Chapter [49]

Street in Front of Taro's House

It was early morning, and the first rays of the sun began to appear on the horizon, painting the sky in soft shades of orange and pink. The street was quiet, with few people awake and an almost absolute silence hanging in the air. The houses around were still immersed in darkness, with only a few faint lights visible in the windows.

A middle-aged man, wearing exercise clothes, was jogging down the sidewalk, breathing rhythmically as he exercised. His steps were quick and determined, lightly echoing on the deserted street. He enjoyed running in the early hours of the morning, taking advantage of the calm and serenity before the day truly began.

As he ran, he noticed something strange at Taro's house. The door was ajar, which was unusual for that hour. The man slowed his pace, frowning as he approached the house. Curiosity and concern led him to stop completely, taking a closer look.

"This isn't right," he murmured to himself, feeling a chill run down his spine.

He took a few hesitant steps toward the door, which was slightly open. The man pushed the door slowly, making it creak lightly. When the door fully opened, he was met with a horrific sight that made his stomach churn.

Taro's body was lying on the living room floor, with a pool of blood around him. The expression of pain and surprise on the dead man's face was unmistakable. There were clear signs of a struggle, with overturned furniture and blood splattered on the floor and walls.

"My God," the man exclaimed, instinctively stepping back. The horror of the scene made him feel nauseous, and he brought his hand to his mouth, trying to control the nausea.

Recovering quickly from the initial shock, he took his phone out of his pocket and dialed the emergency number, his hands trembling slightly.

"Hello, police? I found a body in the house on... I think it's a murder. Please come quickly," he said, his voice shaky and filled with urgency.

The dispatcher on the other end of the line responded calmly, trying to soothe the man while gathering the necessary information. "Sir, please stay where you are and don't touch anything. The police are on their way."

"Okay, I'll... I'll wait outside," he replied, taking a few steps back until he was again on the sidewalk, away from the horrible sight inside the house.

Minutes Later, the Police Arrive

A few minutes later, police sirens echoed through the quiet street. Several patrol cars arrived quickly, parking in front of Taro's house. The officers got out of the cars, moving quickly and purposefully. They cordoned off the area, ensuring no one approached the crime scene.

The man who had found the body stood on the sidewalk, still visibly shaken. One of the officers, a woman with a firm expression, approached him.

"Sir, were you the one who called emergency services?" she asked, trying to keep calm in her voice.

"Yes, I was," he replied, still trembling slightly. "I was jogging and saw the door open... I found the body inside."

The officer nodded, taking notes. "Very well. We'll need your statement, but first, we'll ensure the area is secure."

While the officer spoke with the man, other officers entered Taro's house, carefully assessing the scene. They photographed the body and the area around it, collecting evidence and looking for any clues that might help understand what had happened.

One of the officers came out of the house, walking directly to the woman speaking with the man who found the body. He looked serious, with a grave expression on his face.

"Confirmed. It's a homicide. The victim was killed with a bladed weapon, and there are signs of a struggle. We'll need a full forensic examination," he said.

The officer nodded, turning to the man who found the body. "Thank you for alerting us, sir. Can you accompany us to the station to give your full statement?"

The man nodded, still shaken but understanding the necessity. "Yes, of course. I'll help in any way I can."

He was escorted to one of the patrol cars while the police continued their work at the crime scene. The calm of the morning had been violently interrupted, and now the investigation was just beginning. The street, once quiet, was filled with activity and tension as the first rays of sunlight illuminated the tragedy that had been discovered.

Police Station

The police chief had just arrived for his shift when he received news of a homicide in town. He immediately headed to the interrogation room, where an officer and the elderly man who had found the body were waiting.

The police chief, a robust man with a serious expression, entered the room and sat behind his desk. He looked at the elderly man and the officer, gesturing for them to start the narrative.

The officer began to speak, detailing the crime scene. "We found the victim, a man named Taro, dead in the living room. There were clear signs of a struggle, and the cause of death appears to be a stab wound to the chest. The body was discovered by this man during his morning exercise."

The elderly man, still visibly shaken, confirmed the story with a nod. "I was jogging and saw the door open. When I looked inside, I saw the body and called the police immediately."

The police chief listened attentively, his gaze becoming increasingly thoughtful and concerned. After the full narrative, he took a deep breath, assimilating the information. "Very well. Thank you for your help, sir. We'll take it from here."

He signaled to the officer, who stood up and helped the elderly man out of the room. As soon as the door closed, the police chief took his phone out of his pocket, his hands trembling slightly. He knew he had to inform his master, Sona Sitri, about the incident, though he was a bit apprehensive about disturbing her so early.

Sona's Mansion

Sona Sitri, the young master of the police chief, was already awake, sitting in her living room at her mansion in Kuoh. She had a habit of waking up very early to prepare for school. Beside her, Tsubaki, her loyal servant, was organizing some documents.

Sona's phone vibrated, and she looked at the screen, seeing the police chief's name. With a curious expression, she answered the call. "Yes?"

On the other end of the line, the police chief spoke in a tense voice. "Master Sona, I apologize for disturbing you so early, but we had a homicide in Kuoh that may have supernatural involvement. The victim is a man named Taro."

Sona frowned, feeling the gravity of the situation. "Understood. Thank you for informing me. We will head there immediately."

She hung up the phone and looked at Tsubaki. "It seems we have a problem. We need to go to Taro's house. There might be something supernatural involved."

Tsubaki nodded, preparing quickly. "Yes, master. I'm ready."

Sona and Tsubaki positioned themselves in the center of the room, and a magic circle began to glow under their feet. With a soft glow, they disappeared from the mansion, teleporting to the crime scene.

Taro's House

When Sona and Tsubaki materialized in front of Taro's house, they were greeted by the sight of several police cars and the area cordoned off with isolation tape. The scene was bustling, with police officers and investigators working to collect evidence. The sound of low conversations and the rustling of papers filled the air as the officers documented the crime scene.

Tsubaki stepped forward, ready to act. "Leave it to me, Kaichou," she said determinedly. Sona nodded, trusting in her servant's efficiency.

Tsubaki began to move silently among the police officers and curious onlookers, her eyes glowing with a hypnotic light. One by one, the officers and onlookers began to appear disoriented, their eyes glazed as they obeyed Tsubaki's hypnotic commands. "Return to your homes. Forget what you saw here," she whispered, and like puppets, everyone began to disperse, leaving the area clear for Sona and Tsubaki.

With the area finally deserted, Sona approached Taro's body. She knelt beside the corpse, carefully observing the details of the scene. The body was in a position indicating a struggle, with a pool of blood around the fatal wound in the chest.

Sona closed her eyes and extended her hand over the body, concentrating on the residual energy in the area. She felt a faint magical signature, remnants of a demonic contract. Opening her eyes, she analyzed the scene more carefully, looking for any indication of magic.

"Interesting," Sona murmured, her expression serious. "It wasn't a direct attack from a supernatural being, but there are traces of magic. This man made a contract with a Devil."

As she continued to examine the area, Sona felt a familiar presence. A distinctive magical signature that she immediately recognized. "Koneko," she said softly, frowning. "She was here."

Tsubaki approached, observing her master. "What did you find, Kaichou?"

Sona stood up slowly, wiping her hands. "Taro wasn't killed by something supernatural, but the magical signature of the contract is still present. Additionally, I feel Koneko's energy here."

"So, what do we do now?"

Sona sighed, looking at the sky, which was beginning to brighten with the first rays of sunlight. "We'll have the difficult task of waking Rias early. She needs to know that her servant is involved, in some way, in this situation."

Tsubaki nodded, aware of the importance of informing Rias as soon as possible. "Yes, Kaichou. Let's prepare the teleportation circle."

Sona and Tsubaki positioned themselves in the center of the deserted street, and a magic circle began to glow under their feet. With a soft glow, they disappeared, leaving the crime scene empty and enveloped in an unsettling silence.

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