[2 days ago in Imari City , Saga Prefecture]
Local old man: "I'm sorry , missy. I've never heard about a girl that could match your descriptions."
Varmoth: "It's okay , sir. I appreciate your help."
Local old man: "I'll let you know if I see the girl that you're looking for is around my area."
Varmoth: "Thank you."
As the old man leave , Varmoth continue asking people around the city. Few hours goes by , she standing by the side of the small road while looking at the beautiful view of Imari river. Then , her phone start to ring so she take it out while putting a wireless earpiece to her right ear and begin to press the button on her phone to answer.
Varmoth: "Hello."
Akio (On the phone): "Nee-chan , how's things been doing over there ?"
Varmoth: "It's a lot harder than I thought. None of these people remember where Mizuki was last seen."
Akio (On the phone): "Is that so ?....Then I'll do what I can to find her from here."
Varmoth: "How ?"
Akio (On the phone): "From her communication systems , like her recent social media posts , her news blog or her contacts history. She is a journalist after all."
Varmoth: "That would be helpful , Akio-kun. Thanks."
Akio (On the phone): "Oh it's nothing , really."
Varmoth: "By the way..."
Akio (On the phone): "Hmm ?"
Varmoth: "Have you find anything about Seo-san ?"
Akio (On the phone): "...."
Akio (On the phone): "I'm sorry , Nee-chan. After the incidents in Tachikawa , I'm afraid I haven't heard any news from him ever since he left without a trace."
Varmoth: "I see..."
Varmoth: "Anyway , I'll keep on asking around about Mizuki. I'll let you know if I discover something related to her."
Akio (On the phone): "Got it."
She then ended the called.
Varmoth: "Now , how should I do this ? Seems like I still have a long free time so might as well get something to eat."
As she's planning to go to nearby convenient store , a woman in her early 40s begin to call her out.
Local woman: "Excuse me..."
Varmoth: "Hmm , can I help you ?"
Local woman: "Um....would you mind if I can have some of your time ? I'm sorry I overheard that you were mentioning Mizuki."
Varmoth: "You know her ?"
Local woman: "Yes , her name is Tachi Mizuki right ? That adorable girl with long ears. She used to lived nearby from my home."
Varmoth: "That's right. Is she's still live there ?"
Local woman: "Unfortunately , she's not there anymore. But , I want to discuss with you about that matter at my home if you like."
Varmoth: "Sure , I still have time."
Local woman: "That's great. Ah , my name is Odagiri Sayaka."
Varmoth: "Varmoth Scarlet , nice to meet you."
15 minutes later , both Sayaka and Varmoth has arrive to her home. Once they goes inside the house , they were greeted by 3 of Sayaka's childrens (2 daughters , 1 son). Moments later , Varmoth and Sayaka are sitting at the living room enjoying their cup of tea.
Varmoth: "So , how do you and Mizuki met each other ?"
Sayaka: "Well , we happened to met at the café and I was alone enjoying my time. Then , she came up to me asking about the trivia of this city since she was just living here at the time. As days went by , we became friends until she start to talk about an unmarked city."
Varmoth: "Unmarked city ?"
Sayaka: "Yes , she said it is a neighboring city near here but there's no known city from the map."
Varmoth: "I see. An unknown city.....close to Imari..."
Sayaka: "That could be the only clue left by Mizuki-chan. I'm sorry , I wish I could provide you with more informations but that's the only thing I know."
Varmoth: "It's alright , Sayaka-san. That's more than enough for me to pin point her whereabout."
Few hours later as the sun begin to set , Varmoth keep on walking around the street then her phone start to ring and she answer the call.
Varmoth: "Hello , Akio-kun ?"
Akio (On the phone): "Onee-chan , I've found something about Mizuki-san when I tried to track down her phone call."
Varmoth: "Did you find out her last whereabout ?"
Akio (On the phone): "Yeah , her last known place is further north away from the city. I'll send you the coordinates."
Varmoth: "Thanks."
After she retrieve the coordinates that were given by Akio , she proceed to follow the pointed mark by driving a car. But on her way to the designated point , she was stopped by the closed road signs which prevent her to drive further. She get out of her car and try to contact Akio then he answer;
Akio (On the phone): "O..[bzzzt]...chan..."
Varmoth: "Akio-kun ? Can you hear me ?"
Akio (On the phone): "Yo..[bzzzt]...nal..[bzzzt]...ong..[bzzzt]..ugh.."
Varmoth: "Hello ? Akio-kun ?"
Akio (On the phone): "Fol..[bzzt]...coordi..[bzzt]...be..[bzzt]..ful..."
[Beep]
Akio's call abruptly ended.
As she put her phone back to her pocket , she look at the view beyond the closed road while feel the eerie vibes. She reload her handgun then proceed to follow the road further past the closed sign.
After 10 minutes of walking , she finally arrive at the entrance of the unknown city.
Varmoth: "What the heck is this place ?"
She see that most of the buildings are old and there's no people around despite all lights of the city are still functioning. She continue to walk deeper into the city until she reach to the point where Mizuki were last known.
Varmoth: "Hmm , this is unusual. I don't see any locals on my way here."
She begin to walk around the city while scanning for clues. Suddenly a girl appear in front of her then she try to call her.
Varmoth: "Hey you."
The girl turn around and look at her.
Iruka: "....."
Varmoth: "Can I speak with you for a moment ?"
Iruka: "....."
Varmoth: "Um...."
Varmoth take a step forward and Iruka start to run away from her through urban street.
Varmoth: "Hey wait !!"
She begin to sprint and try to catch up to her. When she arrive at the 3 way intersection street , she take a breath and lost her sight of the girl. She look at her front again and see another person standing in front of her but this time it's a little girl.
Varmoth: "What is she doing here this late at night ? Could she be lost perhaps ? It is no surprise that this city is big."
She try to approach her in a friendly manner. Then a figure come out from the right path.
Mizuki: "Hey little girl , are you lost ?. I'm not quite well memorized with this city's road but I can help you find your way home."
Varmoth: "!?!?"
Mizuki suddenly appear next to the little girl and try to help her. When she pan her view toward Varmoth , her face change to scare as if she see a monster.
Varmoth: "Mizuki-chan ?"
She try to reach to Mizuki but she start to become hostile as she summon a wooden spikes from the ground and reach toward her. Varmoth keep on dodging the spikes and get close to Mizuki.
Varmoth: "Mizuki-chan. It's me , Varmoth."
Mizuki: "...!?"
Mizuki summon a whip out of her wrist and start to swing it around but Varmoth manage to evade the incoming attack. She begin to realize that the little girl is near her and concern that she could be hit by Mizuki's whip so she retreat from Mizuki and pick up the little girl. Varmoth run away with the little girl and leaving Mizuki behind.
After Varmoth manage to escape from the city , she look at the little girl that she carried all the way only to see a skeletal corpse laying in her arms. She spook by it and immediately drop the corpse down.
Varmoth: "What the hell !?"
She couldn't process to what just happen to the little girl that is now a corpse but once she turn around to look at the city , she is surprise that the empty city she just walked in is now an abandoned city overgrown by nature.
(End of chapter 3)