Do I have to kill her? No clear.
Wondering why it wasn't ending despite her being the culprit—
"...Heh, alright."
I squinted at her laugh.
"Yes, I'm the culprit... All the time you closed your eyes to pray, I controlled his body freely."
"..."
"But now, it doesn't matter anymore."
Whoosh—!!
A purple aura spread around the nun.
The space around her began to dye in darkness.
"Souls gathered from the capital, and souls gathered here..."
"W-What is that?!"
"A bit short, but enough as tribute."
"Tribute...?"
"Hehe, a gift for my master. The capital's holy knights tried to kill me, calling me a devil worshiper..."
"...Devil worshiper?"
So she was a dark mage or something?
...A demon's nun vibe?
Flash—
Kaboom—!!
"I only walked the path of hardship for everyone's peace?"
Light flashed over the village, followed by black lightning strikes.
"...Oof."
The sky turned black. A bizarre magic circle in strange script spread under the nun's feet.
Identical to the script in the scripture.
"Great Ziberck!! Somehow... even forcibly, I'll open the door for you!! Using me and that man as tribute!!"
"Why me?!"
What the hell is this?
The plot twisted too weirdly.
As the nun clawed at her face like possessed, I hurriedly shielded the kid.
"Uwaaaaaah—!!"
"Fuck!"
As I scooped up the kid to flee from her distorted scream—
Whoosh—!!
A silver harpoon at least a meter long whizzed past me.
The blacksmith, who'd carried the cloth-wrapped item, aimed a massive crossbow at the nun.
Right, I asked him.
Said I'd probably find the culprit, but didn't know what it was.
Asked him to help with tools he'd made, just in case.
"Gah...!!"
Turning quickly, the harpoon was lodged in the nun's chest.
Whoosh—!
The blacksmith reloaded and fired again.
Black blood burst from the harpoon embedding in her body.
"Gaaaah...!!"
Swoosh.
"...Don't look, kid."
"Gotta see to avenge."
"Still no."
Thud.
Covering the kid's eyes, I watched as the nun writhed with screams and groans before collapsing.
The sky and surroundings returned to normal.
Among the silent villagers, the hunter cautiously stepped forward.
Poke.
"Dead."
He muttered, squinting at her body.
"Finished her?"
I chanted a spell to prompt revival if any, but nothing.
Probably done. She admitted it herself, so back to wherever she came from soon.
"Th-Thank you...! For saving our village, Inspector...!!"
His village...
I chuckled dryly at the chief and nodded casually.
Swoosh—
"Thanks for the help."
"...Not sure if I made the right choice."
The blacksmith helped me up, hand extended.
He'd prepared his own coffin, so no will to live—makes sense.
Snicker.
"At least the one who left first will be happy."
"...Might be a while till we meet again."
Bitter expression, but positive words.
I shrugged with a light laugh and looked at the text floating in the village center.
"Finally..."
Seemed like success. I let out a hollow laugh at the sky, finally feeling it sink in.
"Thanks, Inspector. Thanks to you, I can finally escape this place."
"Haha, no. Thank you."
I nodded casually to the merchant.
Genuine or not, his testimony wrapped it up neatly.
"You know as a capital inspector, but 'Ziberck' is a famous evil god. Probably a worshiper who infiltrated somehow."
"Ah, yeah. Makes sense."
That explained the ominous voice and aura.
Holy knights tried to kill her, so she fled here.
Found near death initially.
Just story flavor, but I figured out the secrets.
"Thank you, Inspector... For saving us... For lifting my curse...!!"
"No, you suffered a lot."
"Hmph, just did my job."
"Haha."
I smiled appropriately at the farmer and hunter.
The chief was dragging the nun's body fearlessly to clean his village.
The widow... still glaring at the chief, so couldn't approach.
Scary anyway.
"Hey, kid."
"...Sherlock Holmes."
Poke.
"Good job."
"..."
I called the boy waiting in the dwindling time.
Ruffled his hair wildly, chuckling.
"Whatever you do, you'll go far. Keep living confidently with that sharp sense."
"Bro..."
Fake or vanishing or whatever.
To the boy named Timmy who could think and feel right now, I spoke sincerely.
"Thanks. Would've been in deep shit without you."
"Thanks, bro. See ya."
"Yeah."
I smiled at the kid waving as he stepped back—
"You're not someone who belongs in %#!@."
"...What?"
His words made me squint.
"Wait, what does that—"
About to demand what he meant—
Flash.
"...!!"
The pitch-black space from the 20th floor spread before me.
No fainting like before, but my head throbbed and eyes burned.
My body rejected it like a forbidden place.
"Ha..."
What the hell was this?
Did that kid send me here?
...Need info, any info.
Head spinning, I forced my eyes open and looked around.
Struggling to move legs and arms for any clue.
Screeeee—!!
My ears...!!
Suddenly, voices exploded like my eardrums would burst.
Echoing madly in my ears. So loud it felt like they were popping instead.
Unheard-of phenomenon. Plugging ears didn't help—the noise made my head feel like splitting.
Listening to the gibberish for so long, my mind blurred.
-Me$ such@ leave& can't#!@%
With the last fragment, I blacked out.
"...Back."
Blinking my dazed mind, I was inside the black tower again.
The open door far off meant Tower of Wisdom, 50th floor interior.
Swoosh...
Grabbing my throbbing head, I barely stood and moved.
The tower interior was empty. Like the village was all there was.
『Tower of Wisdom』
-50-
I chuckled at the meme ticket I hadn't seen in ages and snapped a proof shot.
Staggered past the dark passage toward the hideout, thinking I needed to lie down.
Exactly a day passed.
3 days inside 50th floor, so 3:1 ratio?
Or fixed to one day outside regardless.
Click!
Head's killing me.
Snapped the lobby timer, then headed straight to the hideout.
What did the kid mean at the end?
Why the black space again? What were those voices?
Lots to ponder, but body too heavy—bed first.
Creeak—
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Dragging myself into the hideout, my phone blared notifications.
What now? Checked—3 alerts in [Internet].
+ TP +5,000
+ Full Support Bonus +1,000 TP
"...!"
Previewing the alerts, euphoria chased away the headache.
5k for clear, plus bonus.
"My heart swells..."
The past week's suffering welled up as tears.
Overwhelmed by TP glory, fireworks exploded in my mind.
This is the miser's life.
Suffering ends in glory.
Wait, what's the third?
Two were TP, but one left.
Still a red 1 on [Internet].
Don't tell me...
Remembering Star Bang's unlock, I tapped Internet.
[Gallery] [Star Wiki] [Star Bang] [???]
"Knew there was more."
I smiled at the new icon next to Star Bang.
Squeeze.
Functionality limited. Unlock '???' upon conditions met.
I chuckled at the conditions.
50th too far? First was 10, then 50.
Still...
Took only a week from Wisdom 11 to 50.
Tower of Trials aside, others shouldn't take long.
At 10-floor pace, ridiculously fast.
Exciting.
Gallery, Wiki, Shopping.
What next? More cheats? Already thrilled.
