Chapter 132: Seeing the “Monster” Again

Chapter One Hundred Thirty-TwoSeeing the “Monster” Again

After finding excuses to temporarily dismiss the maids, Audrey locked the bedroom door behind them, turned around, and looked toward Susie, the golden retriever that might no longer count as merely her pet.

“Did you hear—or, um, encounter anything?”

The large golden retriever sat there with remarkable steadiness. She gave an awooo, vibrating the air around her as she spoke.

“Yes. In the study, I heard the Earl and several members of parliament discussing matters. They said the King and the Prime Minister have reached a consensus and have abandoned, for the short term, the plan to retaliate against the Feysac Empire on East Balam’s coast. Where is East Balam’s coast?”

Seeing the speed at which Susie had mastered Loenese, Audrey’s feelings grew even more complicated. After several seconds of silence, she said, “I will give you a map tomorrow…”

“Okay~” Susie answered cheerfully. “The King and the Prime Minister believe that the most important matter right now is pushing forward the previous reform plan, using open examinations to determine government administrative personnel. They hope to have this passed by both the House of Lords and the House of Commons before October.”

“Truly?” Audrey asked back in surprise and delight.

This was the first matter she had attempted to covertly guide using her own abilities after becoming a Spectator. If it could become reality, it would fill her with a sense of accomplishment.

Susie answered with great honesty, “I cannot give you a definite answer. That is only what I heard. I cannot even understand deeply what they mean. After all, I am only a dog who has just begun learning.”

“…”

Audrey briefly froze. Then she broke into a radiant smile.

“Susie, you did wonderfully! This is your reward!”

She took out a bag from an ornately decorated cabinet, tore it open, and set it before Susie.

These were dog biscuits made by the Backlund Pet Care Company from flour, vegetables, meat, and water—a snack Susie dearly loved.

Susie, who had been sitting properly, twitched her nose. One paw lifted slightly, as though she were considering how to eat in a manner befitting her current identity.

After several seconds, she abandoned thought, followed instinct, lunged forward, snatched up the bag of dry food, and rushed toward the door.

She rose on her hind legs, opened the door with one paw, slipped out, hid in the shadows, and began huffing happily as she enjoyed her snack.

…

Sunday afternoon. After making up at home for the sleep he had missed while guarding Chanis Gate, Klein took a trackless public carriage and arrived once more at the Dragon Bar.

He had originally planned to use divination to locate “Monster” Ademisaul and investigate the reason behind the young man’s recent strangeness, but the Mandated Punisher’s sudden loss of control had interrupted him. He had no choice but to leave it for today.

Passing through the billiards room and entering the underground market, Klein did not need to search this time. He immediately saw Ademisaul curled in a corner, trembling all over.

The pale, sickly-looking young man, his black hair greasy and disordered, sensed Klein approaching and immediately covered his eyes. Pressing himself against the wall, he tried to shuffle toward the side door.

But Klein had already quickened his steps and caught up, blocking his path. At the same time, he quietly tapped the teeth on the left side of his mouth twice.

In his spirit vision, Ademisaul’s aura was quite unhealthy. Every color was somewhat dim. In other words, although the young man suffered from no major illness, his body was extremely weak.

At the same time, Klein discovered that the Monster’s emotional colors showed obvious fear and tension, and that the rational blue of thought was entirely absent.

The surface of his Astral Body had expanded out from the deepest part of his Ether Body. Its color was a perfectly unified transparent, colorless…