When the inhabitants of the Humane Kingdom were asleep, the moonlight was blocked out by the clouds in the night sky and a deep darkness ruled the area.

A man with a hood over his eyes appeared noiselessly on the balcony of a house.

Did he climb up the wall, or did he jump off the roof?

The fact that he moved soundlessly suggests that he was quite skilled.

The man in the hood broke in through the window, nonchalantly and quietly, as if it hadn't been locked from the start.

As soon as he closed the window he had entered noiselessly, a sharp long sword was placed on the man's shoulder.

''It's a bit unbecoming of you to enter a woman's room this late at night without permission, isn't it?

The voice of a dignified young woman echoes in the quiet space.

Despite having entered the mansion without permission and being discovered by its occupants, the man in the hood did not appear upset.

On the contrary, he began to laugh quietly, as if it was a predictable event.

''Kukkuk. As expected, you're said to be one of the kingdom's top-class talents. This is the first time you've been found this easily.......Listyanne-dono.

Illuminated by the moonlight that shone through the clouds that had been swept away by the wind, was Listyanne, the former guardian knight of Her Royal Highness Princess Lumelia, who has not yet been released from house arrest and has not been allowed to leave the mansion.

''I don't need your help. What are you doing here? Now tell me what you're going to say, or I'll have your little head cut off.

"The long sword that was attached with a "chuckle" wounded his neck along with part of his hood, and a slight amount of blood seeped out.

But the man cowered his head without showing much concern.

''Oh dear, you are impatient, aren't you? However, I have to talk to you anyway, so I don't mind.

The man turned toward her in a slow motion so as not to irritate Listiane.

Then he bowed to Listiaane with a graceful movement, as if reminiscent of royalty and nobility.

''How do you do, Listiane-dono. My name is Julius. I have a message from a certain person to you. Therefore, I would like you to take the sword for now.

...All right, talk. But try anything crazy and you'll end up crying your head off.

Yeah, we'll keep that in mind.

Ristiane slowly draws his sword, but there is no sign of putting it back in its scabbard.

There is no caution in his eyes, and he is staring at the man in the hood (Julius) with a stern gaze.

"Well, Listiane-dono. You don't know that you were under house arrest, but the Humane Kingdom has decided to form a friendship with Princess Rumelia and the young man you brought with you, an abomination.

"Y-you're a friend? Wasn't that the story of that guy falling on my kingdom!

What I had been told when I was working with Rumelia was that he was going to take them to the Humane Kingdom as a plan to bring Vilm and the others into the kingdom.

Ristiane's expression, which she hadn't expected, was tinted with astonishment.

''Yeah. The spirit beast that the young man of the abomination has contracted with, after all, is said to have power worthy of the kingdom's national warfare force. It's only that they are equals.''

'Nonsense! No matter how strong he and his spirit beasts are, I've never heard of a nation and an individual forming a relationship of equality! You'll only be insulted by the surrounding countries!

In fact, Ristiane's words and actions were correct in terms of common sense.

The King of Zeldia and his overlords would not have formed such a drastic relationship with him if they hadn't seen the spirit beast (Hinori) in person.

''Of course, not all of them approve of that. 'Of course, not all of them admit it, just like Listiane-dono. A certain person tells me that, of all people, he or she wants you to help him or her prevent the friendship between the kingdom and the abomination.

What...?

Listiane's eyebrows twitched in response.

''As Listiane-dono didn't know, this decision has not yet been made public(oya). Until now, the abomination has been unforgivable. We can't make it public until we have an explanation and a revision of the law to convince the people.

Yeah, so what?

Listyanne's long sword at the ready and the hand that held it trembled.

''Didn't you feel it too, Listyanne-dono? That abomination is not necessarily on the side of us humans. If we form an equal relationship with such a person, it will only be harmful to the Humane Kingdom. No, if he's not good enough, he could become a worm in a lion's body.

"Huh!

Listyanne stiffens for a moment when she is told what she always felt when she was working with Wyrm.

I've been told that I have to correct my mistakes, no matter what the king says. I'm sure you'll be able to help me with that, too, as you're one of the best in the kingdom," he said.

'But then it's like a coup d'etat! I can't betray the princess!

Listiane shakes her head and refuses, and before she knows it, Julius, who had been approaching her for some time, brings his face close enough to peer at her.

Maybe it's because she was upset, but Ristiane can't react to Julius.

''Betray you? In fact, I don't know what kind of danger might befall His Highness because of the abominable child if this is the case. You must help her out. By our hands....no, by the hands of the other Ristiane...

Hidden by the hood, Julius' eyes, which are difficult to even see his expression, begin to glow suspiciously.

''Ah...u... Help? My lady, you were my daughter.

Yes, you are the only one who can save her from the clutches of the abomination. You are the only one who can save her from the clutches of this abomination. I beg you to help us to save the princess.

Julius continues to keep his eyes on Ristiane, not taking his eyes off of her.

The suspicious light emitted from Julius's eyes increases, while the light slowly diminishes from Ristiane's eyes.

''...Wakatta. I'll cooperate with you.

The light was gone from Listiane's eyes, and her face was completely covered with nothingness.

The thing Julius used against Ristiane is the so-called (so-called) "brainwashing technique".

It's not easy to brainwash people, but Listyanne, whose mind was weakened by the dismissal of Lumelia's bodyguard and her house arrest, and who was told that her desire was the right thing to do, couldn't resist the brainwashing technique.

He was unable to resist the brainwashing. Well, it's getting interesting, isn't it?

Julius looks up at the night sky with satisfaction as Listiane's brainwashing is complete.

'Do you think you'll enjoy it? Mr. Wyrm.

The moon, which had been peeking out of his face, had been swallowed up by thick clouds before he knew it.