I’m Just an Ordinary Academy Student

24 – Let’s Start a ‘Conversation’

The two guys that the Imperial Special Forces are bringing along, Kimph. Two of them? Anyway.

Naturally, they were the terrorists I saved and handed over a few days ago.

More importantly, the people at the scene managed to bring them along safely.

Thinking back, I was groaning as if I were about to breathe my last right then.

I was even worried that if they died, it would just make things awkward for me.

“Their condition wasn’t great, but it looks like they were saved somehow.”

“In the end, yes. Of course, we almost had three mages exhausted pouring healing magic to get them to a recoverable state, but you know.”

The Special Forces agent smiles, saying that it was quite touch-and-go at that moment.

Ahem. Well, don’t say anything to me. I was overdosing on adrenaline at the time.

Honestly, keeping them alive was quite an accomplishment. I got a full-blown case of PTSD just looking at them.

“But, Eloise Loengrang.”

“Yes?”

“Why haven’t you asked anything after calling the student with the sword?”

“Huh? Uh, right. Well.”

You have to have something to ask to ask. In fact, the two of them were together at the time.

But still, you can’t stand out too much in front of the Special Forces agents.

Facing Eloise, I faithfully recounted the situation at the time as a “witness.”

“…So, I went to the recruit training camp to persuade a group of four, and when the commotion broke out on the train, I immediately anticipated what was going on and subdued all the resisting guys.”

“That’s right, Eloise.”

“In the process, they resisted so vigorously that we had no choice but to kill them.”

They did resist vigorously, but their level was seriously low.

You could tell right away that they hadn’t received proper training.

But I guess those guys should have gone off to war a long time ago.

Meanwhile, the core command of Luzens, who had fled to save their own lives.

They planned the terrorism, saying they would start the war again and whatnot.

Eloise, having heard my entire explanation, summed up her thoughts in just one sentence.

“Indeed, it seems we’ve heard the Kumph’s voice.”

Unbelievable. I never expected to hear such words from an elf.

Luzens. How far have your kind fallen! Your own kin is calling you Kumph!

“I thought there might be something special, but it’s the same as what was conveyed in the Imperial War Council.”

“Is there anything missing or incorrect in my testimony?”

“There shouldn’t be. Thank you for your cooperation, Captain Karl Adelheit. Or should I call you Karl, the student?”

Everyone seems to forget at times that I’m not a captain but a returning student!

“Well, what about those two Kumphs? Can you please guide us to where they are?”

“Follow me. Oh, Karl the student, you can leave now since your job is done.”

“Can I leave too? I’m slightly curious about what those guys are chattering about. I already skipped class to come here, so I might as well.”

I’m getting a bit curious about what kind of words will come out of their mouths.

Will it be something like, “You bastards!”? Or perhaps, “Sob, spare us! Don’t burn us all!”?

If they’re in their right minds, the latter should be the normal reaction.

After all, when they pointed their guns at me, I had a greatsword ready to crush them all.

But then again, thinking about Kumph hatred, it might not be that simple.

And as we entered the interrogation room, my suspicions were confirmed.

“Yes, you scoundrels! The enemies of our comrades!”

“You bastards! We won’t forgive you! Aaargh!”

Oh, they’re certainly spirited Kumphs, aren’t they?

They were undoubtedly the ones who came right up to the gates of hell.

So, I thought they would beg for their lives as soon as they saw my face.

Yet, they actively express their enmity and shower us with insults.

It’s as if they have an extraordinary amount of determination, or perhaps they’ve suffered head injuries.

Or maybe the ones who sent them have brainwashed them very effectively.

Whatever it is, it doesn’t seem like the interrogation will proceed smoothly.

“Are you still alive and kicking? Haven’t you been interrogated yet?”

Elowise also finds it odd how spirited they are.

In response to her question, the Special Forces agent shrugs his shoulders.

“I just woke up yesterday after receiving healing magic. It seems like they think they miraculously survived on their own, but they’ll find out now. Why the Empire saved them.”

In an instant, a shiver runs down the spine.

Special Operations Division. Literally the department in charge of all special tasks in the empire.

Among them, naturally, is the task of extracting information.

How they extract it… well, you’ll see from now on.

“Surely they won’t strip our heads like those damn Kamps.”

The agent enters the interrogation room, and we follow, taking a seat outside.

There’s even a semi-transparent mirror here. Truly a fascinating world.

“Let’s start properly. I’m ‘D’ from the Empire’s Special Operations. Nice to meet you.”

“The Empire’s scum!”

“The Empire’s dogs!”

The agent extends a courteous greeting first, but it’s quite a sight to behold.

I glance to the side, and Eloise is chuckling quietly.

When I ask why, she says, “They’re begging to be killed.”

“Names. Ages. And affiliations.”

“We don’t have names to tell the Empire’s dogs!”

“Who hired you for this job?”

“The Forest commanded it! To forever burn you all!”

“How did you infiltrate the Empire?”

“All comrades who hate your Empire assisted us!”

Kamp members speaking maliciously. And the agent, calmly questioning without a change in expression.

This won’t take long either. Soon, a method will emerge to coax the right answers.

Kamps, oh Kamps. The Empire’s Special Operations is not a place that cherishes human rights!

“Why choose a train of all things? Were there other places you considered for a bombing?”

“Hahaha! The entire Empire is our target! Anywhere humans live!”

“So you’re blatantly disregarding the treaty you made with the Empire.”

“Traitors of our kin who shamefully made that deal! Merely sellouts who betrayed the forest!”

Suddenly, I become curious. Do these guys truly understand ‘war’?

Those who have truly experienced war do everything in their power to prevent its recurrence.

Because they’ve personally realized how dreadful and disgusting it is.

Talking about holy wars and such, war is never sacred. It’s neither glorious nor honorable.

“That’s just nonsense from those who haven’t experienced war, mere delusions.

An act that determines who’s right? Don’t be ridiculous.

War simply distinguishes who survives. That’s all there is to it.

“If you come out uncooperative like this, only you will suffer. The Empire is willing to take you in if you provide useful information for the Empire. Defect. That way, you can live.”

“Rather die than defect! Kill us!”

Angels, they are angels. They endured a lot from our agents if they’ve come to this point.

Seems like words won’t work. The agent sighs.

“If that’s your decision. We might need to switch to a more ‘serious’ approach.”

“Ha! Just pitiful! If it weren’t for that damn guy, everything would’ve gone our way!”

“Not even enough to curse him to death! That human! Karl, wasn’t it?! I’ll curse him even in death! Disgusting spawn of the Empire! The enemy who massacred our kin! Rot in hell!”

Ha. Kids. I’ve already experienced hell twice through enlistment…

Bang!—

Experienced… Uh, uh. Wait, why is Ricata entering the interrogation room?

She was just sitting next to me a moment ago! Where did she disappear to?!

*

Special Agent ‘D’ was in a perplexing state.

An outsider had abruptly entered the interrogation room. Karl’s sister, was she the witness?

But why did the tightly locked door open, and what were the other agents outside doing?

He was about to demand the outsider to leave, his expression contorted, when…

“Leave.”

The words were coming from the outsider, unrelated to the Special Agents.

“W-What is this! We are in the middle of an interrogation! Outsiders are…”

“Leave.”

For a moment, Agent D involuntarily flinched! and shuddered.

‘W-What’s this? What’s going on?’

Special Agents of the unit learn to control themselves even in the face of fear.

To always think and act at their best, no matter the situation.

But why, in front of that woman, was his body stiffening and cold sweat trickling down?

Beep—

The call signal on the table resonated.

When Agent Di subtly turned her head, she saw a superior officer gesturing outside the door.

It seems like they want me to come out. I’m not sure if it’s really okay.

Eventually, the special forces agent from the intelligence agency stepped out of the interrogation room.

Elves watching the scene chuckled, asking what kind of nonsense this was and praising the imperial standard.

Of course, Ricata, who had entered, paid no attention at all.

“Gnolls.”

She spoke in a voice that revealed no height or depth.

“It’s our first meeting. So, as a courtesy, I’ll ask three times. Who gave you the orders?”

“Ha! There’s no point in answering! It’s from the forest—”

The gnolls, answering like this, suddenly felt a burning pain as if their shoulders were on fire.

“Ah, aah!”

“Ah, aah!”

It hurts too much! It feels like I’m going to die! What, what is this!

They looked at the source of the pain and soon found a dagger embedded in their shoulders.

“I’ll ask again. Who gave you the orders?”

“Agh, aghhh! W-what is this— Aaaah!!”

“Ah, aah!”

This time, another dagger was pierced to the hilt on the opposite shoulder.

They couldn’t see anything. I have no idea what’s happening.

“Gnolls.”

Then, they soon realized the reason for all this.

It was because they saw the two daggers clenched in Ricata’s hands.

“This is the last time. Next will be here.”

Tock, tock—

A terrifying woman pointing at her neck, still emitting a grim voice.

In front of her, as before, it was impossible not to answer.

“Just a moment! I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything!”

“Save us! Save us! The one who gave the orders!!”

“….”

Our older sister. I think I know why she was called the Blade Queen.

I witnessed it myself, barely catching the moment she thrust the dagger into those guys.

But more than that… sister. The fact that she asked three times…

It wasn’t about asking three times and then thrusting. It was about thrusting every time she asked and killing on the third.