Chapter 97: An Academic Question

Chapter 97: An Academic Question

As Elaine spoke, her eyes tilted slightly upward, as though she had sunk into her memories.

“At first, I resold steel and coal shipped from the western coast of the Intersea to Feynapotter, then brought back local specialties such as tobacco, coffee, and cocoa to Intis. That was a coastal route. It was relatively safe, but competition was fierce. To escape my predicament as soon as possible, I saved capital while also working hard to raise my Sequence, hoping to enter colonial trade.

“Unfortunately, I had only just become familiar with the shipping route and earned some money. On my second trip to West Balam, I encountered Tracy’s plunder. At the time, she was still the Maiden of Sickness, not yet Vice Admiral Ailment. She had only one ship, but she herself was very strong. My partners and I resisted desperately, but there was no reversing it.

“She did not have a habit of indiscriminate slaughter. She only took the cargo, and… me…”

As expected of an anomaly among Demonesses… Klein listened quietly, using his Clown ability to suppress his awkwardness. Expressionlessly, he asked, “How far did things develop between you?”

“No!” Elaine instinctively denied it. “It was all forced by her! I—I did not want to die. I could only, only choose to endure it. And, and she is a woman!”

Madam, there is no need to react so intensely. If I had asked whether you two had already gone beyond friendship, would you not have jumped out of this carriage on the spot? It is because I am kind enough to consider your shame that I did not ask so directly… Sigh. Beneath the mask of the mad Gehrman Sparrow lies the gentlemanly me… This is the truest version of myself… Klein’s expression did not change. He moved to another question.

“What cuisine do you prefer? Are there any dishes you especially like? Do you prefer sweet, salty, or somewhere in between?

“What foods do you dislike? What are you allergic to?

“Do you have any habitual phrases? If so, what are they?

“…”

Question after question made Elaine feel as though she had entered a dream. It did not feel real enough.

She had never imagined the other party would ask such things. It was almost like a suitor asking about the preferences of the person he admired.

No, no suitor would ask like this! Those things are always drawn out indirectly through repeated conversations, or learned through other channels! No woman would enjoy being interrogated this way! This—this is more like the questionnaire invented by Emperor Roselle… What exactly does he want? He is asking these questions without a trace of expression. I am terrified… Elaine fell silent for several seconds. Under Klein’s cold, unwavering gaze, she answered them one by one.

Klein kept his forward-leaning posture unchanged and continued asking, “How do you usually sit? Do you have any habitual gestures…”

The more Elaine answered, the more fearful and uneasy she became. For no clear reason, she felt as though she might vanish because of this.

By the time this incomprehensible and frightening “questionnaire” ended, her heart had grown heavy. She kept suspecting that some unfortunate end awaited her.

Should I gamble and jump from the carriage while he is not paying attention? Elaine seriously considered the possibility.

However, the other party showed no sign of attacking her, so she remained unable to make up her mind, believing that there was still hope for a peaceful resolution.

After grasping Elaine’s personality, habits, and preferences, Klein returned the topic to Vice Admiral Ailment.

“What do you know about Tracy?”

Elaine fell silent. Her lips moved several times, but she could not speak.

The carriage traveled for quite a while before she finally gave a bitter smile.

“She has outstanding combat ability. She excels at stealth and curses, and can turn invisible and make herself lighter.

“She has mastered mirror and wand substitution techniques. She commands black flames and frost. She can…