Her shoulders are so frightened, it's as if her body itself is about to cry out.

　Her own breathing reaches her ears, and her eyes well up with tears. Fiorato La Volgograd was being swept away by the storm of emotions that was constantly crawling out of her chest.

　Right in front of his eyes, a duel has begun. On one side was the undeniable genius with golden eyes and hair, Herdt Stanley. On the other, Lugis, the dark green clothed one reputed to be lead. The two of them are crossing swords.

　My emotions are about to go into a panic. Without thinking, Fialaat gripped the garment tightly around his chest. For if he didn't, his heart would tear through his flesh and he would jump out of his skin at any moment.

　There was no way he could win. The odds were stacked against him. Fialat's eyes blinked and narrowed.

　At first, there was the hope that, just in case. If it was him, if it was Lugis, then maybe he could reach the genius.

　But the result was cruel. The many slashes that cut through the sky were easily shot down by Heldt's white blade. It was the struggle between the swallow and the hawk. No matter how high the swallow flies, it is driven down by the hawk from even higher above.

　But it wasn't just that fact that made Fialaat's emotions more agitated and driven. It was the fact that he suspected that he might have been somewhat relieved by that fact.

　Herdt's genius was inviolable. No one has ever reached that level of genius. That's what Fialaert was convinced of in his mind without knowing it. He was about to believe it. So much relief.

　The contradiction between wishing for Lugis to strike back and praying for Heldt's inviolability. Fialat was about to be swept away by the torrent of these conflicting emotions. Emotions welled up in his eyes.

　No, no, no. What am I supposed to do? Shaking her head like a child, she stifled the emotions that were threatening to spill out of her mouth.

　My ideal and its embodiment, the one who should be lead and gold, Lugis. Herto Stanley, the true gold, the shining sun that holds back all others.

　--What am I to do?

　Fialat asked himself that question again. In his eyes, both of them are wielding swords. I've been relying on someone else. Someone else was making the decisions for me.

　Yeah, Lugis, Heldt... They're not here anymore. They're starting a duel. Then what am I to decide?

　On what should I rely? On whom do I rely?

　Fialat's reason was reaching its limit.

　And then...

　With a few neighs of wind, the sharp pain danced in.

　At first, he didn't understand what was happening. It was beyond my comprehension.

　The impact should have come from the left side of my body. And yet that strange pain. The incomprehensible flash came from my right side.

"You ...... lizard!

　The sharp blow to my right side made me scream out.

　I clenched my teeth and stifled a sob.

　It was a blow from behind. It was not a blow to break Heldt's ribs, nor was it a blow to pierce my lower stomach. Neither the knife nor the double-edged sword cut their targets, but instead glinted in the owner's hand.

　The only thing that worked was the single saber that the lizard thrust at my body.

"Captain, ......, the name of the Guards will be ruined by a duel with a vagrant.

　The saber sprouts from my back, piercing my side. The blood dripped as if proud of its long awaited turn and mingled with the dust and smoke.

"What are you doing? How dare you use the name of the Guards when you're behind me!　I told you I'd take your head off!

　Heldt's voice raged.

　Unusual. Compared to his usual relaxed demeanor, he seems surprisingly human now. Ah, Heldt. I don't mind the way you look now. My fingertips tremble.

　The devil has his claws in your side and pain is crawling all over you. Not now. It's okay. But the longer it goes on, the more intense the pain gets, until you can't stand or even stay conscious. It was both a hunch and a rule of thumb.

　The sound of the saber being gouged out and the flesh being torn apart could be heard from within me. A painful sensation was transmitted through every flesh and nerve in his body.

"Forgive my rudeness, Captain. But if you fight a duel with the poor, they'll take advantage of you. Then you should let them know. The poor are only to be trampled down, not even allowed to touch swords!



　While being reprimanded by Herdt, the captain, the lizard's voice is somewhat aloof. The tone of hatred and sarcasm has not even faded.

"In addition, this is the man who confessed to theft and turned on the captain in desperation. He is allowed to be executed here and now.

　The saber is pulled out with a sickening sound. A really nasty sound.

　The disgusting feeling that a part of you is being invaded by someone, the resentment that you are being left to your own devices, is turning the whole sound into something unpleasant.

　Yes, that's what lizards are. It's not that we don't have any sense of righteousness, cowardice, or pride.

　It's just that they don't apply to lesser folks like us. Selfish and exclusive to a fault. Anyone who is out of his league should be trampled down and out of his sight.

　And for a captain of the Guard to duel with it is unthinkable for a lizard.

　His breath is ragged. My gaze wanders, and I have no way to stop the blood flowing from my body. I have to get away. I have to get out of here.

　As I stagger to my feet, I see the lizard swinging his saber again, blue light glinting as if he's about to chop my head off.

　No kidding. No, I'm not kidding. I don't want to end up getting stabbed in the side by this lowlife and then having my head chopped off.

　It's weird, but even though I'm not bleeding enough and I'm unconscious, my heart is racing. My limbs whispered to me to move.

　--Whew!

　The wind neighed.

　It was a natural thing to do. It wasn't against anything, nor was it a forced movement. It just followed the core of my body. Following the voice that came from my body, I drew a line in the world.

　The movement was smooth and unhurried. Your gait, your body language, it's as if you are different from yourself. My vision was strangely clear. The lizard's saber was coming towards me. To hold it back, Heldt gleams his white blade, ready to chop off the lizard's head.

　But I'm one step ahead of him. With a slight wobble, he leaps forward as if he were going to fall.

　The silver light cuts through the world.

　The feeling of flesh and fiber tearing directly into your hands. The sensation of bone crushing and gouging with momentum.

　The flash of a knife, slightly off the neck, but with a clear intent to kill, sliced and shattered the lizard's lower jaw.

　The lizard's eyes opened in astonishment, and the elation was palpable. Oh, wonderful. Your eyes need to be so open. They should be filled with hate. As miserable as you can be.

　--Whoo-hoo-hoo!

　The neigh of the wind lingers strongly in my ears.

"---- Lugis!

　The only thing I could hear just before I let go of my consciousness was the sound of the neighing of the neighbors, mixed with the sound of their voices.