Chapter 206

Chapter 206

206th Episode: “Fragments of the Past” // The guardhouse interrogation room. “….” Of course, it’s not much of an interrogation room. It just looks like a normal office. It resembles an ordinary room. Perhaps that’s because it’s an interrogation, not torture. “Haaam….” Even while yawning listlessly, I don’t forget to use Clairvoyance. I don’t know when Maxen will return, and I might be able to get some information from the guardhouse. As I use Clairvoyance, 『Hey, where did that woman go?』 『What woman?』 『I definitely brought her here…』 『Was there such a thing?』 Useless voices are heard. One of the voices is familiar. It’s probably Seran and his senior officer. Did they finish their shift and return already? “….” Since it’s not a very informative conversation, I listen in another direction. 『Outside the city gates?』 『Yes. We need a base for the dragon riders to stay.』 …Huh? This time, I hear something worthwhile. One of the voices is familiar, and the other is unfamiliar. Of course, one is Maxen’s. The other one… must be his subordinate. All the soldiers in the barracks are his subordinates, though. 『Why are we doing that?』 『We’re soldiers, aren’t we?』 『….I can’t argue with that.』 “…..” I keep their conversation in my head. 『The dragon knights will be staying at the lord’s mansion. It seems he has some business to discuss, so the dragons will have to stay for a few days.』 『…Then, we’ll have to make it sturdy.』 『Are there any materials left?』 『Yes, I checked last month.』 『Good, then order the men today and start tomorrow.』 The lord’s mansion. A base for the dragons to stay. Not just a day, but several days. And the Count’s business. Listening to the conversation, I nod quietly. ‘….As I thought.’ It wasn’t difficult to piece together the information in my head. The dragon knights will be staying at the Count’s mansion, and the period is long enough to be called ‘several days.’ And the East Gate guardhouse has to build a base for the dragons to stay. Even if it’s just a seemingly useless city guardhouse, it’s still part of the Kilkard Kingdom’s army. ‘…So, it’s because they’re soldiers?’ As befits the kingdom’s army, where one dragon knight is more powerful than a hundred soldiers, the Kilkard Kingdom’s army is skilled in the operation of dragon knights. Deploying the guardhouse to build the base is understandable. But the most important information is separate. It’s the duration of the dragon knights’ stay. It’s natural for the visiting dragon knights to stay at the Count’s mansion, but it’s not natural for them to stay for several days. Aiden didn’t mention that fact either. …Then, shouldn’t I change the plan? If the dragon knights were just taking a day to rest and recover from their journey, it would be one thing, but if Count Lantain wants to keep them at his mansion and treat them, it’s a different story. There’s no need to drag them out. Aiden and I can just sneak into the mansion and steal the herb. If they’re using dragon knights, the transportation will naturally be done through subspace, so all we have to do is find the magic tool and secretly take it out. Moreover, we’ll have plenty of time. If the knights are going to chat with the Count, have a banquet, and enjoy themselves with women, we’ll have plenty of time too. ‘Then…’ Shouldn’t I revise the plan a bit? It seemed like I needed to meet with Aiden. // But apart from meeting and talking, I still had something to take care of. The interrogation with the guardhouse captain, that is, “So, Lyla, was it?” “…Yes.” Maxen arrives at the interrogation room and immediately begins the interrogation with me. “What’s your relationship with Lockard?” “I worked at the Black Rose Manor two years ago. I saw him then.” “And after that?” “I haven’t seen him. I left the brothel and went to another city.” I don’t mention that I sneaked out of the brothel. There’s no need to tell that story. Maxen probably doesn’t know that fact either. Even in an era where everything is recorded on paper, the fist is stronger than the law, which means the rules are more lax. Besides, the guardhouse doesn’t pay that much attention to the affairs of the underworld. Perhaps that’s why. Maxen nods as if it’s not a big deal and asks the next question. “Last night, there was a bloody battle in the underworld. Do you know anything about it?” “…A bloody battle?” “Yes.” “…No, I… didn’t know.” It was the first time I’d heard of it. I didn’t know about what happened after I got Keir out. I could guess that something like that would happen, but I didn’t see it directly. “I see.” “….” Maxen nods as if he understands. …Is that something you can just accept like that? I thought he should investigate more thoroughly, but that’s not something I should be thinking as the one being interrogated. “Well, it’s none of your business anymore.” “…Pardon?” But isn’t this a bit strange? Surprised, I ask back, and Maxen answers with his fingers interlaced. “It’s nothing.” “….” “So, you’re no longer affiliated with the Black Rose Manor?” “….Yes.” That was true. Even though I ran away, I didn’t owe them anything in the first place. There are many loopholes in a place run by fists, not laws. It’s just that it’s rare for a woman with nothing to run away, but the possibility is always there. “Then why were you in the barracks?” “….” Should I say this? Seran would be a little pitiful if I said it. But since he’s asking, I have to answer. I hesitated a little inside, but soon made up my mind. I don’t have any obligation to protect Seran like I did Keir, and it’s his own mistake anyway. “That’s… a guard who remembered me suddenly dragged me here…” “Ha.” As soon as I said it, Maxen sighed in disbelief. He shook his head lightly and muttered. “Seriously, it’s a mess as soon as I loosen the reins a little.” “…Pardon?” “It’s nothing.” After finishing his words, Maxen looks at me intently. “….” I wondered if he had remembered me, but there was no sign of it on his face. Perhaps it’s because he’s a knight and a guardhouse captain, so he’s been exposed to many women, and he doesn’t even remember a one-night stand. After looking at me for a while, Maxen asks me intently. “Lyla. You wouldn’t want to go to prison, would you?” “…Prison?” “Yes.” Isn’t that obvious? Who would want to go to prison? I pretend to be surprised at Maxen’s obvious question, and he warns me as he looks at me. “It would be best to keep today’s events to yourself.” “What kind of events…” “Everything. From the guard dragging you here to my conversation with you. Otherwise, I’ll have to talk to Lockard again.” “…I underst…and.” Should I show that I’m scared in this situation? I nod with a frightened expression. Then Maxen nods in satisfaction and says to me. “Good, then you can go now.” …Huh? That was quite absurd. So absurd that I had to ask again. “…Really?” “Don’t make me say it twice.” “….” But that was really the end. I wondered if he had kept me in the interrogation room just to have this conversation, but I couldn’t say I didn’t want to go when he was telling me to leave. Besides, I had information to give to Aiden now. // Leaving the interrogation room, I unconsciously turn around. Maxen will still be sitting in the interrogation room visible beyond the hallway of the barracks. “….” To be honest, I was a little dumbfounded. I wondered if he had called me just to ask those few questions, but that was really the end. As I walked down the hallway of the barracks with a slightly bewildered feeling, I heard someone walking towards me.

-Thud, thud.

“….” It was a soldier with an unfamiliar face. He made eye contact with me as he passed by and entered the interrogation room. Soon, small voices of conversation were heard from the room he entered. 『Captain, who is that woman?』 『Ah, she seems to be a prostitute who came here on a business trip a long time ago, but some idiot brought her here.』 『…Brought her here?』 『Now that you mention it, even if business trips have become rare, haven’t we been too lenient with military discipline lately? Is it even possible to just grab a citizen who hasn’t signed a contract?』 『….I’m sorry.』 …Was he Maxen’s subordinate? If he’s in the guardhouse barracks, he’s naturally his subordinate, but judging from what he’s saying, he seems to be of a slightly higher rank. 『I’ll investigate and report on the punishment later. I have a lot of work to do anyway.』 『Then, about Lockard and Jin…』 『Track down and kill Jin. But keep Lockard alive. That’s what I discussed with the lord.』 『…Are you going to bury it?』 『Isn’t it unavoidable? It’s an important time.』 “….” I wondered why the interrogation was so half-hearted, but it seems like something happened. Especially in the words that he would keep Lockard alive, there was a strong hint that he had no choice but to keep him alive. Considering the situation that the dragon knights are arriving, it’s not something I can’t understand. From their point of view, regardless of the truth, it’s enough as long as the underworld keeps running. It was an absurd situation, but there were some gains. The fact that the dragon knights are staying at the lord’s mansion, and the fact that the stay is long, is quite important information. “Huh?” As I returned to the inn after all the twists and turns, El greeted me. “You came out faster than I thought?” “…What are you doing?” “Equipment check.” She was examining short spears laid out on the floor of the inn. Did Aiden prepare diligently without me? But Aiden himself was nowhere to be seen. I sat on the bed, looked around the room, and asked El. “Where’s Aiden?” “He said he was going to rescue you.” “Rescue me?” “Yeah, he went out saying you were caught by the guardhouse.” “….” Did Aiden hear about me? But El’s expression is indifferent. She doesn’t even seem worried that I was caught. In fact, this is the natural reaction. “You should have stopped him. I would have come out on my own anyway.” “I did stop him. He went on his own.” “…Hmm.” Then there’s nothing to say. El would have done her part. As I nodded, El asked me again. “By the way, did you sneak out?” “No, they sent me out. They just asked me a few questions.” “What questions?” “Just formal ones. They didn’t seem very curious.” “That’s because they’re public officials.” “….” Hmm. Calling the guardhouse public officials isn’t exactly wrong, but it’s a bit presumptuous to conclude that. “Anyway, I have to wait.” In any case, it was a little disappointing that Aiden wasn’t here. He was the one who set the framework for the plan. As I lay down on the bed, El took something out as she looked at me. “Then, do you want to play a card game?” “…When did you buy something like that?” “Yesterday. I played with Hee-won when you weren’t here, and it was fun.” “….” While I was gone, were they having fun on their own? “No, I’m just going to rest.” “…Hmm. This is more fun than I thought.” El looked very relaxed. Of course, I can understand. She’s also a martial artist who has learned Blood Shadow Demonic Art and is one step closer to being a superhuman. Apart from the side effects of Blood Shadow Demonic Art, it’s natural for her to be relaxed. Had we been silent for a while? El, perhaps bored, asks me again. “But, what are you going to talk about with that guy?” “Hmm… it’s nothing much, I just think we should sneak into the Count’s mansion.” “…Sneak into the mansion?”

“Yeah, I heard the dragon knights are staying there for a few days. I figured it’d be better to sneak in and steal it than try to lure them out of the castle…?” As I answered, I noticed something strange. Following that feeling, I glanced at El, and she was looking at me with a glint of interest in her eyes. Why is she so interested? Just as I was wondering, El looked at me and asked, “…Are you perhaps, infiltrating as a maid?” “Huh?”