CH 135

Severed life

***---***

I woke up when the sun was about to set.

My head was still wobbly and my stomach was sick.

"Uhh ... I feel siiick ..."

[ Are you okay, Kent-sama? ]

"Goshujin-sama, are you okay?"

"Still, sleep with us."

"That's right, nya, sleep with Nero, nya."

Perhaps it's because everyone in my genus is connected to me by a magical link, but they seem to be feeling unwell.

The amount of magical power taken should have been considerably less than the time with Kizawa-san, but I didn't feel that my physical condition had changed much.

Perhaps the introduction of a new attribute had a major impact.

Even if I try to verify it, I feel heavy when I think that I will have to steal magic and attributes again.

I should be able to use earth-attribute magic now, but I don't have the energy to try it.

I was thinking of leaning on Nero and going back to sleep, when Fred came back to report.

[ Kent-sama ... The First Prince faction is moving ... ]

"As expected, the news didn't arrive in time ..."

After yesterday's meeting with Count Gleisner, Camilla should have written a letter and run a fast horse to the royal castle and the First Prince, but no matter how fast a horse is, there is a limit to its speed, and the letter would take some time before it arrived.

Currently, the First Prince Alphonse was staying in Lauf, the central city of the Drevis Duchy, which was a distance of seven days from Lastock by normal horse, and three or four days on a fast horse.

It seemed that Alphonse gathered the nobles of his faction and declared that he would head east with his entire army in the morning.

"The whole army doesn't mean leaving no preparations against Barshania, right?"

[ They're not ... It seems like they're going to pour in the whole army ... ]

"If they knew that information, would Barshania move?"

[ Possibility is ... 50/50 ... ]

Since long ago, rumors had been circulating that Barshania was coming to attack, so to speak, it's become the story of a boy who cried wolf.

Even if rumors circulated, it would be necessary to cross the desert to actually see what was going on in Barshania, and until now there would have been no curiosity about going there to find out if it was true or not.

This time, Barshania was conducting exercises in a city facing the desert.

The exercise may be an annual event, but it could also be taken as preparation for an invasion. It was really a difficult country to read.

"If we increase the number of Kobolds, can you keep an eye on whether the news will reach Barshania?"

[ Perhaps ... I wonder if we can catch some sort of sign ... ]

"Then, try setting up a little net."

[ Roger ... I'll let you know if there's any movement ... ]

I thought about letting Fred go back and thinking a little more about the First Prince's faction, but I can't still get my head to work.

For the time being, let's leave the video, the magic stones, and the horns at the Investigation Headquarters, report to the chairman, and return to the boarding house.

When I moved to the Investigation Headquarters, I felt that the tense atmosphere had softened, probably because I had just sent Kubo-san.

When I looked for Kajikawa-san, he seemed to be contacting someone on his cell phone, so I waited until the call ended before calling out to him.

"Kajikawa-san, is now a good time? Whoa ..."

"Oh, Kokubu-kun, of course it's okay. Could it be about the magic stones? Or rather, you don't seem to be okay, but ..."

"Yes, I took the attribute to bring Kubo-san back, so I'm a little sick."

"Is that so? It's best not to push yourself too hard. If you go down, we'll really be in trouble."

"Yes, I'll be careful. And there's also Princess Camilla Resenburg's apology and personal letter ..."

"Oh, can we see that soon?"

"Yes, it's fine."

When they heard that Camilla's apology video was going to be played, Sudou-san and the others gathered, so I decided to play it on the monitor in the Investigation Headquarters.

"Yeah, she's quite beautiful ... But, I still don't understand what she's saying. It's neither English nor French, and it sounds like it's pronounced differently from German or Portuguese."

"I thought so, and the content of the personal letter is the same as the comment in the video."

"But, the personal letter was written in the other language, too, right?"

"Yes, I had Oda-sensei translate it. This is it."

"Let's see ... Hmm ... I see ..."

When I handed Kajikawa-san the translation that had been translated by Oda-sensei, Kajikawa-san immediately began to read it.

I was asked by Sudou-san, who was staring intently at the screen.

"Kokubu-kun, this man's ears and tail are real, aren't they?"

"Yes, it's not like he's wearing a costume, and it's neither special makeup nor CG."

"I guess ... Sometimes they move and shake unsteadily. Are there other races or demi-humans? Are there beastmen?"

"Yes, cat-type, fox-type, bear-type, sheep-type ... There are many."

"Well ... It really seems like you're in a movie."

Once the playback ended, it went back to the beginning and played back, and all the investigators were scrutinizing the video as if to burn it into their retinas.

"Yeah, it's a valid comment. I think we'll have to modify the expressions and the like, but it'll be fine with this."(TN:He's talking about the translated letter here.)

"Then, I'm thinking of leaving the magic stones and horns ... Where should I put them?"

"Ah, can I have you put them here?"

I put a shield of darkness next to the designated place, took out 20 Minotaur horns and 200 Orc magic stones, and had Mart and the others carry them.

"Kokubu-kun, compared to the previous magic stones, these are quite bigger magic stones, but what kind of magic stones are they?"

"These are Orc magic stones. Last time it was a higher species of Goblin, so the physique was fundamentally different, and I think the magic stone is over five times large."

"Okay, then let's say 2.5 million Yen for each magic stone and 8 million Yen per horn."

In other words, 500 million Yen for the Orc magic stones and 160 million Yen for the Minotaur horns, totaling 660 million Yen in compensation.

The total amount of compensation is expected to be about 5 billion Yen, so more than 80% of it remains, but I feel like it can show some sincerity.

Well, the magic stones and horns were provided by me, but I'll collect the same amount from Camilla later.

"Then, Kajikawa-san, can I ask you for the rest?"

"Okay, it's helpful to have proceeded this far. Go home soon and take a rest ... Is it okay to say you're going home?"

"Right. For me, Volzard is already my hometown, so I'm going home."

"Ah, wait a minute, Kokubu-kun."

When I was about to return to Volzard, I was stopped by Sudou-san.

"Kubo-san will be sent home, just like Kizawa-san, and public security personnel will be on guard, so please rest assured."

"Yes, my best regards."

"Also, I have a pile of letters addressed to your classmates. I've been told that they're still waiting for a reply ..."

"Ah, I'm sorry, I was so busy that I forgot. I'll get it to them right away and wait for their reply."

"You don't have to be in such a hurry. As long as you don't forget, it doesn't matter if it's just a coincidence."

"Yes, I'll go home then."

I headed to the garrison's quarters to report that I had sent Kubo-san back to Volzard.

First of all, I went to the room to show my face to the chairman, but I couldn't see her.

Since that was the case, when I turned to the clinic, not only the chairman, but also the teachers were gathered.

It seemed that someone was lying on the examination table, and it looked like Senzaki-sensei was covering their face and their shoulders were shaking, but I wonder what happened.

"Yuika, I'm home."

"Ah, Kento ..."

While everyone's eyes turned to me, the chairman's eyes turned red as she approached me.

"Kento ... Sekiguchi-san ..."

"Eh, Sekiguchi-san, what's wrong? Eeeeeh!"

Oda-sensei shifted his body and what jumped into my line of sight was the white cloth draped over Sekiguchi-san's face.

"After that, she jumped off the ramparts ..."

"No way ..."

Sekiguchi-san, who was hysterical because I was unable to touch her wounds to take her attributes, rushed out of the garrison's grounds and ran up to the ramparts.

A member of the garrison rushed to help her outside the wall, but it seemed that she died instantly with a broken neck.

It seemed that the chairman tried casting healing magic, but it was ineffective and there was nothing she could do.

I once resuscitated a dying child in Lastock, but Sekiguchi-san probably lost her soul from her body.

At that time, I was able to revive the child because they had just taken their last breath, but in Sekiguchi-san's case, too much time had passed, and in my current physical condition, I had absolutely no confidence in being able to revive her.

"I ... It's my fault. Because I came up with such a method ..."

"It's not only Senzaki-sensei's responsibility. We also agreed, so we also have responsibility."

"But .. But, Sekiguchi-san, who was mentally unstable, shouldn't have tried it. We should have just verified it first."

Senzaki-sensei shook their head violently while being supported by Ayako-sensei.

"I ..."

"Stop!"

"Yuika ..."

"Stop, Kento, you're doing your best. Don't take on any more responsibility. It's our fault that we couldn't support Sekiguchi-san. It's not Kento's fault."

The teachers who were present also nodded greatly.

"I understand. But, since this happened, I have to report it to Japan, right?"

"Yes, you have to let them know ..."

"I! Kokubu-kun, please let me go to Japan."

Senzaki-sensei interrupted Oda-sensei's words and asked, but I couldn't help but shake my head.

"I'm sorry. I sent Kubo-san back, so I'm still not feeling well. I don't have the confidence to take your attributes right now."

"That ... Somehow ..."

"Senzaki-sensei, it will be troublesome if you force Kokubu to bear a greater burden than this and prevent others from returning. I understand how you feel, but please hold back."

"Yes ... I'm sorry."

It seemed that Senzaki-sensei gave up after being persuaded by Oda-sensei.

"Umm, Oda-sensei ..."

"What?"

"I think it's possible to transport Sekiguchi-san's body ..."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, it's impossible to bring a living person into the world of shadows, but for reasons I don't really understand, it's possible when they're dead."

"I see ... At least the corpse should be returned to Japan ..."

"For the time being, I'll go back to the Investigation Headquarters and discuss how to respond."

"Yes, can I ask that of you?"

"Yes, I'll go there ... Ah, I'll leave the letters in your custody. I'll come back here again, so is it okay if I bring everyone's letters with me?"

"Okay, I'll prepare them."

"Yuika, I'm sorry, but could you prepare something to eat?"

"Understood. But, Kento, are you okay?"

"Yeah, it's okay if I just move myself, then I'll go."

When I returned to the Investigation Headquarters, it seemed that they were still verifying the video.

They immediately turned back, and Sudou-san spoke to me in a strange, but good mood.

"Oh, Kokubu-kun, did you forget something?"

"Sudou-san, one of my classmates ... committed suicide."

"What did you say!"

The gazes of the people in the Investigation Headquarters focused on me, and the relaxed atmosphere suddenly became tense.

"Kokubu-kun, I don't mind if you know how it happened, so can you tell me?"

"Yes, the one who committed suicide was a female student named Sekiguchi-san, who was in a different class than me, so I don't know the details, but it seems she wasn't used to live over there."

I talked about Sekiguchi-san's nervous breakdown and what happened today.

"I see ... It feels like she had a nervous breakdown, and then a mental shock was added and she had a fit ..."

"So, about Sekiguchi-san's body, should I bring it here?"

"Can you bring her?"

"If they lose their life, I'm able to carry them into the shadow space, so I think I can bring her."

"Originally, in the case of suicide, I would like to verify the body before moving it ..."

"Since she fell outside the ramparts, they were worried about being attacked by monsters, and they thought that healing magic could bring her back to life, so they took her to the clinic."

"Then, is she currently enshrined in that clinic?"

"That's right."

"Okay, let's carry her over here. No, the inspection room would be better."

Sudou-san told me about the autopsy room I should take Sekiguchi-san's body to.

"If possible, I would like to interview the people involved ..."

"Umm, Sudou-san, it might be possible to take people from here, but ..."

I explained to Sudou-san the conditions for shadow movement, and I told him that if it was a Japanese person who didn't have magical power, they might be able to enter the world of shadows just by granting magical power.

"Hmm ... That means that if you kiss Kokubu-kun, you can go to another world."

"Yes ... Ah, but if it's just to give magical power, it might be okay to just touch a wound ..."

I also talked about the failure with Sekiguchi-san of touching the wound to take the magical power, I told him that it might be possible to just give it to those who didn't have any attributes.

"Director, let me do it myself."

"Morita, huh ... That's fine. Get ready."

Detective Morita, who had finished preparing the equipment necessary for the interviews and on-site inspections, would try to have magical powers for movement given to him.

If this went well, I would be able to take my classmate's families with me without kissing them.

In other words, it would be possible to invite the chairman's parents to Volzard.

"Then, Morita-san, let's get started."

"I'm counting on you, Kokubu-kun."

"Yes, if I fail, your finger will be torn to the point where you can see the bone ..."

"Hey, I didn't hear about that."

"Yes, I just said it ..."

"Eh, hey, wait a minute ... Nnnn ...?"

Putting Morita-san's worries aside, the enchantment was completed easily.

"Then, let's go. It's pitch black inside, so don't let go. If you get lost, you might not be able to get out."

"Hey, don't threaten me like that ..."

I grabbed the hand that wasn't injured and headed for the clinic in Volzard.

"I'm back."

"Eh, we already arrived?"

For Morita-san' it felt like walking to the next room.

Suddenly, someone other than me appeared, and the teachers were surprised.

"Oda-sensei, this is Detective Morita from Hikarigaoka Police Station. I asked him to come for an interview and an on-site inspection."

"I'm Morita from Hikarigaoka Police Station. Nice to meet you."

Morita-san, who presented his police ID card, exchanged greetings with the teachers, then put his hands together and turned the white cloth over Sekiguchi-san's face.

Sekiguchi-san seemed to have fallen from the back of her head on the right side, around her shoulder, and was covered with dirt.

Morita-san, just by gently touching it, the head moved, even an amateur could understand that the neck bone was completely broken.

"Kokubu-kun, how high is the ramparts?"

"It's about the veranda on the third or fourth floor ..."

"Who was with her when she fell?"

Senzaki-sensei and Ayako-sensei raised their hands at Morita-san's question.

"How did she fall?"

"The top of the ramparts is a passageway, so she stood on the wall that's like a handrail and then fell down headfirst ..."

Perhaps remembering that moment, Senzaki-sensei covered their face with their hands again.

Morita-san took out a digital camera and focused on shooting the right side of Sekiguchi-san's head.

"Kokubu-kun, the neck is wobbly, so it would be better if you had something like a stretcher to carry her."

"Ah, if it's a stretcher, over here ..."

The chairman brought me a stretcher that I believe was used to carry her here.

All the teachers helped put Sekiguchi-san on the stretcher on the examination table, but the white cloth back on her face, and put their hands together.

"Then, Kokubu-kun, can I ask it of you?"

"Understood. Morita-san can continue to interview."

"Yeah, I'll do that."

Sekiguchi-san's body could not be carried by myself, so I enlisted Reinhardt's help.

I lifted the stretcher and entered the shield of darkness while seeing everyone putting their hands together.

[ Are you okay, Kent-sama. ]

[ Yeah, I'm starting to feel better, so I'm okay. ]

[ Is that so ... ]

Perhaps what Reinhardt asked was not my physical condition but my state of mind.

The chairman said that there was no need to feel responsible, but that's just not possible.

I can freely come and go between Japan and Volzard, but Sekiguchi-san, who wanted to go home so badly, ended up taking her life in Volzard.

I'm not arrogant enough to think I can do whatever I want.

However, if I had tried a little harder, I could have granted Sekiguchi-san's wish, but when I thought that I might have been able to return her to her family with a smile, I naturally burst into tears.

It's frustrating, pathetic, and inexcusable ... I couldn't stop crying.

In addition to Sudou-san, there were about three men waiting in the examination room.

The men other than Sudou-san were surprised by Reinhardt's appearance and stepped back, but Sudou-san urged them to move Sekiguchi-san from the stretcher to the examination table.

"Thank you, Kokubu-kun."

"Yes, my best regards."

I bowed my head to the men who would be in charge of the autopsy, once again faced Sekiguchi-san and put my hands together before returning to Volzard with Reinhardt.