533 532nd Statement: "Cutting the World at this time"




 Confusion and a dull ache covered my head.

 It's not because of the wine I've been drinking, but because of the words of the saint in front of me.

 --Let's get engaged. You and me.

 I ruminated on her words with an uncontrollable pain in my head. I'm not bold enough in my mind to ask what that means.

 Mattia's fingertips grasped my hand, conveying a soft touch and heat. Mattia's eyes told me that this was not a joke at the bar.

 Think. Mattia called this a political conversation. In other words, an invitation to a political marriage.

 To make it clear that I belong to the heraldic order to avoid multinational conflicts and disputes. Politics.

 I bit my lip and wrinkled my brow.

 --big idiot. If you're going to fool around with that, you might as well be dead.

 I squeeze Mattia's hand back. Thinking about it, her fingers are so thin. I'm sure I've noticed this somewhere before, but I've forgotten.

 She even makes her fingertips tremble a little. I looked at Mattia's eyes from the front. They were a beautiful blue.

"Mattia. It's nice of you to say that to me, no matter how you carry it. It's my first time, and I'm honestly upset.

"It's my first time, too. I've never done anything like this before.

 Mattia's words seemed to vibrate with emotion. I could tell what she was thinking just by looking at her words.

 So I had to answer honestly. Any other answer would be an insult to her.

"Mattia-- I'm sorry. If we're playing politics, you're right. I'm wrong. But I have a childhood sweetheart. Not a day goes by that I don't think of her.

 In an instant, I saw Mattia's face contort with grief.

 I knew she would make that face, I knew her eyes would water. Somehow, I felt a dull ache in my stomach and head. The more I talked about my childhood friend, the stronger the pain became.

 It's always a bummer to disappoint someone.

 I have to do the worst thing now.

The reason I'm here is because of my promise to her. I promised her that I'd come for her, that I'd be her knight someday, even if we were apart.

 Mattia grabbed my hand tightly and paused for a moment. She seemed to be searching desperately for the right way to respond.

I've been wondering ...... if that's the case.

 The words that would normally be so smoothly arranged are now spilling out in a thousand pieces.

 I didn't have the words to say to her, nor the qualifications to do so. I had said that I would never betray her, and now I had.

 For a moment, there was silence in the room. Mattia clasped my hands in hers and kept her eyes down. All I could do was watch.

"...... Lugis. I'm a lousy woman. I'm a lousy woman. I know that, but listen to me.

"...... Okay.

 I've never thought of Mattia as a lousy woman. She was always the best. But I don't think she'd want to hear that.

"From what I hear, you and your childhood friend have been apart for a long time. You and I have fought together for a long time. There were days when I was hard on you, but now I'm proud to say that we've become irreplaceable. Is that a mistake?

No, it's not. That's what I think.

I'm sure you're right. ...... But you can't beat the feeling of childhood. Is that what you're saying?

 He was not asking for an answer, but was concluding it in his own mind. After holding her eyes slightly, Mattia took my hand in hers once more.

 Her fingertips trembled, but she was still strong, like she was chasing after something.

 After letting out a breath, Mattia looked up.

I've become naive. If that were true, I should have pressed you for an engagement from the political side. I can't believe I'm acting like I don't even know what negotiation is.

 That was Mattia's voice as usual. You can see that she is still trying to maintain her composure despite the fact that she is still having trouble understanding her emotions.

 A saintly thing to say, yes. But she seemed to have put on a mask, and I even felt lonely. Of course, I can't say anything about that.

 After saying "Let me ask you something," Mattia looked at me.



"What is his name? Is he still in the Kingdom of Garleist?

 By the way, Mattia didn't even know her name.

 Seeing that she had calmed down, he put his lips back on his drink and said.

You know him, too. Her name is Alueno. She's a High Priestess now. It's hard to find her.

"Oh, I see.

 A moment. The tone of her voice changed.

 The color of Mattia's eyes darkened and the air in the room changed from tense to dense. There was a hint that the mask she had put on was being broken again.

 It was not sadness or anger. A more intense and oppressive emotion was swirling in her eyes.

"That's a joke I'd rather not have heard, Lugis. If it's true--

 And then Mattia takes my hands again. Our faces were so close that our breaths almost met.

"Think again about who truly cares for you. The saint Alueno has issued a decree for the defeat of the great demon Zebraeliris and the false heroes. You know to whom this is addressed.

 A decree to destroy the false heroes.

 There is probably only one person the Daishonin is referring to with those words. The definition might be different, but it was easy to imagine what the order meant.

 Worse still, it was given in the name of Alueno.

...... was not something I wanted to hear. But they were the words of a saint, and I don't know if they were the words of Alueno. Not until I see him and hear what he has to say.

 In the mercenary city of Belle Fain and in the great temple of Flimsulat, she was not her. She was just an ancient hero named Althea using Alueno's body to do as she pleased.

 Then I don't know if the order to kill her is Alueno's will or not. The only way to listen to her anymore is to kill Althea.

 We don't know yet if we have the means. Regardless of the outcome, there is a difference between not looking for something and seeking it out.

"...... In other words, Lugis. You are rejecting me because of your feelings for the High Priestess, aren't you? It's not that I can't accept it.

 Mattia kept his face close to mine, his hands clenched tightly as he looked into my eyes. I wonder if it was the alcohol. I'm feeling strangely sweet. My cheeks are very hot.

 I don't know if I've ever been so passionately pursued by a woman as beautiful as Mattia before. I wonder if she'll come again.

 Seeing my expression, she relaxed her cheeks.

"Then let's do this, Rougis. I understand that you want to hear the words of the High Priestess. Then you can put it on hold until then. Then let's hear her answer again. If her answer is undesirable, or if you cannot hear it--

 Mattia didn't say where he was going with that. She smiled suggestively and wrapped her hands around mine.

 The first thing I thought of when she said it was confusion.

 Mattia's suggestion was too insincere, too disrespectful to her. First of all, I thought to myself that it would be wrong to do such a thing.

 But the moment I was about to say it, I couldn't open my lips. Instead, I opened my eyes.

 After a few seconds and a moment of silence, Mattia looked away from me and said.

"Lugis. Do you hate me so much?

 That's not fair. It's not fair at all. Her lips are strangely sweet.

"...... Okay. All right, all right. Give me a break.

Good. I'll look forward to it.

 My face contorts, but Mattia has a wonderful smile on his face. It's more beautiful than pretty, I'd say. It's like a painting of a smile.


 I'm not sure what to say.


 --It's always simple, it's the people themselves that complicate things.

 You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few of them.

 She doesn't show it on her face. But she couldn't stop her cheeks from relaxing.

 I'm sure that my current expression has lost its sharpness to the point that I cannot be called a saint. But that's good.

 Lugis was the only one who knew this expression, and he would have no problem showing it to me. And right now, I was filled with joy.

 The depths of my chest were overflowing with warmth, and I was beginning to feel a numbness.



 Mattia also understood that Lugis was deliberately avoiding relationships with women.

 You can find a lot of people who are looking for the best way to get the most out of their life.

 The reason for this and how to deal with it is simple once you know the truth.

 In other words, Lugis' soul is controlled by a witch named Alueno. He was entangled in her clutches.

 I don't know what happened between her and me. But I understand that her feelings are deep. It's almost like faith.

 --But it is Mattia's daily routine to break the faith of others and make them obey.

 To shake them to their core, to make them doubt, to lead them down a convenient path. The important thing was to make him believe that he had thought it through.

 Mattia and Lugis exchanged a few drinks and let their thoughts flow agilely.

 First, limit the information. Any information about the witch Alueno that reaches Lugis will be placed under surveillance. While this is relatively simple, it will have limited effect.

 But the heraldry and the Great Sacred Church are enemies, of course.

 Perhaps, just perhaps, a mishap could occur. If that happens, we will no longer hear a word.

 The policy of the saints has been set. The world will now be divided in two. But Mattia stared at Lugis with a warm expression on his face.

 --Ah. Do you think you can beat me in this kind of thing? What a lovely person. I'll never lose.

 I will not be defeated. There are many ways to do this if you choose not to. I am the crown and Lugis is the sword.