It's not exactly the same, but it felt vaguely similar. It can be an illusion, but it's just that similar.

...But why does it feel so dirty? He kept his mouth shut and examined the body a little more. It was a terrible tattered situation, but when he concentrated, he couldn't get any information at all.

"...There are traces of having learned standard martial arts."

The calluses on his hands and the developed muscles showed that he had learned a clean, well-established sword that knights would learn, not a shady, untidy sword in a back alley.

[Guardian spirit ??? says it would be a waste to kidnap a young noble.]

"What... It's not impossible to understand if politics or succession disputes are involved."

The question is who killed them? Was there a traitor inside? Seeing as there are no signs of proper resistance, it looks like they were ambushed or killed by a more powerful force.

'Nothing that can be used to infer identity... Of course not.'

Rustle.

Raven rummaged through the corpse, which he was reluctant to touch, without any hesitation, checked his clothes and belongings, and then sighed.

"I saw that there were no traces of the carriage wheels or horse hoof prints and that there were no traces other than footprints around the body... He guesses he needs to be a bit more vigilant."

This was also one of the feelings of discomfort he felt when he first discovered the child. Even at the place where the child was found, no traces could be found. Since the gate burst and she abandoned her child and ran away, she must have been using a horse or carriage at least at that time.

'It is virtually impossible to kidnap a child and come here without using any means of transportation.'

Moreover, even the streets that the 'kidnappers' may have used are clean and without any traces.

[Guardian spirit ??? asks if it would be better to leave it behind to be on guard.]

"...Rather than feeling uncomfortable about leaving it out of sight, it's easier to keep it out of sight."

Raven thought about that and raised the corners of his mouth.

"And in order to find out his intentions, it's easier to lead him into a trap, right?"

[Guardian spirit ??? frowns.]

"The best I can do is die."

Not dying is very convenient in times like this. Since you have nothing to lose, you can feel free to fall into the trap.

Even if he got caught and tied up by chance, it would somehow be resolved if he voluntarily died a few times.

Because it is horrifying to even breathe air with a terrible monster that cannot die, the person who captured it may first hang stones on this body and throw it into the sea, under a cliff, or into a furnace, and a worse death may appear.

In any case, since it is a body that must move in order to complete the contract of immortality, it will not just ignore death. If you use it, it won't be a problem to escape.

"...The kid will be waiting. You might have called me before."

Let's go back. After looking up at the dark night sky for a moment, Raven turned his back without any hesitation.

*****

"Shh—."

As Raven walked back to the inn, Deceiver sat on a tree and watched. Unlike usual, he was not alone. A crow was held tightly in his hands.

"It's a good idea to break the habit of stalking others."

Covering the black bird's eyes and ears, he whispered words that no one could reach, and watched in silence until Raven returned the way she came after completing his investigation. He then raised the corner of his mouth as if out of sight.

"I heard you're sensitive as expected."

I guess it became more like that because of me.

When he think about it that way, it's really nice to see that.

The laughter, which was full of mockery and playfulness, was mixed with strange emotions.

"I guess it's truly teacher-like to try to keep what you've already promised, even if you think it's a trap."

I expected it. Because the opponent is the opponent and the situation is the situation. He also induced it because he knew this from the beginning.

In any other situation, it would have been frustrating, but this time, since he was the one receiving the benefit, the Deceiver was overjoyed and tilted his head.

"Rather than that, it's a 'trap'..."

Is it a trap? He doesn't really think it's a trap, but... No, he can't give a definite answer because he don't know what the teacher's standards are. If he sees it as a trap, it will become a trap. There is a high possibility that he will perceive it as a trap. But.

'... ... Still, the 10 years without my father were boring.'

Still, he has no intention of changing his mind. Rather, considering that he disappeared for 10 years without saying a word, isn't this kind of prank a good thing?

'There is a reason for his disappearance, though.'

then.

He was about to leave with a grin, but stopped for a moment and glanced down at the fragment spirit he had been keeping locked away. ... ... The expression disappeared from his face, as if he had never laughed before.

'Should I kill him?'

He is someone he doesn't like in many ways, including the fact that he clings to his father. But...if Dan dies, it is obvious that the first person to be suspected will be 'Didi', so after a short period of thought, he throws the fragmented spirit into the air.

The crow, struggling with the sudden return of its senses, belatedly regained its balance and looked back to find its captor, but the unknown being that had always acted as it pleased had already disappeared.

******

Raven returned to the inn without incident and opened the door... As he was about to go, he stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of the interior visible through the window.

"ah... ."

I don't know if it was the inn lady's extra foolishness or if he had paid for it, but he saw Dan sitting at a table near the door, mechanically scooping soup into his mouth and glaring at the entrance, but that wasn't why he stopped.

'...A person who can't even remember a day.'

Because the steaming soup on an empty table caught his attention. Raven looked at the soup and then at the back of the woman who was working while waiting for the customer who had gone for a walk without knowing anything to return.

And as he impulsively tried to turn around, his eyes met Dan's eyes through the window.

"..."

"..."

Although it disappeared at some point after being sent away for a conversation with the guardian spirit, it was immediately followed by fierce gaze, as if there was something so unsettling about the subject that had been monitored by a fragment spirit all along. Pudduck—the sound of a black bird flapping its wings in the night irritated his eardrums.

If it sounds like you are shackling yourself and will follow me wherever you go, is it because of how you feel?

Raven, who had been having a snowball fight with Dan for a while, let out a light sigh.

'Yes, all you have to do is not eat.'

Now he has no intention of pushing food into his stomach, which has been resting peacefully for about 10 years without much movement. Isn't that too harsh on the stomach?

'... ... Anyway, one day... No, not even a day. After a while, he will forget why he prepared soup for an empty seat.'

There is no need to worry, as you will end up just cleaning it up with a little worry, saying it seems like you are forgetful.

He looked up and found the window of the rented room among the many windows. He kicked off the ground, jumped up, kicked the tree once, launched himself again, and landed silently on the open window frame.

──And then he immediately turned around and threw the dagger towards the back.

Sigh!

"... ... !"

The dagger flew in an instant, grazed the side of the crow, pierced the snake behind it, and became lodged in the tree.

Just by looking at it, it looks like it was targeting a crow. Raven giggled at the snake, which was hanging limply, and at the crow, who looked at me in confusion.

"This is what happens when you put your heart on the line like that."

If the fragment spirit dies, the spirit owner also dies. That's why most spirit fragment owners always bring their fragment souls nearby unless it is necessary.

When he was living normally, there would have been no need for a crow spirit, and when he was captured by a slaver, he had to hide it, so he understood that you are not used to having a crow fragment by your side, but it is surprising that you have survived until now.

"You probably don't know that a fragmented spirit that is caught off guard is no different from the animal itself..."

It seemed like a habit he had left over from when he was teaching, and he mumbled without thinking until it suddenly became bothersome and he shut himself up. The smile disappeared from his face as the tide went out. As he said, Dan would never know. He's not a disciple or anything, so there's no need to nag.

"...tomorrow morning... No, I'm not going anywhere until lunch, so you can rest for now."

You've already overdone it.

The crow glances in this direction, perhaps because the direction of the words has suddenly changed, or perhaps because it is trying to determine the truth of the remark thrown in as a favor. Whether or not she felt the gaze, Raven ignored it and turned around.

He wanted to close the window, but Didi might call from the next room, so he left it open and threw himself on the bed.

He was a little cold.

*******

The presidents of the four associations have become more active in their search for mentors.

Even though he had become the center of strange rumors by providing a windowless room and a door with a food outlet, he did not care and persevered and made a request to the two intelligence organizations that divide the continent.

What can he do as the head of an intelligence organization when they are urging him to find 'someone' by consolidating the requests that were originally placed separately and adding more money to them?

"Please add more manpower."

"Even so, there is a shortage of people. Where else to pull it... ."

"Please keep other things to a minimum for the time being. "Everything else focuses on this."

Stave, the general manager in charge of the center of the Esperanes intelligence organization, spoke firmly.

"This is a request made by the presidents of the association."

It is not important to ask questions such as why they are looking for the target or, if it is for a bad reason, why they are trying to set up a nice room and lock them up instead of killing them or putting them in prison.

Even the leaders of a single country are respected, and not just one, but all of them at the top of each field are gathered together to submit requests and urge them to do so.

"Their requests are my top priority."

The Esperanes Intelligence Organization is well-versed in history and specializes in understanding the current situation, so it was weak in seeking out people outside of the political field, but the client was too much of a client to give up for just that reason.

After giving orders and biting people, Stave lowered his head with a tired face. Through the silver-purple hair that had fallen loosely on one side and hung down like a curtain, a document containing the impressions and appearance of the person they were looking for was visible.

'I must find him.'

His nickname is 'Raven.' His gender is male.

In addition to long black hair that reaches above his waist, he has eyes that alternate between gray and green, and wears a choker with a red jewel around his neck.

'If it's gray, it's gray, and if it's green, it's green. I don't know what going back and forth between gray and green means...'

Still, it is said that she is so good-looking that she sometimes uses the beauty world, so it seems that the search will not be completely difficult. Of course, it is unlikely that people who can clutter up the entire continent if they put their minds to it, have not been able to find him and have put in the request for no reason. We have to find him somehow.

'At least you shouldn't let others find it.'

Especially if the opponent is Aurel, an intelligence organization that has grown in size to the point where it threatens this side.

The head of a person who is tired but cannot rest is busy. With the main thing that had kept me busy at the center of his thoughts, he slowly closed and opened his eyes.

'I heard that they rejected this request, but... .'

They are actually looking for someone named 'Raven'.

The subject who gave up this great opportunity and is looking for a target must have some kind of plan.

I've already heard and know the reason he gave for refusing, but it can't be sincere. Stave was sure.

So, now is the time to find out his intentions.

'I should also pay attention to Aurel's movements.'

Even for his position.

Even so, there are voices from the higher-ups questioning whether it is right for their influence to be being eroded by a new intelligence organization from the slums.

Not long ago, there was news that they had lost another source of funding, so they cannot afford to lose this position just yet.

'I hope something is caught.'

Purple eyes glowed dimly.

******

[I refuse.]

This was the answer given by Eduardo, the head of Aurel, an intelligence organization that started out in the slums and has grown rapidly over the past 10 years to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Esperanes intelligence organization.

[...The reason is?]

[Aurel must minimize his failures in order to increase his credibility. All people see is the results and success rate. No one cares about the circumstances surrounding each failed mission. That's how carefully I have to choose his requests.] 

In that sense, he tilted his head leisurely.

[It's something that the association presidents haven't been able to find for 10 years and is easily forgotten... It's interesting, but there's a high chance of failure. Isn't that true, seeing as there have been no results so far even though you have already put in a request for a long time?]

They do not accept withdrawals from individually submitted requests. He will refuse requests after this one. At Eduardo's resolute attitude, 'Raven's' second disciple Liv frowned and made a sharp voice.

[Ha, how is this any different from a dog that runs away without its tail?] 

[President of the Fragment Spirit Association, I know that you lost your fragment spirit. Since Death is imminent, his personality seems to have become impatient... .]

[what?! you... !]

[Still, it would be better to listen to what people say until the end. From now on, Aurel will pursue 'Raven' on his own. This is not done on request, but purely for information collection.]

[......!]

Isn't it really interesting and reprehensible that this being that he couldn't figure out even though it has such striking features? Eduardo added, gently raising the corners of his mouth towards those with exclamation marks above their heads and saying as if they were nailing it.

[If I discover his whereabouts in the process, I will inform you then. We know very well how selfish this is, so let's not say nonsense like leaving a request.]

It means to simply inform you without any compensation.

This is an action that the presidents of the association will not lose at all. Therefore, three of the four agreed without saying anything and ended the communication, and the remaining one, who was quite dissatisfied with Edardo's attitude, had no choice but to grit his teeth and retreat, knowing that he was ultimately the one in a hurry.

Of course, he did not meekly step down.

[You'd better be careful about your speech habits. If you behave carelessly like that on a thousand things, you never know when you might fall into the abyss.]

[It is a warning to those who come from the bottom that they will 'fall'... Okay, let's keep that in mind for now.]

Eduardo, who lightly ignored the harsh warning, spoke to his younger brothers as soon as he cut off communication with them.

"You've probably heard everything, so there's no need for an explanation."

"..."

"Find it."

Golden eyes flashed like a beast.

"Find him and erase the traces."