Daybreak.
Faint morning light filtered through the curtains and spilled across the wooden floor. On the bed, the black-haired girl slowly opened her eyes. As she stretched, a soft, syrupy murmur escaped her lips.
Yuri was already used to it.
That sound was her own. Nothing strange about it. It just sounded a little too cute, not quite matching her style.
“Good morning, Iris.”
She greeted the bedside out of habit, expecting the white-haired, red-eyed Little Evil God to turn and greet her back. But there was no sign of her beside the bed.
Huh?
Where did Iris go?
Did she float out for a morning stroll?
Yuri swept her gaze around the room and finally noticed Iris lying on top of her, sleeping soundly.
Even though she knew she could not touch her, Yuri still moved as gently as possible when getting out of bed, as if afraid of waking her.
She walked to the window and looked at the rising sun outside. She had survived another day.
Come to think of it, she had not slept well during the first half of last night. She could not remember what she had dreamed, but it was probably a nightmare. In the second half of the night, the discomfort faded.
If she had nightmares all night, she would definitely wake up with no energy.
After resting for one night, today’s Yuri was fully revived. After washing up, she could head into the city and begin today’s investigation.
She took off her nightgown and pulled out a convenient dress for movement from her spatial storage pouch. As she was changing, Iris opened her eyes.
“Mm… Yuri-chan, morning.”
“Good morning.”
It was strange. She was changing clothes right in front of Iris, yet her heart did not waver at all. Even putting on the dress felt completely natural.
Hmm… she had adapted far faster than expected. It felt as though something deep inside her had completely vanished.
Well, if it was gone, then it was gone. Not important.
“Yuri-chan, what are you planning to do today?”
“Today?”
After changing and washing up, Yuri pushed open the door and prepared to head downstairs.
“Today, of course, I will continue the grand investigation in Iron Anvil City.”
…
After leaving the inn, Yuri honestly had no clear idea how to proceed with the investigation.
She had tried asking Iris for help yesterday, but Iris had refused.
And the refusal was clean and decisive, leaving no room for negotiation.
Without Iris, she would have to try sneaking into the City Lord’s Manor herself.
But she was not skilled at infiltration. The ability she had exchanged from Iris was useless for that purpose.
Besides, she would need to understand the structure of the manor beforehand. Should she first find a way to blend into the City Lord’s Manor?
Several ideas flashed through her mind, only to be rejected one by one.
Forget it. She would wait for news from Keledon. Perhaps he would uncover some useful clues.
For now, she would wander the city and try her luck. Maybe fortune would favor her.
However, the direction she was walking felt oddly familiar. If she remembered correctly, this road led toward Saint Anna Orphanage.
Wait, why was she heading there?
There should not be any clues there.
Still, since she was already on the way, she might as well visit Alyosha.
When she arrived at the orphanage courtyard, the children were already awake and playing.
She searched through the crowd but did not see Alyosha. Then a familiar voice called out.
“Big Sister Yuri!”
No wonder she had not found her. She had already run over.
Yuri’s gaze fell on the girl. The dirty clothes were gone, replaced by patched but clean garments. Combined with her already delicate features, she looked even more adorable now.
Yuri crouched down and gently patted Alyosha’s head.
“How is it? Are you getting used to life here?”
Alyosha nodded lightly. “Alyosha is very happy here. The sister took me to bathe and gave me new clothes. At night, there is a comfortable big bed to sleep on. Even though I have to squeeze with other children, it is much better than the cold floor.”
Her face was filled with a radiant smile. Yuri could finally feel at ease.
“Then make sure to listen to the sister, okay?”
“Mhm.”
Alyosha nodded obediently.
Yuri was about to say goodbye when Alyosha suddenly grabbed her hand. Fear appeared on her small face.
“But at night, when Alyosha sleeps, I hear strange sounds.”
“Strange sounds?”
Thinking of the humanoid monster from yesterday, Yuri immediately became alert. Had that thing appeared in the orphanage?
“It comes from under the floor. It sounds like a monster. Alyosha is a little scared. So I asked the sister today. She said it might be mice. But Alyosha has heard mice before. It was completely different from last night’s sound.”
A monster’s sound?
That was worth investigating.
Since Yuri had no other leads for now, she might as well start here.
“I understand. I will speak with the director.”
After ruffling Alyosha’s hair again, Yuri led her toward the entrance.
“Alyosha, can you take me to the director?”
“Alyosha knows where Aunt Director is.”
Alyosha led her inside. After walking down a long corridor, they found the director speaking with a young nun at the far end.
“I will talk with the director. If there really is a monster, I will take care of it. You go play with the other children.”
“Big Sister Yuri, please be careful.”
After Alyosha left, Yuri walked straight toward the director. The director looked slightly surprised.
“Miss Yuri? You came so early. Is something the matter?”
“Nothing much. I just came to check on the children.”
“Rest assured, we will take good care of those poor children.”
Judging from Alyosha’s smile this morning, that was true.
After some polite exchanges, it was time to get to the point.
“Director, are there any underground facilities in the orphanage, such as a cellar?”
“No.” The director looked puzzled. “Miss Yuri, why do you ask?”
“It is nothing. I heard from the children that they heard a monster.”
The director smiled faintly. “Perhaps the children heard wrong. It should be mice or other animals living underground.”
“Underground?”
“To be honest, the orphanage was not built on ideal land. It was constructed above an abandoned underground defensive structure. It has been deserted for a long time. Perhaps many underground animals have nested there.”
An abandoned defensive structure beneath the orphanage.
If there truly was underground space, then the sound Alyosha heard might indeed have come from a Deep Abyss creature.
“In that case,” Yuri said, “I would like to know whether the entrance to the underground still exists.”