Shadow Court Magician Chapter 36: A Half-Elf Reporter

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　The rebels —or rather, the Volunteer Army captured us.

　The food was rationed and we were not mistreated, so we were comfortable, but we couldn’t stay like this forever.

　We had to get out of here somehow, but I had a magic rope that sealed my magic power.

　I’m sure that Chloe is also considered a person to watch out for. She was bound very tightly.

　In the meantime, the princess was bound quite loosely, perhaps because she was treated as a royal of this country.

　I wondered if it would be best to have her escape and release us from our captors.

　However, the princess was not good at this kind of work. She is not very good at pretending to be someone else.

　I pretended to be standing on the toilet, drew the attention of the guards, asked them to untie the rope, and then asked them to capture the guards in reverse, but they came back with tears in their eyes.

“… I’m sorry, the lookout lady was too nice for me to do anything.” (Sicily)

　She said.

　Chloe and I were mildly disappointed, but not discouraged.

　We looked at each other and said, “Well, that’s just the way it is,” and tried to think of another way, but we couldn’t come up with one.

　Before we could think of anything else, the situation changed.

　—In the middle of the night, a black shadow appeared in the small room where we were confined.

　A man, small in stature and wearing a wide hat, whispered quietly.

“… Leon von Almarsh, and Princess Sicily, I’m here to help.” (Unknown)

　The voice was strangely clear and high-pitched. I wondered if it might be a woman. I thought, and I was right.

　He, no, she takes off her hat and greets us.

“My name is Winifred. I’m a reporter for Sun Elfism.” (Unknown => Winifred)

“Oh, you asked me a question at a press conference the other day.” (Sicily)

“You remembered me.” (Winifred)

“Why is a reporter here? And why are you helping us?

“I sympathize with your aspirations–that’s too hypocritical. I’m working on the Scoop of the Future.” (Winifred)

“Scoop of the Future?” (Sicily)

“Yes. I can’t denounce His Highness Prince Kerich’s misdeeds under the current circumstances, but even if I can’t tomorrow, the day after tomorrow the wind may change.” (Winifred)

“I hope so. I will not let that man have his way forever.”

　Winifred smiles when I replied this.

“This is an investment in the future. If the wind changes in the future, the Princess should cooperate with me.” (Winifred)

“ Of course, I would be happy to give information to a newspaper reporter like you.” (Winifred)

　Sicily said and had her rope untied. She then untied me, but it was Chloe who had the most difficulty. In the case of Chloe, it was difficult to untie her because the volunteer army, fearing her strength, had tied her up with heavy ropes.

　Winifred and Sicily were struggling to untie the ropes, saying, “Hmmm…”, but it seemed to be taking a long time, so I asked them to step back.

　And then I lightly chanted a spell and created a vacuum blast. I succeeded in cutting through Chloe’s rough rope with my [Wind Blade] spell.

　Chloe, whose rope was cut off, raised both hands and muttered, “That’s wonderful.”

“It was a brilliant move, like an illusionist stabbing a beautiful woman with a sword.” (Sicily)

“I’m flattered by the compliment. Now that we have secured our freedom, let’s get out of here.”

　“Yes”, the three of them followed me.

　We are moving cautiously to avoid encountering the guards of the Volunteer Army on the way.

　If we do, we’ll have to hurt them. That was something we were unwilling to do.

　It was a little strange to escape while worrying about the people who had tied us up, but we made it out of the tavern bunker safely.

　Since it was midnight, there were few people on the floor of the tavern.

　After escaping, we went straight into an empty house outside the mine.

　There we introduced ourselves again.

　The intelligent and cool beauty changed into a feminine outfit and said while untying her hair.

“Again, my name is Winifred. I’m a reporter for Sun Elfism.” (Winifred)

　Hair flutters in the air. The appearance was very beautiful, but what was more worrisome was that her ears were a little sharp.

“Are you an elf?”

“That’s right. I’m a half-elf though.” (Winifred)

“Is that why you have dark hair?”

“Well, elves are usually blonde. — Well, it doesn’t really matter at this point if I’m a half-elf.” (Winifred)

　That’s true, so I ask for the information I want to know more, other than her origins.

“Well, Winifred, since you’re a reporter, I’m sure you’re familiar with the city.”

“Yes, of course, I know everything from three-star restaurants to the location of the most exclusive brothels.” (Winifred)

“Thank you.”

“Do you want to know a store where you can buy pretty elf girls?” (Winifred)

“No thanks.”

　If I was a playboy would have said, “Unless there’s a beautiful girl like you,” but I’m not a playboy.

“What I want to know is the whereabouts of the person who goes to the three-star restaurant and the luxury brothels.”

　The perceptive Winifred noticed immediately and frowned her slender eyebrows.

“You want to know where Viscount Wagnall lives, by any chance?” (Winifred)

“That’s it.”

“Why? Isn’t it more important to get out of here than that? If the residents catch us now, they’ll take us prisoner again. No, next time you might be hanged.” (Winifred)

　Looking at the princess,

“There is no reason to keep you alive except for Princess Sicily.” (Winifred)

　To what she said.

　Chloe also insists.

“ It’s not safe to go to the Viscount’s house right now. There’s a good chance that he’ll round us up and take advantage of the opportunity to pin his crimes on the inhabitants.” (Chloe)

“Well, the Viscount is in Kerich’s pocket.”

“Then you don’t have to jump into the tiger’s mouth.” (Winifred)

“Don’t worry, a tiger-like the Viscount has a foul breath and poor teeth. That gives us an opening.”

“You mean you’re going to pull some kind of a stunt?” (Sicily)

　Sicily asks with a serious expression.

“That’s right. Please, look forward to it.”

“Yes, I will watch as if I am sitting on the seats of the opera. Leon-sama will captivate the audience with his wit.” (Sicily)

“I hope so, but anyway, I’m going to prepare the best possible ending for this whole farce.”

　As an author, screenwriter, and director, I am particular about the ending of the story.

“Even if it’s a bad one, as long as the ending is tight.”

　I said this to Winifred and gave her an earful.

　I confide my secret to her big ears.

　She says, “Hmmm…” and begins to listen to me earnestly.

　After about three minutes of talking about the details, she looks at me with a dumbfounded expression.

“I heard that the Libra Division has a sharp military strategist, is that you?” (Winifred)

　Winifred indirectly praises my work. She continues.

“I can see it clearly now. It’s your skill that made recapture Macaulay Fortress successful.” (Winifred)

“It’s all to the credit of the princess.”

“Liar. I’ve seen you in person today and I can tell you that she has the charismatic personality, but she’s not the kind to be a General.” (Winifred)

“Well, let’s just leave it at that. I’m sure you’re smart enough to know that?”

“You’re right. a beautiful princess general is indeed a better news source than to write an article about a common-looking magician like you conquering Macaulay Fortress.” (Winifred)

“So there you have it. I would appreciate it if you would keep quiet and know that I will be providing you with news sources on a regular basis.”

“Good. I’ll take care of it. —However, assisting with this operation is a separate category.” (Winifred)

“How about we treat you to a meal when you get back to King’s Landing?”

“If you’ll take me to the Cherasco’s on Topaz Street.” [T/N: I don’t know what this Cherasco is but I asked Google-sensei and it could be a municipality in Italy. Another one is that it could mean ‘Churrasco’, Argentinean grilled meat. But I’m not sure so. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯]

“The salary of a military man and a court magician is tight.”

“It’s not that expensive, but–” (Winifred)

“But?”

　Winifred looks over my shoulder.

“I want you to take the princess and the maid too.” (Winifred)

　When I turned around lightly, she was right.

“… Well, I’m getting paid for two jobs, so it’s not a bad idea to buy them a drink once in a while.”

　Then I promised to take them to a meal and headed to the Viscount Wagner’s mansion.

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