Hateful. Too hateful. There is no other word for it but hate. I'm not sure what to make of it.

　I'm not sure what to make of this.

　I'm not sure what to do. I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

　--The daughter of the Guraists, a princess with a concubine.

　I don't know how much of that nonsense is true and how much is a nasty scheme. But judging by the behavior of the nobles, Philos could tell that it was not all foolishness.

　So where did he find out about it? How did he get hold of the nobles' intentions? And who the hell is he?

　Normally, all of these questions should flood his brain, and his guts should be filled with confusion. But now, for Philos, even these things are unimportant.

　There is only one thing to think about.

　In the end, this man is the same. He only thinks of himself as something to be used.

　He is no different from his in-laws who once let him raise the poison cup with his own hands, and from those in the privy council who captured him in the process.

　Philos-Treit's sharp eyes widened, and he raised one hand as tears welled up in his eyes from the emotions rising from his brain. The open palm of his hand simply stared down at Lugis' cheek.

　I know that this action has no meaning. It's just a way to let out the resentment that's clogging up your chest, and it's an abomination that only exposes your emotions.

　Normally, such emotions are abhorrent. As a ruler, as a nobleman. They should be avoided. But not now.

　Out of the corner of my eye, I see silver hair swaying. But not in time to seize your arm. All I have to do is swing my arm down and pierce her cheek.

　But just in time. In the midst of his raging emotions, Philos saw his face.

　Lugis's face showed no sign of resistance, his eyes were downcast, as if he was ready to accept.

　What the hell is that?

　Philos even felt his emotional nerves being stroked.

　He had used people to his advantage as a great evil. He looked as if he was swallowing his guilt. You call that atonement?

　--Guilt?　

　Guilt? Suddenly, a thought occurred to Philos. I'm sure you'll be able to understand why I've been so impressed with your work.

　It's not like it's a great evil. A face that seemed to bite back the pain. At the time, I thought it was a rare thing to see, but...

　Are you feeling guilty? Even a piece of it in your heart.

　The whites of Philos' eyes narrowed. Then the hand that had been raised to strike him stopped. The hand that had been wide open was squeezed as if to force the emotion into it. Perhaps because the action was so sudden, the muscles in the hand creaked.

　Her lips rippled as she swallowed her trembling guts into her small body. I could hear the trembling in my voice.

"So you're going to use me to impose a new kingdom on the Garleist Kingdom. Yes. Did you really think that I would easily raise my hand in support of that?

　That's not possible. You don't know the first thing about the human heart, do you?

　You don't understand the human heart, do you?" Philos said, opening his eyes wide and coming within breathing distance of Lugis.

　His cheeks fluttered thinly, and he formulated his words with the intention of carving up the person in front of him as much as possible. He could see Lugis' expression harden and tighten as he did so, albeit only slightly.

　This is the kind of expression people have when they feel pain in their hearts. Philos felt a warmth roll into the pit of his gut.

　I knew it. Lugis feels guilty about himself. He even feels bad for using him in such an uncharacteristic way.

　That's why your words resonate so well with him. He can't help but notice the thorns in his words.

　Oh, then--I'm not going to hit you. I will not let you atone. Then you can live with your guilt for me. Never let you lose it.

　This is the right thing to do. To make the great evil aware of what is right and to bring it back to the right path. Therefore, always be aware that you are sinning against me. Feel the guilt in the face of what is right. That is, until you put yourself in a coffin.

　Philos says, looking Lugis squarely in the eye. His cheeks were about to rise, but he fought to keep them there.

"You're mistaken, my dear. I'm just a little girl who couldn't rule a single small city. Why do you think you can display your royal authority on your chest?



　This is an undeniable fact, Philos feels in his heart.

　I could not rule this provincial city of Philos. Not only that, but he even put the citizens in danger without a second thought.

　There is no way that such a person can claim the throne, even temporarily. Even if it is to be a mere decoration, something is needed. A legitimate bloodline, or the ability to rule beyond that. Or the talent to attract people.

　I don't have any of those things.

　Then it's a nuisance to be expected of you. Even if you use them, they're bound to leave you in the end anyway. Then it's better if you don't even look at me from the start.

　So I said.

"I'm afraid I can't give you anything you want, my dear. You've done everything so well, hero, you wouldn't understand.

　Not acting like a ruler as usual, but Philos' own words. She said it as if her true nature was bared from under the name of Philos-Treit.

　At the same time, Philos saw silver and then black eyes flicker within his vision.

　You don't have to look directly to know who it is. It was Caria Vadnick and Fialat-La-Borgograd, the two men who had followed Lugis.

　They have the eyes of lions and eagles rather than humans.

　The heat in their eyes is enough to shoot an ordinary person to death. That alone is enough to understand that they show an unmistakable golden glimmer.

　But so what? Philos thinks.

　How often have I trembled under the gaze of giants like a weathercock? And so the city of Philos has survived. But now I'm not in the mood. And what's more, I can't help but smile.

　The boiling gaze of Philos pierced through Lugis alone. Seeing this, Silver jumped.

"Rougis. I have a rough idea of what your intentions are. But isn't it a little early to be talking about it?

　It's a common sense statement.

　It was a sensible statement, and not an unreasonable one. In fact, it was something that could be taken for granted in this stormy place.

"Kalia. I'm sorry, but I'm talking to Philos right now. I can't help it.

　So when those words came out of Lugis' mouth. Kalia's silver eyes trembled greatly. The beautiful lines of her lips were twisted as if she had been kidnapped.

　Philos, on the other hand, saw it and narrowed his white eyes. He didn't think that she would be willing to shut her mouth and talk about something with him.

　Is she trying to take advantage of him in any way she can?

　Surprise and a slight feeling of superiority stroked his cheeks smoothly. He gazed quietly at Lugis' lips, wondering what he would say.

"Philos. I can't say excuses or apologies even if I had two mouths to feed. I'm sure I'm exactly what the High Priests say I am.

　A great evil. Traitor. The Great Vriligant. That's no longer enough to describe him. Biting them, Lugis said.

"But it's a fool's errand to say you're a little girl who can't rule a small city. That's very different. I told you, this place is too small for your coffin. You can't be a puddle in the ocean. A giant eagle can't hunt a little bird. This would be the same thing.

　I'm not sure if you've seen this before.

　I'm not sure what to make of that. I'm not sure what to do. I'm not sure what to do.

　He has risen from the depths of nowhere with his legs and has been instrumental in the fall of the walled city of Galuamaria. He pacified the civil strife in the Hanging Gardens of Ghazalia and brought the mercenary city of Belle Fain to its knees beneath his blade.

　I do not need to tell you about the Battle of Sarnio and his efforts in the city of Philos. For better or worse, he is now a symbol in the Evangelical War.

　A nightmare for the Great Patriarchate. For the heraldry, glory.

　What does a man who has grasped so much know about himself? What can a failed man, a broken man, tell you?

　At least that's what Philos thinks. I wanted to think it must be so. But...

　Lugis's piercing eyes were right next to Philos's.

Listen, Philos. If you live out your days with a broken knee, I'll say nothing. I don't see anything wrong with that. It's arrogant to tell everyone to stand up and be brave like an idiot. No one has decided that standing up is the right thing to do.



　Biting feverishly, Lugis said. Their gazes intertwined, and Philos could see only himself reflected in his eyes.

　Stop it. Don't talk to me like you understand. I know. Everyone who talks to you like that eventually shakes your hand off. So don't say another word.

　My heart skipped a beat. Philos heard his throat rumble unconsciously. I don't know whose it was anymore.

But if you want, I'll cut off all the other heads and put a crown on their heads. I believe you have the talent to do so.

　He's a jerk. What a jerk. Philos can't help but think of it, and at the same time, the whites of his eyes distort.

　His heart pulsed, and he felt a boiling heat rise to the surface. If I wasn't aware of it, I'd feel like I was breathing hard.

　How could she say such a thing with such an air of authority? How can you take the hand of a weak nobleman's daughter and make her raise her crown?

　No, no, no. Don't make me get my hopes up. The more you hold in your heart, the more you become immobile. I don't want any expectations from you.

　--And yet... The first thing you should do is to look at your eyes.

　The first thing you need to do is to look at your eyes. I'm not sure what to make of it.

I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not. If it fails, what will you reward me with?

　That was the best Philos could do for himself right now. If he hadn't done that, the emotions he couldn't show to others would have spilled out of his throat.

　Lugis opened his eyes for a moment, then narrowed them slightly before saying.

I'll do everything in my power to make sure you get it.