PART 5 : THE DEMON'S TEA PARTY

 "...you can let me go." Lakhesh complained , looking uncomfortable.

"No."

Like a capricious child, the troll woman, Nygglatho , dismissed her complaint.

Nygglatho wrapped his arms tightly around Lakhesh , as tight as they could be, and did not

let go. It was said that a troll's arm could easily break a bear's spine. Since that hadn't happened

in reality, that meant he wasn't using his full strength, but he also didn't seem to be controlling

it properly.

"I heard earlier that you lost control of your magic and fell into a coma, never to wake up again,

which made me scream. So I want you to pay me back for all the tears I shed."

"Fainting...... fainting?... Well, it's...so hard...to feel, my bones...are creaking, let me go!... "

"Excuse me, Miss Nygglatho ."

Someone tapped him on the shoulder from behind.

Nygglatho turned his head with a half-crying face.

"Odette's brother",

She called him by a disrespectful name. But of course it was true.

"My name is Feodor. Jessman . For some reason, I have temporarily held a position similar to

that of Lakhesh and the supervisor of the four."

"Eh......huh? So, the supervisor leading those girls is..."

“Yes, until the past week or so, I was in charge. Now, I think there is someone to take charge

except for Lakhesh .”

He wasn't lying, but he was maintaining the fact that he was not in charge because he had

betrayed the Winged Guard, and that Lakhesh had been treated as a traitor.

" ... how are those girls? Are they giving you trouble?"

"Well...at least they're nice" Solo answered vaguely to one of the questions.

"...Then, Lord Feodor Jessman , the former military officer of the fourth grade, is there

something important for you to come to this kind of place?" Odette intervened in the

conversation.

"You can see we're a bit busy right now, right? Will you take her after tea?"

"Sister, I'll tell you the half. We've come to see Dr. Margomedari , but why are you here?"

"It's because I stole some secrets from the Winged Empire's spy team... ah." Hearing that,

Odette put her hand to her forehead.

"So that's what happened. Feodor , your source of information this time, wouldn't it be

intelligence agent Nax ? selzel ?"

"You even know about that guy? That's right"

"Of course. He used to use your spy team's research records as a source of supply. In other

words, the information he sold you and the information we obtained came from the same

source."

Oh, so that's what happened.

So there was a nasty overlap. He felt a headache.

It was said that important officials were being killed one after another.

This series of serial murders became a priority object for intelligence, and they were nicknamed

"the blackened dagger" and recorded in secret.

The victims were confirmed to be, in order of priority, a general, a first grade military officer, a

strategic adviser to the Orlandri Chamber of Commerce, and vice president of the Collina

Integral Therapy Institute. diluche .

The common element that can be immediately found during the investigation is, of course, their

identities. All of the men held a high position in the Winged Guard or had held a high position

in the past. In addition, they are all related to the use of "Fairy Soldier" weapons, especially the

construction, improvement and use of the adjustment system for fairies.

These things can be found out by consulting the documents currently kept in the Winged

Guard.

However, that was all that was known.

On the table was freshly brewed black tea and a plate full of biscuits.

"...Have things reached this point?"

Feodor poured four sugar cubes into a cup of black tea, then murmured as he sipped the liquid,

which had almost turned to sugar water.

Mmm , it's delicious.

"It's only been a few days since I left the army, but I feel completely disconnected from the

world... So, although I don't know why, the Winged Guard assumes that Doctor Margomedari

is the next target, right?"

Odette nodded slightly.

"With the information you have so far, what can you say?"

" Hmmm , just a few things. But, everything is within the range that my sister should be able to

detect."

"Tell me. I want to know how much you can do now."

He thought about it a bit. What's the point of telling your innermost thoughts right now? What

to hide, what to exaggerate, what to say.

After thinking about it, he felt that it would be better to speak honestly now.

There really is no way. Feodor sighed softly and said:

"The serial killers are those of the Winged Guard or the high command of the Orlandri

Chamber of Commerce ."

Margomedari raised her pale face in surprise.

Nygglatho nearly dropped his cup of black tea, but barely managed to hold it steady as he

looked at Feodor . and Feodor from one side to the other:

"Huh huh? " He looked from side to side between the faces of Feodor and Margomedari .

After feeling bored, Odette snorted and said:

"What is your reasoning based on?"

"It would be strange to think that Dr. Margomedari was in the crosshairs for life. Whichever

side, including his empire, wanted him, and would have wanted the doctor, who was the

foremost authority on adjustment technology, without doing anything to him." damage. It was

quite clear that the guard judged that the doctor could be killed. That means the military have a

basis for their judgment, or another reason."

He said as he picked up the milk jug.

"Again, there is one more thing. Before I came here, I saw the Winged Guard team roaming the

street, and then I found out that the ' Eye Gouger ' is his standard equipment".

Everyone present seemed not to know what it was.

"It is a great gunpowder pistol with reduced range and enhanced lethality. It is especially used

to kill races whose vitality is contrary to common sense. For the spies of the Winged Empire,

the firepower of that weapon is too powerful and is not I heard that depending on where they

hit, even Trolls can be turned into mincemeat, so their target is probably...”

" Deceive people..."

Nygglatho 's eyes widened. It was a logical reaction. No one with normal sensibilities could

withstand the murderous intent that was coming his way, right?

"It takes a lot of work to make good ground beef! I hate that kind of haphazard cooking

method!"

"...uh"

That? Is that why you're angry?

"I think," Margomedari asked weakly,

"It should only be because peque appeared as the force that kidnapped me , so the military took

an emergency countermeasure? Maybe there's no other purpose behind it."

"Not possible. Not even half a day has passed since Nygglatho was pursued by the Army of the

Winged Guard. The Eye Gouger is not the type of weapon that can be deployed in immediate

numbers. The only reason they can be taken for granted now is that they have been prepared so

that they can be used as soon as the time comes. I fear that..."

He looked at Nygglatho , whose cheeks were puffy.

"For the Winged Guard, Nygglatho 's participation was a very lucky accident. In this way, they

can use the weapons that are used to openly engage giants. For example, they can try to catch

Ngglatho at abnormally fast speed . and the fact that they had no intention of withdrawing from

the situation confirms my suspicions. In other words, to summarize the above..." He took a sip

of the black tea.

"His true purpose was to disguise the accidental murder of a cyclops that could not be killed by

ordinary means. This explanation is the easiest to understand."

Everyone's eyes focused on Margomedari .

"At first, I thought that it was a high-level person who was caught as evidence of dereliction of

duty, and the doctor was a witness or an assistant, so they wanted to kill the doctor to achieve

the purpose of silencing him. But, looking at the current situation , it seems that is not the case."

Feodor said.

"In that case" and continued.

"As long as we keep destroying one possibility after another, at least the remaining options will

be closer to the truth."

"The Winged Guard is an organization that 'fights against those who threaten the survival of the

Floating Isles.' There is no distinction between good and evil. In other words, I am afraid that

you will be added to the four people who were killed, although it hasn't been revealed, but they

were also identified as one of those threats... so now the situation makes sense."

Margomedari didn't say a word. He bowed his head again, his massive shoulders drooping

heavily.

Feodor 's speculation more convincingly than any words.

"Mister...". Nygglatho murmured in concern.

Clap ! _ Clap ! _ Clap ! _

There was an inappropriate applause.

Everyone's eyes focused on Odette this time.

"Almost all right. It's scary, once you're targeted by the Wingguard, there's almost no escape on

the Floating Islands. Even running through the streets like now has its limits. Even if we get off

the island, there's no way to escape from the Winged Guard Army just by doing that."

"So what should we do?" She smiled and tilted her head slightly.

Ah, so that was it .

Feodor understood perfectly. Her sister was trying to steer the conversation in that direction.

The only way to survive was to flee to a closed country and hide from the Winged Guard army

and now there was a country that adjusted to the situation, waiting with bated breath for an

answer.

"...May I make a correction ? It wasn't a unanimous decision of the entire Winged Guard to kill

us, I think, this must be the orders of [ Rosy Claw ], the General."

Marghomedari raised her head as if she had thrown something away or given up something.

"However, General Rosy Claw ..."

"That's right, he was the first of the five to die and it was confirmed that he was the first victim

of the serial murders. Given his personality, he must have been instructed to act like this before

committing suicide. His final instructions were probably to find a reason for get rid of the other

four and not let fairy adjustment technology remain in the world. So... well, I've finally come

to my senses. After this, I'll go surrender to the Winged Guard.”

"To die?"

"I've lived long enough. I've lived too long when I think of all the lives I've manipulated thus

far. And at the end of it all, I saw the faces of my old friends. And now, I'm sure they're all

waiting for me to go." "

"Lord, your conscience...". Nygglatho 's voice was calm, but it sounded as if he were drowning

out all kinds of emotions.

She asked:

"Is it more important than Almita, more important than the future of all the girls?" Nygglatho

stopped speaking. She didn't blame or question what could be called a ruthless response.

"..."

After a moment's hesitation, the cyclops simply looked away helplessly.

"Doctor Margomedari ", Feodor 's voice pierced the heavy atmosphere and asked:

"I ask you again, you are the foremost authority on faeries and past life erosion... Is that

correct?"

"There is only one person in this world, there is no supreme authority...". He muttered, his self-

loathing evident.

"I have two things to ask you"

"No. I've already told you that I can't do any more fairy adjustments."

"I have heard. However, that matter is my second request. I would like you to accept my other

request first."

"What does this mean?" margomedari I looked up in astonishment.

"Based on what was said, I understood that it was forbidden to re-adjust fairies. That doesn't

mean that all adult fairy soldiers that have already been adjusted should be eliminated as well,

right?"

"Yes Yes"

"Then please help a fairy ......with her exam"

His gaze turned to Nygglatho .

No, it was the exhausted young woman in his arms (for some reason).

" Lakhesh nyx Seniorious "

Lakhesh , whose name had been called, looked up at him in confusion.

"I?"

"That's how it is". He nodded his head.

"She had opened the door once, causing a personality crisis. Then somehow, through some

process, she woke up and is now able to consciously move like this...... But if the cause is never

known, So we don't know when this miracle will end. I want to try to do something about it

before his mind snaps again."

" Feodor , you..."

"Don't say anything that isn't necessary, Lakhesh . I'm tired of hearing your polite words and I

don't want to hear them anymore." He dismissed the reproachful voice without even looking at

her.

The cyclops looked directly at Feodor , and Feodor looked back at him through his dark

glasses.

"This is about the life of the girl who is here now. If it doesn't touch your taboo, please say

yes."

A sense of security spread through Feodor 's heart .

"However, when it comes to this, although it is not a price, there is one thing... yes, there is

only one thing that I hope you can help," the cyclops raised a thick finger

"I'm afraid I won't be able to go back to that house again, but if possible, I have something I

don't want to leave there, so I want you to bring it to me."

"...There are still many men wandering outside... including some friends."

He stared at Odette, and Odette looked away.

Although her sister was a facilitator for the empire, she had no intention of informing the spies

about Margomedari 's discovery here. This is probably because his own people are also rushing

to do meritorious service, but this situation is correct.

"I think it's safer to let you go than the others. Of course, I won't force you."

Feodor did not admit here that he was being hunted by the Winged Guard. It turned out that,

in Margomedari 's opinion , Feodor was the one who seemed to be able to move freely among

all the people present.

He glanced at Lakhesh ( still in Nygglatho 's prey ), only to see her shrug and look as if she was

pleased with him.

"I see. So what exactly do we need to bring-"

"Oh wait a minute"

A voice suddenly intervened to stop him.

He looked impatiently. His sister was always the one who never looked at the mood, wherever

she was.

"What? This is our business, so don't try to interfere."

"I don't mean that. If it's still dangerous out there, you could at least take an escort."

And with that, Odette softly clapped her hands outside the living room.

"You're listening to me, right? Go ahead."

There was an agitated sigh from someone outside the door.

"If you don't come in, I'll call you by name. Is that okay?"

The doorknob turned and opened slowly. What appeared on the other side were the fragments

of the night sky that turned into water droplets and fell, no wonder, it was a diminutive figure

whose entire body was hidden by a black robe and mask.

"Who is it?"

"My very important companion... Let's put it this way. This has nothing to do with the empire.

There's no need to worry about getting involved with her, and there will be no debt of favor. I

just don't want to leave my cute brother alone." endangered"

In an instant, everyone in the room looked at Odette with eyes full of suspicion.

"...I knew everyone would think that",

Odette showed a weak smile and then said in a voice that sounded very restless:

"It's really hard for Imps, but they're born that way. At important moments, even the affection

between family members is called into question."

"No, it's just your usual behavior, right?" Feodor looked at Odette with that expression.

"Hey, isn't it caused by your usual behavior?" Nygglatho looked at Odette with those eyes.

"Well, it's just your usual behavior that causes it." Margomedari looked at Odette with that

look.

Lakhesh sighed with an all-okay look.

Only the figure in the black robe did not respond to Odette's nonsense, but silently looked at

Feodor from under his mask.