】〓〓〓〓【

Jet

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I shake my foot in the air as I sit cross legged in a chair. An interrogation chair, my interrogation chair! The one I put people in! I feel my face burn as I fume. My smile probably looks pretty horrifying right now.

Finally the only person with the authority to put me in this position opens the door and sits down across the desk from me. He sighs and then steeples his hands. He looks me in the eyes before beginning.

“Captain Jet, Leader of the Second Squad of the Holdings estate nicknamed ‘the slum squad’” I groan as he uses that wretched nickname, he’s trying to antagonize me. “Is that you?” He raises an eyebrow.

“Yes, Major, that is me.” He looks very unamused at having to be here.

“Well then captain, I know you went through all of the correct trainings, as I oversaw yours. So please, enlighten me as to what kind of brain damage you have that caused you to somehow get the idea you could just drag an untamed man killing monster to crime scenes. And then explain why you thought you could do that repeatedly, for days?!” His voice ramps into a yell as he finishes his spiel. His eyes have gone a bit bloodshot now.

I cough a bit. “Well sir, it’s because it's harmless.”

I see a muscle twitch in his forehead. “Harmless.” He repeats.

“Yes sir, after I found it, it bargained with me instead of mindlessly attacking, and proceeded to help us exterminate its siblings. I believe it’s an anomaly sir, none of the other monsters on site tried to talk it out.” By the time I finished I’m looking at the floor. I hear the Major grunt.

“That’s it?” I look up to see him staring daggers into me. For the first time since I had that witch work her magic on me, I feel small. “You took a monster, who reportedly has killed hundreds of civilians, which it admits to for the record, to crime scenes, because it bargained with you?” As the Major’s rant goes, he again gets louder and angrier. “Are you kidding me Jet?” If the vein in his forehead is anything to go by, he’s about to have a heart attack.

He slumps back into his chair, his anger slowly sizzling down to a more controllable level. “Jet, they could have your knightage for this. Do you understand that?” I nod carefully. “Then why did you do it Jet?”

I think it over. This whole time I hadn’t really thought about it, I just did what felt right at the time. Why did I protect him? I took him around with me so that he wouldn’t get offed, but why. He’s just a monster. He… he? Realization hits me, I’m thinking of him as a person, and have been for quite a while..

I start to speak slowly. “I think… that the monster is a person.” Before the Major could start yelling I cut him off. “He hasn’t hurt a single person since we made the deal, he’s also inside of a barrier right now! He went in and out of it without a problem!” The Major stops, now listening. “Things he consumes become a part of him, so maybe by eating all those people he started picking up their traits?” My logic is weak at best, and still doesn’t absolve him of any of the guilt.

The Major looks at me, much calmer now, and grunts. This time a thinking grunt, instead of an angry grunt. He buzzes in someone with the button under the desk.

The door opens and the monster walks in, with a knight behind him. The knight places another chair next to me and leaves. The Major motions for the monster to take a seat.

“Sit.” The Major’s command was fierce. His target sits without complaint. For a fraction of a second the Major’s eyes widen.

“So, monster, Captain Jet here is vouching for your personhood.” The Major motions to me.

“What?!” The monster looks at me with shock. “Why would you do that?” He sounds almost angry. I just shrug.

“I’ve been around you, you act like a person, that’s all.” I answer gruffly. To my shock I realize I’m frowning. The scrawny monster gapes at me a few times before looking at the floor.

The Major lets out an annoyed sigh. “Regardless, I have one question for you.” He glares at the creature. “What would you say to the families of the people you killed?”

The monster’s eyes go wide before he looks at the floor again. “I… there’s nothing I could say to them. I killed their family.” His voice is tinged with sadness and anger. “I know each and every family member that will miss the people I murdered, and that will never hear from them again.”

The Major stares at him, dumbfounded. He shoots a glance over to me, before looking again at the creature. “What’s your name, son?” His question shocks me and the monster.

“What?” The usually slick monster almost shrieks.

“I said, what is your name?” The Major isn’t kidding, his face is deadly serious.

The monster flounders for several minutes, clearly going through a broad range of emotions. “Nobody, call me Nobody.” He looks up at the Major, determined.

The Major nods slowly. “Alright Nobody, you’re going to be found guilty, right now, of the manslaughter of…” He looks at Nobody.

“One hundred sixty three…” Nobody says in a whisper.

“One hundred sixty three cases of manslaughter.” The Major finishes. “Your sentence is execution.” Nobody slumps in his seat and I go to argue, but the Major cuts me off with a gesture. “Or… extensive community service.” The two of us look at the Major, confused.

He smacks the table with the slab of beef he calls a hand. “Your service will be to write a letter to each and every family member you remember. You’re to write them as the person you killed, using their memories.”

Nobody stares at the Major, horror slowly creeping into his expression. He holds his head in his hands. “I’ll take the execution.”

The Major laughs. “Oh damn… I forgot, people can’t be executed, only monsters, so that’s off the table.” He stands up, making his chair screech on the stone floor. “I expect my desk to be covered by that first round of letters by the end of the week.” He points at me. “Jet, you’re his parole officer. If he doesn’t do the letters or runs off, it's your job.” I stare in horror at the Major’s back as he leaves.

The door to the interrogation room closes, with the sound of the Major’s laughter bouncing off the walls.

】〓〓〓〓【

Scarlet

】〓〓〓〓【

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The large hall of the church is the same as before, tall and busy. I came alone this time, deciding that I should try to do things without Father sometimes. I walk up to the reception counter at the far back of the ridiculously tall room. A curly haired girl looks up at me with a bored expression.

“Yeah?” She drones.

I try using the noble voice I’ve trained. I’m still not great at it since I rarely use it. “I am Scarlet Holdings, daughter of Count Holdings.” The receptionist’s eyes go wide.

The woman’s demeanor completely changes. “Sorry, my lady. How can I help you today?” She gives me a forced smile. I think I preferred how she was before.

I look down at Hack, who’s hiding inside of the cowl of his shirt. “I’m here to get my son scanned.” Her eyes somehow get even wider.

“O-of course. One moment!” She squeaks out. She leaves into a door behind her so fast I swear I can see an after image.

Hack is staring wide eyed at everything in here. His curious gaze is devouring everything he can get a good look at. I smile at his child-like interest in things. I’m glad I woke up today so I could bring him. Coil spent the last few days harassing Porter, exhausting the gaurd. The poor knight is standing outside of the church, something about no weapons allowed inside the church.

The door behind the receptionist’s desk swings open, showing a familiar face. The moment Father Rex lays his eyes upon me his smile drops. Then he starts looking sick after seeing Hack. To his credit he still walks forward and does a partial bow.

“Lady Scarlet. Is this your… child?” He squeaks out the last word, possibly in fear. I nod happily at the question. “Alright then, f-follow me.” He turns and walks away, not checking if we’re following.

Eventually he leads us out of the main hall, into one of the hallways that wind through the back half of the church. He finally opens a door in one of them, revealing a scanning device room. I walk inside and feel Hack tense up. He’s staring at the long cables coming from the glowing device. I give him a gentle squeeze as I sit down in a seat.

“Alright, s-son, give me your arm.” The priest hastily reaches for Hack, startling him. Before I can calm him a vine shoots from his arm and slaps the man’s hand. With a yelp Father Rex falls backwards into one of the seats.

After mumbling an apology I don’t mean to Rex I check on Hack. “You okay buddy?” He won’t make eye contact with me, instead he keeps his eyes locked to the scanning device. His trembling breaks my heart. Is this really the dragon that casually ripped a bear apart?

“How about I go first then?” Hack looks at me. “I can show it's safe, and then you can go. Alright?” After a moment of staring at me with his fruit platters he nods slowly.

When I look at Father Rex my noble persona almost breaks. The fully grown man looks as afraid as Hack does. “Y-your scan, Lady Scarlet?” He squeaks out. I nod, trying to not smile at his distress.

Wordlessly he walks over to the machine and turns it on.

The small slate tablet the priest holds against my hand is cold and smooth. I feel magic pulsing through it at regular intervals, almost like a heartbeat. I wonder how someone came up with this, it's so complex. Eventually a small green light blinks on the tablet.

The priest puts the plate on a small table before walking to one of the empty chairs. He silently starts praying to one of the Eight.

A beam of light shoots out of the device, slowly creating a rectangle mid-air. Once the shape is solid words start to crawl across them.

〘〜〜〜〜〜〜〙 Scarlet Mutatio Holdings ERR 25 Female Advanced Bramble Keeper Nature Magic Affinity High Strength, High Endurance, Above Average Spirit, Low Speed, Otherwise Average Blessing of Nature 〘〜〜〜〜〜〜〙

The words glow in the air, most of them familiar. My race is listed as ERR, whatever that means. I check on Hack quickly. The kid is staring at the floating letters in excitement, the fear from earlier long gone. Five other beams of light shoot out of the tablet, each creating a separate rectangle.

〘〜〜〜〜〜〜〙 Coil Mutatio Holdings Human (Shade) 25 Male Master Informant (Covered by Advanced Speaker) Silence and Shadow Affinities High Strength, High Endurance, Low Spirit, Low Speed, Otherwise Average Blessing of Shadows 〘〜〜〜〜〜〜〙

〘〜〜〜〜〜〜〙 Iota Mutatio Holdings Human 15 Male Intermediate Brute Death Affinity, Cold Affinity Extreme Vitality, High Endurance, High Speed, Otherwise Average Blessing of the Dead 〘〜〜〜〜〜〜〙

〘〜〜〜〜〜〜〙 Pim Mutatio Holdings Homunculus 20 Female Apprentice Rule Keeper No Magical Affinities Extreme Spirit, High Intelligence, Otherwise Average Blessing of the Law 〘〜〜〜〜〜〜〙

〘〜〜〜〜〜〜〙 Luna Mutatio Holdings Elf 13 Female Novice Spy Illusion Affinity, High Martial Affinity High Speed, Low Vitality, Low Strength, Otherwise Average Blessing of the Night 〘〜〜〜〜〜〜〙

〘〜〜〜〜〜〜〙 Wight Mutatio Holdings Dragon (Human) 5 Male Medium of the Archdemon Demonic and Draconic Affinities

Extreme Mana, Extreme Spirit, Extreme Speed, Otherwise Low

Blessing of the Archdemon 〘〜〜〜〜〜〜〙

Hack pours over each of the rectangles, trying to consume all the words before they disappear. He’s unsuccessful, based on his groan as they each wink out of existence. Also I'm pretty sure he can't read. I walk over and nudge the praying priest’s leg with my foot. His eyes crack open to look at us, totally devoid of any positive emotion. I guess my status really messes with him.

I point to Hack. “His turn.” As the priest slowly creaks out of the chair as Hack bounces in my arms in excitement.

Huh, Hack is only a head shorter than that Priest, shouldn’t he be harder to carry? I look down at the kid and realize it’s just that I’m tall. Was I always this tall? My dresses have been a bit short the last few days but not… that bad?

The priest walks back over with the reset tablet and Hack almost lunges at him. I hold back the kid. Rex didn’t even blink.

The machine starts to hum as it scans Hack’s hand. We wait for a while, Hack almost vibrating the tablet to dust, until the finished light turns on. The small green light doesn’t blink on, but an ominous red one does.

“Huh?” Priest Rex looks at the light in confusion. Then the tablet flashes a bright white light, blinding me for a moment. When I can see again, I’m no longer in the church.

I’m standing in a never ending void of bright white, and I’m alone.