Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Chapter 43 Memories of 6 Saint Delan Square

"I actually didn't figure out the anomaly in the price by myself; it was Priest Augustus who helped find the information from the Church," Shard stated.

The doctor gestured for the old cleric with grayish-white hair to speak. The latter nodded, his graying hair appearing particularly decayed under the dim glow of the gas lamp:

"About 100 years ago, a horrifying murder occurred at No. 6, Saint Delan Square. According to Church records, it was actually two Sorcerers of Nine Rings, of unknown origin, who fought there and almost simultaneously died. Subsequent investigation reports indicated that they had lost control due to reading a large number of ancient books.

Even though the Church believed this wouldn't affect the house itself, since then, most of the house's subsequent owners have died within its walls."

"This sounds like the beginning of a horror story..."

Shard thought to himself, then realized something else:

"Wait a minute, it seems like I'm the protagonist?"

The old cleric paused for a moment before continuing:

"The Church couldn't find any problems with the house and could only seal it off after purchasing it about thirty years ago. It was only after repeated checks two years ago that they sold the old house at a low price.

However, wealthy people who tried to consult the housing prices at Saint Delan Square cared a great deal about such taboos; the poor, who didn't care about these matters, would never ask about housing prices there. In the end, somehow, it ended up being bought by Sparrow Hamilton."

It sounded like the former detective had picked up a bargain, then died.

"Did the detective know about the house?"

Miss Luisa asked curiously, as Miss Writer was very interested in such matters.

"Of course, the Church wouldn't hide such things, and they informed him about the past incidents with the house at the time.

For safety, they sealed off the first floor where the accident happened a hundred years ago before the detective bought it, cut off the stairs to the third floor that had some safety issues due to long-term lack of maintenance, and locked up room number two on the second floor where a mass suicide had taken place seventy years earlier... Unexpectedly, this owner also ended up dying in that house."

Now that Shard owned two [Relics], and both were of a higher danger level, he could be considered a fairly wealthy Circle Sorcerer. The doctor suggested that once he mastered one or two powerful Arcane Techniques and Sorcery for self-defense, he could begin reading 'The Mad Light Chaser.'

"No one will supervise your self-study progress; you are responsible for yourself," were Dr. Schneider's words of advice to Shard before they parted.

But after leaving the clinic, Priest Augustus told Shard not to mind the doctor's attitude:

"Bill is always like that; he may seem strict with people, but he is kinder than anyone."

He said this as he packed tobacco into his pipe, seeming as if he had been restraining himself for a long time at the clinic.

"We have all faced his reprimands; you'll understand after spending more time with him."

Miss Luisa said so as well, stepping onto a carriage and departing straight from the clinic's door, while Shard and Priest Augustus, being relatively less wealthy, both planned to walk away.

Shard had to find a carriage to take his books back home, but a regular rental might not have enough space, so he planned to head to the nearest rental company.

Shard noticed that Miss Luisa had been frequently attempting to touch her earlobe today, yet this lady bore no jewelry on her ears. She had not exhibited such peculiar behavior when they last met.

He shared his observation with the Old Cleric accompanying him, and at the next intersection where they parted ways, Priest Augustus told Shard not to worry about it:

"It's normal for Circle Sorcerers to act oddly occasionally due to the presence of 'another self.' But as long as it's not a loss of control due to engaging with a Relic or ancient knowledge, those peculiarities are nothing to be concerned about."

The priest chuckled, walking with Shard on Rontgen Avenue in the affluent area. Here, the people going about their business were well dressed, and the attire of Shard and the priest just barely passed muster:

"Since a year ago, Luisa has been acting a little odd every few days. What you see now is still considered normal. Last summer, we even suspected that she was possessed by another spirit while reading an Ancient Fairy Tale."

Shard stiffened at the mention and didn't dare continue discussing the possibility of spirits possessing bodies. But this also informed him that even seemingly normal Circle Sorcerers may have peculiarities unknown to others.

Circle Sorcerers are never truly safe scholars.