Chapter 67 – Another Problem Arises
"So, you want to know more about the Generals?"
"Yes. Especially what differentiates a soldier from a Captain, and a Captain from a General. After all, my goal before meeting you was to find a Captain of the expedition who could somehow find the way home. Something tells me that holding one of these positions isn't merely a function received by brown-nosing someone."
I'm being honest here; I didn't even know about the Generals until Anna mentioned it, and now I'm curious and decided to combine it with my other question.
"You're right, but that touches on topics I can't discuss further. The time for forbidden questions has passed."
She cut off the conversation.
"Wait!" Anna said. "I know about the Generals. Now I'm scared; this is common knowledge, right? I don't want to spill something forbidden unknowingly in a conversation. Help me at least understand, Alice."
The little redhead made a puppy-dog face.
Thank you, Anna, you never disappoint.
"All right… it is common knowledge, but the problem is that Luke mixed something hidden and forbidden into his simple question. I don't know if he did it intentionally or not, but I need to keep an eye on his words… otherwise, I might end up revealing too much."
Oops, I think she noticed.
"Let's say that in our world, the position in the army is like… we can say that a General is much stronger than a Captain. I can only mention this: each position represents a stage of power as a Deviant. This is common knowledge in this world, but I don't want you to learn this from me. I... can't indirectly involve you in certain things. The Generals receive this title only because of the House's army nomenclature. In reality, they don't like being called soldiers. They feel inferior when compared to others. All I can say is that they are a one-man army. They prefer to be known by another name..."
"What name?"
"Inquisitor."
Inquisitor? That sounds a bit ominous. Should I dare to ask another question?
"Does this by any chance have to do with the term 'Ember' in our status?"
Alice looked at Luke, narrowing her eyes.
"It does."
"Are you talking about our Level?" Anna asked this time.
"Yes. As I said, this is a basic and simple topic in our world. You'll understand that not just anyone can be called an Inquisitor. It has to do with how powerful they are. It's basic, but since you're learning this from me… it's wrong and dangerous. Beyond this, I won't answer."
Anna seemed to understand, but she knows more about these things than I do. I lack the basics, but from what I gathered, it has to do with them being on another level of power. Since she said an Inquisitor is a one-man army, does that mean they are much more powerful? Do they become more powerful over time? Are they born an Inquisitor, or is it something that is earned? She mentioned that there would come a time when someone special would understand that the House is beneficial; does that have to do with the term Inquisitor?
"We've arrived!" Alice's voice snapped Luke out of his thoughts.
They crossed the small rope bridge over the stream; it wasn't particularly high.
They drank some water along the way and continued walking through the forest. Once, they saw a lone skeleton wearing pants. The sight was somewhat eerie, seeing the figure emerge from the green woods like that.
Continuing their walk, they encountered a hanged skeleton.
"Seriously?" Luke asked. "It's obvious he's pretending to be dead."
As soon as they approached, the skeleton started to scream and struggle to free itself from the rope.
Before the skeleton could touch the ground, it was hit by an arrow in the skull and fell dead.
"Whew," Luke whistled in admiration. "Anna, how did you learn to shoot so well with a bow? I thought you came from a normal family."
"What are you talking about? They teach the basics of weapons and combat in school. I confess... I'm a bit good because I've been part of the archery club since I was 8 years old."
They teach that in school? I forgot that my education was different from a normal person's. They probably really just teach the basics... I doubt kids in school went through what I did. But Anna... she's a prodigy at this. And then there's that overpowered bow with a zoom feature and the effect that makes the arrow fly straight for longer, she's like a walking sniper.
Alice was staring at him.
Anna didn't notice my... should I mention my lack of basic knowledge? I slipped up on that, I really slipped up... I always tried to be normal. But how did I mess up something so basic? I put myself on the spot when I asked that question. I got distracted for a moment... I screwed up.
"Didn't your school have that kind of training, Luke?" Alice asked, sending a chill down Luke's spine.
"We did, we learned a bit of everything there."
A bit too much, even.
"But you forgot I mentioned my education was different from yours? Alice is probably of higher status than us, maybe a noble. And you, Anna, come from a middle-status family, while I have the lowest status here. Part of my knowledge was acquired in a welcoming convent that helps lower-status children understand the world. As you know, we face a higher risk of encountering more problems than you."
"True…" Alice lowered her head.
Phew! I think I dodged that one.
"But you're really good! I saw it up close, you're nothing like those spoiled kids in school who stand still while the instructor holds the monster for them to hit," Anna said.
Alice lifted her head again.
Little Anna, no! I appreciate your compliments, but your curiosity is coming at the wrong time.
"Likewise, Miss Archer. I was truly surprised, you just shot an arrow right into a skeleton's skull. I'm thinking about how lucky I was that you only hit my shoulder…"
"S-sorry! I was nervous at that time!"
The little redhead got nervous and blushed. Her red hair and red face made her look like a tomato.
I managed to get out of that well.
"But what did you do? I mean, in life, before being called to the Oblique World. I was just a student when my power awakened. So for me, it was simpler, but what about you?"
"Me? I was just a worker in a neighborhood market," Luke said with a smile.
"What?" A small shout came from Alice.
Alice turned, shocked, and Anna was too, but she was so shocked she didn't say anything.
"What's wrong?"
He looked at the two girls who even stopped walking.
"You were just an ordinary worker? I doubt it!"
Anna was incredulous. "A simple worker?" Alice stared at him. "Hey! Don't put 'simple.' Do you know how hard it is to get a trusted authorization to handle food and cargo? It was really tough; I had to study a lot and spend hours and hours doing community service to earn citizen points…" "I-I-I expected anything but that…" Alice murmured. "I'm just a simple guy, you know? I'm as ordinary as anyone else. It's not my fault this world is complicated. I doubt Little Anna imagined herself facing skeletons while walking in a haunted forest." "I'm not little! I'm growing, you know?" "Sorry, I got used to calling you that…"
Luke was trying hard not to laugh at the mini furious girl. "Look on the bright side, you're taller than Gobby."
After the girl laughed at herself, the trio continued walking. "But what about you, Alice? What did you do?" As soon as Luke asked this, the girl pointed and said: "Bad news."
And then they saw it.