My ■■■ (2)

When I finished the interrogation earlier than expected and came out removing my bloodied gloves.

I saw Kruud with a pale expression.

“How did it go on your end?”

“He spilled everything in less than an hour after you started.”

Naturally, the interrogation wasn’t conducted on just one person.

Kruud was interrogating another person in the next room, so the one I questioned must have been frightened by the sounds coming through the wall.

“Seems like they heard well.”

“Yeah, it was audible even with ears covered. How can you keep doing that for over 3 hours?”

“You were listening the whole time? I thought you said they confessed in less than an hour – couldn’t you have killed time somewhere else?”

“I’m the master here, you know? Talk sense. I know how to fulfill my minimum responsibilities.”

“Well, if you were really going to take responsibility, you should have stopped an outsider like me from conducting the interrogation in the first place.”

“Getting involved with religious matters is suicide. I said minimum responsibility, not one worth risking my life for.”

“Good judgment.”

“However.”

Kruud, who had been sitting in a chair, leaned forward slightly and glared at me.

Though not quite killing intent, I could feel his displeasure.

“Rare races like me tend to have deep attachments to our birthplaces.”

“And?”

“If what you’re going to do negatively impacts this city.”

The spear resting on his shoulder begins to emit gray aura.

A light that seems to symbolize the gray city itself where rain falls 365 days a year.

“I’m prepared to overturn everything – religious orders, Pantheon Temple, all of it.”

Kruud warns me with his spear tip pointed at me. What an admirable person.

“Then follow me. It’s time for that admirable ‘resolve’ of yours to shine. You don’t want to see the city get destroyed, right?”

It would have been truly cool if he’d said those things after finishing all his tasks.

“Huh…? Right now?”

“Yes, right now.”

This was expected.

I knew Lilia’s combat prowess from firsthand experience. I judged it would be nearly impossible for her to be killed by someone.

It must be one of two things.

Either she continues causing trouble here until Kruud and others somehow build up enough strength for retaliation.

That’s the first hypothesis. But whether it’s Anne or Kruud, seeing how they describe their opponent as a ‘tantrum-throwing brat’, it doesn’t seem like they would kill her.

Then there’s the second hypothesis.

“Those with only strength and no brains are easily manipulated.”

“You think that kid is doing this because she was tricked? We’ve also considered that…”

“That’s probably her natural disposition. However, using someone doesn’t necessarily mean directly controlling them.”

“What do you mean?”

“Let’s use an example. What if the relationship between the hunter’s guild and merchant guild worsens in that kid’s absence?”

“Wouldn’t that be no different from now?”

Right. The current situation is balanced so precariously from the start.

Lilia has overwhelming strength but nothing that could properly be called a force.

The hunter’s guild has considerable military power and numbers.

And the merchant guild controls financial power.

Let’s exclude Lilia for now. This is for explanation.

“What if you die in that state?”

“Why me?”

“So let’s say you get assassinated by someone you don’t even know – what would happen?”

“…I’m not without influence.”

“Then?”

“The kids would rise up.”

“Exactly. Someone is aiming for that. There must be someone watching that kid act recklessly, waiting for the situation to ripen before dealing with her.”

“But she has no forces…”

“Would a parent stay quiet if their child was harmed?”

“…Who are this kid’s parents? What, are they the emperor or something?”

“Didn’t you hear from Master Anne?”

“Hear what?”

“This is quite surprising.”

They didn’t seem to be on bad terms, yet she didn’t share this information?

Does she not trust Kruud, or is there another angle here?

“That kid is the child of the <Corruptor>. Well, probably not his actual daughter, but likely a deeper connection than blood.”

Kruud pondered for a moment before gradually turning pale. He must have imagined the consequences of my hypothesis.

“There must be someone waiting for the right moment to kill that kid.”

“Then?”

“I’ve found the kid’s location. So I need you to block the path until I can persuade her.”

“Persuade? You? Wouldn’t that backfire?”

“Then Kruud, are you confident you could persuade that kid?”

“Sadly, I believe conversation is something done with people, not beasts.”

“Then I have to do it, right?”

This is something I can do.

At least, that’s what I believe.

*     *      *

Before heading straight to my destination, I sought out Anne.

As the merchant guild master, she should have all sorts of items.

I bought bullets from her.

Surprisingly, revolvers can fire any type of bullet as long as the caliber and length match.

Among firearms that are mostly custom-made, this level of convenience outweighs other drawbacks to a significant degree.

The fact that you don’t need to go all the way to Nidavellir to buy bullets, for instance.

“Boy, will this be enough?”

“It’s sufficient.”

“I mean with this number.”

“Having too many would just be heavy. I don’t plan to get into a situation where I’d need to spray bullets anyway.”

“The unit price doesn’t make sense. Buy more. You think I dig money out of the ground?”

“No, and here I thought you were actually worried about me. Put it on my tab. I’ll come collect after this is done.”

“That’s more like it.”

Seems I had misplaced expectations.

Well, of course she wouldn’t worry about me. We’re not even that close.

That’s just how merchants are.

After getting what I needed, I left the merchant guild.

Two people were waiting for me.

Kruud, who hadn’t yet heard which path he needed to block, and Linea, who could be called my attending physician.

Claire seems to be resting at the lodgings, perhaps because she’s not feeling well.

“Lost, take this.”

“…What is this?”

What Linea handed me was a strange black medicine with bubbles frothing up.

What kind of poison did she concoct?

“Drink it. Right here in front of me.”

“If you tell me what I did wrong first, I’ll gladly take it.”

“It’s not poison.”

“Then?”

“It’s an antidote.”

Those words hit me like a hammer to the head.

“How?”

“You know how some patients insist they know their bodies better than anyone? Well, people usually don’t know what they look like without a mirror.”

“I never said anything like that.”

“But you acted like it. You think I went herb gathering for no reason? I gathered them all to make this. A Spirin family medicine.”

“The color seems a bit strange.”

“Medicine is supposed to be bitter.”

“I wasn’t talking about the taste… never mind.”

I drink it down.

I’m not sure if this will actually help, but given that I’m already carrying corruption in my body, no poison could be worse than that.

Whether this alleviates her anger or eases her worry – whichever it is, I’ll gladly swallow it if I can.

“How is it?”

“Not as bitter as I expected.”

“That’s because your tongue has lost its sense of taste.”

“…”

Come to think of it, my tongue feels numb.

I thought the taste was milder than expected, but apparently it destroyed my taste buds the moment it touched my tongue.

“I’ll expect effects proportional to the bitterness.”

“Oh, suddenly saying that makes me feel pressured.”

“That’s why I said it.”

Actually, I don’t care that much.

But it’s amusing watching Linea fidget anxiously.

That’s enough, isn’t it?

“Let’s go.”

“Alright.”

In the gray city where rain drizzles constantly.

I check my preparations while wearing a raincoat.

One sword from my master, one revolver, 24 bullets prepared besides those loaded in the revolver.

Tobacco to calm my mind and body.

And the heresy inquisitor’s mask.

“Phew.”

“Give me one too.”

“I don’t think I’ve been paid back for the one I lent you last time.”

“Don’t be stingy. You’re ordering around a guild master with just a nod, and you can’t even share this much?”

“If you promise to work diligently instead of slacking off, I’ll give you some.”

“You dirty, petty bastard. Hand it over!”

I give Kruud a tobacco.

Then I light it using Vesta’s spark.

“Won’t the gods get angry if you use holy magic for something like this?”

“They’re merciful beings. It shouldn’t be a big deal.”

I have my reasons for using Vesta’s spark to light fires.

Though it’s not something I’d tell others, the gods would understand.

“You should be able to block around here. You roughly know the destination, right?”

“…The main drainage?”

“Yes.”

“She’s staying in such a dangerous place? What kind of crazy… no, she is crazy so I guess that makes sense.”

“She may be crazy, but that’s not the only reason.”

A city where rain falls 365 days a year.

Such a city would naturally need well-constructed drainage systems. They’d have no choice but to build them well, or risk flooding.

Rubia has almost excessive water flow. The system called the main drainage that Kruud just mentioned is the mechanism that collects all that water and channels it outside.

The falling rainwater bounces off the ceiling and seeps into the grooves in the floor before gathering at the city center.

Naturally, when that much water gathers, it creates water currents as dangerous as an overflowing river.

“Haven’t you thought about this? Why, among all cities, she appeared and caused trouble specifically here?”

“More than a hundred times.”

“It had to be this city. She’s the same race as the <Corruptor>. You know what the forest where that trial resides looks like, right?”

The <Corruptor> poisons others just by breathing, just by making eye contact.

Toxic energy that can’t be controlled.

Thus, just by moving, he taints all his traces.

That is the <Corruptor> Untouchable.

Then it’s quite possible that his daughter Lilia carries the same issue.

“A catastrophe could occur in other cities. She must have found a place with enough water to dilute her power without causing problems.”

Water isn’t scarce in Rubia.

The rain falling from the sky is clean enough to use without special treatment. You can just collect and use it.

But what about other cities or villages?

If they have such massive waterways that could overflow, of course they would draw water from there.

No, cities and villages themselves would naturally form around such rivers.

If corruption was being diluted in such rivers, it would be a true catastrophe.

“Well, whatever the case, seems she doesn’t want to see people die.”

“Then I wish she wouldn’t cause trouble in the first place.”

“Indeed.”

I stub out my nearly finished tobacco on the ground. The rain will wash it away anyway.

This city has surprisingly many advantages.

“Then I’ll leave it to you.”

“Well, what could happen? I’ll make sure to block this path until you return.”

Finally parting with Kruud.

This might be the first time I’ve walked alone since getting beaten by that damn kid.

No one to talk to, no sound except falling raindrops.

Walking through such a quiet space, I finally approach the main drainage.

The place I expected.

She should be here.

“Already up and about?”

“…Was wondering where you were wandering, only to find you here?”

When I reached the main drainage, the one who spoke to me was the missing Titan.

I was a bit surprised. A different person appeared than who I expected.

Seems he was watching over her here.

“Stop, don’t come closer.”

“Did you get poisoned?”

“No. I just want you to understand that I need some personal time right now.”

“Making teenage angst comments that don’t suit you?”

“Because I am a teenager.”

“Hah!”

After laughing hard thinking it was a funny joke, I remembered he was actually only 15 years old.

Right, he is a teenager.

This wasn’t a joke after all…

Amid the waterfall-like currents, with holes pierced here and there along the way, Titan’s figure in one corner was barely visible from here.

I glimpsed what looked like yellow light but didn’t pay much attention.

He must have something he wants to hide too, being royalty and all, so better pretend not to notice.

“Where is she?”

“A bit further down from here. Planning to meet her?”

“Isn’t it obvious given that I came all this way?”

“…Seems you’re fully prepared. Then it’s fine. I have no reason to help when you’re challenging her fair and square, not being ambushed.”

“Wasn’t expecting any.”

Titan isn’t the type to interfere with a duel in the first place.

Even if it ends in death, he’d stand back if that was what was decided.

The line is clearly drawn.

“What do you think my chances of winning are?”

“If you use the same power as last time, you’ll definitely win.”

He’s talking about when I used the <Morpheus’s Dream Fragment>.

“If I don’t use it?”

“I’ll pray for your soul.”

“You bastard can’t even say empty words of comfort.”

He’s practically cursing me to death here.

I didn’t think he had so little faith in me.

“This won’t do.”

“What won’t?”

“There are too many runaway teens around me. Even as a guardian, there’s a limit to how much I can look after them.”

Linea, Titan, and now even the <Corruptor>’s daughter is a runaway.

It’s gotten to the point where some parent I don’t even know is begging me to bring his daughter back.

“So I should forcibly send at least one back home, don’t you think?”

With those words, I quietly put on my mask.

No need to search directly.

Seems she noticed I brazenly came looking for her and decided to grace us with her presence herself.