A breeze caressed my cheeks. It made me feel a little chilly rather than comfortable.

　Garouamalia, the Great Wall. The sky that I looked up from there was quite wide. It was the first time I had ever seen a sky like this.

　When I was a child, all I saw was a sky that refracted my body as I shrunk into a narrow alleyway. And as I got older, I stopped looking at the sky.

　So this must be the first time I've ever stared straight up at such an expansive sky.

　Somehow, I lightly bend the fingers of my right hand. A slight numbness runs through my fingertips and down my shoulder. But that's all. There's no pain left.

　Your body seems to be getting back to normal. In fact, I'm feeling more comfortable than ever, probably because I've rested so much.

　So if there's a problem, it's the voice that hasn't stopped since that day.

　--Go ahead of me, hero. It's the duty of the victor.

　My brow creases involuntarily, and something heavy steps on my lower belly. I lay down on the wall and let out a deep, ragged breath.

　Lousy, lousy, lousy words. I wonder if I'm being misled by those words. I...

　I know what I'm doing. I know how far I can go. I've never been a hero in my life, though I admire them. At best, I was a child who didn't know his own size.

　As soon as I thought of the word "hero," I felt an unconscious, chilling sensation caress my skin.

　Hero. The strong, the ones who take up the pen of history, the unreachable, the ones with a glimmer of brilliance.

　Oh, still, no. Once upon a time, even now, their shadows continue to burn in my heart. It's no use trying to look away. It's burned into my very eyes.

　Thoughts run from one end of my head to the other in a bewildered manner, refusing to rest even when I try to lie down. My body was more than rested enough, but my mind was not.

You're in good company. You work hard and play hard while others work alone. Yes, it suits you.

　The voice that suddenly struck my earlobe on the wind was the kind of voice that lingers in the ear well. Regardless of the quality of the voice, I would not want such poisonous words to remain in my ears.

　I got up from my reclining position and turned my gaze to the voice. You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few of them. It's very dignified.

Not really. In fact, there are times when it is the one who is resting alone that one's spirit is constricted. I'm sure you've had that experience at least once.

　He said as he cleared his throat and let her words flow.

　I could see Saint Mattia's face contorting in a very obvious way. As usual, she is a woman who shows her emotions in a way that defies calculation. Of course, it's easier for her to do that. And I never get tired of watching her.

　She raises her hands in the air, indicating that she is joking, and lets her cheeks fall.

　However, it had been a long time since I had been approached by a saint.

　It's been a while since I returned to Garouamalia, but in that time, she and I have barely spoken to each other.

　The saint, who is the actual leader of the heraldry religion, is extremely busy on a daily basis, but even so, I thought that the reason why we didn't see each other for a while was because the saint was avoiding me.

　After all, there are not many strange people who would want to approach someone they dislike.

　That's why it was very strange for me that she approached me today. I wondered if there was something wrong with her. Then you can use the messenger. I still couldn't figure out what was going on.

　Mattia opened his mouth, his shoulders slightly tense.

"Well, ......, they've been looking for you, sir.

　I'm no longer asking who," Mattia muttered, trying to find the words.

　I was hesitant to ask who anymore. No, rather, I know exactly who the shadows that stalk me are. I don't need to ask anymore. My eyes and mouth tightened and I stopped moving.

　Yes, I know. They were a silver-haired war goddess and a dark-haired sorceress. It must be Kalia and Fialaat La Volgograd.

　I can feel a heavy rock forming around my pigeon tail.

　It's not that I dislike them or avoid them.

　On the contrary, it gives me a strange sense of elation to be able to feel a certain kind of emotion towards them. At the same time, there is a sense of discomfort that comes up from the esophagus. I'm sure that none of these feelings are entirely refreshing. But they're not bad.

　But... Just this moment. Today was the only time I didn't want to face Kalia and Fialat.

"Why don't you go? You can help people just by going down there. You're in good company. Just don't do anything insolent in the daytime.



　Mattia says, his lips pursed in a shouting voice.

　What the hell is this? I wonder if that's all he's here for. Is that all he wanted to do, or did he make me go up to the top of the wall, to the corner of the wall, just to give me a sarcastic look? What a guy with a passion for the wrong things.

"Helping people is all well and good. Helping people is all well and good, but if your life is tied up in it, it's no fun at all.

　Instantly, Mattia's big eyes quivered. Her eyebrows shot up. The expression on her face was, I don't know how to put it, puzzled, or in other words, dumb.

　The expression on the saint's face was unimaginable from the calculating and clever light in her eyes at all times.

　I couldn't help but widen my eyes as if I were following suit. I was prepared to get a sarcastic response, but that kind of bland expression hadn't even crossed my mind.

...... Is that so? I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not. I'm not sure.

　For a moment, I did not understand what the question was about. For a few seconds, the wind caressed the space, and it was only afterwards that I could finally move my lips.

"Well, yeah, of course. Helping people is something you should do in your spare time. Everyone is too busy helping themselves.

　Even as she listened to my response, Mattia rolled her eyes lightly as she chewed on my words.

　I'm not sure what to say, but I'm not sure what to say, but I'm not sure what to say.

　The saint Mattia is definitely not an ordinary person.

　Her charisma was readily apparent from her past history, but now that we were talking face to face, I could clearly see what made Mattia a saint and a hero.

　It was her calculating, calculating, and cold-hearted judgment. She doesn't worry about trivial things like I do, and can cut everything off with her calculations.

　His sharp, blade-like demeanor would certainly attract people.

　Most people are lazy, unable to make any decisions. They just hold the air in their mouths and let their eyes wander around without really knowing what it means.

　Oh, how I miss it. You can't make any decisions, you just live day by day. The old days when flesh was just walking.

　Knowing that, I can see why Mattia is such a fascinating symbol.

　It was surprising to me that she was now worrying about something so small. Whether it is good or bad to help others. It's not surprising that she has long since given up on such things.

But still. Helping others is a good thing. Isn't a good thing the joy of others?

　Mattia asked me again, still looking like he didn't understand.

　This time, it was my turn to open my mouth.

　Oh, so that's what it is. So that's how saints are made, huh?

　I search my bosom to suppress the thoughts that are spinning around in my skull and beginning to agitate me. Chewing tobacco from my fingertips, I let out a deep, ragged breath.

　I sat down on the castle wall and leaned against the stone wall, letting the scent of the chewed tobacco pass through my nose. Mattia's eyes came into view. The color of her eyes still held a hint of confusion.