The Iudex's day off

Chapter 8 - Behave

 "Of course."

 "So you go around advertising that you can draw power from the Primordial Sea?"

 Now he seemed to realize what I was going at.

 "Merely to Lady Furina." He sighed.

 "So what? I'm in on a secret only the archon had known before?" I asked jokingly.

 And I definitely did not expect a serious answer.

 "Your deduction is spot on. You are indeed the only one beside her that is aware."

 Wait...

 Seriously?

 "You can't possibly be serious."

 "As you yourself have pointed out. I should not go around advertising this little fact. Now, putting that aside, let us return to the original reason for this conversation." 

 The original reason?

 Why are we having this conversation anyway?

 "Just what has got you so frustrated that you'd take it out on the thing keeping you alive?"

 Ah...

 Hah?!

 This guy has the face to ask?

 "You! You've got me this frustrated! You and your damn little riddle-like sentence!"

 He looked at me questioningly and I had a really strong urge to grab him by the collar and shake him back and forth a few times.

 "If you found a problem with my words then you should talk to me about it instead of risking your life like this." Neuvillette sighed.

 "I doubt it would break from just another punch." I mumbled.

 This surprisingly earned me something that almost sounded like a chuckle.

 "You're right once again, but punching it truly will accomplish nothing more than exhaust your energy. Now..."

 His cane appeared in his hand as he approached me.

 He raised it and swung it towards the top of my head.

 "Behave. Don't cause trouble."

 As his words landed, so did the cane on the top of my head, and I was left completely stunned as his figure faded away.

 B-

 Be-

 Be-behave?

 Behave?!

 Did he really just tell me to behave?!

 "Neuvillette! You damn bastard come back here!"

 Who are you to tell me to behave?!

 In my own territory no less!

 And what's with that smile at the end!?

 Beutitrap has to be a blow below the belt!

 F*ck!

 With a face like that...

 That's totally unfair!

 I knew he had been merely an illusion but I could feel that soft hit from his cane as someone had swung at me with a pipe.

 "Argh! Neuvillette!"

 But he never returned.

 Hah!

 Hahahaha!

 Just wait and see!

 Screw the laws!

 I'll beat that guy up if it's the last thing I do!

And out from the fortress I went.

 On the way out I was stopped by someone daring enough to approach me in this state.

 When they asked where I was going in such a hurry I merely said: 

 "I'm going to beat our dearest Chief Justice to death."

 My words were dripping with sarcasm and normally that would have been enough to scare anyone off but now-

 One of the inmates clung to my waist in a hurry.

 "You mustn't do anything rash, Your Grace!"

 "What-"

 "Quickly come and help! The Duke wants to beat the Chief Justice to death!" He shouted loudly.

 His shout attracted the attention of many and I was soon surrounded.

 "You can't be reckless, Your Grace!"

 "Right! Beating up the Iudex isn't the answer!"

 Sounds of approval rang from all around and I just couldn't move even an inch further.

 This...

 God damn it!

 I should have expected this.

 I should have never told them what I was planning to do!

 Of course, they would hold me back.

 The last thing they want is for me to get arrested.

 Tsk!

 "Let me go. I was merely joking." I grunted.

 "No way!"

 "Absolutely not, Your Grace!"

 "You are an awful liar, Duke. No one would believe you!"

 And yet Neuvillette said the exact opposite.

 But...

 Now what?

 I can't possibly fight my way out of this.

 This was probably the only instance that no one in the fortress would be afraid enough of me to stay away.

 As such, just as I expected, the crowd quickly grew in size.

 Damn it...

 Sigh...

 Archons...

 Please someone save my sanity!

 And amidst all this, in the middle of everything, I could have sworn I heard his chuckle once again.

 His chuckle followed by...

 "Behave."

 "Neu-vil-lette!" 

 "He's going for it!"

 "No, your grace!"

 "Duke, you mustn't!"

 "All of you come help us stop him!"