Lonzder looks at the man beside her.
Despite the wounds all over her body that her “deviant state” healing power could fully recover from in a day or two, he carefully treats them.
A diligent man.
she posed the question to such a man.
In the end, Lonzder EnhanceDiah killed Filgie Mule.
After repeated blows, a heavy revolving kick that could be called the finishing blow.
Damage exceeding the durability of the “deviant state” led to her death.
She understands that to kill an “Unlaws,” especially the physically durable “deviant” or “metamorphic” states, requires that much force.
The hole opened in these ruins was made through an act similar to crushing Filgie to death.
The person she killed was an “Unlaws” who had abused her abnormality.
That’s why she killed her.
Lonzder EnhanceDiah was a detective.
Exposing crimes through deduction, uncovering the truth from hidden mysteries, and delivering criminals to justice – an ally of righteousness.
Even before becoming an “Unlaws,” she had been a detective, handing over criminals to the police under a firm sense of justice and ethics.
She wanted to do the right thing.
Born with an extraordinary intellect, she could perceive things ordinary people could not.
The eyes of a famed detective who noticed what no one else did.
It was inevitable, her calling to become a detective.
But a year and a half ago, Lonzder became an “Unlaws,” deviating from everyone else.
Wanting to exercise her abilities, she playfully became a phantom thief like the old woman.
Living, able to live only by her own rules.
She was supposed to want to do the right thing, but before she knew it, she only sought amusement.
Instead of protecting the innocent, she reveled in freely wielding her abnormality, taking pleasure in cornering those who committed crimes.
A self-contradiction.
The detective had become far removed from a detective.
But still.
“Yes, it was right. That’s what I think.”
Norman Hamish affirms Lonzder EnhanceDiah.
Replacing the foot resting on his thigh,
“Nn……”
He slides his hand over the sole, instep, ankle, calf, thigh.
Lonzder’s breathing escapes at the slow, sticky movements.
Meticulously, obsessively.
As if checking a gemstone for flaws.
“That person was acting selfishly, and as soon as you knew she was an Unlaws, you came to kill her. If she had killed you, she probably would have started hunting Unlaws. It’s a miracle there were no casualties until now.”
“……”
“Plus with an ability like that, apprehending her would be difficult. You know subduing an Unlaws without killing them is difficult unless they’re Category III or lower, right?”
So.
“You did what you had to do.”
“…….”
“And,”
He looks up at her, straight in the eye.
Smiling slightly.
“I’m the one who told you to do it.”
“…I see.”
She exhales.
Releases the tension from her body.
Lonzder can no longer tell if what he’s saying is really right.
She’s lost that.
A broken moral compass. A vanished sense of guilt. Crumbled common sense. Lost criteria for judgment.
She can logically deduce right from wrong. She can think rationally.
But Lonzder cannot hold any conviction in it herself.
She cannot have faith in her own deductions.
That’s what becoming an “Unlaws” has done to her.
A detective who can deduce but not justice.
That is the woman Lonzder.
“Thank you.”
“No need.”
That’s why Norman shows her.
What she should do, what she must do.
He provides her guiding light of righteousness.
Allowing her, who can no longer be a detective, to remain one.
That is why he is her partner.
Not denying the “Unlaws” Lonzder, but affirming Lonzder as she is, an “Unlaws.”
“Heh…Hey Norman.”
“Yes?”
“Am I a detective?”
“Yes. I don’t know a better detective than you.”
He tells her.
The words she most wants to hear.
Having met a year and a half ago during a certain case, initially opposing each other, then cooperating, until Lonzder lost herself – the words he says to her.
“Heh, I see.”
The woman who showed her that being a detective is how to live, thinks.
Surely she is no longer the gemstone of a detective.
But having someone who so adores her,
The red patterns emerging on the toes he caressed are proof.
That alone makes her stronger than any adamantine.
“As long as you tell me so – I will continue being a detective.”
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.PAGES.DEV
Interval 3
“And so the ‘Gemstone EnhanceDiah’ solved the phantom thief case by destroying the Balldlum Museum……”
Jim exhaled heavily.
Lowering his eyes, he extended his right arm and placed his left hand in front of his chest. Continuing the exaggerated gestures slowly,
“No no no no no! Do you realize what you’ve done!?”
He shot up energetically, eyes wide open as he shouted.
“The museum is completely destroyed! Eighty percent of the exhibits are demolished or damaged! Do you have any idea the hundreds, thousands, no, the billions of sters in damages when you consider the museum’s intrinsic value!? No, it’s not just about money!”
“Which is it?”
“It’s both! As one who loves art, this time’s damage is simply unforgivable……!”
“It was a museum that got wrecked, not an art museum.”
“Such minor details don’t matter!”
Swinging his arms wildly, he spun around several times on the spot.
Norman watched him,
“…………”
Just narrowing his eyes.
“Minimizing collateral damage is part of your job too, you know! What were you doing!? I’m recording this as an official statement, so think carefully before making excuses!”
“It couldn’t be helped.”
Norman nodded briefly to the fuming Jim.
“Lonzder is more valuable than any of your so-called art.”
“………..”
Utterly dumbfounded by Norman’s deadpan seriousness devoid of any hint of joking, even Jim was left speechless.
He stared at Norman in utter disbelief for over ten seconds, then suddenly,
“- Nevermind.”
He sat back down calmly.
“Filgie Mule. According to Cartesius theory, Unlaws cannot manifest at a very young age before a firm sense of self develops. But I’ve never seen such an elderly Unlaws myself. Seems age isn’t a factor in awakening.”
As if his earlier agitation was a lie, he smoothly continues his commentary.
“I remember that calm old lady giving exhibit explanations when I visited the museum. Never thought she’d become such an amusing eccentric, prancing about in a phantom thief’s disguise. Quite the conundrum.”
“I was a bit puzzled by that too, until I found out she was an acquaintance of yours. That explains it.”
“Hahaha! I’d rather you didn’t say that!”
Jim laughs heartily, shrugging.
“Still, that infiltration ability sure came in handy. Reaching Category III abnormality in the wild is rare too. Could’ve been useful if she was tamed.”
Norman didn’t so much as flinch.
“……Aren’t you going to say anything?”
“Nothing in particular. Or rather, my body’s aching to the point that even talking is becoming a chore.”
“Then let’s wrap this up! Following the flow of our hierarchy discussions so far……!”
“……No, there’s nothing above that. Abnormalities only go up to Category III.”
“Then allow me to hear it!”
The “Tearflower” locked-room murder. The “Hellhound” serial killings. The “Gemstone” phantom thief incident.
And now.
“The trigger that led to you being interrogated here! Last week, the brand new express directly connecting this city to the capital on its maiden run went missing. It arrived hours late, with nearly all passengers found dead in a horrific train incident!”
“A dreadful fate.”
“The sole survivors were you and the ‘Fairy Airystep’! Tell me the truth behind it!”
“……..The truth, huh?”
Norman let out a brief, cynical chuckle.
“Nothing special – just a matter of ideals.”
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