I had no problem understanding what he meant and grabbing my sword as fast as I could. But the way he acted when he saw the person he was pointing at was unbecoming of a guard.
　Not only was he a young boy, but he didn't even seem hostile, let alone deadly. Even when he told me he was an assassin, there was no noticeable reaction or sign of movement. I kept my eyes on him and the boy, unable to move.
　But it was not I who was told to move, it was Eckdœk. Exduk stiffened for a moment at his words, but quickly deployed his chains and restrained the child.

...!

　The first priority was to keep him safe, so she stood right next to him and then checked her surroundings.
　He stood right next to him and then checked his surroundings. Perhaps Eckdruk is taking it easy on them, but the child who is being restrained doesn't seem to understand what's going on, and is looking at you with a puzzled look on his face.

"What are you doing to my child?

　The first to react was a person who seemed to be the mother of the restrained boy. The first to react was what appeared to be the mother of the restrained boy, her voice spreading unrest around her.

"My people, please explain. As far as I can see, this kid is just a kid.
"Do a physical. He's probably carrying a blade.

　With those words, the image of the boy before Exequik had restrained him came into my mind as a memory. If you ask me, the way he stood and walked seemed a little strange. If he was hiding something behind his back, it would not be surprising if he walked that way.
　Ignoring the fussing mother, Ekduik approached the child and examined his clothes. He then quickly pulls out a knife that was hidden behind the boy's back. The knife was small enough to cut fruit, but not a deadly weapon.
　He pointed at the knife and looked at his mother who was making a fuss. The look in her eyes was clearly different from the one he had just exchanged with her.

"I'll only ask you once, if you have an offer. What is this knife?
"It's not a fruit knife! My kid just took it out of the house and it's not even sharp.
Exduk, take that knife and cut the kid's arm a little.

　As soon as she heard those words, the mother's expression became even more grim. If you're asking me to cut my own child, you're probably right. ...... No, this reaction is much more than that.

"No, don't be silly! You can't--
"Even an unsharp fruit knife can cut through thin skin. But don't worry. I'm lucky I have a child's aid. It might hurt a little, but that's only if this knife is just an uncoated fruit knife.
"What?
I can't smell it, but ...... it's definitely got something on it.

　The mother ran to the boy and stepped in front of Ecdysium. The mother runs up to the boy and steps in front of Ecdysium. Ecdysium keeps his chain restraints in place and keeps his distance, deploying his chains around the mother as well.

"Ugh, don't you dare touch my child!
Ecdyke, give that fruit knife back to your wife.
Oh, yeah. ......

　Even if it had been poisoned, the mother's physical abilities would not have been a problem. Eckdœk did as he was told and dropped the knife in front of his mother.

'Well, ma'am, you can do it yourself. Cut your arm a little with that knife. The two of us can use recovery magic, so we can heal that kind of wound completely. If you can do that, I will also apologize for making you doubt and fear me.
"No, no! Why would I do that?
Let me put it this way. Don't make me look any worse than you did when you were blinded by money and tried to use my child to kill someone. You can either confess right now or be forced to prove it. If you do not choose, I will assume you have chosen the latter.

　His voice was calm, with no hint of anger or hostility in it. His voice is calm, and there is no anger or hostility in it, but he just keeps throwing words at his mother.
　The woman's position, as he said, seems to be that of an assassin motivated by money. From the expression on the child's face, he does not seem to have caught up with the idea of poisoning. She probably wanted him to hold the poisoned fruit knife and wound him, just to play a prank.
　Is this her own idea of an assassination plan, or is there someone who gave her such detailed instructions? ...... I hope it is the latter at least.

I don't care what happens to me. I don't care what happens to me,......, but please,......, please,......, please not this girl...! ...!

　The mother put her head and hands on the ground, as if she had given up. He turned to the people around him and quietly bowed his head.

"As you can see. I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused you. Please rest assured that I will have no further involvement with you.

　The reaction of the people around him was stunned, but he didn't seem to care as he walked over to the mother and the boy and picked up the knife that had fallen. This made the mother shiver, but he left without even looking at her.

"My people, this father and son--
"They were paid to do this. Torturing them will get you nowhere.

　Ecdysium silently released the chains that had been deployed and followed him. I scuttled toward him. For a few moments, the crying voice of the mother I had just passed was ringing in my ears.
　He kept moving without saying a word, but then, as if he couldn't stand the atmosphere, Ekdukku opened his mouth.

"How did you know the kid was an assassin?
I could tell just by looking at the kid that he was up to some kind of mischief. The problem was the mother. She was just waiting for her child to be picked up, but she was watching it with unbelievable nervousness. Not at the moment of being picked up, but from the moment of standing in line.



　Me and Ecdysius were sensitive to the stares that were being directed at us. It should have been the same with the children's gazes. But he was able to do so by the way the children were looking at him, not by the way they were looking at him.
　I'm sure that Exequim and I could have been just as alert. The fact that I had been seriously cautious and still neglected to do so more than him was quite depressing. I joined the conversation and tried to distract myself.

"But were you sure you wanted to leave them alone?
"Restraining them and carrying them around will only make them look bad. If you ask them what's going on, they'll just confirm that they're a single parent struggling to make ends meet.
...... You've analyzed that much, haven't you?
It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. The roughness of his hands and the dirt on his shoes were more noticeable than that of a normal housewife, and above all, he had the atmosphere of someone who has no one to ...... rely on.

　It is not unusual for him to observe others carefully. It is not unusual for him to observe others carefully, but only those with whom he is involved. When I was with him at Taze, he didn't pay that much attention to people on the street. ...... I can't let this go on. Something has to be done about it, by someone other than him.

In the world that my people lived in, did they also use children?
"There were countries that used children as soldiers, but we didn't have anything to do with that. There were countries that used children as soldiers, but nothing like that. Kids who don't know what's going on can catch you off guard just by looking at you.
"It's like poisoning a being that everyone thinks is helpless," he said. Should we assume that the princes' interference is getting more serious?

　The opponents are cunning people who have been killing each other's relatives and fighting for power. They are not simple warriors, but are skilled in how to catch their opponents off guard and entrap them. He may be one of them, but there is no element of comfort in that.
　It would be extremely difficult for a knight such as myself to defeat the machinations of such people. The only thing I can do is to use myself as a shield. .......

Even if we don't have a definitive answer, we've seen what's behind Serende. The only thing left to do is corroborate it. ...... Oh, that's ......

　In the corner of his eye, he sees Toppala, an operative of the Princess Umies faction, whose identity he had previously discovered. He has a shopping basket in his hand, from which some vegetables can be seen sticking out.

"Gee, it's you.
It's good to see you back in the swing of things, old man.
It's gotten longer than I thought. I don't want to get old. ......

　This man had injured his own back to get close to him and was being treated in the next room. It was not an act, but a fact to give him an excuse to approach him. It is clear that this person is also acting with a great deal of determination. He is always ready to draw his sword just in case and pays attention to his surroundings.

How come I didn't see you when I came back?
It's just suspicious if they're wandering around your base. ....... I'm not as thick-skinned as Princess Hilmera's bodyguards. ......
Are you sure about your salary?
It's not going to be ...... okay. It's more like a side job. I'll contact you when I'm free and report back what I see. That's enough to pay for food.

　Topala smiled bitterly. Topala smiled wryly. It would be unprofessional for him to be approached so much by someone he was supposed to be investigating for information. But he seems to like Topala's half-hearted attitude.

He said, "If you want, I'll come visit you. You live alone anyway, don't you?
"Don't say 'anyway'. If I may say so myself, be a little more cautious. ......
I am. I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one.
Oh, ......, that's true too. I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one. I'm a human being, and sometimes greed gets the best of me.

　Toppala said, and left. Unlike the mother of the boy who had just tried to kill him, she seemed to be somewhat concerned about him. He seemed to understand Topala's intentions, and his expression was somehow softer. It might not be a bad idea to send him to Toppara's house, if it would make him feel better.

"Ilias, do you have something to say?

　As I looked at him, he noticed my gaze and spoke directly into my mind as if he could see right through me. Now that I have Ecdysium by my side, there will be no ...... problem.

"Oh ....... You understand that everyone is worried about you, right?
"Well, yeah. I'm aware that I'm pretty tense myself. You can fake it, but you don't want to make people worry even more. ...... I'm sorry, but I might make you worry a little more.
I'm not blaming you. I don't blame you. You chose this path for the good of all. You know that, and that's why no one can stop you and why we have to worry about you.

　If he really wanted to be safe in his own life, all he had to do was cut off all ties with others and isolate himself. He confronts various problems in this way because he wants those of us who are inevitably caught up in them to lead a peaceful and safe life.

I'm grateful enough not to be shunned as an afterthought. Thank you for letting me do what I want.
"You can cancel ...... if you want.
Hmm?
I meant the promise. You don't have to ask for my permission to use that technique of understanding people.



　The way he looks at me, I can't tell what he's thinking. But this is something I've already sorted out in my mind.

Can I ask you why?
"I'm still against your using that method. I still disagree with your use of that method, and I even hope that you will never use it. But I also don't want ...... to put an unnecessary burden on your mind because of it.

　The act of completely abandoning one's self and understanding as if one were the other person is a cruel act that does not respect one's own spirit in the slightest. It is no different from carving one's body with a blade. For him, it is a method he is familiar with from his world, a technique he has learned to live by.
　But he has abandoned it. Not out of vanity, but for my sake. He cut off his own arm to walk with us.
　I was relieved to hear that. After that, I was even satisfied with the way he faced his problems without resorting to harsh methods.
　However, when I allowed him to use it when he settled with the Purple Demon King, the Scarlet Demon King, and Arkreal, I saw something. That method was also a way to protect his weak mind from hostility by forgetting himself and thinking as his opponent instead of facing his opponent.
　He had been aware of this for a while, but he had made excuses saying that it was not a reason to justify that method. But that's what he's become. Everyone is beginning to see that he is worn out, and his mind is no longer relaxed.

You don't have to worry about it, though, because I've made my own decision. It's only because Ilias and the others don't want me to do it that I'm restraining myself. If I have to, I'll ask for it. ......
I'm glad you're willing to face them as yourself. I'm glad you're facing them as yourself, but it won't do you any good if you're letting it chip away at your heart. If you feel more comfortable doing so, please put your peace of mind ahead of my wishes.
"...... I see. I see what the Iliad is trying to say. Can't you see that much ......?

　He smiled a little annoyed. I'm sure he has mixed feelings about the fact that I, a man whose only claim to fame is his sincerity, wanted him to take the easy way out, even if it meant twisting his own will.

You gave it up for me then. Now I'll do it for you. If you lose yourself, I'll be your guide to come back. And then you can come back, can't you?

　When he changed his way of being, he was trying to get back by looking into my eyes. Even though I'm only a fool, I can be of use to him. Then all I can do now is to protect his life with my body and his mind with my way of being.

Well, ...... that's true, but ...... do you know what it means to look someone in the eye?
No, not at all. When I visited you before, you made fun of me.
That's right. ...... I'll explain it to you. I'm going to sound a little bit like a jerk, but just listen quietly.

　He walked a little faster, perhaps not wanting to be seen. I don't have a problem with that, because I don't really want to look directly at him right now. Instead, let's focus on our surroundings.

I believe that pride is a foolish act of accepting loss. There's nothing wise about locking yourself up and hoping for the worst. Still, the reason people respect pride is because they are people.
......
"If everyone rejects loss and tries to live wisely, it will be a struggle for position. If everyone refuses to lose and tries to live wisely, it will be a struggle for position, and only the strong will survive. There are many people who say that this is the only way for people to progress. But a life in which only the strong survive is no different from the life of an animal, isn't it?

　I can say that his way of life is wise, as he continues to stand smartly and hope for a safe way of life so as not to lose money. However, the words that came out of his mouth also implied that his way of life was not a good one and that he looked down on it.

"To be proud is something only a man can do. So, Ilias. You're trying to live proudly as a knight, and I can see the sparkle in your eyes that says you're trying to live as a person. It's more dazzling than any jewel, and when I see it, my heart wavers, and I realize again that I am a person. It reminds me of the way I am, the way I want to live as a person.

　There were many times when I felt that my way of life and his were far apart. I thought that we were together because our goals were the same, and that if we were separated, we would never be able to walk together again.
　But he admired me for my way of life. I remembered what Grandpa Kara had once said to me, and now I seemed to finally realize the meaning of it.
　I wanted to say something back, but no words came to me. I want to see what he looks like now if I can, but I don't want to show him my face.

I don't want to show my face. ...... I feel a little better now that you said you would be a beacon. I'm grateful for the opportunity to use it.
"...... Oh.

　I was able to reply, but it seemed difficult to continue the conversation any further. I'll try to keep this strange excitement at bay before I return to the base.
　I felt embarrassed by his words, but I was honestly happy. But at the same time, I still felt uneasy. He had never tried to get this close to me before. I realized that my words alone were enough to shake him.