The Bizarre Detective Agency

Chapter 976: The Radiation Theory

[...Monsters also hunt humans for their humanity. Monsters need humanity to survive, just as fire needs wood to burn.]

Lu Li set down the quill.

Sterling's death meant the theory of humanity lacked follow-up experiments, making it difficult to build upon. Although it could be refined through conjecture and speculation, it would lack true validity.

After a moment of thought at his desk, Lu Li placed the quill back in its inkwell.

After his promotion to the middle courses, completing the theory of humanity was no longer a pressing matter. Now, Lu Li needed to continue improving his mysticism level and master the rules of the Trunk Level.

He closed the notebook and put it in a drawer.

The sound of the drawer sliding open caught the attention of Nasi, who was mending a cloak under the light of a fluorite lamp. He glanced over before returning to his sewing.

A day had passed since they had dealt with the contaminated notebook. It was a shame that Lannar couldn't be saved. Upon learning that the notebook used its victims to harm each other and self-destruct for sustenance, the Holy Light Squad destroyed it.

Or rather, Lu Li had destroyed it.

If it had been up to the Holy Light Squad, they might have sold it or kept it—it could have been useful as a weapon someday.Kiruet thought destroying the anomaly was a bit of a waste, but she didn't object, as it was exactly what an exorcist would do.

Lu Li hadn't told them he could absorb humanity, because of Professor Kris's prohibition. She had ordered Lu Li not to reveal his ability to anyone.

So, when the notebook thrashed and trembled in Lu Li's left hand before burning to ash, the Holy Light Squad was unaware of his rich harvest: the contaminated notebook had yielded an amount of humanity just shy of a vengeful spirit's.

That humanity had come from its victims.

Though it held a great deal of humanity, the notebook itself was as weak as a common ghost. It was much like humans—the finest delicacy in the eyes of monsters.

It made one wonder: if the notebook's pages had ever been filled, would it have undergone some new transformation?

Today was a day off after their mission. Kiruet, Yeger, and Nasi were relaxing in the common room.

In the afternoon, Lu Li donned his cloak and headed to Professor Kris's office.

Knock, knock, knock—

"If that's Lu Li, come in. Anyone else, come back another day."

Professor Kris's languid voice drifted from behind the door.

Lu Li pushed the door open and stepped inside. Professor Kris was not in her alchemy office. Instead, her voice emerged from a wine glass by the fireplace, its contents shimmering with captivating hues:

"Darling, I'm meeting an old friend in the Swamps forbidden zone. The items on the table were left for you by Vita. They aren't very practical, but they have great commemorative value."

Tearing his gaze from the office, Lu Li approached the desk.

A rhinoceros-like horn exuding a wild aura, an oval clay flask, and a landscape photograph.

Considering Vita's interests and the museum's exhibits, these three items belonged to different civilizations—the last one being from a human one.

However, Vita had misunderstood something—Lu Li wasn't interested in the history of civilizations, even if he could sense the historical significance of these treasures.

Lu Li looked at the last item on the table.

"That's a notebook Sterling left behind. There's something interesting in it," Professor Kris's voice chimed in from the wine glass at that moment.

Lu Li reached out his left hand, picked up the notebook, and opened it to the bookmarked page.

[The experiment was a success... What should I call this substance... Light? No, light itself is radiation... Radiation? Why do I know this word—oh, thank you, Lu Li! Yes, radiation, this substance is called radiation... No! It's not a substance! It's just radiation!]

[Contamination is radiation, aura is radiation, this is a new discovery, just like humanity!]

[No... not now... Shut up, you bastards! Wait until I've finished writing, then take me! Listen, remember this word: radiation. Everything has radiation. Deities, anomalies, us, even animals, trees, stones... Do you understand? Don't make a sound! We get contaminated by an anomaly's aura because of radiation, we get contaminated by eating anomaly flesh because of radiation, we become deformed from long-term contact with anomalies because of radiation! I've already found... My hand... Dammit!]

The already slanted words suddenly became even more illegible, and Lu Li could barely decipher the words from the few remaining symbols.

[Block, radiation, no, contamination]

By blocking and eliminating the radiation, humanity would no longer be subjected to contamination.

This was the prototype of a grand theory.

Unfortunately, Sterling didn't live to complete this theory. In a way, he was both lucky and unlucky—in the final stage of his life, he discovered the theory of humanity and the radiation theory, but he vanished into the long night before he could perfect them.

"Yes, sometimes I also think Sterling should have held on a little longer... When the dean returns, I'll propose adding science to the curriculum. What do you think?" Professor Kris's sigh came at just the right moment.

Lu Li's dark eyes lifted from the notebook and fell upon the glass before the fireplace.

"Of course, I'm not actually here. I hope you're not so sweet as to be talking to me."

Lu Li figured the glass was likely relaying prerecorded messages through some form of perception.

Allowing no opportunity for new messages, Lu Li put down the notebook and left the alchemy office to the sound of Professor Kris's words: "See you in a few days, darling."

...

The Holy Light Squad's common room.

Kiruet sat on her bed reading a book, Yeger was eating at the round table, and behind a bed curtain, Nasi's sleeping form could be vaguely seen.

Lu Li's return made Kiruet look up and set her book aside.

"Ready to take on a new mission?"

Lu Li's gaze shifted from the book that had belonged to Margaret.

"When?"

"One day of rest is enough... Tomorrow at dawn, I think."

"I have no objection."

Yeger replied, eating calmly.

"Yawn... Me too."

Nasi's bed shifted, and the figure inside sat up.

Lu Li nodded under Kiruet's gaze.

"I'm going to the mission hall to pick a task. Are you coming with me?" Kiruet asked.

"Not right now."

Lu Li returned to his bed, placing the book he had borrowed from the library on his bedside table. Kiruet left quickly, pulling on a cloak to hide her identity—over time, the harassment of the Holy Light Squad had resumed.

This time, Kiruet was gone for quite a while, only returning when Yeger was just about to go looking for her.

The location for this mission was once again the outskirts of Midnicht: an investigation into a family of three suspected of worshipping a corpse-eating god. The base reward was 1 academic credit and 2 team points.

While the team was still finding its rhythm, Kiruet tried to make sure their efforts were worthwhile.

Although, in any case, the fight with the golden knife-shield had been an extremely costly affair.

Kiruet's gaze lingered on the sleepy Nasi, on the watchful Yeger, and finally settled on the calm Lu Li.

"We leave at dawn tomorrow."

...

In a dark, lifeless, damp, and cold corner, a figure lurked silently in the gloom.

Ominous whispers flowed slowly along with the sound of dripping water.

"This is a good chance... he's gone..."

The figure slowly rose, stirring the darkness, and a foul aura spread through the air.

The muttering whispers continued, gradually fading into the breeze until they were inaudible.

"Lu Li..."