Chapter 52
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Captured Culprits
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After a brief moment of hesitation, there was only one conclusion.
"Please handle their punishment however you see fit. In return, I hope the Countess suffers for a long, long time."
"You mean don't let them off with an easy death. Got it."
Castro nodded lightly.
Now I could finally relax.
"By the way. We only have eyewitness testimony, no hard evidence. Is that okay?"
I blinked at Castro.
Only after the tension eased did I realize just how rushed I'd been.
"They're as good as caught red-handed, so it's no mistake. We can't drag the Countess in just yet, but these are commoners. A good interrogation will loosen their tongues."
Her answer put my mind at ease.
My racing heart slowed, and a sense of calm settled in.
"Then that's a relief."
"Don't worry. We were struggling without even a tail to chase, but now that we've got them, we won't let go. You did good—get some rest."
"Thanks, sis."
I twisted my lips into a grin, and Castro smiled back.
Warm and fuzzy—nice.
"Alright, I'll leave it to you. They're both unique magic users, so you'll need to seal their mana cores. Want some help?"
"No need. I can handle it myself."
As she rose slowly, the man slumped in the chair toppled to the floor.
He'd held out through sheer malice, but collapsed in the end.
"Take this one and that one too. They're rebels who spread plague through the territory—I'll interrogate them personally. Keep them alive."
"Yes, ma'am!"
At Castro's command, the soldiers sprang into efficient action.
Their disciplined movements filled me with confidence.
They swiftly bound the two criminals with ropes in a dual restraint...
Castro applied mana seals.
Then they hauled off the thoroughly neutralized men.
"By the way. You said they used magic?"
After the bustle died down,
I walked the streets toward the count's castle alongside Castro.
Culprits caught, innkeeper compensated adequately.
With everything wrapped up, my steps felt light.
"Yeah. One seemed to bend light to hide himself, the other spread the plague."
"Bend light? Not sure I follow exactly, but like being invisible in the dark?"
"Roughly that principle."
Me, Castro, Ekyon, and Antiope.
We arrived at the count's castle in a neat 2x2 formation.
Maybe it was the casual chat, but time flew by faster than expected.
"Your Highness...!"
The count stood at the gate to greet us the moment we arrived.
Hard not to wake up with all the predawn commotion.
"Sorry for the early morning racket. Circumstances."
"I understand. You've finally apprehended the criminals? I'm humbled and apologetic—nothing else to say."
"You were already swamped dealing with the plague. And honestly, without some luck, I might not have caught them."
I shook my head, grasping the count's hand.
Modesty aside, it was sincere.
The culprits hid like Aktaion.
Impossible for ordinary folk to catch.
Invisible.
That alone made attacks or ambushes ridiculously easy.
Of course, those who sense mana flow could detect them.
But such people were exceedingly rare.
Plus, the foes had been extremely cautious, making capture even harder.
Without luck, I'd still be hunting them now.
In the end, it boiled down to good fortune.
One word summed it up.
"I'm beat, so I'll rest. Handle the interrogation."
"Yes, Your Highness. Rest well."
I passed the bowing Count Vuro and returned to my room.
Now it was truly over.
'Time to crash hard before heading out.'
I sent the escorts to their rooms, then flopped onto the bed alone.
Relief hit like a wave, sleep crashing over me.
Hold tight till it's done.
Final report, then bounce—clean and perfect.
I closed my eyes to soothe the fatigue.
Couldn't sleep last night, so just a quick nap.
'Weird.'
But when I opened my eyes, dawn sunlight greeted me, same as when I'd woken earlier.
The sun wasn't setting—it was rising.
"...Wow."
Stepping onto the balcony, I finally got it.
A "quick nap" turned into a full day.
"Unbelievable."
I muttered at the sky without thinking.
A thought in my head had bounced right out.
Thirty minutes after Niu fell asleep.
Castro crouched in an unused room in a corner of the count's castle.
Time to interrogate the prisoners and extract evidence.
She'd even posted guards on the Countess to avoid interference.
Best if the wife panicked and slipped up first, but either way.
Everything would come to light eventually.
"Ugh, ugh...!"
The two men crouched before Castro trembled violently.
Faces pale with terror.
They usually strutted with chins high and shoulders squared...
No trace of that arrogance now.
"Why so scared? Cooperate and spill, and I'll make it easy. No need to worry."
Castro tilted her head, puzzled.
'Th-this crazy bitch...!'
Both the curser and the hider shed tears, shaking uncontrollably.
Both pinky toes.
Both pinky fingers.
Eight crushed without a word, yet this reaction?
Perfectly understandable fear from the victims' side.
Drip, drip.
Jet-black blood dripped from the mangled toes and fingers.
Coagulated death around the burst flesh holes.
"I-I'll talk."
The countess's lover—adulterer for short—opened his mouth.
Self-preservation always his top priority.
No type to cover for anyone, even now.
Naturally, the curse guy beside him was the same.
Selfish to the core.
"Too noisy if you both yap. One at a time."
Castro frowned briefly, then locked eyes with the adulterer.
She knew he was the countess's paramour.
Gulp.
The adulterer nodded and spoke.
"I-I'll talk."
"Good. No witnesses visible, but the count and soldiers behind me will attest. Naturally, I will too."
Of course. I'm dead anyway.
Dead the moment they caught me.
"Proceed."
Despair flickered in the adulterer's eyes.
The face of one who'd abandoned hope.
"Wise choice. Cooperate fully, and I promise a quick, painless end. On my name, I swear it."
Castro offered brief comfort—sincere, not empty words.
That sincerity reached him; his complexion brightened slightly.
"Yes. Ask away."
"Word is you colluded with the countess here to spread plague. True?"
"Yes."
"Then, evidence to prove that collusion?"
No evidence.
If there were, it'd all be out already.
At best, money—but money's blind and deaf.
Deny receipt, done.
The adulterer squeezed his eyes shut.
Desolation too much to face.
"...Sorry, none. At most, sold off cash and jewels she gave."
"Cash and jewels? Then middlemen to pass them?"
"Buried 'em. Plenty of greedy types out there."
Her sigh-laden response drew a sigh from Castro too.
Ridiculous, deflating answer.
"Could've just run with the cash?"
"No idea. Extra payoff or threats, probably. Anyway, got the money clean."
"Money received, couriers buried. Thorough bastards."
Castro muttered with a sigh.
Without Niu's arrival, even these two might've slipped away.
Not ally incompetence—foes too capable, beyond expectation.
Excessive meticulousness to boot.
"Um, excuse me..."
The silent plague guy slowly raised a hand.
Something to say.
Speak or not?
In the heavy sighing atmosphere, he agonized but decided to speak.
Die like this? Countess walks free—unbearable.
Savior when sparing life, now a comrade to drag down.
Only fair to bury together in the grave.
'If not for that bitch, this wouldn't have happened...!'
Back when plague roamed solo.
Low profits, but stable life.
Haunt gambling dens, sicken gamblers, steal coin.
Satisfying enough.
Then the countess shattered that peace.
With temptation!
More than enough grudge from plague's view.
Irrational rebuttals fell on deaf ears.
"Something to say?"
Castro eyed the plague man.
Her gaze sharpened, sensing his intent.
"Yes. Truth is... I secretly pocketed some jewels."
"What?"
The adulterer's eyes bulged.
First he'd heard of it.
"Quiet. Yell again, and I'll rip your mouth."
Castro shot the adulterer a threat, then met plague's eyes.
"Go on. Something special about those jewels?"
"Jewels have clear provenance, right? Changes hands, rolls around..."
"You're right. Could be a lead."
"Yes, yes. Stashed a few to sell later on black market or jewelers—might help."
Most sold on black market.
Cheaper, but hides origins best.
But leftovers...
High chance to prove countess ties.
"Excellent. Where's the stash?"
"H-hidden in my home base. Not here—two days' travel."
"Good. Guide us there. I'll come along."
Lead in hand, Castro's eyes flashed sharply.
No escape this time.
'That kid came at the perfect time.'
Niu's face surfaced in her mind.
Reassuring, someone who could protect even from afar.
"Y-yes. Lead the way."
Plague nodded eagerly.
His trembling lips curved faintly upward.
"Good. Before we move, a warning."
Castro raised her right hand, then slammed it toward the floor.
Hard stone—fingers could break.
Yet her hand sank into the stone effortlessly.
Like crumbling tofu.
"H-heh...!"
Both plague and adulterer gaped.
Unprecedented threat chilled their napes.
"Fool around or lead wrong, no merciful death. Remember."
Crunch.
She lightly clenched her fist on the floor imprint; stone crumbled softly.
No sound in the process—but that made it creepier.