I Guess I Have a Talent for Acting!
I guess I do have a talent for acting! As I nodded along just right to Cecilia's words, a scream echoed from somewhere nearby.
Gotcha.
How didn't matter much. Ern must've handled it just fine on his own.
If even the protagonist can't catch a lowly demon worshipper pawn properly, wouldn't that be comedy gold in itself?
Anyway, the captured guy was a total stranger.
Looked like a first-year, probably.
He was on his knees on the ground, gasping for breath, with Ern pressing down on his shoulder.
Cecilia, arriving a bit late, watched quietly from a short distance away.
I looked at Ern and clapped my hands.
"Wow, you apprehended him faster than I expected?"
"Save the commentary. Let's wrap this up quick. Hey. You got something to say, right?"
Ern prodded the guy with the tip of his shoe.
"Y-you guys! What did I even do wrong to get jumped like this?! It was a mistake!"
Stung by that, the boy flared up.
"Cut the bullshit, Alberto. Your own solo act? Or carrying out the Spinea family's orders?"
Ern kept the pressure on, utterly unfazed.
"H-how do you... Tch, like I'm gonna tell you!"
With that, Alberto clamped his mouth shut.
"Who gave the orders?"
"…"
"Who do you meet, and where?"
"…"
"I'd rather not resort to rough methods. Won't you cooperate?"
Ern clenched his fist tight, faint aura flickering around his hand.
Yeah, Ern could pull off stuff like that. Just wrapping aura straight around his body.
I'd love to try it, but I can't even grasp how.
Alberto's face turned desperate in an instant at the sight, but he still wouldn't open his mouth.
The moment Ern raised his fist to strike—
"Hold on, Ern."
I cut in and ruined the moment.
Ern scowled at me, and Cecilia gave me a puzzled look.
Hm.
Timing's a bit off, maybe.
Still, I had something I wanted to try.
"This guy's the one who was targeting me, right?"
"Ilisha. I've said it a million times—this isn't a game."
"I know. I'm dead serious. He was spying on my every move. Don't I at least have the right to interrogate him myself?"
Whether Ern objected or not, I squatted down in front of the captive faster than he could argue.
The guy tried to glare at me through gritted teeth.
But our eyes met, and he flinched away.
"Hm. Hi there?"
No response, as expected.
"At this point, shouldn't you at least return the greeting? You were so desperate to watch me."
Ern stifled a sigh.
"Ilisha. No joking around—move."
"Not joking."
I kept smiling as I raised my hand.
And lightly pressed my index finger to Alberto's temple.
"What are you—"
Alberto twitched and finally broke his silence, but I cut him off.
"Shh."
Focus. Shut up.
I exhaled a thin, needle-like stream of ether from my fingertip, letting it flow into his body.
Hm. That should do it.
"By the way, Cecilia. How was my acting? Pretty great, right?"
Keeping up the flow, I called back to Cecilia.
Everyone stared at me like I'd lost my mind at the sudden question.
I just grinned and pressed on undeterred.
"Earlier, y'know? Pretending to be in pain, sad, annoyed. I thought I nailed it. Think I could join the drama club easy? Oh—should I have checked if there's even a drama club first?"
"What are you even talking about...? Now?!"
Ern furrowed his brow, clearly lost, demanding what nonsense this was.
I picked up right where he left off.
"It's important. This is talent too, y'know. I don't wanna waste any of it. Sword skills, acting chops, magic—everything. I wanna shine 'em all bright. No time to waste."
"I get where you're coming from, Ilisha. But... wasn't that a bit untimely?"
Yeah, fair. But I've got my reasons, Cecilia. Just wait a sec.
I swallowed those words.
Meanwhile, the ether kept steadily seeping into Alberto.
Reaction time any second now.
Right on cue, his breathing grew ragged, body starting to shiver lightly.
"What's wrong? Cold? Want my cloak?"
I beamed at him.
He tried to speak but clenched his jaw with a clack.
Gave up and gritted his teeth harder.
Won't make you any warmer, though.
Impressed by his grit, I ever so slightly ramped up the ether flow into his body.
Frost began to form at his temple.
"Body temperature, y'see."
I murmured at him casually.
"Drop it just a little, and it's lethal."
Finally, his eyes wavered.
About time you got it.
Why I'm babbling nonsense.
Why I'm doing this to you.
That I'm not some WWE ref calling a soft pin—I'm UFC for real, about to snap you.
If you don't catch on? Eh. Cecilia'll have extra work healing you.
Cecilia, grasping what I was up to, called my name.
"Ilisha."
"Yes?"
I turned to her with a smile.
"Don't worry. Just scaring him a bit."
Then back to him.
"Right?"
Now he was shaking visibly.
"Hm, too cold to hear me? Nah, you can hear fine. So why no reaction? Hey~ Alberto~?"
Ern was starting to get it too, frowning deeper.
"Ilisha, even so, that's…"
"Aw, it's fine. Cecilia's here. Right?"
Cecilia replied stiffly to that.
"Yes. I'll help. But that doesn't mean I'll condone what you're doing right now."
Gasp. Noted for the record, Cecilia.
Might come in handy.
At her words, I dropped the temperature at my fingertip even lower.
Now he looked like breathing was a struggle amid the shivers.
Any colder and he might actually die.
Time to squeeze.
"Gonna talk?"
His eyelids fluttered.
Fingers flailed in the air—sensation fading, maybe.
I looked down kindly and explained.
"Your limbs'll go numb soon."
"…"
"Head'll get foggy, hard to think straight."
"……"
"Stick around longer... who knows? Might forget how to talk~?"
That did it.
He sucked in a huge breath.
And spat it out almost like a scream.
"I-I'll talk!!! Everything!!!"
It was so raw, desperate—I'd never heard anything quite like it.
Oho.
Strong reaction. That's the spirit. Worth it.
"Alright, Ern? He's all yours from here. I suck at actual interrogation."
"Unbelievable…"
Ern shot me a look like he was done talking, then turned to Alberto—sobbing his eyes out.
Answers flowed smooth now; even watching felt refreshing.
"Contact via notes. Dropped at set spots, picked up from set spots?"
"Y-yes! Used to be the sewer... but s-suddenly... no warning... spots changed!"
"Remote alley, the kind you'd mark on a map. You go alone?"
"Th-there... are others! One near the library, one inside student council! I-I know they exist, but not who..."
"Good enough. Whole family blackmailed, huh? Take it up with the heresy inquisitors."
"Ah... a-and!"
Alberto, dazed, seemed desperate to save his house at least.
"I'll tell more! Just guarantee my safety!!! I'm innocent—I didn't even know my family was tangled with those things!!!"
Correction.
Desperate to save his own skin.
"Spill it."
Trembling with anxiety, he pushed on anyway.
"Overheard 'em talking. Y'know practical training in the Swordsmanship Hall? Demon worshippers gonna cause trouble then! Summon magic beasts... or something. Make a total mess anyway!"
Ern and Cecilia's vibes shifted at once.
Both looked at me, but with different shades of worry.
Both concerned, sure.
Cecilia fretting I'd get hurt; Ern just that I might get nabbed.
"I see. Targeting me again. That's all you know?"
"Yes! No clue how they'll do it!"
His face was on the verge of tears.
Seeing that, I almost laughed.
Usually I'd be the one crying here, right?
I'm the target.
Whatever. Thrilled doesn't cover it.
Trouble at Swordsmanship Hall practical training?
Sounds like a prime stage.
I grinned inwardly.
Nice.
Really.
This academy never got boring.
Ern killed my smile.
"…If that's the case, maybe we can change the schedule. Something indoor, like sparring."
"Yes. No need to walk into a trap knowingly. Hand him to the guards first, then plan."
Eh?
What?
Change the schedule?!
My dream of soloing a horde of magic beasts and collapsing heroically!!!
Wanted to protest, but my dumb brain couldn't find an angle.
It was straight logic.
Security-wise, changing plans made sense. Ignoring a declared sabotage would be nuts.
Still…
My sweet magic beast ambush event—poof.
Haa.
I sighed, and Cecilia came over for a light hug.
"…Not your fault, Ilisha. No need to blame yourself. The academy exists for the students."
Hm.
She's way off base.
Let her think that. Builds the image.
Ern neatly bound his limbs, hoisted him up, and beckoned us to move.
"Still, Ilisha—that was a bit much, trying to off him."
"Told you. Gotta join drama club."
"Pardon? What do you…"
"Acting. Acting."
I'm no psycho who enjoys killing.
I avoid killing when I can.
"Had to fool you all first to get honest answers from Alberto."
What I enjoy is holding their lifeline and toying with it playfully. Not snapping it.
That's no fun.
Dead's just over. Alive, they keep spilling emotions and reactions forever.