--I hated the sky.

　No particular reason. I hated the sky, I hated the mountains, I hated the smell of dust in the houses.

　I hated the stench of rotten food, the stale air, and the closed prison I was born in, because I felt unwelcome in all that was beautiful and loved by the world.

　I saw the setting sun laughing at me and raising its middle finger at me.

　Irune "B" stared at the sky overlooking him and snorted.

"What are you doing?

　Nothing," she replied curtly.

　The backyard of the orphanage. The barbed wire wrapped around the high iron fence is to prevent children from escaping.
　The sky from here is tiny, and the sunset through the fence is really unpleasant.

　Sheer cliffs. The sea breeze irritates my damaged hair.
　I turn around to see a child girl holding a tattered teddy bear in her arms.

"What do you want from me? You talk like a creep.
Oh, dear.

　I'm not sure what to say, but I'm going to say it.
　The way she laughs with the back of her hand over her mouth is so upper class and irritating.

　That's how they laugh at their own abominations.

This is so. ...... It is in the mud that the flower blooms.
What?　I'm not gonna grow up.
It grows. I know it.
"...... Oh, yeah.

　Irune "B" walks away as if she has lost interest.
　The girl walked around in front of her, looked into her face, and pressed the nose of her teddy bear against "B".

"Education is power."
...... It doesn't make any difference what you have here.
No, no, no. Because one day I'm going to run away from here.
............ Can you do that?
Mmm-hmm. Dig a hole where the dirt won't fall through the ceiling. It's part of your education to figure that out.
...... "A," man.
I don't like that "A" either. ...... Yes. You're a "B," Bear!
Bear. ......?　Well, call me what you want. ...... What's with the excited look?
You can name me, too.

　Irune "A", eyes sparkling, twirled around with a teddy bear in her arms.
　I'm sure you'll be able to understand why I've been so impressed with your work.

"A......A, so it's Eina.
".......
What's funny?
Because Ena is an E.
Shut the f*ck up. I don't know. Stop laughing or I'll crush you.
I'm trying to educate myself so no one will laugh at me.
......

　But," she smiled happily.

You can call me Eina. Bear-chan. ...... Hmm.



















　--Clingbloom House.

　The wind was blowing hard.
　I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.

"Military police, I'll deal with him. I'll take care of him.
Ha!

　While giving the order, there is no expectation in Richter's eyes.
　There has never been a precedent for catching a criminal in a bombing before.
　The house is already on fire. Not many fools would remain on the scene after accomplishing their goal.

　If there are, there are only two kinds.

　Richter narrowed his eyes and looked down at his feet.

　One, if they are already dead.

　And the other, he looked again, seeking.

　The other--a different purpose from the start.

"Whoa. ...... Whoa. ......

　I think I raised my voice and it made my throat burn.
　This is where the price of wandering around a burning mansion looking for idiots comes into play.

　In front of him was a dangerous woman who looked like she was really looking forward to killing each other.
　A subordinate already suffering from a blow.

　I shake my head in disbelief.

　It's been a long time since you've been away from the front lines, but you've been so reckless.



"--

　Even if you look at Mion, you can't be too careful.
　That woman Arawn will attack you at any opportunity.
　Kill all you want, surprise all you want.

　This is the way of the battlefield, and that is why Richter is keeping a close watch. I was on .......

　That's why it was so puzzling.

"...... What's wrong, you're not coming?

　Gladius was already in position.
　She was the one who wanted to have fun killing each other.

　I need to get rid of my indigestion. Very well.
　If that's what this woman wants, I'll crush her head on.
　And yet there was no sign of movement.

　Eye contact.
　What the hell do you think you're doing?
　Mion's life is intact. He may have received a sharp kick, but that doesn't mean he's going to die if he's left alone.
　He's not a hostage, and he's not stalling.

　And yet. She usually clenches her fists in glee.
　She was looking at Richter with the eyes of a woman who suspects her husband of cheating on her.

...... What's that coughing you're doing?
It's your fault, of course.
It can't be. I made sure you were not in the house.
No, it's not impossible. There were still people in the house.
"............ relatives?

　The woman in front of me tilted her head in disbelief.

The woman in front of me tilted her head in confusion. ...... "My people are my people. The chef and the other servants were still inside. And the idiot who went looking for them.

　To be precise.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find something that will help you.
　There is no need to explain the story of such fools in depth.

...... A nobleman goes to a burning house to save his servant?　It's a joke, but it's not funny.
It's not a joke. He's a servant in my house.
"That's no reason.

　Richter's eyes narrowed, and he shook his head, finally realizing what Aylin meant.

I'm sure there are many different types of noblemen. I don't mean to lump them together. But I told you.


"It's because they're noblemen that they struggle in the mud. Especially when it's--

"It's only natural if you're trying to save your people from drowning in the bitter mud.



　I'm not going to change what I said in the tournament," said Richter L. Klingbloom.

　Even Aylan remembered what he had said.

　--He knew what he was talking about, and that's why his expression was so tense.

　It's all very well to talk big.
　But I just didn't want to think that there were people among the nobility who would risk their own lives to do it. I just didn't want to think that.

If you need help as a citizen, just ask. I told you. They even reach out to you. It's only natural. ...... to pull your people out of hell.
"What?

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's a good idea.

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

"...... has spoiled my fun.

　He turned away.

"Are you sure? I can take care of you.
I'm not sure what to say, but I'm going to say it.

　He muttered without turning around.
　Just as it did not attack the Wind-Earth note one day.

I will not be so careless as to devour a scrawny lion.
"...... I see.
You?

　She says it like a series of words.

"What you said. "You said, 'Strength is beating up on someone who doesn't have what it takes. Yeah, you're right. I just want us to be the best we can be.

　And then he turns and says.

"Beating you now doesn't prove I'm strong. Because it wasn't me who burned the house down.
You were only called to .................. as a bouncer.

　Richter lowered his eyebrows, "It is a troublesome pride.



　She is not saying that she wants to set the house on fire. 　

　For example, if she had the magical ability to handle fire, she would have no problem exposing Richter and challenging him to a fight.
　But for her, who does not use magic, fire is like a weapon. It's just a borrowed weapon.

　Winning with it doesn't prove you're strong.
　Then she won't use it.

　She's a shura who fights to prove her own strength.

　Surprise attack is fine, surprise attack is fine. But it's only a clash of power.
　It's worse to be careless. That's true. But I don't want an incomplete victory without my own hands.

　Just like Richter said one day.
　I don't want to be a coward. It's just that I don't give it my all the same way a fighter does.

　Arawn B. Smiles is that kind of Shura.


　So she has no reason to fight Richter here.





　No, but...





"Is that what you want?

　The one who stopped Aylin from leaving was none other than Richter L. Klingbloom.

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's a good idea.

I'm asking you if that's okay. It's the nobility that's in front of you. The ...... nobility you should hate. Isn't that right, Irune "B"?
What?

　It was Richter who wanted to see me.

I'm sorry, but I had to look you up.

　I'm sorry, but I had to look you up," Richter said, his eyes widening in astonishment, his chest still heaving with burning pain and heat.

"Redrude. Redrude Orphanage. You've been doing whatever you want.
...... What right do you have to expose my past?
"The privileges of nobility," I'd say. What right do you have to burn people's houses down?
......
Oh, no, you're right. Well, you didn't burn them down. But you were complicit in it, weren't you?

　That's not the point.
　Richter shakes his head.

"I don't need rights. You do. Don't you?
"...... Yes, you do. I don't need a right to do anything.
But I do have rights. As a nobleman, you have the right to do whatever you want with the common people.

　That's why," Richter said to Aylin.

"...... Is that what you want, Aylin B. Smiles?
"So what are you talking about?
I'm asking if that's the way you want to be. I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.

　Looking straight into his eyes, Richter dared to mock him.

"A noble canine.
"......

　She frowns at him suspiciously.

The organization you're working with is backed by the great aristocracy. They're trying to sabotage us with this grand fire play. You're just wagging your tail at them at the same time as you're antagonizing us.
It's a cheap provocation.
Is that so?　You seem to be really ...... uncomfortable with that.

　Aylin's eyebrows twitch.

"No?
No? - No, it's too obvious and vulgar. Richter L. Klingbloom.
That's rude. I'm pissed off because someone burned down my house, not my family.
...... Oh, yeah. Well, I suppose that's true.

　She put her hand on her cheek and narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.

　Cheap provocation. It's true.
　A noble canine. You want to deny it.

　In fact, Richter thinks, you can deny it.

　Aylan B. Smiles is not going to do the bidding of a nobleman, even if it means confronting Richter and the others.
　The corpse of the terrorist lying in front of me is proof of that.

　If that's the case.

　It's easier to assume that there is an "equal" deal between this woman and the nobleman.



　If we can get that out of him, Richter will be one step closer to the mastermind.

　Aylin knows that.

　So it's a simple question.

　Will she take her duty to her business partner or her pride at being accused of being a noble dog?

　Aylin looked at Richter, who was staring at him, annoyed.

　It's also true that I'm still troubled by the fact that I know what he's trying to do.
　It would be a shame to confront Richter, but...

I'm going to guess what you're thinking right now, Aylin.
"......, please?
"The benefits of legitimate combat with His Highness and Huta are too great for you. I'm not sure if you'll be able to find a way to do this, but I'm sure you can.
"......, you think you can arrange a place for us to kill each other?
I'd love for you two to kill each other, but ...... that's not an option right now.
Then I think we're done here.

　Aylin turns away again.

　You don't tell him the deal, you don't put your pride first.
　The third option is silence.

　A third option, silence, is a natural part of negotiation.

　But Richter L. Klingbloom had an answer for silence, too.

...... Well, I wasn't expecting to be talking to you under these circumstances.

　When I looked into Redruth, I didn't think I'd be in this situation.

　I didn't expect to find myself in a situation like this.

　But still.
　I had no choice but to do what I had to do. That's what I was prepared to do when I arrived on the scene.

We can't let the terrorists get away with this. We can't let the terrorists do what they want. We have to force them to tell us if that's what it takes.

　He took a step forward.
　He took another step toward Arawn, who had his back turned.

"I have business with you personally. Is that really the only reason you want to be strong? "Don't you want to finish the Red Rood?"


　Raise your gladius.

"And?

　He slashes at Arawn's defenseless back!


You put my people in harm's way, and you'll pay for it!


　A dull clang of steel.

　A dull clang of steel. Without even turning around, a cuirass presses down on Gladius.

I'm not sure you can handle me right now, but I'm not sure you can handle me. You know that, but why?

"Why?　Why, you ask? It's simple.

　I'll tell you. I'll tell you.

"Because it's the right of a nobleman.

　A nobleman's right.
　It's a blade to protect the people, your people.

　Even if you can't.
　Even if you can't protect them.

　To make sure that those who are under Richter's protection are not licked and shaken in the future.

　That's it. As she said.

　Even if we know the war is unwinnable.

Don't you see?


　A sharp look. A beatific smile in Arawn's glassy eyes.



"I'm telling you, I'm going to stand in your way as your enemy."



　I ask you again, Arawn B. Smiles.


　"Are you sure you want to do that?




"Oh, yes.


　Aylin lifts the corners of his mouth.


"I hate the sky.