Interrogation (2)
The taste in my mouth was bitter. It was a remark that struck precisely at the Holy Empire's sore spot, after all. But criticizing the Holy Empire and the fact that the current Prince Loras was caught in my grasp were two entirely different matters.
“That incident and what you're suffering right now have no correlation. The reason you were dragged here is because you joined hands with heretics.”
“I have never joined hands with heretics!!”
“My, you really are good at lying, aren't you?”
I grabbed the prince's chin and lifted it upward, staring directly into his eyes. People who lie usually show physical tells. That's why those skilled at lying are exceptionally good at hiding those tells, and this prince was quite adept at concealing them.
“I'm not lying, so of course there's no tell!!”
“Even when we have clear evidence?”
“...Evidence? That's impossible. Whatever it is, it must be fabricated. I'm one of those who despise heretics! Knowing what they've done, how could I possibly cooperate with them!!”
If I were a little more naive, I might have wavered at the prince's attitude. Right now, he truly looked wronged and innocent. But unfortunately for him, I was far too old to play along with such deception. Having seen plenty in my time, I could easily see through the schemes of a young prince like this.
“How did you come into contact with the heretics?”
“I've said it many times—I'm innocent. I didn't join hands with them.”
“Drug addicts show exactly this kind of attitude. The first time, it's out of curiosity. The second time, they think it's still fine and that they can quit whenever they want. Then comes the third, the fourth, and they keep going until suddenly—!”
“......”
The prince suddenly raised his voice, making me flinch. He thought he was perfect, but he didn't realize his eyes were telling the truth.
“That's when they realize they've become addicted. By then, it's already at a point of no return. And heretics are exactly like drugs. You reach out to them out of curiosity or because of their usefulness. You think that no matter how much those insignificant things struggle, they'll stay in the palm of your hand. All while failing to see that you're the one in that position.”
“......”
The prince's pupils were trembling. Being told he was no different from a drug user, there was no way he could maintain a calm expression.
“Why are you so agitated? Weren't you saying it had nothing to do with you? Do you know what the end of drug addiction looks like? I wonder if someone raised as finely as you could even imagine the level those who have given up their humanity sink to. And those people living such ruined lives aren't all that different from heretics. Once you reach out because of their usefulness? They never let go afterward. Even if you want to escape them, you won't be able to.”
In some ways, it could be said to be even more vicious than drugs.
“I...”
It was too late for regrets now. The heretics would use any means necessary to exploit the prince. Seeing tears welling up in his eyes, it seemed he was about to beg for his life.
Has he not been completely corrupted by the heretics yet?
Dealing with these ambiguous types was always the most unpleasant. If communication was somewhat possible, extracting information about the heretics and handling him appropriately might be a good approach.
“Tell me how you ended up reaching the heretics. If you provide the information obediently...”
Wait. As I spoke, a sudden, inexplicable sense of discomfort surged up. I stopped talking and carefully examined his face. I thought I was just displeased because his appearance didn't sit well with me, but it seemed that wasn't it.
“You...”
I had thought he was just an unlucky fool who clumsily got caught by the heretics, but it looked like this bastard was actually the one controlling the heretics from below him.
“You're still acting, aren't you?”
At my words, the prince's expression changed in an instant.
“So I'm telling you, I don't know what you're talking about? Heretics! Where exactly is this evidence that I'm entangled with them? I'd like to see that evidence with my own two eyes.”
The trembling pupils and somewhat clumsy face from earlier had completely vanished. In their place stood the true face of Prince Loras—a formidable one.
“Everyone seems to believe I've joined hands with the heretics. It was quite frustrating. Even if I explained, I doubted they'd believe me. Receiving those suspicious glances from people feels far dirtier than you'd think.”
“I see.”
This bastard wasn't human.
“Since the Holy Empire even sent someone directly, I want to prove it clearly this time. So what exactly is this evidence that I've joined hands with the heretics?”
Crack!
The ropes that had been binding the prince's body came undone far too easily. It was the moment it was revealed that even everything he'd suffered while tied up had been a lie. The absurd truth left me letting out a hollow laugh.
“The one who was actually in the palm of the hand... was me.”
“Haha. You're quick on the uptake, aren't you?”
The reason the prince had rolled weakly on the floor. This bastard had also been trying to extract information from me about the Holy Empire's situation.
“How regrettable. I wanted to get along well with the Holy Empire.”
“What nonsense are you spouting? What are you?”
“Now you're even doubting my identity? I clearly told you I'm the honored one who will become the crown prince of the Deltrack Empire.”
An ominous aura was flowing from Prince Loras to the point where I wondered how I hadn't noticed it before.
He's joined hands with a demon. Those heretic bastards.
The prince hadn't been victimized by the heretics. It was only natural that they followed Prince Loras's will. There was no doubt that a demon—an apostle of the Evil God—stood before me.
“Something's been bothering me since earlier.”
Prince Loras's pupils suddenly elongated and split like a reptile's. The red irises were identical to those of the 'demon' I'd seen before, sending chills across my skin.
“So, I've been wondering this for a while. That face of yours isn't real, is it?”
With a smirk, Prince Loras's hand shot forward and covered my face in an instant.
“Uh...”
“I'm sorry.”
Melody, who had suddenly said she needed to leave her post for a day, had returned. She'd said it would only be for about a day, but she appeared late the following evening. And she hadn't come alone.
“Uh... these must be your... colleagues?”
Melody nodded at my question.
“Yes. That's correct.”
“Greetings, Priest Arthur.”
“Hello.”
It wasn't exactly a pleasant situation. The people Melody had brought were her 'colleagues.' In other words, heretic inquisitors. And not just one—multiple inquisitors. All dressed in the same dark black clothing, they gave off an aura that made you not want to get close just by looking at them.
I assumed Melody had brought them for a good reason, so I asked.
“But why are these people...?”
“They want to observe you, Priest Arthur.”
Observe me? I'd thought about it before, but drawing the interest of heretic inquisitors was never a good thing.
“Why me?”
“Haa~ It seems your frequent entanglements with heretics lately have piqued their interest.”
“I'll explain that part.”
At that moment, an exceptionally low voice struck my ears.
“Senior, didn't I say I could explain it?”
“That's only if you explain it well.”
As the highest-ranking among the heretic inquisitors stepped forward, the others all took a step back. With black hair and pale skin, he looked like he could pass for a grim reaper without any shortcomings.
“First, I apologize for the sudden visit and any rudeness.”
From the mouth I'd expected to hear coercive threats, an unexpectedly polite and courteous apology came instead. Thanks to that, I was able to lower my guard just a little. These heretic inquisitors hadn't come to harm me, right?
“Yes. It's surprising, but my questions are greater. I was wondering why you've come to see me.”
“Our purpose is simple. You frequently become entangled with heretics, and we wish to make use of that.”
“It is true that I've become entangled with them often by chance, but I have no certainty that it will continue in the future.”
“It doesn't matter if it doesn't. We've always pursued heretics, and most of the time it led to nothing.”
“It sounds like you mean to observe me closely. In what way exactly? Surely you don't mean all these people will be watching my surroundings like this from now on?”
“Until now, Melody has been protecting you alone, Priest. From now on, it will be in pairs.”
Paired escorts, huh...
“I'm not such an important person that two of you need to guard me?”
“It's because this concerns heretics. This is a matter of value. The fact that these incidents keep happening to you, Priest Arthur, must mean that person's will is directed toward you.”
“Hmm...”
I wasn't sure. Even without mentioning how that person had visited me in my dreams and given me knowledge, it was already like this. I was worried about what would happen if that fact became known later. Since the heretic inquisitors wanted to observe me and I couldn't refuse, I eventually accepted their company and began the day in earnest.
“...Priest? Did you cause some kind of accident?”
“No way, the priest wouldn't do that. Maybe they released these scary-looking people as an example because the treatment center door wasn't closed properly?”
Given how intimidating they all looked, the priests' reactions were understandable but still the worst possible.
“They're not bad people. You shouldn't judge by appearances.”
“Ah, I'm sorry.”
They probably had better hearing than us, so they must have heard everything the priests said.
“These are colleagues of Sister Melody. And for the time being, they'll be guarding me from nearby.”
“Why? Why suddenly these people...? Don't tell me Sister Melody is going somewhere?!”
“No, that's not it. We're simply increasing the number of personnel.”
“That makes it an even bigger problem!! Something must have happened to the priest!”
In normal cases, additional escorts wouldn't be dispatched without reason, so their worry was natural. But in my case, my repeated entanglements with the special existence known as heretics had stimulated the inquisitors' curiosity. I had to quickly make up an explanation for the priests, who had turned pale with misunderstanding.