TYND 61

This world’s dangerous.

Theon looked down at the peacefully sleeping Rothy and came to this sudden realisation. Slippery rocks, stairs in lodgings, gaps in lifts, the thresholds at the doorway……

Even the height of this bed was concerning. 

What were they thinking, making a bed this high? If someone had poor sleeping habits, they could roll off and hurt themselves from this height. For Rothy, who lacked physical strength and athletic ability, this world was full of too many dangers.

He needs training.

Theon started to think about what kind of training would be appropriate for Rothy. However…physical conditioning typically involved bruising skin and tearing muscles, so could he really put Rothy through such difficult and painful training? If Rothy so much as let out an ‘Ah’, he would stop right there. Besides, even with such conditioning, he would still feel anxious. There were simply too many dangers in this world. 

I’ve no choice but to stay by his side always……

Theon pulled up Rothy’s blanket with this thought.

Scree

The weasel sprawled at the head of the bed blinked and yawned.

“Guard your master well.”

Scree…

The weasel answered sluggishly and burrowed toward Rothy’s nape. Though it’d its own cradle, it chose to be near Rothy. It must’ve understood what he’d said.

Theon lightly touched Rothy’s soft cheek with his fingertip, enjoying the plumpness.

I should pray to Seará soon.

He’d dreamt of the future only once and never again after that. Still, he had continued praying to Seará occasionally, hoping to receive another revelation. This time, he considered going to the chapel to offer a formal prayer. He couldn’t give up on receiving revelations because there were questions that could only be resolved through knowledge of the future. Leaving the bedroom, he moved to the study. There, the communication orb was glowing on the desk. 

He closed the door and answered. Chungnip appeared on the other side, looking slightly worn. 

—Your Grace, it feels like it’s been ages since I last saw you. Are you enjoying your time?

“How did it go?”

—One succeeded and one failed. The younger one had strong mental defences. 

—Are you connected with His Grace?

As Zey approached, Chungnip got up. Zey then took the seat he’d been using.

—Lord Rothy must be sleeping, I suppose?

“……”

—Sorry. I’ll skip the pointless chatter and get to the point. The adult’s a First-class instructor, and the kid’s a second-class assassin as we knew. I assumed he was experienced, but that wasn’t the case. This was his first mission. Despite the lack of experience, his mental defence’s stronger than the instructor’s. The instructor responded to the brainwashing spell, but it’s still a struggle with the kid.”

“You’ve already started the brainwashing?”

—Only the first stage. Since it takes time for the brainwashing specialist to arrive, we’d to start first.”

This was the usual interrogation process:

Step one, extract all the information and wipe the mind clean. 

Step two, overwrite it with whatever information they wanted planted.

If the instructor from The Mandate responded fully to the brainwashing, he’d eventually testify in an international tribunal, exposing Ken Bane’s various inhumane acts.

—According to the instructor, the second-class assassin’s name is Naran Daisy. He was originally a child from Solten’s slums who was sold to The Mandate when he was young. He consistently attempted to escape before turning ten, but after learning dark magic properly, he realised there was no way to remove The Mandate’s curse mark and behaved himself.

“……”

—Typically, teenagers would be ranked fifth-class or at best fourth-class, but Naran Daisy showed remarkable talent in dark magic and excellent defence against interrogation and brainwashing, so he was promoted to second-class assassin. The head of The Mandate personally appointed him, making him a promising talent within the guild.

—That makes sense. Neither my interrogation magic nor brainwashing magic works on him at all. He’s an incredible talent.

Chungnip was among the continent’s top high-level mages. The fact that sixteen-year-old Naran Daisy could defend against his magic meant the kid had exceptionally strong mental power. There was also a real possibility that The Mandate’s own brainwashing hadn’t worked on him either. 

If that were the case, 

“I’ve a grudge against The Mandate. Let’s make a deal. I’ll give you all the information about them if you release me.”

That mightn’t have been a bluff after all.

—I think we need to consult a mage who handles interrogation and brainwashing magic better than I do.

“We’re not asking Rothy to do it.”

—Of course not. Lord Rothy wouldn’t have mastered interrogation and brainwashing magic in the first place. 

“……”

Seeing Theon’s expression, Zey and Chungnip sighed.

—So he did master it…… Is there any magic he hasn’t learnt?

From the other end of the orb, a curse came through, ‘Yolone Sirin, you bastard’. 

—Who should we contact for a brainwashing specialist?

“Put in a request to the Northern Assassins’ Guild. They specialise in brainwashing. House Falsen has an alias we used with the underground merchants. Count Yemvei will know it.”

—Yes, understood.

“This can be all you’ve discovered.

—Of course not. That instructor turned out to be higher ranked than we expected. He’s got a near complete grasp on the dealings between The Mandate, the royal family of Givarche, and the Royal Mage Tower. He’s like a walking ledger. If we use this right, we can dry up their funding.

Zey smirked as she listed off the information they’d uncovered. As Theon listened, it was clear these were quality information. Some of it would be especially useful in an international tribunal. 

—Recently, they’ve been plotting something related to Duchess Yilaine Bane. Looks like they want to eliminate her before she could ascend the throne. 

“If you get anything on that, inform them immediately. Don’t wait for my permission.”

—Yes, Your Grace.”

“Also, move Naran Daisy to the above-ground prison.”

—You mean we should treat him as a model prisoner. Understood.

“I’ll hear the rest tomorrow. I need to feed Rothy dinner.”

—Ah, I’m so jealous. I want to see him having dinner too.

—Me too.

—Lord Rothy’s eyes must’ve sparkled like real stars when viewing the Milky Way Waterfall.

Normally, Theon would’ve mercilessly cut off the small talk. But instead, he smiled. 

“Yes, his eyes were very cute and beautiful.”

—……

Zey and Chungnip’s expressions soured as this wasn’t the response they’d expected from him. Theon enjoyed the look on their faces before ending the communication. 

Since he’d to get Rothy fed, he gently woke the peacefully sleeping boy and carried him down to the restaurant. Chi-chi perked up its ears when Theon said Rothy’s name, then yawned and sluggishly climbed onto Rothy’s body. The reason they came down to the restaurant instead of ordering room service was because……

“Whoaaaa~”

Screeeee

“Wooooooow~”

Screeeeeee

He’d brought Rothy here because he wanted to show him the Milky Way Falls at sunset. The scenery where the pitch-black waterfall flowing with twinkling stars met the red-tinted sky created a splendidly magical spectacle. Many in the restaurant were so captivated by the beautiful scenery they didn’t even notice the arrival of the ducal couple. 

Rothy and Chi-chi’s reactions were no different than the other guests. They were instantly captivated the moment they stepped into the restaurant. Rothy’s nose and cheeks were pressed against the window. Theon was secretly smiling at Rothy as he slipped an arm in front of him.

“Leaning against the glass is dangerous.”

“Mhm. It’s really beautiful. You’re looking too, right, Theon?”

“I am.”

“It would’ve been nice if Chungnip and Zey and Ultje and Xeon and Barry and Aeruhen and Hee-hee could all come and see this.”

“You’re really busy taking care of everyone. But they’ll get a chance one day.”

“Then we can come again with everyone next time……”

“Of course. Not just once, but more than ten times, more than a hundred times.”

“I love it!”

Rothy threw himself into Theon’s arms who in turn rubbed his back, looking more content than ever.

The meal was set up so they could eat while watching the waterfall. Instead of sitting face to face, they sat side by side. Rothy’s face was as bright as a flower in full bloom, and his emerald eyes overflowed with happiness and joy. Theon was very pleased to see he ate more than what he had at lunch. 

Rothy, who was feeding a small rice cake no bigger than the size of a fingernail to Chi-chi for dessert, suddenly asked Theon, 

“How did you do the brainwashing? I don’t think Chungnip could have done it.”

“……It’ll need a specialist.”

“Me?”

Rothy’s sparkling eyes as he asked made Theon swallow a sigh. 

“Someone else.”

“Mhhng… I see.”

Rothy’s whole body drooped slightly. Fortunately, he didn’t insist on doing the brainwashing himself. He did, however, purse his lips as if slightly upset. Theon found this behaviour unfamiliar. Until now, Rothy would become listless but had never pouted… This meant he’d opened his heart that much more, that he trusted him that much more.

Coming to Elsea Falls had been the right choice.

“You’re still a child, Rothy.”

“A child……?”

“Yes. A child who needs adult protection. Interrogation and brainwashing are adult responsibilities, so you shouldn’t worry about such things and just enjoy beautiful waterfalls like this.”

“But sixteen isn’t a child. It’s old enough to become a squire, or an apprentice mage, and even to get married…”

Rothy fiddled with the fur of the weasel that was busily nibbling on grapes.

“You know… Even though I’m married, I can’t do the things a spouse should do because I’m still ‘too young’.”

“What do you mean by ‘should do’?”

“Like sex.”

“……”