"Let's make a deal.


"You have no reason to live, no reason to die.


Then wield that power for me.


One year. You may renew it at your discretion.


"Rather than waste your life here for nothing, be of use to me.







If I help you, will it make a difference?






What?　How am I supposed to know what's going on?

I've only come to pick up the fruit that will rot if left unchecked.

"If you say no, you'll die here. If you say yes, well, there's still a possibility.





"Pfft. Hahaha. Possibility, possibility!　I haven't seen anything like it in over ten years.

You want me to put my faith in something like that?





What?　How can I make a path for those who do not seek it out for themselves? It's unsightly. You've been through so much and you're just waiting to be saved?





I just don't care. Do you want to die?





I want to live.





"......





I want to live. This is a one-sided proposal for me to use you. I'm not looking for your benefit. Because...

"What's the point of offering benefits if you don't really have what you want?






Ha-ha.


"Okay.


I'll let you use me for a while.













　I'll use you for a while.

　When you're having fun, make it more fun. When it's not, make it as fun as you can.

　That's how I've been trying to get by.

　But in the end, I still have no reason to live or to die.


　What is the meaning of life?

　I don't even know what that is.



"You witch!

Why is a monster like you here ......!

What are you smiling about?


　"I don't know what you think you're doing, but it doesn't feel right to sacrifice someone else's life so that I can live mine.


I don't know what you think you're doing, but... --I don't know what you think you're doing, but I won't let you touch this person.

I'm not saintly enough to allow someone to harm the people I care about.

You're the one who saved my life.


　I'm sure he was happy, but...


　But still...


"I don't want to go to .......


　I don't have a reason to live, and I don't want to burden you with me.
















　The air in the hall changed when a large wooden object was brought in.

　The blade, twinkling dully, was sharp and hung high by a tightly strung rope.
　If the rope were to slacken once, the blade would fall without a second thought.

　In an instant, it would fall on the nape of the girl's neck, which was fixed beneath it.

　With her pretty face threaded through the rounded wooden plate.
　Her shaggy golden hair was brushed away and parted, exposing her neck.

　The girl, clad in a white cloth that could hardly be called clothing, however, blinked her eyes and looked around the venue, whether she knew she was about to be killed or not.

　A large field and a crowd of spectators watching.

　Compared to other times, a much larger crowd was watching his own execution.

　The look on her face, "Oh," reminded me of a strange kind of admiration.

　The Knights who had brought the decapitation table looked at her as if they were looking at something horrible, while she smiled out of place.

　A macabre foreign object that had to be killed.


　A ripple of murmurs ran through the crowd.
　What's that? What's going on?
　What's about to happen?

　That genuine question was exchanged with a hurtful look in his eyes.


...... Oh, my...


　In the strange atmosphere of the hall. The one who was most upset was the girl who had been given a seat next to the king.

What do you mean, what do you mean?　That's my maid who's disappeared!
"Yes, I know.

　Garland nodded humbly and slowly rose to his feet to face the king and princess.

　I'm not sure what to make of that.

　The speech he delivered was like a speech.
　In the face of the royal nobles and members of the royal city, Garland spread his hands wide and said.

"Your Highness has taught us the 'culture of the kingdom'!　It was a very enjoyable event, but I think you all know that whether it was enjoyable or not is a trivial matter in relations between countries!

　The princess was about to stand up and challenge him, but the king stopped her by gently placing a hand on her shoulder.



　She is the princess of this country. You can't openly disagree with the decision of the king and the head of the country to form an alliance.

　She grits her teeth and looks towards the execution table as if she is worried.
　The girl at the execution table was smiling at the princess, wondering what was so funny.

The girl at the execution table looked at the princess and smiled, as if to say, "If the game is the culture of the kingdom, then the witch hunt is the culture of the law!　For those who are not familiar with it, it may seem like a mere execution of a young girl, but according to the teachings of the Kingdom, we cannot leave alive a witch who is said to bring misfortune.

　Richter frowned, and Beatrix was having none of it.
　Wind narrowed his eyes quietly, while Prim stared at the speech with emotionless eyes.

I never intended to hold a witch-hunting ritual here in King's Landing, but... But when I thought about the future approach of the Kingdom and the Kingdom of Justice, the words of Her Highness, "I want people to know about our culture," stuck in my mind.

　The crowd couldn't make a move if the princess said it as if it was her suggestion.

　In fact, on the face of it, it was true, so the princess herself could not say anything. 　


"Therefore. Therefore, as a great opportunity for the kingdom and the legal nation to join hands, we have decided to have a preliminary match and a witch-hunting ceremony at the same time!　This is an honorable ceremony that has been approved by His Majesty the King -- more than anything, I was touched by His Majesty's favor!

　In addition to Her Royal Highness, Garland declares on this occasion that he has the endorsement of His Majesty the King .

　The princess is clearly upset, but since the king has no intention of interfering, the masses are merely witnesses.

　Only the pro-war faction is suddenly excited.

　For a moment, Garland felt a bit uncomfortable.
　There was no way the people who held the real power in the capital would be happy or sad over the execution of a single girl.
　Rather, what was important was to strengthen the alliance between the Kingdom and the Kingdom of Law.

　However, the atmosphere outside of the warlords' faction seems to not want this to happen.

　--Perhaps the game was too exciting.

　Garland concluded.

　So they just can't keep up with the sudden appearance of the execution table and this development.
　But it didn't matter. They just need to watch.
　As long as the witch-hunting ritual is done, the Kingdom and the Kingdom of Law are as good as hand in hand.

　As she spoke, she looked around.
　There was no sign of anyone who looked like the princess' handlers moving anywhere.
　The knights did not report any abnormalities either.

　Should we assume that the princess's proposal was just a good intention?

　If so, it would be a shock to see her own maid executed, but sooner or later the witch would bring her misfortune if she lived.
　Or the devil might have whispered to her and turned her into a real "wicked man".

　In that light, it makes a lot of sense to execute the witch here and now.

"We will now perform the Ritual of Witch Hunt!　Members, prepare!

　The moment I gave this order, the princess, her face completely pale, sat down unsteadily.

　Once you've had a witch in your life, you're bound to be shocked, but Garland doesn't take it as a passing fancy.

　So.

　So he was not so alarmed when she dropped the cup from the side table in her agitation.

　Even if someone had feelings for the princess.

　Senators can't be trusted.
　Nobles can't go against royalty.


　Then no one can move.



　--No.



　The moment the princess removes the cup, that's the signal.

　The moment she shatters her favorite china is the signal.

　I will smash that blade with the traditions of the court.



　--Go! Overthrow this country.







　--Yes, sir.









　It's not that he was running uncommonly fast.

　It's just that his unhurried, fluid start caught many by surprise.

　As if he knew that the situation would turn out this way, the young man standing in the middle of the field headed straight for the execution platform.

What?

　Even Garland was slow to react to the movement of the unmarked swordsman.

　Why? I'm not sure why the Orba Trading Company, who sold us the witch, is moving here.

　Garland couldn't afford to wait for that question to be answered.

"Stop!

　The reaction of the knights to Garland's order was swift.
　They were accustomed to dealing with these kinds of emergencies and to controlling those who tried to interfere with the ceremony.

　Skilled in warfare and skilled in suppressing mobs, they intercepted him with their spears in hand.

　Yes. A spear.

　The spear was the weapon of the Shenlong Knights.

　The same as the one he was holding now. That's why he asked the girl to be his opponent.



"Move!



　A flash to be wielded. Cleave the cross spear.

　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it, but I'm going to try.

"What are you doing!　Stop it!　Get him!　He's a heretic who's been misled by a witch!

　In response to Garland's voice, a group of knights with glaring eyes that are clearly visible through their helmets attack him.

　I'm sure witches are feared in the land of law.

　But that didn't matter to this man.

　One, two, three, four.



　Even knights in heavy armor can be defeated with the spear.

"......

　The spear is about to break.
　But so what?

　Our eyes meet.

　Surprise, then rejection. She opened her mouth to say, "Don't," a rare and unusual expression.

　--He smiled.

　I'm sure I've always made that face and worried her. Now I felt like I knew.

　I'm sure I've always looked like that and worried him.

　There is a possibility that both the king and the court will take notice of her and hang her as the perpetrator. This time, the princess might not be able to do anything on her own.

　In the first place, I don't know if there is any merit in going to such lengths to protect him and her. He might have been deceived this time.

　But he's okay with that.

　If it would save her, so be it.

　So he smiled.

　--That's why she... She couldn't laugh.



"Oh my God, this is so f*cked up. ！！！！　It's all in the palm of that woman's hand!　That b*tc*!!!!

　The girl's voice screaming was just above the execution table.
　The bleachers of Beatrix M. Orba were just above the direction of the hooter.

　The young man was surrounded by a never-ending stream of Knights and Knights-at-Arms, but he managed to knock down several of them.

　Beatrix couldn't help but shout.

"Wind!

　I'll use the man behind me to get this situation under control.

　A low, soft gentleman's voice replied to his intentions.

"Yes, sir. Mr. Chairman.

　But what followed was the problem.

"Who do you want me to cover?
Which is ～～～～～～～?　It's obvious!　Futa.

　I couldn't tell him to stop.
　Can you stop him?　The answer is no. He's already proven how strong he is.

　The name of the Orba Trading Company has already been badly damaged.
　What if the maid dies if he tries to interfere with Futa by luring Wind here?

　--The relationship between the Legion and the Orba Chamber of Commerce is already guaranteed to be a disaster.

　Then at least...

"Cover ......, sai ......!
"Yes, sir.

　I bit my lip and stared at the silver girl.
　Everything is as you wish it to be.

　If so, at least sell the man a favor and get a small profit.


　--Beatrix M. Orba is a woman who would gladly lick her father's boots if she had to.

　I'm used to this level of humiliation.


　Even so, she couldn't bring herself to eat the cupcake she had squashed. Her mouth was filled with the taste of iron.




　Futa was in the middle of a fierce battle.
　No matter what the opponent's attack was, it would be no problem for his eyes.
　The only thing holding them back was the sheer number of people and the heavy armor they were armed with.

　The fact that there were so many of them was not a disadvantage for Futa. If there were any warriors around him that he could sense, he would mimic them, even if they were blindfolded.

　One of his unseen strengths was that he was never bad at brawling.

　I'm sure that in the future, Prim will challenge him to a fight, thinking that he can win by attacking in numbers, and he will be beaten back.
　The arrival of such happy days would be meaningless if we didn't get through today.

　The heavy armor of my opponent was troublesome.

　I prefer not to kill or wound them. The princess had told me that this was to ease the rift between the kingdom and the court.

　She said that it was not high on her list of priorities, but Futa's true intention was to follow the princess' wishes until the situation became worse.

　Then, no matter how many enemies he repelled, the biggest burden was that he would not be able to lose the battle.

　The armor reduced the damage greatly, and the situation was not good, considering the fact that they were gathering one after another.

　I'm sorry princess, but I think it's time to make up my mind.
　That was when Futa narrowed his eyes.


"I have a daughter who is now six years old.


　At the same time, a man descended from the sky and caved in the knight's armor with a thick iron knife clutched in both hands.

　He twisted his body and knocked down the surrounding knights with two powerful axes.

　Stunned for a moment, Futa muttered to himself.

Oh, congratulations.

　Not long ago, he would have said it was his six-year-old daughter. He nodded his head in reply with a very happy expression on his face.

Thank you. She's really cute. I'd say she's the person I love the most. --I can't bear the thought of her being killed in public.





　--I'll tell you the same thing I told you that day.



Go get your loved ones back.




Yes!



　The knight's helmet flew off as he tried to stop Futa from running.

"They say the sword represents the man. And friends call friends.

　Wielding an iron knife, kicking a caved-in abdomen, and looking at the knight's vomit, Wind-Earthnote says, "You think you're right.

It's a hobby of mine to torment people who think they're right.

　A man with a viciously amused smile grabs the iron axe and goes on a rampage.








　The knights follow around him as he runs.
　Using the spear against heavy armor is both a good and bad match.

　There is no better companion to keep the enemy at bay and to get where you want to go. That is why he uses the spear to check, to play, to lead the way.

　But on the other hand, it became difficult to defend himself when he was being pursued.

　Still, Futa used his mimetic power to intercept the attacking knights from the edge. Even the most skilled knights were put off by his spear-handling, and he managed to keep them from closing the distance.

　But he didn't want to waste time on each one of them.



"I see. So that's how you use it when you're defending. You don't learn that at Tsuneyama Jujitsu.



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

"Prim?
"Hello. I'm just an unrelated person who works for the Lord of Finance.

　In the event that you're not sure what you're looking for, it's possible that you'll be able to find it in the marketplace.

"Get out of the way, little girl!
It's not about Richter!　It has nothing to do with Richter-kun!　Tsuneyama Jujitsu: Nothing to do with Richter-kun!

　If Futa is the genius of imitation, she is the genius of spear.
　She intercepted the knights with the technique that Futa had just stolen from their spears.

"Go on, Futa!　You've held out this long, now you've got to look good!

　--He nodded.

　He nodded and turned away.

　The only thing in front of me now was the execution table and the few knights guarding it.

　And the person I've always wanted to see.


"Corona!


　I scream and run.
　It didn't matter what she was thinking or looking like right now.

　I just did.


"No. ！！！！


I love him as much as I love you!　I want you to be with me!


　So...


"So I'm bringing him back!


　I don't care what you want.













　The person who gave you a good time, running right at you.

　The sight...

The sight.

　I could see it better than anyone from the execution table.