“I’m glad you enjoyed the black tea.”
Chief Curbin slowly got up from his seat. Professor Antorelli awkwardly smiled in response.
“It wasn’t my black tea.”
“Ahaha… That’s true. Still, it was to my taste. Not too sweet, and not too strong in aroma.”
“It’s just cheap black tea.”
“My taste is somewhat cheap, I suppose. Anyway, enjoy your drink and take care.”
With that, Chief Curbin turned away without any hesitation in her steps.
It was understandable, as Chief Curbin heard the unspoken whispers emanating from Professor Antorelli’s gaze.
“Do you want me to leave quickly…?”
After saying what needed to be said, the look in Professor Antorelli’s eyes seemed to suggest that it was time for her to go. He couldn’t hide the emotions that were not visible on his face; it was the rejection revealed in his eyes that conveyed it. Chief Curbin could understand him.
“Who will take responsibility?”
That statement was sharp. It hit Chief Curbin like a hammer to the head, and yet she found herself questioning how she hadn’t anticipated Professor Antorelli would pose such a question.
“I underestimated him too much.”
She realized she had approached Professor Antorelli too easily. Although she was not trying to use him, she could never have imagined he would display such meticulous feelings.
Despite this, Chief Curbin was certain of one thing.
Right now, Professor Antorelli was not normal.
Strangely enough, he wasn’t abnormal either. From an objective viewpoint, he appeared highly normal.
As a human, he was perfectly normal, yet as Lucio Antorelli, he was exceedingly abnormal. He acted like an entity he had created.
He simply acted according to the commands of his brain. He tried not to project emotions onto anything and viewed the world solely through the objective gaze of the masses.
In a way, he seemed like a person deficient in self.
“Should I bring a professional counselor next time?”
As she headed towards the entrance where her attendant was waiting, Chief Curbin bitterly licked her lips. Professor Antorelli’s unstable mental state felt like a harbinger of yet another tragedy.
“Then, I will take my leave now. I will visit again soon.”
“Yes. Please be careful.”
Chief Curbin finally escaped the depths of that unfathomable gaze, and opened the entrance door to step outside.
“Ah…!”
“…Huh?”
As soon as she opened the door, Sofia Sub-priest, who was standing next to the door, looked at her with a bright expression. Upon seeing that, Chief Curbin couldn’t help but smile wryly.
“Is it… over?”
“Yes. The tea was good. I will take my leave now.”
“Okay! Please be careful on your way back!”
The conversation between Chief Curbin and Professor Antorelli had easily exceeded an hour.
During that time, had Sofia Sub-priest been quietly waiting here? If so, what was the reason?
Was she simply happy to see Professor Antorelli’s face again, despite his broken state? Or was it something else…?
“…Sub-priest. Sofia Sub-priest.”
“Yes?”
As Sofia Sub-priest was about to enter Professor Antorelli’s dormitory, she turned around with an innocent expression to look at Chief Curbin.
Thanks to that, Chief Curbin could see Sofia Sub-priest’s pure emerald eyes.
“Or could it be that even someone like the professor… thinks he can be returned to how he was?”
Whatever it may be, it was something she wanted to support. Chief Curbin awkwardly smiled at Sofia Sub-priest.
“Please take care of the professor.”
“…Ah, yes! Of course!”
Even the way she nodded was endearing. Chief Curbin turned her body away.
– Creak…. Thud.
The sound of the closing door echoed.
Chief Curbin didn’t look back.
“Head Priest!”
I, who had been absentmindedly sprawled on the sofa, slowly opened my eyes.
“What are you doing falling asleep already? The sun is still high in the sky!”
I glanced at the clock hung on the wall. The hands had already passed seven in the evening and pointed toward eight.
“It doesn’t seem to be high in the sky.”
“…That’s just how it sounds! Just saying!”
“Is that so?”
“Ah…! You left the teacup out again!”
Sofia Sub-priest, holding a rough-looking teacup that still bore traces of the black tea I had with Chief Curbin a moment ago, began to pout.
“Honestly… I told you before that you should develop the habit of washing things right away…”
Listening to Sofia Sub-priest’s scolding as she collected the teacup from the table, I closed my eyes again.
The sound of a teacup being placed in the sink. Dishes clinking together. The sound of water pouring with a swoosh….
I opened my eyes. I could see Sofia Sub-priest doing washing up with her back turned in the kitchen.
White skin. Hair flowing down to her waist in a golden hue. If she turned around like this, I would be able to see her emerald-like shining eyes.
This was like a dream I had imagined every day. I stared blankly at her back.
I liked her small stature. She always looked solemn, and the priestly robe suited her well. I liked that.
Especially her hair that flowed down to her waist. I particularly, particularly…
….Wait.
“Head Priest!”
“Gah…!”
Startled, I awoke as if I had a nightmare, gasping for breath. Sofia Sub-priest was looking at me with puffed cheeks.
“Honestly… I’m taking care of all the chores around here while you’re peacefully sleeping.”
“…”
“Head Priest? Are you alright?”
With a dissatisfied expression, Sofia Sub-priest’s face instantly changed to one of concern. I stared blankly at her.
She looked perfectly fine at a glance but her lips trembled slightly. The way Sofia Sub-priest’s eyebrows briefly twitched… They were all… I—
“…Sofia Sub-priest, are you really okay?”
“…Huh?”
“Sofia Sub-priest. Are you okay?”
Sofia Sub-priest subtly turned her head away. I didn’t miss that.
“What are you talking about… I’m fine! Hehehe…”
In that fleeting moment, I saw her clear green eyes tremble sharply.
“Ah! I told you that we need to clean under the carpet! Honestly…! Without me, you wouldn’t know how to…”
Seeing Sofia Sub-priest trying hard to maintain a cheerful facade, I—
“…I’m sorry. I forgot.”
“You really have a pattern of forgetting things… You said the same thing last time.”
It felt like my heart was being torn apart.
I wished my heart would burst at this instant…
“Haha…”
I forced a smile. I pretended to be normal, just like her.
…I smiled.
It was quiet. And calm.
This was the evaluation of Grace Kirk Coverain, who was sitting in the back seat of the car.
After days of being busily occupied, she was now heading towards the Federal Intelligence Bureau headquarters after her meeting with Professor Antorelli.
– Swoosh—!
The sound of rain was loud. Listening quietly to that noise, Chief Curbin glanced at the back of the attendant sitting in the front seat.
As the attendant’s hand moved smoothly, the vehicle turned smoothly as well. She liked that driving skill.
“Hey.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“What was your name again?”
The attendant slightly trembled. The movement of her throat was faintly visible, and a drop of cold sweat rolled down from the neatly tied back hair.
“It’s Cecil Royer. I am the head of the Crisis Management Office.”
Chief Curbin looked intently at Cecil Royer’s back before speaking.
“Royer. What do you know about Agent Walter Bailey?”
“There is a lot of confusion within the bureau currently. Many from the Empire have visited.”
“From the Empire?”
“I have a bag prepared in the back seat. Would you like to open it?”
Chief Curbin reached for the briefcase at the back of the seat. Opening the bag, a stack of papers caught her hand. She scrutinized the paper on top.
[ Federal Intelligence Bureau Level 1 Agent, Walter Bailey ]
It was a report containing Walter Bailey’s personal details. The report well outlined that, in addition to the photographs from the incident site she had seen before, Walter had lobbied high-ranking officials several times previously.
“Son of a bitch.”
Chief Curbin cursed inwardly. Meanwhile, Cecil Royer, who was driving, busily continued to speak.
“Five days ago, Sir Jericho of the Imperial Knight Order visited. Since, at that time, you were away, he left a message that he would visit again later.”
“Hmm…”
Chief Curbin became lost in thought. Cecil stole a glance at her through the rearview mirror.
She fiddled with her chin while in deep thought. It seemed that the unpleasant fact that such impurities lay within the bureau had left a mark on her expression throughout the ride.
“…Royer. While investigating Agent Bailey’s actions, I want you to investigate any agents with suspicious recent activities as well.”
“By suspicious recent activities, do you mean…?”
“I mean agents who are piling up dirty money like Bailey. Did you find that hard to understand?”
“No, not at all. I understand.”
Chief Curbin didn’t have many choices. Either thoroughly conceal Bailey’s misdeeds to protect the bureau.
“Or take it as an opportunity.”
Chief Curbin’s decision was immediate. She intended to completely purge the agents within the bureau who were engaging in corrupt acts.
“It seems it’s time for a shake-up.”
“…….”
Silence enveloped the car. As the cold rain tapped against the windows, Cecil inadvertently revealed signs of tension.
“…Royer.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“What do you think?”
Gulp—.
Cecil’s throat moved significantly. In the rearview mirror, she looked at Grace Kirk Coverain. Her cold gaze met Cecil’s.
Even though Cecil hadn’t done anything wrong, she felt as if she was being interrogated from the perspective of Walter Bailey, who had gained unjust advantages. And she instinctively sensed.
This was a test. A test concerning Chief Curbin’s action of drawing her sword.
Was Cecil a grazing herbivore welcoming that? Or was she a hyena confronting that very sword?
In other words, could Chief Curbin trust Cecil? As the head of the Federal Intelligence Bureau, could she rely on Cecil Royer?
Was Cecil Royer “a person of Curbin”?
“Uh, what do you mean by….”
“What would be a good way to express it… pests. If pests that extend their filthy hands towards our Federal Intelligence Bureau appear again, what do you think is the appropriate treatment for those pests?”
“……”
In the quiet car, penetrating the humid raindrops, they traveled quietly for some time. Finally, Cecil opened her trembling voice.
“…They should be made to regret being born.”
“That’s a good answer.”
“Thank you.”
Chief Curbin turned her gaze outside the window. The rainy street was desolate, and puddles formed by the rain were teeming with insects.
– So who will take responsibility within the Federal Intelligence Bureau?
The raindrops tapping against the window were melodic. Chief Curbin quietly closed her eyes.
‘…Those bastard pests.’
To speak coldly, whoever had given dirty tasks to Agent Walter Bailey didn’t matter if they were sucking the blood of someone.
The problem was that Walter Bailey belonged to the Federal Intelligence Bureau. They knew that clearly, yet they committed irresponsible crimes knowing that Chief Curbin would bear all the responsibility.
“Pests need to die like pests.”
Chief Curbin murmured quietly. Her tightly clenched fist trembled slightly.
