Chapter 25

In a much larger room compared to the study of Count Garthus, five men were gathered. The men from the previous night and Johannes. On the table were papers detailing the information they obtained from rumours to witnesses and past records.

“Avim, I didn’t know you were involved in this?”

“Ah, Johannes. Actually, I was told to participate since last night after what I heard and saw from Esia herself.”

Johannes made a grim expression as he remembered his men dying in front of him and Esia acting all innocent afterwards.

“At least I don’t react too much now to that monster’s name.”

“Monster?”

Avim tilted his head in question then he realised he referred to Esia. He reluctantly agreed calling her a monster. After all, she easily cornered Pharazus despite him being an elite magician.

“Well, both of you sit down. We might have to discuss this the whole day.” Count Garthus requested them to sit.

The previous night’s ordeal had quite the impact on their already restless bodies due to the work of Pharazus being left undone.

“Before anything else, we want to confirm again. Veyrr was last seen alive, yes?” Zila started the discussion.

Johannes responded and agreed. When he was asked to explain what he remembers, he spoke of everything. From what he saw to what he heard. They came to a conclusion that Veyrr was still alive. They couldn’t agree that his condition is the best, but at least he was kept alive.

“Now, before we move to the main topic, I think it would be best to discuss a bit more on her past in general. Like her relations, achievements, and actions.”

The four other men agreed. From all the information they could gather, Esia was a brilliant child whose knowledge and understanding even surpassed those of scholars. It was said that she had profound knowledge by reading multiple books from the town but after further investigation, certain books were not found at that time. Agricultural techniques, human and beast kin physiology and anatomy, military stratagems, animal and beast ethology and habitat, survival techniques specifically navigation in certain conditions, edible plants, and simple crafts like knives and tents, and even architecture. Books were scarce when Heom was still considered a town and specialised books like those previously mentioned were practically non-existent at the time yet she knew of those kinds of things.

When she hunts, she teaches the other men about techniques during certain times like during the winter or during summer. She was highly praised for being evenly matched against Relkas who was the leader of the hunters at that time. Although he met his demise when Esia was 12, but according to her, Pharazus had a hand in this event. He had released failed experimental monsters that attacked the area, injuring and killing most of Relkas’ men. It was believed that Relkas and the others were killed by the beasts and when they went to retrieve the bodies, their bodies disappeared. With new information coming to light, Esia had killed her father for some reason and had collected their bodies, humans and monsters, and dragged them into the dungeon. If Gaman and Aldia were with her ever since, then they must have been the ones who carried the bodies and disappeared without leaving any tracks.

After Relkas’ death, Esia was requested to become the new leader in place of him as she is the most qualified, even if she is young. Senya had a strong disagreement with them especially with the latest incident. Esia as well rejected the offer as she said she realised the town was too unprotected and undeveloped and to help her mother who might be suffering mentally. This came from a retired hunter of Relkas’ group who they interviewed before this discussion. Then that’s where she started working at the Count’s estate. The Count had visited the orphanage one time incognito to pay respect to Senya. That was the first time Zila had met Esia. This was also when she requested to work in the estate. Again, Senya had initially rejected but after being reasoned with, she reluctantly agreed. She was being paid separately and the orphanage was receiving direct support from the Count in terms of money and preserved food. This happened for four years until Esia turned 16 and Senya had become bedridden.

About half a year after she turned 16, she had lost her mother to an incurable disease. But from what Avim heard, Pharazus once again had a hand in this. Esia claimed that Senya had been threatened by Pharazus but Avim doesn’t know why she was threatened. After Senya’s death, Madame Szula came next. She died due to old age a few weeks just before the first snow fall. The following year at spring, the Count had planned to convert the orphanage into something else but was adamantly refused by Esia.

She wanted the children to grow up until they can fully support themselves. This was true as when she started out as the new orphanage keeper, she had taken in many children of different races, bringing the population to over 40 children. And she had to care for them alone. The Count had come to a conclusion that the money she had earned from when she was working as a consultant in the estate and the monetary donations were used to support the children.

It was unclear what she had been doing for five years before she had become the military and hunter instructor. But there have testaments saying she was working night jobs in the eastern district. This could mean multiple things but at one point, the men in the room had imagined her to have sold her body and working in brothels or the like. But after investigating, she was never even seen at the red-light districts. Madam Lecia, who was a supporter of the orphanage since Madam Szula’s management, just heard from Esia that she had been doing night jobs. She was also worried that selling her body must be taxing on her, especially since she’s still young. But she realised she was not working as such when she blushed so hard her face became red and her face disappeared as she denied it. But in those five years, almost everyone in the eastern district knows the orphanage and its keeper.

At the age of 21, Esia finally hired assistants, one being the age of 14 and the other 19. The reason why it took so long was because they needed to fit certain criterion. One main criterion was that they needed to have no bias against non-human species and another one being neutral when it comes to religious matters. There are many religions that go against the orphanage’s belief such as housing non-humans. But with the east’s change in attitude, they practically opened up to each other. As Esia trains soldiers and hunters a few times a week while earning some income, the assistants care for the children.

It has not even been a year and one of her assistants had gone missing only to find her defiled corpse in the forest a few days later. It appears that she had gained the ire of Pharazus after a small accident and incited his wrath onto the child. Illar had been dragged into the fray once more after distancing himself from the magician before the monster outbreak when Relkas died. And as they continued the act, Abram and Weile passed by during their patrol of the area. Abram had joined in while Weile had been killed to keep mouths shut and only between them. Before Avim had left for the Count’s estate, he had heard Esia speak when she entered the opening. She had said that it was because of this event that she decided to plan something in store for Pharazus and now was the best time. After a bit over a year, the other assistant had quit due to fear.

Zila had snooped around the northern district where the assistant currently lives. He asked questions about Esia and the orphanage but she only shivered in response. It took some time before she regained her composure and answered tried to answer in a calm way. It seems that even during that time, she heard screams coming from the orphanage. There were times she could not sleep and when she went out, she had seen a figures of a ghost. They walked through walls. And with some rumours going around, she had really believed that the place is cursed. Added with what happened to Suya, she had left the orphanage and settled at the northern end of the city with her child and husband. Avim came to a conclusion that it was Esia entering the dungeon and everyone had agreed to it.

The rest is what is already known with no new information. By the time they had finished with the discussion and questioning, it was already evening. They hadn’t even stopped to eat lunch. But they have made some progress with her history. And with the conclusion that she is a devil, they planned to conduct a large investigation with soldiers and hunters surrounding the city and the orphanage in secret as not to alarm Esia.

Although she has killed, sided with devils that may be criminals, have done criminal activities herself, it is still a fact that it was solely because of her that the city has flourished. They even linked the disappearances of criminals for her research. The children that graduated from the orphanage had become renowned and some even working in the royal capital or big companies such as Brulam who is the vice-president of the Haveloft Company. They had mixed expressions and interpretations on the matter, so they decided to meet once again after a few days. Johannes and Avim were told to stay in the estate for the time being under high security. If any of this gets leaked out and potentially reaches Esia’s ears, there’s a high chance of her escaping or even destroying everything in Heom.

As they speak and decide on their next course of actions, Esia headed for the dungeon once more. Light shone on the familiar space with tables. Veyrr was bound to one of them and Pharazus to another. The magician’s scream echoed throughout the space and into the now empty rooms. As Esia conducted her experiments, she had a large smile on her face, wondering what to try on to him.