Episode 43

Having their front entrance suddenly destroyed and being threatened by the intruding boy—it was only natural that it took time for their thoughts to recover.

“Th-this is the worst, what have you done…! Everyone, is anyone hurt!?”

Kratz rushed in, flustered and panicking.

The residents had been badly shaken, but seeing a soldier more confused than they were actually helped them regain their composure.

“Who are you people? What in the world is going on here?”

“Uh, well, we are…”

The man with the stern expression spoke to Kratz, though his gaze was fixed on Zeke and Blood.

Stammering, Kratz explained who they were and what was going on. Zeke, meanwhile, stood with his arms folded and calmly observed the surroundings. Blood simply stood at attention, unmoving.

“You’re searching for suspects in a rebellion, I see. I understand your objective, but how do you explain this disaster?”

“Well, you see, we found traces of the suspects’ presence in this area…”

Those who had collapsed in shock or gone slack with surprise now regained their calm. They turned razor-sharp looks on Kratz, their distrust and wariness plain to see.

“So you find traces and your first step is to smash a house’s front door? Isn’t it normal to confirm the situation first?”

“You barge into a regular citizen’s home with no warning, and even bring armed soldiers along… What were you thinking!?”

“You’re absolutely right. I hardly know what to say…”

They were right on every count. Kratz desperately tried to think, but no good idea came to mind. He thought of asking for support, but the ones nearby were a self-proclaimed noble boy with dangerous ideas and a man who looked like a blood-soaked veteran encased in full armor. He was cornered.

“Let’s start from the basics. The only reason the army can function is because we citizens pay taxes. Whose money do you think your salary comes from?”

“From the money of you good, law-abiding citizens, sir…”

“You’ve wrecked our house! And what’s with that bloodstained guy, anyway!?”

“I-I’m told that’s just how the armor is designed, sir…”

Kratz was bombarded with complaints, one after another. With no hope of support from his own side, all he could do was apologize over and over.

“There’s no point talking to you. …For now, why don’t you return to military headquarters and clear this with your superiors?”

“And make sure you confirm what’ll be done about repairing the house! Useless soldier, all talk and no help…”

Kratz drooped, shoulders slumped. He had already resigned himself to the fact that he would not escape disciplinary action. At the same time, he swore that if it came to that, he would drag Zeke down with him.

“I am truly sorry. I’ll go report this at once… You apologize too.”

Prompted, Zeke stepped forward. But instead of an apology, something entirely different came out of the arrogant boy’s mouth.

“Walk all the way back to headquarters just to make a report? Idiots really do love being inefficient.”

“…You are quite the ill-mannered child, aren’t you.”

“!? Please, I’m begging you, just be quiet for once!”

Kratz tried desperately to stop him, but Zeke’s tongue was faster.

“You’re clearly not satisfied with this mess, are you? In that case, come with us and state your case directly.”

“W-why should we have to do that?”

“As you can see, this one is useless. Take a few steps and he runs the risk of forgetting everything. In that case, you might not get the result you want.”

“I’m not that stupid!”

Kratz protested, eyes a little moist.

“I’ll have them prepare tea and snacks suitable even for trash like you. We’ll give you a grand welcome.”

Zeke smiled mockingly, blatantly provoking them.

“…And you think we can just leave our house like this? Thanks to you, we have to deal with the aftermath too.”

“That so? Sounds rough. …In that case, you’ll need manpower. Hey, useless one, go back to headquarters alone and bring reinforcements.”

“Just me…? Why?”

Zeke explained that thieves might see this as a chance to target the house. The two of them would need to stay behind as guards.

“This mess is our fault, after all. Let’s see… we’ll put a hundred soldiers on your protection. If anyone suspicious shows up, we’ll arrest them all. That should cover everything, don’t you think?”

“A hundred, you say!? There’s no need to go that far… This area has good security, you know.”

This time it was the residents who were shaken. Their reaction was blatantly different.

“There’s no need to be modest. It’s all this incompetent’s fault. We’ll make sure he takes responsibility.”

“No… this is actually your fault…”

Watching Zeke chuckle darkly to himself, clearly enjoying all of this, Kratz was thoroughly creeped out.

“You’ve gotten awfully quiet. What happened to all that bluster from earlier?”

“…We don’t need guards. And we have no intention of reporting anything to the army from our side. Just go. You’re a nuisance.”

“Hah. So you make a fuss and then tuck your tails between your legs and run?”

Zeke took another step forward and laid his hand on the hilt of his sword.

“You were awfully full of yourself, lecturing us about taxes and such. Do you understand that it costs money to capture you, too?”

“You’re talking nonsense… What are you even basing that on?”

The three men edged back, widening the distance. Sweat beaded on their foreheads, whether from tension or fear.

“You think that’ll distract me? The mana residue continues downward.”

“!? Damn it, how did he figure it out!? —Fine. Don’t let any of them leave alive!”

The men drew concealed throwing weapons and lunged at Zeke as one—but they had picked the wrong opponent.

“Fools… You’re slow in every possible way.”

He did not even need magic, or a sword. With pure physical technique, he kicked the three who had rushed in carelessly, sending them flying. Unable to withstand it, the men lost consciousness.

The house with its front entrance destroyed now had three men lying unconscious inside. From the outside, it would have looked like an utterly bizarre scene.

“W-what just happened? I can’t make sense of any of this…”

“Did you really lose your memory? …You should have a doctor look at you.”

“Could you stop looking at me with that pitying expression? You’re unbelievably rude, you know.”

Zeke searched through the interior of the house while Blood bound the men who had been knocked out.

“…From the boy’s perspective, the mana residue was absolute proof. That’s why he let them run free for a while.”

“B-but they might really have been uninvolved, right?”

There was always the chance this was just a diversion, or that the real residents had been tricked.

“Which is why he waited for them to act.”

“…Looking at the outcome, I suppose you’re right. Even if the method wasn’t exactly commendable.”

“Are you stupid? All that matters is the result. And I don’t need your praise in the first place.”

Zeke carefully traced the faint remaining traces. Just as before, he felt a minute amount of mana residue from under the floor.

“A-anyway, we have to report this! This is the first real lead we’ve found!”

“Hmph. Do as you like. …Here we are.”

He drew his sword and sheathed it in one smooth motion. Kratz had no idea what he had done, but when he looked again, a staircase leading underground had appeared. It took him a moment to realize Zeke had sliced the floor into shape in an instant.

“There’s a staircase!? Does that mean the mana residue continues down there? …Seriously, what are you?”

“…Your magic and your swordsmanship both. …It’s a lesson not to judge by appearances alone.”

“You, on the other hand, are all show. You rely on your equipment, but you have nothing to back it up. It’s exactly like that saying about hanging up a sheep’s head while selling dog meat.”

Zeke’s words were openly derisive, but with that intimidating armor, it was impossible to read Blood’s feelings.

“…I want to investigate down there right away, but we can’t just leave these men unattended. I’ll go report this as fast as I can, so I’m counting on you here!”

“Do not act on your own, no matter what!”

Kratz warned as he hurried away, leaving Zeke and Blood behind.

“…”

“…”

They said nothing. Silence ruled the space.

Zeke and Blood were practically strangers and neither was the type to actively seek conversation with others.

“…It feels strangely quiet without him here.”

“In that case, you can disappear as well.”

Blood gave the impression of a taciturn warrior, but Zeke cut down the words he had managed to squeeze out in a single stroke. The conversation went nowhere.

“…’Nothing underneath the surface,’ hm. …This is the first time anyone has said that to me.”

“What, did I hit a nerve and now you’re having a tantrum? You’re disgusting.”

“…Harsh.”

Whatever Blood was feeling, he did not seem to be angry, at least.

“…It’s been a long time since someone spoke their honest thoughts to me.”

“Are you looking for someone to talk to? And you want that from me… You really must be out of your mind.”

“…You’re an interesting one.”

It hardly counted as a proper conversation, but Blood’s voice sounded faintly pleased.

“…Just like when we first met in the forest near the border—you’re still not afraid of me, are you?”

“Hah. Don’t flatter yourself. You think I’d be afraid of someone on your level?”

“I see.”

Blood murmured. It was the sort of remark that should have made him furious, but with his eyes hidden behind the armor, there was no way to know what they reflected.

On the basis of Kratz’s report, the house in question was sealed off by the military. The three men believed to be connected to the rebels were taken into custody, and a full-scale investigation was launched into the underground area.

“Just to confirm—this destruction of the residence was your doing, right?”

“I merely took the lead in place of you useless lot. You should be grateful.”

As for Zeke, he was once again taken into custody by the soldiers, this time on suspicion of property destruction.