Chapter 44: The Power of Bloodline (4)

Chapter 44: Square 38: A Small Enemy

Rocked by the carriage, I found myself replaying a phrase stuck in my head. Something the kids heading to school had said, back in the previous timeline.

(We’re chasing that ghost off so it can’t come to school.)

Ghost, huh.

If it were bullying built around some slur, like calling someone a "germ," it might make sense in a twisted way, but tying a kid up and beating her with sticks felt beyond normal bullying territory. And the kids themselves had seemed genuinely scared, not just cruel for fun. Since it was young kids saying it, maybe there wasn’t any irony or hidden meaning behind the word, maybe it was meant literally.

"...What did they mean by that?"

"Did you say something?"

Selva, holding the reins, glanced back briefly. Guess my muttering had reached his ears. Since he’d asked, might as well see if he knew anything.

"Um, does this city have any famous ghost stories or urban legends?"

"Ghost stories? My apologies, I’m not particularly familiar with such things."

I’d half wondered if there was some kind of local boogeyman legend, but that seemed unlikely. If not that, then what exactly did "ghost" mean here?

"Not a ghost story exactly, but there have been several murders recently involving nobles and knights."

"...Murders?"

Maybe Shiran’s father was somehow connected to this. Might be a lead toward saving her.

"Mind telling me a bit more about that?"

"I only know what I read in the papers, but if that’s alright with you."

"Yes, please, go ahead."

"Understood. If I recall correctly..."

Selva began speaking quietly.

This case involved a vicious string of murders, five victims so far. Every victim came from the upper class, nobility and the like. The first murder happened half a year ago. Victims had been killed one by one since then, and just recently, a child had been killed too. The method was identical every time, deep wounds as though the victim’s vital points had been gnawed away.

"That’s about all I know. My apologies for not being of more help."

"No! That’s plenty. Thank you!"

Bite marks, huh... Flaut’s body hadn’t shown any wounds like that. And that recently killed child was concerning too. ...Guess I’ll dig deeper into this later.

"Thanks for all that, really helps."

"Not at all, please feel free to ask anytime, even for small matters like this."

Once the conversation wrapped up, I glanced at my watch out of habit. Just past 13:00. ...Come to think of it, this was around the time I’d first met Shiran. Technically that meeting happens tomorrow now, a day off from before, but might as well stop by just in case.

"Selva, mind if we make a small detour?"

"Certainly, where should I head?"

"You know that park with the fountain in the middle? Should be somewhere around here."

"Yes, I know it. We’ll head there right away."

Selva steered the carriage left. Turned out it was closer than I expected, only about five minutes before we arrived.

"Thanks, I’ll be quick."

"No, please wait."

Selva, securing the carriage with an anti theft device, stopped me.

"My apologies. I’ve been instructed not to leave you unattended. I’ll be accompanying you, if you don’t mind."

Right, I’d completely forgotten Selva was here as an escort. To keep my innocence clear, I couldn’t very well leave him behind and go off alone.

"Understood, let’s go then."

The two of us stepped into the park. A quick glance around showed mostly kids scattered about. Among them, I spotted Shiran sitting alone on a bench, staring blankly. Getting closer, her cheek looked scraped, bleeding slightly.

"Hey there, nice to meet you."

"...Who are you?"

Fair question. I didn’t really have an answer for that.

"Well, since you’re hurt, thought I’d give you this."

Saying that, I pulled a bandage out of my bag, and Shiran stared at it with curiosity.

"...A sticker?"

"More like a medicinal sticker. Helps wounds heal faster."

I gently applied the bandage to Shiran’s cheek.

"There, all set."

But for some reason, Shiran’s expression started clouding over. Right then, a bold voice rang out from behind us.

"You! You’re one of her friends, aren’t you!!"

Standing there was a kid. A girl about Shiran’s age. Her face held unmistakable hostility toward us.

"What do you mean by friends?"

I already knew, of course. She meant a friend of the ghost. But this worked out well, might finally clear up what "ghost" actually meant.

"There’s no way you don’t know! You’re... you’re definitely one of the ghost’s friends too, aren’t you!?"

The girl raised both hands. Glaring at us, she began chanting loudly.

"Answer to my name, gather in the blazing sky that lights the earth, Vernofeld Inferno!"

The girl’s palms glowed red, and sparks gathered above her head, forming into a ball of fire. About the size of a soccer ball, definitely more than just "painful" if it hit.

"Do you understand the implications of using an attack spell?"

Selva, whom I’d assumed would stay out of it entirely, spoke up unexpectedly. His expression looked almost murderous. Don’t tell me this guy shows no mercy even to a kid!?

"Selva, wait!"

I stopped Selva, who looked ready to strike at any moment. I had things I wanted to ask this kid. And if I could talk it through peacefully, that’d be better. She was just a kid, if I looked her in the eye and spoke honestly, she’d understand.

"It’s okay. We’re not enemies, and we’re not ghosts either."

"Liar. You’re a ghost! You’re lying, aren’t you!?"

The girl glared at us with murderous intent, ready to attack at any moment. But she wasn’t actually angry. She was just scared. I crouched down, meeting her eye level.

"...It’s okay."

Not forcefully. Just speaking straight to her, without looking away.

"L-liar. That’s definitely a lie!!!"

The girl leaned back slightly, about to bring both hands down. But I didn’t miss that moment. I immediately tossed the empty bandage box upward.

"Huh?"

Startled by the sudden motion, the girl instinctively hurled the fireball at the box. While that happened, I circled behind her and pinned her arms. But the fireball, even after burning through the box, didn’t lose momentum. It slammed straight into a nearby park tree, and flames burst up violently.

"N-no, let go!"

I held the struggling girl’s body firmly. Felt bad for her a little, but if she kept flailing around with magic like that, she’d be the one in danger. Better to stay calm and focus on settling her down first.

"It’s okay, there’s no one scary here."

I kept smiling gently, speaking slowly and calmly. And little by little, as I kept reassuring her, the strength drained from her thin arms, and I let go. Tears streamed steadily from the girl’s eyes.

"...You’re not mad?"

"Not mad. It’s okay."

"...Really? ...Not lying?"

"If I were lying, I’d already be mad by now."

The girl’s small body trembled, and in a fading voice, she whispered "I’m sorry." When I smiled and gently patted her head, she cried even harder, like she couldn’t hold it back anymore.