Eric and I will run the streets of King's Landing. We run.

　Right behind us, Sherka, with flames in the air, is chasing us.

"Hey, Eric. "Hey, Eric, do you see any back roads yet that we can use to scatter him?

　I still don't seem to be able to scatter the dangerous people behind me, so I rush Eric.

　I feel like we've gone quite a distance, though.

'Silly me, we were on Main Street, remember?　You wouldn't build such an intricate road near a major road.

Then you'll have to wait a little longer. Oh, God, I wish I had my hopes up.

　I couldn't help but let out a sigh at Eric's uselessness.

　Then Eric let out a 'gulp' and lowered his voice with a bit of anger.

''As for the original, this is what happened because you spewed something extra into Miss Lana.

Gosh, I didn't expect you to use that move in front of us.

　Also, the Sherka pants were a surprise to me. The pants were a cute design for Sherka's calm look.

'Whoa!　Something messed up and magic was flying my way!

　I instantly deploy my shield towards my rear. The vicious flames aimed at me are blocked by the shield, sending up black smoke.

　That level of fire won't be able to break through my shield.

　Even so, that guy seems to be relentless in his attacks once he realizes that I can protect him with magic.

You can't tell me how handy you are!　Pompompompompompompompompompompompomp the shield with a chant break!　Who are you!

'He's just the second son of a country aristocrat!

　And I want to scream at you that you're shooting too much pom-pom magic.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most of your time in the city. I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on.

　I'm sure they have the confidence to unleash their weapons on the city.

This way.

Oh, oh!

　Eric takes my hand and turns the corner to the right.

'Hey!　Not that way!

　The fireball that was fired with Shelka's impatient voice landed on the corner wall and blew white powder.

　What in the world is wrong with that? Is it a hassle, so don't go into the side streets?

　Maybe the sun doesn't hit the road we entered at an angle, it's a little dark and the road is narrow.

　It was less crowded than the main street, probably because we were on a side street.

　I continue down the street with Eric pulling me along.

　We turn left on the street and then right.

　Eric's familiar footsteps take him deeper and deeper into the street without getting lost.

　He wondered if he couldn't disperse here, but behind him was Sherka, who was pursuing him at a certain distance.

　It has a more uncanny expression than before. Scary.

　But even so, he's chasing me like he's used to.

　I'm sure it's still not possible to shake off on this level of road.

　It's a good thing that there are so many women on this road, because the further you go, the more women there are.

　Is it my imagination?　Why are there so many women on this poorly lit side street?

　There are a lot of women in gorgeous clothes from earlier. And they also seem to have a nice smell to them.

　I soon found out the answer to this question.

Look at those two boys, they're holding hands! They're holding hands!'

'Maybe it's a boy-to-boy!　That's true!''

"Those two ... they're picturesque. I wonder which one of them is on the offensive and which one is on the receiving end.

"Huh?　That boy ... does he look like someone else?'

'Yeah, yeah!　No, but it can't be!'

　I think these words should be enough to get the point across.

　Yes, this is a place where women with such interests gather. Probably, this is the kind of book that is sold here.

　In fact, if you look behind the curtain of the building, you will find a large pile of books. I think I caught a glimpse of something skin-colored.

　The woman who released the words earlier and that one, you can guess that this is the type of store.

　In other words, this is a place where the garden is a natural place for your kind, Sherka.

　He must know every inch of this place. I have to get out of here as soon as possible.

　In more ways than one.

"Hey, Eric!　This place is disgusting!　Get the hell out of this road!

Why?　We can go a little further, can't we? That's a straight line to the back roads we're after, right?

No, for Sherka, this is her own domain...

"Alfried!　If you say anything more than that, I really won't forgive you!

It's just going to get worse. And, um, take your hands off the table.

Okay.

　Eric sensed the unusual state of Sherka, too, and he nodded honestly and started to run to get out of here.



　◆




Did you manage to get him off?

　I check behind me, catching my breath lightly.

　There's no sign of Shelka behind us.

　Since then, Eric and I have been fortunate enough to be able to shake off Sherka and get out of that area.

　I've been chasing after Sherka, but he was suddenly stopped in his tracks by a group of fellow women.

　Everyone was gathering underneath Sherka with a very serious look on their faces, but what happened?

　I think the color of the eyes of the rotten people changed, especially after they called my name, but I think it's different because they were calling me Freed or something like that.

　But I have a bad feeling about this.

　Anyway, we can't keep worrying about what we don't know.

　The priority now is to get away from that area as soon as possible.

Anyway, let's get the hell out of here.

　I agreed wholeheartedly with Eric's words, so I stepped off the side street and onto Main Street.

'I've found it, Alfried!

　A voice that doesn't sound familiar enters my ears.

　I turn my head to the right, where the voice is coming from, and there is Bram with a wooden sword in his hand.

'Geez!'

　He's someone I don't want to meet as much as Sherka is in my mind right now.

　After all, I'm leaving the duel behind because I overslept. If he seems to have a low boiling point, he's going to tell me to have a duel here and now.

''Hm?　Bram?

　Next to me, Eric's voice is mixed with irritation. It's like he can't be bothered right now because he doesn't know when Sherka will supplement him if he's here.

　In fact, I don't either.

'You!　Alfried!　You're playing around here, wandering around here, playing around with a duel with me!

You!　You've slipped away!　You would have said it was settled safely!

　When Eric hears Bram's words, he peels his eyes away and comes over to me.

'No, so I guess it's Bram's no-win situation and we're safely settled.

You're kidding me!　That doesn't make sense!　Fight here now!

　Bram moved to the front of me as if he wasn't going to let me escape, and with his wooden sword at the ready, he said what I expected him to say.



　Eric makes a dumbfounded voice and leaves me, as if he doesn't want to get involved.

　Oh, God. It's a good idea to beat him quickly and have him give up once and for all.

　I'm not going to be able to have them bothering me for the entire time I'm in the capital.

　But we don't have time to take things slow.

　We don't have the time. I'm not going to be able to get to the bottom of it. If we do this, it must be done in an instant, in a false sense of the word.

"All right. I'll take it.

　When I answer categorically, Bram gives me an unexpected look for a moment.

　Perhaps he thought I was going to sulk some more.

I'm not sure I'm going to be able to do that. "Well," he said, "then I'll just use this wooden sword--

　He tries to hand the other wooden sword that was hanging on his hip to me, but I stop him from doing so with my hand.

'No, I don't use a wooden sword. I'll fight you with magic. If you're willing to accept those terms, I'll take it right now.

Well done. The sword isn't the only thing that matters in a duel. But make sure it's as powerful as a stunner, okay?

　Bram smiles fearlessly and holds his wooden sword straight up.

　People around him give Bram a strange look as he suddenly starts holding his wooden sword.

　There, Eric tells the people that a light duel between the nobles is about to begin and makes them step back.

　I'm sure that in the royal capital, where many students of the magic academy, nobles and adventurers live, this kind of quarrel is not uncommon.

''Be prepared.''

　Bram sits down with the cutting edge of his wooden sword pointed at me.

　Seeing the stance of his body's axis is solid, I raise my assessment of Bram.

　Even though he was instantly killed by Elinora's sister, he might be a competent person just because he was a bad opponent.

　Still, I'm a regular opponent of outsiders, and I don't feel like I can easily lose in a situation with magic.

　Of course, you can't use spatial magic in such a public place.

　I'm going to be able to move easily at any time, half my body and sit back a little.

　Me and Bram glare at each other, and the tension builds.

　The people's chatter is not lost on me and Bram.

'Then let's go!'

　Bram was the first to move. It's a good idea to hold the sword at the top of the stairs and try to swing it down over my head.

　I didn't even activate my magic and threw myself to the side.

　It's obvious that if I roll over, I'll fall prey to the wooden sword before I can get up.

　Bram freezes for a moment at my sudden and reckless act, but he quickly corrects his trajectory and tries to strike down, but

I've lost my--what?

　Bram was blown back in a grand manner.

　It was as if he'd been hit by a cannonball in the gut.

　Yes, I was right on target.

''What?''

　The question of the people who control the scene. No one is able to open their mouths well enough to speak because of the unexpected results.

　The silence is broken by a woman's voice.

'Oh my God!　How could I avoid it when I was so close to guessing!　You have eyes in the back too!

　There was Sherka with matted hair and slightly disheveled clothes.

　I'm sure that he managed to break through surrounded by his fellow rotters.

　And then, noticing the strange atmosphere of the place, Sherka made a puzzled face.

''Huh?　Why is it so quiet in here?　Huh?　The one who blew that thing up...me?