Chapter 240: Lainella's Fate is Decided by Lainella (33)
Chapter 240: Lainella's Fate is Decided by Lainella (33)
Chilly moonlight poured through the gaps in the swaying curtains.
At some point, the bedroom window had been opened. It was likely the trace left by the woman who had arrived without a single sound.
Even I, who had taken another leap forward in terms of skill, found it difficult to sense her presence. It was only when a shadow settled before me that I realized she was there.
It couldn't be helped, really.
My visitor was a professional who had spent her entire life honing those specific skills.
She was a beauty with brown hair long enough to cover her neck, deep green eyes, and a striking hairpin in her bangs.
Whenever she stood before me, the woman wore a particularly pallid expression. Today was no different.
"Senior Neris," the Imperial Intelligence agent I addressed as such, spoke cautiously.
"First, I apologize for the delay in my arrival. In the process of gathering relevant information beforehand, there were details I needed to verify..."
"Have you finished tending to your injuries?"
Neris’s expression turned peculiar at my sudden inquiry.
She looked up at me with bewildered eyes. I happened to be sitting at the table, reviewing documents containing the personal details of the missing persons.
There were many names I recognized.
That made it all the more exhausting and painful.
I pressed my temples firmly, trying to suppress the fatigue.
"Your wounds, I mean. Are they all healed?"
"Ah, t-that is..."
Senior Neris lowered her head, her eyes filled with confusion. Her stiffened posture radiated tension and fear.
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
It seemed I had been caught in a ridiculous misunderstanding.
Thinking that all of this was the handiwork of my "future self" made me feel dizzy. What on earth was he thinking, tormenting this innocent woman?
Well, she wasn't entirely innocent.
Senior Neris had a history of harassing people dear to me in the past. It was just that she had paid a somewhat excessive price for it.
Because of that, Senior Neris tended to imagine all sorts of negative scenarios whenever she saw me.
Today was no exception.
My ominous premonition hit the mark without fail.
"I-I'm sorry! It wasn't because I was resting that I was late... I-I was truly gathering information...!"
"I'm not trying to blame you."
I stopped Senior Neris with a sigh.
If I hadn't, she probably would have slammed her head against the floor again. Actually, she had already done it once.
The heavy thud echoed before I could stop her, making my heart sink.
I was worried someone might hear the noise and come to the bedroom.
The sight of me spending the middle of the night alone with a beautiful woman wouldn't exactly look good.
Seria had seemed particularly displeased since the last incident in the bedroom.
Fortunately, the previous visitors had been the silver-tongued Saintess and the foul-mouthed Senior Elsie. If Seria hadn't restrained herself out of the burden she felt, there was no telling what catastrophe might have occurred.
Seria was, by nature, timid and lacked social skills.
Still, it was a relief that she could exercise restraint.
It was proof that her social skills were improving.
Though I couldn't deny she was still something of a ticking time bomb.
While inwardly feeling proud of Seria's growth, I continued.
"I was literally asking if you were okay now. It would be troublesome if Senior Neris were unwell."
As soon as she heard my words, Senior Neris looked back at me with intense doubt.
It was the look one gives a total psycho.
Then again, Senior Neris wasn't close enough to me to distinguish between my current self and my future personality.
To her, the culprit who had previously severed her fingers and the person currently worrying about her must seem like the same man.
I had no defense even if I appeared to be a man with a split personality in her eyes.
In the end, failing to convince Senior Neris, I had to sigh once more.
"...Never mind. I'm glad you look fine. More importantly, what are the matters you need to report?"
"Ah, y-yes!"
Only then did Senior Neris snap out of it, cautiously watching my reaction.
She seemed terrified of finding fault with me again.
However, when no sign of reproach appeared no matter how long she waited, Senior Neris gained a bit of courage and began to speak haltingly.
"A-Actually, I received information that strange rumors have been circulating in this vicinity... They are rumors from over ten years ago, but by chance, similar stories have started spreading again recently."
Rumors resurfacing after a gap of more than ten years.
It might be related to the frequent disappearance incidents occurring in the Percus territory lately. Though, the details were something I would have to discuss with Arthur, the Administrator of the Empire.
When a low groan escaped my lips, Senior Neris quickly added more information.
It was part of her desperate effort not to offend me.
"The pattern of the rumors spreading is similar to before. First, disappearances occur, and then strange rumors begin to circulate. Stories like someone bringing the dead back to life, or encountering someone who looks exactly like oneself in the forest..."
"...Is there a possibility it's a doppelgänger?"
"It's unlikely. Monsters like doppelgängers don't appear haphazardly. Furthermore, no lunar eclipse has been observed in this region recently."
A "doppelgänger"—a monster that perfectly mimics the appearance and behavior of others.
Unlike demonic beasts, monsters were beings that were creatures from birth.
They primarily lived in the Demon Realm ruled by the Evil God Omeros, and there were occasional cases where beings from the Demon Realm crossed over to the real world during a lunar eclipse.
Of course, it was extremely rare for a monster to cross over so coincidentally.
The hypothesis that they were summoned artificially was more credible.
However, the boundary between the real world and the Demon Realm had never collapsed since the God-Demon War. It was recorded that even during the God-Demon War, Delphirem had to pay a great sacrifice before the final battle.
If someone had intentionally summoned a being from the Demon Realm, there should have been omens.
A collision between worlds was that significant of an event.
As Senior Neris said, it seemed better to rule out the possibility of it being a doppelgänger's doing.
"...It would be best to investigate."
"Yes, I thought you might say that, so I've narrowed down a few sources of the rumors."
Saying so, Senior Neris handed over several documents.
They were papers marking the locations where testimonies related to the rumors had been collected. Perhaps due to her meticulous investigation, the specified areas weren't broad.
As I scanned the documents, my gaze paused for a moment.
Something unusual had caught my eye.
"This place... isn't part of the Percus territory."
"Y-Yes... H-However, I thought it would be best to include that location in the check..."
Senior Neris glanced at me anxiously.
I could feel a slight tremor in her shoulders. She seemed worried she had made a mistake.
Of course, I had no intention of blaming her.
Being thorough in everything was a good attitude.
The reason I had specifically pointed out that location was different.
"The Yurdina family's encampment..."
I remembered hearing that Seria was heading to the encampment tomorrow.
Since things had turned out this way, it wouldn't be a bad idea to get Seria's cooperation.
There was a higher chance of obtaining better quality information when an insider acted rather than an outsider. In that sense, accompanying Seria would be very helpful.
It was while I was briefly organizing my thoughts.
Senior Neris grew even more anxious.
The fact that she was wetting her lips with her tongue repeatedly, as if they were parched, was proof of that.
I only noticed her state after some time had passed.
It was an "oops" moment.
From Senior Neris's perspective, my silence must have been terrifying. In her mind, I was a man who swung an axe without a second thought.
So, I hurriedly cleared my throat to get her attention.
A formal word of praise escaped my lips.
"...You did well."
But even such a common compliment seemed unexpected to Senior Neris.
She looked up at me with wide eyes.
"...Pardon?"
"I said you did well. I particularly liked that you meticulously gathered relevant information, even if it made you a bit late."
True sincerity in praise usually comes from mentioning specific parts that were good.
After blinking and opening and closing her mouth repeatedly for a while, Senior Neris suddenly bowed her head low.
I felt a faint ripple of emotion from her.
Was it necessary to react so intensely to just one sentence?
That question crossed my mind for a moment, but if Senior Neris was happy, I had no intention of spoiling the mood. In any case, the heavy atmosphere didn't last long.
It was because Senior Neris's face suddenly turned deathly pale.
As if she had just realized something, she prostrated herself, trembling.
"I-I was absolutely not questioning you or talking back... Never! I-I definitely wasn't doubting you... hic, sob. P-Please forgive me...!"
"...That's enough, stop it."
In the end, the sighs never stopped leaving my mouth.
It seemed that repairing my relationship with Senior Neris would require a much longer time.
*
The Percus mansion in the early dawn was silent.
Only a few servants preparing for the morning were moving about busily.
I appreciated the cold dawn air and the dim light. It was a privilege only a few diligent people could enjoy.
Today, I planned to head to the place where the Yurdina family's private army was stationed along with Seria.
Of course, since it was a schedule decided hastily the night before, I needed to consult with her.
That was why I was walking around the mansion from early morning.
Seria would likely be swinging her sword somewhere by now anyway. If we ran into each other, it might be nice to train together for the first time in a while—I was walking with such a relaxed mindset.
That is, until I ran into someone.
"...Ah, I said I get it already!"
"Elsie!"
Just as I thought I heard a raised voice, the door to the reception room burst open, and a girl rushed past me. The middle-aged man who chased after her was also a familiar face to me.
It was Senior Elsie and Mr. Reynold.
Mr. Reynold reached out his hand in vain, then let out an annoyed sigh and placed his hand over his face.
I could only watch the scene with a bewildered expression.
What was all this commotion so early in the morning?
Of course, the person I had to comfort was clear.
I slowly began to walk in the direction Senior Elsie had run off.
To be honest, I didn't have a hobby of comforting middle-aged men.