Midnight Cuckoo (8)
"What is it? What's going on?"
The guards blocked my path as soon as they saw me.
"Step back. We're apprehending a criminal."
"A criminal?"
I looked down at the person gripped in the guard's hand. It was a half-elf staying at our inn. Her hood had fallen back, revealing pointed ears, and her green eyes darted around in fear.
"This one's a thief?"
"We said step back!"
The guard shoved my chest, snapping in anger.
"This person's a guest at my inn! As the owner, don't I have a right to know if something's happened to one of my guests?"
Overpowered by my intensity, the guards stepped back slightly.
"Uh... Sergeant. He says he's the innkeeper."
The sergeant, who had been shaking the half-elf roughly, glared at me and spat curtly.
"So?"
"What did this person do wrong?"
"This is what she had on her."
He held out a few silver coins toward me.
"Silver coins. And?"
"It's my money..."
At the half-elf's timid excuse, the sergeant glared at her as if shooting lasers from his eyes.
"You think carrying around this much cash wouldn't raise suspicions?"
"Hey, hold on, Sergeant. A few silver coins aren't exactly a fortune."
The sergeant shook the half-elf like a rabbit he'd hunted.
"For lowly scum like this, it's a massive sum. No proper job, so how else would she get money?"
"Let go of her arm first. Above all, she's a guest at our inn."
When the sergeant ignored me, I forcibly pried his hand off. The freed half-elf rubbed her sore arm and curled up.
"If she's an inn guest, check your valuables right now. Something must be missing."
Then the sergeant turned to his guards and ordered.
"Arrest her."
"Arrest on what grounds? There's no evidence."
"Her having money is the evidence. A search will make her confess everything."
The guard unit could legally arrest suspects on-site. But that was only when a crime was witnessed. Here, there were no circumstances at all. The sergeant had simply assumed the silver coins on a penniless half-elf were stolen.
He'd probably found out during a suspicious patrol, frisking her on a whim. It was blatant abuse of power, and I couldn't stand by while a guest at my inn suffered it.
"What kind of ridiculous official duty is this? You claim authority delegated by the king, yet it's just prejudice and assumptions grabbing anyone without evidence?"
"This is evidence!"
The sergeant's hand yanked the half-elf's ear.
"Ow...!"
"Hey, stop!"
I shouted, pulling the helpless half-elf away as she was dragged by her ear.
"An officer acting like this? Aren't you ashamed in front of everyone?"
But my point seemed to miss the mark.
"Not ashamed at all."
The sergeant retorted as if I was spouting nonsense.
"The innkeeper fussing over one half-elf looks more suspicious."
True enough... that was the typical attitude toward half-elves. That's why he acted without hesitation. To ordinary folk, it was unimaginable brutality. My scolding about shame had zero effect.
Still, I had no intention of letting that half-elf get dragged off by the guards. I couldn't tolerate a guest at my inn suffering like that.
Stepping between the guards and the half-elf, the sergeant tried to shove me aside angrily.
"Innkeeper, this is obstructing official duties!"
"Nonsense. I'm just fulfilling my duty as an innkeeper to protect my guests.*"
The sergeant looked puzzled, not grasping the term right away.
"Never heard of it? Innkeepers must actively ensure guest safety. She's staying at my inn, so as owner, I'm preventing her from getting unfairly entangled."
The sergeant smirked, scanning me up and down mockingly.
"And when that duty conflicts with the guard's legal authority, you haven't considered which takes precedence?"
"What's your so-called evidence? A few silver coins in a half-elf's pocket? You know better than anyone that isn't conclusive proof of crime."
"We'll get a confession."
His absurd words made my blood boil.
"If obtaining that confession is illegal, the confession itself holds no legal weight. How do you even wear that rank insignia without knowing basics?"
Of course, I didn't think the sergeant was truly ignorant. He was just acting that way because his suspect was a half-elf.
A half-elf with money? Must be stolen.
Prejudice was terrifying. It could override rational judgment.
Speechless, the sergeant placed his hand on his sword hilt.
Ah, perfect... this lunatic about to draw on a civilian?
The other soldiers eyed his twitching hand uneasily.
"What's this, 1st Platoon Leader?"
A low voice came from the road leading into town.
"C-Captain!"
The soldiers stiffened and saluted. Lambert returned the salute casually and walked over.
"Innkeeper, isn't it? Trouble with my platoon?"
Lambert glanced at me, the sergeant, and the half-elf cowering behind me.
He seemed genuinely puzzled by the situation.
"Your platoon leader tried to arrest a citizen on the street without warning."
Lambert's eyebrow twitched.
"Explain yourself, 1st Platoon Leader."
"Well..."
Cowed before Lambert, the sergeant stammered through the earlier events.
Silent as he listened, Lambert finally spoke.
"So you're saying this half-elf is the thief we've been after."
"Yes, sir."
"Evidence?"
"That'll come from... interrogation..."
Lambert stared silently. Meeting his gaze head-on, the sergeant clenched his jaw and swallowed hard.
"Let me guess. You think half-elves carrying money doesn't make sense."
"It's not that..."
"Recite the principle of presumption of innocence."
The sergeant sweated profusely, unable to speak. Terrified of his captain, his armor rattled as he trembled.
"1st Platoon Leader."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
"Return to barracks, full combat gear, and stand by."
The sergeant's face drained of color. Nearby soldiers averted their eyes in secondhand embarrassment.
"Didn't hear the captain?"
"No, sir!"
The sergeant spun and sprinted toward the barracks, soldiers chasing after.
Watching them go, Lambert turned to me and the half-elf.
"My platoon embarrassed themselves. As commander, I apologize on their behalf."
"Uh... sure."
"Sorry, half-elf. No need to fear now."
Casual as it was, Lambert spoke gently to her. I was surprised. Given his first impression, I'd expected him to outdo the sergeant in dragging her off.
"Don't hate the platoon leader too much. He's just ordinary. Likes what people like, hates what they hate."
He glanced briefly at the half-elf. Pitifully, she couldn't meet his eyes, trembling unsupported against me.
"No real reason to hate. Everyone hates them, so he does too."
"The guy who drew his sword in front of demons yelling about beheadings... right?"
"Ahem! Demons actually fought us! This isn't the same!"
Embarrassed by his past, Lambert snapped to cut me off.
Yet I sensed a hint of noble officer dignity in him. Maybe his initial inn visit attitude was just posturing because Della was there.
In other words... he loses his mind around pretty girls.
"Anyway... is the lady at the inn?"
Lambert craned his neck past me, peering toward the inn.
"She is. Were you coming to see Della?"
"Of course not. Patrolling a vulnerable area. Happened to come this way."
Since he mentioned patrol, I checked behind—no soldiers followed.
"Why alone? Last time you filled the yard with troops."
"They got too hot waiting last time, so solo today. Not guard-related anyway."
"So you're admitting this inn visit isn't official?"
"Ahem."
Lambert cleared his throat loudly and brushed past me into the inn.
"Isn't the platoon leader waiting in full gear at barracks?"
"Waiting is part of the punishment."
Watching his gleaming-armored back, I shed some preconceptions about Captain Lambert.
As he said, no need to curse the platoon leader. The sergeant assuming half-elves must be thieves, and me thinking Lambert was just an incompetent noble officer—we were no different.
"Ah, shall we head back to the inn?"
Asking the half-elf I'd forgotten, she nodded faintly.
Once inside alone, the half-elf's tension melted, making her stumble into a table for support.
"You okay?"
Rubbing her dizzy forehead, she suddenly straightened as if remembering something.
"Thank you... thank you... for saving me..."
She bowed repeatedly to me. So servile and wretched, it drew eyes from Idi and Pelle working the hall.
"No need for that. I didn't do anything special."
"No... you saved my life... Once the guards target a half-elf, we're as good as dead... No one helps... Thank you... How can I repay this grace..."
Pelle turned away coldly; Idi gazed sympathetically, projecting herself.
"I'll ensure no unfair trouble befalls you during your stay."
"Too much for a lowly thing like me... Staying here only causes trouble... Sorry... Forgive me..."
The more I spoke, the flatter she prostrated. Any longer, she'd kowtow and lick my shoes. I backed off.
"Ah, yeah... Rest easy then."
"Thank you... thank you..."
She donned her hood hastily, ascended the stairs with a courteous slight bow.
Her room door clicked shut upstairs; Idi muttered low.
"So pitiful... Must've been labeled thief just for being half-elf, no questions asked..."
"Our Idi, life's improved. Worrying for others now."
"All thanks to Bertrand..."
Patting her shoulder, I felt unusually soft fabric. Now noticing, Idi wore pricey silk shirt. Her gloomy vibe and long messy hair had hidden it.
"How much was this shirt?"
"Eh...? Why...?"
"Looks expensive."
"Well..."
The price nearly floored me.
"Aren't you saving money?! Planning to work under me forever?"
"Eh...? Not bad..."
Idi giggled, scratching her head. Wait, brushed? When did she comb it last?
Curious, I stroked her hair; she closed eyes, making odd noise.
"Hee hee..."
"Guard captain didn't come in?"
"Went out back looking for Della..."
"Where's Della?"
Idi pointed up.
"Saw him from window, hid on third floor... Said tell her when he's gone..."
"Mademoiselle? Where are you?"
Lambert's desperate voice echoed from the inn's rear. Pelle shook her head incomprehensibly.
Afternoon, I checked on lessees missed amid morning chaos. All settled early, business booming.
The bakery, though, had been robbed—cash register cleaned out. Grim-faced, the owner packed the best morning loaves.
Household bread was coarse, tough from unprocessed whole wheat. Bakery loaves differed: fine-milled flour from the mill, mixed ingredients, tearing to stretchy innards.
Funny thing—the mill was mine too.
Munching as I walked, the guard barracks appeared. Long, typical military building fronted by dirt drill yard, small outpost. Fenced like our inn lot with chain-link, armed sentries at gate.
"Oh? Hello."
Guards greeted warmly, recognizing me. Faces from months ago, Illian Sergeant's squad hunting Golruk remnants.
"Doing well? With main unit here, must be quieter now."
From squad handling all to company arrival—more leisure.
Planned inviting them for leave stays. But expressions dim.
"Eh... Busier, if anything."
"Because of new Captain Lambert?"
Soldiers exchanged glances, just smiling.
"He's so strict... Tough..."
"Really?"
"Scary as hell... Even chatting with you now? Caught, we'd get reamed."
They hunched; I scanned warily for lurking Lambert.
"Brought bread... Guess I'll head out."
"Yeah... Better not..."
I bid farewell, skirted the fence. Soon, thick commands rang out.
"Hup-two! Three-four! Left-right!"
Ahead, shirtless guard company trotted in formation. Lead Captain Lambert eye-nodded me.
Noble scion, but solid muscles.
"Sprint to sentry post! First come, first served!"
At his bellow, company roared, charging madly. Dust cloud engulfed me.
Waving through, one straggler staggered alone behind.