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Chapter 111 Puppet
Beato, what have you been diligently working on since the other day? Right then, she was at the table, working with Mel-chan. She said not to look, so I wasn't watching, but I was really curious.
Speaking of curiosity, there's another thing.
"Joanna hasn't returned since she casually left..."
Since last night, she left without saying where she was going, and she hasn't come back. It's been like this since the resistance days, come to think of it. She'd be gone in the morning and come back in the evening. Sometimes she'd be away for days, but when she returned, she always brought back valuable information as a souvenir.
"This time might be the same."
Yes, surely this time too, she brought back valuable information. She was really reliable. Just having Joanna around gave me a completely different sense of security.
"Kyrie, why are you staring out the window absentmindedly?"
I got a pat on the shoulder from Toka. Was I spacing out like that? Maybe I was.
"I was just thinking. By the way, has Leah-san returned?"
"Even if she has, the military goes through the central street. We can't see anything from here."
We chose a quiet inn away from the main street to not stand out, but maybe it was a mistake. Nevertheless, even if we know she's back, there's nothing we can do about it.
"Anyway, let's wait for Joanna. We'll act once she comes back with the information."
"...You really trust Joanna a lot."
"Well, of course. She's helped us in many ways."
It seemed like trusting her as the most reliable companion wasn't an exaggeration.
"Hey, I might say something that could make you mad, but as an older person, I have a word of advice."
"What is it, say it seriously."
"Don't trust her unconditionally. I can't express it well, but she gives off a strange vibe."
"A... strange vibe?"
What was with this vague reason? Trusting or not trusting someone just based on impressions without knowing anything about Joanna?
"I can't accept that based on such a fluffy reason."
"Beato's collar with a transmitter was a present from Joanna, right? A transmitter where we don't know who and when it was planted. The easiest time to plant it is before handing it over, and the most suspicious person is the one who handed it over."
"Is that your only evidence? Beato didn't wear the collar 24/7. If the culprit's purpose wasn't to capture Beato, then he can do it at any time—"
"The transmitter was read by Blum from Taltus's army, you know? I don't know about when it was planted, but at least now, the person who planted it and Taltus are connected."
"So, what are you trying to say? Are you implying that Joanna betrayed us and is connected to Taltus's army?"
"I haven't said that far. Just, stop trusting her unconditionally."
...She's saying it, isn't she? There's no way Joanna was an enemy or connected to Taltus's army.
"Both of you, stop fighting, okay?"
"...ugh..."
Beato and Mel-chan, who had somehow stopped working, squeezed in between us. It seemed things got a bit heated; I needed to cool down.
"It's not a fight. We were just talking, so don't worry."
"But..."
"Mel-chan is worried too, right? Both of you need to get along properly. It's a promise with your onee-san."
"Uwah!!"
Joanna, when did she get here!? She's casually joining the conversation!
Surprising... Toka is pointing and making silent gestures.
"Hehe, it's troubling for me if you fight over me."
"Jo-Joanna-san, since when were you here?"
"From pretty much the beginning."
Ah, Toka turned pale all of a sudden.
"Well, leaving that aside. I've got some important news. Apparently, Leah-san has concluded that Rugolf is a spy and captured him. She wants you all to be present during the interrogation, not torture... to question. She's asking for you to join."
"Leah-san!?"
"That's right!"
"In front of the inn, soldiers are waiting to escort us. Let's all go together."
"Yeah, Beato and the others too!"
"…!"
I needed to see Leah as soon as possible. I stood up, knocking over the chair in the process. Mel-chan and Beato were ready to follow me, but Toka remained seated, looking dazed.
"Come on, Toka! Why are you sitting? Get up quickly!"
"Ah, yeah..."
Dragged up by Mel-chan, Toka finally stood. She must have been quite shocked by Joanna's answers.
***
The castle of Corcut is slightly smaller than the castle in Deltirad. Well, just a little smaller but it's still surprisingly large.
"Welcome, Kyrie-dono. Thank you all for coming," Leah greeted us as we passed through the main gate, escorted by soldiers. She has a cheerful expression; it seems everything went well.
"Lugolf is being held in the underground dungeon. Let me guide you there first," Leah said. The soldiers' guide ends here. Leah took the lead, leading us into the castle.
Despite the grand appearance from the outside, the inside of the castle is rather austere. There are no art pieces, and the corridors are devoid of carpets.
"It's, how do I put it, modest, isn't it?"
"You seem surprised. For the sake of the starving people, King Seatham converted all luxury items into funds. It was to import food from other demi-human territories. However, like other countries, we suffer from the ravages of war. The prices of foodstuffs skyrocketed, and the funds we raised quickly ran out."
I see, so King Seatham is indeed the rumored kind and considerate king, thinking of the welfare of his people.
If someone like King Seatham were to learn that his son had initiated a rebellion, I wonder how he would react...
Guided by Leah, we descended the stairs and arrived at the basement floor. We walked on the dimly lit stone floor with unreliable torches on the walls. As we walked down the corridor, the tapping of footsteps echoed.
"Rugolf is ahead...! He's quite furious!"
"I can't show something like that to a small kid like you. Torture is an adult's job."
Mel-chan seemed to be quite ahead in terms of murderous intent... But torture? I didn't want Beato or Mel-chan to see it. Maybe I should ask Joanna to stay outside the room. Given the current situation, I doubt Mel-chan will quietly wait, though.
"Mel, you and I, along with Beato, will be on standby. Leave the torture to Kyrie."
"The way you put it... but..."
Good, Toka and I were talking normally. However, it seemed awkward between Joanna and Toka. Those two hadn't exchanged a word since we left the inn.
Leading the way, Leah reached for the large double doors.
"The dungeon is beyond this hall."
Giii...
The creaking sound as the door opens.
Inside was a circular space with sand covering the floor. Rather than calling it a hall, it looked more like an arena. Strangely, we need to pass through such a place to reach the dungeon.
"Leah, what kind of room is this?"
As we all entered the hall.
*Gachari.*
The door was locked with a key.
"...Leah-san?"
"...Kyrie, be careful. Something's not right."
Leah's expression has turned into an emotionless doll-like face. She walked with a steady pace, picked up a spear hanging on the wall, and rotated her head in our direction, almost like a puppet.
It's as if she's a puppet being controlled.
"Seems we have fallen right into the trap."
"A trap... Leah-san, are you saying that you're an enemy?"
"Half correct, half wrong... Hm, it's getting nicely dark and so I'm sleepy..."
From the corner of the hall, a male voice was heard. Upon closer inspection, there's a black-haired demon yawning lazily in the dimly lit corner. It's the one we encountered in the capital city that day.
"You... Rugolf!"
"Tch, don't call me by my name so casually... Haah, I'm tired..."
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