Chapter 21

Chapter 21 \nVol 3: Chapter 21\n

* Lev Magic Empire Emperor *

The Emperor was meeting Anastasia, a gift from the High Elf royal family, after a long while. Moreover, it was the first time Anastasia had ever requested for a meeting.

They were in the Emperor’s private room. The advanced age Emperor had a hobby of collecting foreign art. The walls of the large room were decorated with paintings that can’t be hung and the shelves were lined with ceramic art.

These works of art were said to be the “most unnecessary things” in the tech and sorcery land of the Lev Magic Empire.

「I expected that it would be regarding Lulusha, but I didn’t imagine you would bring something like this.」

The standard shoulder bag which is provided to the Labyrinth Capture Division personnel sat on a table. The belt part was melted, but the contents were safe. Anastasia had brought this bag directly to the Emperor.

『This will release Lulusha, right?』

The Emperor placed a finger on the presented memo paper – the fingernail on the wrinkled finger was cracked.

「I thought you didn’t have any desires. That you would see firsthand the rise and fall of this Magic Empire with your long, long lifespan as a High Elf. But… even you have desires, huh.」

「…………」

「Are you dissatisfied? With your life as a silent exhibition in this place?」

She couldn’t read the Emperor’s thoughts as he spoke indifferently. Instead of answering the question, Anastasia wrote:

『This was written by the boy who entrusted this bag.』

She presented another note—it was a message Reiji wrote to Anastasia.

『If this is not enough, I will look for another evidence. Please let me know the result.』

Even if this bag is said to be “lacking” as proof, that boy will not give up – that was the meaning.

Even Anastasia, who has the power to meet the Emperor in person, thought that she might not be able to help Lulusha.

Perhaps you could call this “desire”.\n

The boy’s action was treated like a work of art—not any less than the paintings in this room—he had lit a fire in Anastasia’s cold, lonely heart.

Even if the fire was as tiny as the tip of a needle.

The fire can still be seen in the darkness.

「……Who is he?」

The Emperor asked, wary of Anastasia, whose aura had changed.

『An acquaintance of a blood relative of Lulusha. I don’t know anymore than that. I’m sorry.』

「Huh. I don’t expect someone like you who can’t speak to bring back important information.」

The Emperor stood up while talking and went around behind Anastasia. He removed the scarf wrapped around her neck and a bandage with a curse seal was revealed.

「You are a bird in a birdcage. But you are a poor bird that can’t even chirp.」

When the Emperor’s finger crept over the curse seal, the seal emitted a bluish-white light.

Anastasia shut her eyes and clasped her hands together tightly on her lap.

「Why do you desire to release Lulusha? You can’t do anything in the Elven Forest, but you thought you could do it in the lizard country?」

「…………」

「The lizards won’t be fooled that easily, you know?」

The Emperor took away his hand and returned to his chair.

「Let the bag be examined by Abba of the Foreign Affairs Bureau… Thoroughly.」

「!」

「Lulusha will not be killed in the meantime. But even if she gets out of prison, there is no place for her to return to. There is no longer anyone who would put her in charge of the dysfunctional Capture Division 4.」\nThe Emperor’s finger pointed to a piece of paper.

「…Unless there is someone Lulusha can trust to completely capture the “Labyrinth of Fear” and offer that honour without compensation, then that’s a different story.」

He was pointing to the piece of paper written by Reiji.

* Lulusha *

Lulusha had a visitor for her in prison. She was certain that it was Anastasia, but she was off the mark.

The chair in the visitor’s room was standard size, but when he was seated on it, it looked like it was made for children—the visitor was Abba.

Lulusha was taken aback and stopped at the entrance. Abba pulled out the syrup stick from his mouth and said.

「Chupa. You, you. Jailer-kun. Leave us.」

「However, Abba-dono. The detainee could go wild, so…」

「I’m a foreign affairs expert, you know? I am not someone who would provoke a detainee till they would go wild.」

「But this is my duty」

「I’m here on duty too, though? Or what? Does it look like I’m here to play games? Chupa.」

Lulusha stopped herself from saying “Is licking syrup part of your duty, too?”, and perhaps the jailer felt the same way. The jailer reluctantly nodded and left the room. Lulusha knew that he wasn’t always faithful to his duty, but she was a little surprised to find that there was a way to get rid of him other than gold coins.

As Lulusha sat down, Abba started to speak.

「You have two liability issues. One, the massive failure to capture the labyrinth and losing a great number of talented personnels. Two, the lack of communication brought about the distrust of the government and you ended up with the charge of stealing a military force in order to set up a possible coup d’etat.」

「Wait a minute. The first is my responsibility, I can admit to that, but the second is…」

「You said you sent regular contacts. Chupa.」

Abba said, while topping-up the next syrup on his stick.

\n.

She meant, “At least realize that the jailer is asking for a bribe.”

When Lulusha was taken by the jailer and left, Abba was left alone in the room.

Abba muttered absentmindedly.

「…So I’m not cut off for this job after all, huh? I can’t even convince a woman from another race to look my way, like former Director Karl. Chupa.」

While sucking on the syrup stick, Abba stared at the chair where the woman from another race had been sitting.