Pulchra the Detective

(Authors Note: This chapter and the following couple will be done from the point of view of Pulchra. So if the writing feels different than normal, it's because I'm writing from the point of view of someone who thinks differently than Quis.)

"I don't know what you're talking about. I do not feel a single shred of anguish from being protected by a strong female."

That was when I developed a curiosity for him. Did he actually believe in those words? Or did he just say that to get out of the situation? If he believed those words, could he be different from the others? I wanted to know more about him. It would be creepy if I just engaged him for no reason, so I would spy on him.

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The bar? Why would he go here? Is he a drunkard… I hope the first man to gain my interest wasn't an alcoholic, what could I say about my tastes then? Huh?

No, this is just pure curiosity. It would be weird to talk to someone I already publicly outed as an enemy. I'll just stalk him… No, I'll spy on him. I will spy on him and make sure he doesn't do anything strange. It's my duty as the grand-niece of the Sect Leader.

Is he meeting a friend? Who is that? Is he a graduate? I guess this Quis fellow is good at making connections with others. But this man seems like quite the drunkard himself, I guess I'll have a drink while I make sure he doesn't do anything creepy.

I've been watching him for a while, but all he does is sip his beer and ask Beulus questions. Questions…? Is he gathering information about where he is? I guess he truly does have memory loss to be asking so many basic questions. But his questions are so strategically asked… Is he actually super smart?!

I wondered about this for a while, but I ended up denying the idea. If he were so smart, why would he disobey Spiravit for no reason? A smart man would simply follow his orders to avoid being outcasted. But then again he already was outcasted… so is he actually stupid?

Quis this, Quis that. I just can't get him out of my head. Not to mention the fact that he gives me a strange feeling... I'll have to investigate him further.

I watched him for an hour while he drank and talked with the people around him. It seemed like he was having fun, but for some reason not at the same time. Right as Beulus was about to get into a fight with someone else, he made his way out of the bar. A smart move. I, of course, left the bar as well, leaving a barely touched beer with a 1 Dschungel coin behind.

I followed him as he made his way through the campus. Sometimes he walked on a dirt road, others he crept through the lush jungle. He seemed to have a great sense of direction.

There were a couple of times when I thought he had discovered me, but every time he just shook his head and muttered something intelligible to me since I was so far away. Where is he going so late at night? Definitely suspicious behavior… Eh? Why did he go back to the cultivation school?

As the female guard sternly questioned him, he gave a smile I could only describe as cu-... I mean devious and said, "I apologize for arriving at such an unusual time. I'm one of the new students, Quis Quiliae, and I came to visit the library."

He came so late to go to the library; what a studious man! I remember how I used to make late visits to the library in town, those were good times… But is he really just going to study some cultivation topics? There is no way. I will have to follow him to see what he's doing. Yea, that's right, I didn't follow him out of interest, but because of my duty to protect the sect.

I greeted the female guard and gave her a similar excuse to enter the school, she wasn't nearly as strict with me though. It sort of disappointed me. I would like to have to persuade my way into the school like him. I followed him until he made it to the double doors belonging to the secluded library, and watched as he overdramatically opened them before entering the library. I hope he doesn't have a case of Chunni, that would be embarrassing to just watch.

He walked around for a while, looking through books and reading titles when they were available. He seemed to be searching for something specific. Maybe if he can't find it then I could find it for him and become his hero again. No, I mean, I want to find any book that this suspicious man would want to find before he can use it for evil.

It soon became evident to me that he had no clue where he was going. But, fortunately, he soon found a service desk with a lady sleeping behind it, her face planted on the desk with no attention to class. It was obvious that this woman didn't care about her looks, and I could tell, even from far away, that she would be beautiful if she tried. What a pity…

Hm? I just noticed, isn't that the gloomy woman who works at the Fruit Hall? I guess she must work two jobs-

All of a sudden, while I was thinking what would drive such a lazy woman to work two jobs, Quis went up to her and began to shake her shoulders vigorously while yelling "Wake up!" This sent a jolt of surprise in my body. Although I have deemed Quis as kind of stupid, he didn't seem like the aggressive type. I should re-evaluate my ability to judge character.

…But for some reason… Even though I was a woman myself and should naturally defend one of my people… I couldn't help but feel as though she deserved it. It was strange. I should revolt against any man who treats a woman so roughly, but, strangely enough, I do like the change of attitude. And after that woman spouted some ridiculous nonsense, I couldn't defend her even if I wanted to.

"You value yourself too highly." He said with no hesitation in his voice. It was as though what he said was a fact no one could deny. Hell, even I couldn't deny his cruel words. That woman was definitely an eccentric one and I'd do my best to keep my distance from her.

I followed Quis as he began sifting through the books that the depressed clerk/librarian pointed out to him. I couldn't hear what book he asked for, but I would still watch him. I would memorize the books he read and surprise him later… No. I would read them to make sure he doesn't have bad intentions.

It was strange, even though he was in the library reading books for a couple of hours, I never found myself bored while stalking… I mean, spying on him. He suddenly came to a revelation of some kind and stormed out of the building. It was sudden, but I was still able to follow him without him noticing. He was rubbing his chin in deep thought while walking… Now that I see him like this, he did look kind of cu- NO!

It's his outsider ways affecting me. I must resist! I put on a resolute face as I followed him out of the school. That was when I saw Spiravit walking toward Quis, who was still deep in thought. I didn't want to be involved in whatever business Spiravit had with Quis, so I just hid in a nearby bush while watching.

It was only a little bit later, yet I was already cringing. He was getting the stuffing beaten out of him. I did feel the urge to move and protect him, but I resisted it. If I moved now, then all would be exposed. I don't know why, but I feel like that would end badly for me, so I wouldn't do it.

Some time passed, and it seemed like Spiravit finally decided to call it a night while he began to walk away. Of course, this wasn't before declaring Quis' banning from the dormitories. That left a pit in my stomach somewhat. I wouldn't be able to see him in a normal setting except for at school. I watched as Spiravit left laughing and taunting while Quis' face was buried in the ground. A depressing atmosphere hung in the air.

But, as though that atmosphere didn't exist, Quis suddenly sat up with vigor. He glanced at the campus map he took out before suddenly coming to a conclusion. He fully stood up and then walked in a specific direction, but I couldn't follow him this time. It was too late to do any more stalk-, I mean investigating.

I made my way to the dormitories where I greeted my friends- never mind, they were all asleep. Just how late was it? To be putting himself to work at even a time like this… he must be the stubborn type.

I lay in my bed, the wonderful feeling of a soft mattress meeting me as I shut my eyes and began the ritual of falling asleep. My mind flashed through the memories of today, and I smiled a little while recalling these pleasant memories

Just what is he up to right now I wonder… Huh? All of a sudden, I remembered that the entire day I did nothing but follow him around. But I felt like I was journeying right along with him…

Hey, hey, I'm not a stalker, right? I just needed to make sure the outsider wasn't doing anything suspicious…

I thought back to the way that I felt while watching him… Don't tell me… I was following him the entire day to make sure he didn't do anything creepy… but when I think about it more…

Am I the creepy one?

(Alternate chapter title: "Pulchra the Stalker")