Whoa, talk about a quick change of attitude. Being able to admit a mistake and apologize right away was a skill in itself. Still, Kalz wasn’t about to let Leon off that easily.
“My, my. Is it really alright for a young lord who fights for his village to bow to a monster?”
“I have no excuse. Witnessing something beyond my common sense made me lose my mind for a moment. I was wrong to accuse you right away. I sincerely apologize.”
“Oh? So losing your mind should earn automatic forgiveness now? When exactly did Imperial Law become so generous?”
“I’m not asking you to forgive me immediately. I’ll apologize until you decide to accept it.”
Despite Kalz’s mocking tone, Leon didn’t budge from his ninety-degree bow. Well, at least his remorse seemed sincere enough. I leaned closer and whispered softly into Kalz’s ear.
“Just forgive him already.”
“And why would I do that?”
“Because the longer you drag this out, the more troublesome it’ll get for you. He’s annoyingly persistent.”
“……”
Kalz, clearly knowing what I meant, didn’t argue further. Instead, he waved dismissively at Leon.
“Enough. I’ll consider your apology accepted, so quit it already. But why are you speaking informally?”
“Oh, since we’re comrades now?”
“And who gave you permission for that? Have you forgotten? I knew your ancestors personally.”
“Just let it go. He always talks casually to men,” I interrupted.
“Bell, that’s—!”
Leon turned bright red, clearly reminded of some embarrassing past event. Kalz smirked, his lips curling mockingly.
“How discriminatory for someone so young…”
“Oh, come to think of it, aren’t you exactly the same? I almost forgot.”
At my words, Kalz’s expression matched Leon’s embarrassed face, silencing him mid-sentence.
“Ahem! In any case, what’s your next move?”
“As I said earlier, we need to find the true culprit.”
“But do we really have to meddle in the village’s problems? By now, even that kid knows I’m not the culprit.”
“Leon’s misunderstanding has cleared up, but the villagers still suspect you. As long as they do, the castle isn’t safe either.”
“Even so, I oppose working together. Who knows when he might suddenly turn hostile again?”
“Again, I’m truly sorry—”
“Obviously, Leon was wrong to break his promise, barge in uninvited, and threaten you with a blade. But, ironically, without him, you might have had to face angry villagers unprepared. Regardless of intention, it worked out well. Just think of it as a forced vaccination you didn’t ask for. Besides, after the beating he took earlier, do you really think he’ll attack again? Unless drooling in pain is his hobby.”
“Bell, I’m standing right here…”
“What?”
“Never mind. As long as you know.”
Leon quietly turned his head away, looking as faded as the wallpaper of an abandoned house. Well, not that it mattered to me.
“The top priority right now is catching the culprit as soon as possible. Let’s set personal feelings aside and cooperate. Leon, that goes for you too. If you’re truly sorry, then actively help us search for the criminal. We need to prevent more victims from appearing.”
Leon quickly regained his enthusiasm, his eyes shining brightly.
“Absolutely! Just tell me what you need me to do.”
Honestly, I had no idea myself. I wasn’t a detective or police officer. All I could rely on was what I’d read in mystery novels.
“First, let’s gather information. Leon, tell us everything you already know—the victims’ details, any similarities between them, the time of the crimes, possible grudges, suspects—things like that.”
“Well, all I know is that all three victims were women. After disappearing, their bodies turned up near the village sometime later. For the details you’re asking for, I’ll need to do some digging. Leave that part to me.”
If anyone was suited to questioning the villagers, it was Leon. I’d personally witnessed just how extensive his connections were.
“Then, in the meantime, we’ll investigate the wolves and other predators living in the mountains. The bodies had bite marks, right? If a beast from the mountains was responsible, there might be some traces left. That okay with you, Kalz?”
“No problem.”
“Understood, Bell. Once my investigation is done, I’ll return here. That works, right?”
“Yes. Kalz obviously can’t head down into the village.”
Though when the time came to catch the culprit, he’d inevitably have to go down there. Right now, he was practically useless outside the castle walls. All that muscle wasted because we couldn’t even use him.
Disappointed, I glanced toward Kalz, who subtly avoided my gaze. At that moment, Leon suddenly shouted as if he’d remembered something.
“Oh, right! The masks!”
“What masks?”
“Bell, don’t you remember? That day we played badminton—right before leaving, I told you something.”
What was it again? I tried to retrace the conversation.
“You’re coming down at the end of next month, right?”
“I don’t really have plans. Why?”
“What do you mean why? Don’t you know, Bell? It’s the day of the festival—the biggest event in Swalter.”
“Oh, a festival? Sounds fun.”
“Then make sure you come. It’d be even better if your hyung joined too.”
“Nah, he’d never go. He’s not the type to enjoy outings.”
“I still think he might like it, though. He always wears a mask anyway, right?”
“What’s that got to do with anything?”
“Actually, it’s a Mask Festival. It’s held in honor of a goddess who once came down to help people in disguise. Everyone wears masks during the event.”
The Mask Festival—that was it. If everyone was masked, Kalz could move around freely without drawing attention.
“But with recent deaths in the village, will they still hold the festival?”
“They won’t cancel it. The festival’s also about praying to the goddess for a year of health and happiness. They might even make it grander this year to comfort the victims’ families.”
“Well, that’s reassuring.”
“…If you two are done whispering secrets, perhaps you could fill me in?”
Kalz frowned, annoyed at being excluded.
“Still, wouldn’t it be risky? Festivals usually mean large crowds.”
“Actually, that might be better. With so many people around, attention will be dispersed. Even if they see someone unfamiliar, they’ll assume you’re just another visitor.”
“But what if the mask falls off?”
“We’ll tie it tightly so it won’t come loose. Even if it does, we can say you’re wearing a lion mask underneath. No one will notice unless they stare closely.”
“Exactly. Plus, we’ll be right beside you, so don’t worry too much.”
Kalz didn’t readily agree. Understandably, after a hundred years secluded in the castle, stepping out into a crowded area would naturally be daunting—especially now, when suspicion of murder loomed over him.
