“What would an undertaker do?” Sely is walking across the plateau looking for clues, between Vanoge and the observatory.

Filo accompanies her to the discovery site and helps to sift. Only a few shreds of clothing here and there remained.

“Buries the dead.”

“Oh, bizarre practice!”

“Why?” Filo looks out to the sea, his hair reflecting the golden sun. “What do you do with the dead?”

“We leave them outside; nature and minor insects take their course. The life cycle is nourished, as is said in the third book of the Silver Chronicles.”

Filo nods and rubs his chin. “I understand. But we humans, here in Vanoge, have an area – down on the beach – where my family buries the bodies. For important people, like the mayor...”

“That obnoxious one?”

“Aahah, yes her. For important people, we make a pyre. So, their dust mixes with the sand, watching over the dead.”

Sely sits on the grass, her hands feeling the morning dew.

“You'll get muddy!”

“We are already covered in mud. Plus, you stink a lot, hehe.”

Filo looks down, his cheeks red…

Oh, I embarrassed him!

“H-here… the fact is that I'm not allowed access to public bathrooms…”

“Oh, why?”

“W-why? I touch the corpses; everyone thinks the water becomes cloudy when I pass by!”

“But that's absurd!” Sely plucks a little white flower from violet spots. She turns it over between her fingers and smells it.

Absurd…

Filo doesn't respond further; he kicks a small stone with his foot.

“There's not much here... if we want to investigate, we need other avenues.”

“Hmm, are you sure that what I told you is useless?”

“Are you talking about the guys in the wide-brimmed hats?”

Sely nods and stands up. The little flower sways in her hand.

Filo shakes his head. “No, they are typical clothes. Almost every person in these parts has them… besides, even a demihuman could wear them to deceive us.”

Right! I hadn't thought of that!

...also, a demihuman... what reason would he have to stage my Dad's murder!?

“But-but… how did you hypothesize this eventuality!?”

“But nothing. I evaluate all hypotheses. The demihumans who pass through here are very few, but it cannot be ruled out that the marquise or the king of spiders have settled scores.”

“With Dad!?”

“Yes. I don't know if you know this, but your father was the mediator. For every problem that arose, he was the first to be held accountable.”

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

This thing is cruel! Mom never told me about such a task!

Sely approaches Filo. He turns red in the face and looks at her with wide eyes.

Sely leans forward and places the flower in his hair.

“B-but!?”

“Sorry, I was watching them before. I think you give yourself.”

“O-ok, but right now?”

Sely chuckles. “Apologizes. It's just that I'm a little nervous and I feel some negative emotions moving here... in my belly, I don't know. The idea of putting that flower in your golden hair… it's stupid, I know, sorry.”

“Hahaha, no-no, of course. Sorry if I misunderstood. I can only imagine how you feel. You lose your father and everyone thinks you're guilty just because you're an insect. It must be stressful.”

“Yeah, I think so.”

Filo turns, cloak fluttering in the breeze; together with the flower, together with the hair.

“Come Sely. Let's stick to the most probable hypothesis: there are two murderers in the city. If so, I know the person we could ask for information.”

“Yes.”

⁂

“I don't know anything.”

At the usual guard post, Folfo responds by glaring at Sely and Filo.

“Come on, why not? You want us to believe that a former adventurer of your caliber... come on, you get it, right? Last night you were on guard, at least the goatmantis you will know who freed them.” Filo gesticulates a lot while speaking.

For Sely, it's like he's trying to cast stunning magic.

Not very effective, I think.

“I didn't see anything. Nothing at all. The goatmantis freed themselves if you want an answer. And then… there's more to think about, we all know that the killer…” he nods towards Sely.

“I'm not…”

Filo's hand intervenes, interrupting the girl.

“Does she seem capable of killing her father?”

Folfo raises his eyebrows and pulls up his wide-brimmed hat with his thumb. “Of course, it's an insect! You won't trust me, you deadbeat? Would you rather trust a monster than your fellow villagers?”

“I trust my nose. She is not the killer.”

The man points his thick index finger at Filo's chest. He pushes it. “Your nose!? Your nose clogged by your smell!? AHAHAH, but go, go. The wise lady allowed you to investigate out of pity, do not misunderstand. Soon enough you will be spider fodder!”

Filo is pale. Sely sees him and wants to intervene. But she doesn't. She doesn't do it because she understands.

Whatever I say, I would only make the situation worse…

No, I don't accept it.

“Filo. Let's leave.”

“Well done, go away. If it were up to me, you could disappear even before the festival, you kind of freaks of nature.”

Filo is about to reply but this time it is Sely who stops him. She drags him away by his wrist.

Folfo laughs in the background.

“Sely, b-but w-why?”

Sely doesn't turn around and continues walking toward the square.

“I appreciate your help, but it is clear that in the village you are considered like my father.”

“T-that is?”

“Wake up, they exploit you because you serve but they marginalize you because you do what they wouldn't do. You humans are really strange.”

Filo gives a small tug to free himself.

Sely stops and turns.

“But I know that Folfo saw. As mischievous as he is, he is a very good explorer. He certainly saw it.”

“Filo, as far as I'm concerned, he could be one of the two murderers.”

“Don't be ridiculous. These things are not to be taken personally.”

“I don't take it personally” Sely crosses her arms, “the hat is right, and then, as a former adventurer, he certainly has the necessary physical strength!”

Filo looks around worriedly. “Shh! Speak softly, please. We are in the city, let's avoid explicit accusations.”

“AAH! All right.”

“In any case Folfo is innocent.”

“How can you be sure?”

He sighs, his breath making Sely turn up her nose.

“Well, you saw it. His body is powerful, if reincarnation existed it would certainly come from a spidercow.”

Sely looks around. The people of Vanoge are lost in their affairs, although some occasionally cast furtive glances in their direction.

Sure, Folfo has a notable build.

The attackers looked more or less like Dad…

However.

Lighting.

Moment of deduction.

“They could have been his helpers!”

Filo nods.

“Yes, I thought so too… but you see, if that were the case, then there would be a problem.”

Sely tilts her head to the side. “What problem?”

“Folfo's helpers are currently marking a safe route through the forest. The path that we will have to use to reach the king of spiders. Path…”

“In which they will eliminate us!”