"Are there really such strong monsters here?"
Diana looked at the devastated scene around her, her mouth dry.
"No, these are not magical beasts."
"This is probably what I'm looking for."
"I have a rough estimate of the strength limit of the monsters and mages in the back mountains."
"But this clearly exceeds that estimate."
Manchester opened a small box of cigars and smoked one on the spot.
But she only took a couple of puffs before quickly extinguishing it on the ground.
"It's like a devil..."
Diana looked at the body and head that had been bitten in half, her stomach churning, the bitter taste rising to her mouth.
The brutal scene, like a manifestation of violence, had huge bite marks on the body, but they weren't swallowed, instead, they were crushed and left on the ground.
"Now there are nearly double-digit deaths among the contestants."
"Many civilian participants have already become restless, which is also bad for the reputations of our two noble families."
"I urge you to capture this monster as soon as possible."
Diana forced herself to remain calm and said to Manchester.
"Reputation?"
"Only your family's reputation will suffer, right? After all, this competition was proposed by your family."
Manchester turned her head to look at Diana. Underneath her fully armored black armor, there was a faint sound of anger stirring.
"I told you, this is no longer about the monster."
"Take a closer look at the bodies here, there are three in total."
"And we followed three different magical fluctuations."
"The three girls must have used magic to resist in their moment of desperation."
"But we didn't sense any other magical fluctuations. Where is the monster? Did the monster not use magic when attacking them?"
"What kind of monster can kill three mages without using magic?"
Manchester looked at Diana disdainfully, her eyes showing a hint of panic. She found it interesting to see this little girl pretending to be calm and thinking of a plan.
"Let's go our separate ways here, Galleher. I have found the clues I was looking for."
"Now I need to deal with this."
Manchester walked past Diana, who was trying to stop her, but stopped reluctantly by Scarlett.
She came to Diana, standing like a wall in front of her.
Every step she took, her armor made a faint sound like a nightmare's wind chimes, disturbing and sleepless.
"As for you, struggle all you want."
"Don't think that the Chief will compliment you a few times before the competition and you won't know which way is north anymore."
"In my eyes, you will always be Turing's little follower."
Manchester left a harsh remark, bypassed the dazed Diana, and disappeared into the dense forest shrouded in morning mist.
——————————————————————————
"Mr. Merka, would you be willing to help me kill Oedipus?"
"Not defeat, but kill."
"No matter what methods, no matter what means."
"I only seek results."
The shadow and Merka ran through the grove of cedar trees bathed in the morning sun. The shadow's words almost caused Merka to trip and knock out his teeth.
"You know Turing is my girlfriend, right?"
"Why are you asking me this? Do you think I would kill my girlfriend's mother for you?"
The shadow seemed to laugh, its laugh light like that of a girl, but with the vitality of a young boy.
"You don't need to probe me with words anymore."
"As far as mind reading goes, my power is far beyond what you can imagine."
"With a single burst of thought, I can read an entire person's life."
"Just like you."
"From Red Port, to Erisburg."
"From the orphanage, to Maria, and now Turing."
"All of your little secrets, though they may be shocking, are not particularly special in the grand history of Acadia."
"I have practiced medicine for many years, and even the wisest sage must show me the utmost respect."
"Playing clever with a doctor will bring great harm."
Merka bit his lip, feeling for the first time a physical fear of another person, even more pale than in the presence of Oedipus.
"If you're so capable... why do you need me?"
"Even if you can't handle Oedipus alone, there's no need to ask for my help."
Merka asked.
"I chose both of you."
"You are secondary."
Merka was at a loss for words... and was about to ask who the other person was, but had a vague sense in his heart.
"You..."
"We've arrived, Mr. Merka."
Merka followed behind the shadow, but saw it suddenly stop in front of a large tree.
Looking around, Merka didn't see anything suspicious. Just as he was bewildered, he saw the shadow point indifferently at the top.
Looking up at the sky, a large treehouse was built between several trees. Although it was simple, its dilapidated structure gave a sense of reverence, as if facing a stubborn resistance against fate like a Curseborn.
The sunlight shone into the treehouse, revealing a faint light.
The vague silhouette implied the presence of someone inside.
"...What do you plan to do?"
The shadow calmly looked at Merka, its tone as if smiling like a human.
"This treehouse is too well-hidden."
"Mulan wouldn't leave behind a strong force to guard it."
"I want a quick and decisive victory."
Merka looked at the shadow, and it nodded in appreciation.
Reciting an incantation, Merka's surging magical power swept through, and in an instant, everything and everyone in the treehouse came into view.
Two people sat in front of dozens of surveillance screens, behind them were countless guns, syringes, grenades, smoke bombs, and even some foreign gadgets that Merka couldn't recognize.
The two of them seemed to be startled by Merka's magical power, and in Merka's eyes, one person even fell off a chair.
"That's great..."
"Now we've really hit three birds with one stone."
Merka murmured.
