Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: S2. A Grudge Brushing Against the Stars -1
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Three shadows slipped past under the glow of streetlamps on the night road. In the silence, only the unusually clear sound of footsteps echoed through the air. Thud. Thud.
Leading the way at the front was Bennett. He advanced with meticulous care. His aim was to avoid running into any fanatics if at all possible, steering clear of combat as much as he could.
He checked around the corner, confirmed no one was there, then hugged the wall as he moved forward. Bennett led, and Niore and Tara followed close behind.
The reason Bennett was being so cautious was his judgment that they couldn't afford a fight in their current state. Especially considering Niore and Tara, who were still reeling from the shock.
Tara glared at her surroundings with eyes gleaming like a hunter stalking prey, while Niore kept her head bowed low, glancing nervously at Tara and Bennett as she moved.
The two had recovered enough mentally to move, but their ways of coping were different, and something about them seemed twisted.
Tara's eyes held the flames of the mansion. Rage, pain, resentment. She wanted to kill the fanatics right then and there.
Niore's eyes bore the shadow of the mansion. Guilt, regret, obsession. She still regretted her judgment and desperately wanted to make amends.
In dangerous situations, you have to suppress your emotions. That's what Bennett believed. When swayed by feelings, people cling to slim chances. Just like he was, trying to reclaim his sister's body.
As they drew closer to Carter Street, people started appearing here and there. Even in the late night hours, there were drunks wandering the roads, and others woken by the fire and commotion at Abraham's mansion.
"We'll try to pass without drawing attention. Avoid the lights, stick to the shadows. We can't leave any witnesses."
"...Abraham's already dead, though. You think those bastards will come after us?"
"If I were them, I would."
Why had the Silver Twilight Church killed Abraham? They'd kindly explained it in a letter. A letter demanding he stop his research. They wanted his studies halted.
His materials had vanished along with the mansion, destroyed by whatever the fanatics summoned at the end. But naturally, they'd suspect survivors. What if the three who escaped from the mansion had Abraham's research data?
So, even a shred of suspicion would be enough for them to hunt them down and tie up loose ends.
At those words, Tara let out a faint "Ah."
"...We actually do know where the remaining research data is."
Following Abraham's guidance, they'd investigated the restricted archives at Miskatonic University. A safe in there held copies of his research. The old man's final legacy, the very thing the Silver Twilight Church was desperate to erase.
"We still don't know why they're interfering with the research... but the point is, they have every reason to chase us. Let's move."
"...Yeah."
The shadows crossed through the darkness. The number of people gradually increased, as did the lit streetlamps. Mixed among the crowds, white hoods appeared sporadically.
Bennett halted by a wall and raised his hand.
Ahead, a white-hooded figure leaned against a utility pole, scanning the surroundings like a lookout. The fanatic glared piercingly at passersby, unconcerned by the stares.
Niore gestured anxiously. Let me handle it. Give me a chance. But Bennett shook his head firmly. He also held back Tara, who clenched and unclenched her fists, looking ready to charge.
"Hold position here. 'Icicle.'"
With a light incantation, a sharp, pointed icicle grew from inside Bennett's sleeve. He gripped it tightly, concealing it, and moved forward.
Bennett hid behind the shadow of a passing drunk and approached silently. Once close enough to the fanatic. At a speed that was neither too fast nor too slow—perfectly natural.
Pierce.
"Guh...!"
He stabbed between the fanatic's ribs into his lung. At the same time, he seized the fanatic's throat with his left hand and surged mana into it. Crack. As something snapped out of place, life quickly faded from the fanatic's eyes.
Bennett caught the body and positioned it as if slumped against the wall, sitting. He adjusted the clothes to hide the icicle wound. It looked like a corpse merely asleep for a moment.
Bennett signaled. Tara and Niore peeled away from the wall and followed him. Niore let out a relieved breath, scanning Bennett for injuries.
Tara, meanwhile, stared at the corpse. As if wanting to see its pained expression, she bent down to inspect it and asked.
"Why use an icicle? To make it hurt more?"
It would have been enough to just snap his neck. That was the implication. Bennett answered simply.
"In case, to freeze him from the inside. Even if the chant gets interrupted midway, the spell sometimes activates. That's why I was extra careful. Their magic... it's bizarre, not like the common sense we know."
"...I see."
Leaving one chilled corpse behind, the group entered Carter Street.
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Carter Street was lined with shops. Restaurants, clothing stores, hardware shops, and more. Being a place where money flowed, quite a few buildings were still lit even late at night. Shadows of people peering down from brightly lit windows clung close.
White-hooded fanatics were sighted frequently too. To avoid detection, they'd need to be even more cautious in their movements.
Niore spotted a street sign, located Building 201, and pointed the way. She took the lead as if asking to be trusted.
Using her keen eyesight, she moved in unpredictable patterns. Scaling drainpipes up building walls, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, sometimes hiding in bushes or narrow alleys.
When they were about three blocks from the destination.
"......!"
Niore pointed at a police car parked on the roadside. A cop with a pistol holstered stood outside, surveying the area. Having learned basics from living with Abraham, she knew these were the city's guards who maintained order.
The fanatics had brutally murdered Abraham and set the mansion ablaze. Undeniable heinous crimes. So, if they sought help from these men... maybe things could go smoothly.
They might even get protection. With cooperation, they could crush the Silver Twilight Church. In this situation—base burned, Abraham dead, hunted—they might salvage something.
If she could make up for her mistake.
"Wait, Niore...!"
So, ignoring Bennett's restraint, Niore dashed toward the cop. Planning to borrow a notepad and pen to testify about the fanatics' atrocities.
As the bobbed-haired girl ran up, the cop squinted and asked. His tone was extremely businesslike.
"What brings you out so late? You look... really upset, miss."
"......"
"Can't speak, huh. And brown bobbed hair..."
Words like he was confirming her description. She should have sensed something off here.
The cop smacked his lips, drew his pistol from the holster, and fired.
Niore's head went white. The barrel aimed at her, the trigger pulled. Thinking back, Abraham's mansion was very close to the police station.
With all that commotion, no cop showed until the place was fully ablaze. And before that, the cat's corpse and ominous threat letter. Suspicious figures watching the mansion unchecked...
If Abraham wasn't a fool, he'd have reported it long ago. But she'd never seen the police take any action. The authorities were in league with the Silver Twilight Church.
Bang-!
Niore squeezed her eyes shut. But no impact or pain came. Wondering why, she cracked her eyes open.
"...I said wait, didn't I?"
Bennett was suddenly in front of her.
Slash-!
Bennett drew his blade and severed the cop's throat in one stroke. The cop spilled blood with a look of utter confusion, then toppled over dead.
Niore started to express thanks, but spotted blood flowing from Bennett's left shoulder. Red streamed down his arm from the hole. He'd shielded her and taken it instead.
"......Ugh, ah."
"Don't rush out alone next time."
Bennett tried to sound casual. But his furrowed brow, cold sweat trailing down his cheek, and trembling left arm revealed the extent of his pain. Niore could see it clearly.
As Niore trembled with guilt, Tara healed Bennett's wound while peering into the police car.
"'Heal'... Ah. There's one more in this auto-carriage? Bennett. Kill him."
Inside the car, a young man shook in terror, raising a radio.
"Response, please respond—Sergeant Paul here, his throat's been slit...!"
Tara gathered mana in her fist. One punch would shatter the window and his skull. Then Bennett stopped her.
"Why?"
"Not all cops are with the Silver Twilight Church. The dead one, maybe, but this one's wearing a cross necklace. That's a symbol of another faith."
"Still, he was with someone helping the Silver Twilight Church, right? He shares some blame. He deserves punishment."
Bennett met Tara's eyes. Blind rage rampaged there. Casually suggesting killing. Normally, Niore would have stopped her, but guilt left her flustered and silent.
Can't leave witnesses. Killing the young man would be safer.
But Bennett had a gut feeling it was wrong. He'd killed plenty already; this wasn't hypocrisy. Just...
If Tara killed this youth, her heart would break irreparably.
"...The cop shot after checking Niore's description. Means our faces are already spreading. Killing him won't change that; the body's discovery is inevitable. No need for more blood."
"That's not like you."
"Not like me...? Not sure who you're referring to. Let's move. With the commotion, we need to resupply at the safehouse. Time's short."
"Haa..."
"......"
Leaving the terrified youth behind, the group headed to the safehouse. Killing a cop on Carter Street would tighten the net fast. Plan was to grab supplies and bolt.
"This is..."
"A 'secret' safehouse for real."
Second floor of an Eastern shop, the investigator's safehouse was impressively fortified. Layers of concealment spells hid it perfectly. Without the report, they wouldn't have noticed it.
The investigator had already keyed them in. The safehouse revealed itself, and they entered.
Two murders on Carter Street. The police investigated with unusual zeal. But even scouring the sewers, they found no trace of the trio of killers.