--How did this get here? No, first of all, why here?

　Eyes twinkling, shoulders quivering, heels clicking.

　It's strange. My brain is filled with questions, and the words to answer them keep coming, but my throat refuses to make a sound.

　I try to make a sound, but only a breath escapes from my lips. Without thinking, I kicked the ground and scattered the sand.

　I couldn't just stand there and talk in a brothel, so I walked with Mattia through the dusk, the streets a little less crowded, following the flow of people.

You look at me like you're wondering why I'm here. All right, I'll tell you.

　Mattia's voice whispers in front of my silent face, as if he's feeling pretty good.

　I can see from the side of my eyes that she is a beautiful woman in men's clothing. Her long hair is pulled up in a bun, she is dressed in men's clothes, and her sharp eyes are shining.

　Well, if you take a peek at just the shape of her face, you will see that her impression is not gentle but rather fierce. And it's not that he's as fierce as Kalia, it's more like he's oozing from deep within.

One thing, you're too obvious. Yesterday, you took a stand against the real ruler. Sometimes stupidity is valuable, but often it's deadly.

　I certainly can't deny that. I remember thinking of myself as a fool more often than as a wise man.

　In this city of Belle Fain, there are not many people who would defy the Steel Princess. If that were the case, she would be remembered by people. Especially if you're a stranger like me.

　Oh, so that was the cause. That became the rope that bound me and drew the saint to me.

　I've done something really, really stupid. I bit it again in the back of my mouth.

　But I can't help it if I can't help it. I thought back once again to the time when the steel princess disrespected me, and I would rather be praised for getting things done with such words.

And one more thing, I'm not in a box. Hiding in the underground and gathering information is something I'm good at. In addition to that, there are people who have been in here before you.

　I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's had to deal with this.

　Oh, yes, indeed. It's not that she's been living in peace and quiet, although her beautiful demeanor, well-groomed long hair, and the way she speaks can be deceiving at times.

　Rather, she has taken on the status of a heraldic saint. There must have been countless times when she was stoned and persecuted, and sometimes had to hide herself to escape danger. In fact, when I first met her, she was hiding in an underground temple.

　When I think about it, I knew that Mattia was a very strong person. I don't mean physically, but fundamentally in his spirit, he has an unbreakable strength. Even in the face of adversity and the depths of the earth, she possesses an untainted integrity.

　This is something that I, a dirty person, cannot possibly imitate. It's definitely a characteristic of Mattia herself.

　But no, that's not it.

　I understand why she knew where I was. I swallowed it down in my gut. But I'm not asking how you found me. I want to know why you're here, saint.

"...... threw your political duties at Ann's guy. She's gonna hate you.

　I was at a loss as to what to say, and forced the words out of my mouth.

　I was somewhat hesitant to ask him straight away why he was here. Or perhaps it was because I knew what would come back to me if I asked that.

She said, "She, Anne and my entourage are not as incompetent as you think. They'll be able to last ...... for a while without me.

　In other words, they can only survive the moment.

　It's only natural. Watching from the side, the way Mattia did his job was somewhat demonic. This was not only because of her power, but also because of her somewhat inhuman abilities.

　I understood from watching that the saint Mattia was skilled at grasping most of the circumstances of a story just by listening to the end of it. I don't know if this is because of the wisdom she has accumulated so far, or if it is a natural talent.

　However, this ability is one of the reasons why Mattia is able to conduct her political affairs in an inhuman manner.

　If she hears one, she can know and imagine 99, if not 100. This was her foremost strength, and also a necessary ability for a ruler.

　That's why Mattia shouldn't be here. No matter how brilliant or mediocre a group of people may be, they are no match for a single genius. There is no substitute for her. Let her last a while, it really should only be a temporary fix.

　The current Garou Amalia, the organization of the heraldry, must be too fragile to stand up without the pillar of support of Mattia. If something were to happen to her here in Belle Fain, it would be the end of everything.

　Besides, there must be plenty of secret agents from Belle Fain who have infiltrated Galuamaria. If they find out that Saint Mattia is not here, who knows what will happen?

　Oh, that sucks. I can't stop thinking about it. Why, really, is this guy...

　I gritted my teeth, put my hand on my chin, and asked.

"I didn't want to hear it, but ahh ...... why are you here. This is the last place you want to be.

　Before he could finish his sentence. "I didn't want to hear it, but... Why are you here?" Before he could finish, Mattia opened his mouth with a wicked smile on his calm face.

"So let me ask you. Why are you here? And you didn't tell anyone, not even me, alone.



　Oh, I knew that. I knew you'd ask me that. That's why I didn't want to hear it. I bit my lip, trying to find the words. There was no way I could say it.

　How could I be so foolish as to say that I was here alone, without Kalia or Fialat, to prove my power?

　He looked away and forced the words to roll off his tongue.

...... There's a difference between you and me, you know. We're in completely different positions. There are plenty of replacements for me, even if I die. But hey--

　You're absolutely right. There is no mistake in my words.

　I'm just a guest general for the heraldry. It doesn't matter if I die or live, it doesn't affect many people.

　On the contrary, Mattia is special. Once she is gone, the heraldry can no longer stand. She's always so calculating. How could she not know that?

No, no, no.

　It's a good idea to take a look at the actual information on the web and also to make sure that you are getting the most out of it.

　It's not that I don't like it, but I do. The gaze that I had been looking away from was now staring into the deepest part of Mattia's eyes as if it had been sucked in.

　In the midst of the crowded main street, Mattia and I faced each other, our eyes locked.

"Remember this, Lugis. Remember it, Lugis, and you will never forget it again.

　"Remember that, Lugis, and you will never forget it again," Mattia says, keeping eye contact, so close that our breaths overlap, so that only I can hear the words, so that I can say them.

"If I die, so be it, the Gospel War will be over. But even if you die, Lugis, this war can no longer continue.

　The words were difficult to understand. It was far from convincing or understandable.

　I'm not sure how to respond to that tone of voice and the use of words that seem so sincere. I couldn't figure it out.