A few days after the demon tribe's attack.
　The school's entrance ceremony was to be held as planned.

　The auditorium, which was solemnly decorated with a number of magical lights, was indeed familiar after the third time.
　The appearance of the new students, who are stiffening up, perhaps because of their nervousness, is the same as usual.

　But this year, I have a job to do.
　As I was watching the ceremony go on smoothly, Amu suddenly laughed and tapped me on the back.

"What are you scared of, man!
Ouch I'm not freaked out.
You're lying.
"Well you know the answer to that. I'm actually a little nervous.

　This kind of role has never been my forte.
　However, I can't help it now that I've taken it on, though.

''How was it with you?''
Hmm?
'That was the year before last. You were greeted on behalf of the freshmen.
Oh, you mean that time?

　Amu replies, stopping to take his food.

'I wasn't nervous at all.
Oh, yeah. That's great.
I was a little bit slanted at the time, so I thought it was stupid to say hello. I think I would be more nervous now. You'd think I'd be more nervous now.
Hmmm...
But it's kind of nostalgic. I didn't get to finish what I was going to say that time because of Damon.
'You came up with the greeting yourself, didn't you?　What was I going to say?
What was it?　Let's see....

　Amu thinks for a moment and then begins to speak.

''I don't know what reason you are all here today. The only reason I came to this academy is... to become strong.
....
The strength I seek is that of an adventurer. The strength I seek is that of an adventurer, the strength to defeat monsters and protect my friends. I'm not sure if I'm the only one who came to this school for this reason. But...I believe that everyone has the same desire to become strong. The strength we seek is different for each of us. But if we still want to be strong, we are all friends who share the same goal. From now on, let's work hard together. That's all. ...was it like this?　It's kind of normal. In case you were wondering, I was serious...
Come on.

　I said frankly, "You have a very good way of talking and choosing your words.

"You have a way with words and a way with words,
What?　Okay, that's fine.
'I mean it. Where did you learn about rhetoric?
I don't know what's so hard to understand but my mom and dad used to tell me stories about brave men and all kinds of heroes. Some of the lines from those stories... and I used to refer to the speeches given by drunken adventurers in the tavern. Most of them are unlistenable, but every once in a while, there's one that really strikes me. Stuff like that.
I see.

　It's a typical Amu story.
　He is not stupid either. It is said that the sparrows of Kangakuin chirp for mongrels, but he must have learned from what he saw and heard without even knowing it.

If I had been able to talk about it to the end, the other students might have looked at it differently.
What was the end result of that fiasco?　I've heard a lot of rumors.
I don't know.
You did your best to kill one demon. What did you do to get that thing out of you?
''It was like a summoned beast, so I went looking for the sorcerer who summoned me. I couldn't find him, though.
Yeah. That's just like you.

　She doesn't know.
　He doesn't know that the attack was aimed at him. And that there was another one just the other day.
　I digress.

"I felt sorry for you after what happened. I mean, you risked your life to fight that monster, but the other kids were scared of you.
'Oh, by the way, you said something like that too... but did you mean it?
'I meant it. You thought I was lying?
I thought it was just a normal thing to say. You had a lot of hype back then.
It's a mess.
'Haha. I didn't think we'd get along that well.
Time flies when you're in a relationship.
Yeah. It's been two years since then.

　Two years, huh?
　Two years must be long enough for this child, who is finally turning 15, to be able to go through two years of school.

　The entrance ceremony goes on smoothly.
　It's getting closer and closer to my turn to speak.

Well then, I'd better get going.
Oh, Seika, you're leaving already?　But good luck with that!
"..... Good luck.

　Yifa and Mabel, who were talking in the back, looked at me and said, "Amu," he said, laughing.
　Amu laughs.

"I can't wait to see what you have to say.
''I don't want you to expect so much. I'll just have to be safe.

　With a bitter smile, I walked to the podium.
　At that moment, near the entrance of the auditorium, there was a murmur.

　I turned my head involuntarily.

　The ones who appeared, splitting the group of new students........were more than a dozen people armed with matching armor and swords.
　I reflexively point the formula at them, but I suppress it. They don't seem to be attacking me.
　But it didn't seem as if they had come to celebrate the entrance of the new students.

　One person who appears to be the leader raises his voice.

''Quiet!　We are the Knights of Dirac!　I am here by order of my lord, the Marquis of Greville.　Is there a girl named Amu here!

　The murmur grows louder.

'She's a sword wielder, a girl named Amu!

　Gradually the students start to turn their heads in our direction.
　I'm lost.
　What is this...
　What should we do...

Oh, um...

　Nearby, a voice rose.

'Amu is me, but...'

　Amu raised his hand timidly.

　The group of armor turned their gaze towards us in unison.
　Then, led by the leader, they forcefully approached us while pushing past the crowd.

''Move!''

　One of them pushed me away and I stumbled silently and fell on my ass.

''What?　Hey!
You must be Amu, son of Clawden the Adventurer.

　The leader asks Amu, who is protesting against the wolfing down, in a nonchalant manner.

'Yes!　What do you want from me?
You are guilty of disobeying the Empire. Don't you admit it?

　At the leader's words, Amu asked back as if she was confused.

''What...?　What's that?
''You committed a grave betrayal of the Empire by killing an envoy from the Demon Domain who visited the academy the other day. Do you refuse to acknowledge this fact?
What...?

　Amu rolls his eyes.

'Shh, I don't know about that!　I didn't do that!
"You may not admit it, but that's OK. I will take you back to the capital. You will be brought before the court for trial after the guilt has been exonerated to the core of your being. Don't think your sentence will be easy. "You are to take the girl into custody.
Hey, hey!　Stop it!

　The knights took several people to twist Amu's hands and tie him up with a rope behind his back.

''That's........wait, wait!　Amu-chan, that's not....
EFA.

　I held Yifa back from falling on her ass and screaming at her.

"Don't do that. Stop it, Mabel.

　Mabel froze for a moment, her hand grasping something, and then she put it back into her uniform.

　Then I make a smile and say to Amu.

"Amu. "Don't worry,
Eh....
You're innocent. You're going to find out soon enough. And they will be forced to.
Do you think you can fool us all?
Stop.

　A knight approaches me, and their leader stops him with a single word.

There are noblemen's children in this room. Don't start any more quarrels. Let's go!

　The leader turned on his heel, and the knights followed suit. The newcomers and students now silently cleared the way for them.

''Huh........''

　Amu, who is being pulled by the rope, turns his head towards us for a moment.
　But as soon as the rope is pulled tightly, it is turned away and an anxious expression is hidden behind the red hair.

　I was watching the situation in silence.

"....

　I watched still and quietly until they disappeared from the auditorium - until they disappeared from the auditorium.