Okay, that's about it.


　Organize the rooms in the quarters. Since then, my base of operations has been moved to the First Boundary City. Once I went to the Seventh Knot City and brought my luggage here. At that time, the people of the Seventh Boundary City's Dusk Task Force held a small pick-up and drop-off party for me. This time we're moving this time, me, senpai, and Shelly are special class anti-magician, so of course, the first class anti-magician people are also coming to the first boundary city. Among them is Sophia. She has already become a first class anti-magician and was recommended especially by Eira-senpai to participate in this operation with her strong recommendation.


''Hmmm.......I'm a bit tired.''


　I take a breath. As usual, there are few things in the room. My possessions are nothing of note. What I would have to say is a book. The book Edgar gave me, a book about dusk. I gently trace the cover. It doesn't exactly maintain the appearance of a book. It's nothing more than layers of paper held together with string.


(Edgar-san....)


　What happened then is still firmly in my memory. I remember the time when I was banished to the twilight, and especially.......that ogre village is deeply etched in my memory. Even among the demon race, there are those that are not hostile to humanity. And they have been very good to me. I'm going to be able to say that the village has already been destroyed.

　I'm sure that's true. There's no need to lie right then and there.

　They are dying again. The people who are involved with me are dying one by one. Before I went to the twilight, I was just a student and didn't know much about this world. The twilight is a harsh place. That's the extent of my understanding. But now I know. Dusk mercilessly drains the life out of living things and is built on the truth of the weak and the strong.


".........


　I suddenly look up at the sky through the window. I look at the reddish-black light and think of the trajectory I've been on. I've parted from the weak me back then. From now on, as the Zeroth rank in the special class anti-magician hierarchy, as the hope of humanity, I will proceed on my way.


''Alright........''


　After finishing all preparations, I left the quarters. For the next week, there will be strategy meetings and troop formations to be decided. I will be attending some of these meetings. My job as Rank Zero is not only to fight.



　◇



You don't mind?
Yes. Can I help you with something?


　On the way to the conference room, I am suddenly spoken to. The outfit she wears, and moreover, I've seen her face before. She is as tall as I am and has long blonde hair that is curled vertically. She also wears make-up, and I'm sure everyone would love to see her look. In fact, she had attracted a lot of attention at that party.


''You're the second princess, Grete-sama, right?
Yes, I am. You're the new rank-zero Julia Curtis. You're a lot different than you were before.
I used to have long hair, but I've had it cut recently.
Hmm. I guess that's okay, isn't it?
I'm sorry, sir.


　The second princess. It's well known that she doesn't get along with the third princess, Princess Liane. She's a bit rough around the edges, but because of her beauty and charisma, she's been touted as the queen of the season. The first saint to be born in hundreds of years. There is no reason not to install her as the king. But Princess Grete's eyes still seemed to be full of ambition.


''I hear you're on good terms with Liane?''
It's been a pleasure.
'I'll be blunt. Julia Curtis. Be mine.
I don't know what you mean.
You know what the succession to the throne is, don't you?
You want me to help you?
You're not very good at talking, are you? But that's all right. I'd love to have a pawn of rank 0. Of course you'd like that, wouldn't you?
....


　Quite frankly, she's licking this world. I'm not saying that the succession to the throne is completely useless, but right now it's more important to know how to fight in the twilight....... It's clear that they are only obsessed with their own status. These types of people are the ones who are tied to it with people in power. Royalty, aristocracy, and the upper echelons of the military, it's not hard to see why they are so fixated on that power. When you have power, you can live freely in this city. And you can live your life the way you want to live with your surplus of money. I'd be lying if I said I didn't yearn for such a life, but I have a mission now. That's why I can't give in to such a joke of a request.


''With all due respect, I have no desire to be involved in the succession to the throne. Besides, with all due respect, the Third Princess Liane has awakened as a saint. I didn't see any room for you to intervene.
Do you have any idea who you're talking to?
The power play is yours to handle. We have our hands full with the Dusk campaign.
Are you sure?　You and your operation, we can interfere with it, okay?
"...are you serious? The upcoming operation will be a big step forward for humanity. And yet, you're being so selfish....
'Personal feelings?　You think I can't listen to my new queen?
Just so we're clear, it's not acceptable.
They're all so hard-headed, really.
Now, excuse me.



　I end the conversation with that and leave. We are now going to fight in the twilight. I don't have time to worry about the succession of the throne. Besides, Princess Liane will be the next in line for the throne. Yes, or so I thought, but I'm about to find out what a foolish creature humans are.