【Investigate Strange Noises in the Old Western Manor】
Via’s gaze locked onto this commission. The reward was a full silver coin.
In the human world, one hundred copper coins equaled one silver coin, and one hundred silver coins equaled one hundred gold coins.
All the other D-class commissions paid only in copper coins. Yet this lone D-class commission offered an entire silver coin.
“Investigating strange noises in an old manor pays more than clearing giant rats from the sewers? This commission is definitely fishy.”
Via didn’t need ordinary commissions. She wanted exactly this kind of obviously abnormal one.
Inside the Adventurer’s Guild hall, she went to the registration desk and declared her intent to accept this task.
The clerk’s expression flickered with something strange; he opened his mouth, then hesitated.
“…Newbie, are you really taking this one?”
“Is there a problem?” Via asked curiously.
“This commission has been posted for a while. Other D-class adventurers took it for that silver coin, went to investigate, and then…”
The clerk paused.
“Every single one of them collapsed during the investigation. They were sent to the hospital. The diagnosis was mental shock. Just the medical bills alone cost more than one silver coin. That’s why this commission has stayed here.”
“Something like that actually happened?”
“Yeah. How about picking another task?” the clerk suggested. “Lately some kids have gone missing in the city. Those commissions are relatively safe and perfect for beginners.”
“No, this one.”
Via became even more certain that she had to take this commission.
Under her insistence, the clerk completed the registration.
…
…
“Hello, employer. I’m an adventurer. I’ve accepted your commission from the Adventurer’s Guild: 【Investigate Strange Noises in the Old Western Manor】.”
A knock sounded at the door.
“Yes, yes, yes! Finally!”
The restless middle-aged man inside the inn rushed to open the door.
He first saw the adventurer wearing the Avalon Academy uniform and was overjoyed.
Students from Avalon Academy were extraordinary; they could definitely solve his problem.
But when he saw the girl’s pink long hair, he froze.
How could it be…
Via?
“You’re Mr. Mike, right?” Via asked.
“You’re… an adventurer?”
“Yes.”
Via showed her adventurer badge and tapped it lightly. The relevant information floated up, clearly stating that she had accepted this commission.
“Does the Adventurer’s Guild have no one left?”
Mike sat back on the bed, his face full of worry.
“But no other D-class adventurers came, and higher-rank ones are too expensive… Fine.”
“Mr. Mike?”
“You must be the daughter of the perfect Saintess, right?” Mike stared at Via. “Follow me, Miss Via. I hope you can solve my problem.”
…
“This is your old manor in the western part of the city?”
Under Mike’s guidance, Via arrived at an old manor on Rose Street in the western district and voiced her doubt.
The three-story manor came with a neglected little courtyard. Weeds grew wildly, vines nearly covering the low fence. The wall paint had peeled off, and the whole place radiated years of disrepair. It didn’t look inhabited at all.
“I’m a real estate agent. I bought this place from someone else a while ago.”
Mike pulled out a key, opened the rusty iron gate, led Via toward the manor, and explained.
“I planned to spend money renovating it and then sell it for profit. I even found a construction team. But suddenly a huge problem appeared!”
“What problem?”
Via had already followed Mike inside. The interior was dim, the air thick with dampness.
“Construction had already started, but the renovation team said the manor was haunted and refused to work no matter what. I was furious. I don’t believe in ghosts, so I went to find whatever they were talking about myself. At night, I really heard weird noises from the attic. It scared me half to death!”
Mike’s face looked terrible. He stood at the manor entrance, refusing to step inside.
“You didn’t go up to check?” Via asked curiously.
“When I got close to the stairs, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. My legs turned to jelly. How could I dare go up? In the end, I left, went to the Adventurer’s Guild, and posted the commission. The adventurers who came also collapsed during their investigations and were hospitalized.” Mike clutched his hair. “If I can’t renovate and sell this place soon, all my money will be trapped here!”
“I understand.”
“You investigate first. Report back when you have results… Here’s the spare key. I’m leaving!”
Terrified, Mike hurriedly handed the spare key to Via and fled.
…
…
Nighttime. Via was alone inside the dilapidated manor, examining suspicious traces.
Every step she took made the wooden floor creak.
“It’s already night? Why haven’t I heard the strange noises those people mentioned?”
Via walked to the window and looked outside. Dark clouds obscured the moonlight, making the courtyard exceptionally gloomy.
She turned back, raised her portable lantern to illuminate the pitch-black corners, and felt uneasy. She even began to…
Chicken out?
What am I thinking? The Demon King, afraid of the dark?
If it were the old timid Via, how could she dare stay alone in a place like this? She would have fled in terror long ago.
But now she had recovered her memories from her previous life. If the Demon King feared something like this, what dignity would she have left!
Via seemed to be acting out of spite. She deliberately extinguished the lantern, tossed it to the floor, and darkness surged in like a tide, swallowing the entire room.
She pinched her thigh hard, left the room, and was about to check the next area when she heard creak, creak sounds coming from overhead—something seemed to be walking.
In the silent manor, it was especially jarring.
“From the attic?”
Via looked toward the stairs. Maybe it was her imagination, but she felt eerie black mist flowing down the staircase.
As she approached the stairs, her pupils suddenly contracted. Some voice seemed to be calling her.
The pink-haired girl immediately dashed forward, racing up the stairs, reaching the attic door at the very top. Without thinking, she kicked the door with all her might.
The rotten wooden door shattered under her kick, collapsing inward and sending dust flying everywhere.
“Who’s there?!”
Via spotted a shadowy figure curled up in the corner of the attic. A strange red light locked onto her, and a terrifying aura spread throughout the room.
She had felt this sensation many times in her previous life.
“This is… the aura of the abyss.”