Chapter 288: A Brief ’Interrogation’

"Master!"

Alice greeted them cheerfully the moment she saw them approaching, with an enthusiasm that stood in stark contrast to the battlefield surrounding her.

"I did what you asked!" she announced with obvious pride. "I wiped out the demi-human army, just as you ordered."

"Good work, Alice," Mark said, nodding approvingly. "Fast and efficient, as always. I expected nothing less from you."

Alice’s face lit up instantly at the praise, and it didn’t take Aria even a second to notice.

"Pfft, look at you," she teased with a little laugh. "You look like a little kid waiting to be told how good she was so she can get a pat on the head afterward."

Alice spun toward her instantly, frowning.

"What did you say?!" Alice exclaimed, visibly offended. "I wasn’t waiting for any pat on the head! I was simply fulfilling my duty and reporting the mission’s success."

"Yeah... sure."

"It’s true!" Alice shot back, crossing her arms. "Besides, the only reason you’re mocking me is because you’re jealous."

"Jealous? Me?" Aria said, bringing a hand to her chest, feigning offense. "And of what, exactly?"

"That the Master praised me and not you," Alice said with a triumphant smile. "But don’t worry, there’s no need to feel bad about it... I understand perfectly well that you might feel overshadowed standing next to someone as extraordinary as me."

"Ha!" Aria let out a laugh. "For your information, the Master praised me right on our way here. He told me I was smart and had a sharp mind. Isn’t that right, Master?"

"That doesn’t count," Alice protested.

"Of course it counts!"

"I got praised for my combat achievements! Yours was just for talking!"

"Thinking is way harder than hitting things, airhead!"

"Who are you calling an airhead, shorty?!"

The two launched into an increasingly heated argument, throwing their accomplishments and praises in each other’s faces as if it were an official competition, each determined to prove she was their Master’s favorite.

Mark, for his part, watched the exchange with considerable amusement, having no intention of interrupting too soon.

There was something deeply entertaining about watching them fight for his attention like a pair of kids.

Even so, after a while, he decided to step in before it came to blows.

"Alright, alright, that’s enough," he said, raising his hands with a smile. "You’re both excellent, okay? Each in your own way."

He stepped between his wives.

"I’m not going to choose between one skill and the other, because I need both. So stop fighting — you’re acting like two sisters arguing over the last slice of cake."

Both of them grumbled, still somewhat annoyed, though neither could hide how pleased they’d been with the compliment.

However, just as the mood seemed to have settled, a rough, mocking voice broke the moment.

"Hey... are you going to kill us already, or do you plan on making us watch you two flirt all day?"

The voice came from one of the prisoners, kneeling on the ground right behind Alice.

It was a monstrous-looking demi-human, a kind of humanoid spider, with multiple black eyes scattered across a deformed face and several extra limbs.

He was in fairly pitiful shape.

He was missing an entire arm, torn clean off, and half of his arachnid jaw had disappeared, leaving an open wound that made it hard for him to speak.

Beside him were two others, both in an equally deplorable state.

One was a lizard man, his scales covered in cracks and one eye hanging out of its socket, while the other was an ant man whose exoskeleton was completely cracked and one of his antennae had been snapped in half.

All three were on their knees, their legs visibly broken, unable to stand.

"I’m serious," the spider continued with a pained growl. "This whole lovebird routine is more unbearable than death itself... just finish us off already."

Alice turned toward him, and her cheerful expression instantly transformed into cold irritation.

"Shut your mouth and show some respect, scum," she ordered harshly. "You’re in the presence of this world’s sovereign. So you should be grateful he’s still letting you breathe."

The lizard man, despite his condition, let out a hoarse, contemptuous laugh.

"Sovereign? That human? Don’t make me laugh," he said, spitting. "The only one who deserves such a title is the great demon Focalors."

"Focalors?" Aria cut in, turning toward Mark. "Who the hell is that? Does that ring a bell, Master?"

Mark stayed thoughtful for a moment.

"Hmmm, I think I have an idea," he replied, somewhat pensive. "It’s most likely the name of the Demon Lord’s subordinate."

He looked at the prisoners with renewed interest.

"Makes sense they’d be loyal to him... after all, he’s the one who unified them."

"I see." Aria replied.

"Either way, I have a question. Why did you leave them alive?" Mark asked, turning to Alice. "Knowing you, I’d have expected you to crush them along with the rest. Taking prisoners isn’t exactly your style."

Alice flashed a clever smile.

"Ah, about that, it was something that occurred to me on the fly," she confessed, looking at the prisoners. "You see, a lot of elves died defending this village today. So I thought it would be a good idea to keep the ringleaders alive for a public execution."

She gestured toward the three prisoners.

"You know, a spectacle where they can watch those responsible for their suffering fall, and get a little payback for everything they lost. It helps close wounds, and it also reinforces the kingdom’s image as a protector."

Mark nodded, genuinely impressed.

"That’s an excellent idea," he admitted with astonishment. "Very well thought out, Alice."

Alice turned toward Aria with a triumphant smile, clearly savoring the moment.

"See?" she said in a taunting tone. "Praised for my intelligence and my combat achievements. In your face."

"I could have thought of that too," Aria protested, crossing her arms. "I just didn’t have the time."

"Uh-huh. Sure you would have."

"It’s true!"

Mark laughed at the scene.

"Anyway," he said, regaining his composure. "Alice, take them to the village right away and set up the execution spectacle. I’ll handle the rest once we’re there."

"Right away, Master," Alice replied with a bow.

And immediately after, she turned toward the three prisoners with a smile that had absolutely nothing kind about it.

The demi-humans tensed.

"W-wait, weren’t... weren’t you supposed to interrogate us?" the ant man stammered, looking at her with growing nervousness. "Isn’t that why you kept us alive? We can talk! We know things!"

"Interrogate you? What for? There’s absolutely nothing you could tell us that we don’t already know," Alice replied as her smile widened. "So no, I’m afraid there won’t be any interrogation."

The color drained from all three prisoners’ faces.

And without giving them a chance to respond, Alice grabbed the humanoid spider by the neck with one hand, lifting him without the slightest effort.

Then she grabbed the other two by their broken legs, dragging them across the ground without the slightest consideration while they groaned in pain.

"Let’s move," she said cheerfully, setting off after Mark. "Your audience is waiting."

And so, with the three demi-human generals in tow, the group set off back toward the village.