I'm sure you've heard of it.

　In the living room, Mattia gulped when he saw Kalia muttering to herself with her eyes downcast.

　I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

Yes, I'm afraid that's just a prediction.

　If that's what you think, you have the option of sealing the whole thing in your brain and killing it. There was a lot of guesswork involved in guessing that he would be in the tower.

　But that would be undeniably painful.

　Of course, not telling her was also an option that Mattia thought about choosing at first. But when she thought about it, she wondered why she had to suppress Kalia and Fialaat and even hide their whereabouts for the sake of that man, Lugis.

　Besides, if he is safe, he should be able to contact them by some means or another. And yet, he is not trying to contact them at this very moment. He doesn't even know what to do.

　A wave of what could be called resentment mixed in her chest and spat out from Mattia's mouth.

　And Fialaat seemed to be losing all semblance of life if left alone, and she couldn't even look at him anymore. Mattia glanced over at Fialaert.

"Yes. You're safe. Hmm, ......, yes, the princess.

　I'm not sure how to describe it.

　How can I describe it? Relief, exasperation, and frustration were combined and clashed with each other. That's how I'd describe his expression. Mattia's lips twitched involuntarily.

...... Okay, I'm going to bed. You could have at least called me. Remember that, Lugis!

　In his words, the emptiness that had once been there was already gone. It was as if he had somehow regained some life in the core of his spirit.

　His expression was distorted in a complicated way, but he was still unable to overcome the sleepiness symbolized by the dark circles under his eyes and the exhaustion of his body. In fact, Mattia patted his chest, thinking that he could finally get some rest.

"Are you sure, sorcerer? It is one of the disciplines to drag out a man who is sleeping peacefully.

　Kalia said, her cheeks tearing up in amusement. But her words, like Fialat's, had regained a certain serenity. If you're going to be in such a good mood, why don't you control your emotions a little better?

　As if Mattia's emotions didn't matter, Kalia shook the long sword at her hip.

"It's okay, yeah.

　Fialaert's words had a dignified quality to them. I'm not sure what to say, but I'm going to say it.

If Lugis is playing a trick, he already knows where he's going to show up - at the last moment, at the most dangerous moment, he's going to write his name.

　Then you'll have some time to rest. With that, Fialaat walked up the stairs to the second floor.

　Hearing Fialaert's words, Kalia chuckled. It was amusing, even mocking.

You're absolutely right. It's as if he thinks it's his duty to get himself into trouble. It's not the behavior of a person of high rank. I'll have to correct him sooner or later.

　Their words strangely penetrated Mattia's heart.

　It is true that he, Lugis, has a tendency to do so. It's true that he, Rougis, is like that in Garoua Maria and here in Gazalia. He leaps into dangerous situations and increases the wounds on his body.

　I wonder if that is the spirit of self-sacrifice. This way of being is not incomprehensible to Mattia. In fact, it seems like the right way to live.

　To sacrifice oneself for the greater good and save the greater number. It's an idea that Mattia has engraved in his heart. However, in his case, I got the impression that he was in a hurry to live, rather than that.

　So I'm afraid to praise him outright.

　--No, wait.

　Mattia unconsciously pushed back the strange feelings that had surfaced within him. I'm afraid to praise her. Why? If Lugis is willing to leap into danger and sacrifice himself to win the victory, what could be better than that? It would even be a pleasure.

　In fact, as a heraldic religion, we should even encourage it. It should be celebrated as an honor. The process and feelings are not important, what is important is the result.

　So why do I now have mixed feelings about his hasty action?

　Mattia's eyebrows twisted involuntarily at his own unfamiliar feelings.

...... Why is he so willing to jump into the deep end?

　As if to disguise the emotions that arose within her, Mattia's lips spoke another word. Her silver hair swayed in response.

"He's weak, you know.

　It was as if she was saying it out loud. That was a surprising statement, even to Mattia.

　Mattia understands very well that Kalia is a person who lives by the theory of the strong. But what does it mean to declare a person to be weak when he is offering feelings that are not hateful?

　When she blinked her eyes in question, Kalia smiled, somewhat amused.

"Don't you see, he's inherently weak and dangerous. That's why he's reaching out and jumping into trouble to reach the strong. He's like a hero. Well, not quite, if you ask me.



　Kalia seemed strangely proud of herself. It was as if he was praising his own possessions while calling them weak.

But he also has a strength that comes from that weakness. But he also has a strength that comes from his weakness, and I like that part of him very much. You never know. I used to think that strength was unshakable and weakness was incompatible.

　There's a lot I don't know about him. Kalia's words were strangely gentle and her gaze was compassionate. Knowing her behavior, which can be described as intense and fierce, her appearance is a little hard to believe.

　Her white cheeks flushed slightly, and her silver eyes pierced Mattia. Mattia's shoulders twitched.

"Don't make me do all the talking. What do you see in him?

　What do you see in him? Without thinking, Mattia repeated the words with his own lips. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to understand.

　I'm finding out something about Lugis.

　What are you talking about? You've never talked about it, never even held it in your heart. I know you haven't. Yeah, I bet you have.

　When I told her that with pursed lips, Kalia inexplicably rolled her eyes and gushed with amusement.

If that's what you want, fine. But the root of the heart is not so different between me and that sorcerer - if you show your fangs too late, you might not have a piece of meat left.

　I have no intention of leaving any. I'm not going to leave anything behind.

　What are you talking about? Mattia bites his own lip as he stares at her back.

　He and I have nothing to do with each other. If I had to say, I'd say we're collaborators. The only thing I have left is the resentment I feel towards him in my heart.

　I may have given up on him, but it is very unlikely that I will find him.

　Of course, I do appreciate the power of control and twisted actions that may be pulling the strings behind the elf princess, as in this case. But that's just in the sense of usable or useless. It does not mean that I gave any kind of evaluation to his character.

　No, no, no. Mattia repeats this over and over in his mind.

　Mattia seemed to feel a new seed of worry arising in his head. It was not created by Kalia or Fialat.

　It was the green-robed man. It was born of Lugis.