“Yes.”
I opened the call.
<Astron, are you here?>
“Yes.”
It was a pointless question, but it seems Senior Amelia was a little restless.
<Just now, two officers from the Local Awakened Security came to us. Sylvie recognized the two.>
“Margareta?”
<Yes, one of them was named Margareta, and the other one was Harlan. According to Sylvie, they were the ones that had taken her out of the basement.>
“Is that so? What did they say?”
<They asked me a bunch of questions about Maya’s whereabouts and where she was last seen.>
“I see….”
I nodded my head. If Senior Maya was the one who disappeared, the Academy is bound to take action. After all, she is one of the most important prospects for the future as she is the first-ranked student.
Also, this is certainly not a usual case, with both Sylvie being attempted to kidnapping and Maya disappearing.
‘I guess the Academy is already putting pressure on them.’
<Were you able to find anything?>
“Not much. I am still looking around. Did you mention them about me?”
<Well…..>
“So, you did?”
<Yeah.>
Hearing this, I wanted to release a hearty sigh. After all, if they knew that I was wandering alone on my own, they may block me for overstepping my authority, which is something I am certainly doing.
‘Well, it might not be that bad.’
No matter what, at some point, Awakened Police and the government are bound to be involved in this situation anyway, and if what I had seen at that time is correct, this time, the demon is pretty strong.
‘I will try to progress as much as I can alone.’
<Was it bad?>
“No, it is fine. You did what you were supposed to.”
<Then, we are going to look around a little as well. Do you want us to search for something?>
As she mentioned that, I suddenly got an idea.
“I do.”
<Please, tell. We will do our best to help you.>
“I need you to delve into the local stories and legends of Western Uxbridge. Dig deep into the city’s past, any tales of unusual occurrences, supernatural events, or anything that might provide insights into the origins.”
In fact, I really didn’t need such information. After all, most of the time, the stories wouldn’t be much of a help. However, Amelia and Sylvie need something to calm themselves down and distract themselves.
Sylvie because she had just seen quite a traumatic scene, and Amelia because she feels restless.
<Local stories and legends? What is it for?>
“This doesn’t feel like a normal case.”
<I see…..>
The sound didn’t seem to be convincing, so I played my last card.
“I think it is related to her disappearance.”
<…..Understood. We’ll start our investigation right away. Anything specific you’re looking for?>
“Nothing much. I just want to learn the history of this city. Focus more on the unrecorded tales.”
<Got it. We’ll contact you as soon as we find something substantial. Take care out there.>
“Thank you, Senior Amelia. Keep me posted.”
The call ended, and I turned my attention back to the task at hand.
I hailed a passing cab, and as I settled into the back seat, I retrieved my smartwatch to review the documents the Horde had compiled.
“Sir, where are you going?”
“Elm Avenue.”
“Old library?”
“Yes.”
“Understood.”
The vehicle smoothly navigated the streets, and I delved into the information on the missing individuals.
———————————-
[Horde Report: Missing Persons – Western Uxbridge]
Emily
Age: 28
Health Situation: Good
Awakened Test Result: Eligible for Hunter
Mana Level: Mid
Daniel Johnson
Age: 24
Health Situation: Excellent
Awakened Test Result: Eligible for Hunter
Mana Level: Mid-High
Olivia Harris
Age: 26
Health Situation: Fair
Awakened Test Result: Eligible for Hunter
Mana Level: Mid-High
Benjamin Rodriguez
Age: 34
Health Situation: Good historical
Awakened Test Result: Eligible for Hunter
Mana Level: High
Sophia Carter
Age: 27
Health Situation: Excellent
Awakened Test Result: Eligible for Hunter
Mana Level: Mid
————————-
‘This.’
As I perused the updated information, a new layer of complexity unfolded. The fact that all the missing individuals were not only eligible for Hunter status but also possessed at least mid to high mana showed that the demon didn’t target normal humans at all.
Also, this was the sad reality of this world. Not all humans possess the power to become awakened Hunters, but not all awakened people become Hunters.
That was also the reason why Hunters were this valuable.
‘Now things are slowly coming together.’
I noted everything at the corner of my head.
CREAK!
“Sir, we are here.”
And at that moment, the cab stopped. It seemed we had arrived at our destination.
“Here.”
After paying for the cab, I left and reached the next location.
Elm Avenue was a narrow street adorned with aged trees, their branches intertwining to create a canopy that veiled the path below.
Dim streetlights cast long shadows, adding a mysterious aura to the surroundings. It was an old library at the end of the avenue.
The lights were still on.
“Ah….Should we come here later?”
“Hmm~ I would love to.”
“Smooch…Next time, then.”
This time, the streets were more alive. Many couples and people were walking on the streets.
Navigating through the lively Elm Avenue, I blended into the crowd, my [Shadowborne] trait concealing my presence amidst the bustling activity. The chatter of couples, the laughter of friends, and the occasional footsteps created a symphony that drowned any subtle sounds of my movements.
‘Observation needs to be discreet.’
I casually glanced around, keeping my senses heightened without drawing attention. The old library at the end of the avenue stood as a silent witness to the passing of time, its inviting facade contrasting with the ominous air surrounding the recent disappearances.
As I moved through the crowd, my eyes scanned the surroundings for any peculiarities. The dimly lit street made it challenging to spot subtle details, but drawing mana into my eyes to support my vision guided my focus.
As I approached the old library, I instinctively activated [Perceptive Insight], heightening my senses to detect any anomalies.
The library appeared undisturbed, yet I knew better than to rely solely on appearances.
My eyes scoured the area, examining every nook and cranny for signs of struggle or any peculiarities that might unravel the mystery. In the hushed night, even the slightest disturbance could be a crucial clue.
SWISH! A sudden gust of wind rustled the leaves, and my attention shifted to a corner where a dim glow emanated. It was so silent that it wasn’t surprising that not many people noticed it.
Moving cautiously, I found faint traces of mana lingering in the air.
‘Hmm….’
There, on the ground, I found a small earring. It was a mana artifact, constantly spreading mana into the area.
‘This is…..’
I noticed what it was after looking at it a little. It was a cheap artifact that made the skin of the wearer glow a little.
‘Did this belong to Olivia?’
Carefully, I pocketed the earring, intending to delve into its properties later.
Looking around, there weren’t many signs of struggle around. However, there were still some marks on the ground.
‘Especially the blood.’
A drop of blood clogged blood was on the ground; its smell got my attention.
The absence of evident struggle suggested a swifter movement coming from the side of the demon. That meant it got even stronger.
‘I even doubt I will be able to find any traces at the next time.’
With a final glance at the surroundings, I decided to explore the interior of the old library.
CREAK!
Pushing open the creaking door, I entered the dimly lit space, greeted by the scent of aging books and the soft whisper of turning pages.
A bespectacled elderly man behind the counter looked up, his eyes squinting at the unexpected visitor.
“Good evening, young one. How may I assist you?”
His voice held the warmth of hospitality, and the dim lighting of the library created an atmosphere of quiet contemplation.
“I’m looking for information, particularly about a young lady named Olivia Harris. Did she frequent this library?”
As I posed the question, the air seemed to change. The elderly librarian’s expression shifted, and a hint of sadness clouded his eyes.
“Ah, Olivia… she used to visit often, engrossed in the world of books. It’s been a while since I last saw her.”
His response carried a weight of melancholy, prompting me to inquire further.
“Do you know anything about her recent activities or if she was here around the time of her disappearance?”
The librarian’s gaze became more focused, suspicion evident in his eyes.
“Why do you ask about Olivia? Are you a friend of hers?”
Thinking on my feet, I replied, “I’m her cousin. Her sudden disappearance has left our family, especially Aunt Jane, quite distraught, and I’m trying to gather any information that might help.”
The librarian’s expression softened at the mention of me being her cousin, his suspicion giving way to empathy.
Of course, the information was true; after all, I had also checked her mother’s name before coming here.
“Oh, I see. Terrible news, that is. Olivia was a bright young lady. If there’s anything I can do to help, feel free to ask.”
“Thank you. It means a lot to our family. Can you recall the last time Olivia visited the library?”
The elderly librarian leaned back, his eyes narrowing as he delved into his memory.
“Let me think… it must have been a week or so before her disappearance. She borrowed a couple of books and mentioned something about reading old literature books. She liked them quite a lot.”
Well, what she liked to read wasn’t my concern. After all, I was looking for clues.
“I see….But did she mention meeting someone or anything?”
“No, she didn’t. She was always a quiet girl, liking to read at the corner.”
“Then, did you happen to notice anything unusual or out of the ordinary around the library during that time? Any strange individuals or occurrences?” I inquired, hoping the librarian might have observed something that could aid my investigation.
The elderly man tapped his fingers on the counter, his brow furrowed in concentration. “Well, there was one peculiar thing. A couple of nights before she went missing, I heard some strange noises outside.”
My interest was piqued at the mention of strange noises. “Strange noises?”
“Yes. It felt like they were coming from the ground, right beneath my feet. It was as if something was moving down there, but when I checked, there was nothing to be seen.”
My curiosity deepened at this unexpected detail. “From the ground? That’s quite unusual. Did you notice any disturbances in the soil or anything else out of place?”
He shook his head, his expression troubled. “No, there was nothing visibly wrong. It was more like a sensation than something I could see. Gave me the shivers; it did.”
I thanked the librarian for the additional information.
‘Underground…..’
Especially the mention of the underground brought some things into my head.
‘Let’s return, it is getting late.’
It was around the time when I finished obtaining data.