episode_0123

Leaving the girl lying in the room behind, Zeros slowly walked out into the living room where Katlena and Maev were waiting.

“… That kid?”

“First, I put him to sleep on the bed in the room. He was full and relaxed, so he fell asleep right away.”

“Yeah.. “

“Hoo… ”

Katlena and Maev feel a little relieved by Zeros’ words.

However, in the current situation, they are considering this as something that cannot be taken lightly.

The other person was a young girl whose face he had not even known, whom he had discovered by chance.

However, something terrible happened to a child who was not even 5 years old.

It is not just simple corporal punishment or torture,

The fact that they suffered cruelly while being involved in things like biological experiments involving drugs and spells was something that they could never just ignore.

“What the heck.. what kind of guys do this.”

Princess Maeb speaks with genuine anger.

From her perspective as a member of the royal family, she felt extremely offended by the fact that such a terrible thing had happened to that young girl, who could be considered one of her subjects.

Despite her usual arrogant and mischievous nature, she always had in mind the idea that innocent children should be protected.

And this feeling was the same for Zeros and Katlena in a moral sense, too…

now.

The feelings the two harbored were not limited to simple anger like Princess Maeb.

After being held in the arms of Princess Maeb, the girl regained some composure and said additional words.

They gave Zeros the feeling that the puzzle of the incident was falling into place, and Katlena was reminded of something similar that had happened before.

“That kid… I heard he was originally from an orphanage, right?”

“Yes.. I heard that he was in an orphanage in the empire. He was sold here right after he got sick.”

“Like those kids at the Komel Orphanage before.. Then maybe this incident.. could be seen as an extension of that incident. What on earth is going on..”

A girl who introduced herself as number 86 instead of her name.

Katlena could tell what that title meant.

A number tag attached to a tool rather than a person.

This was the common way to address slaves.

Of course, unlike the Duchy of Dragona, slavery is legal in the Empire.

But even taking that into account, the words that came out of the girl’s mouth were by no means simple.

Drugs and spells… Above all, it was a story that could never be permitted under imperial law to do something that would cause such pain to a child not even five years old.

“There seems to be something.. Something that cannot be tolerated by the laws of the Dragona Duchy or the Empire..”

“… .”

Katlena speaks in a voice that is both calm and angry.

Meanwhile, compared to Katlena, who was making such vague guesses, more specific facts about this girl began to emerge in Zeros’ mind.

The identity of those who capture orphans and conduct cruel experiments on them.

And, to the ultimate goal.

Zeros, who knew the original story, already had all the relevant issues in his head. However, he could not talk about them openly here.

Of course, if given the right opportunity, I would tell the truth, but without that, bringing up stories whose sources others might not know could only have the opposite effect.

Therefore, the most appropriate action he can take in this situation is not to step forward and say something himself, but to offer others appropriate hints or new perspectives on the situation.

Then Zeros spoke to Katlena and Princess Maev in a cautious voice.

“First of all… It seems like there’s nothing we can do right now. It won’t be easy to get any more information out of the child who was barely able to tell us that he came from an orphanage.”

Zeros speaks as if he is trying to avoid things a little.

At this, Princess Maeb frowned and spoke with a slightly raised voice.

“Then what are you planning to do? Are you saying we should just throw that child out on the street and close our eyes to this? I’m sorry, but I can’t do that. That child, and there may be countless other children dying like that girl somewhere in this island at this very moment, and I, the princess of the empire, have no intention of just leisurely enjoying a tour. I’ll request an investigation right away and thoroughly investigate this matter!”

Princess Maeb speaks in a firm voice to Zeros’ words.

Seeing her like this, Zeros could once again feel that she had a compassionate personality towards innocent children, just like in the original.

‘Well… it’s a bit of a problem that it’s limited to children, though…’

With that thought in mind, Zeros spoke to Maeb in a calm tone, trying to calm her down as her emotions grew more intense.

“I, too, cannot just let this situation pass as a human being, but the opponents are the kind of people who would do something like this within this system. I think they definitely have considerable power or a backer.”

“Heh, come and see who it is. Let’s see how much even the most accomplished nobles can hold their heads up high in front of me, the princess.”

Princess Maeb speaks confidently.

In fact, considering her status and authority, it wasn’t a wrong statement, but Zeros sighed slightly and continued speaking.

“Haa.. That may be true, but.. It would be unreasonable to rashly request an investigation or something when you don’t even know who your opponent is. As you know, Your Highness, there are quite a few nobles who have connections to the royal family. If you rashly proceed with an investigation or something when you don’t know your opponent’s power, you may face backlash.

“Um…”

At Zeros’ words, the princess suddenly thought of her brothers, who were by no means clean, and fell silent for a moment.

Among the princesses and princes, there are quite a few who appear normal on the outside but actually have extremely dark tastes, so it is impossible to say with certainty that there are no psychos involved in this incident, as Zeros said.

‘Besides, the only evidence we have is the words of a girl who can’t even express her thoughts clearly. Requesting an investigation based on this alone… is definitely hindered in many ways.’

Princess Maeb concluded that it would be difficult to force things forward at a time when she had no idea how much power her opponent had.

Seeing her starting to show signs of disappointment about this, Zeros spoke in a calm tone.

“So. I have no choice but to wait here for now.”

“… What do you mean by waiting? Is there a good way?”

The story of Zeros is suddenly heard.

The princess looked at him with a mixture of curiosity and a little anticipation.

Looking at the princess, Zeros answered in a serious voice.

“It is impossible for us to conduct an investigation or anything right now. In this situation, there is a better way than going out and looking for a lion’s den.”

“Good..number..Lani?”

“Yes. That’s…”

With those words, Zeros looked at the sleeping girl and began to tell the rest of the story.

The best they can do at this point is…

To be exact, it’s the number that the original Elios used in a similar situation.

And, as she listened to his story, Princess Maeb began to recall the memories of that time that had always lingered in her mind.

‘Ah… right… Now that I think about it…”

A memory that still remains vivid in her mind..

The image of Jaroth, who had saved her from injury when she had fought an enemy she had deemed unmanageable in the past at Benetsa.

‘Even back then… it was like this. You were the one who took me under a sense of emptiness..’

Princess Maeb felt her cheeks blushing slightly without realizing it, along with that thought.

Meanwhile, Catlena, who had been quietly watching the situation without paying attention to the princess’s condition, spoke to Zeros while looking at him.

“Okay then.. I guess we should prepare in advance too? The princess and I will go and tell someone who can help. In the meantime, you take care of this child.”

“Ah.. yes. I understand, Katlena.”

To Katlena’s words, Zeros responded politely, and then Katlena and Maeb quietly began to leave the room.