IMTMIA 8

Chapter 8

Favor That Becomes a Burden

Translator: Rae

***

"Are you going to do it… today?”

Since the patient might overhear, Asili couldn’t bring herself to use the word interrogation.

Jude didn’t give a specific answer, but if that weren’t the case, he wouldn’t have come to the room himself. It was easy enough to guess.

Of course, she had no intention of stopping him.

If he had decided to proceed now, there must be a valid reason that she didn’t know about. Something that was considered important enough for him to personally conduct the interrogation.

“I’ll be waiting outside. You might need me if you want to get the answers you're looking for.”

The patient—the spy, that is—had neither eaten nor drunk, nor had he taken his prescribed medicine. Furthermore, he was rebellious and stubborn.

He wouldn't confess that easily, and due to his slow recovery, she wondered how long he could endure an interrogation. Even more so if torture was involved.

Though, of course, she couldn't even imagine Jude doing something so cruel.

“...I’ll keep that in mind.”

Jude's answer came out belatedly. Was he agreeing, or was he still being stubborn? Asili’s suddenly compliant attitude seemed somewhat suspicious to him.

Despite his strange look, Asili gave him a calm bow and stepped out of the room.

***

 

Thwack. The spy's face snapped to the side. As if blood had pooled in his mouth, the spy spat out blood-stained saliva.

He lifted his blood-covered face and smirked at Jude.

“Even a child from Reisen wouldn't open their mouth for child's play like this.”

Despite the spy's provocation, Jude simply watched with his arms crossed, his expression unchanging. Having called it an interrogation, his utter lack of interest made the spy suddenly suspicious.

Is he up to something? Or is this just a formal interrogation? But if it were the latter, the commander wouldn't have come in person. No, regardless of whether it was formal or not, was it normal to watch the interrogation of a mere spy when he wasn't even a high-ranking official? Usually, he would just receive a final report later.

While Ignoring the spy's confusion, Jude stared vacantly out the window before giving an order.

“The medical officer should be outside. Bring her in.”

“Yes, sir.”

A moment later, Ashili stepped into the room and froze at the sight inside.

The patient, bound to a chair, looked unable to support himself, and trails of blood dripped from his hung head. It wasn't exactly torture, but the signs of a beating were clear.

“Check his condition, Doctor.”

As soon as the permission was granted, Asili approached the bound spy. The moment she reached out, he lifted his head. She saw a severely swollen eye, a split lip, and red bruises. When she touched him, the spy flinched and pulled his face away.

Through his swollen, obscured vision, he saw Asili as a blur. A gentle-looking woman who, despite him being an enemy, didn't find him repulsive and treated him diligently. Ridiculously, seeing her made him feel at ease.

“You’re even providing treatment? Unexpectedly soft, isn't he? The Grand Duke of Eupendea.”

However, the words he stammered out with slurred pronunciation were covered in mockery.

“Unlike Reisen, we tend to follow humanitarian agreements.”

“Ah, humanitarianism. I suppose you have the luxury to worry about such things now?”

While pushing back the front lines after retreating during the early, unfavorable stages of the war, Jude had left no room for mercy.

Knowing that being stabbed in the back while marching east toward Reisen would be irreversible, he employed a scorched-earth tactic, regardless of the time and resources it cost.

And yet, humanitarianism? He’s going to care about humanitarianism now that the end of the war is in sight?

Thinking of the countless people who had perished under his army, the spy felt he had no right to survive comfortably while receiving treatment.

"Doctor."

Ashilly, who had been standing still in silence, moved her hands again at the sound of Jude's voice.

The spy's words criticized Jude's cruelty, but from an ally's perspective, it was merely the coldness required to lead a war to victory. A perfect victory for the Eupendea Allied Forces was a devastating defeat for the Reisen Alliance.

Evaluation is bound to differ depending on which group one belongs to, but Asili felt a sense of alienation. The fact that Jude—of all people—was being evaluated this way was hard to believe, clashing with her memories of the past.

“Can I keep this little one? I think its mother abandoned it.”

It was especially so when she remembered him coming in flustered, holding a shivering little puppy.

There were times when she wondered how such a man, who didn't know what to do for fear of hurting the puppy by holding it wrong, could ever go to war.

Of course, time passes and people change, but Asili was bewildered whenever she faced the gap between the man of the past and the man of the present.

"Ugh. Gah!"

At that moment, the spy's eyes rolled back, and he began to convulse. Asili, who had been cutting gauze soaked in disinfectant, jumped up to check his pupils first.

“A seizure? Did you use drugs?”

“No, sir.”

Then is it PSVT (Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia)? It could also be due to an infection.

"I need to lay him down first. Loosen everything that's tight."

The soldier glanced at Jude, who gave a nod. Following Asili’s instructions, he untied the cords binding the spy to the back of the chair.

The moment she tried to lift the jaw of the violently shaking patient to secure his airway, her arm was grabbed, and Asili was suddenly yanked away.

In an instant, the spy wrapped his arm around Asili’s neck and pressed sharp scissor blades against her throat. A thin stream of blood flowed wide down along the blade.

“Don't move. Unless you want me to k*ll the doctor.”

“...What do you want? A safe escape?”

After instructing the soldier to step back, Jude slowly drew a handgun from its black leather holster.

The more he moved, the deeper the spy's blades pressed into Asili’s neck.

The trail of blood, which drip down thicker than before, slowly trickled down.

“Don't try anything funny. I won't d*e alone.”

“Ah, that would be a bit of a shame. We're short on medical staff.”

Tap tap. His muzzle, which had been playfully brushing against her hair, now aimed at the spy.

If he missed, or if the spy shifted just slightly, Asili would be hit, yet Jude showed no hesitation.

“I’ll give you what you want, so why don't you make this easy?”

“...”

“I’ll take that as a yes, then.”

The moment Jude's finger was about to pull the trigger, Asili squeezed her eyes shut.

Bang! A gunshot loud enough to make her ears ring pierced through. Simultaneously, hot, sticky blood splattered all over Asili’s hair and face.

“...”

She was so shocked that she couldn't even make a sound. It felt as if her entire vision had turned crimson. As she slowly wiped her face, her palms were stained thick with red blood.

She slowly lifted her head again. Jude was holstering his gun without a single change in his expression.

"Clear it out."

"Yes, sir."

"Ah, and Doctor—keep your mouth shut about this. Officially, this man is still alive. Do you understand?"

After confirming her slowly blinking green eyes, Jude walked out of the hospital room.

He didn't even ask if she was okay. No—forget words, his face didn't even show a flicker of emotion.

"Are you alright, Doctor?"

As Asili stood there in a daze, one of the soldiers approached her and asked with concern.

She might be used to blood, but having a head explode right next to her was bound to be a shock, even for a doctor.

“Yes... y-yes...”

After barely managing to answer, Asili began to haphazardly gather the medicine, gauze, and bandages scattered across the floor. With every movement, sticky blood clung to her hands.

“Leave it. I don’t think they can be used anymore anyway.”

"Ah...”

Right. The white gauze and bandages were contaminated with bright red, and the medicine... ah.

She couldn't bring herself to use them.

Asili stood up awkwardly.

“Then, if I may... phew. Can I leave now?"

“Please, go ahead."

With unfocused eyes, Asili took a dazed step forward. Refusing the soldier’s kind offer to escort her—perhaps because he looked genuinely worried—she fled the hospital room as if escaping.

Even as she passed through the hallway and stepped onto the stairs, her mind wasn't clear; she merely moved her legs like a clockwork doll.

She was so far gone that when someone suddenly grabbed her arm, she could only turn her head blankly.

“Pull yourself together.”

It was Jude. His brow furrowed slightly as he took in the sight of Asili’s neck, where the blades of the scissors had left a bloody mark. Fresh droplets of blood were still welling up and clumping amidst the dried stains.

What on earth had she been doing, staying in that room for so long without even treating her own wound?

Jude clicked his tongue briefly, pulled out a handkerchief, and pressed it firmly against Asili’s neck.

“Keep holding this here.”

“...Thank you.”

In her state of shock, she had forgotten about the wound where the scissors had cut the skin on her neck. Though she flinched slightly, Asili submissively accepted his kindness.

Looking down at the seemingly soul-weary woman, Jude added.

“It was su*c*de. He acted out violently on purpose to induce us to shoot him.”

“...”

“Leisen was on the brink of defeat, and his mission had failed. He was in a situation where he had no choice but d*ath, and since you showed him kindness, it was something he could exploit.”

“I…”

Her throat tightened, causing the end of her voice to crack.

Asili took a moment to catch her breath before opening her mouth to speak again.

***

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