Chapter 7
Lurking in the Foggy Town
(Part 4)
“Did you find anything, Akatsuki-san?”
“Just as Maria-san said. I found some documents that seem interesting.”
After accidentally getting caught in a teleportation magic trap and going through various twists and turns, I ended up exploring “Miscal Town” with a townswoman named Maria.
Frankly, since the item I was looking for was quite special, I was doubtful if it still remained in the town or if anyone here would know about it, but I think we’re making steady progress now.
I picked up a tattered file I found in the storage room of the old research lab Maria had told me about earlier. Deep inside the lab… hidden behind a bookshelf, in the depths of a basement, was what I believed to be the documents I was seeking.
‘Research Progress Records on Magic and Soul Transmigration Magic’… that’s what was written on the cover of the file I held.
I lightly flipped through the pages. It contained various records, centered around the first child who was chosen.
Details about the research on soul magic,
The fates of the many children who failed to have the magic bestowed upon them,
Analysis of the failures, and the one child who miraculously succeeded,
Follow-up observations of the successful child…
In a way, while this was about me, I looked at it with the feeling of observing something very distant.
As I thought, this magic doesn’t seem to be something that can be easily bestowed upon others.
Miraculously, one person succeeded, and that’s why I’m here now, living as Akatsuki, but it seems they don’t even know why it succeeded. They call me the ‘Miracle Child’ because it succeeded by chance. At any rate, if these records are correct, it confirms that truly no one else besides me has been affected by the soul magic.
“But you knew quite well about the basement behind the bookshelf.”
“Even though it’s a hidden room, it’s been there since long ago. A child helping to organize books found it by chance, a young person noticed the sound of air flowing and discovered it… there are quite a few people in town who know about it.”
“I see. No wonder I thought it was a bit strange.”
“Strange, you say?”
Tilting her head, Maria asked.
I recalled the underground room I had just been in.
“No, it’s just that for a place that’s been around for 1000 years, it was cleaner than I imagined.”
To be precise, it was dirty, but the dust on the desk had been brushed off, and there were faint footprints left in the dust on the floor.
In other words, there were signs that someone had been there recently.
Moreover, whoever had been in the basement recently seemed to have rummaged through things quite violently. Many books were scattered messily around the bookshelf, and filed documents were strewn across the floor…
That person was probably looking for the same thing I was. Even though the books and documents had preservation magic cast on them, I wasn’t impressed with how they treated these valuable materials.
“You found what you were looking for, right? Shall we leave town soon…?”
Maria asked me, seeming restless.
Perhaps because we were attacked earlier, she seemed to want to leave immediately. I understand that feeling, but…
“No, I’ll search a little more.”
“Eh…!?”
“I haven’t found the crucial documents. If I search thoroughly and they’re not here, then so be it, but I can’t go back like this.”
There was another thing bothering me.
Although I opened this file that miraculously remained, there was absolutely no data about the magical formula itself. Some page numbers listed in the filed documents were completely missing, as if several pages had been torn out.
It’s possible they’ve already been taken away, but just in case, I want to search the town properly.
“Is there a library, or something like that, in this town?”
“Ah, there is, but I don’t think there are any other research materials besides there…”
“Please tell me. I understand you want to get outside quickly, but I came here prepared to stay for as many days as it takes until I can definitively say they aren’t here.”
“T-then, could you let me go outside first? I’ll wait for you outside.”
“I’m sorry…”
I bowed my head, and Maria said nothing more.
I don’t want to suspect her more than necessary, but if the carriage were taken, we’d be in trouble.
Furthermore, there’s a teleportation magic trap set at the town’s entrance. She suddenly appeared in the park. Probably, like me, she was caught by the teleportation magic. If she can’t dispel the magic, then I need to do it. I don’t know how wide an area it’s set in, but it doesn’t seem like it will be straightforward.
In our current situation, I can’t afford to spend time and energy on that.
Thinking it was the least I could do, I offered to carry Maria’s large backpack for her.
At first, she frantically shook her head, insisting she would carry it herself, but walking around while pregnant seemed to be quite hard on her, and she reluctantly handed over the large backpack.
She emphasized, ‘There are many valuables inside, so please absolutely do not open it,’ and I took it, carrying my own backpack in my hand.
A heavy weight pressed down on my shoulders. I was really glad I had kept my own luggage to a minimum.
Before meeting Dia, I traveled on foot, so I’m used to walking with this much weight. But it reminded me again how reckless it would have been for her, pregnant, to carry this outside.
Even after taking the backpack, Maria still seemed to be in pain, sweat beading on her forehead.
I want to help her somehow, but…
…….
After that, we walked around various places that seemed like they might have even a small clue, like the library and the town hall.
I tried knocking on doors to see if I could talk to the townspeople, but gathering information didn’t go well.
It was a good case if I could talk to someone through a door chain. Some people hurled abuse at me and tried to chase me away.
When I headed towards the fields, there were several people doing farm work. Since I’d heard there was no food supply, it seemed there weren’t few people working to survive.
However, the moment anyone saw me, they would throw stones or try to drive me away, making it difficult to even hold a conversation. A few people stopped their attacks when they saw Maria, so I think it would have taken much longer without her.
It was then I learned that Maria had also moved here a few months ago.
She seemed accustomed to the townspeople’s harsh responses and skillfully mediated for me, which was reassuring. When I managed to talk to those who calmed down, they said that thieves were indeed a constant problem.
Due to the influence of the disguised demons, whose numbers and locations were unknown, the townspeople were living strained lives.
From what I could gather from the people, at least, no one knew about the soul magic. Far from knowing about it, its very existence seemed unknown.
With their lives being the priority and living without any leeway, it seemed they hadn’t even looked at the lab’s documents. The magic appeared to be completely forgotten.
Even so, I was concerned about the missing documents and couldn’t bring myself to leave the town.
◆―――――――――◆
“That old woman is a demon,” I said quietly to Chronoa, who was following closely behind me.
In the direction of my gaze was an old woman trying to take out the trash in her backyard. She was diligently carrying a large amount of garbage, perhaps because she didn’t go out much.
Chronoa signaled to the other Exorcists with her eyes. Then Plume approached the old woman.
The old woman seemed to notice our presence then and was clearly directing caution and hostility towards us.
Plume and the old woman exchanged some words and were arguing. I was too far away to hear the conversation. Only the old woman’s shrill voice echoed.
After a brief struggle, Plume half-forced the old woman to drink holy water.
“Gya… G-G-Gaaaah!!”
A sizzling sound, like water evaporating, came from the old woman who was forced to drink the holy water, and something like steam came from her mouth.
Viewing her soul, I could see the burning soul slowly melting away. It must be an invisible sight to humans, but it was quite a gruesome scene.
The old woman collapsed on the spot, writhed in apparent agony, and after a while, stopped moving. Plume shook her shoulder just to be sure, but there was no response. She was completely dead.
“That’s the third one. Won’t you believe me now?”
I turned my head slightly to ask Chronoa, who was right behind me.
Chronoa furrowed her brow and glared at me.
“…Just keep moving forward.”
“Yes, yes.”
As expected, it seems I, a demon, cannot ease their警戒. I obediently started moving ahead.
Since entering this town, we’ve encountered three demons in disguise, including the old woman. Although few are outside, perhaps because demons have lower警戒 towards other demons, we’re finding them smoothly. That said, so far, they’ve all been low-level demons. I haven’t seen any strong demons… or any that resemble Ozma.
I haven’t seen my Master’s form either. The fog is thick, visibility is poor, and there’s always an Exorcist pointing a blade at my back.
I knew this would happen, but not being able to move as I wish is frustrating.
As I proceeded according to their directions, I thought I sensed a familiar magical power from ahead.
From behind, I heard Riza, who was holding the map, say to Scarlett, ‘Ahead is the plaza.’
Soon, we emerged into a small plaza with a visible fountain.
As I approached this plaza, I became certain about the magical power I had been sensing, mingled with the fog.
Without a doubt, it’s my Master’s magical power. Master’s magical power is inherently difficult to detect, but for demons with superior sensory abilities, its powerful demon-sealing nature makes it quite noticeable. And from this magical power, I also realized that Master had likely fought a demon here.
“Huh?”
I stopped involuntarily as I saw something through the fog.
“Wh…what is that person…”
Chronoa, right behind me, also seemed to see the figure through the fog and made a suspicious, puzzled face.
In the direction of her gaze, a emaciated man was tied with chains to a street lamp. His clothes were ragged, and his limbs were as thin as branches. But what disturbed me more than that was the presence of the chains coiled around him.
I’ve seen them many times and have been bound by them many times myself, so there’s no mistake. Those are my Master’s binding magic chains.
The man bound by the chains noticed our presence and struggled, but it didn’t seem like he could break free. Master’s chains are special. They can suppress the power of the bound demon. Frankly, just being bound by them is probably painful for weaker demons. Whether that demon was emaciated or not, he wouldn’t be able to break free.
“…That bound man is also a demon.”
“R-right.”
Then, just like before, Plume approached the demon, struggled with him for a while, and finally forced him to drink holy water.
The same sizzling, evaporating sound echoed from the man’s mouth as with the previous demons. Perhaps because his strength had already been drained by the chains, his cries of agony weren’t very loud.
Of the demons I met today, he died the most quietly.
At the feet of the man, who had died slumped over still bound by the chains, I could see an empty jelly packet—the kind we bought in another town the other day—lying on the ground.
I don’t know if he stole Master’s food or if it was given to him out of pity, but if he had managed to communicate with Master in some way, perhaps I should have tried to question him first. A wasted opportunity.
“Hey, you pervert demon, you look like you noticed something. Speak!”
Scarlett called out from a distance.
I thought I had been careful not to show my agitation, but this man seems quite perceptive.
“Those chains binding him are undoubtedly my Master’s magic. …The magical traces continue down that path ahead. I wish to pursue my Master, so may we proceed that way?”
I pointed towards one of the several branching paths leading from the plaza and spoke.
According to Riza, that area seems to be a district with public facilities and commercial establishments.
“…This ‘Master’ of yours, are you sure they aren’t a demon? I find it hard to believe that binding magic can be used on demons.”
“Oh my, you still doubted me? I think you can tell from this magical energy, but the user possesses a demon-sealing power that is extremely effective against demons. There’s no way it could be used by a demon.”
“Hah… Fine. There might be more useful information in areas with more people anyway.”
Scarlett said with a displeased look and gave detailed instructions to the other Exorcists.
We set off in the direction where the traces of my Master’s magical power remained.
