Escaping the Mystery Hotel - Chapter 495
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EP.495 Episode 495 – Room 207, The Gate Room – The Second Trial ‘The Witch’ (3)
Episode 495 – Room 207, The Gate Room – The Second Trial ‘The Witch’ (3)
– Elena
The first person to accuse the witch was Bruno, a sausage maker on the outskirts of Ernheim.
Soon, as if they had been waiting for this moment, several people began listing the ominous events that had occurred in Ernheim.
“You all probably know! Three months ago, seven pigs on the Hort farm suddenly died, spitting blood -”
Livestock dying for no reason.
“Does Detective Czerny know? Then his nephew, Lord Rowan, must also know. What a healthy young man he was until last year!”
People suffering from diseases of unknown causes.
“It was just a week ago. I heard a strange noise early in the morning, so I went outside, and all the stray cats in the village were gathered together and talking to each other!”
Even a cat that can talk like a human.
In an age that boasted of terrible hygiene, the collapse of livestock or people could be due to an infectious disease.
But, even to modern people, what cats say is magical.
The conclusion of all these accusations was always similar.
“That’s right. An evil sorcerer from the East! That’s her. She bewitched the faithful Simon and sneaked into the city to do all this.”
Simon refers to Eun-sol’s husband, who is said to have died 11 years ago.
The townspeople believe that the older sister is a witch who has bewitched Simon and entered the city to perform evil spells.
“…”
People’s testimonies were largely true.
To be precise, they believed that what they were saying was true.
The atmosphere in the room gradually became heated, and some people even started cursing at Eunsol.
Sister Eunsol….
He just sits there expressionless, as if nothing happened.
Meanwhile, the heretic inquisitor silently observed Eunsol.
After a while, Thomas took a thick book out of his heavy leather pouch.
— Boom!
“that….”
“MALLEUS MALEFICARUM. The hammer that judges witches. A guideline from the Holy See.”
It’s called a witch hunt manual.
I sighed and thought, “What kind of crazy book is this?”
Soon, Thomas began preaching to the people at length the Vatican’s ‘scholarly opinion’ on witches.
Witches tend to move around constantly rather than staying in a particular area for a long time.
Because of their innate strength, they are impulsive and arrogant, and cannot stand situations where insignificant humans push them around.
There are many people with cruel nature who do not hesitate to kill.
After listening to the explanation for a while, I started to wonder what this was.
“No, Thomas!”
“Please speak.”
“Most of what we’re talking about now has nothing to do with Eun-Sol Lee, right?”
Let’s compare the contents of the witch hunting manual with my sister’s situation.
Sister Eunsol has lived in this city for at least 10 years, so she is not someone who just wanders around.
Can’t stand situations where other people are pushing you?
You’re still calm even though dozens of people are cursing at you right now!
Cruel and merciless in his murderous ways?
I don’t know about livestock, but there was no story of people dying in large numbers!
“Even if the contents of the manual are true, there is no evidence that Eunsol Lee is a witch -”
“Miss Elena.”
Thomas, who had been listening to me silently, calmly said something unexpected.
“That’s exactly what I was going to say.”
The entire courtroom became quiet.
Thomas began to explain the contents of the manual step by step.
“The instructions don’t always apply. There are many different witches in the world, and each has its own unique characteristics. However, it’s rare for them to be completely wrong.”
“…”
“Witches don’t stay in one city for long. The chances of being caught are high, and witch hunters or inquisitors come looking for them.”
People listened to Thomas somewhat absentmindedly.
“Witches lack patience. They can kill a dozen people with a snap of a finger. Most of them are cruel and violent. They have grown up receiving endless hatred from those around them.”
“…”
“Of course, I’m not declaring that the woman is not a witch. I’m saying that more investigation is needed. I don’t know who the witch is, but the traces of an evil force have been clearly revealed!”
— Boom!
The Inquisitor declared, rapping the table with his mallet.
“Adjournment! The witch court will reconvene at the same time in two days.”
*
I sit in the carriage heading to the mansion and think.
How scary is prejudice.
“…”
The heretic inquisitor who seemed more likely to burn Eun-sol than anyone else.
In fact, he decided, ‘Eunsol Lee does not have any of the characteristics that witches generally share. She does not seem to be a witch, so investigate further.’
“Hmm….”
In actual history, there were no witches, and those who went on witch hunts were actually more like con artists who were after the victims’ wealth.
This world is a place where witches really exist, and inquisitors and witch hunters are not frauds.
That doesn’t mean the Inquisitor is a normal person.
It means that the human image is different from what I initially thought.
If the real witch hunt is burning to death those who have money regardless of whether there is evidence to prove that they are witches or not, the witch hunt here is closer to ‘killing everyone who is even the slightest bit suspicious.’
If Eunsol unnie had complied with even one of the contents of Malleus Maleficarum, the witch-hunting manual, I would have ordered her to be burned to death without hesitation.
Since not a single one matches, I released it ‘for now’.
“… okay.”
A similar type of person immediately came to mind.
They are agents of the management office.
The Inquisitor’s behavioral patterns are eerily similar to those of agents of the distant future Administration… .
Let’s think without prejudice.
This is a world where witches exist and witch hunts are necessary.
So, who is the witch?
It would be a good idea to consult an expert’s opinion.
— Flutter!
I unfolded the Malleus Maleficarum that I had borrowed from Thomas.
*
When the Inquisitor said that Eunsol Lee did not seem to be a witch, the townspeople also backed down.
One, this is nothing more than a retreat under the pressure of the Inquisitor and my authority.
The hostility the city people felt toward my sister was astonishing.
What if they openly threaten you like this?
What if my sister uses a tool like Ho-Jop-Mong to survive?
This is the birth of a real witch!
I’ll have to send one of my people to make sure the townspeople don’t treat them carelessly.
As soon as I arrived at the Gray family mansion, I called my personal maid, Valentina.
“Valentina, I have a favor to ask.”
“Oh my! Go ahead.”
“The foreigner who sent me a letter a while ago -”
“Are you Eunsol Lee?”
“I remember you. Could you please stay at her house for a few days?”
“…”
“I heard that your dead husband was rich. There will be a room for you to stay in. I’ll pay you plenty of money.”
Valentina made a strange expression when she heard what I said.
“… Miss, just in case, do you know about the relationship between me and Eunsol Lee?”
“relationship?”
Was there something like that?
Aren’t you just my maid?
Come to think of it, what did he say about Eunsol on the first day?
‘How does the young lady know such a strange woman?’
If you look at it the other way around, it means that he already knew!
“…Sophia.”
“huh?”
“I’m talking about Eunsol Lee’s daughter.”
“Oh, that’s right.”
And then, I heard the unthinkable twice in one day.
“That child is my nephew.”
*
– Lee Eun-sol
“His Majesty the Duke has clearly misunderstood something!”
“Hey, watch your tongue! Haven’t you ever heard of the master of the stake?”
“I’m not a witch, so why should I be afraid of him? In the first place, if I had burned Eunsol’s things, it would have ended -”
iced coffee….
This, this, I keep hearing it and it makes me feel a little uncomfortable.
From what I’ve felt after going out several times, the people of Ernheim fall into two groups.
A person who thinks that Eunsol Lee is a witch who should be burned to death.
I’m not sure if she’s a witch, but she’s someone you’d like to see leave the city.
He’s the same guy, but when I experienced it, I realized there was a difference.
Anyway, the second type of people had an exchange where they gave me bread in return for money.
When society becomes chaotic, those who feel alienated become the prey.
In the past, when an earthquake occurred in Japan, didn’t rumors spread that Koreans were poisoning wells?
At least I’ve felt a little better since last night.
“Sofia, we’re having paella for dinner tonight!”
“Wow! I love you so much, Aunt!”
Because my husband’s younger sister, whom I had never met before, started staying at our house.
Unlike me, Valentina is a high-ranking official of Ernheim and is the exclusive handmaiden of Elena, chosen by God.
It was a position that neither serfs nor ordinary city dwellers could dare to treat lightly.
He also loved Sophia almost like his own daughter.
“Wow~! This looks delicious. I’m looking forward to it.”
“…you are in the room.”
“Hey~! Are you going to do something so fatal?”
“…”
If there’s one minor problem, it’s that this woman also dislikes me quite a bit.
However, the reason Valentina disliked me was different from the city people.
“Aunt… . Aunt… .”
“Huh? Why is that?”
“Just now, um, Andrea said something strange outside.”
“What did you say?”
“My mom said I was a witch… right? Right?”
“… Then. Eunsol Lee is not a witch. But Sophie, you are grounded from going out for a while.”
Valentina doesn’t think I’m a witch.
I just think of her as a horrible woman who ‘ate’ my brother.
According to the setting, Simon died two or three years after I married him.
“I’m going to start cooking now, so don’t disturb me. Oh, and you too, don’t keep wandering around outside!”
— Boom!
I was kicked out of the kitchen with a loud noise.
Oh my, this is getting more and more ridiculous.
I’ve never even seen the face of that man, that husband, and I’ve never even seen a witch.
I didn’t think I was mentally weak, but I started getting annoyed by the blatant and unreasonable hatred I received.
“…”
I remember what the Inquisitor said.
The witch lacks patience.
Because I can kill fifteen people with just one snap of my finger!
I know what you mean.
It turns out that it’s not as easy as it sounds to be patient with ‘lowly’ people who roll around on the dirt floor as soon as they use Ho-Jip-Mong.
“… I guess I should stop thinking useless thoughts here.”
I drank a glass of water to calm my unnecessary emotions.
As always – anger doesn’t help anything in a hotel.
Rather, it is time to do important things.
— CLANG!
Open the window and look outside.
The eyes of the monocular bird, which had become more accustomed to control than before, gained strength.
“…”
A dark blue line is seen filling the atmosphere.
Something was constantly moving, like an earthworm swimming in the air.
Because it has no form, it cannot be touched, and it is invisible to the Inquisitor and even to Elena.
So, it is clear evidence of ‘mystery’.
Should I follow these traces to find the witch?
The moment I half-heartedly grabbed the doorknob, I felt a soft touch from behind.
“Mom….”
“Sophia.”
“Are you going out today too?”
“…”
“People don’t like Mom… Why don’t you just stay home?”
Every time I see Sophia, I feel a subtle emotion.
A cute little girl who wants to sleep with me every day, a child who calls me mommy.
If you ask me if I feel like she’s a real daughter, honestly, no.
It’s not like a child is something that was born after ten months of pain in the womb, but I don’t even remember raising this child.
“It’s because Mom is busy.”
Even so, she is a cute and lovely girl.
“Your aunt told you to stay home!”
“Sophie, go into your room.”
“… yes.”
Sorry to say this, Sophia, but this is a hotel.
It’s a place where if you just sit still in your room, nothing happens.
*
Late at night, I was thinking while smelling the cold air outside.
What is this thread I see?
Traces of magic?
I’ve never seen such a strange trace left behind by someone using a hotel’s legacy… .
I looked around to see where there were many places with long, floating threads.
“…”
After tracking him for about an hour, I sensed a stench in an alley with a sinister atmosphere.
It’s a smell that most people never smell in their entire lives, and I’ve never smelled it in over 30 years of living.
It’s the smell of a rotting corpse.
It seems like hotels have broadened my horizons quite a bit since I can tell these things apart.
No thanks.
“Ugh!”
I held my breath, conscious of the butterfly dream.
Soon, the whole body shook and the shape disappeared.
The ability of the badge obtained from the souvenir shop in the past, and now the power of the butterfly dream, transparency.
“…”
Flesh, blood, and bones scattered everywhere.
Unfortunately, it seems it wasn’t a comfortable death.
I was a little taken aback when I saw the torn face.
Because he was someone I knew.
“… Bruno.”
Bruno, a sausage maker living on the outskirts of Ernheim.
He is the one who reported me to the Inquisitor.
At that moment, I heard a strange voice.
“Run away.”
“…”
“There you are. Even though it’s transparent, you can still smell and feel it. Run away quickly. Other people are coming.”
The story itself was helpful to me.
The only problem was that the being who said those words was a cat, not a human.