21
Chapter 21
Chloe never forgot a grudge.
She had simply been too lazy to bother until now.
Strangely, the usual laziness and lethargy had vanished, replaced by a clumsy anger.
"…I will deal with those with loose tongues first and follow immediately after."
The soldiers who had spoken carelessly about Chloe and Coco wore terrified expressions.
Duke Ardos muttered as he walked away.
"Do as you please. It's almost better to see you acting out."
* * *
The interrogation room in Duke Ardos's residence.
A small number of people were seated in a space decorated like a small courtroom.
Leia Amond, the young lady of the barony, who first witnessed the death of the Spirit Creature. Ruth and Chloe, who were in the Bastille Annex. And Theresia, who was in charge of supervising the annex.
Even the recorder, who was documenting the interrogation, held a quill.
Duke Ardos looked around the interrogation room and then stared at Coco.
He had wanted to point it out for a while now.
"…What is that blanket?"
Coco was wrapped tightly in a pink cotton blanket.
Despite having soot on both cheeks.
"It's warm, soft, and fluffy!"
"…"
That wasn't what he meant.
'There seems to be nothing more to say.'
Just an ordinary child.
He averted his gaze from Coco's innocent eyes and looked at the veterinarian.
"Is Tiger dead?"
The veterinarians, who had been checking Tiger's pulse, answered in unison.
"Yes, he is undoubtedly dead."
"He is no longer breathing, Your Excellency."
He pointed to the lifeless Tiger Spirit Beast on the floor of the interrogation room.
"Now, look at this. This is the Tiger you killed."
"He's not dead…"
Her pouting lips made her look like a childish brat.
Ignoring the child, he stared at Leia.
"What do you have to say as a witness?"
"Tiger is definitely dead. I swear on my 'Communion' Special Ability."
Leia paused for a beat and whispered as if making a grand accusation.
"Your Excellency, that child even confessed to killing the Tiger Spirit Beast. Moreover, there is evidence."
The Recording Orb in her hand clicked, making a noise.
"How amusing. You were the last one to touch Tiger?"
"That's true, but…"
"We should consider that the criminal has confessed to her crime."
She wiped her palms on her dress as if nervous.
"Ah, and. I am sorry to report this, but there is also evidence that she killed the Spirit Creature with the help of Chloe."
The recorder's quill moved quickly.
"Yes! Chloe helped me!"
"Hmph… Very well, I will report that Lady Chloe helped you."
Duke Ardos said with a displeased expression.
"Rumors have already spread within the family."
"I apologize, it seems those with loose tongues have been spreading the word."
"Then, you will also keep your mouth shut from now on."
"I, I apologize."
Leia immediately backed down at the cold gaze.
Yes, that was the normal attitude.
"Duke, it's not true that Tiger is dead! Tiger is still alive!"
…That little girl, who stared back at him so clearly even after committing a crime, was definitely not normal.
"You certainly say everything you want to say."
"Yes! I never hold back!"
Perhaps she wasn't just an ordinary child.
He stared at Coco with a hint of interest.
"The Spirit Creature is not breathing, but you have evidence that he is alive?"
"The Spirit Creature told me. He said that eating the <Thorn of the Blue Rose> would heal him."
"You are saying you Communed with the Spirit Creature?"
"Yes!"
"We need to examine it in detail… She may have an animal affinity Special Ability."
Even so, it wasn't anything great.
'It would be praised as amazing among non-ability users.'
But animal affinity abilities were difficult to manifest and had troublesome conditions.
There were many cases of misinterpreting animal signals.
Unless one could communicate directly with Spirit Creatures or animals through conversation.
If that child was truly a blessed baby, she wouldn't have such a trivial ability.
He looked at the little girl, who stood proudly with her shoulders squared, and asked.
"Then, let's test your Special Ability first."
"Okay! I like that!"
"You will not be able to lie to me."
Duke Ardos's Special Ability was 'Detection'.
A powerful ability to distinguish between truth and falsehood and to discern the strength of others.
A translucent blade appeared from his fingertips and struck Coco's chest.
Coco proudly straightened her back.
"If you truly have an ability, the light flowing from this blade will envelop your body, and if not, it will disappear without a trace of light."
Shadows fell around them, and a magic circle was drawn beneath their feet.
Everyone watched Coco with bated breath.
Ruth closed her eyes tightly and even prayed.
"Please, please…!"
…The way she muttered, so troublesome and noisy, was just like dealing with his youngest sibling.
And what about Chloe?
Her eyes held a hint of expectation, though she tried to hide it.
The magic circle slowly moved, enveloping Coco's entire body…
"Gasp."
…Before being swallowed into the floor.
Lady Leia snorted with laughter.
"A typical display of a non-ability user."
Theresia laughed softly, mockingly.
"…Ah, well, that's how children are. They often tell lies."
"Quiet."
"Brother Ruth, really… To be fooled by a child's lies, that's not like you, brother."
The situation was settled with Coco having lied.
But Duke Ardos's piercing gaze was still fixed on Coco.
If she had 'affinity' as she said, light should have spread throughout her body.
But.
Just before the magic circle disappeared, a vivid rainbow-colored streak of light surrounded Coco.
No one saw it except for him, who had used the <Status Check> Special Ability to check the other person's status.
'That child, I was sure she was just an ordinary child?'
He had never seen a rainbow-colored streak of light while using the <Detection> ability.
Coco proudly stuck out her stomach and declared.
"If it turns out that I have no ability, then that means the Detection ability is wrong!"
"How dare you speak to my father like that!"
Coco did not yield to Theresia's command.
"I am a super ability user!"
Duke Ardos asked Coco with interest.
"…You dare to say in front of me that my Special Ability is wrong?"
"Yes! I'm just saying it's wrong because it's wrong, is that wrong?"
…Surprisingly logical.
"Hmm… What will you do if the Spirit Creature does not wake up?"
"The Spirit Creature will wake up."
The child smiled brightly, her eyes sparkling.
Her round, ivory cheeks were flushed.
What a remarkable boldness.
'I'm curious about what that streak of light is.'
Even most adults couldn't look him directly in the eye.
'But even con artists have boldness.'
Duke Ardos, who had unconsciously let out an exclamation, closed his mouth.
It was too early to be impressed.
He looked down at the lifeless Tiger and said.
"Then, when do you think this Tiger will wake up?"
"What time is it now?"
It was an irrelevant question.
But he answered lightly to the innocent, puppy-like eyes that looked straight at him.
"It's almost dinner time."
Coco's sparkling gaze was fixed on Tiger.
"Then, it seems like it's almost time for him to wake up!"
Her voice was very clear and confident.
At that moment, Theresia, who had been silent, spoke up.
"Do we have to wait any longer? A precious Black Tiger Spirit Beast is dead. There is no reason to listen to the useless stories of a child who faked her Special Ability and killed the Tiger without giving him a chance."
"I heard she wasn't even a blessed baby."
Leia also chimed in, and the situation was deteriorating.
Ruth nudged Chloe's side, but she didn't move.
She simply continued to stare at Tiger with an indifferent expression.
Time ticked by.
Just as Duke Ardos's lips were hardening as if he couldn't wait any longer.
"Um…"
One of the veterinarians, who had been as quiet as a mouse, cautiously opened his mouth.
"Y, Your Excellency…"