Episode 75: Interrogator Sharka
Roa had subdued the black-robed figures who had gathered in the detached building.
I was relieved that none of them transformed into monstrous men.
Roa’s pale blue glowing hair was due to the Lightning Magic ‘Neural Enhancement’.
If Body Enhancement Magic is like doping, then ‘Neural Enhancement’ is a magic that instantly draws out the potential of the bare body.
The former enhances strength, while the latter mainly enhances agility and reflexes.
By the way, ‘Neural Enhancement’ is also the predecessor of my ‘Bio-Lightning Magic’.
Since evolving to ‘Bio-Lightning Magic’, I’ve become afraid to use it on myself, and I can’t use it as casually as Roa does.
I probably won’t have the opportunity to use it again.
“I’m glad you’re safe, Roa. Are you hurt?”
“Ehehe, I’m fine.”
I stroke Roa’s head, now that his hair has returned to black.
He’s as cute as a puppy.
I’m overcome with the urge to hug him, but I must resist.
“These guys are Military Officials from Naia, probably from the shadows.”
“The shadows, you say?”
Noble families usually have specialized units that conduct intelligence activities outside their territories.
Ortenos also has one, but in terms of know-how, it’s inferior to other nobles due to its shorter history. It’s one of the points that needs improvement.
“It seems the Alberto Faction came to silence Nephthys.”
“Nephthys-san, she was that important?”
“Also, one of the black-robed men said something strange. The Ceasefire Talks might be turbulent.”
“…The Ceasefire Talks? You’re not bluffing, are you?”
“These are the kind of guys who cause trouble. They’re likely planning something.”
Roa’s face turns pale at my words.
“…”
“Don’t worry. I won’t let them do as they please. I won’t let them lay a finger on Roa.”
“Brother…”
I stroke Roa’s head to reassure him as much as possible.
Reassuring him after scaring him might be a self-serving act.
However, the reason I think it will be turbulent is not just because of the enemy.
There’s also someone on the Ortenos side who might do something unpredictable.
(Haa, the worries never end.)
I think about that person and sigh inwardly.
First, I need to end this commotion.
I turn to my subordinates.
“Everyone, the black-robed men are mostly taken care of, but there might still be remnants lurking. Gather all the Satella-Class within Bangwall in one place. Conduct a search of their belongings, and throw anyone who seems connected to Naia or doesn’t have an identification tag into the dungeon.”
I order my subordinates to search for the remnants.
Judging from the way the sun is setting, it’s approaching evening.
I feel bad for making them work overtime, but I want to deal with it today.
◇◇◇◇
As the sun began to set.
I gathered the Satella-Class stationed at Bangwall in the Home Castle’s dining hall.
It’s the same place where we held the Victory Celebration the other day.
I watched the Military Officials conduct body searches and inspect belongings.
“There are many adventurers.”
“Yes, they were probably hired by merchants as guards.”
Nicoletta answers.
–Adventurers
Freelance mercenaries who belong to the Adventurer’s Guild.
Most cities have an Adventurer’s Guild, where they take on various requests.
“I thought adventurers went to explore ‘Magical Power Puddles’, but it seems some don’t.”
“Exploring ‘Magical Power Puddles’ is dangerous due to Demon Beasts and collapses, so some think it’s wiser to earn money as bodyguards.”
They are hired for escort missions and sometimes mobilized as war personnel.
In particular, a major activity is exploring underground caverns called ‘Magical Power Puddles’.
It’s dangerous, but they can find precious metals like gold and silver, and sometimes rare ores that become Star Tool materials, so I hear the income is high.
“Hmm, isn’t that…”
“…”
At the end of my gaze was that sister.
She’s facing me, putting her hands together in prayer.
(Hmm… still scandalous.)
I think, looking at the bulging part of the nun’s habit.
I have to confirm this.
“Nicoletta, I have something to do.”
“I’ll accompany you.”
Nicoletta answers eagerly.
“N-no, that would be bad.”
“What would be bad?”
Nicoletta narrows her eyes and presses me.
Is she suspecting something?
“Ah, no, that’s… right! I want to entrust Roa’s care to Nicoletta.”
“Taking care of Roa-sama…?”
“Yes, Roa is new here and doesn’t know Bangwall well, so as the same gender… ah, that’s not it. Well, I want you to teach him various things.”
“…Yes, I understand.”
Nicoletta nodded reluctantly.
(Phew, that was close. I managed to deceive her somehow.)
There’s no other way to deal with the evil mass that dwells in my heart.
Forgive me, Nicoletta.
I’ve been irritated ever since I killed the monster man.
Unfortunately, Nicoletta is not the right person to calm this irritation right now.
I walk up to the sister and call out to her.
“Evelyn, I will personally interrogate you.”
“Yes?”
Sister Evelyn tilts her head in confusion.
“Dadinga, I’m taking this one.”
“Yes, understood!”
The interrogator Dadinga gives a mysterious thumbs up.
He must have understood everything.
◇◇◇◇
Evelyn and I arrived at the bathhouse where the naked brother incident occurred.
I sit arrogantly on the wooden chair in the changing room.
I feel like an interrogator.
“Evelyn, there are a few things I want to ask you.”
“Yes, Saint-sama. Anything.”
I should do the work of an interrogator.
I don’t know the purpose of this sister.
“First, what did you come to Bangwall for?”
“I came to spread the teachings of the Eastern Star Sect.”
So, she’s a religious person, doing missionary work.
“I see. But the Eastern Star Sect is not allowed to proselytize within the Empire. Because it’s critical of the nobility. And I don’t like your martyrdom spirit either.”
The Empire’s nobles have the worst image of the Eastern Star Sect.
About two hundred and fifty years have passed since the era of nobles began, but before that, the teachings of the Eastern Star Sect were widespread throughout the continent.
Eduardo von Seymore, said to be the first noble, began by destroying churches and eliminating the influence of the Eastern Star Sect.
Therefore, the Eastern Star Sect and the nobility are fundamentally incompatible.
“I understand your feelings. However, what Lord Sharka is referring to is the Doctory Faction’s doctrine. We, the Ballista Faction, recognize the authority of the nobility and do not affirm martyrdom.”
The Eastern Star Sect that I know is a crazy religion that preaches that martyrdom is the only salvation to reach heaven.
If what Evelyn says is true, then the Ballista Faction is denying the existing sect.
“What’s the difference between those two factions?”
“Well, simply put, the interpretation of the words ‘Blessed Land’ in the scriptures is different.”
“Blessed Land…?”
That’s a name I’ve been hearing a lot lately.
The number of people coming to Ortenos increased after that name started to spread.
“Yes. The old Doctory Faction interprets the Blessed Land as the land where the advent of Demon Beasts is prophesied. The intention is planned harmony. They believe that the prophesied Demon Beasts are gods who will return the chaotic world to its proper form. On the other hand, we, the Ballista Faction, believe that the land that has overcome the prophesied Demon Beasts, like Ortenos, is the Blessed Land.”
I don’t know much about religion, but in my previous life, “God’s creation of the world” was called “planned harmony”.
The Doctory Faction is a dangerous group that considers the Demon Beast Disaster to be salvation.
“I see. But you’re a minority, aren’t you? Isn’t oppression inevitable?”
In my previous life, conflicts and censorship often occurred due to differences in religious sects.
“Yes… as you can imagine, we were defeated by the Doctory Faction, and our comrades were scattered across the continent.”
A diaspora.
In the future, they’ll probably say, “We’ll take back the Holy Land,” and there will be trouble in the East.
However, Evelyn herself has a track record of giving me advice, so she must be a talented person.
As far as I can tell, she’s friendly to Ortenos and the nobility, and personally, she’s a person I want for Ortenos.
“I can’t do anything about the missionary work on my own. But I might be able to do something about other things. Evelyn, do you have any wishes?”
“I would like to serve Saint-sama. I studied law in general at Stra University, so I believe I can be of service.”
I decided against commenting on the Saint.
I had a feeling that even hearing about it would just depress me.
“What about the Atra Carta?”
“Yes, there are no issues.”
She might be an immediate asset.
Honestly, I was hoping to have at least one lawyer present during the Ceasefire Talks.
The Ortenos civil officials are reasonably competent, but they’re muscle-brained nobles, so I’m a bit worried.
Stra University is famous as the oldest existing academy, and its name value is impeccable.
“I understand your wishes. Now, you need to prove that you are not my enemy.”
“T-There’s no way I would ever become an enemy of you, Saint-sama!”
“Anyone can say anything.”
“T-Then, what should I do…?”
Evelyn pondered in distress, hugging herself.
As she did, her Stella-Class breasts, lifted by her right arm, were emphasized.
“Heh, it’s simple. I’ll conduct a physical examination right now.”
I gave Evelyn a Buddha-like gentle smile.