--gasp, shaang!

　The sound of shattering glass echoed through the gates of Galuamaria in the early morning.

　The well-trained soldier's movements were agile. They immediately reach the source of the sound, and their faces turn blue. The place, or rather the room, where the sound came from was unmistakably the office of Saint Mattia. He and his guards banged on the door in a bloodcurdling manner.

"Saint Mattia, is there something wrong?

　At least, it's not an unusual sound. It is normal to think that something appropriate has happened. As if summoned by the loud voice, more and more soldiers gathered in front of the door.

　The saint Mattia is undoubtedly the symbol that guides the heraldry and the pillar that supports everyone's heart. If something were to happen to her, it would be enough to bring down the power of the heraldry. It's not like we can all be united in one force anymore.

　Whether it is true or not, most people believe that. Everyone loves her, everyone trusts her, and that is who Saint Mattia is.

　Something might have happened to Saint Mattia. Just when the soldiers were about to break down the door and enter the room, they were caught in such a delusion.

"I'm sorry, sir. I was just sleepwalking and broke a vase. Don't worry about it.

　Largud Anne, Mattia's aide, peeked through the crack in the door. For some reason, she only opened the door slightly.

　That's all she said, and then she walked back into the room.

　The soldiers rolled their eyes in confusion and looked around to see what was going on. But nothing happened, said Anne, her aide. Anne's loyalty to Mattia is more than anyone else. Everyone knows that.

　Leaving some noise behind, the soldiers began to return to their posts.

　The morning had begun to pass without incident.


　The morning began to pass without incident.


　Early in the morning, Largd Ann was carrying anguish in her head.

　The anguish may have been exaggerated, but it was clear that another problem had come to him. The cause of this was no one at all, but the hero and fellow countryman of the heraldry, Lugis.

　She wrinkled her brow and fought down the pain in her upper abdomen. Again, again. Once again, she had to wipe the back of her face with his actions.

　Just when I thought things had finally settled down and I could move on to political and emotional matters, this happened. Anne could feel a huge sigh sinking into the pit of her stomach.

　Largud An was undoubtedly gifted in interpersonal negotiations. Because of this, she is highly valued by Mattia, and has gained a position as a link between Mattia and the heraldry.

　However, there are many inconveniences because of this. When people get together, conflicts naturally occur, and that is why Ann is valued, but she is also burdened with troubles as a matter of course.

　There is no way around it. In fact, Anne understands that it is only when she handles them well that her value increases.

　But these days, the trouble is always caused by him, Lugis.

　--Is it true that heroes love colors?

　I'm not going to say anything about it. I never say it. Once she said it, even the slightest thing would be carried away by the wind, and she would never know where it had leaked to. A man who makes negotiation his profession would never do such a foolish thing.

　But it is permissible to mutter in the back of one's mind.

　He, Lugis, has had too many difficulties with women.

　I don't care how many women he touches, or how wild his relationships are at night, he can do as he pleases. But if that's the case, I'd like to see the matter settled somewhere.

　For example, I want you to distinguish between your wives and concubines, or at least hold the reins of power enough to keep everyone in check. Then, it would not be a bad idea for me to be a part of it, to eventually become the flag bearer.

　After all, Lugis is currently the most powerful man in the heraldry. It is not a bad option to take advantage of him in order to secure your position.

　Of course, my preference would be for him to be a little more relaxed.

　This case is no different. I heard that he went out for a walk at night, rented a horse, and never came back.

　I really hope he doesn't do this. Sometimes he risks his life for others, and sometimes he does things without thinking of others.

　No, but that's what heroes do, isn't it? Maybe that's why we call them heroes, because others can't read their actions. Anne's eyelids weighed down and her eyes narrowed, but she regained her composure.

　But now that he is gone, even if only temporarily, it will be difficult to deal with the girls who adore him again. I can't report to them before I know where he is. It would only make the ruckus grow louder and louder.

　Keep your mouth shut to the gatekeeper, and report to only one person. It's your immediate superior, Saint Mattia. You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few of them in the marketplace.

　I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure I'll be able to do it. Her fingertips, which were supposed to be knocking, shrank in on themselves.

　Suddenly, she felt that her budding talent for interpersonal negotiation was ringing an alarm bell.

　Perhaps I should keep this matter in my own mind and report it to the saint Mattia after I have at least found a way to resolve it.

　That's what I'm thinking, but lately I've been feeling a slight discomfort with Saint Mattia.

　No one else could feel it, but Anne, who had always been close to her, could sense it. It was so slight that she could say it was her intuition.

　She decides what to do based on reason and calculation, and even calculates people's emotions before acting. The saintly Mattia's way of being has never changed, and Anne has always respected and sympathized with Mattia's way of being.



　She believes that this is exactly the kind of quality a leader must have.

　But even so, Anne thought.

　However, Saint Mattia's words to Lugis did not show such calculation. In fact, the way she used her words, as if to shun him, was clearly not appropriate for Lugis. Anne bites her lip slightly and runs her brain.

　His human nature is hunger and thirst.

　He's like a starving beast. He's hungry for the dignity he can't have and the words people give him. He is sobbing with unquenchable thirst and hunger, like the sand in the desert that has sucked up all the water and is still dry.

　At least, that's how Anne understood Lugis' existence.

　Then give it to her. Give him a prize, give him the status of a hero, fill him up. In fact, he's doing just that. In fact, he's doing just that.

　And yet. I wonder if the saint Mattia has any thoughts on the matter. Why does she want to shun Lugis? That was the only thorn in Anne's side that she couldn't help but worry about.

　--No, that's impossible. And it would be negligent not to tell the saint about him.

　Anne covered up her intuition. It was a sign of her faith in the saint rather than her own intuition. She was acting out of her earnestness that it was too unreasonable not to report the incident to Mattia, the supervisor.

"Saint Mattia, please excuse me. Hero, it's about Lugis-sama. ......

　The door was closed and a few words were exchanged.

　--"Gah!

　A sound like the smashing of glass echoed within the walls of Garouamalia.