Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

"I actually didn't figure out the anomaly in the price by myself; it was Priest Augustus who helped find the information from the Church," Shard stated.

The doctor gestured for the old cleric with grayish-white hair to speak. The latter nodded, his graying hair appearing particularly decayed under the dim glow of the gas lamp:

"About 100 years ago, a horrifying murder occurred at No. 6, Saint Delan Square. According to Church records, it was actually two Sorcerers of Nine Rings, of unknown origin, who fought there and almost simultaneously died. Subsequent investigation reports indicated that they had lost control due to reading a large number of ancient books.

Even though the Church believed this wouldn't affect the house itself, since then, most of the house's subsequent owners have died within its walls."

"This sounds like the beginning of a horror story..."

Shard thought to himself, then realized something else:

"Wait a minute, it seems like I'm the protagonist?"

The old cleric paused for a moment before continuing:

"The Church couldn't find any problems with the house and could only seal it off after purchasing it about thirty years ago. It was only after repeated checks two years ago that they sold the old house at a low price.

However, wealthy people who tried to consult the housing prices at Saint Delan Square cared a great deal about such taboos; the poor, who didn't care about these matters, would never ask about housing prices there. In the end, somehow, it ended up being bought by Sparrow Hamilton."

It sounded like the former detective had picked up a bargain, then died.

"Did the detective know about the house?"

Miss Luisa asked curiously, as Miss Writer was very interested in such matters.

"Of course, the Church wouldn't hide such things, and they informed him about the past incidents with the house at the time.

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For safety, they sealed off the first floor where the accident happened a hundred years ago before the detective bought it, cut off the stairs to the third floor that had some safety issues due to long-term lack of maintenance, and locked up room number two on the second floor where a mass suicide had taken place seventy years earlier... Unexpectedly, this owner also ended up dying in that house."

The old cleric couldn't help but clutch the pendant on his chest, praying for Mr. Sparrow Hamilton's soul to rest in peace.

Shard, who thought he had an overly active imagination, was starting to get worried. Outlanders like him had heard many such stories:

"So, I..."

"But I don't think Sparrow Hamilton's death was due to a curse, which is different from before. Previous house owners all died unexpectedly within a few months, with no discernable cause; whereas the detective's death occurred after living there for two years, and even his cause of death could be determined," Dr. Schneider said, his blue eyes looking toward Shard.

"Of course, if you find the house uncomfortable to live in, you can sell it, but because of Sparrow Hamilton's death... the price is likely to drop even further," he advised, quite reasonably.

"I don't plan to sell it just yet. If it weren't for the detective agency located in the city center, no one would take a detective with no reputation like me seriously. Besides, even if I sold the house, I wouldn't be able to use that money to buy a better one in Tobesk...

I learned from the newspaper that there are low-priced houses for sale in Tobesk University District, but the prices are truly more despairing than a Relic gone out of control," he said, and Miss Luisa immediately showed a look of agreement. The solitary blonde girl was also paying attention to such news.

Since Shard didn't have the money to move right away, he planned to live there for a few months to try it out and would move out immediately if any problem arose.

According to the information provided by the cleric, before their sudden deaths, all of the former owners had heard strange sounds in the house and seen suspicious shadows. Those who became alert because of this and moved out didn't encounter trouble, but those who continued to live there all died.

"This now looks even more like a tacky horror story, and I'm still the protagonist," he thought to himself before asking:

"Although the house belongs to Detective Sparrow and I have his will, I have not seen any proof of real estate or land ownership."

The Old Cleric waved his hand upon hearing this, his face relaxed:

"Those documents are at the Dawn Chapel where I am located. The detective stored them there, after all, the church has its concerns too. If you want to claim them back, just bring his will to me. Dawn Chapel is in the Tobesk Central Urban Area, a half-hour walk from Saint Delan Square. The tree-lined path near the church is quite nice, and there are plenty of public carriages."

"But to keep the church from suspecting anything about the detective's death and potentially initiating a new investigation into the house and eventually you, I'll help you get a death certificate for Sparrow Hamilton's illness and passing... This is not about making fake documents, what I get will definitely be real... consider it a gift for joining us. I won't charge you for this help."

So, the death of Detective Sparrow Hamilton was completely sealed. With the documentation sufficient to deceive the True God Church, no one apart from Shard and the doctor would ever know the secret of the detective's death.

Before concluding their meeting that day, Shard brought up the matter of his Scribe Level Relic, the Vampire Ring. Regrettably, none of the three present had ever come into contact with this [Relic]. However, the doctor mentioned that he could make inquiries through parchment to the Academy Library, though this likely wouldn't yield quick results.

Now that Shard owned two [Relics], and both were of a higher danger level, he could be considered a fairly wealthy Circle Sorcerer. The doctor suggested that once he mastered one or two powerful Arcane Techniques and Sorcery for self-defense, he could begin reading 'The Mad Light Chaser.'

"No one will supervise your self-study progress; you are responsible for yourself," were Dr. Schneider's words of advice to Shard before they parted.

But after leaving the clinic, Priest Augustus told Shard not to mind the doctor's attitude:

"Bill is always like that; he may seem strict with people, but he is kinder than anyone."

He said this as he packed tobacco into his pipe, seeming as if he had been restraining himself for a long time at the clinic.

"We have all faced his reprimands; you'll understand after spending more time with him."

Miss Luisa said so as well, stepping onto a carriage and departing straight from the clinic's door, while Shard and Priest Augustus, being relatively less wealthy, both planned to walk away.

Shard had to find a carriage to take his books back home, but a regular rental might not have enough space, so he planned to head to the nearest rental company.

Shard noticed that Miss Luisa had been frequently attempting to touch her earlobe today, yet this lady bore no jewelry on her ears. She had not exhibited such peculiar behavior when they last met.

He shared his observation with the Old Cleric accompanying him, and at the next intersection where they parted ways, Priest Augustus told Shard not to worry about it:

"It's normal for Circle Sorcerers to act oddly occasionally due to the presence of 'another self.' But as long as it's not a loss of control due to engaging with a Relic or ancient knowledge, those peculiarities are nothing to be concerned about."

The priest chuckled, walking with Shard on Rontgen Avenue in the affluent area. Here, the people going about their business were well dressed, and the attire of Shard and the priest just barely passed muster:

"Since a year ago, Luisa has been acting a little odd every few days. What you see now is still considered normal. Last summer, we even suspected that she was possessed by another spirit while reading an Ancient Fairy Tale."

Shard stiffened at the mention and didn't dare continue discussing the possibility of spirits possessing bodies. But this also informed him that even seemingly normal Circle Sorcerers may have peculiarities unknown to others.

Circle Sorcerers are never truly safe scholars.