Fool – Part 01
Report
Tentative Title: The Inhuman Massacre Case
Filed by: Cecily Campbell, Third District Knight Guard, Independent Trade City.
Casualties: Fourteen dead, twenty injured (including two Knight Guard members dead, and six others seriously or lightly wounded).
Inhuman: A four-legged beast of unusual form, with a spear attached to each forelimb and twenty-three blades embedded in its back, believed to be implanted by a third party (human). No further data is available, but modified Inhumans have recently been sighted in the Crowd Powers region.
Incident Summary: During the day, an Inhuman entered the city through the first main gate, killing two Knight Guards on duty, then rampaged down the main street, killing twelve civilians and severely injuring fourteen more. After a brief confrontation with the Knight Guard in the Third District’s food street, it fled. One member, armed with an Infernal Blade, gave chase.
The Inhuman fled to the Ashen Woods, where it encountered two civilians. In the ensuing chaos, the Inhuman and one civilian fell into the ravine known as the Clawmark. The pursuing Knight Guard followed, and with help from the civilian, they killed the Inhuman. The Knight Guard sustained serious injuries from both the fall and the battle, while the civilian was largely unharmed.
End of Report.
Addendum 1: For a list of the casualties, refer to the attached documents.
Addendum 2: The Inhuman’s remains have been recovered by the Knight Guard and are currently undergoing autopsy to determine its origins. Information from witnesses around the city is also being collected. It has been confirmed that similar creatures live in the Crowd Powers region.
Addendum 3: A local blacksmith testified that the weapons embedded in the Inhuman were crafted from high-purity jewel steel, sourced from the First Tatara Workshop. The workshop confirmed the material, though its distribution route remains unclear. Notably, the steel’s properties gave the Inhuman’s weapons the capability to neutralize Aetherial effects, as observed when an Infernal Blade’s power was negated during the battle.
Cecily sat glumly at her desk, chin in hand. She let out another long sigh, one of many today.
“Cheer up, Cecily,” Aria said from across the table, her brows furrowed in concern.
They were in the Third District government office’s break room—a plain, utilitarian space open to both civil servants and citizens alike. Lacking any special design or décor, it was sparsely furnished with two tables, ten chairs, and a small bookshelf crammed with faded, poorly-bound books. After last month’s battle involving Infernal Blades caused the original structure to collapse, it was hastily rebuilt as a flimsy wooden shack. If there was anything to appreciate, it was the lack of visual distractions, making it an ideal resting spot. The shoddy construction also allowed for plenty of ventilation through gaps in the walls, a welcome feature in the summer heat.
Cecily and Aria had spent the morning wrapping up some office work, followed by a simple lunch. Patrol duty awaited them in the afternoon, but Cecily couldn’t find the energy and motivation. For good reason.
“Oh my, it’s not often I catch you here at this hour.”
Their colleague, Patty Baldwin, strolled into the break room.
Patty was a brown-haired woman with thick glasses that didn’t quite match her elegant features. While corrective eyewear was becoming more common among the general public, they were still considered a luxury. Hers, she said, were hand-me-downs from her father.
“Usually, you’d be at your favorite blacksmith’s right now. Did something happen?”
“Favorite? I’d appreciate it if you refrained from using words that could be misconstrued.”
“Oh? I don’t think I said anything untrue.”
Patty, like Cecily, was a civil servant. As a noncombatant, however, she mainly handled administrative work and medical support. During emergencies, she could be deployed to the field, but her role was limited to providing rear support through Prayer Pacts. Despite being five years older, she always treated Cecily casually, making it easy for Cecily to respond in the same way.
“It’s been a while, huh? How are your injuries? Fully healed?”
“Yeah. I had plenty of rest, and you guys took good care of me. I’m back on duty, as you can see.”
“Still, that’s a quick recovery.”
“Toughness is my kind of thing.”
“That’s not exactly something a girl takes pride in,” Patty teased.
Patty slid into the chair next to Aria, exchanging a small smile with her before leaning in toward Cecily.
“What’s wrong? You seem down.”
“It’s that obvious, huh? I’ve been working on a report since this morning.”
“A report? Oh, about the Inhuman incident?”
Cecily nodded.
Her first task upon returning to work was to create this report. She gathered information from city officials about the casualty count, the Inhuman’s entry and escape routes, and detailed descriptions of it so far, incorporating all of it into the report. Since it was an unfamiliar task, she had rewritten it multiple times before finally submitting it to Captain Hannibal Quasar.
As she read through her own report again, the scale of the damage hit her hard.
Patty frowned. “So, that’s what’s bothering you? There was nothing you could have done. It happened out of nowhere.”
“I know. I get that. But I can’t help thinking: could I have done more? Could I have saved even one more person? Does that not cross your mind? You remember what happened two months ago.”
Just two months prior, a similar tragedy had struck the city. In early summer, while everyone was focused on the city’s major auction, a Demon Pact was made. A flame demon possessed the contractor’s body, and civilians—both locals and visitors—were burned alive despite all the precautions taken.
Being one step behind in both the demon and Inhuman incidents had put the lives of citizens in jeopardy. After multiple failures, Cecily found herself unable to hold back her thoughts.
“Maybe humans are no match against Inhumans and demons.”
Cecily was the one who vanquished both the demon and Inhuman, but only because she had the Infernal Blade Aria at her side. Her success was a personal achievement rather than a reflection of the Knight Guard as a whole. While the Guard’s efforts weren’t entirely in vain, it was difficult for her to feel satisfied.
Can we honestly say we’re fulfilling our duties?
Reflecting on the battles of the past few months, Cecily couldn’t help but feel that the Knight Guard had only been on the defensive against Inhumans and demons. This feeling was different from her usual sense of powerlessness. It wasn’t directed at herself but rather toward something much larger.
“You’re overreaching a bit, Cecily. It’s true that the city has mostly been reactive so far. But we’ve always done what we could. You shouldn’t deny our efforts, especially as a member of the Knight Guard.”
“Right.”
“Besides, you’re not the only one feeling distraught. The Knight Guard has already started discussing countermeasures against Inhumans and demons.”
“R-Really?”
“You wouldn’t know since you’ve been recuperating at home. From the day after the Inhuman massacre, Captain Quasar has been holding daily meetings. This is what we’ve come up with for the time being.”
Patty pulled out a walnut-sized sphere from her pocket. It was a processed black stone with a smooth surface—a piece of jewel steel she often used for Prayer Pacts.
“This one is for medical use. It’s now mandatory for the Knight Guard and city officials in support roles to carry a certain amount of jewel steels. Prayer Pacts will be our main countermeasure.”
Prayer Pacts were integral to life in the Independent Trade City. Schools offered classes teaching the necessary incantations for daily life, and combat versions could be freely learned by Knight Guard members and mercenaries.
Until now, carrying jewel steel had been recommended within the Knight Guard, and there were even individuals who had taken it upon themselves to learn Prayer Pacts. However, the severity of recent events had spurred a movement to make it mandatory, proposed by Hannibal Quasar.
“Funding will be limited, though, so widespread adoption might take time. Still, almost everyone is now carrying jewel steel. You should start memorizing some incantations too.”
Cecily choked up. Patty hit her where it hurt.
Cecily had joined the Guard to follow in her beloved father’s footsteps. He had avoided Prayer Pacts for some reason, which naturally led Cecily to steer clear of them. Her knowledge of even basic incantations was shaky at best.
“I’m, uh…” she said, poking her index fingers together, “not very bright.”
“I can’t believe you would admit to that yourself.”
“Do I really have to learn them?”
“I think it would be better to learn them if you can.”
“She has me, so she’ll be fine,” Aria cut in fervently. Surprised, Cecily turned to her. “I’ll put in ten times more effort. So, she doesn’t need to learn Prayer Pacts.”
“Aria?”
“Oh, my. Is that jealousy I see? Don’t worry, you’re not being replaced by Prayer Pacts. Cecily will always be yours.”
“And I belong to Cecily too!”
“Patty! I just told you not to say things that could be misconstrued. And you too, Aria. What are you even on about?”
Their lively banter was interrupted by the opening of the door to the break room. All three turned to see who it was.
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