--Master Lugis. You don't need to be at the meeting.

　Largd-Anne's low voice licked through the room. I listened to her words with a slight contortion of my eyebrows. At the same time, I was beginning to think about the meaning of those words deep in my head.

　Could it be that he was telling me that there was nothing for me to gain by attending the meeting, and that I should continue to be under house arrest? No, it's true that there's probably no point in me taking the trouble to go to the meeting.

　But considering Anne's character, it's hard to take that as a meaning. By nature, she is a coordinator who puts cooperation first and focuses on not disturbing the situation. I don't recall ever seeing her use strong language. That's why I couldn't understand the meaning of the words she just used.

　Her lips slowly opened, and she cleared her throat, searching for the words.

"Well, why again. I don't really see the point in going to the meeting, if that's what you mean.

　I stare into Anne's eyes and ask her what she really means. Because of her small stature, she was looking down at me. In response, she stammered for a moment. She looked as if she wasn't sure if she should say something or not, or even if she should, she didn't know what to say.

　Unusual. This is the first time I've seen such an expression on the face of Anne, who is arguably the most intelligent person I know. I sat back in my chair and waited for her to speak, cowering my shoulders. I'm not sure what to say.


　I've never seen that look before.


"...... Master Lugis, don't you think? You are still a guest in the eyes of the heraldry. You are still a guest of the Order, an outsider.

　I'm not sure what to say. As soon as she said the words, she felt a tightening pain in her upper stomach for fear of Rougis' reaction. She glanced up at Lugis, who was stroking his chin with a finger as if to say, "I see.

　Oh, I hate this. Why do I have to play this role? My teeth are chattering and trembling, and there's some kind of unusual sweat running down my spine. I hate it. I really hate it.

I'm not sure what to do. This meeting is to set the policy of the heraldry. We will keep you informed, but you do not need to participate.

　It is not necessary for you to participate in the meeting, unless you want to formally join the Order. He closed his lips as he added to emphasize that part. Again, she watched Lugis' reaction. Anne's organs were as hard as stone, as if they had been filled with cold air.

　It all started when she used her magic to call on Finn-Erdis, the Queen of the Elves, to attend the meeting. When I told her that I would like her cooperation against the invasion of the Great Satan. Finn-Erdis said there would be no problem, but then moved his lips.

　--Of course there's no problem, we're allies, I promise. But if you want to start a full-scale war... But if we're going to start a full-scale war, I'd like you to return my knight Lugis to me.

　Anne well remembers that her cheeks involuntarily hardened in a strange way.

　Yes, that's right. The current position of Lord Hero and Lugis remains very vague and unclear. From the perspective of the heraldry, Lugis is still nothing more than a guest. Yes, he is not even a believer, he is just a guest. At best, he is a collaborator.

　He helped bring about the fall of the walled city of Galuamaria, and this time he broke the footsteps of the giant mercenary city of Belle Fain. Even with these achievements, he still refuses to take an official position. Anne had lobbied him secretly on many occasions. She asked him if he would accept a title from a guest to at least a guest general, preferably a knight-errant.

　But it all ended in vain.

　No matter how many times you ask him, he just smiles bitterly and turns you down, as if he doesn't want to be tied down by anything. I'm not worthy of that, he declares.

　And the only official position he has now is that of a knight under Finn-Erdis. Of course, Gazalia may not have had a formal ceremony and contract, but I heard that they made a pact, albeit a verbal one, during the Gazarian Civil War.

　That's not good. That's not good. As it is now, as Finn-Erdis said, the official ownership of Lugis will go back to Gazalia. However, it is also true that he has become a major symbol in the organization of heraldry.

　He has not only played an active role in the expansion of heraldry. If Lugis is lost, it may also lead to the loss of Caria-Bardnick and Fialat-La-Borgograd.

　And what's more... This is something that Anne herself does not want to believe or even think about. It's no secret that even the saint Mattia, whom you believe in, has some sort of special feelings towards Lugis.

　This is a bad, very bad situation.

　Finn-Erdis will also attend the meeting that is being called as an ally. If we allow Lugis to attend without any agreement, Finn-Erdis will naturally demand his presence. I have to prevent that from happening. I am a herald. I am a heraldicist. I have always put heraldry first and foremost and Saint Mattia second. I have no intention of changing that now or after this. For the sake of heraldry and for the sake of Saint Mattia, I will keep him at all costs.

　After a moment of silence, Anne forced her lips to speak. She could feel her throat was very dry.

"Would you like to, Master Lugis? If you'd like, you could take this opportunity to receive an oracle from Saint Mattia. If you do, you can be sure that--



"No. Let's not do that. It's not like I'm a heraldic believer. I'm not a believer in heraldry, and I'm sure the gods would be very upset with me if I were to accept an oracle from a saint.

　Lugis said with his usual wry smile. It really is nothing, as if it were nothing. And that's fine, he said.

　This person...

　Anne felt her eyes become a mass of something. When she heard Lugis' words, her cheeks, lips, and fingers refused to move, as if they had turned to stone. Instead, she heard something light up deep in her chest.

　Oh, oh. Do you have any idea how much I've racked my brains and scraped my mind and body to clean up your mess? Even now, you have beautiful dark circles under your eyes, and you don't even have time to cover them up with makeup when you come to my room.

　Whose fault is it? How many times have I had to deal with the aftermath of your selfish actions? Yes, it's true, the hero has done extraordinary deeds. But wasn't it you who gave the effort behind it? Wasn't it you who performed the service?

　And yet he doesn't care about me at all. Couldn't you at least do what I want? A little praise like "thank you" or "good job" would be nice.

　I know. I know it's an ugly emotion, and I know it's just taking it out on you. Shame and self-loathing are eating each other and circling in my chest.

　And yet, even so, it doesn't add up. I'm not sure what to say, but I'm sure you'll understand.

I will explain everything to you from ....... Please listen to everything and then make your decision.

　She said this in a trembling voice, trying not to make a fool of herself. It was the first time that Ann had been humiliated like this as a negotiator.