Our job this time was to buy time for Shamash's arrival.
　So, now that Shamash-san had come and sealed off the tunnels, there was nothing more to do.

　The damage situation was limited to a local warrior who was lightly wounded by a goblin.
　Considering that it was a sudden mass gush, it could be said that it was only minor. Well, it's a world where monsters spring up on a daily basis, and it's the result of all the residents having a decent sense of danger at the very least.
　Marco's sister might have been in trouble if we hadn't gotten there in time (and there were rock-throwing orcs), but we were able to save her as a result.

　So the next time we do this--.

Now let's begin the first Knights of Artemis review meeting. Click, click, click.

　That's why.
　We'll make the most of it in the future based on our reflections.

　At the moment, we are all gathered near the entrance waiting for Shamash-san to come and seal off the tunnel, and the members are me, Deanna, Marina, Rebecca, Elepippi, Etwa, Grand Master, current Master, and Aeon.

'Master!　For that matter, what was that familiar-looking woman who looked so familiar earlier!
I am a demon. We are upwardly compatible.
Jiro, what's going on?

　Deanna, Marina, and Rebecca come crowding in.
　It seems that Shamash-san's impact won out over the remarks.

　Apparently, I'll have to explain!　It's not my fault!

Uh, I don't know where to begin. ......

　For now, we need to start talking about Shamash-san's relationship with Aeon-san, but I'm not sure what the story is about.
I don't think it's okay to talk about Aeon-san being the former princess of the empire or the former third in line of succession to the imperial throne, but I also think it's safe to trust the members we have now. It shouldn't be like they're going to pee their pants.
　Either way, if we're going to hide ...... Aeon, we have to share the information with him.

"Grand master, can you give us a quick explanation of ...... ion-san while we're in the mine?

　I'll ask him about it.
　While I was waiting with Deanna and Etowah in front of the tunnel, they may have given me a rundown of what happened.

"No, I didn't. It's too much for me to handle, I'll leave it to you.
Of course.

　I'll have to explain it to her.
　Aeon-san looks uncomfortable with her hood over her eyes, rubbing her hands together.
　A glimpse of a prison pattern can be seen, but none of my children pointed it out.
　They seem to be concerned about it, but no one calls out to Ms. Aeon, and an indescribable sense of uncomfortableness is in the air.

　We didn't want to be heard, so we all moved to a secluded place.
　The grand master thoughtfully left the current master on guard at the tunnel.
　The fewer people who know about the situation, the better. It's not that I don't trust the current master.

　But now, .......
　I really don't know where to start.
　No, ...... doesn't need to know the details. Let's get straight to the point.

"Aeon-san, can you take off the hood? It's okay if I give you a peek.

　The gist of this story is Mr. Aeon's prison crests. I can't start without showing it.
　Aeon-san showed some hesitation at my request, but slowly took off her hood and showed me her face.

'Hee......'

　Someone gulps.
　Aeon's clear, light blue hair, and the prison crests slumping over Madara are exposed.
　Her bright red eyes are downcast, her lips are drawn back, and she hugs her arms uncomfortably.

　Well, yeah.
　For what it's worth, it's a group of people I'm not even sure I can trust, and I don't have Shamash-san to rely on.
　Here's where I say, "Wow, Hellmonger!　Engacho! And I'm sure he's about to think it's possible for him to develop a cotensure with all of us. ......
　I'm sure he trusts me and the big master, but he's just a stranger I just met.

''Aeon-san, you don't have to be so nervous. I won't make you look bad.

　I put my hand on Aeon's trembling shoulder.
　Oops, was I too comfortable with a stiff princess partner?

　But while I was bullish when I was with Mr. Shamash, now I'm a borrowed cat myself.
　It's called a shyster's speech.

"Well, to put it simply, this Aeon who owns a prison crest and the demon tribe from earlier are living together. In exchange for the 5 spirit stones to exorcise Aeon's evil designs, that demon tribe will become my slave!　Furthermore, for various reasons, Aeon-san may have to hide her in our home after getting her prison crests!　Maru!

　Yes, I said it!

........................

　They all shushed each of them with mixed expressions.
　Yeah .......
　That's right, I should have just gone to ask the demon tribe to fix my sword, but I can't believe I'm in this situation. ......
　Life is so strange.

　But frankly speaking, I don't intend to "do without" anymore.
　I've already felt sorry for him emotionally, but it's more because Shamash-san's war chest is too stubborn.
　I'm sorry to say that Marina is working hard to protect me, but Shamash's presence makes it much easier to cross the dangerous bridge, and it's clear that business will be easier.
　Until now, you've only done business by banging on stone bridges.

'...... master. May I have a word?

　It was Deanna who opened her mouth first.

'Yes, go ahead,'
''You mean to say that the demon tribe that rode the bird earlier was welcomed as a slave ...... right?　So you will live with us in our mansions - and that means you will live with us?　This is Mr. Aeon?　Too?

　That's what the focus is going to be on, isn't it?
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're going to do with it, because being a slave means you're going to be your own person.

............ I can't live with the demon race. I'm still an elf.

　Rejection rather clearly.
　I guess we're incompatible after all.

Well, we have tribal affinity, that's fine. It's not that I'm forcing you to live with me. The fact that Shamash-san becomes my slave is not in itself objectionable, is it?
It's not a matter for me to quibble with, nor is it ......

　Deanna says monotonously, toothlessly.
　Maybe she really wants to complain.
　He even called her "that familiar woman" earlier.

'You're not angry?　Master.

　You say that with an upward glance.
　You may think I'm being inappropriate, but I'm not that much of a one-man show.
　The people I've been working with are more important.

I'm not mad at you, Deanna. I thought you'd have more of a problem with it.
You can't disagree: ....... But,

　He drops one voice tone.

'Are you sure about ......?　Master. Prison crests are a sign of a criminal, shouldn't they be exorcised so easily?

　I whispered in my ear so that Mr. Aeon wouldn't hear me.
　It's certainly natural to think so if you don't know the situation.
　When you think about it, the set of the demon tribe to the Hellmonger is picture-intense.

...... Well, we'll talk about that situation later.
I understand.

　For now, it seems that Diana is OK.
　In any case, it would be impossible for Shamash-san, who is a demon race, to live with her in that mansion that seems to have a thick spirit power.
　Besides, building a house nearby and passing by rather than living together poorly would be more erotic without worrying about being seen!　And you know what? .......
　Don't think about that kind of prickly stuff, prickly .......

'Do you have any marina?'

　Marina has been thinking about something with her eyes closed since a while ago.
　When I urged her to do so, her eyes widened.

'Lord!　The newcomers will be trained by Marina!
What?
'Marina is a senior slave. She is also a senior in the knightly corps. She has to set the standard.

　I knew you were thinking about something earlier, but were you thinking about that?

I don't mind. What's the norm?
You can't do this and that before your seniors. This and that.
What's this?
'It's a lot of things. A lot of things ......, a lot of things ...... first time and so on.

　Okay, I don't know.
　I don't know, but it's probably something in the middle school club hierarchy.
　Marina said, "Freshman year, pick up the ball!　No carbon on racquets. Use wood! Or they'll say something unreasonable. Or something like "Nike bash is 100 years too early, it's a cloth bash or gym shoes for a year." ....... Wrong.

　Well, it's a place where just being a demon tribe seems to make them shrivel up, so maybe it's not a bad idea to set a rule of normality. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　It's a good thing that Shamash-san is probably strong enough to defeat all of us even if we all fought together.

...... Um, so what do you have, Rebecca?

　Rebecca-san isn't exactly my slave, and I don't want to be related to her, but I'd like to get some advice.
　Rebecca-san has been staring at Aeon-san quizzically ever since Aeon-san took her hood, and Aeon-san looks much more uncomfortable.

'Eh, me?　Yeah, well - ...... would you mind if I had a quick chat with this girl?
'That's fine, though. It's good for you too, Aeon.
Eh, yes.

　And Rebecca stood in front of Aeon, smiling and smiling.

It's been a long time since I saw you at ....... I didn't expect to see you again in this way ....... I thought you had long since died too.

　I said something like that.

'Have we met before ......?'
You don't remember? Well, I wasn't in a position to give you what you wanted, so I suppose I can't blame you.

　Polite language.
　He has a different attitude than his usual broken tone, as if he were addressing someone above him.
　Rebecca knows who Mr. Ion is: ......?

"I'm Rebecca Roth, formerly of the Scarlet Wedge. You'll remember my deputy Commander Shero Roth, won't you?　I'm that one's daughter.
　...... I--I have--I have not forgiven you, even now. --Princess Lucreon.

　A dry smile, as if it were made up, told him so.


　◇◆◆◆◆◆.


'Shero Roth's ...... daughter ......?　I wonder if that man was old enough to have a daughter like you: ......

　Aeon exhaled one breath and looked a little confused. He would never have expected to meet someone who knew him in a place like this (a poorhouse far from the Imperial Capital).
　Rebecca-san replies with a smile plastered on her cheeks, a hint of emotion.

'My father has used more than a dozen stones for rejuvenation. For that matter ...... you're not surprised.

　Rebecca is right, Aeon hardly seems surprised to have met someone who knows her.
　She seems to be gazing at her gut, or rather, she seems to be taking it all in stride.

'You may not believe me when I tell you ...... this now, but I did something that you may not be able to forgive me for. I don't even want ...... to be forgiven. ...... No, I think it should be the people involved in The Scarlet Wedge who condemn me. It's no wonder you can't forgive me. This would also be ...... a coincidence. --Hmmm, I've lost my blessing, I can't believe I'm still so fortunate to have such a coincidence of fate.

　Ms. Aeon has a dismissive attitude.
　She used to be a princess of a country and would have been raised to be a butterfly, a flower, but she is a discarded bowl that I can't associate with such a figure.
　I'm sure that Shamash-san is already mentally wrecked to the extent that she wishes to entrust me with her first meeting.

'I don't want to be condemned ...... me.

　Rebecca-san chokes on her words.
　It's probably due to the gap between her memory of Aeon-san - that is, Princess Lucreon.

　Apparently, they are not direct acquaintances, but they seem to be someone with whom you have a strong connection.
　However, I didn't expect ...... this kind of situation.

'Rebecca, what do you mean by that?　...... No, no ......, let's start by introducing you to Aeon first, shall we? I know you're all chimps.

　I'll give you a light introduction to Aeon, as much as I know about her.
　She is the princess of the empire and former third in line of succession to the imperial throne.
　Because of the political war between the rival factions, she eloped with some general or holy knight - the princess who was chased away.

''Because of this Princess Lucreon, Isaac is dead and the 'Scarlet Wedge' was disbanded.

　In the middle of her explanation, Rebecca-san interrupted.
　''Isn't the 'Scarlet Wedge [Scarlet Wedge]' a mercenary group that Shero-san and Rebecca-san were with?

'Was that so? Hm?　So you don't mean to say that this is the guy that Aeon-san is supposed to have eloped with?
...... That's right.

　Oh, yeah, I see.
　Aeon-san said that he eloped with an Imperial General or Holy Knight or something. That was a vocation story, wasn't it? No, in this world, profession = vocation, originally.
　The head of Rebecca's mercenary group, Isaac, was a super handsome man with a rare vocation of 'General' and 'Holy Knight (Paladin)', so that's why he was her partner.
　I've heard that Rebecca had a crush on him, so that's exactly why Aeon was his rival.
　...... No, Aeon-san didn't know Rebecca-san, so it's more of a side-long love affair ...... No, let's not.
　Well, but it's not surprising that Rebecca-san is feeling angry or something. It's a good thing that you're not going to have to worry about the fact that you're not going to be able to get your hands on any of them.

It's a good thing that you're not the only one. ...... I've done my own research into the truth of things after Isaac's death. I also know the reason for that imprisonment of yours. So I have some sympathy for you ...... but also .......

　Rebecca separated her words once there.
　She bit her lip and stared straight at Aeon, wondering if it was something that was really hard to say.

'The Princess would not know how Isaac was killed. He was--

　The horrible memories spun from Rebecca's mouth.
　Mr. Isaac was executed for the crime of kidnapping the princess while she was a mercenary.
　The method of execution was to crucify her with 20 wedges on the wall, probably in honor of the scarlet wedge, and it was a lowly way to make the wedge wet with Isaac's blood and turn scarlet.
　The reason for the execution is that he planned to elope with the princess, but the truth is that it was a conspiracy by the current emperor, that is, Mr. Ion's brother, who was afraid of Isaac, who was exceptionally charismatic and competent for a mere mercenary leader.
　Even so, Mr. Aeon was used and Mr. Isaac died.
　The mercenary group also lost its leader and was disbanded.
　At first, Mr. Shero was also considered dangerous, but unlike the relatively sensible and obedient Isaac, Mr. Shero was afraid of what he might do, and only had to be guarded.

　Mr. Shero once told me over drinks on Orica's birthday.
　He said that Mr. Rebecca had been living with a closed mind before I came along. She said that she wanted to die in this decay, and even said that she would become a nun if she didn't.

"...... I also heard from the ...... wind rumors that Zack was killed. I heard that some members of the Scarlet Wedge were also hunted down. You weren't ...... an exception, were you?
...... Right.
'I'm really ...... sorry. It's not enough to apologize ...... but that's about all I can do now .......

　Aeon shakes and bows her head deeply.

　Unimaginable weight.
　At times like this, I can't stand the air and want to say something mischievous.
　Besides, I don't really understand what Aeon-san's crime was.
　Isn't the people who framed her the ones who are to blame?　
　No matter how much of a princess Ms. Aeon was, and even if she had the right of succession, she would have been at most a high school age about two years ago.
　Mr. Isaacs was also the one who was framed.
　In this kind of situation, the culprit is usually the one who gets the most bang for his buck. In this case, it was Aeon's brother.

"Well, could I just interrupt you for a second?

　Rebecca looks like she's starting to get a bit of a headache, too.
　I don't blame her, I know it can't be helped.
　Since Aeon-san is involved in both the dissolution of the mercenary group and Mr. Isaac's death and Aeon-san is involved in both, it's not something that can be so easily dismissed, even if in your head you think that Aeon-san is not to blame.

'I can kind of understand the relationship between the two of you, but let's talk about it anyway. ...... No, first of all, what do you want to do, Rebecca?　Mr. Aeon is a prison print as you can see, so if you want to bring him to the authorities to make him pay for his crimes, I'll consider that, Ked.
...... I don't mean to be that way, but ...... but because ......

　Rebecca's eyes swim.
　She is restless, holding and opening her hands awkwardly. Maybe I'm not able to control my emotions well.
　Elishe, coming to a town in the middle of nowhere from the imperial capital, that's exactly what it was like to live a life that seemed to say goodbye to the past.
　It's as if the past came to him out of the blue without any preparation in mind.
　He may look calm, but he's probably upset inside. It's too different than usual.

　Rebecca is a kind person.
　I'll never forgive her!　I'll kill you!　You don't think that's the point.
　But even so, if you have the chance to tell him, you just want to tell him.
　I totally understand that feeling.

　It's like a ritual to get your mind in order and move forward.
　It's not a matter of meaning. It's not a matter of logic.

　It's a stigma, if you will.
　And above all, I think it's something that Aeon-san needs to do.
　I don't think it's possible for her to be happy if she simply exorcises her prison crest.
　For Aeon-san, Rebecca is someone who "came from the past".
　I think it's a chance for both of us to face the past.
　I don't know if they can or not.
　...... but if we don't, we won't be able to move forward.

'Aeon, can you talk to me?　Tell me what happened. Even if I'm going to exorcise your imprisonment, I still want to get the details right.