Esther tilts her head there.
"I've felt it was strange since the first time we met, but why are you acting friendly with me? I have no personal relationship with you. And normally, someone should be a little scared of a warden. Even now, you don't know anything about me."
She looks at me with suspicion.
"It's the same now. I've seen your power. I would understand if you threatened me with force. But what are you doing? In case you haven't noticed, let me be clear: I don't like you. I don't like that smug face that doesn't know what you're thinking. Being with you makes me feel weird too."
Esther's eyes held a considerable amount of vigilance.
I guess that's understandable. My one-sided friendliness. If I were in the opposite position, I would be suspicious too.
But there's nothing I can do about it.
"I can't help it if you hate me. It's unfortunate."
"Everyone likes good people, right? Just and moral people. I just like those kinds of people too."
"...Are you making fun of me?"
Esther growls with a sharp look.
"There aren't many people like you who I can trust without any worries."
Esther doesn't know herself well.
An executor who follows the god of justice, Eustitia, and uses her divine power.
But honestly, from my perspective, having had several major experiences with gods, I have doubts.
Is Eustitia truly more just than Esther?
Is she more pure than her?
Even if she is a god, it wouldn't be an easy task.
"I can trust you completely."
If I didn't know who the character Esther was, I could have reacted the way Esther wanted.
Or if it was a character like Philly, who couldn't predict what choice they would make.
But Esther is not like that.
Esther's definition is 'without wordplay.'
Her nobility is 'being able to hold her head up without a hint of shame.'
Even though she has the title of prison warden, a cold face, and a terrifying image of mercilessness towards criminals.
Always, a character with definite goodness.
For me, who knows this clearly, being wary of Esther or holding back my goodwill is really not an easy task.
"So I'm asking you. Why would I threaten you? It would only mean that I'm doing something wrong at that moment."
"…So what exactly do you know about me to say such a thing?"
"Is it important how I know? What matters is the truth."
At this point, Esther could still refuse my proposal.
"Even so, I won't resort to force or threats. I would rather take some risks and ask the Imperial Palace for documents.
I don't want to be at odds with Esther that much.
Esther, after staring at me for a while, scratched her head and shouted.
She has a foul mouth for a noble person, huh.
"Fine, you're not an outsider anyway. I'll allow it this time."
"Because you're my friend after all."
"Why am I your friend!"
At my words, Esther sighed.
"......I'm not sure if this is a good idea."
Esther is always worrying about unnecessary things.
"Because you always have good ideas."
Esther retorted as if spitting out, and then picked up the phone.
She was making a call to someone and conveying something. From what I could hear, it seemed like she was summoning Hagley to the interrogation room.
I got up following Esther, who had stood up first.
In the meantime, my gaze briefly went to the full-length mirror located on one side of the room.
If measured by time, it was a moment that didn't even last a second.
However, no matter how short the mistake was, a mistake is still a mistake.
Her ability, the mirror clone.
"Yeah, sorry. I know."
"Hmph. It's not like I'm hiding it. I wonder how you know, but most of the people who move with me in this prison know."
"…Those clones, they were the reason you were so thorough in your life here?"
Esther's eyes widened at my words.
"I know everything about you."
At that moment, the Esther beyond the mirror waved her hand gently towards me.
"The Esther over there is kind."
"It means she's fake."
In a sense, it was a sharp distinction, and I silently followed behind Esther.
As soon as we arrived at the interrogation room, Hagley was already there beyond the glass.
Hagley's face was covered with band-aids and gauze. It was obviously a wound from being hit.
It was obvious who had done that to him without even looking.
Hagley, of course, couldn't see this side, so his gaze lingered in the air.
"Frondier, I'll allow you to meet him for now, but don't drag it out too long. It's already risky for you to be visiting."
Do it quickly if you're going to do it. I got the message loud and clear.
"And that guy doesn't talk properly. He has no intention of opening his mouth about the really important information."
Well, that's to be expected. To Hagley, the ancient language is a study into which he has poured almost his entire life.
"He doesn't respond to interrogation. What are you going to do?"
He doesn't respond to interrogation.
"I'll make him respond."
"......You're funny. If you want to meet him, open that door and go out, no, Frondier!"
I headed towards the door while listening to Esther's words. Or did I not listen to everything she said? Anyway.
I opened the interrogation room, entered, and before I could even see the surprise in Hagley's eyes when he saw me.
I kicked the chair he was sitting on and knocked it over.
I approached the guy who had fallen with the chair, crouched down, and looked down at him.
Hagley's eyes quickly changed from surprise to contempt and anger.
Seeing that, I gave a sincere smile.
"What did you babble to my brother?"