This is a Reminia-focused chapter.
The Magic Beast Front had settled. The festival noise that had shaken the kingdom had died down. But in the royal capital, a rumor was spreading-one that made every citizen shake.
Street killings.
Hardly uncommon. Adventurers and knights drunk on their own strength often came out at night to cut down people walking. The Lexenil Kingdom's famous Magic Military Police always looked into it and worked to catch those responsible. Yes, street killings were scary, but this was a time when people walked around openly carrying weapons. Anyone who was too scared of such things to walk the streets was called a coward.
But this time, the street killings were a little different.
For one, the victims were only B-rank or higher Adventurers-people of proven ability. And despite the line of attacks, no one had been killed yet, which set these events apart from the usual. According to what witnesses said, victims felt as though they were being "tested."
"Street testing rather than street killing?" the question, given with an almost funny tone, came from none other than the rare genius and [Great Hero (Legend)] herself: Reminia Midres.
Beside her, Secretary Hashiry held his head in his hands. The large man seated on the sofa opposite them-General Zehes of Lexenil Kingdom's proud military-twitched his brow beneath his war paint.
"So," Reminia said flatly, "you're saying you came all this way yourself because you were worried about us?"
Zehes's jaw tightened. In terms of rank, he was clearly higher, but Reminia showed no plan to give him respect. And while he was a man who believed in skill over status, it was hard to stay angry at someone who'd beaten you once before. Besides, even if he tried to tell her how to act properly, she didn't seem like the type to listen well. In a way, he'd wanted to see the face of the father she boasted so much about.
Noticing Zehes's worsening expression, Hashiry quickly changed the subject. "How's the investigation comin' along, sir?"
"Actually, we've already found a suspect."
"Oh, that's boring," Reminia said, pouting. "I wanted to try my hand at a real mystery case at least once."
Her latest interest was entertainment novels-especially quiz-style whodunits. In the corner of her room, she'd stacked her finished books, carefully hidden from Zehes's view.
"We'll leave the actual arrest to the Military Police. The real problem is this-someone made off with the [National Battle Strength Roster]."
"The Roster!?"
The [National Battle Strength Roster] was a list containing the names of B-rank and higher Adventurers along with other strong people. It listed names, ages, addresses, jobs, skills, and achievements with careful detail. If it ever hit the black market, the information alone was said to be worth enough to build a castle. The list was stored under heavy security in two locations-the royal palace and the Lexenil Guild headquarters-and in times of trouble, it served as the basis for calling up people.
"We think there's some connection between the one at fault and these street killings."
The person doing it was targeting B-rank and higher individuals with exact aim in these "street tests". Even hidden powerhouses-people who couldn't possibly be known without the Roster-had been attacked, making it clear that the [National Battle Strength Roster] had been stolen and used wrongly for these tests.
Reminia listened, then tilted her head. "Stolen by the one at fault, you mean?"
"That's not possible," Hashiry cut in. "The [National Battle Strength Roster] is a state secret of the highest order. It's kept in the deepest room of the Royal Archives behind a magical lock. Without openin' that, gettin' it should be impossible."
"And only the state-employed [Key Masters] can open it," Zehes added.
Key Masters were people having the skill to open magically sealed doors, chests, and the like. It was an extremely special job, with very few who could do it. Those with level 6 or higher unlocking skills-by Lexenil Kingdom's rules-were given treatment like a vice minister of foreign affairs, so hard was it to find such talent.
There were two [Key Masters] in the kingdom. Both served as archivists at the Royal Archives.
The first was Bell Spicca. Age twenty-six. Female. Unmarried. She had a clear love for entertainment and, despite her high pay, carried large debts. She was currently seeing three men-all apparently after her full figure and money (per an MMP statement).
The second was Greta Oken. Age forty-five. Male. Married with children. Spicca's boss. Unlike his showy subordinate, he was a man so serious it was like he wore "responsible" as his clothes. His work was exact; his stiffness, however, meant he never stayed late. He was a workaholic who simply went between office and home, with his only pleasure being an evening drink at a tavern before returning home.
"Both have already gone through level-five questioning," Zehes said. "The Military Police see them as clean."
"Level five," Hashiry said quietly. "That must have been quite the hardship."
While the kingdom's laws banned physical torture of underlings, magical mental pain and control were actively encouraged. Level five was said to cause suffering strong enough to make even hardened Adventurers run away barefoot. That these two civil workers had gone through such questioning gave weight to the Military Police's judgment.
"Got any leads on the timing of the crime?" Reminia asked.
"The last check of the door's lock was done by another archivist," Zehes replied. "Time was late night. By the following morning, the magic door had been opened, and the [National Battle Strength Roster] had apparently disappeared into thin air."
"And what about alibis for the time of the crime, General?"
"...Both parties were reportedly in a state of severe drunkenness and said they had memory loss. Bell was seen drinking by the tavern owner and other customers-they confirmed she was drunk. As for Greta, no witnesses could confirm he was at the tavern, maybe because he has a habit of blending into the background even when drinking, but his bag apparently had a receipt from the place."
After this long explanation, Zehes sat back on the sofa. Leaning forward slightly, he fixed Reminia with a look.
"And now-the main matter. Reminia Midres... I've got a question for you, given your name as a genius."
"What is it? You're making it sound creepy."
"Can you use the [Unlocking] skill?"
"That's a dumb question, General. I can open not just this kingdom's magic doors, but even the holy reliquaries from the old age."
Reminia puffed out her chest.
* * *
"What's the meaning of this!?"
Reminia clung to the bars of her cell, shouting. Solid stone walls surrounded her on all sides. The smell of rot hung in the air, and a rat ran past her feet. A far cry from the laboratory she'd been in moments ago-this place was cold and harsh.
It was the dungeon beneath the royal palace, a prison for civil workers and court staff who'd broken the law.
On the other side of the bars-that is, standing in the hallway-Hashiry let out a deep sigh.
"Reminia, you do have your empty-headed moments, you know," Hashiry said. "You basically went and told them, 'I can open any door you want.' Of course they'd suspect you."
"But I didn't do anything!"
The fifteen-year-old girl puffed out her cheeks in a pout. She looked rather sweet, and Hashiry felt himself blush slightly.
Then, suddenly, Reminia turned her face away and raised her voice to a shout.
"Paaaaapaaaaa!! Help meeeeee!!"
"He can't hear you, you know. We're underground. And Nikaras isn't that way."
Hashiry gave his usual flat reply to her boss's typical spaciness. Reminia, now fully sulking, sat down heavily on the cold stone floor.
"You just have to be patient for a while," Hashiry said. "Once they catch the real criminal and the investigation moves forward, you'll be let out."
"I already know who the one at fault is."
"Huh? The street killer, you mean?"
"Not interested in that one. Looking into it is a waste of time. What I'm talking about is the one who stole the [National Battle Strength Roster]."
"Wait, who exactly are you talkin' about?"
"Before that-tell me something. Is it really that easy for a State Key Master to get in and out of a magic door?"
"...? No, there are several steps they have to follow to use the skill."
First, they had to submit a written reason for opening the door and get signatures from all related departments. Finally, they had to get a document known as the [Royal Seal], personally okayed by the King himself, before a [Key Master] could use their skill.
"[Key Masters] can't use their skill without the [Royal Seal]. After usin' the skill and finishin' their business, they do a self-seal on the ability-in plain terms, they make themselves forget they can even use it," Hashiry explained. "The [Royal Seal] is the key that unlocks that seal."
However, getting the [Royal Seal] wasn't an especially high bar if the [Key Master] applied themselves. With a proper reason, they could have it issued at any time.
After listening to the explanation, Reminia suddenly slapped her knee.
"Ohhhh! That's simple thinking, isn't it?"
"What have you figured out?"
"Hate to be a bother, but go fetch General Zehes for me. And have the two suspects brought here too."
"All right, but... are you sure about this?"
"I'm sure. By my father's name-and by his wolf's too."
It was the kind of line that might've come straight out of one of her mystery novels. Hearing it, Hashiry realized-Reminia had only stuck her neck into this mess because she'd wanted to say exactly that.
Summary:
The chapter opens with the royal capital in post-battle calm before a new danger arises - street killings targeting B-rank adventurers without deaths. General Zehes comes to ask Reminia about the theft of the [National Battle Strength Roster], showing that the two Key Masters have alibis about being drunk and having memory gaps. Reminia is put in prison for bragging about her unlocking abilities, then suddenly says she knows the true thief and demands Zehes and the suspects be brought before her.
Notes:
• Reminia - Fifteen-year-old Great Hero of Straval and researcher of the Double World Theory, this willful, intelligent girl sports striking red hair, amethyst eyes, and a slender build. A dedicated protector of her father, Wolf, she balances a tomboyish exterior with immense, limited-use magic—including holy relics and teleportation. Her speech shifts between analytical precision and deep devotion to him.
• Hashiry - A 24-year-old A-class mage and researcher at the Royal Magical Research Institute, she is Reminia’s tall, slender, white-haired advisor and secretary. Sporting a white and gold jacket, boyish features, and pale blue eyes, she balances professional, patient service with a playful, teasing dynamic. Often exasperated by Reminia’s overprotectiveness, she observes her superior's magical feats with disbelief.
• Zehes - Graf's family name. The Fierce general of Lexenil Kingdom.
• Spicca - Bell's family name.
• Bell - State-employed Key Master. Age twenty-six. Female, unmarried. Fond of entertainment and carries substantial debts. Currently seeing three men.
• Bel - Red-haired suspect with a casual, whiny speech pattern. Complains about being interrogated. Claims to have had an appointment after the questioning. One of the two main suspects in the crime.
• Greta - Formal and meticulous suspect with polished glasses. Works in the royal palace. Subjected to level-five interrogation without confessing. Eventually reveals herself as the true culprit after her memory seal is removed.
• Oken - Gretas family name.