Chapter 23: Anomaly
“Hey, again?”
“It’s happening a lot lately.”
“Another victim of the mage killer, right?”
“Those wounds are razor-sharp… Couldn’t that guy be the culprit?”
When I headed to the Adventurer’s Guild, I heard conversations like these spreading throughout the place.
Victims. In other words, had the serial killer appeared again?
I had heard that there hadn’t been any recent victims, but now the killer had suddenly resurfaced.
The gazes of everyone in the guild were focused on me, as though they were accusing me of being the culprit.
“──You’re Ayame, aren’t you?”
A huge man was walking toward me.
His thick muscles were clearly visible even through his clothes. He was also well-groomed and neatly dressed. Judging from his appearance, this man was probably—
“That’s right.”
“I’d like to speak with you. Do you have a moment?”
“All right.”
Today, Luna and Riana were spending some time together to get to know each other better—a sort of girls’ gathering, I suppose—so I was alone.
For once, that worked out rather well.
I followed the man until we reached an area of the Adventurer’s Guild that only staff members were allowed to enter. He then showed me into a reception room.
“Have a seat.”
“Thank you.”
I sat down across from the man.
“I’ll have some coffee brought in. Sugar?”
“None.”
“Understood.”
The man asked a female employee to bring us coffee.
Luna had made coffee for me several times, but I preferred mine without anything added.
“I have quite a sweet tooth myself.”
“I see.”
He proceeded to pour an absurd amount of sugar into his coffee.
From my perspective, it was practically excessive.
“Surprised? A huge man like me liking sweets, I mean.”
“? Not particularly. Everyone has their own preferences. Certainly, there are tendencies based on gender, but…”
“Hmph. You’re exactly as the rumors describe.”
He then downed the extremely sweet coffee in one go before introducing himself.
“I’m Reif. I oversee this Adventurer’s Guild. I look forward to working with you.”
“You may already know this, but I’m Ayame.”
“I’ve heard about your exploits.”
Reif pulled a thick file from inside the desk.
It probably contained information about me.
“You encountered a griffin by chance and defeated it single-handedly. Since then, you’ve continued to perform spectacularly, even defeating monsters of A-rank or higher on your own. Such talent certainly exists among mages. But you’re a swordsman.”
“So you suspect me.”
“It pains me to say it, but yes. However, the Adventurer’s Guild is open to everyone. Whether they’re mages or swordsmen.”
From what I could tell, he was investigating my background, but he didn’t seem to regard me as an outright enemy.
His gaze wasn’t particularly hostile, either.
“You’re a noble, aren’t you?”
“Indeed.”
“Aren’t you planning to pin the crimes on me?”
He merely shrugged at my question.
“There were certainly moves to do so. The Grace family actually sent assassins after you, didn’t they?”
“Yes. I defeated them.”
“Exactly.”
Reif pointed a finger directly at me.
It was as though he had been waiting for me to say those words.
“If you had lost, you would have been arrested on false charges. But Ayame, you defeated them. The nobles are in complete turmoil because of it. You probably don’t know this, but the Grace family’s Frost Guard is fairly famous. Since you defeated them, the nobles will probably think twice before making a move against you from now on.”
“You’re telling me this much information?”
“The nobility isn’t a single, unified entity. There are nobles who consider magical supremacy to be a problem.”
“And you’re one of them?”
“It is a problem. But I’m a mage myself, and I’m not being harmed by it. I have no intention of changing the world, but I wouldn’t mind seeing those at the top get knocked down a peg. You can consider me fairly neutral.”
I didn’t know how much I could trust him, but after everything I had experienced in my life, I could usually tell when someone was lying.
Of course, it wasn’t an absolute ability.
Still, I had a feeling that this man could be trusted.
“Well, enough with the preamble. Ayame, I want you to lend us your strength.”
“My strength? You mean mine as a swordsman, rather than as a mage?”
“You know about the serial killer, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Mages are being brutally murdered one after another. Even members of the Mage Corps have fallen victim. Whoever is behind this may have some kind of specialized method for dealing with mages.”
“That would certainly be the natural conclusion.”
Even high-ranking mages were being killed.
A mage killer specialized in hunting mages, perhaps.
“Have you figured out the killer’s identity?”
“Nine times out of ten, I’d say he’s a mage. Magical energy has been detected around the wounds, and those cuts are far too precise to have been made by a sword.”
“I see.”
It was the same information I had already been given.
However, I decided to reveal another piece of information to test him.
“And the victims are missing their heads. Correct?”
“…I’m surprised. You know that much?”
Reif’s expression was filled with surprise.
As I suspected, this information was highly confidential.
“What is the killer doing with the heads after collecting them?”
“…This is only speculation. Is that all right?”
“Yes.”
He paused for a breath before explaining his theory.
There was a slight tension in his expression.
“Magical research is extremely advanced in this kingdom.”
“Obviously.”
“There is a particular field of research that focuses on the frontal lobe of a mage’s brain.”
“A part of the brain?”
“Yes. That is where magical formulas are processed, allowing us to cast magic. In other words, there is a hypothesis that the more developed a person’s frontal lobe is, the greater their aptitude for magic.”
“You don’t mean they’re committing these atrocities to conduct that research?”
I couldn’t believe it.
Did that mean human lives were considered irrelevant as long as it advanced their technology?
Yet the fact remained that this many people had already been killed.
“You’re a swordsman from the Far East, so you probably don’t know much about this kingdom. This is a country where magical supremacy is truly absolute. Talent is everything. If you possess great magical ability, your future is practically guaranteed. Some people even resort to illegal drugs to get ahead.”
“Always trying to get ahead of others, always trying to rise above them. Is this the darkness created by a competitive society?”
“Yes. Other people are always the standard against which they measure themselves, and surpassing them is what matters.”
To me, strength had always been something that existed within myself.
I had never compared myself to others. I simply continued facing myself and honing my sword.
But perhaps a society like this made that impossible.
“I always suspected that something like this would eventually happen. If no one puts a stop to it, how far will human desire go?”
“Indeed. There have already been this many victims.”
“That’s why I want you to help us capture the serial killer.”
“But I can’t exactly join a unit of mages, can I?”
“You can operate independently. Besides, you have a mage skilled in support magic and the eldest daughter of the Grace family as your companions, don’t you?”
“You know quite a lot.”
“Rumors travel quickly.”
He shrugged lightly as he said it.
There was something faintly ironic about his words.
“But our opponent is highly skilled. I can’t promise I’ll hold back.”
“Even a corpse will do.”
“I see. The fact that you’re willing to even hire me means you’re really backed into a corner.”
“…Last night’s victim was one of the most powerful members of the Mage Corps. If someone capable of killing him is out there, our options for opposing them are becoming extremely limited. The other nobles will object, but I believe hiring you is our best option.”
So they had reached the point where they could no longer afford to worry about appearances.
“Is there a reward?”
“Of course. Given your abilities, I’ll pay you generously if you succeed.”
“I see.”
“Will you accept? I don’t believe anyone without your level of ability could capture the serial killer. I’ve investigated you thoroughly, and you specialize in fighting other people, don’t you?”
“……”
Fighting other people.
Yes.
I had experience fighting all manner of monsters and beasts, but more than anything, I had fought humans.
I had crossed blades with so many people throughout the countless battles I had fought that I could no longer remember the number.
Some had even considered being cut down by my sword to be their greatest honor.
When it came to fighting other humans, it would be fair to say that I possessed an enormous amount of experience.
“──All right. I’ll take the job.”
I accepted the request.
There had already been this many victims, and there was no guarantee that the killer’s evil hand wouldn’t eventually reach my companions.
Besides, the opportunity to face a mage capable of killing someone that powerful sounded rather interesting.
“I’ll provide you with the details again at a later date.”
“Understood.”
Chapter 24: Greetings
I decided to share the request I had received with both Luna and Riana.
The other side had asked us to deal with the matter, after all. I could act alone, but doing so might actually put the two of them in greater danger.
This time, I decided it would be better for us to stay together.
When I returned home, Luna and Riana were lightly packing their belongings. We still hadn’t found a new place to move to, but Luna had said it would be better to start preparing for the move early.
“I’m back.”
“Welcome home, Ayame-san!”
“Welcome home, Ayame-san.”
The two of them greeted me, and I immediately got to the point.
“Do you two have a moment?”
“Yes. I don’t mind.”
“Neither do I.”
After they both agreed, I told them about the serial killer.
“The guild has officially requested that we capture the serial killer. They said that, in the worst-case scenario, it would be acceptable even if the killer ended up dead.”
“That’s…”
“I see. So it’s come to that.”
Luna covered her mouth in surprise, while Riana remained relatively calm.
“Apparently, the nobles aren’t completely united. Riana, do you know about that?”
“Yes. The Five Great Magical Families, centered around the ducal houses, currently hold power, but there are also factions opposing them. I assume that’s what he was referring to.”
“Apparently so. It seems the nobles are also struggling with the serial killer, which is why the request eventually reached me. They haven’t been able to find any real clues about the person who could be called a ‘mage killer,’ despite the traces they leave behind.”
“The information I know is the same. Whoever it is, they’re extremely cunning.”
“Hmm.”
I thought for a moment.
They wanted me to capture the serial killer, but that would be impossible unless I actually encountered them.
Would the best approach be to catch them in the act?
“Perhaps we should stake out one of the crime scenes.”
“What do you think? I know where all the crime scenes are, but there’s no discernible pattern. The times are also irregular, so we honestly don’t know much.”
“I see. Then I suppose we’ll have to wait for information from the guild.”
The Adventurer’s Guild had told me they would provide me with more information later.
Until then, there was nothing we could do but wait.
“Um… Are you really going to fight the serial killer?”
Luna asked worriedly.
“Yes. It seems so.”
“Will you be all right…? I heard that even high-ranking mages have fallen victim.”
“That’s precisely why they asked me. I specialize in fighting other people, after all. The guild took that into consideration when they gave me the request.”
“I see. But yes… Ayame-san has faced every hardship that has come his way so far. I believe in you this time as well, and I’ll do whatever I can to prepare!”
There was determination in Luna’s eyes.
When I first met her, she had said that she lacked confidence. That was no longer the case.
She was gradually, but certainly, growing stronger.
“Ayame-san. May I change the subject for a moment?”
Riana spoke up.
“What is it?”
“I’d like to report to my teacher. He did so much for me.”
“The Sword Saint? All right. I’ll accompany you.”
And so, we decided to visit Sword Saint Light.
Luna, however, had chores to take care of, so she said she would stay home.
“Riana-san. Please take good care of Ayame-san, all right?”
“Y-Yes… Leave it to me.”
For some reason, Luna directed that mysterious pressure of hers toward Riana again.
Well, their relationship wasn’t something I needed to interfere with.
Besides, they seemed to be getting along just fine.
And so, Riana and I headed toward the Sword Saint’s home deep within the Great Forest.
“Teacher. It’s Riana.”
“Ah, well, well. And Ayame-san is with you too? Please, come inside.”
“Excuse me.”
When we arrived at the Sword Saint’s house, he responded quickly this time.
“I’ve resolved the problems with my family. I’m currently staying with Ayame-san.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“Though I was disowned by my family. Ahaha.”
Riana gave an awkward laugh, and Light’s eyes widened slightly.
“Disowned? But a family would not simply abandon a mage as talented as you.”
“Yes. I understand that.”
Riana’s voice was completely serious.
I felt that she fully understood what her own role was supposed to be.
“I believe the time will eventually come when I return. When that happens, I want to see the world and think about what I should do.”
“Indeed. Traveling throughout the world is an excellent thing to do. You can learn perspectives that you would never encounter by remaining solely within noble society.”
Light’s words made perfect sense.
There were things you could never see by remaining in the same place.
It seemed to be the same whether you were a human being, a swordsman, or a mage.
“I’d like to continue visiting you regularly, if that’s all right.”
“Of course. I will always be here waiting for you. Besides, I wasn’t able to teach you the kind of swordsmanship you truly wanted to learn. I regret that.”
“No! You taught me things that were truly important! I’m sincerely grateful to you.”
Hmm.
I didn’t know how long the two of them had known each other or exactly what kind of relationship they had.
But it certainly didn’t seem to be a bad one.
“Light. May I ask you about something else?”
“Yes. What is it?”
“The serial killer. You received a request about them as well, didn’t you?”
I asked with a certain degree of certainty.
He paused for a moment before answering.
“Judging by the way you phrased that, did you receive one as well, Ayame-san?”
“Yes. The Adventurer’s Guild seems to be in quite a desperate situation.”
“Indeed. The nobles probably cannot tolerate any more victims. They have to resolve the serial killer case, even if that means relying on swordsmen. I believe they have been driven to that point.”
The fact that members of the Mage Corps had also become victims seemed to have dealt the nobles a much greater blow than I had expected.
“So, are you suggesting that we work together?”
“No. Quite the opposite. I think it would be better for us to operate separately.”
“As expected of you, Ayame-san. You understand perfectly.”
“Light’s sword is better off not being coordinated with others. Besides, splitting up should be more efficient.”
“Hahaha. It’s embarrassing to admit, but I believe I’m stronger on my own. Besides, if all of us gather in one place, the killer will probably become more cautious.”
“Then let’s agree to share information if anything comes up.”
“Understood. As soon as I encounter the serial killer, I’ll cut them down. My wounds have completely healed, after all. It would be a swordsman’s shame to simply let someone get the better of me.”
And with that, our conversation ended.
If the Sword Saint was able to operate at full strength, I had little to worry about.
The real question was which of us would encounter the killer first.
As we were leaving, Riana quietly spoke.
“Teacher… Do you think he’ll be all right?”
“There shouldn’t be a problem. With his level of skill, it would be extremely difficult for him to be outmatched.”
“No, I don’t mean in terms of his strength. It’s just…”
Riana seemed reluctant to continue, so I decided to ask.
“Is something wrong?”
“Teacher has a tendency to stop thinking about the consequences once he gets into a battle. I was wondering what would happen if he actually came face-to-face with the serial killer.”
“Well, whatever happens will happen.”
“Yes. I suppose worrying about it is just a waste of time.”