Chapter 13 Broom Star 1

The witcher woman's death sentence for the strange cave was changed from "immediate execution" to "suspended execution".

This turn of events also gave me a small sense of relief.

Since the destruction of the cave has been postponed until tomorrow, I can explore it again today.

However, it's uncertain how much progress can be made in such a short time. The most critical issue is that I don't know the pattern of how caves appear and disappear.

Why did the cave appear when Chang'an was alone the night before, and when both Chang'an and I were present, and then disappear after Detective Kong arrived? The answer must lie within this.

I continued to monitor the conversation between Agent Kong and the witcher woman, pondering the terms they had mentioned earlier.

The "fallen witcher" they referred to was undoubtedly the serial killer. Whether it specifically refers to Ma is unknown, but the term itself suggests that a "witcher" is someone who hunts things related to demons. The definition of "demon" likely extends beyond strange places like "caves" and also encompasses fallen witchers.

The so-called "corruption" may refer to the fact that some witch hunters' prey has changed from "demon" to "human," a speculation that echoes the recent criminal behavior of serial killers.

The female demon hunter spoke with a sense of mission to eliminate supernatural beings, and also mentioned that Luoshan should strengthen its cooperation with the public security department. I believe that "Luoshan" is an officially recognized anonymous supernatural organization, or perhaps an anonymous official organization from a different system than the public security department.

Organizations that specialize in handling paranormal events do exist!

I felt an indescribable excitement about this, as if I were witnessing a wild fantasy gradually becoming a reality.

After that, the witcher woman seemed to have nothing more to say to Agent Kong. Agent Kong quickly ended the call, then turned and returned to the neighborhood, arriving at the door of the house.

He took out his key, opened the door, and went inside, checking everything.

He mainly inspected the ritual array on the floor. He didn't rush into the array's interior, but instead walked around it, observing its condition from different angles. He even took out his phone and took several photos of the array.

To avoid being seen by him suddenly turning around, the "firefly" I was controlling simply stuck to his back.

"This shouldn't be happening," he muttered to himself. "Why can this incomplete magic circle still be activated? There's clearly nothing around that could compensate for its flaws..."

He looked around several more times, then finally gave up, casually covered himself with the black plush carpet rolled up beside him, and then turned and left the house.

-

While continuing to monitor Agent Kong, I myself was not idle either.

While maintaining the surveillance, I moved to a nearby computer mall and bought the equipment I would need later when exploring the cave.

After Detective Kong left, I didn't rush back to the house. Instead, I released more "fireflies" inside and outside the neighborhood to check for any suspicious individuals.

Even Agent Kong and the Witcher woman had no idea why the Fallen Witcher would set up a ritual array in that house, so I had to consider the possibility that "the appearance of the cave was in line with the Fallen Witcher's expectations" and that it might have been the result of the Fallen Witcher's deliberate actions.

Did the Fallen Witcher keep a close eye on the activities in the fifteenth-floor room the whole time? While it's unlikely he would have kept a close watch for eight months, it's entirely possible that he did so while the fifteenth-floor room was occupied.

I don't want any unknown, dangerous individuals lurking in the shadows, watching my every move as I explore the cave.

Perhaps landlords should be included on the list of suspects, as they are the ones who know when someone moves in and can reasonably monitor changes in the room.

I'm currently monitoring four different areas simultaneously: the locations of Ma Zao, Chang'an, and Detective Kong, as well as the area inside and outside the apartment complex on the fifteenth floor. In other words, so many scenarios are playing out in my mind at the same time, with the last one being particularly significant. It feels like intensely contemplating multiple unrelated problems at once; even though I've focused most of my attention on the last one, my concentration is rapidly depleting.

I would take short breaks now and then, look at the distant scenery to relax my mind, and then continue my investigation. However, by evening, after searching every possible place, I still couldn't find anyone in or around the neighborhood who fit the "suspicious" description.

Is it really not here, or have I just not found it? I can't afford to spend too much time on this; I still need to explore the cave later.

I probably won't be able to go home tonight, so I need to let Mazao know first. Unfortunately, I don't have a landline at home, and Mazao doesn't have a cell phone (at least I couldn't find one on her last night). It seems I'll have to find some time to go home and tell her.

Perfect timing! I also have some questions that I need to ask her in person.

I'm hungry too, I can go home and have a meal.

...That being said, I feel like I've forgotten something.

-

I quickly returned to my front door.

I saw Mazao before I even opened the door, thanks to the "fireflies" in the room. She was sitting on the sofa in the living room, curled up in a small ball with her knees drawn up to her chest. Her sleeves and trouser legs were rolled up in layers, and her loose clothes made her look even smaller.

She didn't turn on the lights or the TV. She simply sat there silently, gazing at the scenery outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, reminiscent of small home appliances entering standby power-saving mode.

At this moment, the sky outside the French windows was in the twilight period, gradually changing from dark blue to dusky yellow, which made her small figure appear even more melancholy.

I inserted the key into the lock, and the slight sound immediately jolted her awake as if an invisible switch had been flipped, her head turning sharply toward the entrance.

As I opened the door, she swiftly jumped off the sofa, then lost her balance and tripped.

"...What are you doing?" I was speechless.

"..." She stood up, leaning on the coffee table next to her, and put on a stiff face as if to hide her embarrassment.

Then, she slowly walked up to me, circled me twice, and looked me up and down. She then moved closer to examine me more closely, as if trying to find some clues in the gaps in my clothing. She also sniffed from time to time, trying to smell some kind of scent.

Not understanding what she meant, I raised both arms in response to her observation and asked again, "What are you doing?"

She looked up at me, then took two steps back.

"...You're really late." She seemed to be probing something, yet also seemed to be hiding a hint of dissatisfaction.

I told her before I left that I was only going out for a short while, but I ended up spending most of the day outside, which was definitely my fault. Even so, I couldn't tell her the truth, so I could only vaguely say, "I had some things to do with a friend."

"You didn't run into something outside, did you?" she asked, frowning.

"What did you encounter—you mean?" I asked, knowing the answer already.

She began to list them one by one: "For example, have you ever encountered someone who should have been dead suddenly appearing alive in front of you, or roads appearing where they shouldn't be, or limbs and organs that shouldn't grow on your body suddenly and inexplicably growing out of you..."

What was she talking about last? So, among the various calamities she might attract, there was this indescribable phenomenon that sounded like a human genetic mutation...? While mentally complaining, I answered without changing my expression, "No."

She asked, still unsure, "Really not?"

"Really, there isn't." I lied through my teeth, but in fact, "cave" perfectly matched the second criterion she listed.

"That's good." She seemed relieved, as if she felt I had neither the reason nor the courage to lie about this matter.

Then, she hesitated for a moment, glancing at the door behind me, "But I think I should leave first, if I stay here any longer..."

"No!" I blurted out reflexively.

"Huh?" She was startled.

"How could I possibly leave a girl like you, who can't even protect herself, wandering around outside?" I quickly lowered my voice, trying to sound as reliable as possible. "Don't worry, I won't get into any trouble, and I'll do my best to protect you during this time."

"Uh, th, thank you?" She looked completely puzzled.

I know I overreacted, but I couldn't help it; I genuinely didn't want to let her go. Not only were the secrets about her still unsolved, but the thought that this was the first time in so many years I'd encountered such a strange event, and that it might be thanks to her "jinxed" nature, made me want to buy a baby carrier online and carry her like a baby on my body, keeping her close to me 24/7.

I admit that it's really hard for others to believe that I have such thoughts about younger men during my adolescence. Even if I were given the chance, I probably wouldn't actually do it. I'm just saying this to express my feelings.

However, speaking of Asaho's constitution that attracts misfortune, there is something else I must ask.

Although this might make her doubt my past, I feel obligated to confirm it as soon as possible.

I put my backpack next to the shoe cabinet, turned on the living room light switch, and then looked at her.

"Ma Zao, I want to ask you a question, is that alright?"

"Go ahead and ask," Mazao said cautiously. "Whether I answer or not depends on your question."

"The people around you will be affected by your special constitution, making them more likely to encounter strange things. That's what you said before, right?"

"yes."

"Is this phenomenon limited to people around you?" I asked. "Or will it spread further outwards, affecting even those closest to you, leading to strange and dangerous occurrences?"

(End of this chapter)