--If you don't want to rely on me, that's fine, of course. Then I swear I won't wield any power of my own. Not as a queen, not as an individual. Or perhaps you'd like to tell me if I can count on you.

　These words came from the heart of Erdis. There was no hiding the fact that there was some irritation in her heart.

　Her blood pulses raced through her body at a painful pace. Erdis could see that his instincts, which were normally covered by the shell of reason, were now clawing at him and accusing him.

　Her own knight had relied on others instead of her own soldiers, that was all. But that fact alone is too much for Elddis to bear.

I'm not sure what to make of it, Lugis.

　As if to corner the knight in front of her, the queen narrowed her eyes and closed the distance. It's a good thing that you're not the only one. It's a good idea to take a look at a few of the most common types of shoes and boots.

　I'm not sure what to say, but I'm going to say it. I want to hear your voice. I can't wait to feel safe. Elddis bites her dry lips lightly.

　What if, what if...? If Lugis really thought that my men were unreliable. If she thought I was unreliable...

　That would mean that I am not following Rougis' orders. The order to be a great queen.

　Oh, I don't want that. I don't like that. I don't want to think that I'm not being useful to him, that I'm not following his orders. Because obeying orders is a sign of bondage. As long as I'm following orders, I'm bound to him.

　Lugis said as he tied me up. I complied. So this pledge must be absolute. At least to Elddis, it's as solid and shiny as a jewel.

　Erdis felt his throat make a loud noise and his eyelids twitch. She waited, patiently, for Lugis to move his lips and speak.

I said, "...... of course. I'm counting on you. Too much.

　You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few things to do.

　As soon as she heard those words, Elddis activated the cause and effect of the spirit art in her skull. The formula had already been incorporated. A few cues in her head and it would happen.

　Immediately, a flood of information poured into Elddis's mind. His, Lugis's information.

　--There's no disturbance in his breathing or pulse, and the spirit says he's not lying.

　Erdis's cheeks naturally softened. His eyes seemed to have softened at the same time. His words were the truth that came from the depths of his heart.

　He was not speaking in trust or speculation about Lugis. Elddis's heart cannot rest on such easy things.

　This is the certain truth. The dark green uniform worn by Lugis, and the multiple ornaments worn by him, give us all the answers.

　The items that Erdis sent to Lugis were all woven by Erdis' spirit magic. Every strand of thread, every piece of bracelet, was crafted with the power entrusted to her by the Great Spirit. He even spared his food and sleep.

　Erdis's spirit art used to be used only to create illusions to look around the outside world from inside the tower. But now it has been condensed and fixed into a foreign object, a spirit device, crafted into a spirit's fallen child. The elves who were favored by the spirits created a few of these beyond-wisdom beings in their lifetimes, and then they used up their lives and died. It's as if it's their destiny.

　In a way, the device is Erdis' alter ego. How lovely it is to see him clad in it.

　His breathing, his movements, everything that his body emits is now held in the palm of Elddis's hand as a natural consequence, like water spilling from upstream to downstream.

　I want to know everything about him, what he's doing, what he's thinking. That's a given, Elddis thinks. And now it's happening. Wonderful.

　Of course, if you swallow everything all the time, you'll be swallowed up in the murky waters of information. But it's easy to make this kind of temporary use of it.

　And so, all of the information that I can give you now tells you. Lugis is not lying, and he is counting on me.

　That means I'm doing exactly what he wants me to do. I couldn't be more pleased.

　Erdis changed his stern expression to a kind smile, looked closely into Lugis' eyes, and asked.

I'm glad to hear it. If my knights are relying on me, I'll be able to use my power to the fullest as queen. I'm counting on you, too. The uniform I gave you is a sign of my trust in you.

　In the face of such words, Lugis rolled his eyes for a moment as if he was confused. She seemed to be wondering why the iron-cold air that had covered her surroundings earlier had disappeared in the blink of an eye.

　Erdis's lips rippled as he continued to speak.

It's a suit I made especially for you. How do you like it?



　Not bad, pretty good, Lugis replies with a slight shrug. That's what I meant, too. Yes, quite. With a small snap of her teeth, Elddis disconnects from the device.

　When you've been connected to a device for so long, it's hard to tell if you're the one who's in direct contact with him or if you're the real you as the queen.

　Of course, that may be a very desirable thing. Lugis told me to be a queen. Then I can't help but follow her orders.

　And even if we don't, there are other uses for the uniform besides getting to know Lugis.

　The spirit armor is Elddis's alter ego itself, and it is filled with the best of spirit art.

　If a human becomes familiar with and wears the embodiment of spirit art, he or she will feel lighter, and will be full of life. The blessing of the spirit will surely protect your life.

　But... a person who has been blessed by a spirit cannot be normal. It's like being exposed to the light of a god up close. Your body will surely be eroded by the great power.

　Sooner or later, you will only be able to live near the spirits, in the deep green forest where the magicians and the great spirits live. Anywhere else, you will not be able to even breathe. That is a certain future.

　Erdis's blue eyes narrowed, and a smile appeared on his face as he drew lines.

　--I'll keep my promise, I'm proud of it. I'll never let you go.

　I want to be bound, I want to be bound. A twisted emotion that makes the soul itself tremble. But for an elf who has lived so long and experienced so many partings, the desire to keep someone tied to her is natural.

　Erdis understands that this inexplicable emotion is surfacing in his chest and quietly leaking out his breath. But she never wants to let it go.

　I want you to bind me so that I cannot leave you. I want to be tied down so I can't leave. Oh, how happy I would be if I could command you to tell me when to get up, when to go to sleep, when to eat, what to do, and how to do it.

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　That's enough for now. We know his true intentions, and we've seen the effects of the necromancy. That's enough.

　And it's not time to move around anymore.

　Elddis's long ears caught the sound. Hurry, hurry, hurry, the sound of hoofbeats as if in a hurry. It was different from that of a mere messenger. It was the behavior of someone who had caught wind of something unusual and had come to report it.

Looks like the time for waiting is over. Let's go, my knight.

　That's all she said. Erdis looked out of the tent.

　Her long ears were beginning to hear the sounds of the battlefield beginning to move.