It's Me

Welling estate.

I met with an orange-haired elf.

Second-Rank Officer Mirei.

Railway Military Police member — she must have brought the answer I sent to the commander……

But she’d arrived first and was in the room, jacket unbuttoned, munching on cake.

Poking at the strawberry atop her cream cake slice, giggling happily — she looked absolutely delighted.

“Ahhhhh. So delicious. Hehehehe.”

“Pardon the intrusion.”

“……Eek!”

Mirei, who noticed my entrance belatedly, was startled.

She twisted her body and struck the table with her thigh.

The strawberry she’d been playing with on her fork went pop~ and flew into the air.

“No!”

Mirei reflexively thrust her head forward and caught the strawberry in her mouth mid-air.

A stunt you’d only see in home videos.

Mirei’s face looked tearful from the impact pain as she rubbed her thigh, yet she chewed the strawberry thoroughly.

I sat across from her and offered a napkin from the table.

“Wipe your chin.”

“Ah, what?”

After performing a series of stunts, she had whipped cream on her chin.

Mirei unconsciously wiped her chin, and when cream got on her hand, she sucked it into her mouth.

“……”

Oh my, this young lady.

As I watched in disbelief, Mirei misunderstood and hurriedly closed the front of her jacket and buttoned it.

Well, having a conversation with your jacket open isn’t proper etiquette.

But she was too hasty, and a button near her chest popped off.

Clatter clatter.

The rolling button stopped in front of me.

She was a bit scatterbrained before, but today is fantastic.

“You couldn’t pay to see this kind of event variety pack.”

“U-uh, uh, uhhhhh……”

Mirei’s face turned red and froze.

Any normal person couldn’t do these things even if ordered, yet she’d burst through them all in succession within ten seconds — how embarrassing.

I silently extended my hand.

“……I-I’m sorry! My apologies!”

Mirei bowed her head deeply and offered me her cake plate with both hands.

What, she’s giving me the one with just the strawberry eaten out?

I gestured with my finger in disbelief.

“Finish the cake and take off the jacket. I’ll sew the button back on.”

“What? Pardon?”

“Hurry.”

Mirei looked uncertain but took off her jacket and gave it to me.

I pulled out a sewing kit from my pocket.

Mirei watched with fascination.

“……You know how to sew too?”

“I can do the basics.”

I wasn’t emperor and supreme commander of the imperial military from the start.

There was a time when I wandered to gather forces, so I know how to do various tasks.

Mirei watched while eating her cake.

“Is it that delicious?”

“Yes! Ms. Amelia makes incredibly delicious cakes. I’d totally blow my whole paycheck on them, but every time I come, they’re free and she keeps giving me more! So I’ve been stamping my attendance card every day!”

Her bright voice was sincere.

When I looked up, Mirei quickly waved her hands.

“……N-no, it’s not that. I didn’t just come to hang out — I came to check if Young Master Rigen had arrived at the capital.”

“……”

……Your bra is showing.

Standard military police regulation shirts don’t show undergarments, but this was a privately purchased shirt.

“Quite the fashionista.”

“Pardon?”

“Never mind. Let’s get to the point. There are two opinions within the Railway Military Police right now, right?”

I spoke while sewing.

“One side says I should be punished for beating up a military policeman on the railway. The other says I have merit for suppressing terrorism, so I should be rewarded and drawn in as the military police’s ally.”

“……!”

“Don’t look so surprised — it’s not a difficult guess. Which side has the upper hand?”

“I-I-I don’t know!”

Mirei gulped down her cake and spoke seriously.

When I propped my chin and stared, Mirei bit her lip tightly and glared at me.

She probably thinks it’s threatening, but is a pretty cat’s glare scary?

“Ah, just tell me. If you came every day to drink tea and eat cake, you should at least earn your keep.”

“What! This was a bribe?”

“Let’s call it hospitality. So, I’m guessing the field workers want to take me down, and management wants to use me?”

“……”

Mirei looked at me like I was a ghost.

But having seen this kind of conflict to death, it was obvious to me even without looking.

The field staff who run around directly would say morale drops if they let me go after I destroyed Collett.

Conversely, management would say punishing me after I resolved the terrorism incident would make external public opinion bad.

“I’m not some sweet and sour pork to fight over dipping versus pouring sauce. If they give me an award and tout my great merit in resolving terrorism, they can downplay the dark elves’ and Orca’s achievements.”

“……Oh, th-that’s true?”

Mirei looked like she hadn’t thought of that.

This elf is management, but can’t attend executive meetings.

Still, I thought she’d know the internal opinions.

“Ah, fine. I’ve been fed well and you seem to know everything anyway, so I’ll just tell you.”

Mirei explained with a resigned tone.

“……Both sides are evenly matched. Upper management hasn’t made a final decision yet.”

“What about my request for a meeting?”

“I reported to Commander Arsen. He said he’d meet you. He told me to bring you once you arrived at the capital.”

“Then we should go. Let’s prepare.”

“What? Right now?”

“No point dragging this out. I do have a place to stop by, so go to Arsen first and tell him to wait quietly.”

“……Um.”

Mirei glanced around and spoke carefully.

“This might be uncomfortable to hear, but you’re speaking too casually about Commander Arsen. That, that could be problematic.”

“……”

Would I use honorifics to my own subordinate?

But Mirei spoke as if she’d mustered her courage.

“The military police caused Young Master Rigen great trouble and owe you an apology. But you treat me with courtesy, yet you call Commander Arsen, who’s incredibly senior…… like a friend. That’s a bit… No, I’m fine with it, but if you do that in front of other members, it could be problematic.”

“Oh, you’re loyal to the organization.”

“Of course. We’re His Imperial Majesty’s left arm, the proud Railway Military Police!”

Mirei answered immediately.

She tapped her chest proudly, looking quite triumphant……

“The dark elves gave you advance warning, yet you ignored it and committed unnecessary abuses, allowing terrorism.”

“……”

“And wear regulation shirts instead of your own. Your undergarments are showing.”

Mirei froze in place, still tapping her chest.

Her cheeks flushed red.

When I handed her the jacket with the button sewn back on, she hurriedly put it on.

“Of course, none of this is Arsen’s fault specifically. But ultimately, organizational problems are the top leader’s problems. Honestly, Arsen should be prepared to voluntarily submit his resignation and step down right now.”

“Th-that’s……”

“That’s why I use honorifics with Second-Rank Officer Mirei but speak informally to Arsen.”

“……Yes.”

“And I need your cooperation with one thing for going out. Just agree unconditionally.”

Dejected.

Mirei’s face visibly lost energy.

I rang the bell on the table and called Amelia.

Amelia must have been waiting outside the door because she came right in.

“Should I bring more cake?”

“Yes!”

Mirei’s eyes sparkled as she held out her plate.

“This time, I’d like chocolate and cheese please. Ah, so delicious!”

“If you keep eating, your uniform buttons will pop off again.”

“……Ugh, I-I’m fine. I’ll restrain myself tomorrow.”

“Let’s start restraining today. Amelia, I’m going on a date with Second-Rank Officer Mirei, so prepare something simple.”

At my words, Amelia paused, then bowed politely.

“……Understood. Young Master Rigen, I’ll prepare for your outing immediately. First, let’s get your clothes ready. Please wait a moment.”

Amelia left quickly.

Mirei, who’d been looking forlornly at her empty plate, flinched belatedly.

“What? Wait? Date? What does that mean? D-don’t tell me, y-you and I……”

“It’s just an excuse to go out. We’ll leave together, and Second-Rank Officer Mirei will go to military police headquarters and report to Arsen. I’ll come around 4 PM? Tell him to meet me in the commander’s office then.”

“I’ll report for now, but the commander is also busy, so I can’t guarantee……”

“Will you pack cake for later?”

“……I’ll do my best.”

Easy to read woman.

I propped my chin and smiled.

I’ll stop by the bank first.

Arsen, you bastard, wait for me.

Railway Military Police Central Headquarters.

The commander’s office.

A blue-skinned man sat there.

A two-meter giant frame that made the chair look small.

His whites were dyed black, horns on his head, a tail at his waist.

One of Karakas’s seven other races — a demon.

“So Second-Rank Officer Mirei, what did you just say?”

“I-I’ll correct it!”

Mirei stood at attention and answered loudly, looking straight ahead.

The demon man sitting before her was the Railway Military Police’s top — Commander Arsen.

Arsen pressed his forehead and said,

“What’s that whipped cream at the corner of your mouth?”

“……Uh. That.”

Mirei quickly tried to lick it off with her tongue but failed.

Then she wiped it with her hand and ate it.

“……”

Munch munch.

Mirei looked straight ahead as if nothing happened.

Arsen was so dumbfounded he didn’t even feel like scolding.

“……Second-Rank Officer Mirei, what was your assigned role in this mission?”

“Yes! Investigate the railway terrorism incident! Find out what relationship Rigen Librata and His Highness the Second Prince Orca have! And discover Her Highness the Fourth Princess Lisera’s true intentions!”

“Yet you learned nothing and just came back listening to demands?”

“……I have nothing to say!”

“You have whipped cream to eat?”

“The cake was delicious!”

Arsen shook his head.

“Why exactly were you selected for this mission?”

“Third Officer Dwight chose me! He told me to extract information from Rigen Librata!”

“Right, Third Officer Dwight standing next to you — do you have anything to say?”

Arsen asked the human man standing beside Mirei.

Third Officer (三令) — a senior executive who can attend the military police’s executive meetings.

Dwight spoke sharply.

“Whether we boil or bake him, we must firmly grasp and use this human called Rigen, Commander.”

“Then why did you send Second-Rank Officer Mirei? There must have been better personnel?”

“She’s a rare beauty. Rigen Librata is notorious for chasing women, so I expected results.”

Arsen looked at Dwight in disbelief.

“Are you in your right mind? Using such a low-grade honey trap on a subordinate? Whose permission did you get?”

“I’m completely sound of mind. Elsewhere, there’s even talk of abolishing the military police.”

“That’s just rumor. What could they do to our military police that His Imperial Majesty personally created?”

“The very fact that such talk exists is dangerous. Commander Arsen, if you resign and step down, that’s unacceptable. This is definitely a scheme plotted by the wicked Queen of Assassins! If we raise the white flag here, we’ll be torn to shreds!”

Dwight shouted.

Arsen frowned.

Dwight’s logic was a mess, not worth reconsidering.

But…… it was also true that this was the internal opinion within the military police.

Organizations naturally prioritize organizational preservation above all.

“If we acknowledge responsibility and step down like this, the Imperial Military, who’ve been waiting, will attack our people! We must fight back! The honey trap to manipulate Rigen Librata failed, so now we should kidnap and torture him! He’s conveniently coming of his own accord……”

Thwack!

Arsen grabbed the nameplate from his desk and threw it at Dwight.

Dwight nimbly ducked to avoid it.

“……”

Arsen glared with angry eyes, then sighed.

“I don’t want to talk anymore. Both of you, get out.”

“……Even if my opinion is distasteful, I hope you understand that everyone thinks this way. We must all band together tightly and resist.”

Dwight shot back and left.

Mirei hesitated, then saluted.

“Long live His Imperial Majesty! Second-Rank Officer Mirei, returning to duty!”

Both left.

Arsen looked at the nameplate rolling in the distance and sighed deeply.

He didn’t even feel like picking it up.

“What a mentality……”

Dwight says this is all the dark elves’, the Queen of Assassins’s false flag operation, but that’s nonsense.

Just checking the circumstances and incoming information makes it clear.

“They just want to lie. To save the military police……”

Of course, Arsen is the military police commander — he also wanted to protect the organization.

But it’s clearly the military police’s fault, yet turn a blind eye?

Arsen opened a drawer and looked down.

His resignation letter.

Already written.

“Even if I take responsibility and step down…… it won’t end there.”

The Imperial Military and other races, who’ve been waiting for this moment, will attack and tear at the military police, trying to reduce their authority.

Dwight’s argument wasn’t baseless.

If we acknowledge wrongdoing, we’ll die, so let’s shamelessly hold firm for the military police’s survival.

“……Phew.”

But after deciding to hold firm?

What if railway terrorism happens again?

At least this time there were no passenger casualties, but next time?

Thinking about it makes him feel dizzy.

Ultimately, the Railway Military Police must join forces with other organizations to confront this situation.

But those other organizations have no intention of keeping the military police alive.

A dilemma.

“Your Majesty……”

Arsen sighed deeply.

How could he face His Imperial Majesty, who left this world?

Knock knock.

The sound of knocking.

“Come in.”

The door opened and a human man entered.

Black hair, blue eyes.

A pretty-looking boy — no, young man.

An impression similar to the composite Mirei’s report created.

Recognizing him, Arsen stood from his chair and extended his hand.

“Are you Rigen Librata? I’ve heard much about you. I’m Arsen, who commands the military police.”

The other ignored the handshake request and looked around the room.

“Look at that nameplate rolling on the floor. Did you become commander to destroy the military police?”

“……”

Karakas’s etiquette, with its mixed races, can’t be defined in one word.

Still, this green human is too arrogant?

But the other — Rigen — casually tossed the document envelope he brought onto the desk.

“I brought it, so check it.”

“……What is this?”

“……”

Thump.

The human man sat on the sofa with arms spread wide and stared.

A gaze saying he’s above and you’re below.

For Arsen, who’d been through thick and thin to reach commander, it was absurd.

With one word from Arsen, Railway Military Police across the nation move.

Even the empresses don’t treat him this blatantly rude?

‘……What is this?’

What’s stranger is that Arsen wasn’t angry either.

Rigen clicked his tongue.

“When exactly will you grow up? Do I have to make surprise inspections like this?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re not managing the kids?”

The moment Rigen extended his hand……

Riiiiip.

The rank insignia attached to Arsen’s uniform — the symbol of the military police commander — was torn off.

The insignia separated from his clothes and smoothly pulled into Rigen’s hand.

“Is this how you do things with the rank insignia I pinned on you?”

The rank insignia floating slightly above Rigen’s hand, spinning around.

Arsen looked at the other with a possessed expression.

This situation.

That ability.

Arsen knew.

Only one person in the world could do this.

“C-could it be……”

“Right, it’s me.”

A reunion across more than a hundred years.