Yumix; Unveiled Chapter 41: Suspicion

Read chapter 41 of Yumix; Unveiled by iiPilix on NovelPedia.

The Original Web Light Novel Project Volume 02, Chapter 24: [ Suspicion ] Original work. By the author 'Pili.' (Italic dialogues represent character inner monologues) Miles away from the capital, in the isolated regions of the great kingdom of Yumix, the sun had begun its slow descent over the village of Jiika. Same as usual, that evening was peaceful. Or at least, that’s just how it seemed on the surface. Inside the small public office of the local Kingdom outpost, Honoka Kurosawa sat behind her desk. She was smoothly twirling a pen between her fingers. The room was modest. One desk. One cabinet. A single wide window on the left that overlooked the street. She let out a sigh and looked at the pile of paperwork scattered on her desk. "I feel kind of bored…" She leaned back in her chair. Her boots rested casually on the edge of the desk as she stared at the ceiling. "Nothing ever happens here. Picking this path so young really locked me in." It didn't take long before someone opened the door. A young officer rushed in, carrying a fresh report. He looked flustered. "Detect—I mean, Honoka-san!" Honoka didn't even look. "What is it, novice? Has anyone gotten lost heading to the capital again?" "No! It's a report… from the Capital!" He approached hesitantly and slid a paper down on her desk. Honoka didn’t react at first. "Mm…?" "This is the second incident," he continued. "Night Crows… again." "Second?" In an instant, she lowered her feet from the desk and corrected her posture, seeming interested. "Y-Yeah!" The officer nodded frantically. "It’s the Western district this time. Many buildings were also damaged by their fires. People are saying the capital might not be safe anymore for much longer." Honoka hummed thoughtfully. Her eyes landed on the report in front of her, where she quickly noticed something. "Oh… it seems something is interesting on it." "Huh?" The guard blinked. "Read it properly." He glanced at her with curiosity, then shifted his gaze to those papers. "The Royal Guards' response was delayed. Suspected coordinated timing. There was also a message accusing the Kingdom of corruption." "What might that mean?" "Well… you don't see enemies showing up out of nowhere just for fun." There was a brief, deafening silence for a moment. Honoka tilted her head slightly to the side as she looked outward. "The first incident had already been strange. It had drawn attention. Too precise," Honoka spoke quietly to herself, thinking. "But a second one… so soon?" She pondered internally. "Yeah… That’s bold," The young officer shrugged. "They’re terrorists. That's what they do." Honoka lowered her head slightly. "No…" She stood up slowly and walked toward the window. "Terrorists usually want chaos. Fear without pattern. You won't see them as ones who attack and then retreat." She rested her hands on the lower window frame, gazing at the distant road to the capital. "This isn’t random… What if…" Her mind went back to the shelter from a few months ago. Back then… where a group of four teenagers who had stood against her. At that time, they seemed as if they were heading towards a place in the north… the capital. "So, Kurogane was his name, I think." A chilling smile formed on her face, her expression unreadable. She then turned directly towards him. "They didn’t come back." "H-Huh…?" The officer tilted his head to the side. "If they went to the capital," she continued calmly as she moved her gaze back to the window, "that means they probably have found a way to survive there." "Them…? You mean the name you mentioned earlier?" But Honoka just carried on speaking. "It isn't easy to live in Praga without work or a strong financial base. They… probably had joined the PHG. Or some other guild." "Maybe they went home?" She gave him a flat look. "Do they look like kids with stable homes?" "Fair point…" He scratched his cheek. And then… a