CH 30

Dog of the Institution

“What do you mean, interrogate him?”

“Exactly as I said.”

I respond to Oz’s question as I approach the man by my feet.

“I had given up on removing the poison for committing suicide because it would take too much time. But with Oz here, that is no longer a problem…I will take some time to interrogate this man. So, Oz, in the meantime, keep an eye on Mize.”

I pry open the lips of the fallen man, who was facing upwards, and observe the pouch of poison for committing suicide hidden behind his molars. The poison was in an almost transparent pouch. It was attached in a special manner; if one was not careful in removing the adhesive side, the pouch would tear.

“No, no, wait a minute. In the first place, do you even need to interrogate him?”

Oz asks me while I was thinking of ways to remove the poison.

“…Oz. I am doubting the accuracy of the information given by the Bureau.”

As I try to explain, Oz tilted her head in confusion.

Reluctantly, I have to explain in more detail.

“The enemy is said to be a group of bandits who are after the ransom…Normally, with this many corpses, they should have decided that it wasn’t worth the risk and taken their hands off.”

Honestly, I didn’t expect the escort mission to last this long.

Assuming that in the current situation, the enemies all belong to one organization, I have already dealt them a grievous blow. Normally, they would have already taken their hands off much earlier. In the first place, I have been killing the enemies with that intention.

“The enemy is oddly well-equipped. Especially their poison…The raw materials for that poison are difficult to come by, and it is sold at a high price. The fact that they are able to prepare them in large quantities suggests that they might have gotten some large backer–”

“Hey, about that.”

Completely different from how she usually seems.

Oz spoke in a terrible, dispassionate tone.

“–Are you doubting the Bureau?”

In response to Oz, who asked me in a freezing tone of voice, I answered.

“That isn’t the case. I just think that the Bureau might have made some mistaken assumptions. That’s why I want to interrogate–”

“Even if that’s the case, then why don’t you ask the Bureau for help? You don’t necessarily have to be the one to interrogate him, 28.”

Usually, Oz behaves like a child, befitting of her age– but she is still a former agent of the Organization.

She’s perceptive.

“You’re right…sorry, I lied to you a bit.”

I tried to explain it as if “I have no choice but to do this for the sake of the mission”, but in reality, this had nothing to do with the mission.

Now that I have been seen through, I should tell Oz my true intentions.

“Oz. I am Mize’s escort, but before that, I am Mize’s friend.”

“…so?”

“If the Bureau plans to endanger Mize– I will prevent that from happening.”

If they really are just a group of bandits who are after the ransom, then why are they so obsessed with just Mize?

Why did the Bureau and Chris only give the bare minimum amount of information needed?

And– the mysterious sense of déjà vu that Mize has been experiencing recently.

— Maybe there’s something more to Mize.

How does the Bureau intend to handle it?

As Mize’s friend, I want to know that.

“Hmm, about that. Let’s suppose? Suppose that the Bureau is withholding information from us, then isn’t it something we shouldn’t know? I mean, it happens. There are some times when information is so important that those who know of it are disposed of. Couldn’t that be the case?”

That’s true, Chris probably doesn’t want us to die meaninglessly. There’s a high chance that if the Bureau is hiding information from us, then it is out of their consideration for us.

But– the Bureau is an institution that operates in the best interests of the state.

When they say that it was out of consideration for us, they mean out of consideration for our ability to defend the country, not out of consideration for our personal feelings and desires.

If Mize would cause this country harm, the Bureau will mercilessly eliminate her.

I’m sure that Chris saw through me, that I would want to stop that.

Maybe they only gave me the bare minimum amount of information because they didn’t want me to make a move when the time came.

That’s why, I wanted to obtain information behind the Bureau’s back–.

“I don’t understand why. But if you want to do it no matter what, why don’t you make sure to properly get permission for it first?”

While it sounds like a question, Oz’s eyes look like they don’t want to hear my opinion. This isn’t a proposal, but a concession. To Oz, my actions may seem incomprehensible. But nevertheless, she is willing to cooperate as long as I get permission…is what she is implying.

“…you’re right. I’ll get permission.”

“Yup yup, I mean, isn’t that obvious? You aren’t qualified to be a soldier if you do anything other than what is ordered.”

Oz cheerfully says.

Inwardly, I was filled with the desire to click my tongue.

The plan was to interrogate the enemy here with Oz’s cooperation, but at this rate, it is unlikely that I will receive any cooperation. Reluctantly, I take out my [Communication Paper] and contact Chris.

“Chris.”

“What?”

I increase the volume of my [Communication Paper] so that Oz could hear Chris’ voice.

“I have captured 1 enemy. Requesting permission to interrogate.”

After I directly stated my business, Chris went silent for a while. After that, I could hear some shuffling noises. Chris must have been unable to decide on a response at her own discretion, so she may have asked a third party for instructions.

“Permission denied. Make sure to kill any captured enemies.”

The answer I expected comes.

Immediately after– snap. There is the unpleasant sound of something breaking.

When I looked back, Oz had activated <Rage>, and trampled on the fallen man’s neck.

Looking at the man’s throat, which had been crushed flat, I called out to Oz.

“…how resolute of you.”

“Why? This is normal. Because that was the order now, wasn’t it?”

In response to Oz, who flatly speaks, I keep my mouth shut.

— The me from before, was also like this.

I feel a clear difference between myself and Oz.

There is a difference of understanding between me, who has decided to stop being a dog of the state, and Oz, who hasn’t.

Oz probably doesn’t see any value in anything other than following the Bureau’s orders now. That was far from “normal”. It’s no exaggeration to say that this is why the agents of the Organization were deemed heretics.

I shuddered.

Have I really not been aware of this discomforting feeling?

“28…you’ve changed somehow.”

“Do you mean that in a good way?”

“Hmm, I wonder. At least, if I see you on the battlefield as you are now, I’ll report it to the higher-ups.”

“This isn’t a battlefield…Oz, the Great War is already over. Until when will you cling to the values of the past–”

I immediately stop speaking and turn my body.

The incoming silver-coloured knife grazed my left cheek.

“Ahaha, thank goodness. Your head might have dulled, but your reflexes sure haven’t.”

Oz turned on her heels, returning the knife she was holding out to her pocket.

As I watched her retreating figure, I remember her background.

Oz was picked up by the previous 02, and even though she was just a little girl of a tender age, he became her mentor. The people of the Organization scornfully laughed at Oz’s actions. No one predicted that someone who came from nowhere would take over the position of 02.

But contrary to their expectations, Oz had arrived at the previous 02’s place after making a blood-soaked effort.

That she was blessed with extraordinarily good fortune played a part. That she was blessed with an extremely high level of talent also played a part.

However…there was no way she had become that strong without making any sacrifices.

The girl before my eyes, just what had she sacrificed to become the current 02.

I felt as if I caught a glimpse of it, and I felt terrible.

Author’s Note:

{Omake}

I thought I’d put this short dialogue in but didn’t.

“If the Bureau plans to endanger Mize– I will prevent that from happening.”

“…just for Mize?”

“Hey, you, what’s with that kind of mood now? Oi.”

“Sorry.”