Chapter 132 – The Truth-Telling Collar
The bandit gritted his teeth and rolled up his sleeve, revealing a gruesome wound that was nearly severed.
The situation was even worse than expected.
Even Frieren's prized healing music box—which normally stopped bleeding—had no effect on him.
The white-haired elf could only puff her cheeks in frustration.
"Elias, you should think about the consequences before acting."
"—It happened too suddenly," Elias replied calmly. "Blame Flamme for not giving me time to think."
Aside from Elias, who remained completely composed, the others exchanged uneasy glances.
"…Maybe I should try."
Teresa stepped forward on her own.
Under Frieren's worried gaze, she approached the bandit.
"I just learned a bit of healing magic from the scripture. It might help."
"Just learned… a bit?"
Frieren looked at Teresa in confusion as she took out the scripture.
"What do you mean? Didn't you easily lift the curse earlier?"
Teresa smiled lightly.
"That took me an entire night to learn."
"Compared to lifting a curse, healing magic should be simpler."
"—You learned it in just one night?!"
Frieren was still in shock when Teresa had already placed her hand over the wound, golden light gathering in her palm.
Before their eyes, the torn flesh began to heal rapidly.
The bandit's agonized screams gradually subsided.
"…What incredible talent."
Watching this, Flamme silently agreed with Frieren's astonishment as she observed the stunned expression on her face.
Although those were all spells already recorded and understood within the scripture, even trained monks required long periods of study to master them.
Yet Teresa, without any formal guidance, had relied solely on her own understanding—and in such a short time, she had already learned both curse-breaking and healing magic.
"I… I'm actually fine now?!"
The bandit flexed his arm, springing up from despair in an instant. But before he could celebrate for more than two seconds, he met Flamme's deep, unwavering gaze.
"That was an accident," she said calmly. "Now, let's talk business."
"Let me warn you in advance—don't lie. I have plenty of ways to make you tell the truth."
Feeling the oppressive aura emanating from her, the bandit immediately shut his mouth and nodded.
"Good."
Flamme crossed her arms.
"What's the truth behind the murder case in Hel City? Are you involved or not?"
"Of course not!"
The bandit answered without hesitation.
"I already told Lord Enrique earlier—I haven't even been to Hel City recently, and I don't have the guts to kill anyone!"
"Frieren—go."
Without warning, Frieren pulled out a collar and snapped it around the bandit's neck.
"This is a magical device that detects lies. If you lie, it will trigger an electric shock spell!"
"W-What?! Electric shock?!"
Flamme gave the order calmly:
"Repeat what you just said."
"I… I haven't been to Hel City recently, and I don't have the guts to kill anyone."
Frieren watched expectantly.
But ten seconds passed.
Nothing happened.
"…Heh. Teacher Flamme, it looks like he's telling the truth."
Robin quietly leaned over and whispered to Frieren:
"Why do you look disappointed? Or is your gadget just not working?"
"Impossible!"
With a flick of her hand—
Whoosh!
The collar suddenly snapped onto Robin's neck instead.
"Robin! Were you deliberately picking a fight with me?!"
Robin instinctively replied:
"Of course not~"
—Crackle! Crackle! Crackle!
Several arcs of electricity burst forth, leaving wisps of black smoke rising from his hair.
"Hahahaha!"
Frieren laughed triumphantly as she retrieved the collar, watching Robin's dazed, fried expression.
"Now you see how amazing my magic tool is! Never doubt it again~"
"Enough."
Flamme cut off their bickering.
"You did kidnap the station, but you were framed for the murder in Hel City."
"Since no one was killed here, I'll let you go this time. But from now on, don't—"
Whoosh—!
Before she could finish, the bandit bolted at full speed and vanished without a trace.
"…Fine. Let's go rescue the hostages."
—Bang!
The moment they forced the door open, someone inside screamed in terror:
"Don't kill me! I've always run my business honestly! I've never offended Hel City!"
Hearing this, Flamme stepped forward and untied the man.
"You're the station owner, right? And the others are your staff and guests?"
The man looked her over cautiously.
"Y-you're not executioners from the Hel Mercenary Corps, are you?"
"No. I'm a mage from the Holy City."
Flamme explained calmly:
"The bandit who captured you has fled. Enrique from the Hel Mercenary Corps was here earlier."
"…That Enrique is gone?"
"He's gone."
"Thank the Goddess… thank the Goddess…"
The owner muttered under his breath. Strangely, he seemed even more afraid of the mercenaries than the bandits.
"So, why did you call the Hel Mercenary Corps 'executioners'?"
Flamme asked casually.
But the owner's expression instantly changed.
"…Just a joke. Since everything's fine now, please don't ask any more questions."
"You've saved us from the bandit, so as thanks, your lodging will be free."
---
Even after leaving the station, Flamme still hadn't gotten the answers she wanted.
Back on the carriage, she flipped through a travel guide, searching for information about Hel City.
It only described the city as:
A once chaotic border city with a mixed population and high crime rates.
"Elias, do you know anything about Hel City?"
"—No."
Elias answered without even opening his eyes.
"I've traveled through too many places in my life. Do you expect me to remember every single one?"
"…Fair enough."
Flamme closed the guide.
"Then the Hel Mercenary Corps must be a recent development. We'll have to investigate once we're inside the city."
---
Unlike Amber City, there was no questioning at the gates.
As they entered and made their way toward the inn, they looked around.
Everywhere they saw… smiling faces.
Happy. Peaceful.
"Nothing feels out of place," Flamme murmured. "In fact, it reminds me of the Holy City… and that's exactly what makes it unsettling."
"Flamme, aren't you just making up excuses to meddle again?"
Despite Elias's sarcasm, she remained firm.
"At the very least, I'm certain the Hel Mercenary Corps exists for a reason—and not a good one."
"If we hadn't intervened today, that bandit would've been executed as a murderer."
"And that Enrique… the cross-shaped mark on his head… it gives me a bad feeling."
"…Fine, Flamme."
Elias finally relented.
"Three days. We'll stay here for three days."
"If nothing happens within that time, then you're just being paranoid."