The Story of Vampire Michaela by Kagami Takaya~

Chapter 3

Chapter 3  In Regards to Your Justice

Crowley gazed at the scenery outside the small window from inside the rocking carriage.

The village that housed the chaser workshop was two days away from the town. The downpour continued all the while the carriage rolled along the road. The trip had taken longer because on unpaved stretches of the road the wheels stuck in the mud every now and then, but finally...

"We're almost there," Crowley murmured.

He knew that the village must have been near by just how well maintained the road became. It meant the village saw a decent amount of traffic, with many people coming and going.

The rain had stopped at the dawn break. The thick clouds cleared, and strong light began to shine on the world.

Shifting his gaze from the window to the interior of the carriage, Crowley called, "Ferid-kun."
"..." Ferid didn't stir.

Yesterday's night, the two of them drank plenty of wine. Ferid drained a small cask he had on him for "personal use" all by himself. Maybe waking up was too much to ask of him right now.

"Ferid-kun. We're almost there."
"..."
"Are you asleep?"

At that, Ferid finally answered, still keeping his eyes closed. "...No, not in the least. I cannot sleep."
"Oh really. Your voice sounds very sleepy though."

Ferid cracked an eye open moodily to glance at Crowley. "Are you not drunk yourself?"
"Not from so little, no."
"What a monster," Ferid smiled faintly, then pointed at the brightly illuminated window. "Mind shutting the window? I hate the sun, you see."
"Now that the rain has stopped, it's a very nice and pleasant morning out there."
"Ewww," Ferid grimaced in displeasure.

Crowley looked out the window again; the village was in sight now and getting closer. They were almost there.

"In any case, wake up. End of journey."
"I hate mornings," Ferid bemoaned, stroking a ring-shaped accessory on his hand.

Just then, the servant, driving the carriage, shouted loudly, "Ferid-sama!"
"Yeees~? Are we there?"
"Y-Yes, sir! But, but... What on earth...?!"

The driver's voice was clearly not his normal. It was the voice of someone frightened by something. Crowley stood up and opened the door despite the carriage still moving at full speed.

"Be careful not to fall out," Ferid warned, but Crowley ignored him, grabbing onto the upper part of the door and leaning out of it from the waist up.

The weather really was very nice. Perfect for strolling and exploring. The sky was cloudless, and sunlight had already started drying the puddles on the road that led to the small settlement. An idyllic scene - if not for 4 dead bodies ahead. They were men dressed in work clothes, likely workers from the chaser workshop.

Crowley frowned, "Well, I'll be damned, Ferid-kun."
"We got beaten to the punch, I take it?" a response came from the depths of the carriage.
"Eh...?" Crowley had to draw himself back into the carriage at that.

Ferid was sitting with his eyes still closed, looking dizzy and dazzled by the sun, but Crowley ignored his state to shout, "You knew?!"
"That is what I would do myself if I were in the killer's place. The moment I realized that evidence had been left, I would make a move to hide my tracks."

Taking out the silver needle from his breast pocket, Ferid twirled it between his fingers. Despite the situation, he still looked ready to fall asleep any moment.

"Hey, wake up already. Our only lead has just vanished."
"So what? It is all good anyway."
"No, it's not!"
"Geez, you are so loud in the morning."