episode_0028

After receiving instructions from Ian, Kati left the room.

To make it easier to move around, I changed into slim, light leather clothes.

A dark hallway at night.

Her new form seemed to gradually be enveloped in shadow and became blurred.

A stealth technique that cannot be perceived by anyone other than Ian, who is familiar with Kati, or a superhuman with excellent senses.

It is one of the abilities she has as a demon.

Kati took off her blindfold and tied it like a ribbon around her neck.

In the darkness, the vertical pupil became round and dilated.

Her naked eyes can detect things that even other demons or superior superhumans cannot see.

If you look at the dark floor, several traces can be clearly distinguished.

Footprints, drag marks, tiny scratches, saliva marks, and even a thin strand of hair.

Among them, what Katy needed were footprints.

Among the thousands of footprints, we caught one that was believed to be Felix’s.

Kati followed the traces and went down the stairs.

In the quiet building at night, with everyone asleep, Katy’s movements were like a ghost, without a sound or presence.

I traced the footprints and arrived at the place where I had previously registered the test site.

There, traces of Felix were clearly identified.

Now, even if it is mixed with other footprints, it is the only one that can be recognized.

I followed the identified footprints and arrived in front of a door.

[No. D-401]

She also learned a lot from Ian.

Think, judge, and act according to Ian’s teachings.

‘The number of people in Ogan’s footprints is at least 5. One of them is Felix. It’s not a place I visit often. It is highly likely that it is the lodgings of the warrior party he was in charge of. There’s no one inside. I think I have a room to myself.’

Kati went down the trail again.

This time, room 206.

‘There are several footprints, but Felix’s marks are particularly clear.’

I quietly put my ear to the door.

I felt like I was sleeping.

Carty took out two lockpicks and easily unlocked it.

As when she walked, there was no sound.

As I carefully opened the door and entered, a large room filled my view.

Felix is lying on the bed inside.

‘this… .’

The man who tried to kill Ian when Vivian was taking her exam.

Ian may not have been killed by this thing, but the fact that it was intended to do so was unpleasant.

Katy shook off distracting thoughts and followed Ian’s instructions.

I searched the room for something useful.

It was a strange sight, walking casually and opening drawers without making any noise.

It was the result of a combination of his innate talent for infiltration, his skills as a magician, and his acquired dexterity.

The only drawer on the table next to the bed was locked.

When I opened it with a lockpick, there was a ‘Seal of Silence’ scroll and a contract inside it.

[Arke Village’s superhuman development plan contract.]

‘Contractor, Harmon. Is this the name of the chief of Arke Village? Subject of contract, Humphrey. This is most likely the child’s name. The contractee is Felix, the manager of the management department and an aspiring Supevia Manager Guild… .’

Although Kati is a demon, she has become familiar with the physiology of human society through her time with Ian.

I had a rough idea of what level Felix was.

‘Somewhere in the building on this site, there must be a work space or seat that only Felix uses.’

Other than that document, there was nothing worth writing about.

After leaving the room, Katy traced the trail again.

I walked in the dark and arrived at my destination.

[Aspirant Management Office]

Kati unlocked the lock and went inside.

It wasn’t a cautious gesture, but it didn’t make any noise.

I walked like a ghost through the darkness and searched for Felix’s seat at the head of the table.

Several documents came out of the bottom locked drawer.

[Internal disciplinary agenda for attempted assault and intimidation of applicants]

[Notice of punishment for disobeying provisional test results]

[Notice of complaint regarding intimidation of aspiring candidate from another party]

[Case of handling attempted special violence against female aspirants]

Looking at Felix’s terrible history, Carty wasn’t particularly impressed.

I just took it because it seemed like Ian needed it.

[Disciplinary statement regarding illegal training to superhumanize the general public]

I even took the documents at the bottom.

Other than that, nothing else seemed necessary.

‘master.’

[huh.]

‘Data was obtained by searching places other than private bedrooms where work was done. There’s nothing more to find out, so I’ll go back.’

[huh. Come quickly.]

‘… … .’

Come quickly.

Kati repeated the voice in her mind and quickly returned as she said.

***

I said this without much meaning, but Kati came really quickly.

Within a few seconds of being asked to come, he came into my room with a calm face.

Kati came over without saying a word and neatly placed the documents on the desk.

“You worked hard. Thank you.”

If I have something to do secretly, I always leave it to Katy.

If I had tried to do this, it would have taken me a long time.

As I was checking the documents from above, Kati, transformed into a cat, came up to the desk.

I leaned on my left hand, so I scratched my chin and flipped through the papers with my right hand.

After doing what he is told to do, he always asks for a pat like this.

-Gorongororong… .

I only check the title of the document from the top… .

Felix, how does this bastard stay in this guild?

Is your record too flashy?

Does Penny know about the people who run her guild? ?

If you’ve been disciplined a few times within the guild and you’re still stuck… .

Perhaps the higher-ups are haphazardly punishing and ignoring it.

It’s a mess, it’s a mess.

I checked everything else and placed the two most important documents side by side.

[Arke Village’s Superhuman Training Plan Contract]

[Disciplinary statement regarding illegal training to superhumanize the general public]

The titles of the two documents, what happened in Arche Village, and even what Marie said.

All the elements fit together perfectly.

The contract with Arche Village was simple.

It was a deal to raise a child who was not yet a superhuman, but seemed to have high potential, at a low price.

Felix is good because he can get a superhuman at a cheap price, and Arche Village is good because he can make money by selling kids who have no potential in the first place.

When I looked into the terms of the contract, it clearly stated the penalty that Felix would have to pay if he did not become a superhuman.

Even though Felix was trash, he was a guy who used to play with power in the Manager’s Guild, so he didn’t seem to be able to accept money from Arche Village.

In the end, it was reported to the guild’s higher-ups, and the incident was dismissed as something that had never happened to both sides.

Well, this seems to be the trend… .

That’s why the village chief took the trouble to check whether it was a manager’s guild or not.

Because I didn’t want to get involved with that.

“Hmm… .”

The military police would have cleared out Arche village on their own.

The problem is Felix and this child named ‘Humphrey’.

Did he live or die?

It must have been one of the children Vivian took care of… .

If you ask Vivian, things will get a little easier.

But, if you’re not alive.

If Vivian wants to find the dead Humphrey.

We’ll have to find her, but will Vivian be able to handle what happens after that? .

It would be nice if you were still alive.

Even if it wasn’t necessarily because of Vivian.

I gathered the documents, rolled them up, and put them in one of my pockets.

For now, this is the end of what we will find out today.

I’ll have to call Amos tomorrow, escalate this matter, and come up with a way to relieve Felix.

“Are you going to sleep here?”

-purr… .

Kati rubbed her head, making a pleasant noise.

If it’s already in this state, no matter what you say, it won’t listen.

I’ve already closed my eyes and dozed off little by little.

I lay down on the bed and placed Kati on my stomach.

There were many times we slept together, both as cats and in our original form.

… Still, if you think about his true self, it’s a bit weird.

Because I don’t sleep on the boat in my true form.

When I slowly stroked her back, Kati giggled and quickly fell asleep.

I closed my eyes and organized what I had to do tomorrow and my next destination.

Call Amos and talk to him, and also call the military police.

Next, find the next member, a priest, at MacDerlin Abbey… is it… .

*

“Nyaang-.”

Something scratchy and slightly wet licks my face.

I wake up like this every time I sleep with my cat, Kati.

… Honestly, I’m still a bit surprised.

When I think about what I saw… , No, I also have to get used to it now.

“Woke up… .”

I opened my eyes while stroking the head of Katy, who was sitting on my chest.

A white cat with pricked ears looks down at me with golden eyes.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Nyaung-.”

In the past, I couldn’t understand the sounds a cat made.

At some point, I just knew.

The sound you just made is the sound you make when you say yes.

“Let’s do something later today.”

“Nyaung.”

I will send Kati to find Amos.

I put down Katy and stood up with a frown.

I already have a miserable body with no room for strength, but I can’t neglect exercise if I want to maintain even this.

The time is dawn just before sunrise.

I start my morning with exercise every day before Vivian wakes up.

*

Vivian said while we were having breakfast.

“You want to go to Taylor’s store?”

“Yes. I wanted to at least say thank you. I also want to let you know that I passed.”

You probably already know this, but Vivian is the type of person who would appreciate it if she went and told you about it.

“Okay then. Because it’s training, you just have to come back and digest it.”

“Hihi, thank you.”

Why even thank you?

“Kathi, come with me.”

“Yes.”

“Huh? I’m fine alone… .”

“You never know. What will you do if something happens?”

“Hmm, that’s true too.”

“You might get lost.”

“… I am not a child.”

In some circumstances, you may need to use the Ring of Subordination, so Kati’s companionship is necessary.

I’ll just say hello and come back, so it’s not too late to find Amos after that.

*

After finishing their meal, Kati and Vivian left for Taylor’s clothing store.

Mercy and I went straight up to the dorm.

I’m about to show Felix’s papers to her too.

As each document was read, Mercy’s expression grew cold.

“Huh… .”

Mercy lamented as she put down the last document.

“These days, I just look at soft Vivian, and it feels like a novelty. The evil side of humans.”

Mercy looked down at the documents with lonely eyes and pondered.

“This is a life that deserves to be torn apart and killed.”

It was a tone that did not suit an elf, a symbol of fraternity, at all.

However, Mercy, who had grown tired of humans early on, was different.

Her love is focused only on her own person.

If that distortion is a mechanism to protect her, then I can’t think of it as a bad thing either.

Honestly, it’s true that Felix is that kind of guy.

“That’s right, how peaceful it would be if people in the world were as kind as me.”

“… I’m getting more angry because I have nothing to deny.”

“What’s going on?”

“Because facts are facts.”

Mercy smiled bitterly, sitting next to him and leaning on his shoulder.

“Ian. Still, you will try to save the world, right?”

There is no particular sense of mission to save the world.

I’m just trying to kill the demon lord in order to survive.

Since I can’t do that with my own body, I’m raising warriors to do it.

However, it was also true that the ultimate outcome was tied to saving the world.

“That should be it.”

“… okay. If you are, I am on your side. Just know that.”

“I already knew it for a long time.”

Mercy smiled lightly.

“That’s right. By the way, is it really that I have nothing to do? These days, I feel a bit uncomfortable because I feel like I have become a beetle that wastes food needlessly.”

“No, why are you so serious… . They say you can just rest at this point. Don’t say it’s difficult later when you get busy. And I have enough money to feed you for free.”

“Still! I feel uneasy!”

Mercy whined.

“I’m thinking about it… .”

Mercy’s abilities are numerous, and all of them are useful.

The problem is that I don’t have any useful abilities right now… .

… Is there really anything?

[master.]

While I was worrying, Kati’s telepathy arrived.

‘Yes why.’

[I found a child named Humphrey.]

… uh? suddenly?

[Vivian wants to take you. What should I do.]

‘Now, wait a minute.’

I don’t know what happened.

Of course, there is no reason for Kati to lie about something like this.

If it’s possible, is that Humphrey alive and wandering around Supervia and finding Vivian?

Vivian’s name has been spreading recently, so it’s a possibility.

Luckily he didn’t die… .

‘Yes, even if you bring me… .’

Uh, wait a minute.

Humphrey was sold to Felix.

Felix, who once treated Vivian harshly.

Reunion with Vivian.

Public debate using monthly magazines and Amos… .

In my head, several pieces were put together into one picture.

‘Bring it to me right away.’