“…So. What did you want to tell me?”
While Mio put the children to bed, Alice had asked to speak with me alone, and called me to the guest room.
We sat together on a slightly old-fashioned sofa.
“Yes. As you instructed, I tortured them and extracted information. That’s what this is about.”
”…………”
I didn’t issue that instruction…
How does one have to interpret “secure information” to land on “torture”?
I’m already getting a bad feeling.
”…You didn’t kill them, right?”
“Rest assured. They still have the role of guiding us to the main den.”
That isn’t what I was worried about…
To start anything, you need personnel.
If they get mowed down like a lawn, the man who wants to run the operation has a problem.
I’d planned to bring them in and end things peacefully…
What’s done is done.
For what it’s worth, Alice’s action was meant to help me.
If anything — solo raid on enemy territory, and she didn’t massacre them. Call it progress.
I exhaled and leaned my head back against the cushion.
“What did we learn?”
“They’re targeting this place because they plan to build an underground arena in Inivent.”
“You mean the kind Alice belonged to in Woshua?”
“Yes. Or rather, it’d be more accurate to call them the remnants of that one.”
“You wiped all those out, didn’t you. Did you miss some?”
“No, that’s not possible. Those whose matches couldn’t be arranged were given days off. The ones who’d been lucky enough to have the day off that day are the ones causing trouble now.”
”…I see.”
Wait. Isn’t this our fault?
We crushed the Woshua underground arena, the ones left over went looking for new ground, and they landed on Inivent.
Inivent and Woshua are adjacent districts.
The capital’s patrols don’t reach there well — it’s a perfect place to start back up.
“In any case, as Woshua’s situation deteriorated, more people had been leaving Inivent — making it even more convenient for committing crimes. Is something wrong, Lord Ouga?”
”…Nothing. Just thinking.”
This is a complete match-pump!
So the food we ate was made by people we’d indirectly thrown into misfortune…
Ah, crap. My stomach is suddenly hurting…
The kind of evil that makes your stomach knot up isn’t what I’m aiming for!
There is aesthetic even in evil.
For example, I’ll commit any evil that benefits me — but I have no intention of touching anything else.
Build a cute harem. Eat delicious food.
Live free, easy, off the taxes of my domain.
It is because the action has belief and purpose behind it that pushing through to the end looks cool.
A case like this — unplanned, jerked around by unforeseen circumstances — is not what I want.
…Decided. I’ll see this one through to the end.
As long as I live, this orphanage’s safety — no, Inivent’s safety — will be guaranteed.
For that, what I need is…
I started building the plan in my head.
“Alice. About the raid: do not kill anyone. No half-killings either.”
”…May I ask why?”
I’m going to explain, so don’t lean that disappointment aura into me at full force.
Your pressure, taken by an ordinary person without ready, is at a level that unhinges minds.
“I’ll use them. To execute my evil (justice).”
“I see. You have a plan, then?”
“Of course. Who do you think I am?”
“The [Savior] who saves all.”
She really does revere me, doesn’t she…
While that doubt floated in my mind, there was a knock.
“Excuse me. It’s Mio. May I come in?”
Alice asked permission with her eyes, and I nodded.
“Come in.”
“Thank you. Am I interrupting?”
Having finished putting the children to bed, Mio bowed her head.
In her hand was a small white parcel.
“We just finished setting the plan. How are the children?”
“None of them seemed frightened. They were tired today — they all quieted down quickly. Maybe because Lord Veret played with them so much.”
“Hahaha…”
I had really gotten carried away for my age…
But it was a meaningful time.
I learned about the children’s feelings, after all.
“What brings you here at this hour? Worried, couldn’t sleep?”
“No, not that… I wanted to give this to you, Lord Veret.”
What she presented was the white parcel.
I took it and looked inside. Ten silver coins.
One silver coin could cover half a month of food for the children.
For her, this is not a small amount.
“As thanks to a noble — and to a ducal house no less — I understand this is paltry. But this is all I have on hand… and… and…”
Mio fidgeted, her face flushed.
“I-if it’s not enough, with m-my body I will do whatever — so please, please… won’t you protect us!”
I see. To be honest, ten or so silver coins is small change to me.
…Anything, hm.
”…Alice. Do you remember what we wrote on the off-campus permission form to come here?”
“Yes. Volunteer activity, clearly remembered.”
“Right. Then — it’d be strange to take money for it, wouldn’t it?”
“Eh…”
Mio, who had been looking down the whole time, raised her face.
I’d come here on Alice’s request to begin with. I hadn’t planned to take payment.
And if this was caused by us, piling more burden on these people would be the work of a demon or a devil.
I aim for evil, but I’m not gutter trash.
Besides, my main goal is already mostly achieved.
“That’s how it is. I’ll return this. No payment necessary.”
I took Mio’s hand and put the parcel back in it.
She stared at her hand for a moment, then tears began to spill down her cheeks.
“Thank… you…!”
“See? I told you, didn’t I? Lord Ouga would never demand money.”
Alice moved to her side and, with a gentle expression, rubbed her back.
You were saying that?
Stop planting bombs in places I don’t know about?
Close call, that.
If I’d accepted the offer back there, my standing with both Alice and Mio would have dropped…
“Alice. As soon as midnight passes, we move. I’ll rest a little. You stay up in case of emergencies.”
“Understood.”
“You two should catch up. Take your time.”
“U-um…!”
”…What is it?”
“There are plenty of empty rooms — please use any unoccupied one freely…”
“Then I’ll do that.”
I thanked them and left the room.
The sleeping breaths of the children echoed faintly down the corridor as I picked a room and entered.
”…Right, this’ll do.”
After this, crush the holdouts’ main base, and the matter is over.
I finished a few personal loose ends and fell asleep. Two hours later—
“Lord Veret… My body is not particularly charming, but… please, use it as you wish.”
Mio came for a night visit.
…Why?
◇ Got the submission timer wrong by an hour ◇