NOVEL WEB Chapter 451.1: Countermeasures Meeting
A task force to resolve the 『Spirited Away』 incidents has just been set up in the building of the Divination and Mystic Arts Institute, which mainly researches mysterious phenomena in the Zebrudia Empire.
This group include a distinguished bunch of people, such as members of empire-run organizations such as the Knight Order in charge of maintaining public order and staff of the Divination and Mystic Arts Institute, as well as collaborators from private organizations with great influence within the Empire, such as the Explorer Association that cooperate with us, major trading companies, and media outlets, and except from one particular annoying person, we are likely close to the best who can be quickly assembled.
It illustrates the extent of the incident's impact.
The Imperial Capital is currently very lively due to the establishment of diplomatic relations with Yggdra. In this situation, the sudden occurrence of the Spirited Away incidents is something that needs to be resolved as soon as possible.
Just the disappearance of a person is a big problem, but recently, there have been many visitors to the Imperial Capital, including important people from other countries and envoys from Yggdra. They have guards with them, but if any of these people were to be Spirited Away, it could lead to a diplomatic issue.
I, Franz Argmann, commander of the Zeroth Knight Order, the Royal Guard Knight Order directly under the Emperor, glance over the report and frown.
"This is a serious situation. To think all came out with nothing." (Franz)
"It is like chasing a haze." (Sage)
Hearing what I said, Sage Clasta, a professor at Zebrudia Magic Academy who has been selected as a member of the task force, sighs.
After gathering people from all over the country and setting up a task force, I used all available personnel to try to resolve the case as quickly as possible.
We used every means at our disposal. We checked and verified each and every single one of the suddenly increasing rumors of people being Spirited Away, and we even used baits. In addition, we dispatched knights throughout the Imperial Capital to search for traces of the victims, even sending knights to the Abandoned Metropolitan Area, which had been half-abandoned until now. At times, we even entered buildings owned by civilians to conduct investigations.
But in the end, nothing came out of it. Not a single trace of the missing people was found, and all those sent out returned safely.
Despite this, the number of missing people continues to grow, and we cannot even pinpoint where the rumors started.
Just as "Professor Sage (Sage-kyoju)" said, there is a lack of response, exactly as if we were chasing a haze.
If this had been done by humans, it would have been the work of a powerful criminal organization. But it is clear that the chances of this being the case are slim to none.
There is no longer any organization in the Imperial Capital that can do such a thing. Even if there was one left, it is not realistic to think that they could make such a big move and leave no trace behind.
As far as we know, the majority of the victims of being Spirited Away are students of Zebrudia Magic Academy. Considering this, it is not hard to believe that this incident is the work of a Magi.
However, "Professor Sage (Sage-kyoju)" shrugs her shoulders and says.
"I searched around the academy, but there was no sign of any major Magic being used. In the first place, it would be impossible for an ordinary Magi to abduct such a large number of people in such a short time. If there is a possibility――" (Sage)
"So there could be such a possibility?" (Franz)
A Magi. It is certainly more likely than bandits kidnapping people under the cover of darkness. However, in response to my question, Sage sighs.
"If there is a possibility――It would be "Princess Serene (Serene-kojou)". She can use Teleportation Magic on her own, and as a high-ranking Spirit People, it wouldn't be surprising if she had her own unique magic formula." (Sage)
"Hh………… That's ridiculous." (Franz)
I say as if I am spitting out these words as the image of the beautiful Spirit People Queen comes to my mind.
The Queen of Yggdra and Princess of the World Tree, Serene Yggdra Frestel, is certainly ignorant of the human world's common sense, and is a fearsome Magi who has used Teleportation Magic to infiltrate the Imperial Capital, but she has no motive, and does not seem skilled enough to kidnap someone so cleanly.
"In the first place, "Princess Serene (Serene-kojou)" arrived quite some time after the Spirited Away began." (Franz)
"My apologies. That is right. In that case, I guess there is no other way but to consider it a paranormal phenomenon." (Sage)
The disappearances only came to light after "Princess Serene (Serene-kojou)" arrived in the Imperial Capital, but the investigations revealed that the Spirited Away had been occurring for quite some time. No one noticed it until very recently――And even now, reports of missing people continue to come in from citizens, but it will likely be some time before the full number of victims from this incident is known.
A staff member of the Divination and Mystic Arts Institute meets my gaze and says.
"There is no particular prophecy. In fact, one just came out recently, and not every event manifests as prophecies." (Divination and Mystic Arts Staff Member)
"There haven't been any noticeable changes in the surrounding Treasure Shrines. There has been a slight drop in their level, but that is likely the result of the revival of the World Tree. Although that is a headache in itself――" (Relics Research Staff Member)
A staff member from the Relics Research Institute testified while wiping the sweat from his brow. If the level had increased, that would be a different matter, but if it had decreased, it should be alright to consider it unrelated to this incident.
Nikolalf Smokey, the headmaster of Primus Magic Science Academy, which has the second highest number of missing people after Zebrudia Magic Academy, strokes his beard and says.
"I have been going through the books, but I haven't found anything similar. Kidnapping someone would be one thing, but making them forget they existed――Even my Potions cannot cause such a wide-ranging and clean perception inhibition. I would like to see who did it if possible." (Nikolalf)
"It is impossible even with Magic. There is no Magic as convenient as only concealing the existence of a missing person. Kuku…… That is, unless it is in 《Infinite Variety's (Senpen Banka)》 spellbook." (Sage)
As Sage lets out a chuckle, the female Magi standing behind her with a sullen expression――Lucia Roje opens her eyes wide.
"!? I didn't make it. There is no way I would make it, a Magic with such an unknown purpose." (Lucia)
A Level 6 Hunter and a Magi with the Alias of 《Avatar of Creation (Bansho Jizai)》. She is Sage Clasta's apprentice, and she is also the person Sage entrusted with investigating the recent incident, but most importantly, Lucia is 《Infinite Variety's (Senpen Banka)》 Party Member and his Imouto.
This time, I am trying to resolve the case without 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》. Considering the future repercussions, I would like to avoid using the power of someone close to 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》, but…… Zebrudia Magic Academy has suffered a large number of casualties, so it is only natural that Sage, one of the professors, would ask Lucia, an excellent Magi and her apprentice, to resolve the case.
We just have to not use 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》. If we can at least do that, then that man's peculiarity would fade away. Even if Lucia received advice from 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》, we can still talk our way out.
"Regarding this case, Lucia has a report to make. Lucia." (Sage)
"Yes. It is the rumors after all. I think the rumors are the key. As far as what I have been able to ascertain, those who have tried the rumor have disappeared, and those who have not tried remain. The reason the rumors haven't spread before is because――Those who didn't try it simply forgot that such rumors even existed. Just as we didn't notice people being Spirited Away, it had completely slipped away from their memory. Until recently that is." (Lucia)
I frown at the smooth report.
I have also received data on excellent Magi. Lucia Roje is undoubtedly first-class. Since she doesn't choose to burn everything to ashes as soon as something happens, she is safer than 《Abyssal Fire of Destruction (Shin En Kametsu)》, and since she doesn't start fights with nobles and cause trouble, she is more reliable than Spirit People Magi.
However, when it comes to investigating these types of cases, her brother, 《Infinite Variety (Senpen Banka)》, is undoubtedly better. Lucia's report is a bit disappointing. I know that ability and the cruelty of one's words and actions are not necessarily proportional, but――If it had been her brother, he would have said something far more fatal, something that would have upset my stomach.
Lucia *tonton* taps her staff on the floor and continues.
"So I planted markers on the students of Zebrudia Magic Academy." (Lucia)
"Marker, you say?" (Franz)
In front of me, whose eyes widened at the unexpected words, a black beam of light the size of 100 Gils shoots out from Lucia's staff. Lucia says with a serious expression.
"This is, an original Exploration Magic spell I created because our Leader would often disappear while exploring a Treasure Shrine. Magic Marker――It can detect the location of objects with markers planted on them with high accuracy. To put it simply…… If something disappears, I will know." (Lucia)
Original Magic. It is a useful Magic. There are Relics that can do similar things, but Relics are limited, and if they can be replaced with Magic, there is nothing better than using it. The commander of the Third Knight Order, who is in charge of maintaining public order within the Imperial Capital, frowns at what she said.
"In other words…… You used civilians as bait?" (Third Knight Order Commander)
"I didn't use them as bait. I just planted a marker. It is to find out what happened the moment someone disappeared." (Lucia)
Certainly, if she were to have citizens test the rumors, it would be a different story, but she is barely not breaking the law by simply planting markers.
However, this is a move the Knight Orders cannot make. We are currently in an emergency situation. That is not a bad move. My opinion of Lucia rises.
At least she is much better than her brother.
The Commander of the Third Knight Order looks like he wants to say something, but I stop him with a glance and urge Lucia to continue.
"For the time being, I planted markers on 100 people and observed how they reacted, and 3 of them stopped responding. They were all from inside Zebrudia Magic Academy." (Lucia)
"Inside the academy, you say?" (Franz)
An Original Magic created by a skilled Magi. A technique that would be impossible for the Knight Order to use due to our position.
In the noisy room, Lucia continues her report calmly.
"They suddenly disappeared. They weren't kidnapped or killed. But I couldn't trace them back. They disappeared inside one of the old classrooms in the Research Tower D of the Magic Science Academy――The Classroom 66. This room, which is currently used as a storage room, has――One rumor about it." (Lucia)
"The 『Haunted classroom that cannot be opened』, huh?" (Sage)
Says Sage Clasta with a frown.
All the various rumors that have been circulating recently have been collected, regardless of whether they are true or false.
The 『Haunted classroom that cannot be opened 』 is one of several rumors currently circulating within Zebrudia Magic Academy.
It is said that at the prosperous and historic Zebrudia Magic Academy, there is a secret classroom where the ghost of a once-outstanding and talented student who was not recognized by the professors and died of illness in despair, quietly teaches the essence of Magic to students.
Although it is not locked, the door to the classroom for some reason does not open, and only selected students are able to enter. It is said that the student who died of illness secretly teaches them forbidden techniques that the student devised during their lifetime and that weren't left behind in any books.
Magic is something that those who are not Magi can never understand. If we look into history, there are dozens of Magi who have created unforgivable Magic and become the enemy of the world. In terms of the credibility of a simple rumor, the rumor sounds like it could actually be true.
However, Sage shrugs her shoulders and declares this.
"That is a ridiculous rumor. To begin with, as Lucia said, classroom 66 is being used as a storeroom. In other words, it is not like the door will not open. It is just that it is usually locked for security reasons." (Sage)
"………… Is there something dangerous in there?" (Franz)
"There is no way dangerous materials would be stored in a former classroom. Classroom 66 is not a storage facility for valuable catalysts or dangerous tools. It is just a storeroom where we temporarily store items that we no longer use." (Sage)
That is a very reasonable point.
"Professor Sage's (Sage-kyoju)" expression doesn't suggest that she is lying. And just like that, she continues calmly.
"Moreover, Zebrudia Magic Academy has always been one of the top schools in the Imperial Capital. Its faculty and students are all elites, and just to be sure, I looked into it, but there have never been any cases of a student dying of illness in despair because their talents were not recognized. In other words, the rumor is just a rumor. Moreover………… It has been a while since I became a professor, but I have never heard such rumors before. Until recently, that is." (Sage)
"It is that pattern again. What is really going on?" (Franz)
I cannot help but click my tongue.
Spirited Away rumors, like this one, are often inconsistent.
Upon investigation, the rumor about the boutique where customers disappear when they go in is just an ordinary store with nothing to be found, and the place that is said to be a maze-like alley where Monsters roam is just a narrow alley where it is impossible to get lost even after a short check. The reservoir, which is rumored to be bottomless, is only deep enough to an adult knee, and the Devil's Great Mirror, which is rumored to swallow you if you look into it at exactly 4:44, is a recently manufactured industrial product.
Normally, I would just snicker and leave it at that, thinking that it is foolish to believe such things and try them out.
However, these rumors, combined with the actual occurrence of being Spirited Away, are beginning to frighten good citizens. Since the topic of Yggdra is still the main focus, there is no panic yet, but if people keep being Spirited Away, the Imperial Capital would soon be engulfed in great chaos.
Lucia continues.
"I borrowed the keys and some people to search the classroom, but we couldn't find the students who were supposed to have disappeared. In fact, there was no sign that they had even entered the room――This is truly a case of being 『Spirited Away』." (Lucia)
"Keys? Was the door locked? Didn't the students disappear into that room?" (Franz)
"That's right. In other words, although it is unclear what method those three students used, they managed to enter the room without a key." (Lucia)
Says Lucia with a cold look in her eyes. The room falls silent. I couldn't understand it. All I can figure out is that something unusual is happening.
Something cold runs down my spine.
It is a different type from the prophecy incident, which involved a terrifying curse, this is a quiet threat――.
Thanks for reading! A new chapter is uuuup! I am a "little" late because I was procrastinating, but yeah finally found some resolve to translate the chapter now. Procrastination, how devious… Once you fall in, it is so hard escape… Seems like Tsukikage-sensei is working on the manuscript of Volume 13 and the 2nd season of Strange Grief (which is coming out in October), so that is why there isn't a lot of chapter coming out. I'll post the next part Saturday or Sunday, so sit tight and wait to check how this meeting will end.