frightfiction Chapter 57 Extra Gains
Chapter 57 Extra Gains
The moment Kaya Hartley appeared, I was already in the shadows, observing the battle that was about to unfold.
Since I can't offer any help, the best option is to stay on the sidelines and watch.
However, the battle that was about to unfold before my eyes even shocked me.
clang clang
Each time their weapons collided, the ripples and shockwaves transmitted into the surrounding environment were enough to make everyone back off.
Some people even suffered fractures as a result of the fighting.
This was an absolutely bloody scene.
“Even after all this time, it seems I’m still far behind you.” I heard the demon contractor’s voice coming from between their collisions; it sounded very familiar.
'Where...where have I heard this voice before?' I asked myself. I felt I should know this voice, but my memory didn't give a clear answer. Kaya seemed to have the same feeling, because I saw her eyes twitch slightly, clearly annoyed.
The demon contractors are very strong, and the rampant monsters around them are enough to prove that they have made full preparations.
When the demon contractor attempted to restore himself by absorbing the life force of others, Kaya immediately noticed this and tried to intercept him.
But that was a trap, causing her to reveal her weakness.
Boom! Crack! Bang!
The demon contractor's all-out attack nearly ended Kaya's life and destroyed all the glass protecting the exhibits.
The moment I saw the glass shatter, a thought suddenly popped into my head.
This is an opportunity. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Everyone's attention is focused on the fight, and someone broke the glass for me. The only thing that might distract me is the camera.
I looked around and confirmed the location of each camera.
Every single camera has been broken.
After all, the blast wave that breaks through the glass protecting the exhibits is bound to damage a camera.
When I saw this, I took the opportunity to move quietly in the shadows, grab the moonstone and some other materials around me, and put them into my bracelet.
I quickly finished collecting the items and returned to my original position to continue observing the battle.
Kaya Hartley's efficiency in wielding her magic and weapons dazzled me. Even the academy's instructors couldn't match the combat skills of such a formidable woman.
I tried my best to keep a close eye on them, but even that was difficult because they were moving so fast that I couldn't really see them clearly.
But one thing is certain: the battle is progressing in Kaya's favor. She is using her skills to suppress the demon contractors and monsters.
'But something's not right. Since they've made such thorough preparations, they must know Kaya Hartley's skills. Something's wrong,' I thought.
'Their goal must be something else.'
Just as I was thinking about this, my gaze fell on the girl hiding behind the wall with her knees crossed over her chest.
Jane Hartley, Ethan's deceased niece in the game.
'Is it her?'
In that moment, I realized what their goal was. Everything became clear, and just then, the last piece of the puzzle fell apart.
This innocent child is cowering there out of fear.
She was their target.
Bang
At that moment, I suddenly felt my heart racing.
'A demon contractor has arrived.'
Suddenly, a man appeared behind the girl, holding a dagger.
"Huh...huh..."
I saw the man grab the girl, and the girl struggled desperately to break free.
But she couldn't break free at all; after all, she was just a little girl.
bang bang
I saw the little girl looking at Kaya with tearful eyes, and my heart started racing again.
My gaze turned cold.
Hatred surged within me. The scene from that time resurfaced in my mind.
I saw myself helplessly watching everything unfold.
'I won't let it happen again,' I vowed to myself.
'I won't let you do whatever you want.'
Whether it's changing the plot or changing the world.
I do not care.
I will never allow someone who has sold their soul to the devil to do as they please.
I'm going to kill you.
I will erase you from this world.
Just like those demons, no one associated with them will be spared.
I took out a weapon from my bracelet and pointed it at the man.
I don't know if the bullet could have killed him properly, but at that moment, all I could think of was anger and hatred.
I instinctively channeled my magic into the weapon, and it instantly turned blue.
Go to hell.
boom!
I pulled the trigger.
......
"Excuse me, may I talk to you?"
Just as I was about to leave, the female official who had spoken with Kaya Hartley suddenly turned her attention to me.
I have a few questions for you.
She walked towards me with a smile, but I could see a hint of disdain on her face.
The smell of cigarettes. Not a high-end brand. She might be smoking pure 'Glow Leaf,' possibly stemming from childhood trauma. Lack of sleep; insomnia symptoms are now appearing. She's probably been on duty since last night. She's single, lives alone, and has a poor diet. She eats high-fat foods and uses low-quality skincare and cosmetics. She has a cat. No, two cats, one male and one female.
I observed the woman, analyzing her appearance. Glow Leaf is a drug specifically designed to affect hunters who are physically and mentally strong. It has nicotine effects and is highly addictive, causing hyperactivity and many other negative consequences.
"Excuse me," I replied. Even if I refused her here, she could use her power to forcibly take me away; there was no need for her to suspect me.
I've already gained an unexpected bonus, so there's no need to complicate things further.
The woman maintained a polite expression, but I could sense the underlying sharpness in her words. She made a subtle gesture, indicating that she wanted to go to a quieter, less crowded place. We found a secluded corner, and she turned her gaze to me.
“Thank you for your cooperation,” she began, her gaze firm. “I am Inspector Miller, responsible for cases involving demon contractors. I noticed your presence during the events that occurred here.”
I nodded slightly, acknowledging her introduction. "I'm just a witness," I replied, my words carefully chosen. I didn't intend to reveal too much about myself, especially my special abilities.
Inspector Miller observed me for a moment, her gaze sharp and assessing. "We rarely encounter witnesses who can remain so calm in such a chaotic situation," she said dismissively, looking at me with obvious suspicion.
“I am a student of the Hunter Academy.” I met her gaze, remaining calm. That answer was enough.
“Are you a student of the academy? Let me confirm. Do you have identification with you?” she asked, and I took out my watch. The watches from the Arcadia Hunter Academy have an integrated identification card function, a feature not available in every academy.
“Morse Scott. A student of the Arcadia Hunter Academy.” She looked at the information I showed her, paused for a second, and then read it aloud. “Arcadia Hunter Academy!” Then, the reaction I expected came quickly.
“I understand. If you were a student at that academy, you could understand why you could remain calm.” She finished speaking, her gaze still fixed on me. “Then, I won’t beat around the bush. Can you tell me what you saw here?”
Her question was direct, but her gaze remained fixed on me, as if searching for something hidden behind my words, trying to deduce it from my reaction.
“I was here when it all started,” I replied, keeping my tone steady. “I saw the monsters and demon contractors attacking. Chaos, people running away, and then the demon contractor you were talking to earlier confronting her.”
I omitted any details that might reveal my unique abilities, presenting myself as as ordinary as possible. After all, I couldn't possibly say that I was the one who fired the shot, nor the one who obtained the Moonstone.
“I understand,” Inspector Miller said, seemingly accepting my answer. “Thank you for your cooperation.”
She continued to scrutinize me, her gaze unwavering. I could sense the weight of her suspicion, though she didn't explicitly state it. However, her next questions indicated she was probing deeper.
"Did you overhear any potentially relevant details?" she asked in a relaxed but focused tone. "Was there anything in the conversation, behavior, or interaction that particularly caught your attention?"
I paused, pretending to carefully consider her question. But in the end, I already knew the answer I would have to choose.
“I did overhear some of the conversation,” I replied. “The demon contractor seemed to be mocking that woman named Kaya, about her priorities and actions. He mentioned something about karma.”
This answer will definitely reach Kaya's ears, and that woman will certainly eliminate me. However, as a student of the Arcadia Hunter Academy, she won't easily approach me; this would make her want to make a deal with me.
Inspector Miller's gaze remained fixed on me, and I couldn't help but feel she was trying to read more from my expression. "Interesting," she mused. "So, did you see any attackers trying to steal exhibits in the chaos?" she asked.
I can see that this question is clearly directed at me. Just now, I used the [Shadow] trait and the bracelet to obtain some materials, and this went unnoticed.
I shook my head, maintaining a genuinely unaware demeanor. "No, I didn't notice anything like that. The situation was very chaotic, and I was focused on ensuring my own safety." This was an answer that satisfied the listener who analyzed my tone in the recording.
Yes, it's a recording. Right now, this woman is recording me, and it's very likely that Kaya Hartley sent her to investigate me.
She nodded, seemingly considering my answer, her lips slightly pursed, appearing thoughtful. "And what about the shooting? Did you see it?"
This question was also directed at me, though this time the tone was slightly weaker. It seemed she didn't suspect me of being the one who fired the shot, nor did Kaya.
After shooting the demon contractor, I quickly concealed the gun in my bracelet and stepped out of the shadows, revealing myself—an unconventional move rarely made by attackers. This allowed me to avoid Kaya Hartley's heightened senses. She wasn't an ordinary person, and if she suspected I was the one who fired the shot, it would cause trouble in the future.
Without hesitation, I answered, “I heard gunshots. But despite my best efforts to find the source of the gunshots, I still couldn’t be sure. I felt that I might be in danger because there was an unknown attacker hiding somewhere, but he was too powerful for me to handle.”
Inspector Miller seemed to accept my answer, though her scrutiny did not lessen. “Thank you for your candor,” she finally said. “We rarely encounter someone as calm as you in this situation.”
I nodded in thanks. "I'm trained to stay calm under pressure. However, I regret to say that I didn't offer any help," I replied with guilt. In fact, I didn't.
She smiled back, but her eyes remained unchanged. “That’s a very valuable skill. Well, I won’t take up any more of your time. If you remember or notice anything that might be related to this case, please feel free to contact me,” she said, handing me her business card.
"clear."
“If anything happens during the investigation, we will make a request to the college. We would be very grateful if you could cooperate.” She said with a professional smile as she turned and left.
But I could still see a hint of suspicion in her. This woman wasn't good at hiding her emotions and her views on the situation. But ultimately, these suspicions didn't matter. After all, they were unfounded.
"Please wait a moment. We need to confirm that you don't have any items from the museum on you." After saying this, she left.
Then, a group of people came over and started searching my body for any items. And I happened to have a prop I was wearing specifically for this situation.
After confirming that there was nothing else, they left.