Interrogation
Ludio Lambert entered the room in the basement of the military headquarters.
The cramped interior was illuminated only by the light source of unreliable candlesticks. He was in a stone-built room with only a simple table and chairs.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Lieutenant Meldia.”
“……”
Sitting on the chair with her head bowed was a female elf wearing glasses.
Although her posture was very decent, she didn’t seem to be worthy of special attention from the elf’s point of view.
Her fighting ability as a soldier was only average, so she wasn’t someone that Ludio would be particularly interested in.
“Well then, let’s get started quickly …… Can you tell me about the matter of Lieutenant Miriam Stacy’s disappearance?”
“…… Yes.”
A very haggard looking Lattice spoke in stammering tones about what had happened to her friend and family and herself who had disappeared late at night a few days ago.
“You mean late at night when you two were walking down the street, something suddenly happened?”
Lattice nodded wordlessly. Crossing her arms on the table and clenching them tightly.
“Second Lieutenant Stacy attacked you after muttering something of unknown significance. Then when you woke up unconscious, you were already transported to the military headquarters, right?”
“Yes, …….”
“Words of unknown meaning. Do you remember the exact words? If it’s in your memory, just say so.”
Lattice muttered after gazing at Ludio with hollow pupils.
“Not enough drops.”
“Drops? Do you have any idea what that word means?”
“The thing that calls wings….”
In her absent-minded state, Lattice simply had eyes as oceanic as her soul. She and Lieutenant Miriam Stacy seemed to be irreplaceable family and friends. Perhaps it was no wonder.
“Drop is the thing that calls for wings, isn’t it. I see. What about the others?”
“……”
“Don’t remember anything. So, do you have any idea where Lieutenant Miriam Stacy went?
“……”
Lattice was found the day after she lost consciousness and woke up that day.
However, she couldn’t answer any of the questions she was asked, so it took her some time to listen to what was going on.
Is it still difficult for her to tell everything? Or do she really know nothing anymore.
“Well, that’s fine. That’s it for today.”
“……”
Ludio snapped his fingers with a nonchalant gesture.
It was simple jutsu destruction.
For the sake of caution, he suspected a hypnotic or brainwashing jutsu had been applied to her, but she showed no reaction whatsoever.
“Then, you will report to the High Magic Court immediately after this. Although it is a report, it is only because there is a possibility of leaving the sequelae of the attack by Lieutenant Stacy, so go for a detailed inspection.”
“…… Yes.”
“There are many famous magicians there. Even if someone tries to attack you, they have the power to keep you away from them. Don’t worry.”
“…… Yes.”
“That is all. There will be others to take over, so follow the instructions.”
As soon as he said that, Ludio left the room, and the two two replacement military men forced her to stand up.
The two men seemed to be sergeants, judging from their military rank.
“Hurry up!”
“……”
“Don’t get us in trouble, damn it.”
The men semi-hardly dragged Lattice out of the room and started up the stairs.
“Really, why do I have to do this? I’m not an elf nanny.”
“Well, it can’t be helped. The Lieutenant General is incompetent. He’s called a hero because he was active in the war with Zenan, but in reality, he’s not good at anything other than fighting.”
“I can’t f*cking stand the idea of investigating people around from sl*ve traders to noblemen’s mansions, all for nothing.”
“I can’t believe that a half-elf like him is the commander-in-chief. It would be nice if he could just disappear as well along with those missing elves.”
“That’s right.”
Despite the presence of Lattice, the soldiers continued to discriminate against the elves by their words and actions.
It has been 100 years since the alliance was formed. The elves were given knighthoods, or were appointed as generals in the military, which could be said to be an improvement in the treatment of elves in the Empire.
However, there were many people who were unhappy about it. It’s the same even in the Imperial Army, which is completely meritocracy-oriented.
“But where did the f*cking elves disappear to? It’s really that one, isn’t it? They’ve become sl*ves.”
“But I think it’s too big. It’s possible that the nobles around the capital will take them as a concubine.”
“Hey, that’s nice. A sl*ve of elf. Hey you, is your name Lattice or something? It’s funny how they only take one of you and you have no use for it. How about it? Don’t you want to be my sl*ve? Huh? I’ll make you feel good.”
“……”
“Enough. It’s a felony to have an elf sl*ve. Yet human sl*ves are easily bought and sold with impunity.”
“Nah, that’s exactly it. It’s an irony. Hey, keep move on!”
Lattice continued to walk in silence, faltering in her steps.
