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IBP 21
Originally, Chloe does not forget a grudge.
It was just that, until now, she had endured it because it was too bothersome.
Strangely, in the place where her usual laziness and lethargy had vanished, a clumsy sort of anger remained.
“...I will dispose of those with cheap mouths first, and then follow immediately.”
The soldiers who had spoken recklessly about Chloe and Coco wore terrified expressions.
Duke Ardos muttered as he walked away.
“Do as you wish. It is actually more pleasant to watch you act out.”
* * *
The interrogation room of the Duke Ardos estate.
A few people were seated in a space decorated like a small courtroom.
Lady Rhea Almond, the daughter of a Viscount and the first witness to the spirit beast's death. Ruth and Chloe, who had been in the Bastille annex. And Theresia, who was in charge of supervising the annex.
The scribe recording the interrogation also held a quill pen.
After scanning the interrogation room, Duke Ardos looked at Coco.
He had wanted to point this out for a while now.
“...What is with that blanket?”
Coco was wrapped tightly in a pink quilted blanket.
Despite the fact that her cheeks were smudged with soot.
“It’s warm, and soft, and a cozy blanket!”
“....”
That’s not what I was talking about.
‘There is no need to say more.’
She is just an ordinary child.
Averting his gaze from Coco’s innocent eyes, he looked at the veterinarian.
“Is the tiger dead?”
The veterinarians, who had been checking the tiger's pulse, answered in unison.
“Yes, it is dead beyond any doubt.”
“Its breathing has stopped, Your Grace.”
He pointed to the breathless spirit beast tiger on the floor of the interrogation room.
“Now, look at this. This is the tiger you killed.”
“It didn’t die, though....”
With her lips pouting, she looked every bit the childish brat.
Ignoring the child, he stared at Rhea.
“As a witness, do you have anything to say?”
“The tiger is certainly dead. I say this upon my ‘Communion’ supernatural ability.”
Rhea paused for a beat and whispered, as if making a grand accusation.
“Your Grace, that child even confessed to killing the spirit beast tiger. Furthermore, there is evidence.”
The recording device in her hand made a clicking sound.
“Ridiculous. Were you the last one to touch the tiger?”
“That is true, but....”
“The sinner has confessed to their crime; that is how it should be viewed.”
As if nervous, she wiped her palms on the hem of her dress.
“Ah, and. I humbly report that there is also evidence that she killed the spirit beast with the help of Lady Chloe.”
The scribe's quill moved rapidly.
“Yes! Lady Chloe helped me!”
“Hmm.... I see. Lady Chloe helped you; I shall report it as such,” Duke Ardos said with a displeased expression.
“Rumors have already spread within the household.”
“I apologize, but it seems those with loose lips have carried the word.”
“Then, you shall shut your mouth now as well.”
“I-I apologize.”
Rhea immediately cowed under a single cold glare.
Yes, that attitude was the normal one.
“Duke, it’s not true that the tiger is dead! The tiger is still alive!”
...This little girl, who stared back at him 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 isn't just an ordinary child after all.
He gazed at Coco with a look of faint interest.
“They say the spirit beast is not breathing; do you have evidence that it is alive?”
“The spirit beast told me. It said its body would heal if it ate <Blue Rose Thorns>.”
“Are you saying you communed with the spirit beast?”
“Yes!”
“I will have to examine the details, but... she might possess an animal-affinity supernatural ability.”
Even so, it wasn't anything particularly impressive.
‘It would be praised as great among non-ability users.’
However, animal-affinity abilities were difficult to manifest and the conditions were tedious.
There were many cases where animal signals were misinterpreted.
Unless one could communicate directly through conversation with a spirit beast or animal.
If that child were truly a blessed child, she wouldn't possess such a trivial ability.
Staring at the child who stood proudly with her shoulders back, he asked.
“Then, let us test your supernatural ability first.”
“Okay! I’d love to!”
“You will not be able to lie to me.”
Duke Ardos's supernatural ability was ‘Detection.’
It was a formidable power that could distinguish truth from lies and discern an opponent's strength.
A translucent blade appeared from his fingertips and struck directly toward Coco's chest.
Coco proudly straightened her back.
“If you truly have an ability, the light flowing from this blade will envelop your body; if not, it will vanish without a single speck of light.”
Shadows fell around them, and a magic circle was drawn beneath her feet.
Everyone watched Coco with tension.
Ruth was even praying with his eyes tightly shut.
“Please, please...!”
...The way he muttered noisily and fussily was exactly how one treats a real youngest sibling.
And what about Chloe?
Her eyes held an expectation she was pretending not to have.
The magic circle slowly moved, enveloping Coco's entire body, and then...
“Gasp.”
It was suddenly sucked down into the floor.
Lady Rhea let out a short, mocking laugh.
“The typical appearance of a non-ability user.”
Theresia laughed softly in derision.
“...Ah, children are usually like that. They often tell lies.”
“Shut up.”
“Brother Ruth, really... to be deceived by a child's lie, that is unlike you.”
The situation concluded with the assumption that Coco had lied.
However, Duke Ardos's piercing gaze remained fixed on Coco.
If she possessed ‘affinity’ as she claimed, light should have spread across her entire body.
But.
Just before the magic circle vanished, what enveloped Coco was a vivid, rainbow-colored streak of light.
No one but him, having cast the <Status Check> supernatural ability to verify the opponent's state, would have seen it.
‘That child, she was supposed to be an ordinary child?’
In all his time using the <Detection> ability, he had never seen a rainbow-colored streak of light.
Coco declared, pushing her stomach out proudly.
“If it came out that I’m powerless, then the detection ability is wrong!”
“How dare you speak to Father that way!”
Despite Theresia's shout, Coco did not yield.
“I am a huge ability user!”
Duke Ardos asked Coco with interest.
“...Do you dare say my supernatural ability is wrong in front of me?”
“Yes! It’s wrong, so I’m saying it’s wrong. Is that wrong?”
...Surprisingly logical.
“Hmm.... If the spirit beast does not wake up, what will you do?”
“There is no way the spirit beast won't wake up.”
The child smiled, her eyes curving confidently.
A flush rose on her round, ivory cheeks.
Wasn't this a truly remarkable level of boldness?
‘I am also curious about what that streak of light was.’
Most adults could not even look him straight in the eye.
‘But even swindlers can have boldness.’
Duke Ardos, who had unconsciously let out an exclamation, closed his lips.
It was too early for admiration.
Looking down at the breathless tiger, he spoke.
“Then, when do you think this tiger will wake up?”
“What time is it now?”
It was an abrupt question.
However, looking into those innocent, puppy-like eyes that stared straight at him, he answered lightly.
“It is almost dinner time.”
Coco's sparkling gaze was directed entirely toward the tiger.
“Then, I think it's about time for it to wake up!”
Her voice was very clear and certain.
Then, Theresia, who had been silent, spoke up.
“Must we wait longer? A precious black tiger spirit creature has died. There is no reason to listen to the useless ramblings of a child who faked an ability and killed a tiger before anyone could help.”
“I heard she isn't even a blessed child.”
As Rhea added her comment, the situation continued to deteriorate.
Ruth nudged Chloe's side, but she didn't budge.
She simply continued to stare at the tiger with an indifferent expression.
Time ticked away.
Just as Duke Ardos's expression hardened, as if he could no longer wait.
“Um...”
One of the veterinarians, who had been as silent as a dead mouse, cautiously spoke up.
“Y-Your Grace....”
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