Chapter 674: Chapter 499 Miskatonic University_2 Chapter 674: Chapter 499 Miskatonic University_2 “She was a good girl, talented. I still rember how she wanted to host her own art exhibition…
“Sorry, Professor Osborne, we’re not here for idle chat.”
Anthony sowhat abruptly interrupted the man’s attempt to imrse himself in the mories.
“We are here because this student is involved in an investigation we’re conducting. Can you provide any clues? We couldn’t find her na in the school’s graduation rolls…”
“Oh, that’s simple. Because she dropped out.”
“Dropped out???”
It had to be said that this response indeed took Duanmu Huai and Chief Anthony by surprise. Professor Osborne tapped his pipe, nodded at them.
“Yes, she didn’t graduate successfully. I don’t know the specifics, but I do know she went on a journey to find inspiration at one point. She locked herself in the art studio after she returned, painted a painting, and then she seed to suffer so kind of ntal blow… I’m sorry, I can’t say for sure. But afterward, her family managed her withdrawal procedure, and took her ho. That was five years ago.”
“Then, why would her painting appear in the Newburyport Museum of Art?”
Duanmu Huai stared at him, raising the question. Professor Osborne pondered for a mont, then he seed to rember sothing and nodded definitively.
“Oh, right. I rember that the Newburyport Museum once asked us to donate artwork, and we selected so student works to give to them. Perhaps her work was mixed in at that ti.”
“…….”
Upon hearing this, Duanmu Huai and Anthony looked at each other, their expressions serious. Then, Anthony turned to the elderly professor.
“Could you provide us with Miss Kristin’s address or phone number?”
“Of course, no problem.”
Professor Osborne wrote an address and phone number down on paper and handed it to Anthony. He then looked at Duanmu Huai, a surprised look in his eyes.
“Oh, yes, I have a favor to ask.”
“What is it?”
“This gentleman’s physique and appearance are quite unique. Such an exquisite harmony of body proportions is truly irresistible. I hope he could consider being a life model for our art departnt. What do you think?”
“……… I’ll consider it.”
In response to Professor Osborne’s enthusiastic invitation, Duanmu Huai twitched his eye corner – he now realized why the professor had been casting such curious looks at him since he entered the office.
Indeed, most of those working as professors at Miskatonic University were not normal people.
Unperturbed by Duanmu Huai’s reaction, Professor Osborne gave Duanmu his phone number with great enthusiasm, indicating that if he agreed to be a life model at the Miskatonic University, he could earn a substantial fee. Considering that having a good relationship with professors at Miskatonic University would not be harmful, Duanmu grudgingly accepted his business card.
Of course, whether he actually wanted to be a life model was another matter.
By the ti they left Miskatonic University, they had sorted out the situation quite thoroughly.
According to the information provided by Professor Osborne, the girl nad Kristin had been a gifted artist five years ago. After venturing out in search of inspiration, she returned and painted the “Void Ghost”. After finishing this painting, Kristin suffered a ntal breakdown and was taken ho by her family who applied for her withdrawal from school.
Whether by coincidence or for so other reason, Kristin did not take the painting with her. As a result, when the Newburyport Museum of Art sent a request to Miskatonic University shortly thereafter, the painting was packaged with others and donated to the Newburyport Museum of Art as student work.
It was precisely this painting that brought monstrous creatures from the subspace who hid in the museum and attacked humans. This ultimately led to a series of tragedies.
Alright, the main thread of the situation had been fairly well understood. Now, there were only two questions left.
First, whether Kristin is still alive.
Second, what exactly did she encounter that would lead her to create such artwork that can summon isekai monsters?
These two questions are very important. If Kristin is indeed alive, then there may be a chance that she could create a second “Void Ghost” or similar artwork. If such a thing happens, the situation would only grow worse. Similarly, the “inspiration” that allowed her to create such frightening monsters could also be troubleso.
However, regardless, they can conclude that everything revolves around this woman nad Kristin.
Chief Anthony dialed the number provided by Professor Osborne. Truthfully, for a mont, he worried whether the person on the other end had left or the phone was already abandoned. Fortunately, the call was answered, and when Chief Anthony inquired about Kristin, they confird that she was indeed at ho. Kristin’s parents initially expressed unease at Chief Anthony’s request to visit, but ultimately, they agreed.
The two n imdiately rushed to Kristin’s ho and t her in the living room.
Upon laying eyes on the woman, Duanmu Huai and Chief Anthony were surely astounded.
They had previously seen Kristin’s photograph in the student records provided by Professor Osborne — a pretty young woman with brown curly hair and a sweet smile.
However, the person in front of them was a skeletal, bald figure who appeared as if they were a cancer patient clinging onto life after enduring several rounds of chemotherapy.
According to her parents, she has been in this state ever since she dropped out of school. She could not only not paint, but she could not even hold a pen steadily. In fact, now, she could not even bear to look at anything related to painting — brushes, paint, or canvas. She would fall into a hysterical panic at the sight.
Even her parents had no clue what this woman had gone through.
Duanmu Huai stood in front of the woman, scrutinizing her. Her eyes were lifeless, reminiscent of a dead fish’s, and even upon seeing Duanmu Huai, there was no change in her expression. It seed as if her vacant gaze was seeing right through Duanmu Huai, staring at so empty spot in the air.
“Hello, Miss Kristin.”
Duanmu Huai coughed, squatting down to et Kristin’s eyes. Kristin just sat in her wheelchair, swaying back and forth like a patient in a ntal institute, babbling nonsensically under her breath.
“We’re here about your painting, you must rember…”
As Duanmu Huai uttered these words, he stared intently into Kristin’s eyes.
“The painting you drew, that ‘Void Ghost’.”
“………!!”
As Duanmu Huai ntioned the term ‘Void Ghost’, Kristin trembled slightly. At this mont, her eyes seed to regain so life – like a dead piece of charcoal flickering with a few strands of fire.
“Ah…Ah….”
She opened her mouth to let out an unclear cry, as Duanmu Huai continued to gaze into her eyes, gradually emanating an aura of fear.
“Tell , where did you get your inspiration from? How did you draw that painting?!”
“No, it wasn’t …… I didn’t……”
At this mont, not only was Kristin shaking uncontrollably, Chief Anthony and Kristin’s parents also felt the ominous aura emanating from Duanmu Huai. They wanted to intervene and prevent him from questioning their daughter. But the palpable aura of dread rooted them to the spot, making them afraid even to move.
“Tell , what happened!”
“Ah…. …Ah…. …”
Faced with Duanmu Huai’s questions and stare, Kristin seed to snap back to reality. The fear brought her back from emptiness and numbness, rescued her. For a mont, she seed to regain her sanity. She stretched out her trembling hands, from underneath the blanket draped over her knees, she pulled out a diary and offered it to Duanmu Huai, shaking. She stared at Duanmu Huai, wide-eyed, opened her mouth and uttered a place.
“Dun…..wich!!”
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