Chapter 1300: Chapter 1300: Revisiting the Osenfort Estate
“Good evening, why didn’t I see that cute cat from last time?”
The Elf Girl seemed to be in a good mood. After sitting down, she rather familiarly ordered a glass of butter beer from the approaching waiter. Strictly speaking, this drink isn’t alcohol because it doesn’t contain any alcohol:
“You know, the tavern at Saint Byrons actually refuses to sell me this drink.”
“Why?”
Luviya asked, and the Elf Girl replied half-annoyed:
“That dwarf bartender said the Academy won’t allow him to sell alcohol to underage elves, even though I’m already… years old. I once tried to go to the shop across Wand Street to buy alcohol, but that damn goblin would rather sell me an Aether decay alchemical bomb than sell me alcohol.”
She deliberately obscured her exact age.
Shard and Luviya both smiled, and the latter even said:
“Actually, underage definitely shouldn’t drink. Yes, I know butter beer has no alcohol.”
“By previous standards, Miss Emilia is actually of age. The standard was redefined for the elven race after the establishment of Saint Byrons.”
Shard pointed out.
“Yes! That’s right! According to the customs of the Old Era, I’m actually an adult!”
The Elf Girl strongly agreed with Shard’s view. Of course, she didn’t forget the real reason she was here:
“Mr. Hamilton, here’s the information you wanted. In fact, the Academy doesn’t have many investigation reports on Randall Valley…”
At this point, she was worried that Shard might not be satisfied with her investigation results:
“However, last week when I was checking the library for information, I discovered that Miss Danester had people compile all materials related to Randall Valley together. It seems the Academy has special actions planned for the place. I heard from the Wood Goblin senior in the dorm room next door that the Astronomy College is preparing to send professors to this city.”
“No, no, your intelligence is very valuable. And the Time Key you sent me last time was a big help.”
Shard immediately said, glancing at Luviya, they both understood that the matter of the “Chosen of the Earth” in Randall Valley City had been thoroughly exposed. The church chose to arrest those cultists who might have clues last weekend probably because of this reason.
“Here are this week’s poems.”
Shard handed her a notebook he had prepared in advance. Public places aren’t suitable for using Arcane Technique:
“Also, if it’s not necessary recently, please try not to appear in the city.”
Shard kindly warned:
“When we last met, your little beast sensed evil. I investigated later, and it’s likely a demon.”
“A demon?”
Luviya raised her eyebrows. Shard hadn’t had time to tell her about this. The Elf Girl was startled and then blushed, seeming very excited:
“Is it the kind of dangerous demon from legends? Oh, I’ve only read about them in books. Legend has it that just seeing them brings misfortune!”
“A Third Era evil spirit, quite ancient and powerful. That evil spirit has been in the area for at least over a hundred years. It’s hard to imagine the kind of power it possesses; you must be careful.”
Shard advised, worried that the inexperienced Elf Girl might accidentally encounter a demon. Fortunately, the education at Saint Byrons is quite comprehensive. Although Emilia seemed excited, she knew what it really meant:
“Then, besides coming to see you weekly, I won’t wander around here recently… This is for you. I originally planned to sell it on the black market, but I think you need it more.”
She gave Shard and Luviya each an amulet woven with white hair, with Elven Runes representing “Guardian” on it:
“This is a ‘Protective Evil Amulet’ made from unicorn hair, unicorn horn fragments, and unicorn blood. Don’t worry, my job is to raise them. These materials are collected daily, and the Academy won’t mind the loss.”
The Elf Girl spoke proudly, so Shard and Luviya did not refuse. Although Shard had the [Demon Hunting Seal] designed to deal with demons, the doctor said not to expose the equipment for hunting demons before finding the demon’s body, so wearing this amulet was quite suitable.
The two unicorn amulets were very valuable, but the Elf Girl didn’t ask Shard and Luviya for money. The three chatted a bit about recent news in the city, and then the Elf Girl got up to return to the Academy.
Shard and Luviya saw her off at the hotel door and watched the carriage go off into the distance.
“After dinner with the witch, don’t rush home, talk to me about the demon matter first.”
Luviya turned around to look at Shard:
“Did you already know about this and it’s related to that strange Ston Osenfort?”
“I haven’t fully investigated this matter, once I have some leads I’ll discuss it with you in detail, it’s quite dangerous… But, not rushing home is not a problem.”
The girl with purple eyes nodded reservedly:
“You can talk to me about it, what books you and they read last night.”
(Mia running…)
Since the appointment letter had been sent to Osenfort Estate the day before, Shard set off from Randall Valley City early Tuesday morning, riding to the Osenfort ancestral home located far outside the city.
The arcane technique [Demon Vision] provided by the doctor had been fully learned. This time, besides returning the medal and investigating the statue, Shard was determined to uncover the ancient evil hidden in the city.
At eight-thirty in the morning, he set out from the Wilder Opera House on horseback, and by the time he arrived at that old manor outside the city, it was almost ten o’clock.
After crossing the bridge and passing through the forest, he saw the manor where even the light seemed dimmer than elsewhere. Crows cawed overhead as they flew over Shard towards the manor, but soon they flew away in panic, disappearing into the distant gloomy sky.
When dismounting at the manor’s entrance, the old butler was already waiting for Shard.
He opened the gate and held the horse for Shard, then informed him:
“Sorry, Mr. Watson. The master received a letter from the city half an hour ago and has already gone into town, but he said he will be back by noon.”
“It’s alright, I can wait.”
Shard didn’t mind this, but followed the old butler into the slightly eerie manor. The manor was on that delicate edge between abandonment and use, with wild grass growing by the walls, yet the flower beds appeared tended, and the gazebo looked freshly restored.
The doctor had warned that while [Demon Vision] was safe, there was a chance of being detected, so it was best not to use it frequently. Shard planned to use it only when he met Osenfort himself, so he did nothing along the way but waited until the old butler stabled the horse in the back courtyard before following him into the mansion.
As was the case before, there were no traces of human activity here. Despite the cold interior, it was spotless without any dust, with portraits hanging everywhere, yet the dim light turned the wallpaper a murky yellow, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
After waiting in the lounge for a moment, Shard was startled to see snow falling outside the window, reminding him that the last time he had been here, snowflakes started to fall soon after his arrival.
Just as Shard was pondering the late winter snowfall, Haila Osenfort entered with her peculiar maid, her face veiled in black.
Shard rose from the couch and greeted with a smile:
“Long time no see, Lady Osenfort.”
“Good day, Mr. Watson.”
The woman’s voice was still as indifferent as ever. She instructed her maid, who had her head lowered, to prepare tea, and then the host and guest took their seats on the sofa.
“Demon Vision!”
The only anomaly brought by the use of the arcane technique was a slight chill felt in the eyes. The field of view then became like a strange fisheye lens, its edges blurred but the center incredibly clear.
The originally normal world changed, with snowflakes floating around Haila Osenfort. Considering that [Demon Vision] was a reconnaissance arcane technique specifically designed to detect demons, this suggested the first clue:
“The evil is related to snow.”
“Mr. Watson, you’re back again.”
The woman said softly, recalling how she last warned Shard with letters in the air not to return.
“Oddly enough, I picked up another of Mr. Osenfort’s items.”
Shard said, and before the woman could ask, he added:
“Your husband asked me not to tell you about it, so I cannot disclose what it is.”
The woman fell silent for a moment:
“The wedding ring last time, it wasn’t me who told him, it was you who returned it.”
Shard merely smiled:
“I was just doing a good deed, hoping this hasn’t disrupted your marital relationship. Speaking of which, Mr. Osenfort is indeed very busy.”
“He and Prince William Anjou discovered a gold mine in the mountains.”
The woman recounted in her indifferent voice the recent sensational rumors in town. Of course, Shard already knew that the gold mine was a decoy for the silver mine offshore.
“That’s truly remarkable, madam. People in town admire your husband immensely.”
Just then, the maid returned with a squeaky cart, but Shard didn’t stop talking:
“Starting from scratch to restore family glory, and now the business just keeps growing. At the height of the Steam Industry, while such occurrences aren’t unheard of, during my travels across the Old Continent, people as impressive as your husband are indeed rare.”
The thin black veil revealed no smile from the woman at Shard’s praise, she simply stated:
“He always wins, in everything he does.”
Ston Osenfort had actually tasked Shard with finding three items, given Shard had beaten him three times at “Roder Card,” “horse racing,” and “dice gambling.”
“Luck is also a part of skill, and I truly envy such luck.”
Saying this, he took the teacup handed over by the maid, blinking again:
“Demon Vision.”
As Shard expected, the maid too had an anomaly. Under the effect of the arcane technique, her skin appeared with a bluish stone-like texture.