"If I am the crown that guides us all, Lugis, you are the sword. And there is no substitute for that.

　The main street of Belle Fain. Now is the evening, when people are at their sparsest. In the evening, when people are at their sparsest, the streets will be filled with mercenaries on their way home from work.

　A slight silence followed. Mattia looked at Lugis, who looked somewhat confused, and twisted his gaze as if to say, "I can't help it.

　You will find a lot of things that you can do to make your life easier. But it was also something I had to say now.

　Rougis is lacking. That was Mattia's understanding of Lugis.

　Helplessly, morbidly, relentlessly, her soul is being chipped away at by the rasp. I don't know why. I don't even know what's going on. But that didn't matter to Mattia. What he needs now is not to have his past probed, but to have it given to him. And let him make up for the missing pieces.

　Just as Anne had sensed a little of Lugis's nature, Mattia had begun to take in something close to his essence, even if she didn't know much about him yet.

The crown and the sword are not meant to exist separately. They are both symbols of kingship. If one side steps out, the other side will fall.

　There are only two ways to go: together or apart. So, as she moved her body closer to Lugis, her lips quivering, Mattia felt an itch run down her spine.

　It doesn't suit me. You can find a lot of things that you can do to make your life easier.

　Especially for Lugis, she had been spreading poison all over the place. But now she is letting words slip out of her lips as if she has turned the other cheek.

　Shame. The unmistakable feeling of shame is now biting Mattia's chest.

　Of course, it's easy to use such words in a pretense. I'm used to caring for and caring for others because of calculation. I can do that as well as I can.

　But this is hardly a pretense. Now Mattia is opening his mouth and letting the words out as his emotions take over. I've never experienced anything like this before. Mattia's cheeks were stained as if by the setting sun.

　Until now, as a saint, she had only spoken to people with stipend through the mask of a saint. Therefore, I had thought that once I took off the mask, I would not be able to think of any words. But now, to Mattia's own surprise, words are coming to his mind one after another.

"Oh, ......, but you don't have to come here. It's safer for me to be alone anyway.

　Lugis's words slip out of his throat in anguish. It seemed to be more of an embarrassment than an excuse, and Mattia's lips rippled unknowingly.

No, it's more dangerous for you to be alone. You like the rough road, don't you? Isn't it true that in Garouamaria and in Gazalia you were always close to danger?

　Like the duel in Garouamalia. The duel in Garouamalia, the reckless solo action in Gazalia. In any case, Lugis's actions are reckless, reckless, and far from safe as he despises himself.

"Well, it's a rough road ......, no doubt. But still, you would have come back safely.

　Only you can call it safe, Mattia's lips moved of their own accord. I'm sure you're not the only one who can call it safe.

　I've been fine with that up until now.

　If Lugis does something stupid, hurtful, and bloody on his own, as long as it is for the good of heraldry, he can do whatever he wants. Rather, I was hoping that the final result would be that he would die after achieving great success. Then he can be made into a hero or a deity as he pleases. After he died, I could use him down to the marrow of his bones. That's what I thought.

　But now it's different. At least not for Mattia.

You're too dangerous. You're too dangerous. You don't know that. You don't even know it. ...... I'm sure you've heard someone else say this to you.

　I really can't help it. You can find a lot of people who are looking for the best way to get the best results. It was done with a strange kind of force that did not allow you to say yes or no.

I'm sure you'll be able to understand. I appreciate your words as much as you do. You're too good for me.

　And then Lugis nodded. Then he looked away, a little awkwardly, and gently pulled Mattia away.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　I'm sure you'll be able to understand that. Even after all these words, he will not even know what it means to take care of himself.

　This can be seen in his behavior since he arrived in this city. I wonder how easy it was for Mattia to locate him when he was gathering information about him. That ease made Mattia feel even more uneasy.

　She wondered how insensitive he was to her existence. Rather than disregarding herself, it was as if she had blindly believed deep down that no one would care about her. Even Kalia, Fialaat, and even Erdis, the Elven princess, were dumbfounded by her insensitivity.



　And then there's what you just said. I'm too good for you.

　Mattia knows that now is not the time for questions and answers. We should get ready to leave Belle Fain as soon as possible. But.

"I say again, Lugis. Listen, and do not forget.

　I put my hands on his averted face and made him face me. I'm not sure how many times I've looked directly into the face of Rougis, who always seemed somewhat aloof and twisted.

　When it came time to release the words, Mattia almost choked. The embarrassment came back to her heart. Mattia's lips opened several times, and then he said, trying to choose his words.

I don't know if you remember. But I do. You saved my life in Galuamaria.

　That's an unassailable fact. I was both grateful and resentful for that. I still have mixed emotions about that, too.

"It's the same for heraldry itself. "It's the same with heraldry itself. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do this, but I'm sure I'll be able to do it.

　But that's why I have to tell you something. I'm not sure what to say, but I'm going to say it.

"Listen, Lugis. It is easy to believe that you have nothing, and you can enjoy the delicious taste of sentimentality.

　Slowly, as if to say. Chew over the words as you speak. Not just with your voice, but with your gaze, with the warmth of your cheek.

　I am well aware that these words are not suitable for me. But if I am to be called a saint, I must play my part beautifully at times like this.

But it's not a hard road. But it's not a hard road. A hard road is a road where you have to work hard to move forward despite everything--Rugis, it's time for you to take pride in yourself.

　Or, if you prefer the sweet path of having nothing, be my guest.

　But this time, even in the silence, Lugis didn't look away, and he was looking at Mattia intently. The color reflected in his eyes was not confusion or agitation, but something else.

　A horse-drawn carriage was passing by on the street at dusk, its hooves clacking.