Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Shinki Asanami (temp)
Honestly, i thought Shinki Asanami is Fujino Asagami, but maybe i was wrong, SA is a he and FA is a she. 浅神静司 that is the raw if you're wondering, that could mean SA and FA, Seiji Matoba, if you know please notify me.
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"I know what you're asking about," Louis shrugged and said, "Dragons did exist, specifically during the Age of Gods. However, in the modern era, only their bones remain, not yet fully carbonized. That secretive organization, the Necromancy Dissection Bureau, refers to them as cursed bodies (咒体)."
"Dragon teeth must be incredibly valuable. So, the reason we're going to such lengths isn't because Shinki Asanami is particularly dangerous, but because of the value of the dragon tooth."
"Exactly," Louis replied, finishing off the last piece of bread and holding a warm glass of milk. "The order from the Department of Law is that, regardless of Shinki Asanami's fate, the dragon tooth must be recovered intact."
Looking at the porcelain plate on the table, Li Xiang thought for a moment and asked, "Why do you think he stole the dragon tooth?"
"Isn't it obvious? Money."
"For money, he'd betray the Clock Tower? The Mage's Association's influence spans the globe. After this, he'll have nowhere to hide."
"If it were me, I'd never dare. But there are always people who lose their minds."
Seeing Li Xiang still deep in thought, Louis added, "You don't really think like a typical mage, do you?"
Li Xiang froze for a moment, realizing he still hadn't fully adapted to his new identity as a mage.
"Let's go," Louis said, standing up. "Let's hope we don't get unlucky and run into that guy."
"..."
You say that like an old general on stage, with flags stuck all over your back.
Li Xiang downed his milk, pulled out his chair, and headed for the street.
"What do we do now? If he's prepared to flee, he'll likely be disguised. It's almost impossible to find him just by looking."
"Don't worry, if you can think of that, the Department of Law definitely has too. The dragon tooth, as a cursed body, still carries a magical residue distinct from modern magic. Here, take this."
Louis tossed him a card.
The card was as clear as crystal, with an embroidered Western dragon on it.
"What's this?"
"The Animal Department folks reconstructed the dragon's aura from its bones. Since it's from the same source, when you're near the dragon tooth, the card will heat up."
Li Xiang examined the card but found nothing particularly special about it. He pocketed it and asked, "So, we just wander around the streets?"
"That's right. This mission is really that simple, as long as we don't run into Shinki Asanami."
Louis blew on the card, reminding Li Xiang of scenes from movies where characters blow on coins. But... don't jinx it.
"Alright, you start on the east side of this street, and I'll take the west. Remember, if you run into Shinki Asanami, don't engage him. Don't even talk to him. Your job is simple: get away from him, and call Hishiri Adashino. Or, more directly, use a spell to trigger the street's magic sensors. But with so many people from the Department of Law and the Necromancy Dissection Bureau searching, there are bound to be others using magic too."
"I got it."
Li Xiang nodded and parted ways with Louis. After a few steps, he heard Louis call out again.
"Remember, don't engage him. If something goes wrong, I won't be able to explain it!"
Li Xiang didn't turn back but waved to show he heard.
He walked down the street like an ordinary pedestrian.
After an hour of walking back and forth, Li Xiang finally stopped. He turned into a small alley and sat down under an oak tree.
He picked up a snow-white cat.
He had seen the cat earlier and decided to stay in the alley to avoid drawing attention to himself as he walked in circles.
Li Xiang sat down, gently stroking the stray cat while keeping an eye on the street through the alleyway entrance.
"This mission is such a waste of time," Li Xiang sighed. With this time, he could have died several more times in the Land of Shadows.
As he was thinking, the white cat in his arms let out a meow, then leaped to the ground.
"What's up?"
Li Xiang instinctively stood up and saw the white cat running toward a young boy.
The boy had a flat face with a gentle smile. He squatted down and poured out some cat food from a paper bag he was holding.
An unusual sight—a rare Eastern face.
Li Xiang quickly realized that this was Shinki Asanami.
Why did Louis's jinx have to happen right in front of me?
"Hello."
He approached with an apologetic expression. "Is this your cat? I thought it was a stray."
"No, I just felt sorry for it, so I bought some cat food for it."
Li Xiang's pocket, where the card was, began to heat up.
He remained calm and complimented, "You're very kind. Kindness is a rare quality these days."
Shinki Asanami stroked the cat as it ate and smiled. "Thank you. My name is Shinki Asanami. What's yours?"
"Li Xiang."
Li Xiang wasn't worried that Shinki Asanami would recognize his name and realize he was a mage. After all, he'd only been at the Clock Tower for about half a month, and not many people knew him. Moreover, Shinki Asanami belonged to the Necromancy Dissection Bureau—a department unlikely to notice someone as insignificant as him.
"Li Xiang? I've seen your name before."
"?"
Li Xiang's body stiffened.
"Deep underground, 80,000 meters below, lies the Clock Tower's oldest classroom: the Chamber of Mysteries. It houses the most secretive and terrifying information in the world."
Shinki Asanami mentioned a place Li Xiang had never heard of. He couldn't even imagine a classroom existing 80,000 meters underground, beyond the Earth's crust, deep into the mantle.
Can you really attend classes there?
"I saw your file there."
"?"
Li Xiang shivered, his face pale. "Hey, you must be joking. You just said the information there is the most secretive and terrifying. How could there be a file on me?"
"I'm not lying to you. But, unfortunately, I can't tell you more."
"You must be kidding me. You've already defected, so what can't you say?" Li Xiang pointed out the flaw in his logic.
"Anyone, even a Lord, who enters the Chamber of Mysteries is cursed. The curse triggers when they reveal the information they saw there. If I tell you what I read, I'll immediately vanish, leaving no trace of my soul behind."
"Wait a minute, even if you're with the Necromancy Dissection Bureau, you shouldn't have access to such secret information, right?"
"Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't be able to enter the Chamber of Mysteries."
Shinki Asanami calmly revealed a shocking truth. "But since I was planning to defect, I specifically infiltrated the Chamber of Mysteries yesterday."
"Why defect? You must know that you can't possibly escape back to Japan. You won't even make it out of London."
"I know."
Shinki Asanami looked down at the white cat. Such simple happiness. He thought, smiling, "After being experimented on for so long, I figured it was time to get something in return. And I found hope—the hope for my family."
"Hope?" Li Xiang recalled what Louis had told him. "Are you talking about your bloodline?"
"Over the years, they've repeatedly forced my bloodline to manifest. Before long, I'll fully transform into a monster."
Shinki Asanami stared at Li Xiang and said each word deliberately, "That's why I was looking for you!"
"?"
Li Xiang took a step back in fear.
Why are you shouting at me? Go find the Clock Tower! Why are you looking for me?
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