88 [2-22] Good research disaster story (1/2)

A cold room, bare of rugged stone.

Within minutes of Catherine's arrival, the man appeared.

I have brought you a sinner.

He was shackled and kneeling on the ground, flanked by guards with spears.

Guards with spears flanked him, lest he should run away and hurt Katherine.

The man in the grimy shirt with the prominent stubble is named Diaz.

He used to be a squire of the Count's.

He had been selling information about the Count's family through Night Python, but it all came to light when his wife and child, who were being held hostage by Night Python, escaped.

In a sense, he was a victim, but it was clear that he had been making a small fortune selling the information before his family was captured, and he ended up in jail.

If the case went to trial, he was likely to be sentenced to forced labor in the mines,......, but there are no mines in the Earl of Keighley's territory, and he was sent to another territory. The country is in turmoil at the moment, so it is difficult to coordinate with other territories, and he was left in prison suspended in midair.

This was an irregularity in itself, but it was even more irregular when the Countess summoned him.

Diaz looked unsettled, wondering what was going to happen.

Take it easy. This is just my ............ personal indulgence.

”Oh, .......

Catherine didn't know how to say it, so she had to use the word 'hobby'.

You can't help but think that this is just a case of a countess with too much free time on her hands, poking her nose into a case out of curiosity.

However, this was a big deal worth risking her life for.

”You said that Iris saw through your betrayal. Can you tell me more about that?

”No.

”Well, I'm sorry to welcome you to such a humdrum place, young lady.

The dwarven master of the Adventurer's Guild in El Talef said with a hint of fear and piled up an encyclopedia-like binder on his desk.

The Adventurers' Guild also collects information to provide to adventurers.

Each branch has its own archive room, which contains information on demons and other creatures.

The library of the Erthalef branch was small, with only three bookshelves and a desk for reading materials. It was filled with the smell of old paper.

The head of the branch (master) brings two cups of tea on a tray. One of the cups was only half-full, and the master poured a dollop of sake on top of it.

...... Isn't that just a cup of tea with alcohol?

”It's just tea. For dwarves.

As she took the cup without the liquor in it, Catherine frowned at the smell of cheap liquor coming from it.

In the event that you're looking for a great deal of information on demons compared to the branch in King's Landing, ...... I hope you find what you're looking for.

The Master's thick fingers flipped through the pages.

The reason why Catherine came here was to find out about demons.

What we're looking for is an undead that has the power to hail people and read their minds.

Hearing Katherine's words, the Master blinks his dull, bearded eyes.

I'm sure you're not the only one who can read minds.

Master. I've heard that mind-reading magic can be very uncomfortable for the subject.

......, right?　I'm sorry. I'm not familiar with magic that isn't meant for combat.

It has the power to possess people, and it reads minds.

I'm not sure if you've seen this before, but I'm sure you've.

But...

In the event that you're not sure what you're looking for, you'll be able to find a lot more information on the web.

In the event that you have any questions concerning where and how to use the internet, you can call us at the web site.

--The undead with mind-reading abilities different from magic ......?

I'm not sure what to make of that.

There are a lot of undead who can hail. ......

It's a good idea. I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.

Then I wonder if there are any Dullahan's out there that can do it in spirit form.

Dullahan. ......?

I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.

It is said that when he was executed and turned undead, he also appeared as a Dullahan.

So, if you think about it normally, Rene may be a Dullahan. ......

I'm sure you can't do that because Dullahan is an undead entity.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what's going on.

I'm sure you'll agree.

The branch manager (Master) twisted his head like a log.

I'm sure you'll be able to find something that works for you.

No, wait, you're right. I think I've seen some strange descriptions of demons before. ......

The Master opened one of the files, roughly flipped through the pages, and pointed to data about a certain monster.

”'Doppelshadow'?

Have you ever heard of a monster called a 'doppelganger'?

Yes, I have. It's a demon that turns people into people.

A doppelganger changes its own body, but a doppelshadow changes the body, face and physique of the person it possesses. I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one.

An undead that can change the body of the person it possesses.

If there is such a thing, is there a Dullahan who can change his own body and pretend to be a person?

I don't think so. ......

I think we should take a closer look at the spirit system.

The only thing worse than someone using possession is someone who uses it. I'm sure there's a demon called ”Rage Spirit”.

The branch manager (master) opens another page.

It's not very powerful on its own, but it can take over the body of a person or a demon and manipulate it in a possessed state to fight. A rage spirit that has gained experience in battle will be more cunning than the owner of the original body, and will draw out all of the body's potential and produce a foolish power that is willing to destroy itself.

”That sounds like a nightmare for an adventurer. It would be a nightmare for adventurers if they were forced to fight and steal the bodies of their friends. ......

That's it. That's why high-level undead in spirit systems are so terrifying.

Catherine almost shuddered just listening to him.

Such a horrible world these adventurers live in.

It's horrible, but... It's a horrible story, but...” When she heard the words ”body swap,” it hit her.

--Yes, ...... yes!　For example, if you had the body of a Dullahan or a Lich, and you could possess it!

All I could think about was possessing people.

Wouldn't it be possible for the undead to use the bodies of the undead?

That would explain why Rene was a Dullahan or a Rich.

”You can make Dullahan and Rich, right?

I'm not sure.　Oh, ......, they're made by wizards and demons.

Katherine decided to put aside the subject of the body for the moment and just consider the properties of possession and mind-reading.

--Reading Minds ...... as strong a spirit system as possible Undead ......

She flipped through the pages, and flipped through them, and then her hand stopped.

”Here it is!

Catherine's slender fingers pointed to the data that was spelled out.

It has an evil intellect, high magic power, and the power to possess and control people.

It feeds on the negative emotions of humans, such as fear and despair.

The name of this demon, which is one of the strongest of the spirit system undead, is.

I'm not sure what to make of it.　It's a higher form of rage spirit. It specializes in possession, but it's also good at magic.

If it can feed on the mind of fear and despair, doesn't that mean it can read minds?

I don't know. I don't know. You might be able to find out by asking some of the scholars at the branch in King's Landing. ......

The Branch Chief (Master) didn't seem to get it.

In the event you're not sure what you're looking for, you'll be able to find out more about it here.

He said, ”Demons can mutate, just like those in Nameless. Trying to find them by their characteristics might not work too well. In addition, undead are mostly created by demons and sorcerers through magic. It's possible that they have some unexpected features added to them. ......