Episode 13.9 (2/2)

After leaving Shira's house, Lecan headed to the orphanage. He bought some spit-roast along the way and had his fill. That was when he recalled about shopping and bought some jerky, vegetable, hard bread and water. Enough food for the journey. For food intended to be consumed inside a dungeon, it's a good idea to purchase some right before delving in.

The children found Lecan when he arrived at the orphanage, he had a difficult time trying to tear them off him. Since vice temple head was present, he informed her he'd be out of town for about a month.

Then Lecan got back home. It was already dark out.

There's no Eda.

She's nowhere to be seen.

Of course he was already aware of Eda's absence the moment he arrived at home.

Lecan recalled about a woman he had spent some time together with, who disappeared while he was diving in a dungeon. He didn't attempt to look for her, but the sense of loneliness he felt back then wouldn't vanish for some time.

At first he thought Eda had left him as well.

But that's strange.

She was looking forward to going to the dungeon together with him tomorrow. Perhaps she didn't leave, perhaps she just had an errand to run.

As he was thinking, Lecan probed the house with <3D Perception>.

”Hum?”

Lecan went into Eda's room in order to closely inspect the thing <3D Perception> found.

There's a <Box>. It's obvious the <Bow of Isya> is inside.

(Eda went out while leaving this behind?)

(Can't be.)

Lecan concentrates on <Life Detection> once again. This ability can detect in 1000 step range. Humans are displayed as red dots. Humans with powerful mana are displayed with deep red color. But it's not that precise, and it's hard to tell people apart unless they're someone with extraordinary mana like Shira. Nevertheless, there was no one who could possibly be Eda within 1000 steps.

He tried to peek at the well. since <Life Detection> sometimes do not show those on higher or lower elevations. But of course Eda wasn't in the bottom of the well either.

Eda's mana pool is large and has a unique quality to it. Hence it's possible to distinguish Eda using <Mana Detection>. However, <Mana Detection>'s effective range is only 20 steps, which further lowers when there are obstructions.

Lecan walked around the not so wide house.

He investigated behind a tree in the corner of the small garden.

Peeking into the kitchen, coming inside the only four rooms in the house.

He looked in the well once again.

But she's not here.

There's no Eda.

She's nowhere.

”Hold on? Maybe she's next door.”

A middle aged married couple live in the house to the left. The house to the right was apparently inhabited by an elderly with bad legs a while ago, but it's vacant now.

There's no particular bad blood between them and the middle-aged couple. Eda went to greet them when they first moved in here, and he occasionally saw them having small talks from time to time.

Lecan stopped in front of the neighboring house and looked for Eda with <3D Perception> and <Mana Detection>.

But he couldn't find anyone that matches Eda.

He knocked on the door.

A middle-aged woman, the wife, came out and leaked out a shriek when she looked up at Lecan.

”Sorry for intruding this late, have you seen Eda?”

”N-no? Didn't see her since yesterday. Ah, but.”

”But?”

”There was this really luxurious carriage parked in front of your house this noon.”

”I see. Much appreciated. Excuse me.”