*

　At night - as Johnny was walking through the camp of the Imperial Army, a gurgling sound was heard.
　It's the sound of a stomach bug buzzing.
　It's time for tide, he said, moving his gaze only to check his surroundings.
　Hunger is unbearable, and I'm sick of digging holes.
　If he continues to work as a soldier in the Imperial Army, he's going to be sick to his heart.
　Of course, that's not the only reason.
　It reminds me of the conversation between Roy and Peter.
　No, it was probably the air that Peter had exuded.
　He seemed relaxed and alert.
　It was an air that reminded me of Claude.
　It felt like he was ready to go.
　The world is not sweet enough to be strong enough for that alone.
　I know this because I overcame the life-threatening training.
　But just one determination is enough to send a human being into hell.
　And then there's the optimism.
　Anyway, don't underestimate it.
　I have a feeling that Peter isn't the only one who's changing.
　It's a bad trend.
　If the soldiers are careful, they can easily see through Johnny's act.
　That's why they decided to retreat.

"....Mr. John, you're not here.

　I blurted out as I looked around.
　I was going to ask you to share a portable meal at the end, but it wasn't just today.
　You usually call out to me yourself - but you're not the only one.
　Come to think of it, I wonder what position John is in.
　I've never seen him working.
　Oh, and he opens his eyes lightly.
　John walked into the tent, stretching himself absent-mindedly.
　Is it safe to barge in on him when he's about to go to bed?
　Shouldn't I just disappear without a word?
　Gulp~, the stomach bug rumbled again.
　If he returned to the southern frontier army's base, he should be able to eat a full meal.
　No, he gave a small shake of his head.
　Master won't let me eat.
　He must be asking me to endure until morning as if I were an insect.
　After all, you should get a portable meal.
　If he collapsed on the way, he wouldn't be able to see it.
　Johnny approached the tent that John had entered, keeping an eye on his surroundings.
　When he entered the tent, he found John holding a dagger to a soldier sleeping on a bed.
　It was a long, thin, assassination dagger.
　John glances at Johnny for a moment.
　He pulls the dagger out and wipes the blood off with the covers.
　Then he stood up slowly.

'What are you doing here?'

　I ask the question without thinking.
　I think I'm asking myself a stupid question.
　John killed a man.
　Assassinated.
　That's all.
　So why am I asking such a stupid question?
　Maybe it's because he was acting so normal.
　If he hadn't seen the moment he held the dagger out, he wouldn't have thought he had killed someone.
　In other words, he's a superior dagger user.

"Wait, there's been a misunderstanding.
Isn't that a misunderstanding?
'Yeah, it's a bit of a misunderstanding. A little talk would have fooled me.

　John opens his arms in a grandiose manner and approaches loosely.
　I get the ridiculous feeling that it really is a misunderstanding.
　It can't be.
　Even if he's not friendly or even killing, John keeps his grip on his dagger.
　You can't trust someone who approaches you with a dagger clenched in their hand.

'Ah, this dagger. I'm sorry for scaring you.

　John tried to sheathe his dagger and staggered limply.
　The next moment, the pause was zero.
　A sudden acceleration from a state of weakness.
　John thrust out.
　The target is the gap in the ribs - the heart.
　But the dagger cut the sky.
　Why.
　It's obvious.
　Because he dodged it.
　He jumped backwards and ducked.
　John didn't change his expression even though he was able to avoid the first blow.
　He switched bodies and unleashed an elbow strike as if to say it was factored in.
　The target is again the heart.
　A hard blow to the chest can cause a person to pass out.
　Perhaps that's what he's aiming for.
　Johnny twisted his body and leapt backwards as he fell down.
　If he was inside the tent, he would have run into the cloth.
　But this was outside.
　No constraints.
　John kicked the earth.
　Terrible acceleration, but he has a counter-measure in hand.
　He throws a stone at it.
　A stone that has fallen under his feet.
　John crosses his arms and catches the stone.
　It slows down slightly, just slightly.
　Taking advantage of the opportunity, Johnny turned his back and ran away.
　His opponent was a higher-ranked dagger user.
　It was fortunate that he was able to survive three attacks.
　There was no way to win in a head-on fight.
　Johnny desperately moved his legs and headed outside - to the nearby forest.
　The escape route was confirmed.
　The Imperial Army's camp is full of blind spots.
　If they moved through the blind spots, they could escape into the forest without being seen by anyone.
　Johnny escaped the camp and jumped into the forest without being seen.
　He ran through the forest and suddenly felt a shock to his shoulder.
　He falls to the ground unbearably.
　I touch my shoulder.
　The dagger doesn't pierce me or break my bones.
　It seems that he was hit by a stone or something.

''Hey, hey, why are you running away?''

　John's voice echoed.
　Johnny rolled onto his back and raised himself up.
　He continues to inch back.

'He slashed at me out of nowhere, so I got away.
I'm sorry about that.
And he threw a rock at me.
'I'm sorry about that too. There's a misunderstanding.
What kind of misunderstanding?

　He retreated with his limbs and something - a cord touched his fingertips.

'Well, it's not a misunderstanding,'

　John said as he let out a sigh and sped up at once.
　Johnny pulled hard on the cord and turned himself around.
　Half a second later, an arrow was released.
　It was a trap the Imperial Army had set in the woods.
　The arrow flew in a straight line and pierced John.
　It was supposed to.
　But the arrow slowed down in front of John.
　Impossible, his eyes widened.
　But I know of a phenomenon very similar to this.
　I saw it in the Imperial City.
　Crono's subordinate - Snow used it.
　I don't know what it is, but it's a technique like the Marking Technique.
　Jon knocked off an arrow with a dagger.
　Dead.
　If he could avoid that one, he was out of options.
　John stepped out unceremoniously and jumped back.
　The great sword passed through the space where John had been until half a second ago.

'Lord Johnny, are you all right, that you are?' (GAGU?)
It's new. Yeah, but...

　John couldn't get the last word out.
　An arrow lodged under his foot.
　He turned around and saw an elven archer in a tree.
　It was either Aridid or Deneb, I guessed.

''I surrender, that I do.'' (Guru.......)
Okay.

　Tyga snarled, and John let go of the dagger.

'Listen to me before you kill me,'
What are we going to do? (Guru?)

　Tyga said as he looked at John.
　I feel like it would be better to just kill him as it is, but--''

''Just in case, I'll just listen to what you have to say.
Actually, I was infiltrated by the Imperial Guard on Lady Myra's orders.

　Hmmm, Johnny groaned.
　It's likely that there are collaborators and agents inside the Imperial City, so it's likely.

'What did the Master say?'
I need your support...
No!

　Johnny exclaimed.
　''A master would never say such a thing.
　People like that don't treat bandits as a resource or throw their disciples into the Areos Mountains.

''Oh come on, what do you think you're doing with Master Myra?　You're an apprentice, right?
What do you think you're doing with Master?
'Oh, all right, all right. I'll tell you the truth. I'm working under orders from Master Crono.
Really?
The cell phone food--
"Stickleback bread, that is.
Yes, the stick figure is the proof.
"Excuse me, that it is. That is called hard bread, that it is.
Why are you lying to me?

　John blurted out at Tyga's words.

'Why are you lying to me, too?
All right. I'll tell you the truth.
That's enough.
I'm working under orders from Master Neige.
Neige?

　Johnny tilted his head.
　I've heard that name somewhere--''

''You threw a dagger at Master Neige in the imperial capital, didn't you?''
Oh, you mean that guy. It would be worse to break into the mansion without saying a word.
Anyway, I'm Master Neige's man.
Okay.
Do you believe me?
I try not to think about things I'm not sure about.

　Johnny said proudly.

'Use your head a little bit,'
Question. Why did you kill a soldier?
I think they're starting to get ready for it. I thought I'd scratch them up.
One more question. Why did you try to kill me?
He's seen the scene, I don't want to have to explain it to him, so I'm just gonna lay the blame on him.
"You're such an a**h*le!

　Johnny shouted.

'I've taken care of you, so you should at least be useful in your last days.
I can't even explain it, or what do you think people's lives are worth?
You've killed people, too.
I don't have my head screwed on, all right?

　Johnny scowled.
　'Even if you have to kill people, you'll have to use common sense.

'So what are you going to do with me?'
You can go back to camp.
"....Mister Johnny.
I'm going back to the base. I don't care.
Thank you. Well, I'll leave you to it.

　With a shuffling sound, John's figure disappears.
　Politely, even the dagger is gone.
　In its place was a letter.
　A folded piece of paper.
　Johnny walked over quietly and took a magnet from the pouch and held it out.
　It didn't seem to be planted with a needle or a thin blade.
　But that doesn't mean we can't be careful.
　The Roux make a blade substitute out of stone.
　They tuck the magnet into the pouch and agitate it with their hands.
　They don't seem to have planted any poison in it.
　Of course, it's possible that it's a tasteless, odorless poison - but I'm not sure.
　I pick up the letter and stand up.

'We're both saved.
There is no need to thank me, that I can't. Well then, I guess we are done for now.
I'll see you when you're alive.

　Johnny bowed to them and walked away.
　I feel like my mentor is going to be mad at me - but, well, we'll figure it out.



So that's why you're back.
That's right.

　Master said with a sigh, and Johnny's shoulders slumped.
　He thought he could handle it, but it was no good.
　He looks at Miss - Princess Tilia for help.
　Princess Tilia is sitting leaning back in her chair.
　She doesn't seem to be in a good mood.
　It can't be helped.
　She has disturbed her restful sleep by coming back late at night.

'Myra, that's enough of the sermon.
Yes, sir.

　Princess Tilia said in a billion words, and Myra easily pulled back.

''Oh, oh, you're punishing me?''
I wouldn't do that.

　Princess Tilia sounded miffed, and Johnny patted his chest.
　He was in an even worse mood, but he avoided a spanking.

'If you've decided you can't go any further, then I don't blame you. It's better than being tortured and spitting out information. By the way, what did the letter say?
I haven't read it yet.

　Johnny took the letter from his pouch and offered it to Princess Tilia.
　Then his master kidnapped him from the side.

'How dare you give your Mistress something that has not been checked for safety!
I'm sorry, Momo.
From now on, you be careful.

　Master said with a sigh and opened the letter.
　After a while, he let out a deep sigh.

'What did it say?'
Nonsense.
That doesn't make sense.
He wrote vaguely about a period of civil war.
Why would you do that?
I suppose it's to prove a point about a man named John.

　Tsk, the master frowned and clicked his tongue.
　An unusual appearance.
　He probably thought that he had exposed an appearance that was not typical for a maid.
　Master hung his head deeply towards Princess Tilia.

''My apologies. ''I have been outrageously rude in front of your wife.''
I don't mind.

　Princess Tilia nodded hawkishly.

'Was there anything else written?'
I said I'd back you up somewhat and ask for your help.
What do you want me to do with that?

　Princess Tyria poked her cheekbones at the armrest for support.

'What am I supposed to do?'
Get some food and get some rest today.
Yes, sir!

　Johnny straightened his back and saluted.
　The Master let out a sigh and shoved the letter at Johnny.

'Please bury the letter in the hole before you take your meal.
Is it poison?
'I don't think you need to worry about that, but just in case. Don't read what's inside.
Okay.

　Johnny turned on his heel and headed outside.
　He went outside--.

'When you ask me not to read--'
You think I'll want to see it?

　When I looked next to him, I saw my master peeking out the door.

''Yo, there's no way I'm reading this.
'I see. That's a relief.

　The master closed the door and Johnny let out a breath of relief.
　Curiosity kills the cat.
　That's what I mean.
　Johnny buried the letter as he had been told and enjoyed a decent meal.