With my whole body screaming and in great pain, I was looking at the glowing, swirling sphere of power right in front of me. Just looking at it, my breath naturally became ragged, and I felt as if my consciousness would fly away if I didn't pay attention.

　A miniscule world.

　That's what the jewel Agathos said, referring to the mass of magical power created by the controller Drigman.

　It was no longer a demon, or even a demonic being.

　Perhaps now there is no trace of the Drigman anywhere in the earth. He used his entire existence as a core and created a pure mass of evil. It is about to take shape in the framework of the world. It will eventually swallow up its surroundings and continue to expand forever.

　That, Agathos says, is what this shining sphere is.

　It is a transparent, yet unfathomable figure. Looking at it, it made me think that before the demon race was born, its roots might have been something like this.

　The wind of magic power blew and hit my cheek. Its momentum is gradually increasing. Erdis, then, leaning lightly against Fialat, opened his mouth.

"So, no matter how much we leave it behind, it's going to come after us.

　Every time I speak, my throat hurts like it's been abraded. It seemed that the organ necessary for speech was broken.

　When I look at Agathos, she looks down at me and responds.

　The arrogance in her words is unique to her. The fact that it doesn't grate on my ears is probably due to her lack of shallowness.

"Yes, you're right. Rather, she was going to swallow all of King's Landing at first. You should be thanking me for giving you enough time to escape. Okay?　It's a newborn world, a vessel if you will. It keeps looking for something to put itself in. You only have one chance to escape.

　One drink and it's over, Agathos added, his lips quivering.

　I don't know why the demoness is so politely giving me a chance to escape. But I do know that it's not just a courtesy.

　At any rate, Agathos's eyes never showed any favoritism toward humans. It's like looking down on an insignificant being, a piece of rubble or a stone. Maybe even less.

　But that's why his words are true. To Agathos, humans are not worth fooling with. He does not seem to be a man of falsehoods.

　Then I already know what I have to do. I took a deep breath. The pain through my whole body was somehow keeping me conscious.

　I couldn't feel my arms anymore, but fortunately my fists were still gripping the sword. It was strange, but I felt as if the sword was giving me that much power.

　I guess it's telling me to do my job.

　Leaning against the phialert, I managed to get my wobbly legs back up. I would have liked a chew of tobacco, but that would have been too extravagant.

　At my side, Elddis said, her blue eyes wide. I heard the light snap of her slender fingers on my arm.

Lugis. Why are you trying to move forward?

　Elddis's fingertips grabbed my arm and dug their fingers in. I couldn't even tell how much force was being applied anymore. I couldn't even tell how much pressure she was exerting, but the way her blue eyes were twisted, it was as if she had no intention of letting go.

　Even though she didn't say it clearly, I could tell what she was trying to do just by hearing her say it. My queen is telling me not to move any further.

　In a way, it was only natural. After all, she was going to jump into something that was said to kill her if swallowed. To the casual observer, he was nothing more than a suicidal man. Fialaat, though he doesn't say it, takes my arm to stop me.

　I guess it's an undeniable good intention. But still, I couldn't stop.

"You don't have to do this. It's now or never.

　He forced himself to swallow his ragged breath and opened his mouth.

　I would never say that running away is wrong. Sometimes it's necessary, a brave decision to be made, even if you have to writhe in humiliation and rage.

　But if you choose to flee. But if you choose to flee, there is one thing you must remember.

　To run is to turn your back on someone. And when you show your back to someone, they will surely catch up with you at some point and scoop you up by your feet.

　No matter how much you try to show resignation, escape, and pretend not to see it. No matter how much you try to give up, run away, and pretend to ignore it, the fearful past will someday crawl out of the ground and cling to your feet. And you'll be forced to face the worst of it.

　Yeah, come to think of it. Maybe my whole life has been a repetition of that. Just running away, giving up, and then meeting it in the worst way.

　And now I'm still being forced to face the people I ran away from. Then we can't just run away again.

　I say, breathing hard, sweat dripping down my cheeks. The smell of soot covered his nose. 　

"Look, I'll tell you something, Elddis. Now is the best time. This is the best of all possible worlds. If he's going to catch up with me, I need to be here now, looking ahead.



　And even if I get away now, if he comes after me... I'll have to live in fear until then. I'll live every day with my heart frozen in my throat, wondering when the past will put its hands on my shoulders.

　I'm not doing that again. Not again.

　With the tip of the sword pointed at the ground, you take a step forward. A few steps ahead, there was the world.

　The world emitted a wind that swept around it. A whooshing sound echoed through the throne room. It was so powerful that it made it difficult to hear the sounds around me.

　But as if to cut through the wind, a voice danced. It was a dignified, yet familiar voice.

　--It's bad. But not bad. If you want to go forward, I'll make a way for you.

　A moment later, the black scarlet scatters. It gushed out, cutting off the air and shooting through the distance.

　It's just a matter of time. It aimed for the throne in a straight line. It's a very small world that Drigman has created, and it's about to destroy the demon vessel.

　I don't know what it is. But I know exactly who has done it. Something cold caresses my neck.

　Right in front of me, the world and the shock of black scarlet clashed their fangs. A roar that sounded as if the two forces had collided head-on struck deep in my ears, and the wind that blew around me seemed to grow even stronger.

　Next, the world swallowed up even the flash of black scarlet, and its majesty grew again. Not fast. But step by step, I can see that he's definitely stepping into my territory.

　I grit my teeth and unconsciously wait for his voice.

"Lugis. You'll have to prepare an excuse. Something that will resonate well with me.

　He replied with a twist of his lips and a slight tilt of his shoulders.

"Give me a break. I've tried to be as considerate as I can.

　I thought I heard the word "idiot" in my ear. My knight was standing right next to me with his black scarlet. Then he shook his silver hair and moved his small lips and said. His silver eyes fixed on Erdis and Fialat.

You're you. Has this man ever bent a thing at our word?　No.

　No, Kalia added.

　That's quite a thing to say. Her cheeks flushed and her face contorted.

　I'm just doing the best I can. I didn't know they'd think that. I'm sure I've taken some advice and words of caution.

　But seeing as how both Fialaat and Elddis hadn't said a word, perhaps they agreed with Caria. For a moment, there was a strange silence.

　I felt as if I had been unexpectedly shown the depths of my friends' hearts.

　Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Agathos's whites of his eyes twisting suspiciously as he wondered what I was doing.