Chapter 21 (2/2)

“I also initially thought that because monsters appeared in town abruptly, they became that way because they don’t know when it might happen again but, that wasn’t it”

“That wasn’t it? Is there something?”

“……Yes. I got off work early on that day by chance and I was told by everybody that it’s fine to go back early on that day. I went back as I was told on that day but, I forgot the necklace that I’m always wearing in the changing room. So, I returned to Mayor-sama’s residence to retrieve it but……”

When it reaches that part, Merlu-chan’s face turns pale. Marie-san and I stroke Merlu-chan’s back, Lynk and the rest look over worriedly.

“You don’t have to push yourself. Your face is turning so pale”

“N, no. I’m the one who said I want to talk. And, I returned to retrieve my necklace but, there was no one in the house”

“No one?”

“Yes. And then, after looking around inside the house, I heard the sound of wind blowing by. I look for the source of that and, there were a couple of gaps between the shelves. Even though it should’ve always been arranged properly……and then, behind the shelves was”

“Hidden pa.s.sage?”

Merlu-chan nods to Lynk’s question. There’s something like this behind the shelves in that house. I wonder what was it made for?

“It might have really been better if I hadn’t gone but, my curiosity at that time got the better of me, I went down the stairway. When I reached the very bottom, there was a single path, voices can be heard from within. I timidly proceed down the pa.s.sage and, a single room came into sight. Over there, I saw a certain something”

“A certain something……is it?”

“Yes……the mayor is handing over to a black-robed person, human corpses that appear to be dead”

……What exactly is going on? To think that the black-robed person we were searching for is connected to the mayor. Furthermore, handing over a dead person’s corpse would mean

“Yes. In the next moment, I saw moving corpses. Though there were 5 in total, they turned into zombies and skeletons in the blink of an eye”

Don’t tell me, is it related to the case this time? We didn’t think of that. To what Merlu-chan has said, everybody fell into silence.

“So, are we going right away?”

“No, we aren’t prepared. Let’s leave it to tomorrow. More importantly, what about her? Returning her to the mayor’s house after hearing that is……”

“I, I’m fine. Besides, I’ll instead be suspected if I don’t return”

Merlu-chan who has finished her talk, says that and left the inn. I’m worried about her so I decided to follow. Lynk and the others also said they’ll come but, we’ll be suspected if we go in a group so, I have them let me go by myself.

It’s already evening by the time we arrived at the mayor’s residence. Merlu-chan returned normally but, I who was bothered by the talk just now, investigated a little……and, I suddenly hear a shriek.

I who knew immediately who that shriek came from, climb over the fence and enters the house. Please forgive me for kicking the door down.

What I saw when I enter the house was, on Merlu-chan who’s pushed down onto the ground, the figure of the mayor who’s riding atop that Merlu-chan and swinging a knife down.

I immediately release a light bullet and repel the knife. Then, I immediately close in and release a kick that’s aiming towards the mayor’s plump stomach. The mayor who received my kick without any time to avoid it moved back from above Merlu-chan. Whatever the reason may be, riding atop a girl is unforgivable.

“Merlu-chan, let’s run!”

“Ye, yes!”

I pull Merlu-chan’s hand and was planning to run but, it doesn’t seem like it’s going to be that simple. When I realise it, we are surrounded. By the soldiers, maids, and mayor. Now then, I wonder what should I do.

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