He presses the knife to the neck of the guard and opens his lips. A small knife is more useful than a treasured sword at times like this. It sits comfortably in your hand.

"Have there been any intruders in the city today? Or have there been any rumors or reports of such?

　He says, ripping a thin layer of skin from his neck. The guard shakes his leg and replies that there was no such thing, nor had he heard of it. That's very understanding of you.

"Oh, you're ...... what the hell ......?

"Is it me or you who's asking? Who do you think?

　I said, trying to keep my voice heavy. He pressed the knife a little more against his neck. He licked the guard's neck, the blood gushing.

　When interrogating someone, it is not advisable to answer their questions. Interrogation is better when you make sure the person understands who is asking and who is obeying.

　The guard nodded his head, bouncing his chin at my words, and opened his lips obediently. It was as if he hadn't been taught what to do in the event of an enemy attack. Perhaps it was because of the watchful eye of Philos the weathercock.

"Keep it up. Tell me everything and don't lie to me and I'll spare your life. You don't want to end up like your friend.

　He looks at the corpse lying in a puddle of blood with its neck ruptured and says. What a painful end. If I'm going to die, I'd like it to be done a little more peacefully. At least, I don't want to die with an axe to the head.

　The guard nodded convulsively, and I asked him a few questions.

　Where is Philos-Treit? How many guards are there today? Where is Roseau and how many guards are there?

　The guards looked terrified, but still gave me a lighthearted rundown. That's good. If only we could all be so honest.

　I wondered if he was frightened by my silence for a while after he had answered all my questions. The guard continued, his throat quivering.

"Fyi, if you're looking for Philos-Treit, I can show you. It's only a few blocks from here. I was hoping I could help, too!

　As I rolled my eyes at the guard's behavior, I realized that people like this were common everywhere.

　He understood from my words and actions that I was here to rescue Philos-Treit. So he said something superficial to make me feel better.

　That's great, that's very human. I wanted to clap my hands and admire him.

"No, that's enough. It's bad enough for your gods. I just have one message for you.

　Upon hearing the message, I saw the guard's body relax. He must have thought he was saved. After extreme tension, there is extreme relaxation. It is rare to see such a visible feeling of relief. 　

　So, to calm him down more, to keep him from spewing out the words. I gave him the message.

"Tell him that Altius sent you to me.

　With that, he held the sentry's mouth with one hand like a snake and pulled the knife he had sunk into his neck forward. There was a sickening sound and feeling in my hand as I tore at the flesh and gouged out the blood.

　For a moment, I felt the guard's body flailing in my arms, but it soon stopped. After a few moments of spurting fresh black blood from his neck, he, along with his friend, simply exposed their bodies.

　After lightly wiping off the blood, he threw the two bodies outside the city walls. There will be traces of blood on the walls, but it was only for the night. They won't be noticed so easily.

"Didn't you keep your promise to save lives?

　A voice echoed from the darkness. It didn't sound accusatory, but it did sound suspicious. I looked at the owner of the voice, Vestalinu-Gerua, and said.

I looked at the voice, Vestalines-Gerua, and said, "It's the other side that broke their promise first. You don't like it as a steel princess?

　No, not at all, Vestalinu replied shortly. No, not at all, Vestalines replied shortly, but I could see that her expression had grown slightly tense in the darkness of the night.

　That's why I said you shouldn't follow me. Vesterine, who had been raised in a sort of upper-class environment, and I, who had been born and raised in the mud, had too different ideas and aesthetics.

　Why don't you go back now," I say to Vestalines. He even added a swear word to make it easier for me to make that choice, saying that it would be easier for me to do the same. But Vestalines would never shake her head.

You are exposing your heart. Then I, your sister, cannot stay in my armor.

　Vestalynne didn't say another word. She shrugged her shoulders and returned. I can't help it, I'm not very good with serious people like this. They seem to be easy to deal with, but on the other hand, they are difficult to communicate with.

　Letting out a sigh, I look over the entirety of the autonomous city of Philos from the top of the city walls. It was not a large city, but it was still too big to walk around every corner. Why would Bruder even want to throw himself into something like this? It's just like him, I guess.



　When Bruder identified the city of Philos as an enemy, he somehow said he was going to scout the city alone. I don't know what his motive was, but Vestalines said he was concerned about me. Why would caring about me mean infiltrating an enemy city?

　But if that's the case, you can't just leave me here and turn back to the heraldry camp. He sighs heavily and says.

"So Bruder said you were just gathering information. It's not like we're doing anything.

　Vestalinu nodded, "Yes. If it wasn't going to be an assassination, it might not be too dangerous.

　But with Bruder, if he said he was going to gather information, he could be walking around in Philos until the moment his life was in real danger. The fact remains that we should join him as soon as possible.

　If they want to gather information, I can predict that they will target the area around Roseau, the center of this city. If that's the case, we should hide near Roseau and meet up with Bruder, but...

　But there was one thing that was still nagging at me. That's what the good deed and the guards had said.

　Philos-Treit is a nobleman, no matter how far he goes. Honestly, if you're going to restrain someone like that, you might as well put him under house arrest in a room. I thought his safety would be guaranteed.

　But listening to the guards, it seems that's not the case. In fact, it's probably best to assume that we're far from safe. I had originally thought that if we found Bruder, we would just turn around.

　I don't think we're at the point where we're going to be able to negotiate Philos-Treit into handing him over.

　He bent his fingers, put his gloves back on, and grasped his hands tightly. What to do now?

　Well, either way, you have to move. You can only go undercover in the dark at best. We have to do what we have to do in that limited time.

Let's move carefully. For those of us who can't use lights, the dark is both our friend and our enemy.

　Vestalines said earnestly. I thought to myself, "That sounds like a good idea.

　Well, night has fallen and the only lights are the few used by the guards and sentries. We're in the city illegally, we can't possibly use the lights. We could be in danger because of it.

　But I didn't have to worry about that. The city at night, the slightest movement of people in the backstreets, even the sight of weathervanes swaying in the wind, they were all in my hands.

"Don't worry, steel princess. Hiding in the dark is my specialty. Let's just walk around and get things done.

　She said, laughing with lines in her cheeks.