Volume 2 Chapter 46 Murder Scene
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
According to Maribel, the body that was cut up by ‘Azrael’s Death Sword User’ has already been moved to the mortuary.
To provide accurate information, Kian wanted to examine the body while it was still at the scene, but since it had been 2 days since the incident was discovered, he could not complain.
Kian returned to East End with Christy, who was back in her casual clothes (her suspension had been temporarily lifted), and they planned to visit the mortuary first, then the murder scene on Central Street.
Kian was going to enter the mortuary alone.
He was told that the smell was overwhelming and the condition of the body was so bad that it was not something a noblewoman should see.
Christy insisted she would be fine, but Kian strongly advised her to wait outside in case she ended up being sick during the examination of the body.
It seemed that she also preferred not to see a dismembered body, so she agreed to his suggestion, but made him promise to bring back detailed information.
”The limbs were severed simultaneously, and very carefully. The right arm was cut off at both the shoulder and elbow, and when found, it was hanging from the ceiling like a puppet.”
”Some lips, ears, and fingers are missing, huh?”
”These were cut off after death with some sharp instrument.”
The coroner who had been with Oswald during the previous autopsy explained.
”As you can see, the severed edges are very precise. This person is likely experienced in cutting others.”
”For example, a coroner like you?”
”Even as a joke, it’s unpleasant”
”Sorry. What else has changed?”
”Undigested egg porridge came out of their stomach. The eggs were soft-boiled, the most easily digestible state of cooking. If they were raw, it would take a little over 2 hours. If they were hard-boiled, it would take just under 3 hours.”
”I’m sure it was morning when they were attacked, right?”
”Yes. The victim, unlike in the Franz, had the habit of eating breakfast. Perhaps you do too?”
”Yeah”
”After waking up from bed, the victim was probably hungry and had breakfast as usual. Then the killer came and attacked them.”
”I see”
”For now, this is about it. Here is the report on the body that was also given to Abel.”
”Thank you. … Abel?”
”I mean the captain of the guard. We did an autopsy together before.”
”Ah, him. Now that you mention it, that was his name.”
He was a man around 40, often criticized by Oswald and Aisha for leading the lackluster guards.
He had known Kian for quite a long time.
Kian thanked the coroner once more and left the mortuary.
After that, he handed the report to Christy, and the two of them headed to the scene on Central Street.
Central Street was wrapped in a lazy afternoon atmosphere, and there seemed to be fewer people than usual.
As they turned left right after exiting East Street, they could see a few guards loitering in the distance.
It was a 2-story building with a yellow roof.
If Kian’s memory was correct, that place was a combination of a brōtḥel and a bathhouse.
They said it was a recreation of a historic medicinal bath from the great eastern nation of Shin.
There was a large warehouse in the back, dealing in not only the potions used for the bathhouse and brōtḥel but also rare pharmaceuticals traded with alchemists from across the sea──Azrael.
The shop itself seemed to be open, but they could see a few guards hanging around the back warehouse.
The whole area was enveloped in an unusual atmosphere.
Christy, who was walking next to him, frowned.
”That yellow roof…”
”It’s proof that they’re under the control of the eastern merchant guild ‘Mao Yue’. By borrowing the name, they can attract customers who know about ‘Mao Yue’.”
”Is ‘Mao Yue’ the one Manon used to trade with at the town?”
”Yes. I thought you knew that, of course…”
”I’m her wallet. So I don’t know what she bought. Manon doesn’t want me to know either, so I’m not asking her.”
”A loyal subordinate, huh?”
”Is that a compliment? Or a sarcastic remark?”
”It’s just my opinion. I have no other intentions. Anyway, I’m about to head to the scene, so are you okay with that outfit?”
Kian said, gazing at Christy’s outfit.
She cleaned up the traces of their activities since morning, still wearing the dark blouse and long skirt she had on.
Entering the scene might get her clothes dirty.
”This is just my regular outfit, and I have several of the same design, so it’s not a problem.”
”I see. Then please explain this to the guard as well.”
”Sure.”
The two of them headed towards the alley next to the brōtḥel.
The path led to the back storage area.
The guard at the entrance approached slowly and seemed uninterested, but when Christy quickly showed Maribel’s warrant and explained, he opened the way without delay.
He didn’t even pretend to check if the warrant was real, but was that acceptable?
”Thank you for your hard work.”
Christy said this in a flat tone without any hint of friendliness and walked briskly towards the warehouse.
Kian slipped past the guard and followed her.
The warehouse was mostly black and about the size of 2 average taverns in East End.
The entrance was open, and the guard was still standing there.
However, they seemed to be watching how their colleague handled the situation and moved aside without saying anything.
”Ugh…”
”What’s wrong?”
”No, it’s just… the smell.”
The black-haired Head Magician took a handkerchief out of her pocket and covered her mouth.
The guard beside her opened his eyes wide in curiosity.
”Even though you’re a Head Magician, you don’t like the smell of corpses?”
”Well, I’m still young, okay?”
”But my grandma said that ‘witches’ turn people into soup and eat them”
”I won’t eat it. Don’t say something nonsensical. Don’t you think it’s rude in front of me?”
Christy glared at them, and the guards shrugged and retreated away from her.
”What’s wrong with that woman? Is she on her period?” a voice is heard and her expression becomes even grimmer.
Kian put his hand on the Head magician’s shoulder.
”It seems like you’re saying something, guard? Don’t be so mean. You’re ruining a beautiful woman.”
”Hmmm. It’s better for a beautiful woman to be ruined so she won’t get bullied.”
Christy said this casually, and then stomped into the warehouse.
Kian shrugged his shoulders and entered the warehouse in the same way.
Then──.
”…Wow…”
’This is quite a nice warehouse.’
(So you have wake up, ‘glasses’)
’I just finished meditating and returned.’
(I see)
Like ‘glasses’ mentioned, the room was spacious with high ceilings, making it a really nice place.
There were several lamps attached to the walls, and at the back, there was a ladder leading to a second floor with an open space.
It looked like it could be a better residence than a shabby rural house.
The ground was smoothly covered with well-packed earth.
”…Who is it?”
As the two entered the warehouse, one of the shadows gathered at the back of the first floor turned and spoke in a low voice.
The other shadows also looked back.
In the orange light of the lamps, the man who inquired stepped forward from beneath the ceiling of the second floor.
He was a tall knight.
He was slightly older than Kian.
Whether he was shaved or bald, he had no hair on his head.
His sun-tanned face had bright blue eyes that shone.
He stopped the knights behind him from drawing their swords.
”Stop. He’s probably Lady Christina’s companion.”
At his words, the knights returned their swords to their sheaths.
The atmosphere is very tense.
Kian narrowed his eyes behind his ‘glasses’.
(These guys, I’m sure they were standing behind the veil yesterday at Guillaume’s knighting ceremony…)
’They were the ones who came to the banquet afterwards. They were surrounding a steward named McCutchen.’
(The steward’s men? If they don’t get word that the suspension has been temporarily lifted, Christy may be arrested.)
Kian shifts his feet and prepares to overpower everyone at any time.
The knights and squires total 14.
Their training is quite high, but their weapons are far superior.
Normal shields and swords are useless against the Windsong Blade.
If he uses sword techniques without glasses, he can kill everyone before they react.
Christy spoke without any fear to the sharp-eyed bald knight.
”I came to investigate the murder scene on the orders of Her Excellency Maribel. Here is the warrant.”
”What?”
As the bald knight frowned, 2 familiar faces emerged from behind his squire.
”──Oh! Mr. Kian!”
”──What? Hmm…? Ah, it’s you.”
”Ms. Aisha, and also the guard captain.”
”Do you know each other?”
The bald knight looked at the guard captain.
The captain stroked his mustache and nodded.
”Yes, he’s an adventurer from this town. His name is Kian.”
”Ah… now that you mention it, he was here the day before yesterday. I couldn’t see his face properly because I was wearing a helmet. From what my subordinate said, he was the one who protected Her Excellency.”
”Nice to meet you.”
When Kian said this, the bald knight responded without smiling.
”Nice to meet you, I am Waterman. I serve as the captain of Her Excellency’s guard at Izerland Fortress. I am a knight and hold the title of Baron.”
”Sir Waterman is my superior, an aristocrat. He was in charge of the investigation of Her Excellency’s assassination, but now that a dismemberment murder has occurred, Sir Waterman is in charge of the investigation himself.”
”I never thought I, a member of the Imperial Guard, would be sent to such a rural area.”
The bald knight sighed softly after saying that.
The day before yesterday, he attended a glorious award ceremony at the fortress, and today, he was faced with a bloody murder scene. Kian can understand how he felt.
”So, why is Ms. Aisha here?”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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