Chapter 183

Chapter 183

As Seol settled into a sofa opposite Seras, their conversation commenced.

"To think I’d unintentionally invite someone so renowned in this area into my humble manor. It makes me quite nervous."

“You don’t need to concern yourself so much. I’m also at fault for coming here unannounced.”

“Even so, a guest is a guest.”

Flap flap...

Seol had to focus to not lose track of the conversation as he was simultaneously controlling nearly 10 crows to search through the Gatiff manor.

Meooow...

Seol glanced at the cats in the reception room, basking in the sunlight as they stretched.

There were a little over five of them, clearly Seras's pets.

Seras, seeing Seol’s gaze, quickly added on.

“Are you uncomfortable around them?”

“Huh?”

“They are my beloved pets.”

“Ah, I’m fine with them.”

"Still, I apologize. Some people do feel uneasy around them on their first visit.”

Seol took his time, observing each of the colorful cats.

‘...They also faintly have that same smell. Could it be because of her?’

Seol quickly paid them no mind.

After all, he didn’t come here for the cats.

Flap flap...

Seol's crows used their beaks and talons to go through various doors in the manor. As they continued to spread out, he mentally mapped the information they gathered.

- Kuku... You seem to be focused on things other than your conversation with her.

‘Why don’t you keep your mouth shut if you know?’

- I doubt she could ever imagine you doing something like this behind her back.

As Ur noted, Seras Gatiff appeared oblivious to the situation, simply continuing to pet her cat.

Meow...

"Okay, okay..." Seras said to her cats before turning to Seol. "Oh! By the way, what was the reason for the commotion earlier?"

Essentially, she was asking Seol why he was causing such a mess in front of her manor.

As it was customary for a guest to properly state the reason for their visit, Seol told her the truth.

“Did someone named ‘Jo Gyeongtaek’ visit this manor yesterday?”

“Jo Gyeongtaek...”

Seol knew that Gyeongtaek actively used his real name instead of his nickname.

In fact, quite a number of people operated under their real names instead, as their nicknames were rather odd.

"Yes, he did," answered Seras. "I invited him to a meal to thank him for successfully completing a request I made of him before."

“...And?”

Flap flap...

There was no way Seras would tell Seol the truth. As such, he focused more on exploring the manor with his crows to find traces of Gyeongtaek himself.

Flutter...

Seol then received a reaction from a crow he sent to the annex, not the main building.

‘...So it’s in that direction.’

As Seol couldn’t find anything suspicious in the main building, he made all of the crows head toward the annex.

Flap flap...

As Seol’s crows began darting through the garden, the gardener, noticing them, tilted his head in confusion.

"Why are there so many crows...?"

Meanwhile, Seras, unaware of the crows, continued her conversation with Seol.

"After our meal, he stayed for a while before leaving in the evening. I’ve prepared a guest room and a bed for him just in case, but he refused."

“I see, but...”

Seol looked directly into her eyes.

"I'm also aware that it wasn't just him who was invited."

“......”

Seras went silent for a second before responding.

"Ah... you're referring to his party members, I see. Yes, I do remember inviting them for meals multiple times before, as well. They've also complimented my refreshments. It actually made me so happy that I've invited them multiple times since then."

She then glanced at the table.

The only cookies that had been eaten so far were the ones she herself had eaten.

“Are you... not going to try my snacks?”

“I don’t enjoy snacks, so no.”

“But...”

“I am not here as a guest today.”

“......”

At first glance, it might seem like Seol was threatening her.

However, considering that people went missing here, it would have been even more unusual if Seol didn’t take any action.

Seras let out a long sigh.

“Haaah... I heard you have a connection to Earl Brispin, is that correct?”

“It is.”

Seol wondered why she had suddenly asked that.

“I, too, frequently confer with Earl Brispin. I should mention that it is quite troublesome if you suddenly visit my manor without any prior word for personal business.”

"...Now that I think about it, you’re right."

Pretending to agree, Seol subtly glanced at the back of her hand.

- They have a black rose tattoo on the back of their hand. It was impossible to tell their gender through their voice, and they weren’t too big either. They smelled like medicine. I remember all of those perfectly. I have also left that person’s scent in this letter.

‘She doesn’t have the rose tattoo.’

So, does that mean Seras Gatiff wasn't the one who pushed Malacus into hell?

Fft!

Fwooosh...

Despite its explosiveness, the only sound it made was a small rustle that a gentle breeze would make.

Seol quickly headed to the annex, avoiding the guards.

‘Is it normally unused?’

Seol, sensing no presence within, speculated that it was likely a guest room.

Fwoosh...

The way the crows went in was too small for Seol to fit through.

As such, he chose a window that would likely attract the least attention and broke it to enter.

Crack...

Seol did his best to make little to no sound.

Fwip!

Fwooosh!

After entering the annex, Seol quickly ran to the door his crows spotted earlier.

An ominous door stood in the way to the basement area.

Not only did it bear an eerie pattern, but it also seemed as if forcing it open would produce a loud noise.

‘...What should I do about this lock?’

- Fufufu... watch carefully.

Ur summoned himself from the Shadow Space and placed his hand on the door.

“Let me show my true worth.”

[Ur, the Sealed’s Wizardry activates.]

[Ur, the Sealed, deciphers the unidentified spell.]

[Spell deciphering in progress.]

[The spell has been successfully deciphered.]

[Ur, the Sealed, confirms the spell 'Magic Circle: Housekeeping Dog'.]

[Ur, the Sealed, confirms the spell 'Magic Circle: Dramatic'.]

......

- Woah... he looks like an expert lol!

- Let’s gooooo

- Dababy: Let’s gooooooo

- So what is Wizardry exactly?

- I don’t... know? I think only Ur knows.

"Hm... I thought it was rather weak, but... it's slightly better than I anticipated. Still, it's so dull it makes me want to yawn. They likely placed their faith in these spells rather than the guards. After all, this is something that would take weaklings days to dispel, but..."

Ur began to laugh.

[Devour Magic activates.]

Gulp...

[Ur, the Sealed, is consuming Magic Circle: Housekeeping Dog.]

[Ur, the Sealed, is consuming Magic Circle: Dramatic.]

As Ur's Adam's apple moved up and down, the magic circles on the door slowly began to fade away.

- Leave magic circles to me! Spirit man!

- He said they were pretty good = I’m better than a pretty good guy, so praise me.

“For me, it only takes seconds.”

After saying that, Ur took subtle glances at Seol.

It was clear he was desperate for something.

Seol, catching on, said a word.

“...Incredible.”

"Kuhuhu... don't praise me too much. It’s embarrassing as a wizard to be praised for something as minuscule as this.”

“Got it.”

“......”

“What?”

“It’s nothing.”

- That’s it?

- Praise me more!

- He doesn’t give empty praises, though!

- At least Snowman was nice enough to praise him in the first place!

In truth, Seol was completely in awe of Ur’s skill.

Though Jamad and the Twin Knights were clearly helpful, Seol has had to handle everything magic-related by himself until now.

‘He... definitely will be a huge help.’

Though Seol had yet to test Ur out in combat, his knowledge and skills were more than enough already.

“Then...”

Creaaaak...

As Seol opened the door, complete darkness welcomed him, accompanied by messages signaling that the circumstances had changed.

[You have received additional information on Hidden Adventure 'Stockholm Syndrome'.]

[The conditions for the Sudden Adventure have been met.]

[Sudden Adventure ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ is now active.]

[This Adventure is very dangerous.]

[Because this Adventure is a Linked Adventure, you cannot choose your next Adventure.]

[You have skipped your Rest.]

[You begin your next Adventure.]

......

Seol’s eyes quickly adapted to the darkness.