When I woke up this morning, the sun was really high. It's already noon.

　I put the rum still in the china on my lips and swallow it in one gulp. This was the best thing to do when he couldn't sleep. For Bruder, it was almost like a routine.

　He hadn't had a good night's sleep in many years. So he would always take a drink. A cloudy rum runs down my throat. The worse the rum, the more my head ached, but the sooner I fell asleep.

　I was told many times that I would die young. I was warned that I would die badly. But I was okay with that. I never wanted to live long or die peacefully in my bed.

　I had to be willing to give up everything to live that long. It occurred to me that he might be like that.

　I looked at the man who was still sleeping soundly on the cheap bed. He doesn't seem to be awake at all. Well, that's convenient. We have to be ready.

　His name is Lugis, and he is rumored to be a traitor and a great sinner, but I don't think he is. In fact, I think you've got the wrong guy. That's because of her daredevil attitude.

　The ruler and protector of Belle Fain, the Steel Princess Vestaline. Throwing abuse at her is nothing more than a death wish. Of course, I can't speak for Bruder or anyone else.

　In addition to that, the words that seemed to have come out of last night's drunkenness.

　--"To remove one of the two wheels of Belfain. That's all.

　The edge of my ears twitched slightly when I heard them. I remember my brown hair bouncing in my vision. How serious can you be? Was it just a complaint from a drunken stupor, or did the words come from deep within? I don't know. I'm not sure if I should ask.

　But either way, it's the kind of thing that only the unthinking or those who want to throw away their lives would think about.

　This city of Belle Fain is as elaborate as it is complicated, as complex as it is simple. I'm not sure what to make of it.

　In the end, he and Lugis are probably the same, Bruder thinks. It seems that he is a bit skilled, but that doesn't mean he can control this city. There is no confidence in his face that a strong man would have.

　Then he must be dreaming. A pleasant dream that only you can have.

　Bruder thinks, "I'll go along with him if he only dreams. You can dream as much as you want. You can dream as much as you want, because whether you want to or not, eventually you won't be able to drown in your dreams, and you'll give up everything, even living.

　So will you, so will you, so will you. Bruder creaks the floorboards as he washes his face with rum. A great sigh seemed to rise from deep within his chest.

　I have too little energy to live in this world. I walk through my days for no reason, eat for no reason, drink for no reason, and sleep for no reason.

　That's it. That's life. Life is inertia itself.

　I was betrayed by the man my father once called my best friend, and I lost his life and dignity, and at the same time I lost my sister and everything. Since that day, this life has not changed.

　I envy those who can burn their hearts out like molten ore for revenge. I don't even have that kind of energy left in me, just the inertia of living each day in vain.

　Bruder's nose quivered. There was a different smell in the room. It was a big sigh. He looked at the bed and saw Lugis with his eyelids still closed.

　Why did I let such a person stay here? I've never had a man or even a woman stay with me. In fact, I've never had the slightest intention of letting anyone stay with me. So why?

　Bruder couldn't help but wonder. I'm not sure what to say.


　I'm sorry.


　When he slowly opened his eyelids, Bruder was no longer in the room. The sun was no longer rising in the east, but rather in the west, and he had fallen asleep a long time ago.

　I don't think I was too tired, though. Sometimes, I feel strangely sleepy. A sigh escaped my lips as it slipped down my throat.

　It's hard to say that I got a good response from Bruder last night. I muttered to myself in thought. I let him swallow the words with the rum.

　I don't know what he was thinking that kept him from saying it. Of course, it could be that he still doesn't trust me, and I understand that taking over the city itself is not a request that can be easily nodded at.

　I could feel my stomach shaking gently. I could hear my internal organs creaking inside my body. A strange uneasiness danced in my mind. Oh, so I'm anxious, am I?



　Now here's what I've learned. Somewhere in my unconscious, even if I wasn't aware of it, I was still relying on Bruder.

　He was my friend, my companion, and the one who led me onward and upward. Well, that's more than enough to rely on.

　But I couldn't help but feel sorry for myself.

　I was supposed to have come here alone to show the qualities of a hero, to show what makes a hero. I should have come to Belle Fain to step on the ground with my own feet and get something in my hands.

　And yet, I was unknowingly relying on him. Oh, my God, it's so pathetic. This is just like the old days. No different than when I left him, Bruder, for dead.

　I hate it. After all, it seems that people don't change quickly. In fact, the very fact that I'm here, making a request to Bruder, is proof that nothing has changed.

　A dull ache in the corner of my head. A distorted smile appeared on my cheeks at the self-loathing that was killing my heart.

　It's no good. I think I'm getting drunk. I'm feeling stranger than ever today. Nothing good comes from staying indoors, apparently.

　Just then, there's a bang at the door of the inn. Apparently, it was a knock on the door. It didn't sound like a knock.

"Sir. Your companion is waiting for you. Come quickly.

　An old woman's husky voice said from the other side of the door, sounding somewhat annoyed.

　By companion, I assume you mean Bruder, but that's unusual.

　He's the kind of guy who would rather go forward by himself than wait for someone else, and it's unlikely that he'd wait for me just because I was killing time in a dream.

　But now that I've been called, I can't keep him waiting for nothing.

　I don't know what kind of face I should make now, but I'm sure he'll say that it's still too dangerous to go out and have a drink.

　Well, that still makes me feel better. With that thought, I left the dirty room, the floorboards creaking.

　Because brothels spend a lot of money on their stipend, I felt the floor, the door, and the wood creaking. At night, the noise would be so loud that I could not sleep. I now understand why vacant rooms are rented out at low prices.

　As I put on my jacket, I sneezed lightly and narrowed my eyes.

　The figure standing in the doorway entered my eyes. No one else seemed to be waiting for her. The old woman glanced at me. Well, I guess that's the person I've been waiting for.

You're still in good company, aren't you? It's amazing that you wandered off on your own and slept here until noon.

　Her long hair is tied up at the back of her head, and she has a dignified look in her eyes, but even a slight smile on her face. You're not mistaken. It's not a mistake.

　The leader of the heraldry cult, their banner, the saint Mattia, was there out of place.

　A brothel, a place too unlike her. And yet, she does not lose her glow, but rather her presence stands out.

　I see. The moment I saw her, I knew. It seems I've hit the worst possible moment.