Episode 203 – Encounters (4)

Encounters (4)

Nobody shall possess them.

To prevent a race from being consumed as a murder weapon.

To help make that possible.

For that purpose, to rebuild a comfortable hideout.

That was the proposal I made to the werewolf.

A kind of MOU (memorandum of understanding).

─……A hideout construction?!

In the mountains near the store [Candy Bar], Grawl, whom I met after a long time, eyes sparkled as he looked at me.

“Yes.”

The stone monster could easily build a new hideout.

─Then we’ll need a huge amount of mana cores, mana stones, and raw materials, right?!

“You’ve been skimming off the top without me knowing anyway.”

─Ah.

These days, Grawl spends more time holed up in the lab, so mana cores are delivered through the 「Delivery Box」.

He had learned the 「Delivery Box」 magic spell.

─Okay then……

Grawl lifted his head. At the end of his gaze, high above, there was a werewolf. Grawl looked at him with newfound admiration.

The wolf furrowed his brow.

─You want me to trust this little guy?

─Little? I can grow bigger, but I maintain this size on purpose.

“If you bring the necessary raw materials, Grawl will help you. It will be possible to avoid detection by magic waves or radar.”

The werewolf’s hideout was destined to be discovered someday due to urban development.

Digging the land under the guise of real estate, toppling trees, and bulldozing mountains, it was inevitable that it would be exposed.

─Underground would be good! I know a great spot underground.

At Grawl’s words, the werewolf nodded for the time being.

─So I have no choice. You’re saying all I have to do is hide?

“Yes. We don’t want the gossip that ‘werewolves are meddling in the succession disputes of Libra…’ It would tarnish the dignity of Libra.”

The wolf snickered.

─So in the end, you’re helping us for the sake of Libra.

“That’s correct.”

Chasers have autonomy, as long as it benefits Libra.

“The popular image of Libra is one of elegance and dignity. A brand value that transcends mere luxury goods.”

I do not disclose my true intentions about Libra to anyone.

Even if the werewolves’ mouths are sealed, I must appear to be the most loyal to Libra ‘to everyone in this world’, more than anyone else.

─What about my brother?

“If things go as I think, he should come out safely.”

Derek is a character with a strong sense of nobility.

Of course, he silences the employees who were exposed to the magical waves of the Libra industrial complex and contracted cancer, lobbies the parliament to illegally discharge sewage, turns a small village into dead land, and uses war prisoners and homeless people as experimental subjects…

He’s engaged in many acts that hardly seem human, but all of them have been concealed, and above all, they were ‘part of the business.’

But werewolves are not business.

To employ them means, literally, to ‘keep them by one’s side.’

Should that happen, neither Derek nor Johanna could withstand the condemnation and repugnant stares of the noble society.

Therefore, from the beginning, only Zia could embrace the werewolves.

I’ve come to understand, to some extent, Webler’s fanatical faith.

─…You said you met my brother in the interrogation room.

He asked me.

─What did he seem like?

“At first, I wanted to kill him. He dared to kidnap a relative without knowing his place.”

─It was the elder’s order. Webler is not at fault.

“…Is that so?

Werewolf Webler. The sensation of his claws piercing my neck is still vivid.

But…

“He was not a villain. Rather, he was an innocent wolf.”

I said as I turned around.

“Someday, I’d like to have a conversation with him. Over a beer.”

─…Thank you. It’s good of you to say so.

─Let’s hurry up and go! We’re out of time! I’ll climb onto your shoulder!

The werewolf left with Grawl, and I pulled out a piece of paper from within my clothes.

I picked up a pen. I invoked Sonya’s handwriting that I had just 「Memorized」.

Now, I will fabricate evidence.

To ensure that ‘Sonya’ cannot be of help to Libra.

To replace her position as Zia’s second-in-command.

* * *

Libra Medical Center.

“…There’s nothing we can do at this point.”

Sonya, who had returned safely alone, nodded as she listened to the doctor’s words.

“So, I’m a cripple?”

“…Yes.”

The doctor’s expression was blank.

Of course, he seemed to have dealt with many people like her. A pitiful expression, a sad expression, and naturally, a happy expression would all be distastefully received by the patient themselves.

“Well then… I see. Thanks for your efforts. If there’s nothing that can be done, there’s no reason for me to stay here.”

Sonya stood up. Her right knee wouldn’t straighten, so she stood awkwardly.

“Goodbye.”

“…”

As soon as she walked out in a daze, a box flew towards her.

“What’s this now?”

An agent in a suit appeared in front of her.

“This is a 「Delivery Box」 sent by Lord Derek.”

“…I heard something new came out in Trick City. It seems the lord is using it too.”

Sonya opened the box. Inside was a single letter. She read it on the spot.

[The werewolf you discovered in the weaponization project will be discarded. It’s clear that it cannot be controlled, and the number of specimens confirmed is too few to be of use.

Libra is not at a time to be entangled with such abhorrent foreign matter. If you were a human mixed with the blood of the underworld, maybe, but Libra is a noble of purity.

The report you submitted will be immediately discarded.]

There was no concern for her well-being. Instead, it was reproachful content.

She hadn’t expected as much from the beginning.

As she folded the letter, Sonya asked.

“What about the two Chasers who rescued me?”

“They are currently in this medical center.”

* * *

Room 303, Private Room at Libra Medical Center.

Bell Moore opened his eyes on the hospital bed. I spoke to him.

“Are you awake?”

He blinked blankly for a moment before turning to look at me.

“…Huh?”

He sat up abruptly.

“…Shit. Was I dreaming? Hey, there was a werewolf, wasn’t there?”

“Yes. It escaped.”

“What? It escaped? I remember up until the point where I nearly killed it.”

“Yes. It escaped in that condition.”

Bell Moore furrowed his brow.

“…What the hell. Why didn’t you chase it?”

“I had two people to take care of.”

“Hmm. Fair enough.”

I handed him a report.

“This is the report I’ve written.”

“A report?”

“Yes.”

It was a report I had written in chronological order about interrogating Webler for information and then rushing out to rescue Sonya.

“You won’t get disciplined for dispatching just the two of us, will you?”

“…Don’t worry, asshole.”

He sighed and took the stack of papers.

“Ah~ I wanted to collect that wolf’s skull. But, why was that branch member kidnapped?”

“We don’t know yet.”

Rustle—

Bell Moore flipped through the pages of the report. I watched him closely.

“Well, it looks like there’s nothing wrong with the report…”

Rustle—

Bell Moore is like a bat.

He’s incredibly quick-witted, instinctively knowing where to attach himself and who to cozy up to.

Therefore…

“What’s this?”

Bell Moore pointed to a charred piece of paper in the middle of the report.

“I can’t see anything; it’s all burned.”

“…I’m not sure. It was found in a corner of a cave.”

It was evidence I had planted.

It was also a forged document.

Evidence written in Sonya’s own handwriting, suggesting she harbored disrespectful intentions towards Libra.

“Tch. It’s all burned up…”

Bell Moore frowned as he looked at it.

I had deliberately burned this document.

Clean evidence would only invite suspicion, and Libra could easily hire a restoration magic expert.

“I brought it just in case. Is restoration magic possible?”

“…”

By hinting at this, Bell Moore would read my intentions.

He might even consider it for a moment.

Should he take this suspicious evidence with me?

Or keep it to himself?

“…Restoration magic?”

Bell Moore asked back calmly.

“Yes.”

“What, you think this is a movie? That’s not possible.”

But Bell Moore is not a kind man.

Nor is he a man overflowing with loyalty.

“If it was just slightly damaged, maybe. But something burned to this extent can’t be restored.”

“Is that so? Then the evidence should be disposed of—”

“Ah, forget it. I’ll handle it. You rest. I owe you my life, after all.”

Bell Moore shook his head and placed the report on the table beside his hospital bed.

I nodded.

“Yes. Then I’ll take my leave.”

“Yeah. Good work.”

I took a deep breath as I stepped out of the hospital room.

I barely managed to suppress a laugh that felt like it was about to burst.

“You were here.”

Suddenly, a voice that sounded half-breathed called out to me.

It was Sonya. She approached me, limping on her leg.

“…You managed to survive, huh?”

“Yes.”

She smirked slightly.

“Is there anything you want?”

“Nothing.”

“Hey. Do you think just because I’m a side branch, I have nothing? Do you know how much my salary is?”

“Um… then.”

I handed her my business card.

“This is my business card.”

“Why would you give this to me?”

The burnt piece of paper I had passed to Bell Moore.

If it were restored, she would now be subject to countless suspicions. Derek would surely abandon her.

“Please contact me anytime if there’s anything I can help with.”

On the other hand, I would become the only person she could trust.

“Serving Libra is reward enough for me.”

“…You’re a bit crazy.”

Sonya chuckled dryly and pointed at my pocket.

“Check your Libra phone.”

“Yes.”

The Libra phone. A mobile device exclusive to Chasers, all mission-related content is delivered through this.

[Mission Completed]

[300,000 Libra points have been credited.]

[Libra points can be used at any nearby Libra affiliate.]

[A Level 1 Chaser has been assigned to you: Shion Ascal]

The Libra Intelligence Agency is systematic in this regard. They’ve replaced nepotism and incompetence with an algorithm, eliminating the possibility of the unqualified rising to positions of authority.

“I sent the gift through Libra Messenger.”

As soon as Sonya said this, the Libra phone chimed.

[Level 10 Sonnet Revil has gifted you 100,000 Libra points.]

[Level 10 Sonnet Revil has allocated 100 merit points to you.]

“…Even though I’m from a side branch, there’s still Libra blood in me. I can give you this much of a bonus.”

Sonya smirked.

“Thank you. But… is your leg okay?”

I looked at her right leg.

“No. It’s crippled. But well, I’ll manage to live. Take care.”

“Yes.”

Sonya limped past me. I watched her retreating figure for a long time.

* * *

…An unnamed magic workshop.

Bell Moore had hurriedly inquired and recruited a restoration specialist mage.

“The cost will be around 100,000 ren. As you can see, restoration magic requires a considerable amount of mana stone solution.”

The mage pointed to the burnt paper submerged in the mana stone solution.

“…Yes. That’s fine. Please proceed.”

The cost would be covered anyway.

“Let’s do it.”

The mage drew a ‘magic circle’ in the air.

“Oh….”

To Bell Moore, the sight was indeed miraculous. The magic circle he cast quickly dissolved into the solution like a flash of light. The restoration magic, facilitated by the solution, began to adhere to the burnt paper, filling in the missing parts as if cells were regenerating.

Squirm, squirm, squirm. Just like cells coming back to life.

“It’s done.”

The mage lifted the paper out of the solution and handed it to Bell Moore, who immediately cracked a sly smile upon receiving it.

“…Oh ho.”

[I have a message for Aventagher… I am searching for a weapon on Derek’s orders… A werewolf suitable for weaponization…]

Aventagher. Currently one of Libra’s rival families. They may not have the influence they once did, but as the former Chairman’s family, their reach is still significant.

“It was a letter.”

But why would Sonya, a member of the branch, want to send a letter to Aventagher?

No, she didn’t send it, but why did she write it?

“Are there still many parts not fully restored?”

Bell Moore glanced at the mage with a hint of dissatisfaction.

“Restoration magic doesn’t happen all at once. It will probably be completely restored in about a month.”

“…Then that’s fine.”

After all, for a member of Libra’s branch sending a letter to Aventagher is a serious crime in itself. Even if it were just an ordinary inquiry about one’s well-being.

“I’m leaving.”

Bell Moore walked out of the workshop with a smile.

“A big catch.”

Sonya, of the branch family, had tried to send this letter but was coincidentally kidnapped by a werewolf, and she burned it, expecting Libra to come to her rescue. And that Shion Ascal guy just happened to find it.

Everything fits perfectly.

“Rather fortunate, I’d say.”

If Shion Ascal had found this, you would have been beheaded right away.

“I understand.”

Sonya. She was as good as Derek’s top contributor, thought to be living large and in charge, but then suddenly received orders to go underground.

Naturally, she must have been dissatisfied.

“Indeed. She must have been pissed.”

Maybe she wanted to secure some independent funds before leaving. After all, a branch is only family in name, practically strangers.

“Derek would be very pleased to see this. He’d be delighted.”

It feels a bit uncomfortable, like stealing someone else’s military honors, but well.

After all, it was me who rolled around fighting with the wolf, wasn’t it?

Bell Moore rationalized as he carefully tucked the letter into his inner pocket.