The next day.
　I arrived at the school as usual and noticed that the classroom was a little noisier than usual.
　As I walked to my seat, I listened to the words flying around. I could hear voices of surprise and confusion everywhere, "No way!

"Two-eight. Come here.

　As I sat down, Elysia called out to me with a mysterious look on her face.
　I tilted my head, but followed her to the courtyard.
　In the quiet garden with a chilly breeze blowing through, Elysia looks back at me.

"Did you do this ......?

　At the same time, Elysia thrusts out a large bundle of papers.
　It was an extra newspaper that had been published throughout the capital this morning.
　On the front page of the newspaper is a shocking fact.

"Roberto Tergande assassinated.
"Was a conspiracy responsible?

　The newspaper reported that Roberto Tergande, the second son of the Dukes of Tergande, had been assassinated last night. It seems that he was attacked by someone when he was at his rented villa in the capital.

　The culprit has yet to be found.
　When the guards investigated the scene, they found a ledger among Roberto's belongings. The ledger contained evidence of Roberto's corruption, and also detailed information about the illegal business partners with whom he had been in close contact. The culprit is suspected to be an assassin sent by one of his business partners.

It's a dangerous world we live in, isn't it?

You're so naive. It's you, isn't it?

What are you talking about?

　Of course it's me.
　But there's no evidence of that.
　Everything in the papers is the result of a cover story put together by the Bureau.

　Perhaps it was also a way to publicize to the rest of the country the fact that the bureau had obtained the back books. By now, Roberto's business partners must be sweating in cold sweat after reading this newspaper. Now that they know they've been outwitted, they can't stand against the bureau anymore.

Huh. ...... Enough. I'm starting to understand who you are.

Oh, yeah?

You know, my dad once told me a story. Knights aren't the only ones who protect this country. It's not widely known, but there are people who protect this country in different ways than knights.

　I'm not that high-minded.
　Like what happened last night. What we've done so far is not something to be admired.

　We've threatened Roberto's business partners, but we haven't caught them. The reason for this is that it is in the best interest of the country to be able to use them as pawns when necessary, rather than to judge and punish the illegal.

　The monarchy's Defense Intelligence Agency works only for the benefit of the nation.
　It is not an organization that offers a helping hand to the suffering innocent people.

I don't know what you're talking about. As I told you, I used to be a janitor.

"So, last night. So last night after you left me, you went to clean?

Yeah. This time, the dirt itself was nothing serious, but there was a lot of extra stuff around it. It was harder to get rid of that.

"............ Yeah.

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

I'm not sure what to say, but at least let me say this. ............ Thank you.

　I'm not sure what to say.
　I just accepted it in silence.

"Hey, you two. What are you doing here?

Class is about to start.

　When I lost the thread of the conversation, Gran and Mize came up to me.
　Both of them seemed to be on their way to class, and were carrying their bags.

　Elysia and I exchanged glances for a moment, and then laughed at the same time.
　That's the end of the dirty talk. I told Gran that it was nothing, and headed for class.

"...... Huh?

　Just as we were all heading to class, Elysia let out a voice.

I'm not sure if I'm in a relationship with Twight now.

Hmm?

Huh?

What?

　I, Mize, and Gran all voiced their doubts.
　But of the three of us, I was the only one who had any idea what Elysia had just said.

"...... So that's what you're saying?

"I think it will. It's like we're lovers now, isn't it? We even kissed.

　The day before the joint exercise.
　The day before the joint exercise, when I stopped Elysia from taking her revenge, I kissed her.

Hey, hey!　Twight!　What do you mean?　Didn't you just say something about a kiss?



"Huh, I demand a detailed explanation!

　Gran looked desperate, while Mize looked somewhat amused.
　How should I answer? As I pondered, for some reason, I felt a warm feeling.

　--Oh, I see.

　So this is everyday life.
　An ordinary, unremarkable day.
　I now understand that this is where I should go.

　I've come home now.
　From the cruel world of death. From the darkness of a nation of conspirators. I'm back to my old life.

　Good. To be able to protect this life.

　Enjoying my normal life.
　If you're asking me if I'm fulfilling that goal, I'm not sure.
　But at least I've realized that this life is worth protecting.
　I realized that it could easily be destroyed if someone didn't protect it.

　I'd like to say to the man I was not so long ago, when I was fighting like hell.

　It's okay.
　There's nothing to worry about.

　What you've been protecting is definitely worth it.