Dark Fantasy’s Extra Chapter 95

At first, I didn’t take this situation too seriously.

After all, the claim about an intelligent Beast was a lie, and there was no evidence or proof that could be fabricated.

The only concerning point was that Maia was a sorcerer, but even she wouldn’t say things about wanting to become a witch in front of hunters.

“This has become quite complicated.”

The interrogator from the Heresy Inquisition Department at the Offenbach branch of the Hunting Order said to me.

“So be honest. You must know yourself that there are too many suspicious points in your activities.”

When I crossed the border using the Marquis’s entry permit of all things, the Order in Offenbach had already tracked my arrival.

Since the Marquis himself had handled it, they were prepared to receive me, but the problem was that I had disappeared as if missing halfway through.

And then suddenly there was a report that I had contact with an intelligent Beast at Spider Castle, which, though long ago, was a place connected to a behemoth.

Moreover, additional investigation revealed traces of powerful curses and evidence that people had been kidnapped and used as sacrifices in blasphemous rituals in large numbers, which thoroughly complicated matters.

“As I’ve already told you, I simply went to look for a missing old comrade. More precisely, I went to ask that sorcerer for help.”

I answered as honestly as I could within my limits.

Even without mentioning knowledge from my past life, most of my activities could be explained just by the fact that I personally had connections with a capable sorcerer.

It was the truth, after all.

“So you’re saying it’s all coincidence? You happened to meet a sorcerer, got a promise of cooperation and sent her to that ominous castle, then when your old comrade was kidnapped, you went personally to meet the sorcerer and just happened to find your comrade there along with heretics from a neighboring country, plus a Beast wielding powerful curses, and on top of that a mind-controlled sorcerer? And you handled all of that alone? …Are you seriously expecting us to believe that?”

If I had been a higher-ranked hunter, they might have thought it possible.

At minimum, if I were a mid-ranked hunter, they would have praised me for trying so desperately hard.

But I’m a lower-ranked hunter.

If I had heard about another lower-ranked hunter doing what I did, I would have thought it made no sense too.

Honestly, hearing it all listed out like that made it seem implausible even to me, the person who actually did it.

Right… it would make more sense to think I had made a deal with a powerful Beast to save my comrade, or that I was an accomplice or something similar in this kidnapping incident.

“…But it’s the truth.”

And I had no other dramatic means to overcome this situation.

All I could do was cooperate as much as possible and prove my innocence.

After all, this comes from the disparity between me, who has knowledge from my past life and acted accordingly, and other ordinary people.

To smooth over such a disparity would require power sufficient to cover it up.

Something like authority, for instance…

“Excuse me.”

Someone said, opening the door and entering.

“Welcome, Lord Marquis.”

The Heresy Inquisition officer bowed slightly at Marquis Bluebeard’s visit.

“This isn’t a matter that requires Your Lordship’s personal attention…”

“That’s not necessarily true in this case. After all, I’m also involved.”

“That’s…”

“Anyway, have you found out anything?”

“Not yet.”

“I see… Well, if you don’t mind, could I take a look for a moment?”

“What? But Your Lordship…”

“He’s properly restrained, isn’t he?”

As he said, my hands were currently bound by handcuffs that exert magical restraining power.

Unlike Maia’s, they simply suppress power rather than binding beasts, but that’s more than enough for me.

“I won’t take much time. However, as the one who trusted Eugene and invited him here, I personally can’t avoid having a conversation with him… Please.”

“…In principle, even if you are the Marquis, you shouldn’t be involved. But since you are a concerned party, I’ll make an exception briefly. If you try to interfere like this in other cases, we won’t be able to accommodate you then.”

“Thank you.”

As the Heresy Inquisition officer said, only the Saintess and her closest confidants, the 1st-rank hunters, can interfere with Heresy Inquisition Department interrogations.

While other departments or individual authority might be able to meddle in external investigations or internal political matters of the Order, this is something that no one, not even Crowty, can do anything about.

Of course, since the 1st-rank hunters thoroughly manage the Heresy Inquisition Department, the organization doesn’t run wild unless in extremely extreme situations.

Well… though in the later story it becomes not just running wild but more like madness.

Anyway, the fact that he received such concession despite Heresy Inquisition Department interrogations being such an untouchable domain means the Marquis’s power here is that strong.

“Now then…”

After the Heresy Inquisition officer and guards had all left, the Marquis, now alone with me in this room, sat directly in front of me.

“Since we can’t take too long, let’s start right away.”

He placed a small box that could fit in a pocket on the desk.

When he opened its lid, music flowed from the music box inside.

“While this is playing, no one can hear our conversation. Please don’t tell anyone about this. It’s something I’ve been carefully keeping hidden.”

Some kind of magical item?

“…Why would you use something like that in front of me?”

“Because I want to be certain.”

“About what?”

“About whether or not you met that woman.”

My heart skipped a beat.

It’s too obvious who “that woman” the Marquis is referring to.

From here on, I need to choose my words carefully.

“As I said earlier, we don’t have much time. Stalling won’t do you any good.”

“…Are you referring to that black woman?”

It’s a gamble, but that’s the safest path.

For someone of the Marquis’s stature to speak this openly in front of me means he must already have some evidence I don’t know about and is almost certain.

“Huhu, yes. That strange woman. So you do know her. This will make things faster. Did you receive that flower?”

“Flower? What flower are you talking about?”

“You don’t know?”

“No… Ah, come to think of it.”

“Oh? Did you remember something?”

“That woman said she tends to a flower garden.”

“And?”

“…That’s all.”

“Hmm…”

The Marquis leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed.

“I see, so you’re somewhat favored, perhaps?”

“Favored?”

“Thinking about it, it’s not that strange. You are quite capable after all.”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you know why I originally invited you here?”

“…Because of Hilde, isn’t it?”

“So you do know. Well, that’s half correct.”

Hilde likes me.

But for both immediate reality and the future ahead, that shouldn’t be.

Of course, I can’t do anything about Hilde’s feelings themselves, but at least I was drawing proper lines.

Even if she were to confess to me directly, I would reject her.

“But half was sincere. I’ve investigated quite a bit about you after all.”

“What’s the point of investigating someone like me?”

“You undervalue yourself too much. While there might not be much to expect in terms of physical power, the world doesn’t run on swords and fists alone.”

The Marquis showed a faint smile.

Though that was all, I felt something whose depth couldn’t be measured.

It was the pressure that only someone born to stand above others, who had spent their whole life fighting with their equals and built a powerful position, could emit.

While the Marquis might not be physically stronger than me, as he said, the world doesn’t run on swords and fists alone.

…I’m reminded of what Blanc said last night.

“That incident from 7 years ago. Usually when people experience something like that, most break and shatter. Like that old comrade you were looking for.”

“Just how much did you investigate?”

“I’m surely not the only one who’s looked into you. You stand out quite a bit after all.”

“…What?”

No, what is he saying?

“Huhu, so you’re still not aware of it.”

The Marquis laughed pleasantly.

“Including that aspect, you’re a very good person. However…”

The Marquis leaned slightly toward me.

“Being that pure alone means there are things you can’t accomplish. And… it makes one want to tease you a bit.”

“…What exactly are you trying to say?”

“Ah, look at me. I said I’d get straight to the point but let the conversation drift.”

The Marquis scratched the back of his head, returning to his original demeanor.

“Well, it’s nothing much. Just wondering if you’re interested in a story about bringing the dead back to life?”

“…?”

What did I just hear?

“You must have them too? People you desperately want to meet again.”

I was genuinely surprised.

Not at what the Marquis was saying itself, but at the fact that he would reveal such inner thoughts to me.

“So, that woman…”

At that moment, the music box stopped and closed.

“…Time’s already up.”

The Marquis put it back in his pocket and stood up from his chair.

“Well, think about it slowly. Ah, and while I think you would know this, surely you won’t tell anyone about our private conversation?”

I nodded.

No one would believe me anyway, so I’d only be hurting myself.

The Marquis is not only a member of this country’s royal family but also manages the strongest military organization, and is even famous for his good character.

That trust in the Marquis was likely part of why the Heresy Inquisition officer yielded his seat.

Compared to him, I’m just a highly suspicious lower-ranked hunter.

There’s no need to even consider whose words would carry more weight.

After the Marquis went back outside, the Heresy Inquisition officer came in again.

“…What did you talk about?”

The Heresy Inquisition officer asked.

“Nothing much.”

“…I see. Understood.”

Surprisingly, he didn’t press further.

“We’ve done our own investigation about you too.”

Between this guy and that guy, why are they all investigating me so much?

“8th-rank hunter Eugene. You have decent achievements, and both your character and career are relatively clean. So I’ll tell you something special.”

Tell me what?

“We are watching you. Don’t do anything foolish and cooperate with us obediently. If you truly haven’t committed any heretical crimes, we’ll release you safely.”

The Heresy Inquisition officer left after only saying those words.

Shortly after, I was led by guards and confined in the underground prison.

Though called an underground prison, it wasn’t such a horrible place.

Where I am is the first floor facility for minor criminals or those with light charges.

But they didn’t remove the handcuffs.

Of course, it’s reasonable since a hunter could dig a tunnel from underground and escape, but damn, my wrists are incredibly itchy.

“By the way…”

I wonder what happened to Maia now.