Chapter 242
Zenia said, "She seemed like a sick person."
"In what way?"
"At first, we thought that's what it was, you know? We thought she was talking to something inside the window."
"..."
"But that wasn't it. She was talking to her own reflection in the glass."
"What do you mean by that?"
"It's like... she couldn't recognize her own reflection as if it were a mirror. I've seen many people with mental issues before, but I've never seen someone who couldn't recognize their own reflection in a mirror. That's... something dogs or cats do, right?"
"Where did you see such a person?"
"In areas like the free development zone away from the center... it was especially bad in less managed areas."
Haley said, "So... we suspect it might be a new type of hallucinogen. It's similar to the Sheirn region we heard about in class recently. And there's one more strange thing."
Haley put a duty roster on the table.
"What's this?"
"It's the crew duty roster that Senior Rosalyn secretly obtained. Specifically, it's a record of the crew who worked on the day of the sky sailship launch ceremony."
Then she took out another paper and placed it next to the duty roster.
"This is the list of deaths and missing persons due to the sky sailship accident. A total of 13 people have been reported. Don't you see something strange?"
I compared the duty roster with the list of casualties. There were no overlapping names. Something was off.
We definitely saw a crew member with a smashed face being carried away on a stretcher. It was a state where resuscitation was impossible no matter what technology was used.
We clearly saw a dead crew member, but there was no record of it.
"Senior Rosalyn found it strange and directly asked the crew involved in the sky sailship's operations. But they all unanimously say there was no such crew member. There's no record of the whereabouts of the body carried on the stretcher. Most of the crew are from other places, so they don't have family or friends in this city. So it seems no one is looking for the missing people. Doesn't something smell fishy?"
"Is the upper management trying to downplay and cover up the accident records?"
"Maybe. We're not sure, but it's clear they're involved in some dirty business."
***
I stood night watch in the triangular attic space. This mansion was situated on relatively high ground, allowing us to overlook Claridium. I opened the large bay window and admired the nighttime sea view spread out before me.
And I observed the ships coming and going from the port, lit even in the middle of the night.
Someone climbs the ladder to the attic. Haley opened the attic door and poked her head out like a mole.
"Oh. The first-year was here?"
"Senior."
She climbed back down the ladder. Halfway down, she muttered to herself, "Ah, it's annoying to change clothes."
Haley first rolled two wine bottles up to the attic towards me. Then she came up wearing a chemise.
"It's not your turn for night watch, Senior."
"Ah, that bitch Zenia talks in her sleep so badly, I ran away."
Haley sat on the attic window sill and skillfully opened the cork. She took a sip and offered it to me. I shook my head.
"My mouth didn't touch it. It's clean."
"It's okay."
Haley jokingly threw out, "The first-year is disappointing. When a superior says drink, you should obediently accept."
"Senior, more than that, I don't know where to put my eyes."
It was a white nightgown that covered what needed to be covered, but when touched by moonlight, everything underneath was visible. Haley didn’t seem to care much and just scratched her thigh with her legs spread.
"Since when did you care about such things? Do I look like a woman to you?"
"If you're not a woman, what are you, Senior?"
"Well, when you put it that way, I have nothing to say. We treat you comfortably because you behave well and don't cross the line. You know?"
"Cross the line?"
"Some guys get all excited just because we're a bit nice to them as male juniors, suddenly saying things like 'Senior, you look like a woman' and bringing roses... You're not that kind of guy, right?"
"Of course not."
"There have been many guys with dark intentions who came because there are many pretty girls in the Art Club. It seems there's no steadfast man like you in Eternia."
"..."
"Ah, right. Did something happen to Lilith today?"
"Why?"
"She was muttering to herself while looking in the mirror in her room today."
"What?"
"She was giggling to herself, saying, 'Pretty even when wet, pretty even when wet.' I thought she had gone crazy too."
"..."
"Nothing happened, right?"
"It'll be fine. We were together all day, and although there was a small commotion, it ended without any problems."
"Really? That's good then."
Haley turned her head towards the window.
"Wow, you can even see the sea from here. There was a reason for standing night watch in the attic."
"...Looking at it like this, it really seems like a peaceful and comfortable city."
"I agree. It's beautiful... and full of vitality. Were you thinking about that alone?"
"Actually, I was counting the number of ships leaving and entering."
"You must have really had nothing to do, huh?"
"There were more ships leaving. I don't know where they're going at this dawn, though."
"Probably fishing boats. There are fish that can only be caught at night, you know. Maybe they're going out to catch those?"
"Is that really it?"
Haley took a swig of wine straight from the bottle and said as if she was seen right through me, "Are you anxious? Worried that something might happen to this city? Does it seem like everyone's secretly fleeing?"
"...What do you think, Senior?"
"I'm anxious too. But I'm the leader, and I can't show that, so I'm comforting myself with alcohol and the first-year like this."
"..."
"I just sent a notice to our crew. I told them to be on standby at all times because we might suddenly set sail."
She was the same. Although the shape wasn't clear, she instinctively felt that Claridium was a sinking city.
We had no responsibility or obligation for the problems occurring in Claridium. So we could just leave when problems arose.
We had the power to protect ourselves, but not the power to save a crumbling metropolis. Leaving was the best option.
"May I drink too?"
"My mouth touched it. It's dirty."
"It's okay."
Haley offered the wine bottle again. Due to my many thoughts, I took the bottle and took a sip.
If Claridium really fell, what would happen to the people here? Rich and powerful people would probably escape early, but those who couldn't would sink together.
Suddenly, I remembered the orphanage children.
Will they be okay?
If Claridium fell as Amaryllis said, would it really end as an isolated incident?
How could we be sure that the wave that destroyed a metropolis wouldn't hit other places?
***
"Is this the reward money?"
Haley and Zenia look at the pouch of gold coins in my hand with sparkling eyes.
I had just returned from receiving the reward at the Guardian assembly hall early in the morning.
They said it was equivalent to four months' salary of a first-class sailor, and if exchanged, it could buy about two enchanted swords usable in Rigved.
"It came faster than expected."
"I just quickly received the money and left due to the schedule."
Five carriages we had called in advance were lined up in front of our lodgings. We planned to visit the arena and the magic creature being bred under the pretext of visiting for the Academy exchange competition.
Members who had changed into outdoor clothes in the mansion boarded the carriages with drowsy faces.
Haley grabbed my wrist and moved to a secluded place. Then she took out a scroll and showed it to me.
"This. A Guardian came and gave it to me this morning. Guess who it's from?"
"Who?"
"The mayor of Claridium. He wants to invite us to dinner. We'll probably have time left after the research institute tour, what do you want to do?"
Right, he couldn't ignore my existence when he was so interested in Silveryn.
"There's no reason not to go."
***
The Art Club’s carriages headed towards the eastern district of Claridium. Streets without a single piece of trash, cone-shaped well-trimmed street trees, and buildings with unified styles giving a neat impression. It felt just like crossing the Academy campus.
A cart led by a Vintera passed by us.
Behind it was a large box covered with cloth, from which came a loud noise.
Clank!
"Grrrr!"
Hearing the low growl of a magic creature, my nerves stood on edge.
There wasn't just one or two such carts. Carriages carrying magic creatures cross the city as nonchalantly as peddlers.
Haley, sitting next to me, muttered nervously, "There seem to be... more magic creatures than we thought."
My head was spinning, trying to find something that could be the cause of destruction.
The carriage moved quickly and stopped in front of a tall castle. The high castle walls and long stretched-out building looked more like a prison than a research institute.
At the main gate, a middle-aged researcher accompanied by Guardians greeted us.
As we got off the carriage, the researcher first shook hands with Haley.
"We've been waiting. I'm Rondo, senior researcher at the Mishevity Research Institute."
"I'm Haley, the delegation representative. Thank you for welcoming us. I'm sorry to ask this as soon as we meet, but as someone responsible for the delegation's safety, there's one thing I'm concerned about. We encountered quite a few magic creatures on our way here... Are all magic creatures being safely managed?"
The researcher smiled and said, "At the research institute, we manage them with high-level mages, barrier makers, and numerous Guardians. And soon, the 122 species of magic creatures housed inside will be disposed of, so you don't need to worry too much."
"Disposed of?"
"We plan to cull all except for the numbers needed for the exchange competition or Guardian training. The situation is the same for other research institutes located in the southern part of the city or the administrative district. It's not our decision, though."
"Is it for safety reasons?"
"Not immediately, but it's likely to become so in the future. The budget has been greatly reduced, and most of the management personnel have left. Claridium no longer plans to pour resources into magic creature research."