It was a few days later than Largd-Anne's report that the fast horse rode through the great gates of Garouamalia.

　In the beginning, the word was hushed up in the name of preventing chaos in the city, but it was impossible to keep the word locked up in a cage. But it is impossible to confine words in a cage. The fact spread throughout the city, adding a tail and a spine.

　--A lord was crucified in a heraldic revolt. The heads of several lords have already been exposed at the gates of the Garlist Kingdom.

　The facts have been distorted, and the citizens of Galuamaria, accustomed to peace, have been greatly frightened and enraged.

　But it was, to all intents and purposes, a fire on the other side of the river.

　There is no more interesting spectacle than this. No matter how far the threat spreads, it is unlikely that the fire will reach this sanctuary.

　Because this is the walled city of Galuamaria. A holy city that has never been defiled in history.

　The day

　The fact that Kalia was in a very good mood that day was a topic of conversation at the Guard headquarters.

　Although she was a knight of the Kingdom of Garleist, she was now being treated as a guest of the Guard. Her appearance is neat, reminiscent of a sharpened sword. Her swordsmanship is so sharp that it is hard to believe it comes from a woman's thin arm.

　She is the very knight that everyone dreams of.

　Although she is called a guest, her good mood is the topic of conversation for the day in the Guards, especially among the commoners. It's not popularity or infatuation, but rather envy.

　Ever since Kalia became a member of the Guard, she has been the topic of gossip among the members, both small and large. Today is no different.

"Good ...... day to you, Master Kalia.

　The man's words were not necessary, Kalia said, turning from the window. The view from the window of her private room, which she had been assigned as a guest, was unusually wide.

　As rumored, Kalia's mood was apparently not bad. Her words are not soft, but her cheeks are somewhat relaxed, and her eyes are less sharp than usual.

　In fact, Kalia's heart was beating so fast that it was buried in her chest. The twinkle in her eyes was like that of a young child. It's no wonder that her joy is evident in her attitude.

I am but a guest. There is no need to be respected or feared.

　Even so, Kalia said in a calm, joyless voice.

"Not so fast, my dear. At least not for a man like ...... me.

　She shrugged her shoulders lightly and shook her silver hair against the window.

　This man is apparently of that nature. He may not be an authoritarian. He takes formal etiquette and customs more seriously than most people. I don't know if it's because of this man or not, but the majority of the Guards have come to call Kalia by her name.

　He lets out a small breath and continues to speak to the man with the reptilian glare in his eyes. This time with a somewhat dubious tone in his voice.

"But what's with the chin, sub-captain? It's not like you woke up this morning and a fairy played a trick on you, is it?

　The man's appearance was strange to say the least. His distinctive lizard-like eyes. He is now wearing a scarf around his mouth to support his broken jaw, and when he speaks, he uses his hands to support his jaw.

　If she doesn't do this, she can't form words properly.

　Kalia's words caused the air in the room to stagnate for a moment.

　Ugly emotions that do not even try to hide their stench from the man spill out. It was not expressed in words, nor in attitude. It's just that I let my emotions bleed into the air. It was only for a brief moment. A stench of emotion that made me want to cover my nose.

　Kalia's long eyelashes blinked, and the man's shoes clacked slightly.

"It's not something that ...... you should be concerned about.

　There it is. Kalia lets out a deep breath in her chest.

　Obviously it's something to be concerned about, it's... It's unheard of for one of the second-in-command of the Guard to come home with a broken jaw while on patrol.

　But Herd Stanley, the captain who was supposed to be with him, and his men all kept quiet and refused to talk. It was as if they were saying that nothing had happened. In fact, within the Guards, it was assumed that nothing had happened.

　Perhaps that's why the second-in-command has come out early, even though it hasn't been long since his jaw was broken.

　It seems that he found it difficult to carry out his original duties, so he has been assigned to serve as Kalia's bodyguard, and possibly as a watcher.

　Fed up with the man's stubborn refusal to talk, Kalia's lips involuntarily close. Then, almost without pause, the man cupped his chin in his hand and spun his words as if biting them.

The man said, "I wonder if ...... something good has come to you from heaven, Miss Kalia.

　Well, it seems that he wants to get back to the topic at hand. Kalia raises both eyebrows, as if she still doesn't want to talk about herself.

　But it's not that Kalia didn't like what he had to say. It tickled her heart and reminded her of her ecstatic feelings.

"Yeah. Of course, I'm not the kind of girl whose mood changes with the weather. Yesterday, you received a letter from your father. The wax has been sealed. It's always nice to receive a letter from someone close to you when you're so far away.

　Turning on his heel again, Caria stood at the window.

　Again, he turns on his heel and stands at the window, letting the words speak silently, as if he has nothing more to say.

　The man didn't seem to want to pursue the matter any further. In fact, he didn't want to spoil the good mood of Kalia, who had been in a bad mood lately, by stepping into her mind.

　--As a matter of fact, Kalia's mood had been at its worst yesterday.



　This was especially true since he had heard the news of the heraldic uprising. All around her, there were rumors that the rebellion of the heretics in her homeland was causing her pain, but that was not the case.

　What was raging and clawing at her heart was a sense of frustration.

　The curtain had already opened and the actors were already on the stage. Yet, I felt as if I was just standing there on the edge. Kalia didn't like the feeling of being given a role alone and left alone.

　Oh, how she wanted to throw away her role and run up on the stage.

　Then, at last, a letter came into her hands.

　It was sealed in wax. It was an ugly imitation of the crest of the House of Karia, the House of Baadnick, but the intent was clear at a glance.

　--It was undoubtedly a letter from Lugis.

　Whether real or forged, the ugly shape of the wax seal was impossible. If so, there is only one person in the world who would send such a thing.

　Kalia can't describe the joy she felt the moment she saw it and held it in her hands. It was as if all the blood in her body had quickened its pace and poured ale into it.

　Her heart was beating louder than ever, swallowing up her anticipation and anxiety. Kalia remembers that her fingertips, which never trembled even when fighting large magical beasts, were vibrating slightly.

　The content itself was simple.

　It was a simple message about the current situation and future plans. Even though the letter was sealed with wax, it was probably for fear of being censored. Slowly, Kalia gathered up the truth behind the euphemism.

　In the letter, he wrote that he was planning to pit the forces of the Guards and the heraldry against each other to exhaust them and eventually destroy the heraldry. The time and the means to do so were also mentioned in a distant manner.
　As a result, he would have the honor of destroying the heralds, I suppose.

　I remember Kalia chuckling when she picked up on the intentions contained in the letter. What a rough, rough, rough plan, just like him.

　But he was in no mood for mockery or ridicule. My throat cleared, and I felt a gentle wave of emotion in my chest, as if I were looking at something that made me smile.

　As he tucked the letter into his chest, the gentle expression on his face was replaced by a smile that was too sharp and cold.

　Just as angels and demons are sometimes depicted as two sides of the same coin. The gentle, enveloping smile was instantly transformed into a sharp, piercing smile.

　--You idiot. No matter how much good you do here, no matter how much fame you make, the world will never be the same.

　With a smile on her face, Kalia realized that her entire gut had been pierced by a pillar of ice.

　Yes, in this world, birth is everything. Those born to knights become knights, those born to nobles become nobles. Those born to the common people, the common people. And those born poor, become poor.

　It never changes. It never changes. Because those who hold it constant are the ones who become kings and nobles and rule the land.

　Caria understands this. Even more so because he was the one in charge. No matter how much merit Lugis has achieved, the world will never recognize it.

　No matter how much merit you achieve as an adventurer, how much will you gain? You won't even get as much land as a poor noble.

　Oh, how vexing. How annoying. That man, Lugis, will never get his hands on glory no matter how much he suffers and yearns for it. This world doesn't have the fortitude to recognize him.

　--Then no more. You have no choice but to let the world itself be swallowed by the vortex of change, Lugis.

　It's the only way to make this world a better place.

　The world is too small to recognize you. At this rate, you'll never reach glory, let alone touch it with your fingertips.

　But rest assured. Be at ease. From the depths of your soul.

　I will pave the road to glory for you. I will take you to great heights.

　No, not the dark-haired sorceress, not the woman who calls herself your childhood friend who's never been by your side. It will be me.

　Her face is beautiful. Her heart, cold to the core. Kalia's silver eyes glittered in the window as if to show her will.