The inquisitor tapped his fingers on the table.

Tap. Tap.

His breathing steady, Gilli Catalan Polle continued staring at the distressed boy.

Subaru's chest rose frantically, his loud breaths audible in the cold room.

Captain Polle thought back to his initial introduction to the boy. His desperation to see the silver-haired half-elf was enough to make Gilli suspicious.

Not many wanted any involvement with the Devil's Incarnate, especially considering her natural attraction to the Cult.

Gilli's eyebrows furrowed as he heard the boy's cracked voice pleading, "I really am Emilia's knight! My name got eaten by Gluttony!"

Name?

"I know you don't believe me, but it's true! I need to get to her!" Subaru jumped up, slamming his hands on the table.

This is going to be complicated. Gilli's casual smile faded; his lips pressed into a thin line.

Closing his eyes, Gilli decided. I'll need Inquisitor for this.

The captain held a unique ability. One that brought him to the station he is occupied now.

When he stepped into a role, he became it.

It wasn't just knowledge—his instincts sharpened; his body adapted. There were three roles he was aware of:

Knight—military-themed—gave him the skills of a battlefield commander; he gains tactical foresight, allowing him to anticipate enemy action. Furthermore, soldiers under him are more compelled to obey him.

Steward enhanced his memory recall and mental processing. This was more used for administration.

There was one more, Inquisitor. Typically, used for law and investigation.

Gilli didn't know if it was a divine blessing. As far as he was concerned, he was the only user.

The inquisitor thought to himself as he adjusted in his seat. I am an inquisitor. I will uncover lies and hidden truths.

Gilli's breath steadied. The room felt colder, smaller. He wasn't just a captain anymore. He was the Inquisitor. His irises faded to black as he turned to the boy. A simple command.

"I believe you, so, sit down."

The boy's mouth hung open; his surprise evident. "If you believe me then let me go!" He shouted as he clenched his fist.

Inquisitor was a simple ability. It enhanced the interrogator's perception of micro expression, tone shifts, and subtle ticks. Lying was practically impossible unless one was emotionless or a masterful liar.

He seems to be telling the truth… Gilli analyzed the self-proclaimed knight in front of him.

"No can do." His voice firm. "So, sit down."

Although harsh, the interrogation had already started. The inquisitor was now testing Subaru's reactions. Would he lash out? Sit down calmly? His every action was picked apart by the captain in front of him.

Subaru looked behind him as he felt a hand squeezing his shoulder. It forcefully pushed him back to his seat, "Hey!"

"Let him go." The captain shifted his attention to the fully armored knight, his brows furrowing.

The knight quickly let go as he placed his hand back to his side.

Rubbing the pain off his shoulder, Subaru brows furrowed in annoyance to the knight. A grimace forming on his face. "Seriously…"

The captain was silent.

Subaru turned back to Gilli. Before the boy could say anything though, the captain sharply interrupted him, "Rookie, go out and get the boy some water."

The knight looked back at the captain as if he wanted to say something. Gilli felt his concerned gaze but only waved it off. "Go, the boy's thirsty."

Nodding, the knight slowly turned around to leave.

The moment the door shut; Subaru felt his back lighten. His posture straightened as he reached for his throat. Right, my throat is dry… How did he know? It felt like Subaru inhaled a fistful of ash.

"I'm quite perceptive." The captain answered Subaru's thoughts. The boy sharply gasped—only to cough after the oxygen brushed his irritated throat.

"Don't answer. Wait for the water as I tell you what's going to happen." Gilli still had his frown. His eyes sharpened the more he looked in the eyes of the boy.

"Can you do that?" His voice was heavy, putting invisible pressure back onto Subaru. The boy slowly nodded as he tensed in his chair.

Gilli couldn't help but worry when he investigated the boy's—no, the man's eyes. How many battles do you have to go through to have that look?

Subaru's eyes held a terrifying glint. Gilli noticed that even though Subaru was trapped in an enclosed room with two fully armored knights, he didn't seem concerned about his life.

Subaru's reaction when the knight grabbed him by the shoulder only served to confuse the interrogator. He was definitely scared... But not about his life. It was more like… annoyance? Was he annoyed at us?

The interrogator continued, "Good."

Gilli cleared his throat.

He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "I have some questions for you regarding the Witch Cult."

Anger. So, he doesn't like them. Gilli took notice of Subaru's frantic breaths and tightened skin at the Cult's mentioning. He seems to be expressive. Maybe a bit too expressive…

The captain sighed. My main concern is knowing if he's a disguised Capella.

Subaru's breathing steadied as he waited in silence.

"Answer honestly. It would serve you as well, if what you say about your name being eaten is true."

"It's tru—" Subaru quickly turned into a coughing fit. He bent forward as he covered his mouth with his hand as the other grasped his throat.

The captain watched silently as he waited for Subaru to regain himself.

The coughing slowed. Subaru slowly raised his body back up to face the interrogator.

"Get comfortable. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask." Though still commanding, the captain's voice was gentler.

Subaru nodded as he pushed his chair. He leaned back as he looked above Gilli's head where the grate was. Sunlight poured through the room. Small dust particles floated gently in the light.

Subaru's mind felt heavy. My name was eaten… Everyone forgot me… Tears threatened to fall as his face darkened. Emilia-tan… Beako.

Subaru's head hung low. His elbows were posted up on the table, holding his dropped head.

He grabbed at his hair as he clenched his teeth. Gluttony! I swear I'll kill you!

Subaru thought back to a sleeping blue-haired oni. His chest pounded as he saw her pushing him to be something he only wished he could be.

Because after all, I believe you with all my heart, Subaru-kun.

Yes, he wasn't a hero. He didn't need to be. He was her hero. I'll swear I'll save you, Rem.

Sounds of tapping interrupted Subaru's thoughts.

The door opened wide with the same knight holding a carafe of water.

Subaru's eyes followed the knight as he placed the carafe in the middle of the table along with a mug.

"Drink up." The captain commanded.

Subaru throat ached as he focused on the water. His sadness was erased by his desire to consume the water.

He quickly poured water into the mug. His arms shook in gluttony as he made a small mess on the table.

He ignored it as he brought the mug to his lips.

The warm sensation of the water filled his throat. His eyes opened wide in craving as he gulped heavily. Each gulp loud and clear.

A heavy, satisfied sigh escaped his lips as he slammed the mug down.

Captain Gilli Polle was silent.

He continued his observation.

"T-thanks." Subaru's voice caught his breath as his torso rose up and down.

"Indulge yourself. We'll wait." Gilli casually raised his right hand, gesturing for Subaru to keep drinking.

"N-no." Take a sharp inhale, Subaru sat straight in his chair. "I'm alright now, thanks."

Gilli could see the small smile forming on Subaru's face, his gratefulness evident. "Like I said, if you need anything else, feel free to ask." The captain quickly side-eyed the knight behind Subaru, before turning his attention back to the boy.

Gilli saw his eyebrows raise in surprise, "Uhh, no, I'm good, t-thanks though…" Subaru scratched the back of his head. The mean-eyed boy's eyes held a curious air.

"You have something you want to say?" Gilli's voice deepened as he asked sternly.

"O-oh…" Subaru sharply inhaled again. "I was just wondering why you were so nice. You know, considering my claims and all…" Subaru's voice weakened at the end of his sentence.

Gilli slightly raised his brows in confusion—only to be put down again as he stared at Subaru. Hmm, I thought someone of his caliber would already have done interrogations before. Was I wrong?

"This is just protocol. We don't want you to die in front of us after all." Gilli uncrossed his arms as he interlocked his fingers together. He rested them between his legs.

"Huh, that's pretty neat." Subaru pursed lips as he nodded slowly in approval.

Gilli placed his interlocked hands on the table as he leaned forward. "So, Gluttony you said. Explain slowly. Try to stay calm."

Since he's emotional, I don't want him freaking out.

"I got attacked by Gluttony—Lye Batenkaitos." He clenched his fist. "He was the one who attacked Rem after the White Whale…" Subaru eyes narrowed in rage as he stared at the captain.

Gilli could tell it was not directed at him. He saw the facial muscles of the man twitch as he mentioned Lye Batenkaitos. Gilli shifted his eyes to the knight behind Subaru, his stance ready.

"…and he the one who stole Crusch's memories." Oh?

The knight froze for a short time at Subaru's words. The captain's eyes opened in surprise at the boy's statement. Didn't the duchess have her memories taken by the White Whales fog?

Inquisitor enhanced Gilli's ability to perceive people's expression. Seeing how easily emotional Subaru was and the small expressions his body made, Gilli came to two conclusions. He's not lying or he's an expert at lying… Interesting.

The captain tried matching Subaru's attitude to what he read in the report of Capella Emerada Lugunica, the Sin Archbishop of Lust. Apparently, she was really aggressive and insecure about her body. Insults easily triggered her. And she had Dragon Blood—oh.

"Subaru." Subaru's eyes relaxed as he was snapped out of his thoughts. "I have suspicions of you being the Archbishop of Lust." Gilli stood up abruptly.

I can't tell him about her shapeshifting abilities. If news gets out, people will freak out completely. Gilli thought about the people of Priestella, fearful of each other, not knowing who Lust transformed into.

Subaru's eyes widened.

"However." Gilli's firm voice resounded. "There's an easy test."

Subaru's sighed in relief. "Yeah, whatever it is, I'll do it—wait you're not gonna make me do something weird, right?!" Subaru's voice lightened as he joked, "My body and soul fully belongs to Emilia-tan! Not even the law can get through that!" He pushed his chest up as he smacked his hand on it.

The inquisitor noticed his awkward smile as he eerily walked towards Subaru.

Gilli stopped in front of him.

Goosebumps rose on Subaru's skin as the captain stared him down. He was slightly taller and bulkier than Subaru's teenage body.

In an instant, Gilli ripped his sword out of its sheath as he aimed it at Subaru's neck.

Compared to Julius and Wilhelm, the sword wasn't that fast. Its speed was more akin to a normal Human with experience, swinging at him.

Although Subaru could trace the sword, his body couldn't keep up. He stood still at the sudden threat in front of him. Shi—

However, nothing happened.

The blade stopped. A breath away from his throat.

Subaru didn't flinch. He didn't need to.

He was used to this. To being at the mercy of others. To facing death over and over again. This should've been the moment of relief. The moment where he laughed it off, maybe threw out some dumb joke about how his life was worth more than a "little paper cut."

But the relief never came.

Because it wasn't fear of dying that weighed down on him. It was the realization that a part of him had wanted the blade to go through.

Subaru looked back at the captain.

His frown that adorned his face shifted to a small smile as the sword lazily retreated back into its sheath. "Sorry about that. You passed the test."

Subaru's breath could be heard as his torso raised up and down frantically. He could almost feel his heart pounding against his chest. I'm not dead?

It stung.

Pain was always a good indicator for Subaru. An indicator that he was alive.

Subaru quickly reached where the sword had stopped on his neck. His fingers caressing the stinging area.

Wet.

His fingers traced the sting, coming away wet. He looked down—blood.

Subaru's mouth opened and closed, like he was trying to say something. I thought… I was gonna die.

A slight tap on his shoulder woke him up.

"Hey, sorry about that. I know it's a bit… cruel, but this is the official testing for Archbishops. And you, Knight Subaru, passed with flying colors."

Test? Subaru looked at the captain in daze, his vision blurry. What?

He reached his bloodied hand to his face as light tears fell. Subaru's eyes open wide in disbelief. Huh? Why am I crying? His body unconsciously trembling as both knights looked at him.

His head lowered into his palms, and suddenly his body felt foreign. His fingers trembled against his skin, and his breaths came in short, uneven bursts. His chest tightened—not from fear, but exhaustion.

Gilli reached for his trembling body.

Placing his hand on Subaru's cut, he focused his Od.

Subaru ignored the warm feeling as he tried holding his tears. Stop crying, idiot! Stop crying! Not now!

Gilli grabbed the carafe of water as he held it in front of Subaru. His other hand grabbed Subaru by the shoulder, "Subaru," his voice gentle.

Subaru shifted his head up, constantly wiping his tears with his arms. His eyelids were squinted—shaking—as if he was trying to manually stop the tears. "Drink."

Subaru slowly reached for the carafe, and with the help of Gilli, started drinking.

Subaru gulped the water.

The rookie next to Subaru shifted uncomfortably in his position, his expression still covered by a helmet.

A tired sigh escaped Subaru. "Thanks. Again."

"You alright?" Gilli asked. Although his irises still lacked any color, Subaru could feel the captain looking at him warmly.

"Y-yeah." Subaru swallowed. "I'm fine."

Gilli placed the carafe back onto the table.

He calmly turned to Subaru, his hand holding onto Subaru's chair. "Have a seat. We aren't finished yet."

Subaru looked down; the corners of his eyes red from the tears.

He slumped down on the chair, letting gravity take him. His shoulders were hunched as he looked at the table. No thoughts ran through his mind.

Gilli calmly walked back to his seat. "You shouldn't look so sad. Especially now that the hard part's over."

Subaru's ears twitched as he slowly looked up. His brows furrowed in confusion. "Remember what I said before? That it would serve you as well to be honest during this interrogation?"

Gilli leaned in his chair with a small grin. "Now, tell me what you mean by your name being eaten."