‘A doppelganger, perhaps.’
A doppelganger. A monster that devours a person, then disguises itself as them and lives on.
That was the first possibility that Leopoldus considered.
‘If Seras’s report is entirely accurate, that means there are two Grozas.’
He participated in the trade yesterday.
I was kidnapped and imprisoned yesterday.
To reconcile these conflicting claims?
One can only assume there’s another him.
To be precise, that a monster like a doppelganger disguised itself as Groza.
[He said he was attacked by something in his bedchamber.]
[They just tied him up? No injuries?]
[Yes, others have given similar testimonies. They were merely restrained, without any pain.]
‘Not a doppelganger. The original wasn’t devoured.’
But the most likely suspect, the doppelganger, is out.
There weren’t many possibilities left.
‘Did a mage infiltrate and do this?’
‘No, a whopping twenty-three people used counterfeit coins. If that many mages were moving systematically, it couldn’t be done without leaving a trace.’
‘In the first place, how many mages are capable of acting as a merchant without being detected by their acquaintances? Even I couldn’t manage that.’
‘Above all, if that were the case, they would have killed Groza to eliminate the evidence. To confuse the pursuit.’
‘Unless even this is Valentia’s scheme…No, they’re not the type to take uncertain gambles when there are definite gains to be had.’
‘At least it wasn’t a mage sent by Valentia.’
Assuming it wasn’t a mage sent by Valentia, a potential enemy state…
Only one possibility remained.
‘Millenia?’
“Haaa… This is a headache.”
His expression darkened.
A heavy fatigue weighed down his shoulders.
‘Minister of Economy and Industry, Mel. That slime would be capable of it.’
Mel, who even set up an embassy in Arkenia and settled down.
If she were the culprit, a lot would be explained.
The temporary weight-increasing magic used on the counterfeit coins?
No problem if Teo gave her something, or if she used magic herself.
The method of disguising themselves as merchants?
Slimes are creatures that easily mimic others.
Because they’re such a low-level species, they’re usually far from the original…
But an Ultimate Slime should be capable of disguises on par with a doppelganger.
Using the characteristic of division, it’s possible to move twenty-three people simultaneously.
Finally, the reason for not killing the merchants?
‘A self-made drama carried out in secret from Teonar?’
——Because it goes against the will of his liege, Teo.
His expression brightened slightly.
A faint breakthrough began to appear.
“That’s right. There’s no way Teonar would order something like this. Like Frida said, he’s a kind dragon.”
“…Your Majesty?”
“It must be her doing on her own. She moved under the guise of acting for Millenia’s sake. Considering their excessive loyalty, it’s plausible.”
“You don’t mean to say you suspect that slime.”
“It’s the most likely possibility.”
A fleeting glance, his noble blue eyes turned to Seras.
At the end of his gaze, the Sword of Truth lay.
“Bring her here at once.”
‘Checkmate, you monster.’
The declaration of victory swallowed inside was a bonus.
* * *
Leopoldus summoned Mel with great fanfare, but…
“Mel, answer the questions I’m about to ask honestly. I hope you’ll cooperate, as this is for the investigation into the counterfeit coins.”
“Surely you don’t suspect me? I’m disappointed-.”
“…”
‘Damn it. This is like hitting a rock with an egg.’
His confidence plummeted as soon as he faced Mel.
It was because he realized anew how big of a gamble he was taking.
‘Her level is about five times mine. If I point it out directly and she goes berserk…’
‘Hehe♡ He’s scared, he’s scared♡ Completely inferior♡’
On the other hand, Mel was completely relaxed.
She was unfazed even with the Sword of Truth in front of her.
She even smiled as if she found it amusing.
“So? What do you want to ask, even bringing Arkenia’s sacred artifact, the Sword of Truth?”
“…So you know about the sword.”
“Of course- How about we test it out? I am not loyal to the great Teonar-nim!”
[-False.]
“This proves your loyalty. Teonar will be very pleased to hear it.”
“Please tell her when you have the chance♡ My unwavering heart… Along with an apology for this diplomatic discourtesy.”
But that was only for a moment.
An intangible energy began to emanate from Mel’s body.
It was a murderous aura born from a subtle anger.
“Calm yourself, I didn’t mean it that way.”
“Haven’t I been working for the economy of Millenia and Arkenia ever since I came here?”
[-True.]
“Are you accusing me of counterfeiting coins because I’m a monster?”
“…”
‘This much murderous intent. It’s a monster, after all.’
Leopoldus and Seras’s faces turned pale.
It was a demonstration of how reckless it was to accuse an absolute powerhouse of counterfeiting coins.
Seras’s hands were trembling, and the Sword of Truth was shaking along with them.
But he never stopped.
“Ahem, ahem. Calm yourself. I’m not blaming you.”
“…Yes?”
“I know your heart is for Millenia. I’m almost envious of Teonar for having five such loyal retainers as you.”
“Of course.”
“Besides, even your beauty is magnificent! Mel, it must be so pleasing to have such a beauty like you by her side. Surely even the dragon’s eyes are satisfied.”
The first thing he did was sweet-talk her.
If Mel went berserk, it would be a disaster.
So, for now, let’s bring up Teo to soothe her mood.
It was his own survival strategy.
‘Well, it’s hard to imagine Teonar liking a slime like that…’
‘Leo, is that your type? Even if they’re not human, as long as they have big breasts, that’s it? I’m confident I’d look much bigger if I wore clothes like that too?’
Thanks to that, Seras’s gaze was turning colder in real time, but anyway.
The effect was undeniably outstanding.
“Isn’t that right~? She cherishes Mel so much! She even makes me attend to her bath every day♡”
“I’m even more envious of her! To be attended to by a retainer as beautiful and loyal as you, there can’t be many things as happy as this for a ruler!”
‘It’s something I avoid because of the succession issue. If I accidentally embrace someone…’
‘Bath attendance? Hmph. If you wanted something like that, you should have said so sooner.’
‘You have an eye for beauty despite being inferior♡ If a human dared to look at me like that, I’d melt their eyeballs♡’
Mel’s anger was dissipating in real time.
The sticky murderous aura also disappeared like snow melting away.
It was as Leopoldus intended.
‘Now, as long as I don’t make a mistake, it’s checkmate!’
“Ahem. Anyway, about the counterfeit coins. I suspect that you are involved in this incident.”
“Why would you say that-?”
“For Teonar’s sake. It’s only natural for a retainer to act for her benefit.”
His voice rang out softly.
Probably the worst currency counterfeiter in the kingdom’s history.
To somehow appease Mel, the overwhelming powerhouse.
“But think about it carefully. Even if it’s for her sake, is it truly for her sake? Would she want that?”
“I know, because I’ve exchanged letters with her several times. She’s not someone who would want this kind of phenomenon.”
“If counterfeit coins circulate, the kingdom’s economy will become extremely unstable. Teonar, who has emphasized mutual benefit several times, would never want such an act.”
First, he reasoned with her.
Starting with, Teo wouldn’t like this-
“Fortunately, the situation is still in its early stages. The damage isn’t great either. It’s a situation that can be reversed enough.”
“Counterfeiting coins is a crime punishable by death… But if you stop now, I’ll pretend it never happened.”
“I’ll execute a few suitable death row inmates instead. I’ll just report to Teonar that they were spies from Valentia.”
“You won’t lose her favor over this. You can check with the Sword of Truth.”
He even took Seras’s sword and placed the handle towards Mel.
It was to show her his sincerity.
It was a shocking performance that even made the king point a sword at her, but…
‘There’s no way I can punish her anyway. Considering the difference in national power…’
-Spin.
“Are you done saying what you wanted to say?”
“……?”
Mel flicked the sword around with her finger.
The Sword of Truth, which pierces through all lies, was pointed at her again.
Squish-
She even crushed the tip of the sword against her chest.
“You said you had something to ask me, but you kept talking by yourself. It was difficult for me because I couldn’t interrupt you~.”
“No, I was just making a suggestion.”
“Grab that sword. And feel it from now on. Whether what I’m saying is true or false.”
[-Your Majesty, what will you do?]
“Seras. I’m counting on you.”
“Yes.”
The sword was back in Seras’s hands.
It was as if the situation that Leopoldus had developed had been restored to its original state.
Mel’s expression was as relaxed as ever.
“You spoke as if I was trying to destroy the kingdom’s economy? I have no intention of doing that to me, or to Millenia.”
“…What does that mean?”
“It means I have no intention of gaining financial profit by circulating fake coins in Arkenia.”
[-T, True.]
“…”
‘What on earth is going on?’
The words Mel uttered.
At first glance, it sounded like she didn’t know anything about the coins.
He tried to deny it, saying that couldn’t be, but,
“Are you saying you’re not involved in this incident?”
“I am involved. Have you forgotten who discovered this and reported it to Your Majesty?”
“Don’t play with words. I’m talking about whether you knew about the counterfeit coins before.”
“I didn’t know? How would I know that~.”
Mel didn’t bat an eye.
The Sword of Truth didn’t react.
“…Are you really not the one? The one who made and circulated the counterfeit coins?”
“I’ve been in the embassy every day? Ask the knights working at the embassy. They’ll answer that I haven’t taken a single step outside except when Your Majesty calls me.”
“Because you’re a slime, you could have created a clone and sneaked out secretly…”
“I said I didn’t go outside the embassy. I didn’t make or circulate the counterfeit coins either.”
[True….]
“Heo, how could this be?”
Leopoldus sighed at that.
The move that he thought was checkmate revealed her innocence instead.
He felt too foolish for his own blunder.
“Perhaps you ordered your subordinates to do it…”
“Are you now dragging other races into this? Like dwarves or dryads?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“Stop it already. Or I’ll really get angry.”
“….”
‘Is this the end?’
It seemed that even the given opportunities had all been exhausted.
As Mel puffed out her cheeks, his head drooped down.
“Okay… I’m sorry for suspecting you.”
‘Damn it, who is it really.’
It was his complete defeat.
* * *
“Mel, how did you deceive them until the end?”
“Inferior humans who would be caught even if I just tampered with the contract a little? I, who have been taught by Teo-nim, am no match for them♡”
“….”
‘This seems difficult even for me? How did you really do it?’
Mel wore a victorious smile.