There was something inside of her, she could feel it. What's worse, she couldn't tell what it was. Not only that but Yuki's paranoia trait. No! Her Deathmark to be specific had warped her mind and spirit completely. It was during her phone call with her parents that she realized her curse had warped her paranoia trait into something worse: severe hallucination.
The weight of it all pressed against her thoughts, gnawing at her sanity. She grew desperate to cast it away before it evolved even further. She knew It was only a matter of time before it swallowed her whole and drove her to murder someone she cared about, or worse.
Yuki made her way to the dining hall and it was exactly what she expected. A long, polished table stretched across the center, surrounded by Ten high-backed chairs that looked like they belonged in some kind of royal court.
Pancakes, eggs, and tea were already served. Additionally, the butler came with some caviar and poured some on her plate. The food served looked delicious. It was better than anything she had ever tasted in her life. Her eyes gleamed in joy as she shoved the food down her throat.
The Sorcerer King sat opposite to her, displeasure written across his face. While Sasaki Shin and Sayuri Kanzaki sat to her left, eating away at their pancakes. When the last bite was gone, Sorcerer King Daigo set his knife and fork down with a quiet clink.
"Let me get straight to the point," Sorcerer King Daigo said.
Yuki's gaze lifted, confusion pinching her face.
Huh…? Wait, is he talking to me?
Sorcerer King Daigo snapped his fingers twice. The butler stepped forward, slid a cigar between his lips, and struck the lighter. He then drew in a deep breath, and released a coil of smoke.
"You will lead the investigation to restore my family's name. Offer your gratitude to Death, for it was he who spoke in your favor."
Yuki covered her mouth to hide her grin.
Is Sasaki actually helping me ? Guess I don't need to waste my breath convincing the Sorcerer King to let me investigate the disappearances happening here. Yuki thought.
Yuki wiped her mouth and said,
"Of course, I'd be honored to help. In any case, I'm also trying to find clarity on these disappearances myself…but for a different reason."
The Sorcerer King drew from his cigar, then blew a thick cloud of smoke across the table.
"And what reason would that be?" He said.
Yuki stayed quiet for a few seconds before setting her utensils down.
"I lost a good friend due to the disappearances…"
The Sorcerer King ground the cigar out against the table.
"Well, that is quite unfortunate. I'm quite sorry for your loss. However, it seems now we share a common enemy."
The tension between them hung heavy as they stared at each other, both wearing thin grins.
Yuki clasped her hands together.
"I guess we do, Sorcerer King Daigo."
Sasaki clapped his hands once, cutting through the silence.
"How about we move on to what we actually know about this case, shall we?"
The Sorcerer King stroked his beard, his amber eyes narrowing.
"Go ahead," he said. "Tell us what you know."
Sasaki leaned back, twirling his fork between two fingers.
"Well, from what I've gathered during my time in Kyoto, the disappearances aren't as random as they seem. Certain districts suffer from those disappearances, while the neighborhoods right beside them remain untouched. That kind of selective pattern doesn't happen by chance. It suggests a fixed radius at work, not individual abductions."
The words dropped like stones. Yuki's pulse quickened.
Then it's true. What I learned during my blackout… it lines up almost perfectly with Sasaki's theory. I should definitely mention this to them. But first…
She swallowed, forcing herself to speak.
"If I may, Sorcerer King… you see this curse on my chest, right? How much do you know about it?"
Daigo's gaze shifted toward her, heavy and unreadable.
"I know very little. But Death here spoke to me during our gondola ride, and he mentioned your curse. From what I've been told, that curse grants you the power to kill a man and wrest the truth from him. Am I right?"
Yuki's throat tightened. "…That's right."
Silence stretched as her hands balled into fists beneath the table.
Should I tell him that every time I use it, I inherit something rotten from the person I kill? No. That would only complicate things. The truth is, if the sorcerer king knew about the other side effects of my curse, this investigation would spiral out of control.
"Well, do you have anything else to say, Miss Ayano?" the Sorcerer King said.
Yuki subconsciously straightened her back.
"Actually, I do. I believe the disappearances are happening because of some kind of magic tool. Now, I don't have proof of this… but you'll have to trust me on it."
The Sorcerer King glanced at Sasaki, one eyebrow raised.
Sasaki gave a small nod.
"I agree. I believe that could be the cause of our little problem. But it doesn't matter what it is if we don't know how it looks or where it might be."
Yuki raised her hand, drawing all eyes toward her.
"I think I know how it looks."
Sasaki's grin returned.
"I bet you do… how about letting us know?"
The Sorcerer King looked at her with confusion.
"Well then, go ahead. Tell us. How does it look?"
"To be more accurate… I don't exactly know what the tool looks like. But I do know it carries the same curse mark as the one on my chest. I can't explain how I know this… but for now, you'll have to trust me."
The Sorcerer King squinted, leaning forward to study her Deathmark.
"That curse of yours… the radius of it looks like a chain tattoo. And in the very middle of it…it looks like a bird mark, but I don't recognize this type of bird. Death, I know you have ties to these kinds of curses. Explain it."
Sasaki laughed, covering his mouth with one hand.
"Yes, I do know a little. Specifically about the bird in the middle of the chains. It's not just any bird, it's an ancient bird called a phoenix."
"Phoenix?" both the Sorcerer King and Yuki said in unison.
Sasaki took a white cloth and wiped the food from his lips.
"At the end of the day, I'll leave Little Ayano to handle this investigation while I settle my own matters. If you don't mind, Sorcerer King, how about we discuss my reward before I take my leave? Also, I'd prefer you join me on this little outing."
Yuki rolled her eyes, shooting him a look of disgust.
Of course. How could I forget? He's not here to help me solve anything. He's just here to make a quick profit off the Sorcerer King. I was so naïve to think otherwise.
The Sorcerer King snapped his fingers. Nicholas stepped forward with a checkbook.
"Um… why not, I'll join you on your outing and how does a blank check sound to you?"
Sasaki couldn't help but rub his hands together.
"You've always been my favorite client, Sorcerer King Daigo. I'll tak—"
Yuki slammed her hand on the table, cutting him off.
"I would prefer a different reward. If you don't mind."
The Sorcerer King's gaze shifted to her, confusion etched across his face.
"And what would that be?"
Yuki's grin spread for everyone to see.
"How about your bone-tooth necklace… or is that too personal?"
She knew it had no value to her. With how low her mana was, she couldn't use it anyway. But if it meant removing such a dangerous relic from the Sorcerer King's possession, then it was worth asking.
The Sorcerer King smiled. Without hesitation, he unclasped the necklace and tossed it across the table toward her. Everyone in the dining hall, stared in shock at his resolve.
"Now that you both have your incentives, Miss Ayano, you have my full permission to search any room or speak to anyone in my mansion for your investigation. Nicholas, you know what to do," Sorcerer King Daigo said.
Yuki forced a crooked smile.
Did he just gave me one of his relics? The one that froze Sayuri in place with a single word. I fear he's either overconfident or extremely dangerous.
Nicholas put a hand in his chest and said with a smile:
"Care to follow me, Miss Ayano? We have about fifteen rooms to investigate."
Yuki gave him a sidelong look, her mouth gaping in disbelief.
Fifteen?! And I'm left to do all of this alone because Sasaki wants to go out? Why must i be put in these situations? Damn It!