Chapter 25: Chapter. 25: Situation Of The Supernatural

“As you can see, on site we have the aftermath of an explosion of unknown origins. Police Officer Carter has declined to give any comments.” A well dressed woman spoke into a black cotton ball atop a stick.

She wore a formal dark-blue outfit with a tie, and had a serving smile plastered on her face while she spoke rather irrelevant things. However, not long after, she gasped in surprise as some echoed voice came from the background. The video snapped to a man that was noting a few things down on his notebook with sharp discerning eyes. In an instant, the woman and camera went into his direction.

“Sullivan Dowel, landlord of this apartment building, do you have any comments?” The woman shoved the stick on her hand onto his face.

“No, leave me alone⁠—"

The screen was turned off.

“Well, that’s the gist of it.” Ash said as she took her phone from my sights and put it into her pocket, sitting across from me. We were still in the car.

“Annoying, I tell you,” Mr. Sullivan grumbled. “They keep calling my phone too.”

“Yeah, explosions do get a lot of attention.” Ash said seriously, as she seemed to relate to Mr. Sullivan, but he just began laughing.

“Yeah, they can do that.”

“Soo…” I interjected softly. “These reporters are bad people?”

“The worst of the worst.” Ash said with a nod.

Mr. Sullivan nodded. “Anything out of the ordinary and they’ll stick their noses right in trying to dig for answers. Though…” He scratched his cheek with one hand. “I suppose that that is their job.”

“So, don’t they just ask things and try to get information?” I asked, still not quite following.

“Well, sort of?” Mr. Sullivan sighed. “Kaiti, the thing is that sometimes they try too hard to get the truth. It becomes obnoxious and you get too many questions.”

Ash nodded with a small frown. Had she dealt with reporters before? Well I kind of doubted it, but it still sounded troublesome. I sat back on the car and decided to stare out the window instead, looking at the people walking and at the distinct shaped buildings, some made out of brick and some out of metal.

In the end, I just didn’t know what to make of it other than to avoid them.

◇ ◇ ◇

The car was parked on the entryway to the house, it was rather… Small? It was like my house back in the Underworld, except it was white and it didn’t have towering pillars supporting its second floor. Much smaller too.

It also had a triangle shaped roof, and a weird shack on the side… Maybe it didn’t resemble my house that much? Exiting the car I noticed someone that seemed familiar to me. He was a police officer.

As I let Mr. Sullivan lead the way, the police officer gave me a weird look. He was… stressed? Uneasy? I couldn’t read the emotions that flashed through his mind at that moment, but it made me feel a bit on edge.

“Officer Carter.” Mr. Sullivan greeted with a nod of acknowledgement. Ash and I just stood behind him.

“Attorney Sullivan Dowel,” he turned to us, “and his tenants, Kaiti and Ash.” He… Knew me? His gaze reminded me of something. He⁠—

Oh… He was the person I had dumped the whole semi-truthful story on. I couldn’t help but grow a bit nervous⁠— I wanted to not look stupid in front of him. But I didn’t want to intervene in the conversation⁠, he was right here after all. For some reason.

“What brings you here?” Mr. Sullivan asked with confusion.

“Well, I am tasked with some investigation. I can’t believe I am asking this but,” he sighed. “Did you happen to see tentacle apparitions on site?”

Mr. Sullivan paused. “Excuse me?”

Officer Carter continued. “You see, after a lot of damage assessment there seems to be a few residents that are traumatized. So I am trying to dig for more information.”

“Traumatized?” I intervened feeling sudden worry.

Carter turned to look at me. “Yes, traumatized. They have nightmares, wake up at night in cold sweat, and generally feel unwell. The number of people affected is about five.”

Five people were affected… Just because I had lured the monster there? I had… It was my fault wasn’t it?

◇ ◇ ◇

I didn’t pay attention to further talks. It was much the same, just the results of the things that had happened. As he left, I had an idea. It was a bit of a long stretch but…

“Officer Carter,” I called somewhat meekly.

“Yes?” He raised his brow in confusion.

“Would it be possible to know those who were affected by the tentacles?” I wanted to help, somehow. I was unsure in what way, maybe just listen to them…

“No, that is private information.” Officer Carter shook his head. “They are being treated accordingly.”

“But⁠—” I felt a familiar hand on my shoulder. Turning to look at Ash, she simply shook her head. Her mood still seemed as neutral as ever, but I had the feeling that it wasn’t worth pursuing.

In the end, Officer Carter left, and we were left alone outside of the house with Mr. Sullivan. He cleared his throat, and began speaking.

“This is your new residence, albeit temporary until the apartment gets fixed. I hope both of you enjoy this place.” Oh.

“So you’re giving us your house?” Ash asked in confusion.

Mr. Sullivan scratched his head. “Essentially yes? Though the place has been empty for a month, it’s no longer my place of residence.”

“So we live here now?” I asked, though my mind was a bit lost. .

“Yes, go take a look.” He handed us two sets of keys. “I have to get going, have a few appointments, and this took much longer than anticipated. I’ll see both of you later.”

He waved, got in his car and left. I turned to look at the black wooden door with a golden handle. And eventually shook my head. The novelty of checking out my new residence was a bit nonexistent at the moment. And my things were still back at the hotel.

“Do the victims worry you?” Ash asked from behind as I heard a chip cracking.

I nodded. “Knowing it’s partly my fault bothers me. Since well, as you’ve guessed by now. I am the one that opened the portal nearby.” Turning to look back at Ash I expected some sort of change in expression from her, but she just swallowed her chips before speaking.

“Then how about we go for a walk?”

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Taking a brief moment to think about it, I agreed. Not like I had anything to do anyway.

◇ ◇ ◇

The walk was rather uneventful. The residential area was full of houses lined up neatly, most had a similar design ⁠— maybe painted different ⁠— the sidewalk was clean of debris or trash. The sun shone bright, and the trees rustled from the wind. There was a communal space with benches and a pagoda, under the cold shadow I sat accompanied by the sounds of crunching.

“Did we just come here so you could eat?” I asked, feeling somewhat annoyed, and part helpless. Ash had been looking at the ground while eating for at least five minutes now. I thought she was going to speak.

“I am still thinking,” Ash munched. “I am trying to be empathetic here, since in reality I couldn’t care less of what happened with the neighbors.”

I sighed hearing Ash eating her cookies, that much was obvious.

“Then?” I understood that she perhaps wanted to help me, but…

Ash stopped eating. “Well I am not good at cheering people up like you, so.” She shrugged. “I figure I should tell you the facts instead and whatever happens with the supernatural here.”

Whatever happens with the supernatural? “What do you mean?”

Ash sighed. “As you’ve figured the internet is full of information, yet you don’t find that much information about us. Simply because this information tends to be considered, fictional. As in, not real. Or, it gets covered up.”

I frowned and pondered for a second. “So those people will be covered up, somehow?”

Ash shook her head. “No, they will just eventually begin to think what they saw wasn’t real. If there are too many witnesses then more measures are taken. Since to begin with, the Underworld shouldn’t mess with other realms.”

“What kind of measures are taken?” I asked, feeling unsure. “And why shouldn’t the Underworld mess with other realms?”

Ash shrugged. “As for your last question, my answer is⁠— Dunno. Just what I’ve heard from others more important than me. And for your first question. The measures taken are generally non-violent ones such as hallucinations, or violence.”

I paused. “Violence, like the Underworld type of violence?”

Ash shrugged. “Sometimes that is the case. Not like it’s often.”

I frowned. “That sounds wrong.”

“Meh,” Ash said while eating. “Such is⁠—” She swallowed. “Life.”

Hearing her comment, I sighed. She wasn’t wrong, but I was still unsatisfied. “Any ideas on what I can do about it?”

Ash pondered while eating ⁠— or I assumed so ⁠— until a few seconds later she began speaking.

“Well, you can just continue being my partner as an Abyssal Hunter. A lot of the things we do helps this world.” She said indifferently. “Though I only do it to stay here. This is the most pleasant realm out there.”

Eh? Ash had said something that I found a bit weird. “Most pleasant?”

She nodded. “Others have too much of something or the other, a bit annoying if you ask me. I forgot to add, but even after all the measures there are in place to keep the supernatural from…” She paused. “From affecting the inhabitants of this place, a few edge cases are bound to occur.”

“Like what type of cases?”

“Dunno,” she shrugged and ate a bit. “I’ve heard of some humans losing their mind and committing unthinkable acts. Others embrace it and turn it into a lifestyle.”

“Turn it into a lifestyle?” Thinking about the tentacle monster I couldn’t help but wince. “How would one even go about it?”

“Well… occultism?” She asked incredulously. “I don’t know? I am not the one turning it into a lifestyle.”

I rolled my eyes. “Very helpful.”

Ash didn’t acknowledge what I said, she simply ate. Until suddenly, she stopped. “I know what is helpful.” She turned to me and did her signature unfeeling smile. I had a bad feeling about it. “Getting your death aura to be useful would be helpful, so next time you don’t drop dead.”

“Em… It’s becoming helpful…”

“Maybe?” Ash shrugged. “You need a bit more training so next time we are in a horde of ghouls you kill them instead of me. You think swinging your sharp stick around is gonna kill everything?”

“Yes?”

“No, it won’t.” Ash sneered. “Anyone can swing a scythe and kill things. If that’s all you could do then everyone can be a Grim Reaper.”

“That's not true!” I protested. “We take souls to Elysium and paradise.”

Ash rolled her eyes. “You’re still essentially just a scythe wielding person who just so happens to be able to move souls.” She shook her head. “Absolute power, that is what represents us the royals. If you can’t do everything that a Grim Reaper can, then you aren’t one.”

I paused. “I guess…” That was true…

Ash’s phone buzzed at that second, she grumbled and took a look at it. And then, there was a flash of pure unprecedented bliss.

“This is just perfect.” She turned to me with a smile and elbowed me excitedly like a kid. “You’re going to get some proper training!”

That kind of joy was unnatural. I felt a bit of sweat on my forehead. “What is this proper training you are talking about?”

“Lots and lots of killing, of course. And this time, I won’t help you even a bit.” Her smile faded after she finished her statement. “Well unless you’re dying.”

“That…” I didn’t… “What kind of things will I be killing?”

“Underworld things, duh. Anyway, don’t worry about it. It’s not happening tomorrow.” She handed me a package of chocolate cookies⁠— those were my cookies. And half of them were missing.

“Haa…” I exhaled and decided to put a cookie in my mouth instead.

It was bland, until I actually chewed it. My eyes widened at that moment.

Holy hell.

I think I was beginning to understand why Ash ate so many sweets.

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