Chapter 215

PHA – Chapter 215 – The Mouth Lies, But the Body is Honest

Lalu’s supper plans eventually fell through because Luna only returned the next morning. As a former intelligence agent and the present Hero’s maid, Luna wielded significant authority in the Gryffin Kingdom’s government system. Hence, aside from national secrets, she could help Alice access almost any information in the Gryffin Kingdom’s intelligence department’s archieves.

Of course, even if Alice wanted to learn about a national secret, she could simply learn it directly through Hatter. However, Alice wasn’t interested in the internal affairs of the various human kingdoms. It was both troublesome and unnecessary for her to meddle in these matters. Even though the various human countries would often butt heads due to national interests, they maintained a relatively peaceful relationship with each other in general. It had already been a long time since any human kingdom had taken military action against another kingdom.

The information Alice had tasked Luna to gather for her this time was naturally related to the beastkin totems’ effects. Compared to learning about them through word of mouth, it was much more reliable to learn this information through the intelligence collected by the kingdom’s intelligence department.

Learning more accurate and specific information about the beastkins’ totems would also prevent any mistakes when she used them. The beastkins’ chief totems would permanently lose some of their accumulated energy when used. So, Alice preferred to avoid wasting this energy as much as possible.

In addition to the beastkins’ totems, Luna also helped Alice bring back a few taboo books. Among them included the book for Dragon’s Shadow, which Alice had been drooling over for a long time, and a few other combat-type taboos. Most of the taboos the intelligence department kept in its collection were special taboos. For example, there was a taboo called Eye of Bansso that granted the user super-wide surveillance and perception abilities.

Although most people couldn’t learn these taboos, the intelligence department’s staff members had used the principles of these taboos to develop simple spells that would be useful for information gathering. Of course, some taboos were also kept for various other reasons. One example would be Dragon’s Shadow, but Alice honestly couldn’t figure out why the intelligence department’s staff had decided to keep such a taboo.

Alice had two elective classes to attend today, and both were during the morning session. So, after finishing breakfast, Alice briefly looked through the six taboo books Luna brought back for her, she stuffed the books into her bag and prepared to set off for the teaching block.

Zauna had one more elective class to attend than Alice in the morning. So, she had left the dorm earlier than Alice, leaving only Alice and Luna…as well as Andusia, in the room.

“Well, what do you plan on doing, Andusia?”

Alice still didn’t know whether Andusia had decided to let go of her hatred after last night. Andusia’s hatred for humanity was the real deal. So, even though humans had already phased out slavery from their society, there was no saying whether Andusia would continue hating modern humans.

If Andusia refused to mend her ways, Alice would have no choice but to take a more hard-handed approach. Even if Andusia had valid reasons for hating humans, it was an undeniable fact that she had brought a cruel war onto this world. This sin was more than enough for Alice to kill her without remorse.

Andusia did not answer. She simply looked at Alice coldly through the bookcase’s glass panel. However, she was no longer bickering with Alice like she did yesterday. This showed that she had more or less changed her opinion of this era’s humans.

“Refusing to speak? So be it. But I still have class to attend today, so you’ll have to come with me,” Alice said, shrugging. Andusia’s attitude showed that there was still room for negotiations at the very least. There also wasn’t any more need to force Andusia to continue watching Magical Girl Hikari—even though Alice felt that it was a relatively enjoyable show. “Also, don’t think I didn’t notice you trying to escape while we were asleep.”

Andusia stiffened a little when she heard Alice’s words. Then, finally willing to open her mouth, she said in an indescribably embarrassed tone, “How did you find out? I was certain I was very careful last night.”

Andusia currently had a very small body, so the noise she made was naturally very small. There was also a nearly-enclosed bookcase separating them. So, logically, Alice and Luna shouldn’t have noticed her attempt to escape.

Unfortunately, Andusia had her mana sealed inside Alice’s Forest Crystal. So, the physical strength she had access to was similar to her body size—pitifully small. She was so weak that she couldn’t even open the bookcase door. So, after trying and failing throughout the night, she eventually gave up, sat down, and continued playing her role as a figurine.

“Hmph.”

Alice narrowed her eyes and pointed at the surveillance camera across the bookcase. After waking up this morning, she checked the surveillance footage and saw how Andusia had tried to and failed to escape from the bookcase.

When Alice had first arrived in this world, she had suffered miserably at the hands of this abominable piece of technology. So, after seeing that someone else was suffering a similar fate, she couldn’t help but feel delighted.

After opening the glass door, Alice grabbed Andusia out of the bookcase and stuffed her into her school bag[1]. Then, looking at Andusia sticking half of her body out of the bag in dissatisfaction, Alice smiled and said, “Watching Magical Girl Hikari won’t be enough to let you experience what modern human society is like, so I’ll take you outside to look around.”

“You… I told you to stop mentioning that animation,” Andusia grumbled, her complexion turning pale at the mere mention of Magical Girl Hikari. However, she quickly shifted her attention to Luna, a somewhat serious expression appearing as she said to Alice, “But this maid who’s following you… Are you sure you know her identity?”

“Of course. She’s a former host to the Demon King’s Power, just like you,” Alice said, grinning. She knew that Andusia must have sensed the familiar mana flowing inside Luna. “However, the Demon King’s Power left her body before she could absorb it fully, which is why I am asking you for more information on the Demon King’s Power.”

“Hmph. How are you so sure I’ll answer your question?” Andusia said rebelliously.

Although her attitude had softened significantly, her mouth remained unforgiving. “Just you wait. Once I recover my strength, I’ll be sure to return the humiliation you’ve made me suffer in full.”

“Are you going to force me to watch anime?” Alice chuckled as she walked out of the dorm with Andusia sticking out of her school bag and Luna by her side.

What Alice needed to consider next was the dogkins’ problem and whether Elodie could help her with this problem. Although Elodie had said that she could help her with most matters relating to the beastkins, getting the dogkins to let outsiders use their chief totem was a tall order. So, Alice wasn’t sure if Elodie could really help her with this matter.

…

Search h0sted n0vel for the original.

TL Notes:

[1]school bag: I couldn’t find a better term, but this is referring to the school bag you see used by high schoolers in Japanese anime.

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