The Past of 6 Saint Derain Square

"I didn't actually investigate the unusual price myself. Augustus helped find the records in the Church."

Doctor Schneider gestured for the old priest with gray-white hair to speak. The latter nodded, his gray-white hair looking especially withered under the dim glow of the gas lamp:

"About a hundred years ago, a horrifying murder took place at 6 Saint Derain Square. According to the Church's records, it was actually a battle between two Nine-Ring Arcanists of unknown origin, and they died almost simultaneously. The subsequent investigation report showed that they had lost control after reading a large number of ancient books. Although the Church believed this would not affect the house itself, most of the house's owners have died inside it ever since."

"This sounds like the beginning of a horror story."

Shade thought to himself, then realized something else:

"Wait, aren't I the protagonist?"

The old priest paused before continuing:

"The Church couldn't find any problems with the house either. They could only buy and seal it off around thirty years ago. It was not sold at a low price until two years ago, after repeated inspections. But wealthy people who could afford to ask about property prices at Saint Derain Square cared greatly about such taboos, while poor people who didn't care about such things would never ask about property prices there. Somehow, the house was eventually bought by Sparrow Hamilton."

It sounded as though the previous detective had gotten a tremendous bargain, then died.

"Did that detective know about the house?"

Miss Louisa asked curiously. Miss Writer was extremely interested in such matters.

"Of course he knew. The Church would not conceal such things, and informed him about the house's past at the time. For safety's sake, before the detective bought it, they sealed off the first floor where the incident had occurred a hundred years ago, cut off the stairs to the third floor because they had become unsafe after years without maintenance, and permanently locked Second Floor, Room Number Two, where a mass suicide had taken place seventy years ago. Who would have thought that this owner would also die in that house?"

The old priest could not help gripping the pendant at his chest and praying for Mr. Sparrow Hamilton, hoping that his soul could rest in peace.

Shade, who considered his imagination far too vivid, was already beginning to worry. The Outlander had seen plenty of stories like this:

"So, I—"

"But I don't think Sparrow Hamilton died because of a curse. This is different from before. The previous owners all died suddenly within just a few months, with no cause ever discovered. The detective died after living there for two years, and even his cause of death could be determined."

Doctor Schneider said this, his blue eyes looking toward Shade:

"Of course, if you find living there uncomfortable, you can sell the house. But because of Sparrow Hamilton's death, its price will probably fall even further."

It was a very reasonable suggestion.

"I don't plan to sell it for now. If the Detective Agency weren't located in the city center, no one would be willing to trust an unknown detective like me. Besides, if I sold the house, I wouldn't be able to buy a better one in Tobesk with that money. I learned from the newspapers that there are cheap houses for sale in the Tobesk University District, but those prices are more despairing than a Relic losing control."

As he spoke, Miss Louisa immediately showed agreement. The blonde young lady who lived alone also paid close attention to such news.

Shade had no money to move for the time being, so he planned to live there for a few months first and move out immediately if anything went wrong.

According to the information provided by the priest, the former owners had all heard strange sounds and seen suspicious shadows in the house before their sudden deaths. Those who had become alert and moved away were unharmed, while everyone who continued living there had died.

"This really is even more like a tasteless horror story, and I'm still the protagonist."

He thought to himself, then asked:

"Although the house belongs to Detective Sparrow and I have the detective's will, I haven't seen the property deed or the land ownership documents."

Hearing this, the old priest waved a hand, his expression relaxed:

"Those documents are at the Dawn Church where I serve. The detective stored them there, since the Church had its concerns as well. If you want them back, just bring his last letter and come by. The Dawn Church is in Tobesk's Central District, a half-hour walk from Saint Derain Square. The tree-lined avenue near the church is quite nice, and there are plenty of public carriages.

"But to prevent the Church from becoming suspicious about the detective's death and reopening the investigation into the house, perhaps even investigating you, I'll help you obtain a death certificate stating that Sparrow Hamilton died of illness. This isn't forging false documents. What I obtain will definitely be genuine. Consider it a gift for joining us. I won't charge you for this help."

Thus, Detective Sparrow Hamilton's death was completely settled. With documents convincing enough to fool the Orthodox Church, no one besides Shade and the doctor would ever know the secret behind the detective's death.

Before today's meeting ended, Shade finally mentioned his Document Level Relic, the Blood Ring. Unfortunately, none of the three people present had ever encountered this Relic. However, the doctor said he could make an inquiry through the Academy Library by parchment, though the result would probably not arrive soon.

Since Shade now possessed two Relics, both of relatively high danger levels, he could be considered a fairly wealthy Ring Arcanist. The doctor suggested that after mastering one or two sufficiently powerful Thaumaturgies and spells for self-defense, he could begin reading The Mad Light Chaser.

"No one will supervise your self-study progress. You must take responsibility for yourself."

This was the advice the blue-eyed doctor gave Shade before the four parted ways. But after leaving the clinic, Old Priest Augustus told Shade not to mind the doctor's attitude:

"Bill is always like this. He may seem strict with people, but he is actually kinder than anyone."

He said this while filling his pipe with tobacco. He seemed to have endured for a long time in the clinic.

"We've all received his lectures. Once you spend more time with him, you'll understand."

Miss Louisa said the same. She boarded a carriage directly outside the clinic and left, while Shade and Priest Augustus, who were comparatively less wealthy, both intended to leave on foot.

Shade would soon need to find a carriage to take his books home, but an ordinary hired carriage might not have enough room, so he planned to go to the nearest carriage company.

Shade noticed that Miss Louisa had been frequently trying to touch her earlobes today, yet the lady wore no decorations on her ears. She had not made this strange movement when they had met last time.

He told the old priest, who was temporarily traveling the same way, about his discovery. When they parted at the next intersection, Priest Augustus told Shade not to worry:

"Because of the existence of 'Another Me,' Ring Arcanists occasionally behave strangely. But as long as they haven't lost control through contact with Relics or Ancient Knowledge, such oddities need not concern you."

The priest smiled as he walked with Shade along Röntgen Avenue in the wealthy district. The people conducting business here were smartly dressed, and Shade's and the priest's clothing barely passed muster:

"Since a year ago, Louisa has become a little strange every few days. She's still considered normal now. Last summer, we even suspected that while reading Ancient Fairy Tales, her body had been occupied by another soul."

Shade's expression stiffened, and he did not dare continue discussing the possibility of a soul occupying a body. But because of this, he understood that even seemingly normal Ring Arcanists might have strange behaviors unknown to others.

Ring Arcanists had never been a safe scholarly profession.

PS: As for the location of 6 Saint Derain Square, where protagonist Shade currently lived, to make an analogy, it was roughly like a courtyard house within Beijing's Second Ring Road. You understand what I mean by Beijing, right? And there was actually a reason Sparrow Hamilton had managed to get such a bargain.