Chapter 32 : Demon Beast of Deception (2)

Yuri’s reaction to my request to meet Vincent Freesia was icy.

“…I don’t think I’ve ever told anyone that I have a sibling.”

“…Ah, that’s…”

I realized my mistake too late. What excuse could I give?

Then it hit me—the pendant Yuri always wore. His picture was inside it.

“I saw the picture in your pendant.”

“…You were peeking? That’s in poor taste.”

I felt a little insulted.

Yuri opened the pendant and glanced at the picture, her expression darkening.

“You won’t be able to meet him. He left home seven years ago. Why do you want to meet that weirdo?”

“…I need the information your brother gathered about Sarkas.”

I whispered softly so no one else could hear.

“How do you know about that? Did you investigate me?”

“…Let’s just say I have my ways. Anyway, I’d appreciate your help, Yuri.”

The truth was, the source wasn’t some shady investigation—it was all in my head.

If it became known that the son of a noble family like the Freesias was obsessed with Sarkas, it would bring disgrace to the family name. That’s why they hid his existence and eventually expelled him.

“This is just a request from a colleague. Will you help me?”

“…You’re terrible, Saya.”

She frowned but finally relented.

“Fine. I don’t know where he is, but I can show you the room he used.”

Nobles place great importance on honor and discipline, and the Freesias were no exception. Thanks to that, I was able to access Vincent’s room.

I followed Yuri into the mansion. This was my second visit, but the sheer scale of the place still amazed me. It was so vast that it would take hours to explore fully.

As she unlocked the double-locked door, Yuri warned me,

“…If you’re thinking of revealing any of this to the outside…”

“Don’t worry. I’m only here for the information.”

“…”

The door creaked open, revealing a room thick with dust. Cobwebs hung from the ceiling, and a layer of grime covered the desk and chair.

I covered my nose, coughing slightly.

“…How long has it been since anyone came in here?”

“Seven years. This is the first time since he left.”

No wonder Yuri had looked so hesitant when asking the butler for the key. Vincent’s expulsion from the family had made this room a forbidden space.

“Everything’s exactly the same…”

Yuri’s voice was a mix of nostalgia and bitterness.

My first target was the bookshelf, crammed with volumes on Sarkas. The sheer number of books showed how deeply Vincent had been invested in his research.

“Yuri, have you ever heard of a Sarkas that uses magic?”

I asked as she stood by the desk, lost in thought.

“…I haven’t heard of it, but I’ve seen it. With you.”

She was referring to the Master Sarkas we’d encountered during the grade evaluation—the one that had nearly killed us with its fire magic.

“Back then, how powerful do you think its magic was?”

“…Not entirely sure, but it was comparable to an average fire Spirit Master at the academy.”

“An academy-level fire Spirit Master…”

Strong, but not on par with frontline Spirit Masters. If we applied that to the Suggestion spell used for brainwashing, its power would likely be similar to my own magic. Even Violet, the pinnacle of dark-type Spirit Masters, could only sustain Suggestion for 30 seconds. So where did the brainwashing affecting Carne come from?

To find more clues, I began flipping through the books on the shelf. Some were simple catalogs of Sarkas types, while others delved into their origins.

What is this nonsense?

Most of the books on Sarkas origins were either religious interpretations or outright absurd claims. The most plausible one described Sarkas as ordinary creatures, but even that was undermined by its claim that Sarkas had distinct genders.

There’s not much useful information here.

Aside from detailed historical accounts, the books offered little of value. Disappointed, I leaned back in the chair.

Yuri, sitting across from me, spoke up.

“Looks like you didn’t find what you were looking for, huh, thief cat?”

“The books aren’t enough. I need something more in-depth…”

The bookshelf alone didn’t hold the answers I needed.

From what I remembered, Vincent and Yuri were seven years apart. If he left when Yuri was ten, he would have been at least seventeen. Given how much of his youth he’d spent researching, there should have been more data.

“Are there any other records? The books alone aren’t very helpful.”

“No.”

Her answer was blunt.

“…Before my brother left, my mother burned all his research. Every sketch, every note—gone. He left after that and never came back.”

Damn it.

Why does this country keep making things difficult for me? I knew Vincent had left home, but I hadn’t realized the reason was so troublesome.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

“…Miss, are you in there? It’s Fred.”

“What is it?”

Yuri opened the door to reveal the elderly butler.

“Actually, there’s something I was supposed to give you a while ago…”

He handed her a small box. Inside was a tiny key.

“…Fred, what is this?”

“Your brother Vincent asked me to give this to you when you came of age. But I’m getting old, and since you showed interest in his room today, I thought it was time.”

Yuri looked stunned. I hadn’t expected Vincent to leave something behind.

“…Thank you, Fred.”

He bowed and left.

“A key? Where does it go?”

“…You seem awfully excited, Saya.”

Of course I was. A key left by a family member who disappeared years ago? It was impossible not to be curious.

“…I’m not thrilled, but we should look for it. Let’s check the study.”

“Leave it to me.”

Yuri and I searched the room thoroughly. We emptied the bookshelves, moved furniture, and checked every nook and cranny—floors, ceilings, window frames. But we found nothing.

“…Maybe it’s not in this room?”

“It has to be. My mother kept Vincent confined here. He couldn’t have hidden it elsewhere.”

“…What’s this?”

Among the papers on the wall, a simple doodle caught my eye.

“Is that a rabbit Sarkas? It’s cute.”

“…Why would he put this up? Useless.”

It was a childish sketch of a rabbit-like Sarkas. Her mother had burned all his drawings, but this one must have been overlooked because it looked so innocent.

“Actually, their hind legs are more developed, and their teeth are terrifying.”

“You sound just like Vincent, Saya.”

Yuri stood with her arms crossed, staring at the doodle.

I glanced between the drawing and her face.

“…Did you draw this, Yuri?”

“…”

Her silence confirmed it.

“It’s my first and last drawing. A few days after I made it, my mother forbade me from seeing Vincent again.

“…Even though you’re family?”

“…In noble families, honor comes before family. She didn’t want me tainted by his interests.”

“…Where is your mother now?”

The last time I visited, only Yuri and the butler were in the mansion.

“She’s traveling with my father, searching for Vincent. She… visits occasionally.”

Parents are still parents, I guess. They probably feel responsible for his departure.

I examined the drawing more closely. The childish lines were endearing, but something felt off.

“…Yuri, come take a look at this.”

“Why?”

“Here. The eyes are supposed to be red, but they’re completely black.”

“…Is that a hole?”

At her words, I tore the picture off the wall. Behind it was a small drawer with a keyhole.

Yuri inserted the key and turned it. With a click, the drawer opened, revealing a stack of papers. On top was a handwritten note:

[Sarkas Research Log – Vincent Freesia.]

“…Looks like we found it.”

Yuri and I carefully turned to the first page.