I look up at the second white flash in the dark night and bite my lip. I didn't see that coming. What a mess. That saint.

　What should I do? I have no idea which option I should grab with my hands. The thoughts in my brain kept going back and forth along the same path, and I couldn't seem to come up with an answer.

　The second flash of light. The one held up by the saint Mattia, indicating her intention to advance further. In other words, to proceed inside the city.

　There was something impossible about it. Something that forced us to go. It's telling us that inside and out.

　She's not stupid. Of course she understands that. The danger of marching now. Rather, she understands that time is on their side and that as time goes on, it will crush Galuamaria.

　Even with this in mind, they still want to move forward.

　He gently ran his fingers over his chin. I breathe deeply to cool the feverish rush of frustration and confusion running through my brain.

　Unbeknownst to me, the residents of the poorhouse who were facing the wall were also looking up at the sky and looking beyond that flash of light. In fact, it would be strange to say that they did not lose their eyes.

　The white light cut through the darkness of the night with great force, and then disappeared as if swallowed up.

"Brother Rougis, you're in trouble. What the hell was that?

　Wood's muttered voice. I can't just not answer at all.

　How much should I tell him? How much should I tell him about my intentions? Impatience almost makes my tongue tangle. I slowly pushed out the sound with my tongue while keeping the words in my mouth.

That's the signal for the heraldic advance. They're losing patience with the Garouamalia. There's nothing to brace yourself for. I'm sure the saint doesn't consider the denizens of the poor to be a force to be reckoned with.

　Now, several of them are stirring up their fighting spirit, but the residents of the poor caves who don't have any weapons. It would be too much of a concern for them to go into battle in their own bodies.

　Just because they stand on the same battlefield does not mean that their morale is the same. Anxiety and insanity are contagious. If one person runs, the other runs. If two run away, two more will run away. There are always demons lurking on the battlefield, looking for an opportunity to grab you by the heart.

　Therefore, there is no need for them to make any decisions or resolutions here. There's only one person who needs to make a decision. Only me.

　He clasps his hand to his chin and scowls.

　If the saint has decided to march, then there is a strong possibility that something decisive will happen in tonight's game that will determine the future course of events, if not everything. It could be the collapse of the Guard, or it could be the death of the saint.

　If that's the case, I should no longer be wandering around like a bat in the dark night without making a sound. I have to make a choice here and now. To achieve success, to seize glory in my hands. Yes, even if the plan has fallen out of our hands, the purpose must be fulfilled.

"...... Wood. Now I'm going to join in on the fuss. No, I'm just a little late, but that's the plan all along. You're going to have to pay more for being late.

　He says this with narrowed eyes and slurred speech. The fact that it's true doesn't make any difference.

　If you're going to step onto the battlefield and cross swords, then yes, everything needs to be decided here.

　That is, whether to side with the heralds or the guards.

　The original plan was to exhaust both sides in a situation of mutual antagonism and cut off the heraldic leader. That was the path that was supposed to be taken.

　But that situation is no longer desirable. It's impossible. At best, only a god or a demon can take back the hand that is no longer available. For now, we should use the current situation to our advantage.

　---- Oh, I see. As a matter of course, we should take the hand of the Guard.

　Suddenly, my calm head told me that this was the right choice.

　In the past, the heralds did indeed bring down Galuamaria.

　So even if we leave it at that, I don't think we'll suffer a complete defeat anytime soon. Even with the presence of Herto Stanley.

　But we will be defeated. If they tried to charge in this situation, the heraldists would certainly be defeated, and if not, the saint's life would be in danger. 　

　Of course, I don't know if this idea is correct or not. But the hero I know, Heldt, can do it without a doubt.

　To be honest, I don't have a good relationship with the Guards at the moment. I even cracked the jaw of the second-in-command lizard. There was no choice but to ask for the help of Kalia, who had the means. Or, if you want to crush the saint's heart by yourself, that's fine too.

　Even if you stay in the ghetto, your registration and citizenship in the guild will still be valid.



　I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that if you take the head of the saint who is the leader of the heralds who posed a threat to Garouamalia, you'll receive the honor you deserve, even if there is some friction with the Guard. I know this is a bit naive, but...

　I take a breath and let the smell of tobacco pass through my nose. I felt something crawling deep inside me, something that scared me. For some reason, I couldn't bring myself to run into the battlefield right now. My feet were staking the spot as if searching for something. Was it because my assumption was wrong?

　I wonder if it was because I was wrong. Things are not going as I expected.

　No, but that's to be expected. History is always played in the palm of the hands of the powerful, the geniuses. It is natural for an ordinary person like me to devise a plan in every direction, but it is natural for me to fall short of my expectations. What is important is what happens next. The important thing is to know which move to take when you exceed your expectations.

　I tucked the cigarette I had chewed a few times into my pocket and exhaled a thin breath.

　In any case, if you just look at the situation as it is, all the success in defeating the heraldists may end up in the hands of the Guards or Heldt. That's the only thing I can't accept. That's something I can't accept.

　Besides, if we destroy the heraldists' army, we won't be attacked by them in this town, as we feared. The only question is how to retrieve the alert.

　So, of course. This is the right thing to do. There's no other option. Come on, it's obvious. You think there's anything else?

　---- Why? Why am I trying to smoke myself out with my tongue?

　I can see Wood looking at me curiously after a few moments of silence.

　But when I think about it, all that work in the ghetto has been for nothing. I have no choice. Now is not the time to regret the effort, but the time to cut back on the unnecessary so as not to incur any more losses.

　Yes, it should. They should be cut down. Even the gutter dwellers, when push comes to shove, yes, even Fialat.

　His back teeth clenched and he made a distorted sound in his mouth.

　---- Remember. What did I come back to this time for? For what?

　A blink of an eye, well, less than a second really. Something cold covered my heart. It's hard to believe that the heart is doing its job in my chest. It's as if it's beating in circles and disrupting the blood flow. Her eyes narrowed.

　It's true that, in order to deny Helt any merit, and to diminish his achievements, he will join the Guard and take the head of the saint. Yeah, that's not an option. A true messenger of justice. You'll get more work with the guild, and you'll have your credibility in good hands.

　And then what happens to them? His eyes unknowingly opened and reflected the people in front of him.

　The denizens of the ghettos who may or may not be alive tomorrow. Wood and his sister, Cereal.

　It would be easy to cut them down and trample them underfoot. And yes, they won't go directly into battle and die.

　Just the same as before. They're just going to keep living the same life. The days of looking down, being trampled and mocked will return.

　And I thought my main goal was Alueno alone. To take her hand, the hand that I love more than any other, all means are affirmed. Isn't that so?

"Lugis......

　Before I knew it, sweat was licking my temples. The unfamiliar voice belonged to Wood's sister, Cereal. You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few of them.

It's a good idea to go to the city now,......, if you can't get there in time,....... There is a better way .......

　In its small eyes, I could see my reflection clearly.
　I don't know what to call this sensation of creepy-crawlies crawling all over me. How can I describe the feeling of something cold caressing my spine?

How can I describe the feeling of something cold caressing my spine? "The waterway that ...... drains the city's sewage is a small boat for ...... one person.

　Wood, and the elders, add their words to those of Cereal.

　As I listened to their words, I slowly let out a breath that seemed to scoop up the muck that had built up deep in my chest.

　Oh, I see, I thought to myself. There was no longer any hesitation in my heart. It would be a lie to say that there was no doubt at all. I'm pretty much set.

　Yes, what I've come back for. For what reason did I step over that humiliating time and return to this time.

　It's at ----