Detective and Myth V

As the sun dipped low, time whispered its subtle passage, and though it felt as if times had scarcely fluttered by, the evening had already embraced the day.

The moon ascended, a celestial dance, as it traded places with the sun, casting its glow upon the world below.

The streets of Shelton, once filled with people, surrendered to solitude. The villagers had retreated into the warmth and safety of their homes, each door closing softly, sealing away the night's secret.

Amidst the hush of night's embrace, a solitary figure, a boy of courage, ventured forth, crossing the silent threshold of the road to rap gently upon a door, his boldness echoing in the stillness of the hour.

After a pregnant pause, the door yielded to the boy's plea, swinging inward to reveal the safety of a night's cover, extending its invitation to the violator of the night.

"Why did you come late? It's your second already. The next time you shut your ears to Shuua's warning, you're gone. Anyway, come on in. We will have the ritual soon."

While the boy was going to have a shady business inside, an individual watched him from afar as he entered the house.

Then, when the boy escaped the watching eyes, the individual closed the curtain to their windows.

That individual would be Noir.

The Detective sat on the wooden stool and pulled out his note, jotting his pen on the white surface.

'I will have everything by tomorrow.'

Earlier in the afternoon, Noir caught a boy who was a part of the cult. After interrogating him excessively, he finally got the information to complete his second and third objectives.

Besides that, Noir also got the boy on his leash. He had asked him to work for him and attend tonight's ritual to report to him tomorrow morning.

Contrary to his expectations, the plan didn't go as he wished.

The boy didn't return to him. To be precise, the boy couldn't return to him as he, along with the other 18 cultists, was found dead in the afternoon.

As a Detective, Noir had the right to investigate this matter. He asked the villagers about the chronology behind the incident. But no matter who he talked to, no one knew how it happened. All they said was it was the work of the creature of night, Shuua.

Those cultists had been punished by Shuua for ignoring its warning to not do suspicious activity in the night, saying that they deserved it.

'They have no sympathy, huh?'

After the investigation, Noir knew why they had no sympathy for the dead. It turned out the 18 cultists were villagers who had no family members and orphans.

At the same time, the fourth objective was finally revealed to Noir.

//Objectives:

Reach Shelton Village in one piece (Completed)

Gather information about Shelton Village (Completed)

Investigate the weirdos in Shelton Village (Completed)

Confront the creature of the night, Shuua (Ongoing)//

Noir raised an eyebrow when he read the objective.

'Confront? Does it want me to fight it? Without Resonance?'

But first, before he could start planning on how to handle Shuua, Noir had to get a warning from it.

So, when night came for the third day, Noir was about to wander outside at night until Novina stopped him.

"Don't go, mister. I don't want to— you to get hurt."

Noir's ears twitched. He was blank for a moment before shaking his head.

"It's alright. Nothing will happen to me. That's if the rumor that you'll only get a warning for the first violation is true..."

It was hard to convince the little girl. But in the end, Novina let Noir go, albeit reluctantly.

"I'll be back in an hour. If I don't return by then, just lock the door, okay?"

Novina nodded. She watched as the Detective disappeared into the darkness of night.

"Careful..." she muttered. "Mister Detective."

Noir walked around the village, hoping to encounter the creature of the night, Shuua. But if the information he got from the cult boy was true. He probably wouldn't be able to see it tonight.

As he walked, Noir recited the information about three warnings.

'Shuua will come to appear in front of you after you receive 3 warnings.

'The first warning comes in the form of sudden quietness as if you've gone deaf. You can't feel the wind, but you can hear it ringing in your ears. 

'The second warning is similar. But instead of hearing wind, you will hear whispers.

'Then lastly, before Shuua begins hunting, you will feel chill all over your body. Your ears will go deaf, and no matter where you run and hide, Shuua will be able to find you.'

At that time, Noir asked if there was someone who managed to escape from Shuua. They said none. 

When he asked again where they (the cultists) knew about the three warnings, the boy shrugged, saying that he didn't know. But he did hear that there was a letter left by the victim before Shuua hunted them.

It was already a half hour since Noir had gone outside, but the warning had yet to come. Then, when he was about to question whether Shuua really existed, his surroundings went silent.

His ears didn't catch any sound, as if he was deaf. His skin couldn't feel the wind grazing him anymore.

Noir stopped and looked around.

After a moment, though he couldn't feel the wind, he could hear it passing his ears. However, rather than the sound of the gentle wind or breeze like the boy described, it was more like a storm.

That marked the end of his first night patrol.

On the second night, Novina tried to stop Noir again. But Noir convinced her again. When wandering around in the village, Noir got his second warning.

"Return... go back..." 

Satisfied, Noir returned to Novina's house.

Then, on the third night, Novina stood on the door, blocking Noir from going outside. She was more agitated and distressed than yesterday. Obviously, it was harder and longer to convince the little girl.

And even though she was half convinced, Novina's hands were trembling when she clutched Noir's sleeve.

Sighing, Noir crouched to match the little girl's height, looking at her face to face. He smiled and ruffled her hair.

"It's okay. Nothing will happen to me."

Novina shook her head.

"B-but... I'm scared..." Novina muttered. "At least... c-can you read me a bed-"

Noir cut her words before she could finish it. His voice was low and cold, sending a chill to Novina's spine.

"After all, I'll still be in danger regardless of where I am, be it outside or in this house," Noir said, flaring his eyes slowly like a sly fox. "Isn't that so, Novina?"

He smiled, his eyes stared past the little girl.

"Or should I say, Shuua?"

As soon as the words escaped from Noir's lips, a violent wind stormed the door behind him. Not only that, he also heard and felt bad news.

Novina's eyes went wide. Her mouth was about to open and say something as she stretched her hand.

At the same time, Noir, sensing the sudden chill spread from his neck to his entire being, turned around and...

[All objectives have been completed.]

[Your Resonance [Truth Seeker] has advanced to two stars. New Art [Identify] is now available for use.]

[Preparing for return...]