Chapter 54
Fortunately, there were still people hard at work in the interrogation room beneath the academy.
"Miss, what brings you here?"
"I made a bit of a mess in the library. Send someone to clean it up."
"Understood."
This place seemed quite relaxed compared to the mansion, the commercial district, and the underground quarters near the slums, where everyone was overworked to exhaustion.
Then again, I’d heard that there hadn’t been many deaths in the academy.
"By the way, Miss, your hands are shaking terribly. Are you feeling unwell?"
That couldn’t be right.
I turned my head to check, only to see the hand that had pulled the trigger trembling violently.
"Huh. Get back to work."
I was supposed to feel nothing.
I could have handled it more cleanly, but I let my emotions get the better of me.
All I had to do was lure them here under the pretense of shelter.
Pathetic.
I can’t do anything right. I make a mess wherever I go, screwing up every simple task.
At least my parents used to punish me for my failures.
Since they’re no longer here to do it, I’ll have to do it myself.
I rolled up my sleeve and placed my arm over the drainage channel.
Neat and efficient—that was the best part.
I drew my dagger and drove it into my left arm, dragging it down with full force.
The sharp steel tore through flesh and muscle, scraping against the bone, ruining my arm.
It’s fine—my father suffered far worse.
The counselors never spoke when his fingers and toes were cut off, but when they started burning them instead, they became much more cooperative.
That silent man had screamed until his death. It must have hurt quite a bit.
"…Hah."
My head cleared slightly.
I entered the interrogation room and retrieved a healing potion from a shelf, pouring it over the wound.
The gash sealed almost instantly.
By then, the subordinate I had assigned the task had returned.
"Is it done?"
"The body was small, so it didn’t take long."
He had the librarian slung over his shoulder.
With most students absent, he must have just carried her out openly.
It might be an academy, but with a month-long break, no one would question it.
"Should we take her to the interrogation room?"
"Yeah, but don’t rough her up too much. Just coax her."
"And if she resists?"
"What else? Things will just get a bit more intense.
Dispose of her if necessary, but extract all useful information first."
There was no reason to keep her alive.
I had learned firsthand how dangerous those who sided with demons could be.
"Speaking of which, we captured an—no, a long-lived species."
"…Aren’t those just myths from books?"
"We found one while pursuing escapees through the underground sewers.
You should check it at the mansion yourself."
"Alright."
Come to think of it, there had been a lot of demons near Ethel’s house.
I wonder where they all went.
For her sake, I’d have to round them up and separate them for disposal.
I returned to the mansion.
No servants greeted me; no butlers bowed.
Everyone was too busy running around, handling their tasks.
I stepped on the slightly worn red carpet and entered the office.
"You were supposed to knock."
I rapped on the already open door mockingly.
Julian, busy writing and stamping documents, momentarily set his pen down and stood up.
He took out a cigarette and lit it, smoke curling into the air.
"The long-lived species—is it real?"
"It is."
"Interesting."
"Among demons, aside from the horned ones, it seems they follow it.
Some even disguised themselves, attending the academy."
"And you want me to handle it?"
"Yes. They had an entire hidden village. There are quite a few of them.
We have others managing them, but you’re the best at detecting lies."
Lies.
I wasn’t sure about that.
"I’ll send a letter first."
I needed to talk to Ethel anyway.
She was still my friend, so I’d treat her properly.
Or perhaps I should just bring her entire family here.
That would be quicker.
I had already seen plenty of demons near her estate.
Even that foolish librarian had tried sneaking her pet demon into the academy.
There were bound to be more hiding somewhere.
And I’d find them soon enough.
Julian nodded.
Now, what should I write in the letter?
I suppose I’d ask her to meet me at the academy.
A bit unnatural, but it would do.
Ethel was naïve enough to take my words at face value and come.
I wrote the message, sealed it in fine stationery, and handed it to a servant.
For some reason, couriers always remained functional, no matter how chaotic the world became.
Probably because the protagonist always needed a way to send letters to their love interest.
A long-lived species, huh.
They’re a staple in fantasy games—elves.
I had never seen one before, assuming they didn’t exist within the empire.
None had been caught previously.
This headache was getting worse. Maybe I’d need to punish myself again later.
"Oh, Miss?"
"What? Slacking off again?"
Her face was slightly damp—she must have just taken a shower. I threw out a casual remark, half in jest.
"It’s just routine. By the way, among our new guests, there’s one who stands out. I saved them for you."
"How remarkable are they?"
Marco shrugged.
"I got spit on the moment I walked in."
"Which room?"
"Room 7-2. Good luck."
"You too."
I had heard they spit like llamas.
I considered changing clothes but decided against it—washing would suffice.
I thought about bringing tools but figured I should see the target first.
Inside the interrogation room, a seemingly ordinary girl with slightly pointed ears sat quietly.
Blonde, blue-eyed, pale-skinned, and pretty.
Her chest and hips were a bit lacking, but she could be as marketable as a succubus.
Perhaps she wouldn’t need to be disposed of—just sold at a good price.
If she could be tamed.
"A girl?"
Hostility flickered in her expression.
"A girl? You look younger than me."
She wasn’t restrained, and the tray of food beside the bed suggested she was being fed well.
Why waste resources on a mere demon?
"Why did you come?
You abduct us from our peaceful lives—do you plan to play princess with us?"
Princess? She should be saying ‘imperial princess’ by now.
How old was she?
"Your speech is oddly archaic. Are you mimicking an elder?"
I tapped her cheek lightly.
She slapped my hand away, scowling.
She wasn’t in a position to show emotion. Did she not understand her predicament?
"I’ve lived two hundred years longer than you. Show some respect, child."
Long-lived species or elves—either way, they weren’t human.
Just long-lived demons who could talk well.
If she was caught in the sewers, she wasn’t even of noble birth.
"Respect? Demons might not understand the concept, but humans have a clear and effective way to command it."
I rummaged through a drawer but found nothing useful.
So I pulled a gun from my coat instead.
I’d already put one down this morning.
"You’ve lived comfortably without ever paying taxes."
I aimed slightly off-center, making the bullet graze her.
Her reaction was weak. She trembled slightly but remained expressionless.
It must have hurt. How could she be so stoic?
"You humans always do this.
If your opponent isn’t strong, you skip conversation and start with threats."
"And you demons are any different?"
"…Demons?"
"The horned ones, the ones with animal ears—you know who I mean."
Her face twisted.
"Don’t lump us in with those vile creatures."
"Ahaha. Vile? What are you saying?
Whether you have horns, tails, or long ears, you’re all just demons."
I pulled out a pair of scissors.
Fear flickered in her eyes.
"Maybe if I cut off those ears, you’d look more like a proper girl."
She leapt from the chair, trying to retreat.
"Y-You think that would frighten me?"
It already had.
She was shaking.
"Conversations require mutual understanding."
I grabbed her by the hair and snipped off the tip of her pointed ear.
Just the flesh.
I was too softhearted to cut it entirely.
She screamed, so I drove the scissors into her thigh.
Maybe now she’d be willing to talk.
She had been rolling her eyes, deep in thought, from the start.