D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad Chapter 2196 The Steel Hard Facts Part 2

Kat ---

Ultimately, Kat and Lily dedicated a segment of time to observing Brook more closely. However, as their scrutiny intensified, they began to realize their initial reaction had been somewhat exaggerated. It was primarily her distinctive hairstyle and eyewear, coupled with a generally similar facial structure, that had initially caused the surprise. While her eyes, nose, and mouth differed in precise detail, the immediate shock of her resemblance had still been significant.

To allow herself a moment longer to process the cognitive dissonance, Kat posed a question: "So, how easily distracted is she, and just how dangerous are these distractions?"

"Sadly, they can occasionally be major," [Steel] replied. "She might be halfway through carving a complex rune, only to suddenly ponder if it could be repurposed for an entirely different project. If she lacks spare parchment, she might even begin inscribing her new concept onto the very same surface she's currently working on. This could prove catastrophic if not detected promptly, though thankfully, it's not a frequent occurrence. It happens just often enough to be a genuine concern. This is critical work, and we wouldn't have selected her if her reliability was completely compromised... but ensuring she wasn't a spy was prioritized over pure skill in this instance."

"Alright... so how closely should I be monitoring her? I don't imagine it would be excessively difficult to spot her swapping runes mid-carving," Kat sighed.

Steel shook his head. "If only it were that straightforward. No, she'll pause, then conceive of a second, engaging task related to the runes and proceed to inscribe the 'incorrect' runes for her intended task. Sometimes these alterations are minor, but those can also occur in standard enchanting processes, so it's not a definitive sign of problems."

"Oh... that sounds rather troublesome. Is there truly nothing I can do to prevent it?" Kat inquired.

Steel offered a shrug. "I truly don't wish to overstate the issue. She has successfully completed numerous tasks without becoming sidetracked... just not typically ones of this magnitude. Usually, we enlist her for smaller, single-item assignments or for projects where we can provide an abundance of notebooks to contain her diversions. In this particular case, we are restricting supplies for several reasons, primarily to thwart any attempts to introduce extraneous elements that could disrupt the process. This could involve anything from something explosive to a teleportation beacon, or similar devices."

"I simply wish to caution you that if a confrontation arises and she becomes involved, I would prefer you attempt to de-escalate, but likely side against her. I have no certainty how your lie detection might function if she genuinely believes her 'unique ideas' are what she is supposed to be doing. This is because she operates as a researcher, not merely someone who enchants equipment."

"Ah... so it's technically within her purview, and it's possible that if she's rationalizing it that way, I might not detect a falsehood," Kat acknowledged with a nod. "Very well, I shall keep that in mind. Who is next on the list?"

"Next is Scar, or rather, Steven, though she prefers the moniker Scar," Steel stated with a sigh, handing over the subsequent photograph. Kat had no intention of glancing at it, yet the name 'Scar' compelled her to do so.

It depicted a dwarven woman, and a significant portion of her face, approximately fifty percent, was marred by burn scars. It was possible her entire body bore similar marks, but she was attired in heavy robes. Though still white, her robes appeared exceptionally thick, perhaps for enhanced defense? Or might they potentiate the enchantments woven into them? She was also wearing gloves and knee-high boots, minimizing exposed skin. It was at this point that Kat discerned another detail. "Wait, okay, I understand the 'Scar' aspect, but why is her given name Steve?"

Steel sighed again. "Certain experimental medical procedures are accessible to anyone who requests them, but they are not mandated to legally alter one's name. For reasons unknown, she elected not to."

Kat remained perplexed for a few more moments before Appoline chimed in with recognition. "Oh? I recall her now! I can hardly believe she declined the opportunity to heal her scars after undergoing such extreme procedures elsewhere. I mean, I'm not one to judge aesthetics, but scarred, burned skin cannot be optimally healthy in the long term."

Kat was beginning to form a strong hypothesis about what had transpired, but it felt rather awkward to inquire, and she wasn't sure she truly desired confirmation. There was no need to seek verification; it was none of her concern. "So... hmm... I should address her as Scar then?"

"Yes. It's not her legal name, but, well..." Steel offered another shrug. "I genuinely fail to comprehend her decisions in that regard. I've collaborated with her for some time, both before and after the incident. She had options, but..." Steel shrugged once more. "Never mind."

"Scar contributes to the warding team and possesses considerable experience, yet she's also assigned as a separate guard. The others are unaware of this secondary role, and her burn injuries prevent her from actively patrolling. However, I desired a reason to keep her near the enchanters, just in case any unforeseen events transpired. Her duties will likely proceed at a slower pace due to the necessity of observing everyone else, but I can vouch for her... despite her eccentricities," Steel confessed with a weary sigh.

"I suppose as long as her craziness proves productive," Kat responded with a sigh of her own.

Appoline, however, entertained a different thought. "I wonder if she would permit me to mend her scarring? It would provide valuable data, and depending on the required ingredients within that facility, it might be something I'll be producing anyway. After all, people generally appreciate having medicinal herbs readily available."

"You are welcome to ask her," Steel said, shrugging.

"I will," Appoline agreed.

"Is the final individual also peculiar?" Kat inquired with a sigh.

"No," Steel countered, handing over the last document. This was the last one he intended to elaborate on, as the guards apparently weren't deemed important enough for detailed explanations.

"The name of the last person is Carnation, but he has adopted the name 'Carl' over time, so I shall use that. He is an elf, but... well, he's not excessively strange, though he is somewhat sensitive about his peculiarities," Steel admitted.

"I believed we had concluded our discussions regarding strangeness," Kat commented. Steel then presented the photograph... and Kat felt as though she were gazing upon a child. Thankfully, not an inappropriately young one, but he appeared to be no older than fourteen, even generously estimating. He was on the shorter side, still retaining a touch of youthful plumpness, and the attempt to wear a proper lab coat only served to make him look rather comical, despite it having been clearly tailored for him. "Alright... I suspect you know what I'm going to ask..."

"Carl possesses a rather unique condition among elves. He is not excessively old, yet he is in his forties," Steel clarified.

Kat glanced at the picture, then back at Steel, detecting no hint of deception. "How is that possible?"

"Ah, I can address that," Appoline interjected. "It's referred to by several names, but 'Early Onset Elven Aging' serves as the most descriptive explanation. For reasons yet undetermined, his aging process began to decelerate significantly earlier than is typical, resulting in... this current appearance. He will likely maintain this youthful visage for approximately another hundred years."

"Is this affliction common?" Kat asked.

"It depends on your definition of common. Theoretically, it occurs with a probability of about one in ten thousand. In practical terms, the majority of such cases are less pronounced than Carl's. His likely began to manifest before or just as he entered puberty, which is exceedingly rare, perhaps closer to one in a million."