Her silver hair fell in a flurry. The silver thread that had slipped from Kalia's shoulders swayed in the air with a silky luster. As if pushed by Kalia, Lugis pulled her body back.

　Kalia's wide-eyed gaze burned straight into Rougis' eyes. You don't understand a single thing," she whispered, her lips lightly pouting.

You don't understand a thing. You're right, I am your shield, of course. But you want that shield to go away and stay somewhere else. What do you know about anything like that, huh?　--Ends. How many times have I told you this? Come to think of it, you always have. I chase you and you run. I catch you and you run away again. From that forest, maybe even long before that.

　Kalia watched with delight as Lugis' eyes hardened and stopped moving. She was probably wondering how to get out of this. How should he appease himself?

　Only at this moment, he has nothing but himself in his mind. He is only looking at himself.

　Thinking of this, a feeling of ecstasy overtook Kalia. Her heart was filled with uncontrollable desire, and she was about to lose her control.

"Kalia, wait! What are you--

"Lugis.

　When he called her name, her ears heated up and her cheeks relaxed as she put her hands on Rougis' face. Then she eats his words.

　I want to hear his voice, but I can't hear his words. If she does, she thinks, she will be swept up in it again, as she always has been.

　She knew that she was more fragile than she thought. The weakness that should have never been revealed to her is now visible in her face.

　That's why Kalia didn't give Lugis a free word, and simply asked what she wanted to hear. The long, slender fingers carefully but forcefully grasped Lugis' face.

I am your shield, that's good. Then what are you to me?

　I could see the agitation in Lugis' face. This was unusual for a man who was so often aloof. As she waited for his words, Kalia felt her heart thumping uncontrollably.

　It was both elation and trepidation. What will he say? Will it be more than she expects, or will it be something far off the mark? Kalia continues to stare at Lugis at a distance where even their breaths seem to meet.

　If this was to be a declaration of disappointment... Kalia's eyes flickered beautifully.

　--That's enough for now. The blood of giants is not fit for restraint or frugality.

　It's the giants' greed that steals all their wealth. Let's take it away. No matter how treacherous it is, let's call it delicious.

　Blood cries out. No, it's no longer a blood cry, it's just an accentuation of Kalia's nature.

　Right now, Kalia is forcing it down. But even so, the slightest fluctuation or loosening of the hoop would easily pull it away.

　I don't want to be hated by Lugis. But I hate it even more when someone else takes it from me. That was probably Kalia's true and honest intention.

　Lugis paused long enough to blink a few times before saying.

"I'd consider ...... a friend, an ally. Is that not good enough for you?

　Kalia's eyes narrowed involuntarily at his words. I'm glad you think I'm on your side. But, but...

　She traced the outline of Lugis with her finger, trying to keep her emotions from showing on her face.

"An ally. Rougis. Are I still not good enough to stand beside you?　Or is it that you still can't get over your childhood friend?

　Alueno. Aryueno. A childhood friend of Rougis, a saint of the Great Sacred Church. And the love of his life.

　I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.

　He could feel the fast blood flowing from the fingertips that gripped Rougis' cheek. It was enough for her to painfully understand how much her words had pierced the heart of her loved one. A reddish-black muck began to boil in Kalia's chest. A hot exhalation went through her mouth.

"...... Ah. I'm not so heartless that I forget people easily.

　The first thing you need to do is to make sure you have a good eye contact. I'm not sure what to do. I'm not sure what to do.

　I'm not sure what to make of this.

　Even though he and Kalia had spent more than a short time together, and even shared a life crisis, Lugis' heart was still stolen.



　How is that possible? Isn't this just like a mythical curse of the gods?

　Kalia knew intuitively that she was not in her right mind. Her teeth almost clicked together. Her fingertips felt as if they were about to give way. Something dark covered Kalia's mind.

　Affection, adoration, and a certain hostility raged in her heart. It made her heart ache.

　But at the same time, Karia had a thought. The relationship between Lugis and Alueno.

　They were childhood friends, and because of the glorious memories of their childhood, Rougis has never been able to forget Alueno. It's like a baby bird deciding that the first sight of him is the first sight of its parents.

　But if that's the case... Why don't we just do it all over again?

　--Let them be born again as giants. And this time, I'll take his hand. Give him the glory and everything.

　Kalia grabbed Lugis' face and looked him straight in the face. His face was upset, but he seemed to accept it as if he had no choice.

　How lovely and hateful, Kalia thought, her cheeks rippling. And then the words that had been in her head before she entered the room leaked out of her mouth.

...... I am your shield. I'm your shield, and I'm your friend, so I can't leave your side. No matter what your intentions are.

　But," Kalia continued smoothly. I'm sure you're not the only one who has a problem with that.

But if you're going to look like that, I'm willing to make a few concessions. Of course, you'll have to step back instead.

　In fact, Kalia knew that Lugis would probably want to go separate ways. As a commander, and as a force, it would be better to be separate than to remain the same. That's exactly what Lugis would say.

　After all, there is no Fialat-La-Borgograd, no Finn-Erdis, and no Saint Mattia here now. The only person that Lugis had ever relied on for his power was Kalia.

　Karia's heart went numb with dread.

　Yes, now Rougis had no one to rely on but himself. And the battlefield of Garou Amalia was too large for Rougis alone.

　That's why Kalia knew from the start.

　That's why Kalia knew from the start that Rougis would want to go separate ways.

　He also knew that if he pressed, Rougis would have no choice but to retreat.

　And so, if I gave him a concession plan...

"All right. If I step back, it will be enough for you to step back as well.

　I'm sure Lugis will answer that way. Kalia was well aware of that. What would Rougis say if she caught a glimpse of her own heart? She might say that she was a disgusting woman. I don't mind that. As long as I get what I want. I'll be a b*tc* all the time.

　Biting the edge of her lip, Kalia opens her mouth, spilling a little blood. The red blood looked good against her white skin.

　The only thing that Kalia wants from Lugis anymore is...

　--To become one with her. Without any reservation whatsoever, Kalia let the blood flow into Rougis.

　As if they were melding.

　Oh, Rougis. I'll save you. That's all Karia muttered in her heart.