After returning to the Duke of Dragnaut's residence from the National Cemetery, I asked Astrid for a meeting with her on my way there.

　I was lucky to find Astrid, who was busy with her sister's worsening illness, the end of her engagement to the Dauphin, as well as her own dragon knights' business.

　And it was a rare piece of good fortune that Lord Dragnaut was there, who was probably even busier than Astrid.

　From a different perspective, that may be why Claudia's condition was so serious.



　After being ushered into the Duke's office with Lunamaria, I skipped the unnecessary greetings and cut to the chase.

　When Lord Dragnaut heard this, he asked me suspiciously.


''Do you have any idea of a priest who can handle the Sense Lai?　That's one thing, of course, but why would you do that?

"To give you confidence in what I am about to tell you, my lord.

Hmmm... are you going to say something that would be impossible to believe without the judgment of Sensei Rai?

As you wish, sir.


　I bow my head in respect to Lord Draugnoth's perceptiveness.

　The gaze of Lord Drugnoth looking at me still retains an air of suspicion. The same is true for Astrid standing next to the Duke, and also for Lunamaria, who is running behind me.

　I didn't even tell Lunamaria why I asked for the Duke.

　I did not tell him why I asked him to do this.


'I know that every minute you two are giving me is as valuable as a jewel. In addition, I would like to ask for your approval to invite a priest from the temple, even though it would be extremely arrogant of me to ask you to do so.

'No, no, no, don't be so formal. You are guests of my country and benefactors of my family. Moreover, I, personally, am very grateful for the information about the Indigo Winged Beast," he said. There's nothing wrong with listening to what I have to say...


　Lord Dragnoth glanced at Astrid.

　That Astrid nodded her head as if she agreed with her father's words and looked at me with a sincere gaze.


I'm of the same opinion as your father. In addition, I will not doubt my benefactor's words even if there is no such thing as 'sense lai'. If you have something to say, you can say it right here, okay?

'Mm, I see. Well, then, to be frank, I have a means of helping you, Lady Claudia, and I would like to ask your permission to use it. I have come to ask your permission to use it.


　I'll take your word for it and say what I want to say.

　Hearing that, father and daughter Dragnaut made a pouting face together. But since this is a matter of fact, they may have come to their senses immediately, and the father and daughter furrowed their eyebrows as if they hadn't thought about it.

　Probably, they must have heard this sort of thing many times before. And as many times as they've hoped and trusted, they've been betrayed.

　A heavy voice escaped from Lord Dragnoth's mouth.


''........Is it true?''

At the very least, I am proud to say that it is a better way to hide your pain than using the sleeping pills (Thanasia). The next question you will ask me is how to cure her, so I will answer that ahead of time: to raise her level. Of course, I won't take you out of the house, but I will take you right here in the mansion.

...it's

'You must find it hard to believe. In fact, until the other day, I never dreamed that I would be capable of such an imitation. But--


　Then he asks for Lunamaria in the back.


Lunamaria, who is behind you, is a witness. She was raised to a higher level by me yesterday. The slave's affirmation of his master's words is not proof of anything, however. Therefore, I have asked for a sense lai.




　As I finished, a book of silence fell over the room.

　The length of the silence that followed from this point on was proportional to the amount of shock - or the depth of suspicion - that the dragnaught father and daughter received.

　Somewhat later, an awkward question was released from Astrid's mouth.


'I've never heard of anything, whether magic or tools, that has the effect of raising the level of others. How in the world do you raise the level?

I'll give you my soul, if you will. Actually, I don't know the detailed logic myself. However, the simple fact is that I was able to raise the level of Lunamaria. If that is the case, then raising Claudia-sama's level should be possible. I believe that if her level is raised, her resistance to the curse will also increase.

'....That's the way to help my sister, is it? What if I told you that you couldn't leave your sister in charge on such a vague basis?

'I understand that you may reasonably think that you cannot entrust your precious family to someone you just met yesterday. I will return to Ishqa at that time. I had no intention of staying in King's Landing for long in the first place.


　He hung his head in response.

　Because he lowered his head, he didn't recognize Astrid's expression at this moment.

　And now the father, on behalf of his daughter, opens his mouth.　


'Give me your face, Lord Sora.

"Ha.

Remarkable - utterly remarkable. To be honest, I can't believe everything I hear. But I have seen a lot of people in my life. I've seen a lot of people in my time, and I know that much. There's no way an indigo wyvern would go along with such a person.


　Lord Dragnoth chuckles after he says the last line.

　As was the case when he asked me for advice about Klau Solas, it seems that this Duke, His Excellency, has a casual tone and attitude when it comes to the Indigo Winged Beast (Wyvern).

　Or perhaps he sensed that we had taken a step forward and he took a step forward as well.

　The next words of the duke were an affirmation of my speculation.


''Therefore, let me first thank you for revealing the secret for my daughter. You will never be able to live a peaceful life again if the world knows you have the ability to raise the level of others. I'm sure you are aware of that danger, but you acted on behalf of Claudia, who is not a friend of mine. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness.

I'm sorry, sir.

I just don't understand why you are willing to go to such lengths. As Sir Thomas said earlier, we are the ones who met only yesterday. How can you do this for us?


　If it was just a simple adventurer, then it is understandable that this was done to curry favor with the duke.

　But I don't think that the man who tamed the indigo-winged beast, defeated two kings, and was honored at the palace for saving Ishqa is going to reveal his secrets to the dukes at this point in time.

　I didn't have to think about it, but I answered frankly.


I don't need to think about it, but I answered frankly: "The Duke is very grateful for your kindness in the matter of the sparrow. I don't mean to be presumptuous, but I'm very impressed by the character of His Excellency, Lady Astrid and Lady Claudia. Above all, it is human nature to want to help a girl younger than you when you see her crying and crying under the curse, if you know you have the means to break the curse.


　Like Sparrow, Claudia is twelve or three. The same is true of Sparrow, but Claudia is twelve or three years old, the age at which I was driven off the island.

　A child of such an age is suffering and panting for an innocent reason.

　There is no need to give a reason for helping her - for wanting to help her.

　Still, I'll give you a good reason.



I'll give you a reason.



　One day, in a place that can't be called a dream or a reality, I felt strong, strong.

　I couldn't fight, I couldn't protect, all I could do was eat.

　And I can't eat a curse or two?

　Can't you eat the unreasonableness of making a girl (Claudia) cry like that?



　--Yes, I'm afraid so.



　So I'm going to help you. Use me as a slave or whatever if you need it.

　It's a good thing that you're able to use a slave for this kind of situation - although it's too surprising that the person in question didn't mind, but was happy to be of use to me.

　Anyway, my intention to help Claudia was firm.

　I didn't mention it earlier because it would have been too complicated, but if Astrid and the others rejected my proposal, I would sneak into Claudia's room in the middle of the night and ask her for her approval or disapproval.



　You may think that there is no need to ask the dukes from the start, but to tell the truth, I had a reason to want to strengthen my ties with the Dragnaut family - more specifically, with the Canary Kingdom.

　For that reason, I want to proceed with the matter as amicably as possible. That's why I'm standing in front of the dukes like this.



　Duke Drugnoth and Astrid are listening to my words, watching my attitude, and pondering what is going on.

　Eventually, the duke's mouth slowly opened.