The central square of the capital, with the fountain in the center and the cobblestones forming a beautiful circular pattern. Because it is a major transportation hub, many carriages and people come and go there.
I was sitting on the fountain somewhat uncomfortably. When I sat down, my legs floated a little, so I wandered around and passed the time I had left.
After a while, I hear the sound of running feet and a voice.

Isak!　I see you're already here. I'm sorry to keep you waiting.

"You idiot!

I slapped the boy on the head as he came running up to me with a joyful smile on his face.
The boy was startled and froze with his hands on the spot where he was hit. Behind him, a brother who seemed to be accompanying him screamed inaudibly and his face turned pale. I don't care about that and complain.

"You shouldn't have sent me that incomprehensible letter!

"Isak is the one who told you to write to Mr. Baumgartner.

You don't think he'll come for that?

I don't know why I'm so angry, but Leo had brown hair today. I'm not sure why I'm mad at him, but he has brown hair today. The blonde hair, which has the highest physical attack power, is hidden, so I can see him directly, but I still feel a certain amount of glare from his overly tidy makeup. But if I'm going to complain, I have to look at the other person.
Leo sent a letter to his father as I had specified. So far, so good. He said he might get it, and he had no problem receiving it. When I received the unsealed letter from my father and opened it, I froze.
I couldn't read it. No, I could read each letter, but I had no idea what it said. That feeling was similar to the feeling I had when I saw a problem in my previous life where I was asked to write a Chinese sentence with symbols. How can you expect me to be able to read something I can't read?
I stared at the letter for a while, but couldn't even find a clue to understand it, so I turned to the lady. She looked at the letter and was amazed at the beautiful handwriting, and then she deciphered the contents for me. Apparently, it was a quotation from a poem she had recently started studying. Even if it was a poem that aristocrats were supposed to know, there was no way that common people who could not read would know it.
Knowing this, I thought I was fighting with you. That's why when the lady who deciphered the letter asked me what it was about, I told her it was a letter of fulfillment. I quickly corrected myself and said it was a job offer for my father.

"Don't underestimate the literacy of the common people!

"...... I'm sorry about that.

When I finished complaining, Leo, who seemed to have understood, blinked and apologized apologetically.

I'm still really narrow-minded. ......

I'm not sure why he thinks it's such a small thing to be depressed about. I poked Leo lightly in the forehead to make him look up.

"I don't know, but you're doing this now so you can find out. That's good enough for me. You can just itemize the letter next time.

I've never seen an aristocrat who dresses up like a commoner and tries to learn about the lives of common people. I think your thinking is flexible and broad enough.

...... We'll deal with it.

Leo said in an unchildlike manner and smiled in a manner befitting his age. It is good, but the smile is so bright that it makes me scrutinize my eyes. I wonder, does he have some kind of luminescent substance like fireflies? It's still not my favorite.
As I reached the limit of my direct gaze, I looked at the brother who looked like a guard I had seen before. He was the one who seemed to be busy turning blue and panicking. Leo's wig must have matched the color of his brother's hair to make it easier to tell they were brothers.

"You brought the right guards. Don't get separated this time.

Yeah, we'll be fine this time.

Leo nodded firmly and clenched his fists.

I don't know, is it enough to have just one guard?　I don't know, is it just one guard or are there others hiding?

No, just Matheus. He's the only one who's willing to go along with all this. Don't worry, he's as good as he looks.

I'm convinced he is. I'm sorry, but since I've only seen his blue face and such, he looks like a timid brother to me.

I want to stop it too, you know?　But if ...... Leo-sama doesn't come with me, I'll go alone.

I'm not sure what to make of this.

It's tough.

"Yes, it is. The other day, when I lost sight of him, I was worried that I would only lose my head. ......!

You're exaggerating, Matheus.

You're overreacting, Matheus. - I'm still underestimating.

There seems to be a big difference in perception between you and Leo. My brother is probably right. Leo's status must be quite high.
I wonder if I should have thrown him out. Would it be considered a crime of disrespect?　Is that why my brother reacted the way he did? But Leo's not angry. I'll fix it if Leo wants me to behave like that.

Oh, yeah. I'm Isak Baumgartner. Good day to you.



I'm Matheus. I'm sorry Master Leo had to ask you to do this.

"No, ......, it was my fault for suggesting it.

I bowed to the apologetic Matheus as well. I didn't think the aristocrat was serious about this. I'm sure you're not the only one.

I'm sure you'll have a great time.

The material of the clothes is probably the same as what I am wearing, but the fabric is carefully made and the clothes are well-tailored. This is what a merchant or someone with a slightly higher standard of living looks like. You would not feel out of place in a downtown.

"I'm just a knight with a military background, so I'm more comfortable in simple clothes.

"But you won't lend me clothes.

I don't want to. Who are you to lend your hand-me-downs to Leo-sama?

I'm sure you're not the only one. I'm sure he's a great enough guy to be a knight, but when he's with Leo, that's not the case. I'm sure you'll be able to find something that works for you. ......
Anyway, I'm going to go to my house to lend him some clothes. I chose the most obvious route because Leo would not be familiar with the area, but then I would have to go through the busy market street.

I'd like you to hold Leo's hand so that we don't get separated.

As soon as he heard my suggestion, Mr. Mateus turned blue and shook his head with all his might.

I can't do that!　I can't do that!

"Well, I'm not sure I want to hold hands with someone my age either. ......

It's not that I don't want to hold hands, but it hurts my feelings when people react that way. ......

I'm sorry, I apologized to Leo, who was unsure of what to say.
It's not like last time, he's wearing a wig that makes him a little easier to blend in, so it's not safe to get separated. I scratched my head and let out a sigh. I can't help it, it's no fun holding hands with other guys.

Let's go. Matheus, you can follow me, right?

Yes, I can.

I pull Leo's hand and start walking, and Matheus responds with a salute and follows behind me.
As we walk, I talk to Mr. Mateus.

"Oh, I'm just a kid, so don't be polite.

Understood. No honorifics for me, then. You can call me whatever you want.

Got it. Okay, Matheus.

Then I'll go with .......

I can't do this to you, Leo. I'll act in case of emergency.

Isak's being sneaky.

Why do you envy him?

I think it's great that Brother Mateus can be so loyal to a child, and that Leo can be so loyal to him. You don't have to be jealous of me. I couldn't understand why Leo was upset.
As we walked down the market street, Leo followed me, observing his surroundings with interest. It's a familiar sight to me, but I guess it's new to Leo.

"Speaking of which, does Isak go to church?

"Church?　Why?

I tilted my head at Leo's abrupt question.
I only go to church on Holy Nights and at weddings and funerals of people I know. Why did he associate me, a man of little faith, with church?

The church teaches reading and writing even to the common people in order to preach the teachings of the Bible. I thought so, since Isak seems to be able to read, but ...... isn't it?

"Wow, the church does that?

Leo knows so much about things outside his own sphere of life. I've never heard of a church being used as a school. If I knew, I'd go to ...... No, I wouldn't go to church even if I knew, if the Bible is a hard subject. I'd fall asleep.

So how do you ......

Because I'm good at work.

Oh, I see. That's very generous of you.

That's all I had to say, and Leo agreed. The fact that she's teaching me directly would be a problem for her if I told her. It's my selfishness that I want to be able to read and write while working, so if it's going to be a nuisance, I'll go to church on my days off.

"Hey, there's Zakk Boy. Just in time to see you.

"Old gardener.

When I dodged a cart, the cart stopped and an old man I knew appeared.

He said, "I've just bought what you asked for.

Seriously?

As I approached the back of the cart, the gardener got out of the driver's seat and pulled out a small bag. I took it and thanked him with a smile, happy to have it.

Thank you. I'll bring you the money later.

"You're just like your father, Zakkou.



"This is what I want to do.

Since I became an apprentice, my dad has been paying me for my work, which isn't much, but it's good. Now that I'm earning money, I should be able to do what I want with my own money. In my previous life, I didn't have enough money to play, so I had to get a part-time job after high school. Well, unlike my last life, I only have money for my garden.

"Is it a seed?

Leo, still holding my hand, looks at my hand and asks.

"Probably because I'm not feeling well.

"What?

Leo tilts his head at my unanswered question. As I was looking at the seed bag in my hand, I didn't notice Leo's condition.
Suddenly, Leo looked into the wagon and saw a flower that was rare for this season.

"Hydrangea ......

"Oh, really. Oh, really? This one, old man?

Reacting to the name of the flower, I looked at Leo and saw a pot of hydrangea blooming in orange color at the end of summer. When I asked him about it, the old gardener scratched his head with a subtle expression.

"Yeah, I haven't had any luck yet.

It's great that they're blooming outside of the rainy season. ......

They want me to make them smaller and make them bloom all year round.

No, you can't make it bloom all year round.

You can't do that. You can't do that to a plant. I've heard that magical plants are sometimes inspired by magical powers, but flowers that grow normally have a limited blooming season.

That's why I'm thinking of making at least four kinds of flowers that bloom in each season, or maybe I can use the characteristics of hydrangea for other seasonal flowers.

You're the man, old man. You're so smart.

That's a good idea. I don't know which would be easier, but I'm sure you'll be able to do exactly what I want. I'm looking forward to its completion.
Leo, who was staring at the pot of hydrangea while I was talking to the old man, asked him.

"Master, are those hydrangeas for sale?

"Hmm?　No, it's just a prototype I brought to show you as a progress report.

He had just returned from showing the prototype to the Ministry of Pharmacy, which had directly ordered the planting.
Leo turned his honey-colored eyes straight to the old man.

Master, will you give me this hydrangea? I'll pay whatever you say.

The old man became suspicious of Leo's unchildlike language. The old man was suspicious of Leo's unchildlike manner, but he judged from his appearance that he was a young man of some wealthy family. It's a good thing he didn't change his clothes before, otherwise he would have been more suspicious.

I can't sell it because it's a work in progress, kid.

I want it in my office. I want it in my private quarters. I won't let anyone in the house know about it. So, please.

Leo liked the unseasonal hydrangea so much that he bowed and asked for it. That made Brother Mateus look blue and upset again.
The old man was surprised, because he didn't expect to be bowed to by a wealthy young man. But the old man, being a professional, is reluctant to sell something that is not yet ready for sale.

But you know what? ......

I'll teach you how to grow it, and you can have it.

"Isak ......

Leo's eyes widened at my offer of help. I don't know why, but I think Leo has something in mind for that hydrangea. He seems to keep his word, and I'm sure he'll take good care of it and not let it die.

As long as Zacky is with me.

"Thank you, master.

Thank you, old man.

The old man patted us lightly on the head with both hands as we squealed with delight.

He patted our heads lightly with both hands.

We nodded our heads in reply to his amused smile. Matheus took care of the pickup arrangements.

Isak is a young man, but very reliable.

While waiting for Matheus to negotiate, a happy Leo said this. It may be a compliment, but it's not something you want to hear from someone who may be your age or younger.

"You're talking too old for this ......

I'm not happy because of the way you said it. Also, please don't smile at me because it's too bright.
Leo, who seems to be slightly shocked by my word "old", starts to groan about how to talk like a young person. If you're worried about that, you might as well give up talking like a young man.
After completing the purchase procedures, we headed back to my house. When I reached the residential area of the downtown area, the number of people had decreased. Most of the people are working while the sun is up, and there are only housewives, children, and old people.
Soldiers patrol the area once a day because women and children alone are not safe, but the local government also keeps a few men around. Well, what the local government does is simply to keep track of the schedules of the town's workers and ask them to coordinate so that there are some men on holidays. For some reason, Leo was very interested in these stories. He's a strange guy who enjoys talking like this.
I open the door to a row of white stucco houses, flanked by potted silver plum trees.

"I'm home. Mom, I brought you.

Zak, welcome home.

Sorry to bother you.



Excuse me.

Welcome. I can't do anything for you, but please make yourself at home.

Mom smilingly greeted Leo and Matheus who followed me in. Leo made a puzzled expression, but greeted her properly, and Matheus bowed his head apologetically.

I can't believe you brought your noble friend here. I was expecting a young lady to bring her here.

"I wouldn't bring a lady, she's too pretty to be dangerous. And she's not my friend.

Oh.

Mom laughs at my denial. I called Leo, who wasn't sure how to react, and led him upstairs to my room. I point to the change of clothes I've prepared on the bed.

Put these on. Don't complain if it's not comfortable.

"Okay.

I'll wait outside the door and call you if I need anything.

I close the door to my room. I lean against the wall with my arms crossed behind my head and wait. I don't think I'll ever figure out how to get dressed, but just in case. But I'm glad he didn't say I couldn't change by myself.

"Hey, Isak.

What is it?

He called me through the door, so I answered him. I wonder if he's complaining about the size of my clothes, though they're not small.

Aren't you a little too friendly?

"What?

I'm not sure if it's because we only use our real names, but Isak gave us his full name. He took care of me without being my friend and even gave me a home, isn't that careless?

What the hell is this guy talking about?

You're not a bad guy if you ask me that. You're not a bad guy for asking me that. If you didn't know who I was, Matheus would have told you not to go.

If you're in a certain position, it's normal to check the identity of the person you're talking to, so it's quicker to give your full name than to use an alias. If you know the name of the nobleman and find out his position, you will be suspected of flirting with the nobleman, which would be troublesome. Also, even if I were told, I have no intention of memorizing a name that would be long.

The reason why you were standing there the other day was because you were blocking the way.

"Out of the way ......

There was a partial traffic jam because the glittering nobleman was on the market street, and people were keeping away from him. What's wrong with clearing that up? I didn't want my purchase to be ruined because of the crowd. It's not a kindness, it's just profit and loss.

"Hahaha, so you're in the way .......

Leo's voice comes through the door, smiling wryly. I'm sorry about that," he apologizes with a laugh. As I thought the other day, Leo has a strange sense of humor.

"He's really weird.

You're a very valuable person for your frank and honest opinions. I'm grateful to have met you.

Leo, who had finished dressing, came out of the door. The fact that he said something I didn't understand bothered me, but something else bothered me more, so I shut up.
As I remained silent, Leo tilted his head.

What's wrong?　Is there something wrong?

"I was just thinking about inequality.

I'm convinced of the meaning of what my sister said in a previous life.
I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but it's a good thing. I didn't understand half of what he said, but the point is that if the main character's breasts are too big, the player's sympathy rate will drop.
I hadn't paid much attention to my appearance before, but I realized how much difference it makes when you wear the same kind of clothes. This is the reason why even a white T-shirt and jeans look stylish when worn by a good-looking man. I don't think I want to be handsome, but it made me slightly depressed.

"Is Isak interested in politics too?

"No, not at all.

Leo took him at his word, so I'll just deny it completely without explaining. I mean, what kind of child is interested in politics? In Japan, they're just starting to learn social studies.
When we returned from upstairs, Matheus was waiting for us at the table with a cup of tea. Mom turns around, stirring a pot in the kitchen.

"Just in time. Zak, bring out the dishes.

"Okay. Leo, sit over there.

Leo sits down across from Matheus, and I take a deep bowl off the shelf and bring it to Mom. She would put the stew in the pot and hand it to me, and I would carry it to the table and pick up the bowl with the stew in it. At the end of the meal, Mom puts the salad in the center of the table and I put the bread on each seat.
Leo looks at the set of food in front of him and asks curiously, "Is this ?

"Is this ......?

"Lunch.

"I know that, but ......

You're the one who called me here before lunch, and if you don't eat lunch, I'm dead.

I said, "Let's get on with it," and Mom said, "Go ahead. I said a prayer and a "thank you" before I ate, and started to eat. Brother Mateus, tilting his head at my "thank you", said the prayer before eating and picked up a spoon. Leo, who had been watching us, said the prayer before eating and took a bite of the stew with trepidation.



"...... is delicious.

"I'm glad you like it.

Leo murmurs, and Mom smiles happily. I know it's good, but I'm just going to eat it mindlessly. I'll tell you when I'm done.

"Isn't Isak's mother going to eat?

"I'll eat with my husband later.

So don't worry about it, she urges. There are four chairs at the table, and my father has been called in by the local government to make his rounds with the other men, so if you eat now, you will be eating alone when he returns. If Mom eats it now, she will have to eat it alone when he comes back. It's a stew that can be reheated because she doesn't know when he will come back, and she probably planned to eat it with him from the beginning.
Reassured by Mom's words, Leo ate. At first, he ate it as if it were soup, and I pointed out to him that he should open his mouth and eat the ingredients. I don't know how it is at Leo's house, but at my house, the ingredients are big and hearty. I like it because it's filling.
After lunch, while I was helping with the dishes, Leo and his friends were waiting for me to serve them tea. Then there is a knock at the door.

"Leo, answer it.

"What, me?

I'm kind of busy right now.

I'm busy right now." "Hurry up," asked Leo, who was seated near the door. Leo went to the door and opened it, confused.

Yes?

Auntie, your mother's sharing a pie with .......

I'm sorry I'm not Isak's mother. It smells good. I'll take it for you. I'll take it for you. You're a good little girl to run errands for.

As I'm washing dishes, I hear Leo smiling at me. I hear Leo smiling at me as I wash the dishes. But why did the voice cut out in the middle?
The dishes are rinsed, and all that's left to do is wipe them down, so I leave her to it and go to the door.

Leo, you want to take some home?　"Leo, do you want to take some home?

Are you sure?

She always gives me more than I need.

I asked as I picked up the basket of pies, and Leo replied, "I'll take your word for it. When I looked at Mariya at the door, her mouth was open and she was frozen red like a boiled octopus. At first, I waved my hand in front of her.

"Hey, Marya?

After waving for a while, she noticed and focused on me. As soon as she does, she pulls me in front of her and hides behind me.

"Zak, who are you?

"Leo.

While hiding behind me, Mariya peeked her head out and looked at Leo. I answer simply because she asks.
Leo is a little surprised by Mariya's appearance, but smiles and greets her.

"So your name is Mariya. That's a lovely name. Nice to meet you.

Oh, this position is hard on my eyes from Leo's glitter. Mariya, don't use me as a shield.
Marya is looking at Leo and looking red-faced. So that's what happens when you're a girl.

"......, you're kind of a weapon in a way.

I'm just trying to be normal.

Leo, who seems to understand his own appearance, laughs at my words. It seems that good-looking people have their own difficulties. Well, if you disable them, you can't even talk to them. I was thinking of inviting the little guys to play with me after this, but I wonder if they'll be okay.
Unable to move because of the shield, I asked Leo to give the basket to my mother. After a few beats, Mariya noticed something and looked at me and Leo alternately. As we tilted our heads, Marija, who had stopped looking at me, opened her mouth in an impatient manner.

"Zak, it's not like that!

"What?

"Well, um, ......, um...

She grabbed my clothes with both hands, and her mouth was agape. She ended up hiding completely behind me and turned over.
I don't know how to respond to her, so I just pat her on the back and quiet her down.

Leo, would you rather play with the little guys or show them around downtown?

When I asked him while appeasing Marya, Leo pondered for a moment before answering.

"I'd rather play with them than just look around.

That's why. Mariya, will you play with Leo?

Marija finally looked up and nodded vertically. When I asked her to go get the other kids, she nodded her head and walked out.

What was that about, ......?

"It means I lost to Isak.

When I tilted my head at Marya's behavior, Leo laughed and said, "That's great. Why are we talking about winning or losing when we haven't even played? There's no way I can beat Leo. In fact, Leo won the game of chanbara, the game of knights, that we played afterwards. It's a shame because I really put a lot of effort into it.


Leo's movements were lean and methodical, as if he had learned swordsmanship. Marija and Paul were excited that he looked like a real knight, and Johan was peeling. When they won, Leo pretended to kiss the back of Mariya's hand, who was playing the role of a princess as a judge, and Mariya turned into a boiled octopus again.
After that, they decided to play hide-and-seek, but Leo was at a disadvantage because he didn't know the place, so he teamed up with me to hide.

I'll find you, I swear.

I'll do my best to avoid detection.

The demon Johan points at Leo and declares war on him, but Leo smiles calmly in return. I wonder if Leo realizes that his gentle response is making Johan even more agitated.
As Johan begins to count to one hundred, we spread out and look for a place to hide in pieces. Once we were out of sight of Johan, Leo and I stopped.

"Now, where should we hide?

"Well, where should we hide?" "We're the biggest and there are only two of us, so there aren't many places to hide.

The two of us look around for a good place to hide. The area is restricted to a radius of about a hundred meters from the well, so it's mostly residential. There are only white stucco houses, and although there is shade, there are few objects to hide behind. There are few objects to hide behind.

How about we follow Johan when he finds us and stay where he finds us?

You, why are you so serious (stubborn) ......?

Maybe I should praise him for being so smart, but I think he should take it easy on his younger counterpart.

If he's serious, we have to be serious too. But this hide-and-seek is interesting, because you have to adapt your strategy to the terrain.

In his own way, Leo seems to be sincere with Johan. And with a twinkle in his honey-colored eyes, he enjoys playing hide-and-seek. Well, it's better than boring.
As I looked around again, trying to find somewhere to hide until Johan finished counting, I saw Leo's expression tense up a little. When Leo's gaze stopped, he saw three soldiers on patrol. They'll be coming our way in a while.
Just to be safe, I kept my voice down and asked Leo.

"Do you know him?

"One ....... The other two might know your face, too.

Their hair color and clothes are different, so there's a chance you won't recognize them on first impression. But as long as they know each other, it's best not to be optimistic. I looked around again, but there were only shadows in the narrow gaps between the houses, and nothing that could hide Leo alone.

Leo, come here.

I motioned Leo to a shady spot in the gap between the houses, just enough room for a child to pass. He bends down, and I kneel down and put my hands on the wall. When I do this, Leo fits between my arms.

Don't make a sound until I'm past.

I say, and then I use the only dark magic I have. There are a few dark spirits in the shade, so I ask them to help me cast a shadow film over us. The shadow film doesn't eliminate your vision, it probably just diminishes your perception and removes your presence. It can be easily broken by contact or noise.
Leo seemed to sense the magic, and gave a small nod. We remained silent and looked towards the street. Soon, the sound of soldiers talking approached us.

"Captain, did you have a good meal?

I'm there to protect you. I'm on guard duty. There's no way I could eat or drink.

"Oh, really?　What a torture ...... to have a feast in front of you.

If it was a royal party, they must have had some good drinks.

You guys ...... are still on patrol. You are still on patrol. You need to be more careful.

I mean, it's so peaceful around here.

Besides, it's the day of the tough guy, right? No one would misbehave on such a day.

I wonder if he means my father. I don't think he has such a scary face just because he is tall. However, I feel that he has few facial muscles due to his reticence. But there are times when he smiles.
Leo stiffened as the soldiers passed by. I could tell that he was nervous, and he closed his mouth even tighter.
After making sure that the soldiers' voices and footsteps had completely disappeared, he released the spell. They both opened their mouths at the same time with a puff. It seemed that both of them were holding their breath as well as their voices.

"Well, it looks like he's gone.

"Sorry. Thank God.

I muttered, looking in the direction the soldiers had gone, and Leo apologized. I turned around at the sound of his voice and saw Leo's well-shaped face in close proximity to mine. Realizing that I was not in a very happy position, I quickly stood up. I'd only ever used dark magic on myself, so I thought it would be quicker to cover myself.

Isak is dark, isn't he?

No, water.

But that was .......

I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one.

You're not the only one with an aptitude. I'm sure you're not the only one.

I'll try it next time. I'll give it a try next time.



Convinced, Leo thought back to my magic and decided that he could do it. I can only cover myself with a thin layer of shadow, but I think Leo can do something more advanced, like completely blocking out the presence of others.

There's a lot to learn from being with Isak.

Leo says, somewhat happily and earnestly.

"What are you talking about? We're playing now.

"Yeah.

When I told him to stop talking about studying, he laughed especially happily.
The result of the hide-and-seek game was that Leo hid so well that Johan got angry and started crying, so I had to come out and quiet him down. Since Johan cried out to me, somehow I was the one who took it out on him and hit him, which hurt a lot. Johan's goop hurts a lot when he gets emotional.
It was almost dusk when I was playing, so I let the little ones go and walked Leo, who had changed into his original clothes, to the central square.

See you later, Isak.

He looked his age as he waved to me with a paper bag full of pies.

"Bullet points this time.

I made sure Leo and Matheus were out of sight and turned on my heel. I started to walk in the other direction of the house.

Now, let's go pay the old man for the seeds.

If I go now, I can still make it.