Chapter 20 – Tracking
When everyone greeted and sat down, Thane finally opened his mouth.
“Did you find any signs of the demon you’re chasing?”
Arin looked at Thane with her eyes wide open.
“How did you know about that?” “I heard rumors that people were disappearing from here. That’s why I came. Didn’t you hear about that too?”
Priest Frank answered instead.
“It was two weeks ago that I noticed people disappearing. If the brothers who came to pray hadn’t disappeared, nobody would’ve noticed. So I asked the church for support.” “How many people have disappeared in the meantime?”
Arin thought about it for a while and replied.
“It’s not exactly a tally because it happened in the slum. It’s been about a week since I arrived, and I know that about a hundred people went missing.” “Oh! That’s more than I thought.”
Arin let out a short sigh and replied.
“I haven’t found out much more because the slums are giving me a hard time.”
She was wearing a round shield on her back and a hammer and a sword on both sides of her waist. In addition, it was natural for people to find it difficult considering the Astron’s stamp on the left side of the chest box that appears between the cape. Rarely do people who live in slums not have a bad history. It was natural for such people to stay away from Astron’s holy knight because they can be ripped to their bones if they get caught doing something wrong. Rather, it was great to find out that there were a hundred missing people in the slum. Indeed, if a beautiful woman this size had been in and out of the slum, if not a holy knight, anything would have happened already. Ed’s gaze turned to Thane.
“What kind of guy do you think he is?”
Thane took out the demon’s book at the question, opened it, and quickly turned the page over.
“If you look at what’s in the city, there’s a good chance it’ll turn into a human being or be a little demon.”
Thane turned the paper over and asked a question.
“Are there any followers or subordinates that have shown up?” “We haven’t seen yet. It seems to be moving discreetly.”
At Arin’s answer, Thane stopped turning the pages of the demon’s book and looked back at the people.
“If there are over a hundred disappearances, perhaps we can suspect Gerold, an intermediate demon who can’t resist his appetite.” “But can we save people in secret like this? Gerold is more of a humanoid, and he’s over two meters tall.” “That’s why I asked you if you saw a demon follower. I thought he was using his followers to gather people. But if you haven’t found a demon follower, it may be of Tencram.”
Ed made an impression on his remark. Gerold is a cannibal demon and is found earlier than expected. However, he is difficult to deal with because he is an intermediate demon. Tencram, on the other hand, is not searching for food but needs humans as nutrients when they have babies. But this demon was known as an incredibly agile one. Even Ed was not sure if he could deal with the demon by himself, even though he invested a lot in agility.
“What do you think?”
Thane asked Ed’s opinion as he read the demon’s book on his way here. Ed briefly folded his arms and looked down at Tencram’s painting. Two meters tall. If it is carrying a baby, it’s suitable for the present situation. It’s just reasoning, but it’s a strong possibility.
“How long does it take to have a baby?” “A month.” “Maybe it’s time for it to give birth.”
Thane nodded at Ed’s words.
“It’s been more than three weeks since I first heard the news. If it’s Tencram, there’s a good chance it’ll give birth in a few days.” “Then we’ll have to find it quickly.” “Yes, after Tencram gives birth, there will be a massacre to find the baby some food.”
When Tencram eats people to find food for their young and to recover their wretched body from giving birth, the damage easily exceeds at least one hundred people. The problem is that it kills children for its food. The number of children and adults who would die in just one day would exceed a hundred. Ed stood up and said,
“I’m going to visit the slums.” “I’m sure you’ll take care of yourself, but a Tencram that’s about to give birth is a dangerous demon.” “I’ll be careful.”
Ed came out, and Arin followed him. As Ed turned around, she stood next to him and spoke calmly.
“I’ll show you around.”
Ed took a quick look at her appearance. If he goes with her now, he can’t get the right information about the slums. They said the event might be in a few days, but maybe it’s right now. Ed took a step closer to her. As she approached suddenly, she grabbed her sword without realizing it. Ed slid his hands into each side of her neck. It was too natural for Arin to react. It had to be done before attacking. It was also largely because he was careless because he handed over her brother’s precious token. Ed wondered what was wrong with this woman when Arin closed her eyes tightly. Her traveler’s cape was fortunately hooded, so Ed, who caught it and put it on her head, stepped back and looked at her. Even if wearing a weapon was inevitable, it could not be revealed that she was a holy knight. But it’s different when you open your mouth. You’ll find out the moment the holy knights say something.
“Don’t be dumb when you’re there. Just guide me to the slum area.
Arin nodded because she had the wrong idea and started leading the way.
The slum had a stronger smell of losers than buildings and tents that were all collapsing, from drugged humans to sick people. There were a lot of clever kids walking around the streets to survive in those gaps. After guiding Ed to the slum, he told Arin to follow in his footsteps and walked in the lead. There were three children playing tag, and when Ed grabbed one of the kid’s wrists when he bumped into him. He had Ed’s wallet in his hand. The boy smiled awkwardly when their eyes met.
“Hehe. I’m sorry.”
The other children had already run away when Ed looked back. The kid caught by Ed looked him in the eye and spat on him.
“Well, if you’re going to report it to the mortuary, do it. At least I’ll still be fed if I go to jail.”
Looking at the kid, Ed opened his wallet and threw a coin out of it. The kid’s eyes got bigger.
“Name?” “Tom.”
Ed took out another coin and threw it.
“I heard that people in the slums are disappearing these days. Are there any missing children?”
Tom accepted the coin that flew in, and thought about it,
“No, not yet.”
Ed was a little relieved at the words. Fortunately, the demon didn’t give birth yet. But he wasn’t so relieved either. Ed took out a silver this time. Seeing Tom’s eyes twinkling, Ed tossed the silver coin in the air. Ed asked, confirming that Tom’s eyes were following.
“Do you know about the people who disappeared?”
Tom took a step back at the question.
“You’re like a holy knight asking questions in the slums these days. Are you a member of the Astron congregation?”
Ed felt Arin flinching in the back and replied nonchalantly.
“No, I’m a mercenary. I’m investigating for the request I received this time.”
Tom agonized for a while and thought it had nothing to do with him anyway. When he saw the silver shining brightly in front of his eyes, the value of everything else faded. Tom reached out his hand. Ed shook his head slowly.
“Do you know the homes of people who have disappeared in the last week?” “I don’t even remember what happened yesterday! How am I going to remember the homes of people who disappeared the past week?”
Ed took out his wallet and tried to put the silver coin back in.
“Now, wait! I remembered!”
As Ed looked, Tom said quickly.
“The Vince family disappeared a week ago!”
Ed tossed the silver coin. Tom jumped up as if a well-trained dog were picking up the ball, grabbed the silver coin, and quickly put it in his arms, and looked around.
“Just lead me to the homes of the people who disappeared yesterday and the Vince family who disappeared a week ago. Then I’ll give you three silver coins.” “Follow me.”
Tom took the lead with a grim look, realizing this was a rare opportunity in life. As Ed followed Tom, and Arin came close from behind.
“What are you doing?” “This is the power of money.”
At Ed’s answer, Arin looked dazed. It was shocking to see that the holy knight’s job was to help them, but it was a completely different attitude from when he asked. Ed was following Tom, looking back at the slum. He remembered the way because he didn’t know what might happen here. It was the house where people disappeared yesterday. There was a murmur around the house, but Ed went into it and examined the house. It was made of tents, but the inside was messy. Ed’s hand touched the floor. Arin, who followed Ed inside, frowned slightly.
“It smells like blood.”
Ed could see how sensitive Arin’s senses were. But what Ed is looking for now is not blood. And he found deep claw marks on the floor. Two in the front and one in the back. It is a trace of Tencram, which resembles a bird’s leg. Ed sighed briefly and rose from his seat.
“Tencram.”
Tencram baring a baby is not usually sensitive. It becomes dangerous when it’s almost about to give birth.
“We have to hurry.”
As Arin nodded, Ed came out and told Tom.
“Let’s go to the house where the family disappeared a week ago.” “Follow me.”
As Tom took the lead again, they felt people’s eyes gathering one by one. Ed walked carelessly, but Arin was following from behind, holding the handle of her sword.
There is no one without a story, but most of them here are losers who gave up their lives. Life for the past year has not been easy to feel threatened by such people. The last house Tom visited was already inhabited by other people. A tough-looking guy came out and stared at Tom.
“What is it, Tom?” “It’s nothing. I was just asked for directions.”
Ed’s eyes turned on the tough guy. He looked at Ed and Arin.
“Do you have a business in my house? It’s not a place for a girl.”
Ed took three silver coins out of his coin pocket and threw them at Tom. The tough guy grinned at Tom as he rushed away after receiving the coins.
“You must be full of money. Looking at the way you paid that little thief.”
A dagger was already held in the hands of the tough man. Ed looked at the back of the tough guy. Unlike other tents, it was a shabby home. Ed’s eyes turned cold when he saw women from the back. There were half-naked women. Slum areas are not devoid of glaze. However, it is different if women’s eyes were dilated under the influence of drugs. They sell their bodies not voluntarily but by force. And that means even those who were behind the tough guy are part of it.
“Then can you give us some goodwill? You can have a woman if you want.”
Ed looked around them, pulled out his bow, and fired an arrow. Arrows were placed between the eyes of those who appeared behind the women and were creeping toward them. The tough guy, who couldn’t see Ed shooting an arrow properly, turned his head to the sound of people falling from behind and opened his eyes wide when he saw all the arrows in the middle of the man’s eyes.
“What is this ··?”
The man, who turned his head again, saw that he stabbed him in the shoulder with a dagger.
“Argh!”
Ed was holding his wrist and said close to the man’s face.
“I have a question, and I want you to answer it right.” “What, what is it ··?”
Ed wriggled his wrist after confirming that the man was not ready to answer. The man screamed when the dagger was embedded in his body.
“I have a question.”
Ed’s cool voice awoke the though man named Glenn. It’s not time to scream in pain. If he tried to do something wrong, he’d die.
“I’ll answer anything!”