A Former Child Soldier Who Uses a Magic Sword Wants to Live with an Older Sister of a Former Enemy Executive - Chapter 96

• Chapter 96 : The mysteries of the Silver City

[Wh… What’s going on?] (Gravis)

[Did we… hit something?] (Hydra)

In the midst of this unusual atmosphere and tense silence, there was no movement from the presence they sensed.

When the two took a step closer to try and grasp its true identity…

—Clack, clack, clack, clack, clack…

Its footsteps retreated from the door and faded away into the distance.

As if nothing had happened, whoever was inside had left.

[Hey, get back here!] (Gravis)

[Gravis! Wait, it’s dangerous!] (Hydra)

Gravis forcefully opened the door and readied her crossbow.

But the murderous intent on his face quickly turned to astonishment.

[Gravis… What’s wrong?] (Hydra)

[…This is a dead end. No, a room?] (Gravis)

[Eh? Then, where did that presence go?] (Hydra)

Though they had many questions, Gravis and Hydra started a full-scale search.

Their breathing and the sound of their footsteps echoed eerily in the room.

They could not help but imagine that they might suddenly hear another set of footsteps as they began rummaging through the cabinets and desks.

The room was mostly empty, and although they found a safe, there was nothing inside.

In this disappointingly empty room, Gravis and Hydra decided to take a break.

They sat down in chairs to calm their nerves.

It was not wise to move around aimlessly any further.

[I wonder what those footsteps were.] (Gravis)

[Could it have been a ghost?] (Hydra)

[No, it wasn’t a ghost or anything supernatural. But it was strange, that’s for sure. Ugh, we got separated from Seto and Satis, and there’s nothing here but booze. It’s just one mess after the other!] (Gravis)

[I hope Seto and Satis are safe. Hopefully they’re together like we are.] (Hydra)

[They’ll probably be fine. They seem like they’re used to tough situations.] (Gravis)

[I wonder.] (Hydra)

[Anyway… I’m so beat! I’m going to lie down for a bit.] (Gravis)

[Lie down…? On that dusty bed?!] (Hydra)

[That much dust is no big deal. When I was traveling, I often came across beds that were way more worn out all the time. Here I go!] (Gravis)

Gravis stood up and deftly jumped onto the bed in the corner of the room.

The next moment??.

CRASH!

[Ugh!] (Gravis)

[Whoa…]

As soon as Gravis put her entire weight on the bed, it broke.

Having jumped onto it with considerable force, Gravis was left groaning, wedged among the broken pieces of wood, fabric, and mattress.

[Cough, cough…! Are you okay, Gravis? …Wait, what’s this?] (Hydra)

[What do you think? Hurry up and help me up, please.] (Gravis)

Hydra helped Gravis up and picked up the item that had fallen from near the pillow.

It seemed to be a somewhat thick book with a faded, worn cover.

[There’s something written here. Is this… a diary?] (Hydra)

[A diary? What’s written in it?] (Gravis)

[I don’t know.] (Hydra)

[Oh, you don’t know… Wait, what? What do you mean, you don’t know?] (Gravis)

[Exactly what I said. There are symbols that look like dates and times, like in a diary. But the text itself is undecipherable.] (Hydra)

At the very least, it was not written in any language currently used in this world.

If this was an older language, then it was beyond their expertise.

[Aw, what do you mean you don’t understand? Can’t you decipher it somehow? Come on, with your chi or whatever that’s unique to continental martial arts… like, swoosh~, then you read it…] (Gravis)

[I’m telling you, I can’t. Continental martial arts don’t have that kind of thing. In fact, there’s no martial art in any era or place that can do that.] (Hydra)

[Oh, I see. Even so, I don’t know what those ancient people were up to, but there are people who wrote that kinda stuff.] (Gravis)

[Yeah, I guess. But there might be something important written here. Maybe Satis could read it.] (Hydra)

[Could it be a clue to a treasure?! We can’t just sit here! Let’s get out of here quickly and meet up with Satis!] (Gravis)

[Don’t forget Seto!] (Hydra)

[I know, I know. The little guy is coming too.] (Gravis)

The two of them took the diary and left the tavern.

After stepping outside, Hydra focused her mind to sense the presences of Seto and Satis.

Even with her refined abilities, detection through the fog was difficult, but she sensed the two of them in a different direction.

[Found them, 2 o’clock from here. They’re walking together.] (Hydra)

[Okay, well, let’s get going. They might have found some clue too.] (Gravis)

[R-Right.] (Hydra)

The two of them ran to where Seto and Satis were.

Along the way, they felt strange gazes and presences, but none of those attacked, which made it even creepier.

[What’s wrong with this city, for real…? Ugh, are we being stalked? This is so creepy…] (Gravis)

[Don’t turn around. It might be whoever was in the tavern.] (Hydra)

[Seriously? …Ugh, this is such a pain.] (Gravis)

Still, the characters used in that diary… There were parts that looked similar to the Yeller tribe’s writing that Gendar-dono taught me. It also seemed to be a mix of various languages… (Hydra)

With these suspicions in mind, Hydra continued through the misty streets of the city with Gravis.

At the same time, she felt a kind of terror from the surrounding eeriness.

If this were a dungeon, there should have been monsters or something attacking, but so far, there had been no such actions.

The feeling of being constantly watched was very similar to what she felt with the Wendigo in the snowy mountains. But if nothing was going to attack, why had no one ever returned from here?

If they were dead, it would not be surprising to find their bodies left behind.

While harboring many questions and hoping this was not the lair of a Wendigo, Hydra ran behind Gravis, who was running ahead.

As they approached, Seto and Satis continued their exploration inside the building.

They were on high alert.

The statue that had been staring at Seto earlier was now silently following them.

It did not seem to have any intention of harming them, but its looming presence at a constant distance behind them was nothing short of eerie.

Despite this, the two continued their meticulous search.

They found some rooms with desks and chairs arranged in a regular pattern, and others with sculptures and paintings.

Though they were creeped out by the statue following them all along, they eventually reached a certain room.

[Seto, this place…] (Satis)

[Do you know what this is?] (Seto)

Satis fell silent, deep in thought.

Sensing that she had something on her mind, Seto waited without rushing her when suddenly, he sensed a presence outside that was almost murderous.

It felt very weak compared to the battles Seto had had in the outside world, like a black dot in a sea of white.

But for the ever-vigilant Seto, it was just dense enough to notice.

Satis seemed unaware, and beckoned Seto to enter the room.

Before entering, Seto glanced at the statue again, but noted no significant change.

Are there statues that don’t attack and others that do? Like the silent, creeping boy Satis mentioned… (Seto)

He steadied his breathing, ready to draw his magic sword at any moment, and entered the room. Inside, they found countless bookshelves lined up in an orderly fashion.

The layout was somewhat familiar.

[Is this… a library? Or maybe an archive room.] (Seto)

[Perhaps. Let’s have a look around a bit.] (Satis)

Before Seto could warn her about an enemy presence, he already sensed it.

Someone was already in the room.

Seto tried to act as natural as possible so as not to be noticed, and concealed himself behind the bookshelves. 

Pretending to search for something.

And then it happened immediately.

[Seto… Huh? Where are you, Seto?] (Satis)

Just as Satis turned around.

[KYOOOOOOOOOHHHH!!] (???)

With a bizarre scream, someone leapt from above, brandishing two short swords to attack.

Satis tried to dodge by stepping back, but her opponent had taken the initiative and she was still within striking distance.

Oh no—! (Satis)

It was too late to cast a spell.

Just as she was about to cross her arms in a defensive stance and brace for impact…

[Blagh?!] (???)

[Huh…?] (Satis)

The enemy was suddenly cleaved in half by a brilliant red slash.

It was Seto, who had been preparing for the attack.

When Seto realized that the target was not him but Satis, he crept up on the lurking enemy and delivered a heavy counterstrike.

[Satis, are you alright?] (Seto)

[Y-Yes… But, what just happened?] (Satis)

[I sensed something before entering this room. I was going to warn you, but everything happened so quickly.] (Seto)

[I see. Thank you, Seto. You saved me again.] (Satis)

[Don’t mention it. It’s my job. …Hmm.] (Seto)

Seto examined the fallen enemy.

Though lightly armored, its body was as thin as a mummy.

Even in death, the enemy’s eyes glowed brightly with a lingering, terrifying madness.

Before they could discern the identity of the fallen attacker, three more figures appeared before Seto and Satis.

[…Maybe they were soldiers of the Silver City. Look at them. They’re like…] (Satis)

[Yeah, walking corpses. We probably can’t get any information out of them. Doesn’t look like they’ll understand what we’re saying either.] (Seto)

[KYOOOOOOOOOHHHH!!] (Undead A)

[KYOOOOOOOOOHHHH!!] (Undead B)

[SHAOOOOOOOOHHHH!!] (Undead C)

The three of them attacked.

However, they were no match for Seto and Satis.

In the blink of an eye, they were cut down and laid motionless.

Satis examined them with magic, and what she discovered was astonishing.

[This is… Could it be…?] (Satis)