Chapter 3 - The Search Mission Begins

"I want to ask you to return to investigate the mastermind behind the murder of my parents."

Captain Calvin took a deep breath while massaging his forehead. He was very frustrated with the behavior of a young man who had lost his mind.

"Haven't I often said that your parents died because of a contract killer?"

"How can I believe you if you have never proved anything to me!" Riko protested, annoyed. "Even though I have clearly seen it with my own eyes, the spider demon had the heart to kill my father and mother!"

"You don't know anything, Riko. You better forget about this problem and live as a great young man who can make your parents proud."

 "Forget it?!"

"After all, this case was closed a long time ago. If traced back, there will definitely not be any traces of the culprit left."

 Riko growled angrily.

"I know you will never accept the tragic death of your parents. But if you continue to drag on harboring hatred, it will slowly destroy you more and more. So just let them be. Not all police officers can uncover criminal cases."

Riko snarled violently due to holding back the anger that was about to explode.

Calvin patted Riko's shoulder to encourage him. "I'll arrange an appointment for you to see a psychiatrist. I hope you can be released from the shadow of the past."

"No need!" Riko brushed off Calvin's hand. "From today on, I will never see you again. I understand why you won't help me! That's because you're not in my position!"

 Calvin was silent.

Riko jumped to his feet and rushed out of the room in a rage. His heart aches and breaks.

His tears fell without him noticing.

'How could I forget my parents' unnatural death just like that?!'

Losing a parent figure is the most painful thing for Riko. Because of the spider man's cruelty, he lost his life as a child.

Riko clenched his fists tightly, his determination getting stronger to conduct a search into the forest.

'Without them, I can also do it.'

 ∆∆∆

After visiting the police station, Riko came to campus for a tour.

Riko and the faculty members board a bus, which will take them to a historical forest to research things that happened in ancient times.

Riko walked down the bus to find a seat, but his colleagues deliberately put their bags on an empty seat so that Riko wouldn't sit beside them.

 "Hey, Idiots!" he shrieked.

Riko turned to the man who liked to bully him. "W-what is going on?"

"Do you intend to find out the facts about those imaginary creatures of yours in the historical forest that we will visit later?" Edward laughed derisively.

Edward's friends burst out laughing at Riko.

Riko just looked down, not intending to fight.

"Shut up, everyone!" Professor William snapped, who had just arrived. "Give a seat to Riko! If you don't want to, please get off this bus! Now!"

Instantly the atmosphere became silent. None of the Archeology students dared to speak.

One of the students teased Riko. He said, "I don't think Riko will go crazy after seeing historical sites because he believes mythological creatures are real." The whole bus laughed at Riko.

Riko completely ignores their ridicule because arguing with his fellow faculty members is useless. He will stick to his stance, even if everyone is against it.

Green grass accompanies you all the way to one of the historic sites. The bus drove leisurely until some of the students fell asleep.

During the trip, no one wanted to talk to Riko.

After several hours later, they finally arrived at one of the dense forests.

They rushed down the bus while cheering joyfully. 

Finally, the moment they had been waiting for in college had come true.

"Everyone, line up!" William shouted, interrupting all of his students to gather.

The young people immediately lined up in front of Professor William.

"I will tell you all the rules you are not allowed to break while in this area!"

Nearly half an hour more, William chattered at length to explain the rules. However, they only nodded with lazy faces. Some even yawned widely.

 "Do you all understand?"

 "Yes!!"

"Good! Come on! Follow me! I will explain the historical facts that happened in ancient times! You must remember my warning earlier! Stay in line! Whatever happens!"

 "Yes, Prof!"

Riko and the other students follow William. The geeky young man continued to walk in the back row.

"Go away, you idiot!" Edward suddenly pushed Riko, standing behind him, into a rough sitting on the ground.

"Look for that mythological creature you believe in! This time is your chance to prove the existence of that strange creature to us!"

"B-but… Professor William earlier ordered that we must not be separated."

"So you're going to waste this precious opportunity?"

Edward didn't want to help Riko, but he intended to get Riko lost so he would never appear again on campus.

Edward was right. If Riko proves these mythological creatures' existence to his friends according to the map's instructions, he will definitely be recognized by the whole world, and at the same time, the mystery of his parent's death will be revealed.

"Okay! I'll be gone for a moment. See you later!" Riko immediately left the tour group.

Edward grinned slyly. "Go and never come back, Idiot. May you die because of the beasts."

After getting far enough, Riko opened his backpack to take out the map.

 ∆∆∆

Jorah stirs tea in the kitchen. The small room was so dark and lit only by torches that it was a bit eerie in the dim light.

A black smoke appeared in the mirror behind him.

"You are so pitiful. Why are you still fighting hard to incite the child?"

 Jorah ignored the voice.

"Did you forget he's no ordinary kid?"

Jorah remained silent.

"It turns out that you are no less stupid than the child you have used. You deliberately made him believe in the existence of beings like us by showing yourself during the night of the tragedy so that he would save our nation. It is impossible!"

"That is none of your business! You better go while I'm being generous."

"Why are you still thinking about the country that has been torn to pieces? Isn't the human world not so bad, right? So stay here forever."

"Stop talking nonsense! Damn it!" Jorah threw the teacup at the ornate mirror, causing it to shatter and scatter on the floor.

∆∆∆

Riko gets deeper into the jungle. To prove his words, Riko is not afraid to face any danger. He took the sacred map out of his backpack and read it several times.

Riko took a tired breath. "Dad, Mom, forgive me if I fail today. I don't have anyone to help me find the killer. I'm tired of failure."

If he finds nothing this time, Riko is determined to end it all.