I guess she's gotten used to the bitterness of the ale the guild serves. He brought it to the private room and drank it down in a light tone.

I believe I once described you as a rainy season sky.

　The expression on her face as she recalled was soft. The expression on her face reminded me of a soft smile, and she swayed in her chair. She seemed to be enjoying the dreamy feeling of being tipsy, her silver hair shimmering.

　However, the words that came out of his seemingly good mood had a tone of voice that seemed to have been born in a place far removed from cheerfulness.

That was a mistake. You fly here and there of your own accord, and then return with gunpowder. Hey, Lugis. What the hell do you think we should call this thing?　We'll have to give it a new name, won't we?

　Like the changeable weather, the mood seems to have turned bad.

　The words were filled with anger that made his silver hair stand on end and a sarcasm that made him want to stab people with his tongue.

　It is easy for me to understand, even though I am not an educated person. No, I understood it even more because I am me. In my previous travels, Kalia's anger had mostly been directed at me.

　But the reason for her rage is vague. It's so elusive.

Hold it. It's not like you're going to dry your throat and get angry. You knew, didn't you, that you had to make a deal to get out of that saint's bed.

　Sighing as she wet her tongue with ale as well, she let Kalia's sarcasm pass. This woman has been doing this a long time. But of course, the current situation is much better than before, when violence was also involved.

　Her silver eyes blinked, and she stared at me. It's almost as if the mockery and rage in his eyes has disappeared and been replaced with dismay.

　I felt like I was being mocked.

You'll be able to find a lot more information on the web. In addition, in addition to that, you've made her your servant.

　The woman may be referring to Fialat La Volgograd. I can't help but feel that there's a lot of stinginess in the expression. I didn't think they were that close on my previous trip.

That's not very nice. I'd like to see you add a little more to the story.

　He shrugs his shoulders, looks down, and shoots his voice down to the ground. I'd like to see you add a little more to the story," he said, keeping his voice down so that the words themselves crawled to the ground.

And I'm just trying to help. They're going to use us for their own ends, and then cut us off somewhere along the way.

　He scratched his eyelids lightly and told Kalia, "So we'll do the same.

　Yes, of course. I don't think the heralds, or even Largud Ann, trust me. I don't know where I come from, I don't have much in the way of dignity or education. All I have is the knowledge I once had. Who would trust such a shabby man? Well, it's not like I've ever been trusted in my life. I'm used to dealing with that. What's a suspicious man to do? What does it take to weed out the seeds of doubt?

　I don't know how it feels, but if I had to guess, I'd say that's what the saint is thinking.

　If that's the case... If that's the case. I have no reason not to return the favor. The bitterness of the ale washes down my throat, washing away the weakness I was about to spit out.

...... If they use me, I'll use them. That's the way it is.

　You place the container of ale noiselessly on the table between you and Kalia.

"The moment they storm the walled city and lay their hands on my beloved Mary. Right there, just as the curtain was about to rise. That's when I'll smash their cheekbones, all in preparation for that.

　He clenches his fist and narrows his eyes.

　I'll have to do that, at least. The most convenient place for an ordinary man to make a name for himself is the battlefield. And lucky for me, I've got the end result, and part of the process, embedded in my brain.

　Wonderful, wonderfully favorable conditions. Now all I have to do is take advantage of it. I'll just play with the balance of the pendulum with my fingers. I'll take that risk for the sake of Alueno.

"Hmm, I see. So, that woman. So, why'd you throw Fialaert under the carpet?　Do you really need a woman who's gonna make a move on the fly?

　Don't be ridiculous. That woman, if she touches Fialat, she's going to throw up the moment the whole trip comes back. The ale that was flowing down my throat is now flowing back up into my mouth. A sourness and a slight sweetness spread through my mouth.

　I opened my lips in response to Kalia, who was still staring at me while coughing. With only a table between us, she could have grabbed me the moment she lost her temper. Her throat quivered slightly in an odd way.

"Fearless is an unmistakable talent. Just like you.



　As soon as the words came out, Kalia's eyebrows shot up slightly. I see, I'd better get this over with.

I don't know if you're confident now, but you'll definitely make a name for yourself in the organization. We needed her to help us buy the trust of the heraldists at a reasonable price.

　After muttering, Kalia continued, "You didn't think it was a gamble, did you?

"It was a good bet either way. It was a fifty-fifty thing. If she, Fialat, takes this hand, good. If she doesn't take it--

　Well, if she didn't, then she had a hand. If she didn't take it, then there was a way... a way for both of us to cooperate with each other, even at the cost of our best friends. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. Her silver hair swayed in an exaggerated manner.

"So, why did you tell me... You have your reasons, don't you?

　He stroked his chin as if to say, "Of course.

　I called my maid and asked her to bring me more ale.

"I'd like you to get a handle on the self-defense organization here in the city-state, or if you can, develop some camaraderie with them. It's not something I can do.

　The new ale brought by the maid brought a bitter taste that lingered well. I'm sure you'll be able to find something that works for you.

　The city-state of Garou Amalia has a self-defense organization that relies on its citizens to protect the state, rather than the noble knights that make up its defense mechanism.

　The organization is open to all citizens, and serves as a shield and a pike to protect the city. Unlike a normal state, the citizens become the protectors of the state instead of the knights. For this reason, the voice of the citizens is very strong in Garouamalia.

　Perhaps it is because of these origins. People in self-defense organizations have a strong sense of camaraderie and brotherhood. And then there's an outsider like me. And if a stranger like me, an unknown rat, tries to enter into that, it is obvious that I will be kicked to the ground. I'm well aware of that. That's what I'm good at.

　But not Kalia. Kalia is a former knight. A knight of the Garlist realm.

　There are three things a self-defense organization will deny but crave with every fiber of its being. Tradition, story, and dignity.

　These are often hard to come by for a self-defense organization that recruits its members rather than its citizens.

　If, in order to obtain dignity and tradition, the organization is made up of people from different families and backgrounds, the premise of a self-defense organization of citizens will collapse. It is as if they themselves smear the foundation of the organization. Therefore, while they make up their minds with words, deep inside they yearn for the existence of knights.

　And then there was Kalia, who was beautiful in appearance but not in substance. As a former knight, if she can use her words well, the people in the self-defense organization will be able to forgive her.

　Eventually, she might be able to spill the beans on one of their plans. Even more so if they are not a controlled group of knights.

　That's why he tells Kalia the truth and doesn't tell Fialaat the truth.

　Fialaat would be fine if he just put his mind to the task at hand, but that's not the case with Caria. So I told him everything. I trusted that she would do it.

　The moment I finished, my throat. The flesh there screams for the presence of a foreign object digging into it.

　--Oh, I refuse. Are you sure you're not mistaken?　I'm not a puppet that moves for your convenience, you know.

　Kalia's words were cold and somewhat angry. The moment the sound strikes your earlobe, you finally realize that it's Kalia's thin fingers that are digging into your throat.

　Her silver eyes greeted me with a deadly gaze, and her pale lips, wondering what was so funny about them, slowly decorated her face with a smile.

　It was the second time I had seen that expression. Once, on the journey to salvation, when I had rebelled against her words.

　Now we meet again, and the look on her face terrifies and confuses me even more than it did before. A fearfulness crept up from the depths of my heels. The expression on his face was not only frightening, but it also had a kind of beauty that attracted people to it.

　Thinking about it, I feel that my thinking was a little, or maybe a lot, out of whack at that time.

　I'm sure it was. Her phialert thing was going too well. It's a success like I've never had in my life. So I guess I got it wrong. I thought I was painting a good picture. I thought that maybe all my assumptions would work.

　As if to betray all these thoughts and assumptions, the woman who held my life in her hands was smiling happily with her silver hair shimmering.