Curse 19: Finding The Killer

I was back inside of my room.

I needed to figure things out before moving forward.

I was currently writing notes in my book, describing the pain of the weapon that killed both me and my best friend.

"It wasn't a sword or a bow. The weapon seems to be able to fit in their hand..." I muttered.

I wrote down two possibilities.

A wand or a gun.

"Wait..." I placed my hand under my chin.

Duh!

Back when I was shot, it was an object!

They mentioned magic bullets. Bullets are small enough to hit you without you realizing it!

I crossed out the word 'wand' and circled the word 'gun'.

And where could you get guns? Wizz Inc., of course. However, they had trackers to whoever used it wrongfully. But then again, the world wasn't so kind.

They could possibly do things under the rug, but frankly, I didn't care about that for now.

I might look into it later, though.

And to keep that reminder fresh, I jotted down some notes and went back to the gun business.

I folded my arms and closed my eyes. Putting Peri and me aside, how could a gun kill off all three of the royals?

The king's magic was supposed to be powerful, right? A simple magic bullet shouldn't be able to kill him. And I'm sure that applies to the two princes as well. Though they may not be as strong, they should be able to put up a fight.

Indeed.

There was a trick to it.

But what sort of trick?

Hmm...

"... No good. I need help with this." I admitted.

I turned the page to where the dark petal was taped up. And to my expectation, the number now was '3'. It seemed like the recharge replenished the magic inside the petal.

I turned the page back to the notes I was writing down and tapped the page with my fingers.

Think, think, think.

Who would be the best fit for this—oh!

I took out my mirror and flicked it open.

I paused.

'I mean, don't you think it's time to accept the magic you received and become one of the knights with me? T-That way! We can both take care of each other!'

'N-Not in that way, of course! Also, there wasn't anything wrong with what you were doing, ahaha! I just think that it was maybe time to move on and get your life together...?'

I recalled those words that Peri told me yesterday.

I lowered my eyelid halfway.

If it weren't for that curse, I would've lost my best friend.

Every time I die, it somehow brings me closer to the things of the past that were hunting me. The fact that I may be hated? I have my friends.

The fact that I may never be normal? That prince showed up in that cave.

I was desperate to find a cure. I was desperate to remove my curse.

Maybe I should put that research on hold until I could figure it out myself....

Beep! Beep!

"Hmm? A text from Mirari?" I muttered.

I tapped on the text, and it turned bigger.

'I got a major scoop! It's little, but I gathered that the cursed child had been abandoned by their parents due to them being scared that a dark cloak was hunting them down.'

'Turns out that the parents were told by the dark cloak to leave the child behind, and they won't be cursed like their child.'

So my actual mom and dad left me to rot...

Was that why the dark cloak was so into my 'sleep'? Creepy...

'Here's the juicy part! The king and the princes were looking for the items at your village ten years ago!'

Wait. Is that why the prince was in the cave?

But I remembered him looking for me as well. So that was why he went into the cave despite hearing that I was dead.

'They found the items. The book of curses, the pen of destruction, and the dark flower of death.'

Really? Wait, how did she get that information?

Beep! Beep!

Mirari sent another message.

'A seller never spoils her seeds to another client!'

Does she have mind-reading magic?!

I widened my eyes in shock.

But she wouldn't say it, huh. Fine, then. I'd go from there myself.

I texted 'thank you' to Mirari and closed my mirror.

But I still needed to figure out—hmm.

... I got an idea.

***

And so, I called the king and his two sons, alongside with Peri and Amissus, to meet me by the king-size tea party table.

I started to give out my plan to stop the attack.

"So, about what I mentioned this morning. About you having a flower that was painted a dark color?... Well, let me ask you something else." I placed my hand under my chin. "Do you guys have an idea of what type of magic I could use?"

"... Just an idea, yeah," Prince Clarus answered honestly.

"... I see. You're as honest and kind-hearted as you were back then, your highness." I blurted out without holding back any longer.

The king and the two sons looked at me in shock.

"Let's not pretend and hold any more secrets. Your lives are in danger." I placed my hands behind my back. "The three of you knew about my magic. The power... to come back to life."

"H-hey, Tristis—!"

I halted my precious red-haired friend before he could say something by pushing him back into his seat. Not too roughly, though.

I continued: "You three kept two of the three items needed from the person with the dark cloak, correct?"

"Dark cloak?" Peri tilted his head.

"I remembered a boy coming to my rescue despite everyone in the village telling him that I was dead. Yet he still came to the cave. One had to wonder: 'why'?"

I raised my index finger. "Why go through the length for someone who was presumed dead? But then, the rumors about me, the cursed child, were banned due to the king's order."

"Wait a second, Mistress Tristis. You're the cursed child?" Amissus whispered in shock.

I turned around and sighed deeply.

"... Yeah. I was the child that the whole kingdom once knew as the cursed one. My origin is still fuzzy, but honestly..." I looked at Peri. I slowly closed my eyes and smiled before turning serious and looking at the king and his two sons. "... I don't give a damn about my past anymore. I got a future to look forward to!"

I looked at my hand. "I'm not going to act like I'm fine with the curse being given to me from birth. I'm still scared of dying. However..."

I held on to my chest.

"I'll still do my part and teach the knights and capture the person who wants to kill all of you!"

The prince named Matthew raised his hand.

"... Bullshit. You expect us to believe that you'll be the one to capture this... imaginary killer?" The prince scoffed. Prince Matthew shrugged his shoulders. "Sure, we know that you're the cursed child. Someone who was followed by the dark cloak. However, someone to set up a murder to kill all of us just for items that could tear the world to shreds with their awesome power? Bullshit."

I narrowed my eyes at the prince.

"... I never said anything about the items being able to tear the world," I said coldly.

"H-huh?" The prince flinched.

I folded my arms. "I never said that the items could tear the world apart. I never even knew that the items could even do that."

My brows furrowed, my emotions starting to pile up one after another.

"... Are you saying that the items could destroy the world if someone gets their hands on them?"

"...W-well, it's common sense, ehehe!" Prince Matthew sweated and pulled at his collar.

"No, it's not. Only the three of us should've figured that out." The king's brows lowered. "... My son, Matthew. Did you leak our information to someone?"

"H-huh?! Of course not—!"

"That explains it," I muttered.

I pointed at Matthew. "You leaked information about the items. That's how they were able to know what to look for before backstabbing you!"

Not only that, but maybe it's someone who knows the king and the two sons' magic! That might be how they were able to kill them without them fighting back!

"H-hold on a minute?!" Peri stood up with a confused look. He then looked at me. "Tristis, tell me something first. How did you know that we would be killed in the first place?"

I frowned at Peri.

I wanted to tell him about the dark petal using the power to turn back time for me. But my mind was still not able to function with the fact that he died.

But I couldn't lie to him like that either. I didn't want that anymore.

... Fine.

I'll tell the truth... by being as vague as possible. That way, I would trick my unstable mind.

Think of happy thoughts. Dream about protecting him...

I inhaled... then exhaled.

I won't tell him about the time travel. However...

I opened my eyes with a serious expression. "My powers told me that."

"What? That can't be true... your power could only bring you back from death—!"

"Right." I nodded. I narrowed my eyes at Peri. "My magic is death. I could 'sleep' and 'wake up'. However, I got visions of a possible future when I could die alongside all of you."

"...W-what? You're kidding—"

"Peri...." I held on to his hands. "... I'm sorry. I'm sorry for lying to you about stopping my research to turn back to normal."

"What...?" Peri raised his brows.

"I know you didn't believe me. I know you saw me looking at my book back in the selection..."

I frowned and looked away.

"I'm sorry for making you play the fool for my selfishness. I... I don't deserve someone like you..."

I let go of his hands. "We can talk about it later. But right now, let me finish my thoughts, okay?"

"Tristis..." I heard Peri call out my name.

I don't deserve him. However, I'll protect him this time!

With a firm nod, I lifted my index finger.

"We need to set up a trap to capture the person who will kill all of us today." I tapped on the table. "We also need to use the items as bait to get them to come along with our trap."

"A trap, you say?... Interesting." Prince Clarus stroked his chin.

"But it won't be easy to lure them to said trap. How would we do that?" The king asked me.

I scratched my nose with my index finger. "Why, we'll trick them by making them think that I'm training professional knights, of course!"

"The best knights in all of Credentes?" Peri placed his hand under his chin.

"... That could work. With professionals, the casualties would be minimal..." Amissus nodded while tapping her chin.

"H-huh? Well, I don't think it'll be that hard, right?" Peri sweated and scratched his neck.

"... No. That person killed the king and the princes without any mercy. And if they could be able to do that, then a couple of knights won't be any problem for them." I answered with a serious look. "I don't want to not have those casual victims as well. But..."

"That's life. There's bound to be deaths regardless." The king brought his hands together. "But I'll bring my strongest knights to make it a lot less. Don't worry, the blood will be on my hands..."

I don't like that either, but it's our only shot at this.

Now, how would I be able to trap them?

Well, maybe I'll go with the items inside my brown bag!

"If I may be so bold, why don't you figure out the person who will kill us and let them follow you to the monster's forest, Mistress Tristis?" Amissus suggested, with her left hand up.

"Huh? The monster's forest?" I blinked at Amissus.

"Indeed. My little sister always texts me about adventuring through the monster's forest." Amissus gave me a small smile.

"Is that why she was attacked by those wild boars?!" I flinched back and raised my right hand at Amissus.

I shook my head and narrowed my eyes at Amissus.

"A-anyways, now I know where to go with the items..." I muttered.

The next thing was to figure out who the person that would attack without being noticed. But who—hmm?

Wait.

Could it be...?!

"Hold on. Peri, do you remember seeing that person who pushed you away without you noticing at first?" I asked my red-haired friend.

"Huh? Well, yeah. I remember him being there suddenly when—wait!"

Peri and I pointed at each other. "The noble that went missing during the knight's selection!"

"What noble?" Prince Clarus asked.

I pointed at Prince Matthew. "Why don't you ask your brother?"

"H-huh?" Matthew flinched at my pointing.

I leaned forward, my hands on the table. "So tell us, Matthew. Where is that noble, and what is he planning?"