Chapter 165: Ghost Stories Under the Moon
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 165: Ghost Stories Under the Moon
Before reading this chapter, please go back and re-read the previous one. The wrong chapter was uploaded previously, but it has since been corrected.
I won't make you spend extra currency for it. I am very sorry for the inconvenience.
*
"The Heart-Devouring Banshee... a stunningly beautiful vixen who wanders the Lower District. It is said that on nights when the moon is bright, she uses her beauty to seduce passersby and drunks, leading them to secluded spots to tear out and devour their hearts."
"The Shadow Butcher... true identity unknown. Characterized by a loose black raincoat and the blood-stained cleaver in his hand..."
"The Sleepless One... a freak who wanders the dead of night..."
"The Lake Monster of the Old Rhine... a legend widely whispered around the docks. Supposedly, a single person can take on twenty fierce, strapping men at once."
Celicia laid out the urban legends of the Lower District she had investigated overnight—blurry photographs and vague reports—one by one on the table before Viscount Guen. A trace of mockery touched the corners of her mouth as she spoke.
"The urban legends of this Lower District are quite something, aren't they? I only asked you to look into the Heart-Devouring Banshee, yet all these bizarre things cropped up at once. Viscount Guen, it seems your Lower District is actually more lively at night."
"Is... is it?"
Viscount Guen wiped his sweat, his body trembling uncontrollably. "They’re just rumors, mostly born from half-baked gossip. They don't prove anything... haha... they don't prove a thing."
"Is that so? Then are the constant reports of missing persons in the Lower District also just rumors?"
Celicia slammed another file onto the table. It contained reports of the surging kidnappings, abductions, and even human trafficking in the Lower District over the past month.
"This..."
Looking at the file, Viscount Guen’s face turned deathly pale. He could only manage a strained, ugly smile. "There is currently no actual evidence..."
"The people are gone; of course there’s no evidence."
"The Lower District is so crowded..."
"Viscount Guen, you aren't about to say that because there are so many people in the Lower District, it doesn't matter if a few go missing, are you?" Celicia’s gaze suddenly turned cold.
"No, no, no... of course not! I only meant that with so many people, investigation is difficult. It's very difficult! Besides, it’s only been two days. No matter how hurried Your Highness is, nothing can be uncovered in just two days."
Viscount Guen was on the verge of tears. Under the terrifying pressure radiating from the girl, he wanted nothing more than to drop to his knees. Unfortunately, the space inside the carriage was too small; any significant movement on his part might be misconstrued as an offense.
"If it's difficult, you investigate anyway, don't you?"
Celicia lowered her eyes, no longer paying attention to the terrified man before her as she flipped through other documents. She wasn't here to pass judgment, nor could she be bothered to.
The chaotic situation in the Lower District involved many factions; it wasn't something a mere Viscount could resolve. If anything, he had only been placed in this position by the "benevolent" lords above so he could conveniently take the fall when things went wrong. Otherwise, how could a mere Viscount ever hold a position as important as the Magistrate of the Lower District?
"One after another, none of you are of any help at all."
Celicia sighed softly, rubbing her temples.
A Count’s son met with a violent death. Bizarre, indecipherable urban legends. Frequent disappearances.
The current Lower District felt as though an unimaginable darkness was gradually brewing, making even her—the Empire's Third Princess with vast resources at her disposal—feel that things were becoming quite troublesome.
Most importantly, she felt that the high-ranking officials who truly held power in the Empire were being far too quiet about this. No matter how much they looked down on the Lower District, this was still Belland. Once something erupted here, it would likely spread like wildfire to the upper levels. No one would be able to remain unscathed.
By then, it would truly be beyond saving.
"Or is it... that there is something even more important occupying their energy, forcing them to ignore even what is happening at their own feet?"
Celicia suddenly recalled the Evil God invasion at the Academy not long ago. If these two matters... no, if this was actually all part of the same event... then the horror of this situation might far exceed her expectations.
"How interesting. The death of a Count’s son has dragged out so much filth."
Celicia’s slender fingers habitually tapped against the window frame. Feeling the mental fatigue from overthinking, she couldn't help but miss the coffee with extra sugar from the Student Council room. At the very least, it provided her with plenty of glucose, and it tasted good.
But there was no time for such thoughts now.
Even if Belland was facing a crisis, the "tall ones" would be there to hold up the sky. Since her father the Emperor hadn't said anything, it meant he didn't yet need help from a daughter who was still a student at the Academy.
Her priority now was still to find the killer of Teke Rhode. Otherwise, if that Count made a scene, it would be a nuisance for both the Academy and herself.
"Let's end our talk here for tonight, Viscount Guen." Sensing she could no longer gather any useful information, Celicia rose to leave.
"Ah, is Your Highness leaving? Shall I escort you?"
"No need."
Celicia’s gaze rebuffed the Viscount as he tried to move. She lifted the curtain and stepped out.
Knowing it was a breach of etiquette, Viscount Guen—whose legs were so weak from fear he couldn't stand—could only poke half of his pathetic face out of the carriage window, squeezing out a ghastly smile. "Safe travels, Your Highness. Please be careful on the road."
Celicia ignored him. She walked straight into the shadows.
The thin mist of the night stirred, and a man in a black trench coat appeared before Celicia as if out of nowhere. His face bore the pallor of someone who hadn't seen sunlight in a long time. On the chest of his coat, a strange badge glinted coldly under the moonlight.
The design on the badge was a finger, sharp as a dagger, pressed gently against a pair of black lips—the symbol of absolute silence.
A Silencer.
Celicia recognized the man's identity instantly. She wasn't at all surprised by his arrival.
"The analysis results are out," the man said expressionlessly, showing little deference to Celicia. "Those were indeed the scales of a Snake Person."
"So, the one who murdered Teke Rhode was indeed an evil cultist who worships the Moon?"
"Without a doubt," the man replied. "The rumored Heart-Devouring Banshee is very likely a Snake Person. They have an instinctive craving for the hearts of the opposite sex."
"Can she be caught?"
"It will be difficult. In fact, we have been planning an operation to capture that Heart-Devouring Banshee for six months, but she is cautious and has escaped several times. Furthermore, she suddenly ceased all activity two months ago, which has made our operation even harder."
"Two months?"
Celicia’s eyes darkened slightly. Perhaps she was being overly sensitive, but that timing... coincided exactly with the start of the Academy's new term.
"So, in the end, there's been no progress?"
"No. In fact, we received this..."
The man suddenly produced a sealed metal container. It looked incredibly heavy and was inscribed with magic patterns. Celicia recognized it as a very powerful sealing magic.
Seeing the man act with such gravity, Celicia’s expression turned solemn as well.
After a complex authentication process, the container finally opened, revealing... a letter.
Celicia’s expression stiffened. "What is this?"
"As Your Highness can see, it is a letter." The man put on gloves woven from mithril and picked up the envelope. "Five hours ago, it was delivered to the mailbox of one of our branches by a mailman."
"...Is there a problem?"
"Problem one: that branch has never sent or received any mail. Problem two: we still have no clues regarding the sender; the mailman has no memory of delivering anything to that branch. Problem three: Your Highness will understand once you read it."
The man handed the letter over. Celicia hesitated for a moment before coating her hand in a thin layer of frost and taking the envelope.
She opened it. Nothing happened.
Celicia quickly scanned the contents. Then, her elegant brows shot up.
"This is actually a whistleblower report? And the person being reported is..."
"Exactly. That is why I came to find Your Highness," the man said. "As a fellow student of St. Maria, I thought Your Highness might be able to deduce something. At the very least, we need to know if this report is true."
"Whether it's true or not, won't we know once we find the person?"
Celicia thought for a moment, then suddenly raised her hand and beckoned with her finger.
The sound of fluttering wings came from the sky as a white pigeon flew down from nowhere and landed on her arm.
"Help me find someone," Celicia said coldly.
"Who?" the white pigeon spoke in a human tongue.
"Anna Kabulin."
*
"Has our bait been cast?"
Two figures, one tall and one short, stood on the empty, silent street, gazing up at the bright, clear moon in the sky.
The moon, having just passed its full phase, was still round and bright, though a sliver of dark shadow at its edge made it less than perfect. Yet, the two figures remained deeply immersed in the moon's cold, desolate beauty, unable to pull themselves away.
Finally, the shorter figure asked the question.
The taller figure said nothing. He seemed to be chewing on something; a constant crunch, crunch sound echoed from him.
"Ah, I see. It's already done?"
The shorter figure seemed to have received an answer. She raised her hands as if to embrace the moon. Her body, its exquisite curves outlined by tight leather clothing, was as lithe and seductive as a snake.
"Then... let us begin."
The shorter figure swayed, her tone solemn and fanatical, as if performing a strange dance or reciting a soulful poem.
"Oh, Moon, please shine upon me."
"I shall tear through all the hypocrisy of this world and bring the Great Truth to all people."
"I shall watch for your descent and bring the Supreme Gospel to this world."
"I shall forge your new Divine Body with cold and silence; that blood and hatred shall become the brilliant jewels upon your crown."
"I shall finally attain immortality within your Divine Kingdom!"
The ritual ended, and the shorter figure lowered her head. Her face was seductive; every glance and smile was enough to steal one's soul.
"Let's go," she said. "Let us go welcome the return of the Divine Heir."
The taller figure laughed silently. A large hand, wrapped in a black raincoat, grabbed a clump of struggling, twisted shadow, tore off a piece, and stuffed it into his mouth.
Crunch, crunch. He continued to chew.
"Delicious," he grinned in response.