--Bat, Lin.

　A few seconds after the crushing sound hit her ears, Kalia finally noticed that her right hand was complaining of pain. When she looked down, she saw a shattered liquor bottle and her skin torn by the shards of the bottle. A small amount of blood dripped from her palm and licked the earth.

　The pain is numbing. The pain, however, fled from my brain in an instant. I'm not sure if you've seen this before, but I'm sure you've.

　What did this guy just say? This man in front of me, what did he just say to me?

　--Just get it out of my hands and move on.

　Thinking back on those words, Kalia felt her blood boil with heat all over her body. Her beautiful silver eyes twisted more than ever, and her lips curved up.

　Move away, and you're good. What is that? I served him and swore him my allegiance. And you're just going to throw it away like you don't want it? I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do this, but I'm going to try.

"...... What is that? You mean you're going to give me some time off?

　The voice, murmured slowly, was trembling to the surprise of Kalia herself. I don't know if I've ever heard a voice that shook like this before. Moreover, had I ever made my voice tremble not from too much rage, but only from fright?

　Oh, well, I'm frightened. I'm pathetic. What a fragile, trivial woman I've become. I was aware that I was getting weaker, but I didn't realize how far I'd come.

　I may be discarded by the one I'm attached to. The master to whom I had given my loyalty might leave me. Fear of such loss.

　Kalia couldn't help but wonder how such emotions could have surfaced in her heart. In the past, she would not have given such a thing a second thought. From the bottom of her heart, Kalia hated the fact that she was vulnerable enough to care about such things.

　Karia believes that the most valuable thing in the world is power, or strength. Kalia, as a person, did not allow the concept of weakness, not only in herself, but even in others. He never doubted that the pursuit of power was the right way to be.

　And yet, what is this? What is this overly fragile mentality? Isn't this the very weakness that I hated? Kalia's breath is slightly ragged. As if to discipline herself, her thin fingers clenched tightly.

　Lugis rolled his eyes at the crushed bottle and his cheeks flushed, but he chose his words carefully as he answered Kalia's question.

It's not like I'm giving you free time. I thought it would be better for Kalia to be able to move freely, or rather, as she pleases.

　Kalia took in each word that Lugis gave her and narrowed her eyes. There were a few seconds before Kalia reacted. Over those few seconds, Kalia slowly swallowed Lugis' words.

　And at the moment when she took it all in... There was a sound like a jumping heart inside her body.

　What made her heart jump was not the fear or sadness that had been stirring in her body earlier.

　Rather, it was the complete opposite of those emotions, a heat that threatened to spew from her throat. Kalia's lips, the edges of which rippled distortedly, let the words escape.

　--So you're saying you don't need my help anymore? So you're saying that you don't need my help anymore? I'm sure you'll agree.

　I'm sure you've heard of it. I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's a good idea.

　She stood up quickly, blood dripping from her right hand, and lifted her mouth. There was an urge swirling in her chest that made her feel as if she might pull out her sword if she wasn't conscious.

　What a strange thing human emotions are, Karia thought.

　Just a moment ago, she had been scared like a fool, afraid that Lugis would abandon her or cut her off. Now I can no longer find such a worrying feeling in the depths of my heart, no matter where I look. There was only a burning urge.

　It was a very good thing that he was able to do this. But Karia was a few moments faster than that.

　Kalia's white right hand caught both of Lugis' cheeks. The slightest resistance is meaningless in the face of Kalia. Leaning over Rougis, who is still seated in his chair, and holding him down, Kalia says.

　His silver eyes glow with a faint, dark light as he looks at his master.

"Well, just because you're my lord doesn't mean I spoil you. I was mistaken, Lugis.

　Kalia's tone was very amused. She smiled like a demon whispering, as if taunting something.

　A clean line split her cheek. A look of ruthlessness, of ferocity. Her pointed canine teeth peeked out from between her lips. 　

　Kalia felt some kind of power welling up from every part of her body. She had never felt anything like it before. Now she could even make the face of Lugis, who was wrapped in her palm, fall off her bones.

　This is why, perhaps, Kalia gently stroked Rougis' cheek with both hands, as if she were handling something delicate. She never let him escape, keeping his body in check.

"All right, you. Remember it well. And don't forget.



　Pressing her hot breath against Lugis' ear, Kalia whispered. I'm not sure what to say, but I'm sure you'll understand.

　I'm sure you'll be able to understand that I'm not the only one who has a problem with this.

　I was so fond of Lugis that I cut off my own sword and became a hero. I was so eager to encourage him in his quest for glory that I allowed him to run wild.

　How foolish of me. Kalia's lips rippled with a strange seductiveness.

I will devote my life to you. You can have my body, mind, and even my soul if you want.

　The sweetly whispered voice even sounded as if it was inviting something. It's the kind of voice that makes your thoughts boil and your cheeks turn red. It was a lustrous tone of voice that Kalia had never heard before.

　But the next moment, it turned into a cold voice that turned her spine into ice. His silver eyes narrowed as if to pierce Lugis.

But if you betray me and cling to someone else, you'll be guilty of treachery. When the time comes...

　--I will bring you ruin and despair.

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.


　I'm sorry.


　I've been thinking about this for a long time, but I really don't think this woman has any giants in her distant ancestry.

　I'm not sure what to make of this. After all, the only thing I could move right now was my eyeballs and, if I had to guess, my fingertips.

　Kalia gently touched both of my cheeks and stared at me. Perhaps it was because she was taking great care of me that I didn't feel any pain, even though I felt some weight on my limbs and body. Contrary to the words that were spat out, her attitude was gentle.

　But I had a clear intuition. If I were to shy away now, even slightly, and reject Kalia.

　The moment you move a hand, or a leg, or anywhere else. The part you move will shatter, and I don't mean that metaphorically.

　Well, the situation is very bad. It seems I've directly touched a ferocious lion's instincts. Besides, I've already been bitten by its fangs. The only thing that's keeping its ferocious jaws from closing now is Kalia's whim. The only things I can move are my eyeballs, my fingertips, and at best, my mouth.

　She breathes quietly. I opened my lips as slowly as I could.

"You're making a big deal out of this. When am I going to betray you, anyway?

　His voice may have been trembling slightly. But I said it, trying to keep my voice as normal as possible. Kalia's silver eyes narrowed fiercely, and she shook them.

I don't understand. I don't know. You're quite fond of having women around, after all. In addition, when you take your eyes off them, they wander from place to place, moving wildly. Without asking me, my companion and even my loyalty?

　Kalia's thin, white fingers stroked my neck. Normally, it would be just an itch. But this time, it was as if she was telling me that she could kill me at any time. In fact, Kalia's fingertips felt as if they could easily gouge my flesh.

　She has always been a dangerous woman, but... But there was a hint that her ferocity had begun to turn into something deeper and more dense. That it was directed at me was terrible.

　I don't think I've been moving around that wildly," she said, in a daringly light tone. Kalia's eyebrows shot up.

"Really?　You've done it with Galuamaria, with Gazalia, with Belfain, and now with this. You've always driven me far away and out of my sight. And you're going to do the same thing again, is that it? Now, Lugis--answer me.

　Kalia says with a thin smile, but her eyes are fixed. The eyes were not smiling. If you say the wrong words, you could end up in trouble. I had that feeling.

　Oh no. To me, it was a sign of trust that we were going our separate ways.

　If she's noble, she can't betray me. If she is stronger than anyone else, she will be able to fight off any predicament that comes her way. That's what I believed deep in my heart.

　But when I think about it, how could I have come to believe in someone who was my natural enemy? I, who had once been frightened, cowered, and could only look with envy at his power...

　I relaxed my body, leaned back in my chair to embrace Kalia, and said.

"All right, all right. I'm not going to ask you to let me go.

　I could hear the slight twinge in her voice. I suddenly wondered what color the emotions in Kalia's chest were now.

　I've never done this before," he said, before continuing.

I've always been fascinated by the idea of having someone's back. You know, in knightly tales, heroic tales, fairy tales, that sort of thing... How about it, Caria? Will you have my back?

　Then he looked back into the silver eyes that had been staring hard at him. I felt his eyes, which had seemed to be frozen, relax slightly.



　Kalia's lips made a small movement.