Chapter 12 (1/2)

What tragedy, wouldn’t you agree?

Tears were shed, but life goes on. After the conclusion of his three-day holiday, Feisha quickly discarded the remnants of his depression and picked himself back up.

On that day, the first words out of his mouth as he barged into the hallway were: “Which one of you assholes took my listening device? Hand it over immediately or there will. Be. Consequences. If I ever catch you…heh.”

He could only end it with a “heh,” because at that moment three things happened: Isefel’s elegant figure flew down from above, and a beige suit walked by below by itself at the same time. The building gave a tremor, followed by Asa’s hulking silhouette appearing by the staircase.

Feisha decided to keep a low profile from now on.

Low profile aside, the investigation would not be discontinued. After much consideration, Feisha decided to interrogate the prime suspect first – Antonio.

“Hey, Antonio…” Feisha sidled up to the person in question. “Three days ago, when we were trapped in that pomegranate-loving trap, did you by any chance see a tube that looked kind of like a kaleidoscope? It’s a cylinder about this long.”

Antonio waved about the spatula in his hand, not even looking back as he replied: “I did.”

Feisha perked up. He could see his one hundred and fifty gold coins flying back on wings. “Where?”

Antonio found the spare second to give him a look reserved for idiots. “In your hand.”

A pause.

“Uh, I meant after you knocked me out.”

“It probably fell onto the ground.”

“You didn’t pick it up?”

“Why would I pick it up? It was annoying enough to pick you up.”

“…Then don’t knock me out in the first place.” If he didn’t get knocked out, then he wouldn’t have dropped the device and this whole mess could’ve been avoided. In the end, it was all the pomegranate’s fault.

“I knocked you out because you were being annoying,” Antonio grumbled impatiently.

Just as Feisha was about to launch into his tirade, he remembered that the person in front of him was a madness-prone werewolf. The kind of madness that made him eat human flesh and drink human blood.

Feisha silently drifted out of the kitchen and into the warehouse, spotting Dea.

“Hey Dea, fancy seeing you here!”

Dea just gave him a look. “Did you not come to find me?”

“You caught me, hehe,” Feisha laughed sheepishly, then schooled his expression into one of seriousness. “Three days ago in the trap, did you happen to see a kaleidoscope-like thing in my hands? It’s a long cylinder that looks like this.”

“Yes.”

Having experienced firsthand this exact conversation earlier, Feisha didn’t dare to get his hopes up too high. “Don’t tell me you didn’t pick it up either.”

“Why would I pick up your belongings?”

…Does the thought of swiping something not even come to mind? Are all faeries as much of a stickler for rules as you? A look of resentment was directed at Dea.

“Was it something important?”

Feisha nodded. A hundred and fifty gold coins, man- you tell me.

“Well, you’re going to have to pick the chosen fruit or vegetable today.”

…He’d never won a lottery, even back at home.

“Or else…”

Don’t say ‘or else’, it gives me heartache, thought Feisha as he looked at Dea in despair.

“…You’d have to find Isefel for help.”

Feisha’s despairful eyes immediately gained a layer of hope.

“He can enter and leave the room at will,” explained Dea.

At that, Feisha jumped up in joy then looked at Dea in suspicion. “Why are you helping me?”

“Because I feel happy watching you flail around helplessly.”

…………

No wonder faeries were vegan; even their standards for messing with people were low.

Feisha lamented this fact as he went to find Isefel.

Feisha collapsed at the water’s edge, having finally made it up the stairs. Panting heavily, he spotted Isefel, who seemed to be having an awful lot of fun in the pool.

“Have- have you maybe, considered, getting some elevators. Oh god, I’m dying.”

Isefel swam slowly towards the grounded figure. “I do not need it.”

Feisha desperately pointed to himself.

“Out of everyone, you are the most in need of stairs.”

Feisha thought about how Isefel had called him fat before, and promptly interrupted: “I need your help with something.”

“Reading guest profiles?” asked Isefel, climbing out of the pool.

“No, I need you to open the hidden trap in the warehouse.”

“Why?”

“I left something in there.”

“That’s your problem,” Isefel said lightly.

“We may not be family, but we are co-workers. C’mon, show some love.”

Isefel merely looked at him, black eyes seemingly looking through his soul itself. Feisha unconsciously took a few steps back.

“Uh, can you show your love in another way? We’re progressing a bit too fast here; I don’t think our relationship is quite ready for this yet.”