Ch.603Episode 22 – The Kazinsky Test

# Despite Frederick’s warnings about the danger, Camilla had her reasons for seeking out the werewolf.

To explain briefly, there were two main reasons.

First was pure curiosity. The expectation of directly encountering a werewolf, a creature that had only existed in imagination.

Of course, she wasn’t entirely thrilled about pursuing a monster that had brutally murdered humans, but even considering that, the prospect of a werewolf was enticing enough to pique her interest.

Second was her sense of duty.

A tragic death had occurred, and she had precious people to protect. According to Frederick, the werewolf suspected of the murder seemed to have carried out some kind of terror targeting her, but for some reason, instead of coming after her, it had killed an innocent family.

For the safety of herself and her colleagues, she needed to clarify the cause-and-effect relationship behind the murder.

Also, regardless of the reason, the undeniable fact was that someone had lost their life.

So there was a need to resolve the case as quickly as possible.

That was Camilla’s judgment.

“…Is this the right place?”

In a residential area less than 20 minutes away from the resort provided by the professor.

Standing on a street where makeshift barricades and police lines had been set up, Camilla began to observe her surroundings with a suspicious gaze.

She had come to the location Frederick had told her about. It seemed she was in the right place.

The crime scene was bustling with numerous people.

From neighbors who appeared to be residents, to federal police officers in green uniforms, to investigators wearing protective gear similar to hazmat suits and carrying magical crystal orbs.

“Tell me.”

Amidst the chaotic crowd, Camilla gently closed her eyes.

With a feeling of raising each fine hair on her body, she filled her lungs with air, just as the professor would do.

She focused on the magical energy flowing through the atmosphere.

-Shaaa….

The magical energy, responding to the forgotten ancient octopus, danced excitedly and swirled around her.

The tiny sounds carried by the wind whispered words in her ear that others couldn’t hear, as if answering her expectations.

As the breath containing pure magical energy left her lungs,

A low groan mixed with her shortening, trembling breaths.

And her bluish eyes, which had been shining serenely even in the dark night,

Shook briefly as if falling into a trance.

“……”

Something had been detected.

## Episode 22 – The Kazitsky Test

According to her Asian colleague, whose nonsensical comments seemed to grow more intense by the day, Camilla was a magician with exceptional magical intuition.

A kind of discernment, you might say.

She was born with the ability to catch even small and trivial things that other magicians might overlook.

Since Alexandra Petrova had said something similar, this wasn’t just good discernment but rather a talent approaching extraordinary skill.

After examining the magical traces left at the crime scene, Camilla left the place without any hesitation and moved to another location.

Her steps led her to an alleyway.

She slowly traced back all the side streets leading from the resort to the scene where the family had been murdered.

With her hat pulled low, she looked around as if searching for something lost on the ground.

But what her blue eyes were tracking was certainly not a dropped item.

Subtly depressed soil.

Scratches on building walls that seemed to be recent.

Traces of magical energy that didn’t belong to humans found in various places.

Some were physical traces, while others were mysterious traces that only magicians could detect.

She discovered traces left here and there as she navigated through the side streets.

She particularly focused on finding magical traces.

Generally, tracking magical traces was commonly used in investigating magical crimes, but it was also occasionally employed when examining ordinary violent crime scenes.

This was because all organic and inorganic entities in this world contained their own unique magical energy, however faint.

This was common knowledge and teaching from Frederick and Grand Duchess Alexandra Petrova.

“Whew! These alleys are really extensive.”

Camilla, who had been searching the side streets frantically, stopped in place and wiped away the beads of sweat with the back of her hand.

Then she placed her hands on her hips.

“I’ve found everything there is to find…”

She had successfully found all the traces that would help with the investigation.

Multiple traces leading from around the resort to the crime scene had emerged, and they all shared peculiar characteristics that couldn’t appear in ordinary humans.

For example, like this footprint.

Even with her hand fully spread out, there was still plenty of space left—unmistakably the footprint of a huge beast. And it was at such a subtle depth that even passersby wouldn’t notice.

How heavy would something have to be to leave such a footprint?

Camilla stuck out her tongue as she looked down at the footprint that appeared to be at least twice the size of her hand.

From what she had roughly investigated so far, it seemed clear that this murder was not committed by a human, as Frederick had suspected.

At the very least, it was a different species. Perhaps it really was a crime committed by a werewolf, she sensed.

Squatting down on the ground for a brief rest, Camilla propped her chin with her hand. Then, with a contemplative voice, she sighed and began to theorize in earnest.

“…Huge feet, heavy enough to dent the soil. With such a large build, there should have been witnesses. Or maybe it was caught on a closed-circuit camera or something.”

There might be witnesses alive somewhere, or video recordings might exist.

She had already tracked the werewolf’s movements by following the magical traces. If she checked for witnesses in the area or transportation control crystals, something might turn up.

The time when Frederick attended the meeting was right after he arrived at work, so the people who were continuing the investigation might have discovered new evidence in the meantime.

Perhaps a witness who hadn’t appeared before had emerged and was already being questioned by the investigative agency.

But there was a somewhat serious problem.

“…How do I approach this?”

Unlike Frederick, who could meet anyone and go anywhere with just a diplomatic ID, she had no authority to go to an investigative agency and ask for materials.

Of course, it was an undeniable fact that she was an important person, but that didn’t give her the right to go to the police and demand evidence without any basis, did it?

What should she do?

“Should I bring the professor?”

Camilla, who had been tapping a pebble with the toe of her shoe, shook her head.

No, not the professor, no matter what. Who knows what kind of trouble he might cause.

After putting aside the idea of putting the great magician at the forefront and tucking it away in a corner of her heart, she thought of Lucia and Francesca.

She thought that a saint and a magic tower civil servant might be of some help.

But this was equally concerning. If word got back to the embassy that Frederick’s two colleagues were inquiring about the case, it would be quite awkward for Frederick as well.

So what should she do?

This is troublesome.

“Hmm…”

Just as she was putting her fingers to her temples and operating her brain at 200% capacity,

Suddenly, a good idea flashed through her mind like lightning.

The only person who could help her now.

A high-ranking person who far surpassed diplomatic status.

And someone who knew both Frederick and her well.

Camilla’s palm hit her knee with a slap.

“…Aha! There is that person!”

*

“I expected to see you sometime, but I didn’t expect you to contact me so suddenly.”

Chik, the ember burns the tobacco.

The rolled-up reddish-brown tobacco leaves transform into soft smoke, leaving a spicy, hot taste before dissipating.

Camilla looked beyond the whitish smoke. More precisely, at the woman sitting on the sofa.

A stream of smoke escaped from between her glossy lips, curving along with the beauty mark near her eye that followed her gently sloping gaze.

Beautiful black hair that seemed to absorb even light. Black eyes resembling obsidian.

And a rosary adorning her neck.

Veronica smiled at Camilla sitting across from her and gently rolled the cigar in her hand.

“It’s nice to see you, Hero. This is our first time talking like this, isn’t it?”

Camilla, perched on the leather seat, nodded her head.

“We’re acquainted, but I don’t really remember having a direct conversation with you.”

“Neither do I.”

There have been many moments when they’ve briefly passed by each other. But as far as Camilla could remember, there were almost no instances where she had directly conversed with Veronica, especially one-on-one.

Too distant to be called colleagues, yet closer than mere acquaintances.

Her relationship with Veronica rested on that subtle point.

Of course, Camilla wasn’t particularly intimidated by Veronica as a person.

She had been entangled with her quite often since she was a saint like Lucia, and occasionally she had seen her accompanying Frederick.

Although she didn’t know exactly what kind of relationship they had, it was right to consider her an ally for now.

Coincidentally, Veronica’s thoughts weren’t much different.

“How did you get my contact information?”

“I got it from Lucia. She told me to send a communication to this crystal address if I ever needed to contact you.”

“Ah, so my little sister told you~ I was wondering why I suddenly received a call on a private address that only a few people know about.”

Although it was clearly a sudden visit, the saint didn’t seem particularly surprised.

She didn’t seem annoyed either; rather, she seemed to find it interesting, even showing a casual smile.

Veronica took a puff of smoke, then placed the cigar on the ashtray and fell into deep thought.

“…So you have something you want to find out in the Lushan Federation. And you need my cooperation to find it out.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s see, what exactly are you curious about, our Hero?”

She answered honestly.

She needed the investigation materials held by the Lushan Federation Police and the Anomaly Response Department of the Land Management Ministry that Frederick had mentioned.

There was nothing to hide, so she could conclude her business briefly and concisely.

“Hmm… An anomaly.”

Veronica’s lips pursed slightly.

She rested her chin on the armrest and, in a slanted posture, stared into space before muttering.

“I’m curious. Why are you looking for such things?”

“This morning, a family was tragically killed near our lodging. It’s a murder case, the police have identified a monster as the suspect, and it hasn’t been caught yet.”

“A heartbreaking tragedy. I express my condolences.”

The saint put on a seemingly sad expression. And she made the sign of the cross over her chest as a substitute for condolences.

“Death is always sad. But I’m surprised that you’re interested.”

“……”

“If it’s a case already under police investigation, the suspect will be arrested soon. Is there any reason for you to expend energy on a case that’s unrelated to you? There seems to be no practical benefit in it.”

Camilla paused for a moment, then reached for the drink the saint had offered.

“If someone has harmed people and it’s the work of a monster, shouldn’t we stop it by any means necessary? Before another victim meets an unjust death.”

“Hmm.”

“And who knows. Maybe the murderer also has some kind of… grievance…”

“Grievance.”

Trailing off with a low murmur.

Veronica bit the cigar and stared at Camilla.

It was a look as if she was seeing something curious. Although not skilled in psychology, Camilla could glimpse the emotion in the saint’s eyes.

After quite a long time had passed like that.

“…Actually.”

Camilla’s lips parted cautiously.

Apart from anything else, the continuous silence was quite uncomfortable, and above all, Veronica’s blatant gaze was slightly burdensome.

So Camilla carefully opened her mouth and began to reveal the circumstances she hadn’t yet mentioned.

“It’s also something Frederick asked me to look into.”

“The Major?”

Nod, nod.

No sooner had she nodded vigorously than Veronica, who had been questioning with a puzzled look, removed the cigar from her lips.

A smile of incomprehension filled the empty space.

“Why would the Major ask you?”

For a moment, an indescribable chill ran down her spine.

Veronica was still just smiling.

Is there an error in the heating? Or maybe a window has been opened somewhere.

Thinking so, Camilla continued speaking while calming the goosebumps on her forearm.

“Well, Frederick and I are close friends! There’s been a gruesome incident nearby, and he’s been excluded from duty, so he asked me to help a little. He asked me to find out as much as I could on his behalf. Ahaha.”

“Friends? Ah. So that’s what it was.”

-Chiiiiik….

The sound of the flame burning spread, and the saint nodded her head.

After being lost in thought for a moment, as if calculating on an abacus, Veronica soon extinguished the half-smoked cigar in the ashtray and exhaled smoke with a “whoo-.”

“Alright. If our Hero says so, it’s my duty as a saint to help. Since even the embassy can’t do this, I’ll have to step in.”

“Really?”

“I know some officials in the Federation. If you tell me specifically what you need, I can find out quickly.”

Camilla smiled brightly and expressed her gratitude, and Veronica responded with a smile as well.

“Thank you, Saint!”

“It’s nothing. It will only take a moment, so would you wait here?”

“Yes!”

Although they hadn’t conversed at length, she didn’t seem like a bad person.

Rather, she was kind if anything.

She couldn’t understand why the professor would speak ill of such a nice person, calling her insincere and disrespectful, saying she doesn’t know how to respect the elderly, and that she’s an extremely cunning individual.

Anyway.

True to her word, Veronica reappeared in less than 30 minutes.

With the little information she had requested.

Delighted to have finally obtained it, Camilla bowed deeply and then hurried back to the resort, seeing off by the saint.

And a little while later.

-‘Frederick Nostrum, I’ve answered the phone.’

“I’ll give you 10 minutes. Get over here right now, Major.”

-‘No. I’ve told you several times I can’t leave because I’m assisting with the conference…’

“Bring that light butt of yours over here right now-!”

-‘…What?’

Some deep misunderstanding had arisen between the saint and the diplomat.

But anyway, it was something Camilla neither needed to know nor had any reason to care about.

*

That evening.

Frederick entered the lodging looking as if he had been thoroughly beaten by someone.

His face was so swollen it looked like a steamed bun.

Everyone wondered “what happened,” but he went to bed without saying much. He only said he was tired, and oddly enough, gave Camilla a resentful look.

“I wonder why he’s acting like that? Did he have a hard time at work?”

“I don’t know.”

Lucia and Camilla tilted their heads at each other.

Despite the truth being closer than they thought, all that remained was bewilderment.

And so, as always, the truth simply disappeared beyond their reach.

*

After returning to the lodging, Camilla sat down in the living room and began to sift through the information.

Seeing her like that, Lucia prepared a plate of hand-cut fruits and brought it to her.

But the fruits remained untouched, as Camilla’s eyes were fixed solely on the materials.

“…Hmm.”

Police reports on the murder case, records of inquiries from nearby residents, and analysis results from traffic control crystals, and so on.

Perhaps because they were just beginning the investigation, the evidence seemed scattered in all directions rather than converging in one place.

While thoroughly searching through the papers as if swimming in the sea.

“Hello? Who is- …Saint?”

Camilla, who had gone under the desk to pick up a pen that had rolled off, quickly raised her head toward the magic crystal.

It was a call from Veronica.

Although she was puzzled as to why she wanted to meet at such a late hour, she decided to go meet her since she had received help.

The place she arrived at was a bar on an unnamed, remote street.

The moment she opened the door, a bell rang with a ‘ding,’ followed by soft music.

The bartender, who was gently wiping a delicate glass, greeted her with a smile.

In the space that was neither too small nor too large, there was only the bartender and a single customer. Although the attire was different, even from the back, it was easy to guess who the customer was.

Veronica, who had taken off her surplice and changed into comfortable casual clothes.

She was in the middle of exchanging small talk with the bartender across the bar counter.

“……”

Suddenly, the thought occurred to her that the atmosphere was truly peculiar.

Not just because the saint appeared in casual attire, but just… the air surrounding this place itself was unique, you might say?

Camilla carefully took the seat next to Veronica and looked around, examining the saint.

A wooden box with beautiful engravings that seemed familiar from somewhere. A leather belt around her waist and pouches.

The saint she faced again was dressed like a wanderer who carried only one large bundle and roamed without a destination.

As the ice swirled around.

Veronica, who was lightly shaking her glass, exchanged greetings with round eyes.

“Oh my. You’re already here?”

“Being late is not polite.”

The greetings between the two were short and concise.

Camilla ordered a drink and paid with the cash in her hand, and the bartender, welcoming a new customer, filled a transparent shot glass with an amber-colored spirit.

Alcohol is something you’d have if it’s available, but it’s fine if it’s not.

Camilla barely sat down and downed a shot of whiskey in one go.

“I hear you’re chasing something interesting?”

“…?”

“A werewolf. Wasn’t that why you came to find me today?”

The voice asking the question seemed infinitely calm. Veronica ordered a new drink, then gently met the gaze of Camilla sitting next to her.

It was a look that suggested she already knew everything.

“You’re attempting a dangerous adventure. Both you and that man.”

“……”

“It’s not an adventure I personally recommend.”

“…Have you had experience meeting a werewolf?”

“A few times.”

The saint muttered as she put a cigarette in her mouth.

“There was a time when I faced a pack of lycans at the request of Laterano. Did they kill a cardinal and flee, or did they devastate a remote village and escape?”

“……”

“A purge order was issued, and I led the holy knights. It’s already been over 9 years since then, this too.”

Her tone suggested it wasn’t anything special.

From beyond the bar counter came the continuous sound of ice being crushed. The bartender poured whiskey into a long glass and added the crushed ice.

As the carefully poured carbonated water filled the glass along its walls, Veronica gently swirled her glass with the hand holding the cigarette.

Camilla observed this scene intently.

“Are you going to give me some advice?”

“Hmm- I’m not sure how helpful my advice would be… Why don’t you ask if it was dangerous instead? I can tell an interesting story about that.”

“We’ll listen to that later. How dangerous an opponent were they?”

Well.

“That would be a relative standard, wouldn’t it?”

“……”

Veronica paused after asking the question.

It was to taste the newly ordered cocktail.

The glass tilted significantly, and the high-proof liquor instantly disappeared down the saint’s throat. When she put the glass down with a thud, only the unmelted ice collapsed with a clatter.

Having emptied the glass in one go, she wiped her lips and began to smile softly.

“What do you think?”

“Me?”

“I’m asking for your impression.”

What impression?

Just as Camilla’s lips began to quiver.

“How it feels to actually see a werewolf.”

Veronica added in a nonchalant voice.

It was as if it was really nothing special.

Until her finger, with the cigarette wedged between them, pointed forward with a tap.

“As it happens, there’s one right here. A werewolf eavesdropping on our conversation in front of us.”