Reincarnated as a random race, of course I got goblin.

Chapter 69 - Spy Games

I sit down a respectable distance from my other half, ignoring the cold stare I get from Huldr as her song quiets down in my presence. I get just close enough that I can use Share Nutrients, no closer. 

Who knows if the Malice is able to extend its influence towards me if I get close enough. Better be careful and keep away for now. I expend as much SP as I dare recovering Hers. Of course, since my SP pool is a fourth of Hers, it doesn't amount to much. 

My task finished, I get back up, leaving quietly as Huldrs song starts up again. She's been inconsolable since the fight with the Hero, not even leaving Her side to eat, instead being handed food by the Gyger and Jotun, who are understandably quite upset with this as well.

I settle back in the sun to make the most of the last few hours of sunshine. The sun's setting earlier and earlier for each day that passes, and the nights are getting longer and colder. Most all the leaves are gone from the trees, and winter's just around the corner.

We have plenty of food stocked up, so I'm not worried about that, so my worries are instead focused on the issues of the moment. 

Speaking of, I get a front row seat to the interrogation of the two surviving soldiers, the ones I dragged to safety. They were given a simple choice. Die, or allow me to bond their minds to mine via Hivemind so that I can use them as spies. 

Millibelle would have pretended to be upset with me for doing this, however, I know that she'd want to do this herself. After all, I'm her dark side. 

Closing my eyes, I focus inwards. There, two other minds, separate from mine and Hers. I chose to view the world through the eyes of one of them, the male one. 

We're in a simple room, sparsely furnished, though one can tell that this room functions as an office by the furniture that is there. The male soldier is sitting next to his companion, the female soldier. They're both in civilian clothes, their arms, chest and legs covered in bandages. 

I won't lie, I was a bit rougher with them than needed when I carried them to safety. 

On the desk in front of them sits a crystal of the same kind that I've seen being used for long-distance communication before. It's not active yet. 

"I-Is She there?" The woman asks the man, seems I outed myself by making him study the room. My view moves up and down, he's nodding. I'm glad I share my other half's desensitization to this, or else I'd be nauseous. 

Both soldiers snap to attention as the crystal starts glowing. A hazy image of a serious-looking man comes through. His hair is starting to grey at the temples, and judging by the way he holds himself, this is a very stressed person. 

The pair rise to salute, only settling down once a voice emits from the crystal. "At ease. Now, Status." 

"I will end both your lives should you let slip our little deal."

I force both their bodies to not betray the fear both are feeling at the moment. Once I relax the control, they begin speaking, retelling how the fight went up until they all got knocked out by Our Cry of the Damned. 

As the story unfolds, I take some delight in the distinct paling of the man on the other side. 

"You're sure? The Egis started leaking something, and the Monarch reacted negatively to it?" He's sweating bullets, as if his worst fears had been confirmed. "Yes, sir, it is correct. That wail, it... I haven't heard anything like it since I did my Pale's Duty." 

A shiver goes through all three. A quick check of their memories tells me that the Pale's Duty is something all Harmekian soldiers have to do during their service as a requirement to reach past a certain rank. It's basically giving the news of death to next of kin in person. Seems the intention is to instill a fear of having this happen to their own loved ones, and a desire to survive at all costs.