One-Eyed Monster

Pifu’s words jolted Bunan back to reality.

He couldn’t believe what was happening. Just moments ago, Lord Babasha had been fine. How had everything gone so wrong in the short time it took him to relieve himself?

This is abnormal, Bunan thought. There’s definitely something wrong. How could Lord Babasha’s eyes turn milky white and blood pour from his mouth?

Bunan’s mind was in chaos. The wine bottle was still in his hand, its rim smeared with Mayor Babasha’s blood.

”What are you still doing standing there!” Pifu shrieked, jolting Bunan. ”Run, now!”

Upstairs, faint RUSTLING sounds indicated that the sleeping tenants had been disturbed by the commotion downstairs and were waking up.

”If you don’t run now, you won’t be able to once they come down!” Pifu urged him again.

”Uh, for me...” Bunan began, wanting to say something, but his mind was blank. He could only instinctively utter a few irrelevant words before turning and bolting out of the tavern.

”Run and don’t look back! I’ll handle things here.”

Those were the last words Bunan heard from Pifu as he fled the tavern.

Bunan’s mind was a complete blank; all he knew was that he had to run.

The morning star in the sky was gradually dimming. The gloom of night began to lighten, clearly signaling that the sun was about to rise. Night was ending, and dawn was slowly breaking.

But Bunan had no mind for such things; he just had to keep running. He didn’t even register the wine bottle still clutched in his hand.

Mayor Babasha, blood seeping from his mouth, was sprawled motionless in his chair.

”What on earth happened?” Guard Goding asked. He seemed relatively calm and showed no surprise.

”I don’t know!” Pifu said, looking innocent. To be fair, he truly didn’t know what had happened.

”Then how are you so sure your companion is the murderer?”

”Because that bastard was just forcing wine from the bottle into Mayor Babasha’s mouth! He had a sinister smile on his face, without a trace of sympathy or pity,” Pifu said, standing opposite Guard Goding and enunciating each word clearly.

”So, you’re the one who made all this noise?” Goding rubbed his eyes. Clearly, being abruptly woken by shouting wasn’t a pleasant experience, made worse by the fact that he now faced a murder case.

Goding wasn’t a Politician specializing in solving crimes. He had no good way to handle the current situation; all he could do was listen to what others said.

However, as the highest-ranking person currently in the tavern, Goding had no choice but to patiently listen to Pifu recount the entire incident from beginning to end.

Pifu spoke clearly and precisely, a stark contrast to when he played cards. Back then, he’d get so nervous he would stutter. Yet now, with a dead man in front of him, he wasn’t nervous at all; his speech was incredibly smooth.

”That’s how it was. When I came downstairs, that fellow Bunan was already fleeing in a panic with that problematic bottle of wine.”

”Uh, then why didn’t you chase after him? If you had caught him, wouldn’t that have solved everything?” a League Guard beside Goding couldn’t help but ask.

”You’re right, sir. But I’m just an ordinary student from the Yonder Travel Academy. I haven’t even fully grasped Spirit Sensing. How could I dare to test my skills against a madman?” Pifu finished, looking apprehensive, as if he too had been frightened by the situation.

In such a situation, it would be perfectly normal to be at a loss. But while Pifu looked flustered, there was no hint of nervousness about him. Apart from his panicked expression, his demeanor showed no sign of alarm.

His diction was clear, his words flowed smoothly without any repetition. He was like an exceptionally calm expert, awaiting the chance to deliver a final blow.

This was a battle without smoke or fire. Seemingly calm on the surface, it actually concealed murderous intent. Pifu didn’t know what was wrong with him. He should have been trying his best to cover for Bunan, yet he kept insisting on pinning the murder on Bunan, as if determined to doom him.

From Pifu’s words, Guard Goding understood what had happened. The general course of events was simple: this young man named Pifu had been woken by the need to urinate. Afterward, he coincidentally encountered his companion, another young man named Bunan. For some reason, Bunan had lost his mind and dared to pour Lord Babasha a drink...

And Lord Babasha, at that moment, already looked like he was on his last breath...

All signs indicated that this young man named Bunan was the murderer. Everything was inextricably linked to him.

However, apprehending a murderer isn’t the job of a League Guard of Luona like me, Goding thought, stretching lazily. In truth, he didn’t really care what had happened.

”Mayor Babasha’s death needs to be handled by the local Administrative Office. We must quickly notify that... Ruth...”

”It’s not Ruth, it’s Rostellum!” the Fighter behind Goding corrected.

”I... know.” Guard Goding was rather displeased that his subordinate had interrupted him. ”Alright, you then. I wouldn’t trust anyone else. Go quickly and inform that Lus...”

”It’s Rostellum!” the Fighter repeated.

”Oh, just hurry up. Don’t get bogged down in these details.”

「Meanwhile, Bunan had run until he was gasping for breath.」

How did I become a murderer? Bunan couldn’t understand any of what had happened.

Why did I run? How am I a murderer? This has nothing to do with me! Why did I run? Why did I run?

Bunan was going a little crazy. He couldn’t understand what had happened at all, or why his legs had just carried him off without his control back then.

And why did Pifu tell me to run without saying anything else? I ran out, leaving Pifu there next to the body. That doesn’t make sense either.

Will Pifu also be treated as a murderer by others?

Wouldn’t that be awful? What’s the use of me running away then?

Bunan increasingly felt that something was wrong. My conscience was clear, why did I have to run?

By running, didn’t I just admit I was the murderer? Isn’t this confessing without being pressed?

This...

It was truly a foolish decision. My head was just hot at the time, not thinking straight...

Pifu is also to blame for this. If he hadn’t been fanning the flames by my ear, I probably wouldn’t have panicked so much. Now, it’s all over; everything is set in stone.

This run of mine has destined me to be unable to clear my name, even if I jumped into the great river.

So incredibly stupid! Truly...

The more critical question was, where was he going to go now?

Where can I run to?

The mountains?

Perhaps that’s the only way. If I go to the mountains, I might be able to find Young Master. He will definitely have a solution.