--Back alleys.

　A half-abandoned section of the city where the homeless live huddled together.
　But now they are forced to flee their homes.

　Many assassins and one man on the run.

　Their place in the world is torn apart by the weapons being wielded and the dark weapons flying about.

"You moved faster than I thought.

　Biting his lip in frustration, the man gripped the iron knife in both hands and ran across the ground.

　Behind him, assassins were chasing him, trying to get the money on his head. He doesn't know how many assassins are after him, and his spirit is sapped.

　How many of his enemies are after him?
　If he knows, he can target that number and reap what he sows.

　Having no information is a huge disadvantage.
　You can't feel safe no matter how many people you kill.
　It doesn't matter how many people you scatter.
　You don't know how many days you have to fight.

　There's a way to find out-- not that there isn't. But we can't ask someone to help us find out unless we keep moving without being detected.

　Because you can't rule out the possibility that the person you're relying on will disappear.

But... But still.

　Turning around, he swung the iron knife. With a dull thud, he felt the crunch of bone.
　He struck it in the face and swung it out, leaving a smear of body fluids and blood on the weapon.
　No time to wipe it off, he runs again.

　Is the man now dead? There's no time to check. Even now, there are other assassins after him. As if in competition.

　Probably a case of bounty hunters.
　There's nothing I can do about that prediction now.

　We're out in the open.

　Trained assassins formed a perimeter around him.
　Even though they were all competing with each other, the way they worked together was just like assassins.

　Exhaling, Wind Earth Note sets up the iron door.

"If you want to come, come - I'll mince you all together.















"Master Futa, I presume. I've got a message from Earth Note. I need you to take care of Ruri for a month. If you can't, leave her at the Chamber of Commerce.


　The message left for the three who had gone to the Orba Chamber of Commerce was a simple one.

　Sensing something, Futa asked about Wind's whereabouts, but all he got back was that he hadn't seen him since yesterday.

　I'm worried about Wind.

　But he couldn't leave Ruri behind, so he brought them both back to the castle.


　After leaving Ruri in Corona's care, Futa was currently meeting a girl in one of the rooms in the castle.


"What?　You want to call it off?
"Yes.

　You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few of them. She looks up from the thick pile of books she's been crumpling up and brushes her hair annoyingly.

"You've been fooling around since day one, haven't you?

　Today was supposed to be the first day of the course that would help Futa become a profitable champion.

　Sure, he was going to ask for her help to shine as a champion despite being "unemployed".
　In fact, with a single word, she accomplished what I could not have done on my own, no matter how hard I tried.

"You're out of character, you impersonal, dark-skinned bastard!　What you need to do now is play the villain.　Now that you have such an incendiary woman in front of you, go ahead and be as vile as you can!　Men will be cheering you on with their eyes wide open. ！！！！！

　For Futa, it is a dream to be a recognized champion.
　To achieve this, he's prepared to work hand in hand with women who don't agree with him.

　But now is not the time for that.
　I knew that my benefactor was involved in something dangerous, and I couldn't just stand by and let it happen.

"Mr. Wind is being targeted by a number of assassins.

　This Wind must be someone important to Pasta. That's why Futa said what she did.

　But she looks at him with her cheekbones and half-lidded eyes and says, "So what?

"So what?
"So what?

　Without thinking, Futa stands up.
　Pasta is a little spooked, but still stares at Futa.

What the hell? I'm sure you're not the only one.
"......

　Sighing heavily, Pasta closed the thick book.
　I'm sure you'll be able to understand why I'm here.

"So you're quitting then?
......!
Haha. Nice. It's really great when people's faces get twisted.
"...... you.

　It's a great way to make people laugh.


　Looking away from Futa, who was sitting down on the sofa in a fit of rage, Pasta took one look at the pile of books.

　A large number of bookmarks attached to each of the thick books.

　But if you're not going to do anything about it, it's silly for us to get all worked up about it.

Don't you want to go and look for him?
"What?　What? You're an idiot, aren't you?
What the hell is ......?

　You're trying to pick up a cupcake from a cake stand and your hand is blocked. I looked at Futa to see what he was doing.

"I don't have any reason to care about you. You're not a hostage or anything. You're in no position to be eating sweets.
............ Hmm. That's pathetic.

　Giving up, Pasta returned his hand to his waist.
　Her legs wobbled, barely reaching the floor, and her eyes were downcast.

　What a mess. The head of a business association...

　And now he has to go to the trouble of explaining it to a bunch of unthinking idiots.

　If it hadn't come to this, I'd be done stirring things up at best.

I've already sent out a search party for ...... Wind.
What ......?
It's strange that the man whose daughter is most important to him doesn't go to work at the Orba Chamber of Commerce, where he makes his money.
...... Why didn't you tell me?
There's nothing I can say to you that will change anything, you idiot.
Yes, there is!
"...... What?

　Hand slammed on the low table.
　I'm sure you're not the only one.

"At least .......
What?
"At least I don't have to think of you as a prick who doesn't care about anyone close to him.

　I'm sure you've heard of it.
　But when he understood the meaning of the words, he blew up in a big way.

"Pfft, hahahaha!　So what's in it for me?
"We have things to do together. We have things to do together now. There's no reason to laugh.
What?　There's no reason to laugh at me when we have to do things together. You can hate me all you want. It's more efficient.
"...... efficient?
It's more efficient, considering the role you'll be playing as a heel.　As long as that b*tc* is using me, you can't kill me. --If you wanted to get rid of me, you'd have to work harder.　Like a horse and rider. Ha-ha-ha!
"...... you.

　Pasta chuckled.
　Huta stares at her and suddenly remembers.

It was the chairman himself who ordered them to turn their swearing into power and induce them to do business. However, I'm sure that was their true intention. The fact remains that the Falcons were dealt a painful blow as a result of being played by a child no older than a year old.

　That's what Wind had told me about Pasta's ability to rebuild the Orba Chamber of Commerce after it had wobbled for a moment.

　I don't care how badly you curse yourself for being dead.
　I'm more interested in the efficiency of our business.

　And even now, his willingness to work with Lilac and Futa, who had ruined everything he had built up, to make money again was genuine, even if it was tinged with malice.

Are you trying to tell me that you don't care what people think of you?
"What?　What? You're getting serious all of a sudden. I don't care what you think of me, I don't care what you think of me.
......
Acting on your emotions is the work of the incompetent. I'm glad you're so easy to manipulate.
Really?

　Once, Huta shook his head as if to switch.
　Acting on emotion is the work of an incompetent.

　If that's her policy, then so be it.

I'm sure you're not going to go looking for Mr. Wind because you know he'll slow you down.
"...... You shouldn't try so hard to be a good guy. Even your favorite princesses cut off their closest friends.　Don't you have any idea?

　I think she was referring to Corona.
　She said as if she was making fun of him. But Futa doesn't take her seriously.

"Well, I'll charge you a lot of unpleasantness points later.
...... Why are you suddenly so calm?
"No, not really.

　The form is different. The way they do it is different, and the direction they are facing is different.



　--after all, it's her sister.

　No one gets near her. Just the way it was.

"I'm not going to go look for her because you'll get in the way. Right?
"I'm sorry, but if I knew anything about martial arts, it wouldn't change a thing. I'm a manager. I have other things to do. I don't have time for a single bodyguard. You understand?
Right place, right time.
....... Can you stop trying so hard to make me look like a good citizen like that?　It's annoying.
"Huh.

　Futa raised the corners of his mouth.
　Pasta gives him an annoyed look.


It's really creepy. I love it when people's faces get twisted.
"......

　A sound like biting the back teeth.
　It's the first time I've found a weakness in a woman.

"...... Oh, yeah.

　The expression fell from the pasta.

You were going to call this off and go find Wind, weren't you?　You're a useless 'unemployed' bastard."
Oh.
Just like the witch, you're going to run around and make a fool of yourself so that the other side can detect you, aren't you?
Yeah.
Then take her.
...... What?
No, I'm not. "Don't think you can search this huge city by yourself, unemployed. All you need is information, guesswork, and a weak hand.

　That's what a manager does best.

"There's a lot more to it than that, though. But we can find him a lot more efficiently than you running around King's Landing like a fool.
"Okay. Then let's go.

　Futa's reply to Pasta's completely condescending tone was quite simple.
　She looked up as if she had been caught off guard, and her expression twisted slightly.

She looked up as if she had been caught off guard, her face twisted a little, and said, "How can you be okay with all this abuse? Are you into that?
No.

　Futa shakes his head.

No," Futa shakes his head, "I've already found someone who appreciates me. Besides.

　Looking straight at the pasta, Futa smiled.



You're more annoyed with me, aren't you?