Everyone took Isaac to inquire about the news from the local residents.
“Paimon: Excuse me, have you seen where those missing scholars went?”
“Kasan: You mean the village guardians? Hmm… let me think… A few days ago, during dinner, I saw one of them muttering by the roadside about eating Mushrooms, or tree roots… You can’t just eat those randomly!”
“Paimon: Anything else?”
“Kasan: Huh? I don’t think so, sorry.”
Everyone went to question a few more local residents, but the harvest was still mediocre.
“Cyno: Hmm?”
“Paimon: What’s wrong, Cyno?”
“Cyno: Shh… don’t talk, follow me!”
“Qixuan-jie: Let’s go, he must have found something.”
Everyone quietly followed him and then arrived behind a wall, where two people were talking.
“Cyno: Shh… listen to what they’re saying.”
………………
“Shabei: Have you heard? Our master, the great Scarlet King, is about to be resurrected!”
“Mabei: Of course, Lord Scarlet King is the master of this land. I have never trusted any god other than him. But, you said he’s about to be resurrected, yet life seems to be going on as usual… Is there any basis for this?”
(Shabei, Mabei, try pronouncing them normally.)
“Shabei: Haven’t you noticed? The number of madmen sent to the village recently is more than usual. I heard Deliwah mention that before the Scarlet King’s civilization was destroyed, various kinds of people fell into madness across the land. For some reason, 【madness】 is always related to the Scarlet King.”
(Qixuan-jie: Nonsense, of course it’s related. Who do you think caused it?)
“Shabei: Those mad scholars have all disappeared. Isn’t that the Scarlet King’s summons? In my opinion, they must have been chosen as sacrifices necessary for the Scarlet King’s resurrection!”
“Mabei: Now that you mention it, it really sounds like something is happening, haha. Does this mean we’re finally going to have a good life?”
“Mabei: Exactly, to hell with the city folk! Haha!”
Cyno couldn’t hold back anymore, walked out, and everyone followed him.
“Cyno: Now, tell me everything you just said, in detail.”
“Shabei: Oh my god?!”
“Mabei: Who are you! Where did you come from?!”
“Cyno: I have no patience. You heard what I said.”
Cyno took out his spear.
“Qixuan-jie: I have to say, he’s a quick learner.”
“Paimon: Uh… isn’t that a bit too violent?”
“Qixuan-jie: Does Paimon think I love nuclear peace?”
“Paimon: …………”
“Shabei: Ah! O-Old bro, this kid is terrifying, like he could devour us alive at any moment…”
“Mabei: I-I can’t beat him.”
“Shabei: Sir, sir, then… what do you want to know?”
“Cyno: What’s this about the Scarlet King’s resurrection?”
“Shabei: I… I also heard it from others. That day, I went drinking and heard a rumor that madmen would disappear, and the Scarlet King would soon be resurrected and rule this place again. I didn’t make this up…”
“Cyno: …………”
“Mabei: Tell him everything, hurry up and tell him!”
“Shabei: This… Sir, we are all good people. We’ve told you everything. The Desertfolk have long been unable to tolerate those Akademiya fellows. They throw all the madmen here and don’t let us live a good life…”
“Mabei: Yes, Sir, would you be willing to live such a life? So, the radicals were even happier than me when they heard this. We all look forward to the Scarlet King’s early return.”
“Shabei: Deliwah also said that as long as the Scarlet King is resurrected, conquering the land near the Sandbreak Wall is only a matter of time. They are all willing to contribute and achieve military exploits under the Scarlet King.”
“Cyno: Is that so…………”
“Mabei: He seems to want to keep asking, say more!”
“Shabei: Uh, okay! I-I originally thought, how can words from a drinking table be taken seriously? But it’s just that so many mad scholars who came recently have disappeared… It’s completely consistent with the rumors. You can’t lay a hand on me just because I told a rumor! Otherwise… otherwise, everyone in this place is guilty! Everyone is like me!”
“Paimon: So the people here support the Scarlet King so much and hate the Grass God…”
“Qixuan-jie: It’s a competitive relationship, why wouldn’t it be?”
“Lumine: They probably hate the Akademiya more than the Grass God.”
“Cyno: Where are the radicals you mentioned?”
“Shabei: I haven’t seen him these past few days, he should be out of the village… Hey! Have you seen him?”
“Mabei: No, no! We wouldn’t dare to lie, he really isn’t here.”
“Cyno: It sounds like the radicals don’t have a deep relationship with you.”
“Mabei: Of course, of course! We only know their names.”
“Cyno: I have many ways to make you unable to speak, and many ways to make you lose the ability to tip off others. Stay home honestly, and don’t let me know if any of you try to contact each other.”
“Both: Yes, yes!”
“Cyno: Don’t act rashly before I investigate this matter, otherwise… Candace won’t be able to protect you.”
“Shabei: Okay, okay, we remember!”
The two scurried away.
………………
“Paimon: Cyno looks so scary when he interrogates people.”
“Cyno: Hmm…”
“Paimon: He didn’t refute at all, as if he’s used to it. Could it be that he’s afraid of Qixuan-jie?”
“Lumine: Paimon, don’t talk nonsense.”
“Qixuan-jie: Pffft…”
“Cyno: ……… I heard that.”
“Paimon: Ah! I’m sorry!”
“Qixuan-jie: Don’t mind him, Paimon always can’t control his mouth, and he even gives nicknames to gods, right, Lumine?”
“Lumine: Haha…”
“Cyno: I don’t mind. The work and duty of a matra are like this. The rumors just now can be listed as one of the clues, but we still need to go to more places.”
“Lumine: Let’s go check out those scholars’ homes?”
“Cyno: Alright.”
“Paimon: Hey! Isaac! Where’s your grandpa’s house?”
“Isaac: Ah! I’m here, I know, I’ll take everyone there.”
Everyone was led to a simple tent.
“Paimon: It’s so desolate.”
“Lumine: Hmm? This smell…”
“Qixuan-jie: What’s wrong? Did you smell the incense?”
“Lumine: Yes, that’s right.”
“Paimon: Incense? Ah! It’s not that, is it?!”
“Lumine: Mm.”
Paimon quickly checked Lumine’s body, asking if she felt uncomfortable or dizzy.
“Cyno: There’s a smell I can’t detect, but you can…?”
“Paimon: Lumine was once knocked out by this smell, and later rescued by Tighnari and his friends, and went through a long period of related special training…”
“Cyno: You actually know Tighnari?”
“Paimon: Huh? You know him too? Are you friends?”
“Cyno: Yes, if I concentrate, I can indeed smell the incense.”
“Paimon: You weren’t also specially trained by Tighnari, were you?”
“Cyno: No, no need.”
“Lumine: I… I’m not very good with this smell…”
“Cyno: The last time you smelled this scent, was it at Tighnari’s house?”
“Lumine: It was in a forest where a scholar was practicing.”
“Cyno: Forest… scholar.”
“Qixuan-jie: Alright, let’s split up. It will be more efficient.”
Everyone searched for clues throughout the simple camp.
“Cyno: …………”
“Paimon: What are you looking for?”
“Cyno: Got it, look here.”
As Cyno pointed to the ground, many footprints appeared, but they were very faint.
“Paimon: Uh… I can’t see anything.”
“Cyno: Very subtle traces, mostly covered by sand, but these are footprints. You can tell they are adult male footprints. This pattern… common local footwear, local shoes… they are villagers.”
(Are there any villagers in the comment section?)
“Cyno: The scent is very faint, but it’s there, and the footprints all lead outside the door.”
“Lumine: You mean someone else was here?”
“Isaac: But who would come looking for Grandpa? He doesn’t have any friends.”
“Qixuan-jie: Have you forgotten the effect of incense on scholars, Lumine?”
“Lumine: …I see, he was led away by someone, using incense.”
“Paimon: Eh? Can people be led away just by smell?”
“Qixuan-jie: It’s like Paimon can’t move when he encounters delicious food.”
“Lumine: This kind of incense has a great attraction for scholars.”
“Paimon: This analogy… why does it feel a bit strange?”
“Cyno: That’s right, scholars mostly like incense. It’s said that smelling these scents can calm the mind and help in the pursuit of knowledge. Being led away by this scent shows that even if they fall into madness, they still yearn for the years of pursuing knowledge.”
“Isaac: Grandpa…”
“Paimon: Darn it, what good does doing something like this do for the culprit?”
“Lumine: For the Scarlet King’s resurrection?”
“Qixuan-jie: Do you really believe that?”
“Lumine: But… it’s the only rumor right now.”
“Qixuan-jie: Unless you see him crawl out of the ground, seeing is believing.”
“Paimon: Alright, alright, but… specifically taking away people who have gone mad, is that related to those so-called radicals?”
“Isaac: Please save my grandpa! Grandpa has never done anything bad, please help him!”
Isaac was very sad and worried.
“Paimon: Since that’s the case, let’s go chase them back! Isaac, don’t worry, we won’t let the bad guys get away.”
“Cyno: First, let’s go back to Aru Village, summarize these matters for the relevant personnel, and then set off to find the people.”
Qixuan-jie shook her head and said, “That’s too slow. Let’s split into two groups. Cyno will go report, and we’ll go find the people.”
“Cyno: …………Okay.”
………………
“Paimon: Uh… where should we go next?”
“Lumine: …………”
“Qixuan-jie: Dehya is already on her way. Let’s wait for her at Caravan Ribat.”
“Paimon: Eh? Why is Dehya coming? She… hmm”
Paimon was pulled away by Lumine before he could finish speaking.
……………… Caravan Ribat
“Paimon: We’re back here again.”
“Dehya: Hmm? You’re here? Haha, you’re quite familiar with the place now.”
“Paimon: Although I don’t know why we’re here, I still trust Qixuan-jie.”
“Lumine: Can this high wall really block the sandstorms?”
Lumine quickly changed the subject.
“Dehya: When I was little, I had the same question as you. Why does this high wall exist? Can sandstorms really be blocked by a wall?”
“Lumine: …………”
“Dehya: Only when I grew up did I understand that the Sandbreak Wall not only isolates the sandstorms but also rejects people like us.”
“Sumeru is controlled by great sages. In their hearts, the Desertfolk are simply irrelevant, just tools that exist when necessary, cheap labor, livestock that can be easily ordered around… That’s all.”
“Lumine: Dehya…”
“Qixuan-jie: Let her speak. The resentment of the Desert has accumulated for too long.”
“Dehya: Even if a child from the Desert has the opportunity to apply for all instructions issued by the Akasha Terminal, almost all of them are rejected. In the Akademiya, we have no qualifications. Except for a once-in-a-century genius like Setaria, ordinary children basically have no chance to rise… even though they actually know that we are human just like them.”
“Paimon: How can this be…”
“Qixuan-jie: Paimon, there are many things in the world that are not as beautiful as you imagine. The world is unfair, but precisely because of this, we must live well and change things, for all the beautiful things in this world.”
“Dehya: Haha, Miss Qixuan-jie is very right, but… sometimes… I really want to destroy this wall with my own hands.”
“Lumine: (Dehya’s gaze doesn’t seem fake?)”
“Paimon: Hey… Dehya, you, you’re not thinking something terrible right now, are you?”
“Dehya: No, no, sorry, I just passed by here and felt something. Aren’t we here to gather information?”
“Paimon: Right! We’re here to catch…”
“Qixuan-jie: Paimon, lower your voice.”
“Dehya: Miss Qixuan-jie is right. There’s a lot of movement of people around Caravan Ribat, so speak cautiously and don’t let anyone discover our purpose.”
“Lumine: Then let’s start now.”
“Dehya: Hmm, let’s check the tavern. There might be someone I know there.”
………………
“Dehya: Hmm… what bad luck, none of those people are here.”
“Paimon: Ah? Can’t find anyone?”
Just then, a man sitting over there stood up and said, “Dehya? Haha, what a coincidence, you’re here for a drink too?”
“Dehya: Zaqi? Great, at least there’s an old friend here.”
“Zaqi: What’s wrong? Oh, those people around you, are they guests from out of town?”
“Lumine: Yes, hello.”
“Zaqi: Hello, hello! My name is Zaqi, and I’m Dehya’s… What do we call it? Drinking buddy!”
“Dehya: Haha, we’ve had a few drinks together, so of course we’re old friends. They’re very polite, right? You rarely meet such friendly and humble outsiders.”
(Qixuan-jie: Those who spoke ill have already gone to meet the one in the sky.)
“Zaqi: Of course, much more likable than the people on the other side of the Sandbreak Wall. So Dehya? Are you looking for someone?”
“Dehya: Have you seen Engul, Deliwah, and Jabari recently?”
“Zaqi: I have, we were drinking here together a few days ago.”
“Dehya: I have a business deal for spices from other countries, and I want Deliwah and his brothers to help me. Do you know where he is?”
“Zaqi: Oh my god, you’re so kind. You wouldn’t happen to know that Deliwah hasn’t been doing well recently and isn’t earning money, so you specifically came to help him, would you?”
“Dehya: Keep your voice down, this isn’t an above-board business. We all make a living here, so let’s make money together.”
“Zaqi: Hahaha, you’re too kind, Dehya. Deliwah is also my friend, so of course I’ll take you to him for such a good thing. Follow me.”
Everyone nodded to each other and followed him.
………………