When the Serial Killer Next Door Gained Harem System

Chapter 132: “Hope I succeed, huh?”

The students erupted into cheers, some of them even raising their fists. So Sora got all the praise, huh? Fine by me. I wasn’t here for praise or rewards anyway. Still, even though those two were caught, there was still the third suspect out there, and I needed to find him sooner rather than later. The only thing I knew for sure was that he might be a noble and that he was somehow connected to Jelda. That was enough for me to keep going.

I didn’t have much, but it was enough. I couldn’t just let this drop when I was this close, especially not after that bastard had sent men after me in the Circle. This had become personal, and I had no intention of backing off.

"That is all," the headmaster said. "Now go back to your classes. And if any strangers bother you, come find me or one of the guards."

"As if," Jayden muttered beside me. "They can’t even afford to put more guards in the dormitory street."

"Tough times, Mr. Mi," Professor Kroua said from behind us. "Deal with it."

"Oh..." Jayden nearly jumped out of his skin and turned around fast. "Sorry, Professor. I didn’t see you there."

She ignored him completely and turned her attention to me instead. "Mr. Walker, let’s have a quick chat before class starts."

"O... okay?"

The students started moving toward their classes while I stayed behind with the professor. She tilted her head and gestured for me to follow, which I did, and we made our way slowly through the crowd toward her office. It should have taken maybe ten seconds, but with all the students in the way it took nearly a full minute before we finally got there.

Once we reached the office, she pushed the door open and stepped inside. I followed her in and closed the door behind me while she crossed the room with slow, measured steps and sat down behind her desk.

"I heard about the two who got caught," she said. "Neither of them were connected to Jelda."

"Hmm," I muttered, moving a little closer to the desk.

"What Jelda told us makes me think there’s another suspect."

"I don’t think so," I lied. "I trust the District Captain, Professor."

Of course I was lying. If I found the third guy and killed him, whatever business he had with Jelda would eventually come to light. I didn’t want the attention turning toward me, so denying the third suspect was the smart move. If the Queen thought the case was closed, then maybe she wouldn’t start looking too closely at what really happened.

"Really now?" she asked. "Do you honestly believe they got all of them?"

"Of course. I trust the..."

"I know you killed those two," she said, leaning back in her chair. "Don’t take me for a fool, boy."

"I haven’t," I said. "That’s the honest truth."

"Mr. Marble told me everything," she replied with a quiet sigh. "He is the Queen’s brother, remember? What she knows, someone whispers into his ear as well. I also know Ken was with you. And I know both of you were punished and sent to the Circle to gather Junglereaper and Rabbit’s Thorn, twenty of each."

"Wow," I said with a small nod. "That is a lot of information. Do you also know, Professor, that there’s a third suspect? Maybe someone whispered that into Mr. Marble’s ear too?"

She didn’t answer. Instead, her eyes narrowed slightly as she studied me, and then she stood up and walked around the desk until she was standing right in front of me. I must have annoyed her a little, but I wasn’t about to admit the third suspect out loud. Not a chance.

"I know what your plan is," she said. "And I hope you succeed, Walker."

I didn’t say anything.

"Now get out."

"Yes, ma’am."

I left the office and shut the door behind me. Damn. She was smart. Probably saw right through my lies, and if so, she definitely wasn’t bluffing.

I exhaled and looked out at the students moving back toward their classes.

"Hope I succeed, huh?"

ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎

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Location Discovered!

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Name: Meida District

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Region: Toakwood

Objective:

○ Find the phantom chests.

○ Complete four quests.

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Gained EXP: +27

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I knocked on the door and waited.

According to Pix, Jelda’s father had died of an illness a few years ago, and after that her mother had moved out of Bildirweight, which was probably the most prestigious district in the entire city, and settled here in Meida instead. The difference between the two places was almost ridiculous. Bildirweight had wide streets, polished stone, and people who looked like they belonged there, while Meida looked worn down and tired, like the city had forgotten about it. Street vendors stood on nearly every corner trying to sell whatever they could get their hands on, from skewered rat to peeled bananas to roasted chicken, and the smell of cheap food hung in the air as people moved past in loose, busy clusters.

The streets were still crowded, just not nearly as crowded as Bildirweight, and there was far less horse traffic too. Most of the roads were muddy or dirty from constant use, and even the guards here looked different. Their armor was dull, their weapons were worn, and none of them had that polished shine the guards in the other district had.

I was standing on a narrow street with only four houses on it. Two of them had small front gardens, while the one I stood in front of had none. The houses were lined up so close together that each one looked like it had only just enough space to exist, and across from them sat a few abandoned buildings. One had once been a blacksmith, and the other seemed to be some kind of prayerhouse, though the sign above the door was so weathered I could barely read it anymore.

A few seconds later, the door opened.