69 Labyrinth investigation (2/2)

There's a place down the street that sells ice candy.

This is where we ate with Raina. I start walking towards it.

”Hmm?　Come to think of it, I know this road. It's where I ate the ice candy with Kroki in my dreams.

I'm surprised to hear that word from Coona.

What does it mean?

Maybe Raina and Kuna have something mentally connected to each other.

Then I realize something.

If Kuna dreams about Raina, could it be the other way around?

If that's the case, then I can understand why Raina knew what she was doing.

Raina knew through Kuna.

'What's going on? Kuroki?

Suddenly silent and thoughtful, Cuna looks down at her face.

'No, it's nothing,'

There's nothing I can do about it. I can't imagine life without Kuna now. Even if the information was out of the loop, there's nothing we can do about it.

Well, let's go, Kroki!

Coona pulls.

I look at that smile and think, well, that's good. I don't have any particular information that I don't want to be known for.

In fact, they'll show you!

With that in mind, he walked with Kuna.

The black-haired wise man Chiyuki.

It's noon and Rage and I are going to the General's Office together.

The reason for this is to set up an investigative headquarters in the Shogun's Office for the Chalkinos case.

The reason there are two of us is because Shirone, Reno and Nao are still sleeping because they were too excited. Sahoko stayed behind to take care of those three. Kyouka and Kaya went back to the St. Renaria Republic to do business.

Rage was still asleep as well, but he had forced them to wake up and bring them in.

When they entered the room, Krasus and Decius were already there.

'Come in, Gov.

A slave goblin who serves Krasus gives me and Rage tea.

I am about to thank him and stop.

Do not thank the slave goblins in any way.

From what I've learned, the slave goblins were created by a sorcerer named Hovadis.

This is why slave goblins are hobadis goblins. They are often called hobgoblins in shortened form.

The sorcerer Hovadis was often away from home due to his busy schedule. So, he sought out servants to faithfully guard his house while he was away.

He turned to the goblin and created a loyal ”house elf” by casting a spell that implied he was a slave.

The hobgoblin is enchanted with the implication that he is a slave. Therefore, if you act unworthy of being a slave, the spell may be broken.

That's why they must be fed with leftover bread, milk, etc. They should not be given fine clothes to wear.

If you don't give them fine clothes that don't look like slaves, they might say, ”Well, maybe I'm not a slave, then I quit being a slave,” and go away.

So you can't thank them poorly. They're doing what they deserve as slaves.

The hobgoblins serve the tea and eventually leave.

'This is our future policy: ....... To be honest, I'm not sure what to do about it.

Decius says apologetically.

I can see Rage's disappointment beside me.

'I see. ....... Then we'll have to be steady. General Krasus-dono, how much manpower do you think you can devote to that side?

I look at Krasus.

The reason we set up the investigation headquarters in the General's Office in the first place is because we want to rely on the personnel for the investigation.

The number of law knights in the Temple of Odis is small. We can't count on them when we need the manpower.

'Chiyuki-dono. If it's soldiers, we can provide as many as we want. And if you call on the freedom fighters of Thessia, any number of them will come.

Krasz replies with a laugh. We've got the manpower now. Now what do we do?

As I think about it, an official from the General's Office announces the visitors.

It's Sizfe and the others who have been ushered into the room.

''I'm sorry I'm late,''

Siszfe bows his head.

'No, it's fine. We're just here, too.

When Rage replies with a laugh, Novis' face turns grim in contrast to the delighted Siszfe and the others.

Apparently, he has come too.

The reason is probably to protect Sizfe from Rage's clutches.

''Oh, Sizfe. Where's that helmet?　Did you become a follower of the goddess Raina?

The helmet Siszfe is wearing right now is similar to a war maiden's helmet.

The holy swan of Lena is a swan. Many of the war maidens, as well as their congregations, wear swan wing ornaments on both sides of their helmets.

As an aside, the warrior maidens are sometimes called the Swan Maidens, and the temple knights of St. Renaria are sometimes called the Swan Knights.

The wing ornaments of this congregation of Raina are also on Sisyphe's helmet.

''Yes, I received a blessing from Lady Raina.

Sisyphe says with a smile. She looks very happy.

'Well, you look good in it. Sisyphe,

'Thank you. Master Raige. Oh, yes. I met the squire's man earlier.

Squire's men?

I don't know what I'm talking about.

'I don't know the man's squire. 'Do you know, Chiyuki?'

'I don't know about that either, Reigi. I wonder if Kyouka-san has hired a new one.

Kyoka works with Kaya in business.

Sometimes they hire people for that. Basically, they only seem to hire women, but that doesn't mean they don't hire men.

'I see. ......?　I've heard you've known Master Syrone for a long time?

Siszfe tilts his head.

'Silone's?'

'Yes. I was walking with your wife.

I'm confused. I'm a wife-beater and I don't know any of Cyrone's old acquaintances.

'I don't know. I've never heard of a man like that in Syrone.

Rage says a little grimly.

I agree with him. If we've known each other for a long time, does that mean we met in the St. Renaria Republic? I haven't been in this world for many years. Would you still say it's been a long time?

When did you get to be with that man in the first place? And he's a married man?

'Mr Sisyphe. What's the man's name?

I ask Sisyphe.

'I'm sorry. I had heard about this before but I couldn't remember. ....... Its ......

Siszfe looks at his friends.

All of Siszfe's friends shake their heads. Apparently none of them can remember his name.

'Well, if you can't remember his name, that means he's not that important. You just happen to know the guy Kyoka hired.

Rage says curtly.

Surely Rage is right. He must have just happened to know the man Kyoka hired.

It's confusing because you exaggerate the fact that you say you've known each other for a long time.

''Well, I suppose you're right. Let's move on from that.''

I decide to forget about the man.

'So that's the plan going forward, but for now, I'm going to go through all the people who were there that night.

I say as I look at them all, and Krasus and Decius chuckle.

Naturally, the number of people in attendance is large. It would be quite a few if you check out the guests as well as the guards and waiters. That's why we need the personnel.

'Well, it would have been nice if there were other clues: ....... For the men, I'd like to ask for Sir Decius and General Krasus' soldiers. And for the female attendees, Siszfe and the others and we'll look into it. Is that alright?

I said and Siszfe nodded. Most of the soldiers are men.

Therefore, there are few manpower to examine the women. That's why I asked Sizfe and the others to do it.

''Leave it to me!　I'll be the one to check on the woman, bougie!

Siszfe feeds Novis an elbow iron in the middle of what Novis is saying.

'I'm sorry. We'll be monitoring this guy to make sure he doesn't go off the rails. ......'

Sisyphe apologizes.

Oh, I forgot to mention that this guy is here. Well, if Sisyphe is there, the problem ...... probably won't be there.

'Ha, well, good. I'll go to ...... then.

It was time for me to say something more. The official announces a new visitor.

The visitor's name is Midas. He is the leader of a theater company, apparently.

When you say ”Commander Midas”, it must mean something about your sister, Shenna. You have something to do with me, don't you? May I leave the room for a moment?

Decius tries to leave his seat.

'Wait. 'When you say Shenna, you mean the dancer from that time, right?　If it's about a kid who was at the scene of a crime, maybe we should hear about it too.

Rage's words remind me of that.

That's the name of the dancer who was on the scene when Kalkinos showed up, I believe. I think I remembered it well, even though we only saw each other for a little while. That's Raige indeed.

But I'd certainly like to hear what he has to say.

''It is indeed. Sir Decius, would you be willing to let us talk with you as well?

I said and Decius nodded.

'...... Okay. Let's bring him over here.

Decius agrees with a slightly troubled look on his face.

A man comes in. A man walks in, a large man.

It's nice to meet you. I'm Midas, the head of the donkey's ear. I'm Midas, the head of the donkey ears.

Midas's voice was unique.

For a man, there was something odd about it. Rage also frowned as if he felt it was strange.

'Rage-dono and Chiyuki-dono. Commander Midas is an ardent follower of the goddess Ishtia-sama.

Decius, sensing my doubts, explains to me.

'Oh, I see: ......'

I realize what the discomfort is.

Men who are ardent followers of Ishtia, the goddess of love and beauty, offer their genitals to the goddess in a sacred ceremony.

Having offered their genitals, they continue the ritual all night long. They show their worship of the goddess by a barrage of drums, beating of swords and shields, dancing, singing and shouting.

In other words, Midas is a castrated man of his own volition. No, I should say a woman, since it is said that she is treated as a woman in the Ishtia cult.

That's what the discomfort is all about. Midas is a woman in the form of a man.

”Commander Midas. What's wrong with you?

Decius asks, and Midas says with a troubled look on his face.

'Master Decius. Actually, Shenna went out last night and hasn't come back.'

Shenna?

Midas nodded.

'I don't care if it's another member of the group, but Shenna will always call you when she's running late. That's why she went out last night and didn't come back. Seeing that he didn't come back by noon, something must have happened. So I thought I'd let Master Decius know: ......

Midas says, making a thick voice chin up. The men, with the exception of Decius, look disgusted by the gesture.

'Oh no, Shenna is ...... gone ....... Could it be that ......

Decius thinks about something and takes something from his waist.

It was a long, thin object wrapped in cloth.

'What's that?'

This is something Shenna gave me to keep after it happened.

Decius explains to Krasus' words.

'What is in it, Lord Decius?'

'I don't understand, Chiyuki-dono. Shenna asked me not to look at the contents of ....... But it might have something to do with Shenna's disappearance. So I will look at the contents.

Decius looked troubled and unfolded the cloth.

What appeared from inside was a single long, thin tube.

''d*mn!　It is!!!!

Commander Midas lets out a panicked voice.

They all look at Midas.

'What's wrong, Commander Midas?'

'No. ....... It's nothing. ......

But Commander Midas' face was blue.

'This looks like a flute,' he said. But there is a sorcerer's crest here. Chiyuki-dono, would you like to see it?

Decius hands me the whistle.

Rage, who was sitting beside me, also comes to my side and looks at the flute.

'It's definitely a sorcerer's crest.

Rage is right. The flute has a pentagram on it, the emblem of the sorcerers.

The pentagram is the sacred seal of Totona, the goddess of knowledge and books, and is the emblem of the Society of Magicians.

The pentagram is also the emblem of witchcraft in this world. In Japan too, the pentagram is called a seimei crest and is used as the emblem of magic and witchcraft.

But the one drawn here is different.

It's not true, Reigi-kun. From the direction of the letters, this is probably the top one.

I shake my head and turn the flute upside down.

Then the upside-down pentagram becomes an inverted pentagram.

The Inverted Pentagram ....... The Black Goat's Head Emblem ....... The mark of a demon king worshipper.

The one who muttered to me was a girl called Maddy, a sorceress. As a sorceress, she must know the meaning of this sigil.

I nodded.

The inverted pentagram is called the Black Goat's Head Coat of Arms because of its shape. And it is the coat of arms of Lugus Satunakia, the evil god under the Demon King.

When we attacked Nargol, the evil god did not appear, but his servant Lesser Damon fought against us with this banner.

Also, this crest is often preferred by not only the worshippers of the evil god, but also by human demon king worshippers. In other words, the person holding this flute was most likely to worship the Demon King.

''Nonsense!　Why would Shenna do that?!

Decius stands up loudly.

'Calm down, Sir Decius. Lord Chiyuki: ....... 'What do you mean by that?'

Krasus asks.

'I can feel the magic in this flute. And it looks like it's a tool for manipulating something. ...... If this whistle was at the scene, then maybe Kalkinos was revealed by the sound of this whistle.

The faces of all of us are colored with surprise when I say, examining the flute with my magic detection.

''Why would Lord Decius' sister, you, have such a thing in your possession? Don't tell me she's the one who did it?

General Krasz!　Shenna is not the killer!

Decius immediately denies it.

'I don't think she's the culprit either. 'Then she wouldn't have entrusted her brother, a knight of the law, with such a thing. Perhaps she picked up the flute at the scene. And then she left it with her brother.

Rage agrees.

Rage is quick about covering for the woman.

'I don't know if she's the culprit, but I think she's involved in the case. And this flute, I believe this flute is the one that the man dressed as a satyr was blowing during the incident?

I look at the flute.

This flute is two tubes in one. The flute requires the player to puff out his cheeks when he plays it, which makes the player look funny.

For this reason, it is often shunned, unlike the lyre, which is enjoyed by the aristocracy and the upper classes as a hobby. Therefore, this flute is mainly played by professional players.

The flute is mainly played by professional musicians, who play it at parties.

This flute may have been played at the time of the incident.

'Yes, ....... It certainly looks like the flute the satyrs were playing.

Klassus agrees.

'As I recall, the satyrs at the banquet were at .......'

I look at Midas. As I recall, Shenna called one of the drowned satyrs her companion.

The satyrs at the ...... banquet were supposed to be our troupe members. ......

Midas says, as if in contemplation.

'I see, she realised that the satyr who was blowing this whistle was the culprit. But she tried to solve the case on her own, protecting the troupe. 'I left the flute with you as an insurance policy in case you needed it, I suppose?'

Rage reasoned.

'If that's the case, then Shenna's in danger!　We have to hurry up and help!

'Sir Decius, please calm down. It's not yet decided that it's dangerous.

I know how Decius feels. I wouldn't be able to keep my head above water if my people were in danger. But we should all be calm now.

”Commander Midas. I would like to investigate your troupe, if that's alright?

I look at Midas.

'Yes ....... I don't have a choice.

Midas reluctantly agrees.

'Change of plans. Looks like we won't have to check everyone in attendance.

I look at everyone in the room. I'm sorry Decius, but I think it saved us a lot of extra work.

We were going to investigate the playhouse.