Chapter 74: Esdeath: Kobayashi is Definitely Not a Spy
The original purpose for establishing the Jaegers was to counterbalance Night Raid and prevent troublemakers from stirring up wind and rain in the Imperial Capital. But now, only a few days had passed, and several Jaegers were already dead, while the troublemakers were growing even more rampant.
"What in the world is going on?!"
In the splendid and magnificent imperial palace, the little Emperor, sitting on the main throne, questioned with great authority, "General Esdeath, give Us an answer."
He had quite an imperial air for his young age.
Unfortunately...
"Is it alright for me to say that, Minister?"
The next second, he turned his head to ask the fat, middle-aged man beside him.
The boy's immaturity was perfectly displayed, showing that he was being manipulated by the Prime Minister, a mere puppet on a stage.
Munch, munch—
The Prime Minister, who was tearing at a raw steak, looked up.
He wiped the grease from his beard and praised him like a gentle elder. "Very well said, Your Majesty. But General Esdeath is a loyal servant of the state. We cannot reprimand and blame her so harshly."
"Is that so."
The little Emperor nodded, only half-understanding.
"Besides, this is not entirely General Esdeath's fault. It is the troublemakers who are too cunning. So let's hear the General's explanation first." Having had the little Emperor do the reprimanding first, the Minister now put on an act, playing the good cop.
"You are right, Minister."
The little Emperor nodded and looked down at Esdeath, who was kneeling on one knee. "Then, do you have an explanation, General Esdeath?"
"Yes."
Esdeath responded with a single word. "It is all my failure. I am willing to accept punishment."
This completely stumped the two of them.
Before the meeting, the Minister had told the little Emperor to just give her a little tap on the wrist and absolutely not to actually punish her. After all, Esdeath and the Minister had no direct conflict of interest; there was no need to blow a small matter out of proportion. Therefore, even if Esdeath had used a ridiculous reason like "I'm on my period and not feeling well," it would have been fine. But they never expected her to take all the responsibility.
But this was precisely her charm.
"Well... General Esdeath has only just returned, after all. It's excusable that she is not yet aware of the enemy's strength. Right, Your Majesty?"
"Y-you're right, Minister."
They were the ones asking the questions at the start, and now they were the ones finding excuses for her. It was ineffably comical.
"But this matter is still very strange," the Minister said very seriously. "The members of the Jaegers are all Teigu users. To lose three so quickly, there must be a problem."
"What does the Minister mean?" Esdeath tilted her head slightly.
The Minister didn't say it directly, but instead asked, "There is a new person in the General's unit, correct? I believe his name is Kobayashi?"
"Yes. He is a person I recruited myself."
"Does the General not suspect him at all?"
The members of the Jaegers were all personally selected by the Minister. He was clear about their origins, personalities, and strengths, so he knew that they would absolutely not die so quickly.
Unless... the enemy knew their weaknesses and specifically targeted them. And among the Jaegers, only Kobayashi was an unknown variable, so it was hard not to suspect him.
"Is the Minister saying he is a problem?"
Esdeath understood what he was implying, but before he could nod, she said, "Kobayashi is a person I recruited myself."
"But..."
"I believe in my subordinates. He cannot possibly be a traitor," Esdeath denied it decisively, her expression showing a hint of displeasure.
It was impossible to persuade her.
The Minister said no more, a glint in his eyes. Although he was evil, he had a good head on his shoulders and a clear understanding of everyone's position. Otherwise, he wouldn't be sitting in such a high position.
But now, the enemy was still rampant, and Esdeath was too confident. It seemed it was necessary to recall Syura.
"Damn it! Hiss—ouch, ouch, ouch!"
Wave slammed the table in frustration, but then grimaced in pain from his unhealed injuries.
"You should stop pushing yourself at a time like this," Kurome said to him coolly.
Wave clenched his fists and said through gritted teeth, "But Bols and Seryu were... damn it!"
He cursed under his breath. It was clear he was very angry. But having been seriously injured in a sneak attack right at the start, all he could do now was sit here in impotent rage.
"Bols and Seryu died because they were too weak. You can't blame anyone else," Esdeath's words were rather cold and heartless, but she then added, "But they were my subordinates and your comrades, after all. There's no helping it. We will have to avenge them."
"Ah! I will definitely avenge them!" Wave clenched his fists, his face a picture of determination.
Kurome suddenly interjected, "You should probably sit this one out, Wave. You're too weak."
This sentence almost broke the simple-minded young man on the spot. It was too much of a blow to his morale. He had finally gotten serious and wanted to show his determination, only to be mocked for being too weak in the next second. Who could accept that?
"I'm a Teigu user too, you know!"
"A Teigu user who was sent flying from inside the city to outside the city in a single blow?"
"That was a sneak attack!"
"But it's also a fact that you were sent flying out of the city and were seriously injured."
"Urk... I can't argue with that."
Wave's mouth opened and closed, but in the end, he could only admit that it was his failure.
Kobayashi also said with a look of disappointment, "I'm sorry, it's my fault too. I didn't manage to keep the Night Raid members here, and chose to run away instead."
A few cuts and bruises could still be seen on his face, and his clothes were a little messy, but he was much better off than Wave, who was wrapped in bandages from head to toe.
"It's not your fault, Kobayashi. It's all Wave's fault for being useless and getting sent flying in one hit."
Kurome comforted him while simultaneously belittling Wave.
Wave also comforted him. "That's right. To be able to escape from the siege of two Teigu users with only light injuries is already very well done."
If Kobayashi was at fault, then his own fault was even greater.
"Damn it! If we hadn't switched patrol areas last night, Bols and Seryu wouldn't have... Damn it! Hiss—ouch, ouch, ouch!"
Wave was both angry and annoyed. It was unclear if he was angry at his own incompetence or at the enemy for being so rampant.
"No, it's not your fault."
Esdeath said, "I was the one who asked you to switch. So if last night was indeed a deliberate ambush, then the ones who would be dead now would likely be you and Kobayashi."
This was also why she didn't suspect him.
In fact, she had been testing Kobayashi for a long time. From his refusal of her first invitation to his later initiative to join. It was impossible not to be suspicious.
So Esdeath had tested him multiple times. Even sleeping with him had a hint of a test... although the thought of testing him only occupied a tiny part of her mind.
But even when she let her guard down, Kobayashi had not made a move on her. In any sense of the word.
And last night, Wave had been with him the whole time. According to the intelligence, they had been attacked at the same time. There were only two enemies on their side, while Bols and Seryu had faced eight. It was obvious the enemy's goal was to use an overwhelming difference in strength to take out two of them, no matter who they were, while the other two were just to be held back to prevent them from providing support.
Furthermore, the change in patrol areas last night had been specially arranged by her. How could Kobayashi have possibly known what she was thinking in advance?
Therefore, Kobayashi was definitely not a spy!
—Reading her thoughts, a triumphant smile appeared on Kobayashi's lips.
(End of Chapter)