TNZKMA 95

95 Saine

 

The first Reincarnator was found in a fountain. The second person was in a vacant lot on the outskirts of town. When the third was spotted by a woodcutter at the entrance to the forest, the Officials and Priests sensed an ominous atmosphere.

[Is it suicide?]

[That’s what it looks at first but…… it’s not.]

It was just before noon when Olphynn visited the Guards Guild unexpectedly. It was a topic that he doesn’t want to be heard so Saine went home. At this time, he would probably be out at the market.

He sits face to face with Olphynn in an empty house. In this area where single people live, there is no sound day or night. Olphynn’s quiet voice echoed in the room lit only by candlelight.

[The first and second people had been reincarnated for less than three days. That’s why it was  thought they were pessimistic and took their lives. Things like that had happened many times before. However, the third person was different. 10 years had passed since she reincarnated. She had no problem with her husband and she also had 4 children. Suddenly, she disappeared and was found in the forest.] 

According to Olphynn, the third Reincarnator was hanging from a tree. She was clearly devoured.

[The husband confirmed that she was the right person from the few remaining clothes and the finger that had fallen down. On her finger was a ring that her husband had given her. It was specially made by a craftsman, and of course it was a one-of-a-kind item.]

He had a ring made for the Reincarnator and gave it to her. He must have treasured her. Imagining that husband’s state of mind after seeing his Reincarnator’s miserable remains, he felt suffocated. If it was him, just thinking about it almost drove him mad. 

[Do you think it was the work of a monster?]

[Not only that…… if crime could be done easily in the town then it could be a person……]

Hearing that, Saine swallowed his next words. 

It is a serious crime for anyone other than the husband to touch the Reincarnator. Moreover, if it turns out to be a murder, the consequences will not only be felt by the person concerned, but also by their parents and siblings. Upon knowing that, no one would be foolish enough to lay hands on three reincarnated people.

[The first person had no obvious injuries and was believed to have drowned. The second person had a cut wound. From the looks of it, it was determined that it was a knife wound, but the officials were the ones who made that decision…… As for the truth, I don’t know.]

Olphynn let out a heavy sigh, and Saine followed suit.  At the very least, he regrets not showing the second Reincarnator to a guard.

The cut from the second Reincarnator was said to be on her abdomen. At her side was a rusty sword. The official who examined her body concluded that she was saddened by her reincarnation and took her own life by hugging the sword and hurting herself. An amateur might think so, a guard would have viewed it differently.

First of all, even if it wasn’t for a rusty sword, it would be difficult to die in that way. It’s impossible to hug the sword and fatally injure yourself. Even more so with a Reincarnator’s strength.

Saine lives in close proximity with a Reincarnator so he knows it well. Reincarnators are weak. Hugging a sword with that strength, she’d only get wounded on the shoulder, chest, and arms.  If it wasn’t a swift, slashing motion, the sword being pressed against her would only cause wounds of that degree. With such wounds, there was no way to die. Moreover, if the sword was rusty, even if wounds did occur, she would get nothing more than scratches.

There’s a blade that isn’t rusty. Attempting suicide, she can cut her neck or wrist. She can die with that. But a weak Reincarnator won’t die  just by hugging it. He can affirm it.

[Either someone cut her, or……]

Saine beats around the bush. If the location is the outskirt of towns, it will be hard to get found. Anyone could make a move. Yes, anyone. 

[Or a monster…… ]

Olphynn mutters, taking over Saine’s words. The candle light on the desk flickered.

Two hundred years ago, this town was attacked by monsters. As a result, the houses in the vacant land surrounding the town were lost. To be precise, the people who lived in those houses were killed.

A Reincarnator left the town on her own, was attacked, and killed by a monster.  If that was the second Reincarnator’s situation then it’s still acceptable. It’s a problem that there are monsters that can kill people in a vacant lot just outside of town, but it’s still better.

But inevitably, the worst thing comes to Saine’s mind. 

The first Reincarnator, who was pessimistic about reincarnation, might be contemplating suicide. But it could be different. Yes, that’s what the third Reincarnator had said.

With no issues with the husband and no reason to die, the third Reincarnator. If, by chance, they were abducted from the town…

[What’s going on with the town’s barrier?[

[It’s full of defects. The power of a Priest is too weak. I can’t do anything by myself.]

Olphynn spat out with a hurt look in his eyes. Saine can only imagine just how much power the Priests have. Indeed, it would be difficult for Olphynn alone to erect a barrier that can protect the entire town.  

[Were did the dead Reincarnators live?]

[South Section and West Section.]

It doesn’t appear in the Eastern Section where Saine lives, as well as the Northern Section. No wonder he doesn’t know about it.

Guards don’t simply gather at the guild and wait for work to come. They always gather information. How the monsters in the forest and mountain move, which places to avoid. And, whether new dangerous monsters are born. The Guards Guild is also a place to exchange information about monsters.

There is one Guards Guild in each Section. Saine, who lives in the Eastern Section goes in and out of the Guards Guild in the Eastern Section. He doesn’t go to the Western Section. This is a tacit understanding.

There are some rules for guards. One of them is not to invade their territory. Saine who lives in the Eastern Section is not allowed to work at the Guards Guild in the Western section.

Similarly, the Guards Guild from the Eastern Section won’t accept tasks of leaving town and crossing the forest from the Western Section. That’s because it’s a job undertaken by the Guards Guild in the Western Section.

Even if the client lives in the Eastern Section, if he leaves town in the Western Section, he will have to bring his work to the Guards Guild in that Section.

The suspicious deaths of Reincarnators occurred in the Southern and Western Sections. The Guards Guilds in both of those sections may have information about it even if the Priests were hiding it. But Saine in the Eastern Section has never heard about it.

[What do the Priests plan to do?]

[The same as usual. They will hide it without letting the public know.]

Olphynn laughs in derision.

[Whether it’s a monster or a human, I hope that’s the end of it…]

The number of victims ranges from one to three. Clearly, two of them have been killed by someone else. It might be the work of different individuals, but at least putting an end to the one responsible for one of the deaths should be enough. The priest, who decided to conceal rather than create a disturbance, may not be entirely wrong in his decision.

However……

[I want to think about the worst and do what I can now.]

Olphynn stared at Saine.

[Other than being reincarnated, the three of them have nothing in common. I don’t know if the second and third left town on their own, if they were lured out, or if they were kidnapped. So I don’t know what to be careful about. …Still, I think it’s better to tell them to be careful.]

Of course, Saine knows who he’s talking about. He smiles wryly and nods.

[Certainly, that one does some crazy things sometimes.]

He thinks about things that’s unthinkable to Saine and runs out all of a sudden. There were also a lot of times when he almost shouted ‘Let’s go there!’ That is also fun, but he(S) realized that his  personality could make him jump into danger.

Perhaps because Saine nodded, Olphynn finally relaxed.