<Chapter 105>
#12. Black Cloud (3)
Melty calmed Malek, who was shocked at the idea that a gift could be mistaken, and briefly explained the events related to his gift. After listening calmly to his story, Malek frowned and said,
“That’s quite troublesome.”
“Can’t be helped. I can’t remember it. Besides, Calix-ssi said it was okay.”
Even as Melty answered with a bright smile, Malek couldn’t manage to ease his expression. While those who received gifts from the Beast God were few in number, among them were those who, like Melty now, occasionally forgot what gift they had received.
However, according to one book about gifts, there was a passage stating that those who forgot the Beast God’s grace did not live happy lives. Many dismissed this as lacking credibility because the book was so old, but Malek had no intention of overlooking even the smallest thing related to his younger brother. That said, he also had no desire to pass his worries on to his brother, who seemed at peace.
“When you received the gift, was there anything you wished for?”
“Something I wished for?”
Melty’s head tilted to the side in puzzlement. Seeing this gesture, Malek chuckled and poked Melty’s cheek as he spoke.
“I’ve heard that the blessings or gifts bestowed by the Beast God are exactly what the person needs. Maybe it’s what you needed most. Like receiving health as a blessing.”
“…”
Melty smiled awkwardly at Malek’s calm and kind words. It was understandable that his family would mistake the blessing for “health” since he had regained his health after the coming-of-age ceremony. Even though they were family, he just couldn’t bring himself to speak honestly.
“I think you might have misunderstood something, hyung.”
“Hm?”
“No, never mind…”
He couldn’t bring himself to tell his brother, “The blessing the Beast God gave me also seems like it was given by mistake…” Melty awkwardly smiled and avoided his brother’s gaze by slowly shaking his head.
“The Beast God wouldn’t have acted without reason. Think carefully.”
“Even if you tell me to think carefully, nothing comes to mind…”
As Melty muttered with his lips pushed out in a pout, a memory flashed through his mind.
– Beast God. Please let me earn a lot of money.
He thought the Beast God would surely grant his wish. His coming-of-age ceremony somehow gave him that feeling. From the wind that brushed through his hair in the enclosed space to the unfamiliar yet comforting laughter. That day somehow felt like a moment when wishes would come true if he prayed to the Beast God.
‘Why did I make that wish…’
Melty’s gaze fell to his hands. When he became an adult, he wanted to help his family who had shed tears because of him. He wanted to earn lots of money to buy his parents a big, strong, warm house, fancy clothes for his brothers, and pretty accessories for his sisters.
– Thank you. Really… really thank you! Thanks to you, my father and I… we could talk after such a long time.
The face of a child who kept expressing gratitude with a bright smile despite tears soaking his face flashed through Melty’s mind. He also recalled the face of the boy’s father, who slowly opened his eyes the moment he consumed what might have been thin soup or herbal broth. His eyes, gradually focusing, softened gently as soon as they found the boy, his son.
As if he was grateful to see his son in the last moment of his life…
– The answer to what you’re curious about is close by. So keep your thoughts and actions broad. It’s better to ask about what you don’t know than to do it alone.
The smiling face of the old man he had met when he went sightseeing in town with Calix also came to mind. That voice, which he hadn’t thought much of at the time, strangely echoed in his head. Melty now realized that the “curious thing” he hadn’t understood when listening to the story was his gift, and he looked down at his hands with a blank expression.
Melty’s brown eyes trembled with realization. Recognizing that his brother’s mind was busy working, Malek quietly maintained silence, waiting for his brother to reach some conclusion.
Soon, after finishing his thoughts, Melty looked up at Malek with a wavering expression.
“Hyung. I… I think I know somewhat what my gift is.”
***
Around the time Melty was having a brotherly conversation with Malek, the Botenta family mansion was in an uproar over the disappeared Iel Tuanivel. Calix and Angel were the first to discover her empty room.
The guest room where she had stayed was in complete disarray, with all kinds of broken items strewn about. It didn’t take long for Durasen, the owner of the mansion, to learn that Iel Tuanivel had vanished from the estate without a trace.
Stepping into one of the smallest reception rooms, Calix let out a low sigh. The place was completely empty, without a single employee. Sitting in a chair with his arms crossed, Calix stared at Durasen, who was sitting opposite him. Durasen was looking back at Calix with little change in his expression.
“Would you mind explaining why I’m receiving this kind of treatment?”
“…I’m not particularly suspicious of you. But still, a guest has disappeared without a trace from my mansion, and I can’t just sit around doing nothing.”
Despite his apologetic explanation, Calix didn’t feel any better. Not hiding his discomfort, Calix tilted his head.
“I’m not just doing this with you, but investigating everyone in the mansion. As you well know, the Tuanivel family cherishes that child so much that I can’t just let this go.”
Calix sighed briefly at Durasen’s words and nodded halfheartedly. He was indeed displeased with the sudden interview situation, but he could understand Durasen’s position. The current head of this place was undoubtedly Durasen, and he would inevitably bear the responsibility.
“If you have questions, I’ll answer them.”
“Thank you. From what I’ve heard from others, there was some sort of quarrel between you and Iel in the garden yesterday, is that correct?”
Quarrel?
Calix’s face showed confusion at Durasen’s question. There hadn’t been anything grand enough to call a quarrel. Exhaling a short sigh, Calix waved his hand lightly.
“We happened to run into each other and exchanged a few words, that’s all. I think it’s a stretch to describe that as a ‘quarrel.'”
“Hmm. But I understand you haven’t encountered Iel since then… Were you looking for her this morning to apologize?”
Calix frowned as he looked at Durasen. He was going to let it slide, but there were far too many irritating phrases in his statement.
“Something seems odd about the flow of this conversation.”
“Odd? How so?”
“Why should I ‘apologize’ to that woman?”
“Well…”
Noticing that something was amiss from Calix’s sharp tone filled with suppressed irritation, Durasen brought his eyebrows together. Calix tapped the floor lightly with his foot, making a tapping sound. Thanks to this, Durasen emerged from his thoughts and was able to focus on Calix again.
“I’m also a guest here, and if you’re going to confine me like this, shouldn’t you provide a sufficient explanation?”
“Aren’t you in a romantic relationship with Iel?”
“Where did you hear such nonsensical absurdity?”
Calix brushed back his hair with a short, mocking laugh. When Melty had misunderstood like that, he hadn’t felt bad. Rather, he had even reflected on whether he was that untrustworthy, since such a misunderstanding had arisen over something so trivial. But if this had caused misunderstandings among other third parties as well, it was extremely troublesome.
“I’ve never hidden who I have affection for. Surely you don’t mean to say you didn’t know?”
Since becoming aware of his feelings for Melty, there had been no hesitation in Calix’s actions. This was true at the exchange meeting venue and unchanged at the drinking session that continued due to a small misunderstanding. The fact that Durasen, who had been present at that moment, had misunderstood was not something he could just overlook.
Durasen, under the unspoken pressure from Calix, let out a deep sigh and spoke comfortably, releasing the tension from his shoulders.
“I’ll be honest about the current situation. There’s speculation that Iel Tuanivel may have been murdered.”
“Because her maid and other employees are still at the mansion?”
“The same goes for her possessions and money. If she had left this place alone, she wouldn’t have left without taking them, but when the maid checked, she said all her belongings were left behind.”
“And the conclusion you’ve reached is murder?”
Durasen nodded at Calix’s question. In response to his nod, Calix leaned back comfortably against the chair. Initially, it was Calix who had set out to find Iel first. To be precise, he had only wanted to verify the absurd stories Melty had heard, but she wasn’t in her room, which was in disarray.
The next thing he checked was the employees. They didn’t even know Iel wasn’t in her room. But it was unlikely that she, who had grown up precious within her family, would wander around somewhere alone. Of course, if she were crazy, it was entirely possible, but Iel was too greedy to be crazy.
“It seems excessive to assume death just because traces of her going outside were found.”
“Blood was discovered. To be precise, Iel’s dress, covered in blood, was found in the inner forest.”
Calix was speechless at his rebuttal. And he could quickly understand what Durasen was trying to say. With a mocking laugh, Calix looked straight into his calm, settled eyes and said,
“So now you’re saying I’m the culprit?”
