I half expected to be turned away at the gates—or worse, silenced before I got close—but to my surprise, I was granted permission with ease. A direct interview was scheduled without delay.
I couldn’t help but wonder: Was this a trap? A setup to lure me in and quietly make me disappear?
Still, if I backed down now, I’d disgrace myself as a reporter.
Steeling my nerves, I went to the interview.
I was led to a reception room, where a stunning woman in an elaborate, gaudy dress awaited me.
This was none other than the former commander in chief of the National Defense Force—Duchess Excel Walter.
What follows is the transcript of our interview.
Reporter: Thank you for taking the time to meet with me for this interview.
Duchess Walter: My, what a darling little reporter. Are you new on the job, perhaps?
Reporter: Y-Yes, I am. I’ve just started. I-If I say anything inappropriate, please forgive me.
Duchess Walter: Hee hee. There’s no need to be so tense. You can ask me anything you like today.
Reporter: Th-Thank you. *clears throat* In that case, could you tell me about your recent activities? You returned to Lagoon City after passing command of the National Defense Force to Sir Ludwin, correct?
Duchess Walter: Yes. Lord Arcs has grown into a dependable leader, and the younger ones, like Ms. Kaede Magna, continue to mature. Looking at the continent’s current stability, it seemed to me that holding on to such a troublesome...no, important position as commander in chief would not be healthy for the organization.
Reporter: Did you just say troublesome?
Duchess Walter: Oh my, whatever are you talking about? *smiles*
Reporter: N-Nothing... Then, what have you been doing here in Lagoon City?
Duchess Walter: I spent some time instructing the National Naval Defense Force’s fleet, but I leave most of that to my son-in-law, Castor, these days. Now, I take it easy—managing Lagoon City and mentoring the next generation.
Reporter: You mean people like Lord Arcs and Lord Vargas?
Duchess Walter: Hee hee... That’s right. The sea serpent race originally came as a drifting people from the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago. To protect this haven, I hope to raise someone who can serve my liege as I have, across generations. To put it simply, I’m preparing a successor who can inherit all my knowledge and experience.
[Note: Members of the sea serpent race, like Duchess Walter, are rare compared to those of other races. Nearly all of them are said to live in Lagoon City.]
Reporter: That’s...an incredible goal. But wouldn’t it be impossible to pass on all the experience you’ve gained in your long life to a short-lived human or beastman?
Duchess Walter: Indeed. Which is why the girl I have in mind is also a sea serpent, like me. I believe she will live even longer than I have, and continue supporting this country.
Reporter: Huh?! [Here it is! The sea serpent girl! This must be her!]
Duchess Walter: Is something the matter?
Reporter: N-No, not at all. Is this sea serpent girl a relative of yours?
Duchess Walter: Yes, I suppose you could say that. We are family.
Reporter: Is she...your daughter?
Duchess Walter: Hee hee. Who can say? I do adore her as if she were.
Reporter: You’re going to give a vague answer like that?
Duchess Walter: Sometimes, precisely because you’re family, you can’t quite tell how the other person truly feels about you, can you? Do you fully understand your own parents? And do they completely understand you?
Reporter: Allow me to rephrase, then. I heard in town that the sea serpent girl in question has black hair identical to our former king’s. Is that true?
Duchess Walter: It’s true that the girl has lovely, jet-black hair. She must have inherited it from her parents.
Reporter: Let’s cut to the chase. Is she the daughter of the former king?
Duchess Walter: Yes, she is.
Reporter: Huh?! You’re admitting it that easily?
Duchess Walter: Yes. That girl, Nowa...is without a doubt Sir Souma’s child.
Reporter: Is she a secret child, like some of the rumors suggest?
Duchess Walter: Oh my. What kinds of rumors have been going around?
Reporter: Well...these are just rumors, mind you. I’m not spreading them—I only heard them, okay? The rumors say that the former king has a secret child, and that you, Duchess Walter, might be the mother.
Duchess Walter: Oh, dear...
Reporter: The former king has always been quite fond of Lady Juna, your granddaughter. And since you look so much alike—and are still so youthful yourself—if the two of you had...um...a moment of indiscretion one night, that could’ve resulted in a child. That’s what people are saying. After hearing those rumors, I came to town to investigate and learned about the sea serpent girl, Nowa, whom you’ve been raising with great care. So...
Duchess Walter: I see. You’re suggesting that Nowa might be my child with Sir Souma? Considering that we sea serpents are long-lived and our appearances don’t change much over time...and that you don’t know exactly when the girl was born...your theory is understandable.
Reporter: Y-Yes...
Duchess Walter: Hee hee. It’s true that, as their elder, I’ve offered advice to Souma, Juna, and the others on one of their royal duties—producing an heir. If those lessons extended beyond the theoretical and into practical application... Well, it’s possible that a child might have been conceived. Hee hee hee.
Reporter: ... [Uh, what? Why does she sound so amused?]
Duchess Walter: Do the gentlemen of the world imagine that Juna and I (censored) Sir Souma together, thoroughly enjoying ourselves (censored)? Or perhaps that we gather with the other queens for (censored)? My, what utter debauchery. Hee hee. Is that where the rumors of Souma being a “lecherous king” come from? Well, if people think things like that are going on, then as a woman, I must still have my charm.
[Note: This comment included some indecent language which the editorial department has chosen to censor for publication. Thank you for your understanding.]
Reporter: ...
Duchess Walter: Hee hee. Moments like these make a long life so very entertaining. Perhaps I should start dropping hints that the girl really is my daughter...
*Bang! The door flies open, as if kicked in.*
???: Auntie Excel! What are you saying?!
Reporter: Wh-What? Who—
Duchess Walter: Oh, Nowa. Welcome home.
Reporter: Huh?! Nowa?! This is the Nowa from the rumors?
Nowa (?): Don’t you “Welcome home” me! You send me off with an “urgent” letter for Uncle Castor, and it turns out to be completely blank?! Then I rush back, only to find you giving an interview about me! And now you’re saying I’m your child with Dad?!
Duchess Walter: Oh, my. So you heard all that?
Nowa (?): The conversation was so wild I stood there stunned for a while! Ugh! Why are these ridiculous rumors even spreading?!
Reporter: ... [So this is Nowa? She has black hair like Lord Souma’s...and small antlers and a lizard-like tail—distinguishing features of a sea serpent. But instead of resembling Duchess Walter, she looks more like...]
Reporter: Um... Could I ask your full name?
Nowa (?): Huh? Me? I’m Rinoa Delal Souma.