As the two returned back to the inn, Claud went through the sudden incapacitation of Hulid earlier. The man had dropped like a sack of potatoes right after trying to investigate the cause of the glassy ground, which hinted at the possibility of him using unusual means to do his own investigation.
Hulid probably had an investigation skill or two. Claud knew that most people liked to say some wiseass quip before they used a skill — it was human nature to try and act cool right before they pulled out minor miracles for everyone to wow at.
The problem was the fact that he'd fainted at the moment he presumably used the skill. What did Hulid see? Claud was both curious and worried. For one, this was the first time he'd used Absolute One in a manner that left some traces behind — on second thought, not scorching the ground would probably have been a better move. More importantly, however, was the express fact that he fainted.
Claud walked through the city gates with Lily, and then turned to look at her. "Say, do you know what just happened?"
"Me?" Lily tilted her head. "Well, I'm quite sure the culprit behind these recent murders had nothing to do with Hulid's abrupt loss of consciousness, at least."
Claud nodded. "If the murderer could do that, killing him would be as easy as flipping a palm. Why make it so convoluted?"
"Therefore, there's only one other possible scenario," said Lily.
"One other?" Claud asked. "Why so specific?"
"It's…something I heard from Risti. Investigation skills are very powerful, aren't they? They can pinpoint people's locations, reveal secrets…all sorts of things, depending the exact skill."
Claud nodded. In fact, that had been a persistent worry for him, which was why he had made preparations to scatter traces of his lifeforce and mana throughout Licencia. During the bungled heist at Istrel's treasury, Claud had been forced to use skills in full view of the pursuers. That was the key reason why they had managed to trace his location easily.
"They are very useful," Claud admitted.
"Exactly. However, would the gods tolerate such skills being used on them?" Lily asked. "Evidence about their deeds remain all over the continent, and it is possible that investigating these pieces of evidence would lead to secrets being revealed."
"But…"
"That hasn't happened at all, because there are means to guard or even retaliate against investigative skills," Lily replied. "From what I can tell, the person who killed that Tri-Head Snake probably had such means available to him. That's the only plausible reason as to why Hulid would faint at such a juncture, in front of our eyes."
Claud ran through her words for a moment, and his thoughts drifted over to Absolute One again. From the looks of it, that particular skill was designed to guard against anyone inquiring into it, rather than the user in general. The master thief had come to such a conclusion due to the fact that his location had been pinpointed over and over, but there was nothing about the means the Thief of Time employed to survive ritual magic backed by the White God.
He had wondered about that. Colidra's words had made some assumptions many people took for granted, that people who predated the Third Godsfall were able to disregard such ritual magic with ease. The mechanism behind such a feat, however, wasn't mentioned at all, but everyone had automatically assumed that to be the case.
It was a convenient explanation, but Claud didn't quite believe that the nobles would take that assumption for granted too.
After all, nobles were people who pursued power and earning ability first, weren't they? Lily had attested to that for him, providing a very logical explanation as to why most nobles didn't invest in defensive artefacts and items. It would stand to reason that these people would be very interested in knowing just what aspect of Tot enabled him to stand against divine-backed ritual magic.
However, what if they failed to gather any information about his Absolute One?
That would account for all the vague rumours going on; since there was nothing concrete, all kinds of wild fantasies naturally came into being.
A whirlpool of thoughts roared in his head, and Claud turned his attention back to Lily, who was looking around the city cautiously. "So…you're saying that Hulid used his skill, and was counterattacked by the person who killed that monster."
"Essentially, yes."
"How would one do that?" Claud asked.
"And what makes you think that I would know such a method?" Lily rolled her eyes. "Just because I know a bit more doesn't mean I have all the answers, right?"
"Right. Sorry."
It was a disappointing reply, but as Lily said, that was to be expected. Being able to counterattack someone who was using their skill was apparently something really awesome — Lily's current strength was anything but 'really awesome'.
"Claud," Lily abruptly said. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Go on," the master thief replied.
"Well…do you remember the reason why we're stuck in Nachtville to begin with?" Lily asked. "I mean, now that the snake's pushing up the daisies, shouldn't we check out and begin our journey home?"
"Right! I forgot!" Claud patted his body and checked that the talismans he brought earlier were still on him, before giving a few stacks over to Lily. "Take this first, lest I forget all about them in my anxiety."
"Just tear them, right?" Lily asked.
"Yeah. Effective period of thirty minutes, as per the norm," Claud replied. "Come on, let's hurry up and check out of the inn. I want to get out of Nachtville as quickly as possible."
With the leader of the Dusk Daggers incapacitated and his party members presumably in a fluster, this would be the best moment for the killer to strike. He did not want to be caught up with such issues, which were likely to happen in the next hour or two. Furthermore, it would be the best testament to his and Lily's innocence — how could people who had left a town kill its inhabitants?
Hurrying her along, Claud and Lily ran back to the inn and grabbed their stuff. Checking out with as much haste as possible, the two of them scuttled over to the city gate. Fortunately, virtually no one else had the same idea as the two of them, and as the guards waved them past, the master thief heaved a small sigh of relief.
"Good," said Claud. "We're out."
"Yeah," said Lily. "No more living in inns! We can finally go back home!"
She pumped a fist up, her long black hair dancing in the wind, and the sight made him sigh somewhat. Claud, for some inexplicable reason, found himself lamenting the fact that he wouldn't be able to wake up to the sight of Lily's violet hair. As a fan of Princess Dia, Lily would naturally try to look as similar as possible to her idol, which meant that she would rarely return to her true appearance outside of her room.
Claud sighed once more. He hadn't asked her about how she treated her hair for it to retain such a great quality yet, and he hadn't found a good time to either.
"Something wrong?" Lily asked, her eyes blinking twice.
"I'm just overcome by emotion," Claud replied. "We're finally going back home. Proper bathrooms! Huge beds…ahem. I mean, I didn't mind sharing that bed with you. No offence."
Lily laughed, before smacking his shoulder lightly.
The master thief winced as a mild pain assailed his body, and then broke into laughter too. This whole trip, from start to end, had been a very wild one. Lily had blown up her family's house, while Claud robbed her family's stash of lifestones. They then witnessed a shameless mana-user steal some mana herb from a Tri-Head Snake, and while they sheltered in a town, murders occurred in rapid succession.
At times, they were spectators.
In others, the two of them had played a minor role in all this. To Claud, this was a good memory of their time spent together, and he would be lying if he said that he wouldn't miss the little moments he spent with Lily.
"This whole trip has been one long and weird ride, hasn't it?" Claud asked. "Were you satisfied with its outcome?"
Lily looked at a tall tree to her left and picked up a brown leaf. Staring at it intently, she said, "My goals were all met. To kill one's own family, no matter how distant and monstrous they may be, is a…depressing act. Sometimes, I wondered if I did the right thing. Was there any chance for them to see the light? Could they have repented and turned their powers towards goodwill and kindness?"
She tossed it aside. "I denied them that particular possibility. And yet, I find myself satisfied with what I did."
Claud considered her words for a moment, and then picked up the leaf she'd discarded. "Sometimes, to save others, one must take up the heaviest of sins. You are in that precise, unenviable position, Lily."
"Yes."
"But no matter how others might judge you, know that I approve of your actions," Claud replied. "Even if others find you reprehensible as a result, I will understand and sympathise. Don't give up on yourself. Live on."
His words made Lily chuckle. "What are you, one of the Moons? But well…thank you."
"I was in the mood for a nice, stirring speech. That's all." Claud smiled. "Now, shall we be going?"
"Yes." Lily looked up to the sky. "Let's go home."