We arrived at the main gate.

　Currier, Cecily and Mia were standing by the carriage.
　The three of them were chatting together.

'Hmm, you're here, Kurohiko.
Mr. Kurohiko.

　Currier-san and Mia-san, who have noticed me, come up to me.

'Sorry for the wait. It's almost time to leave, right?
Um....

　Currier is concerned about the girls' quarters.

'What's the matter?'
It should be here by now...
?
Hm, here we are.

　I follow Currier's gaze.

'Ah.'

　It was Ira and senior Ray who emerged from the curve on the other side of the trees.

''Make sure you say a proper hello to those guys, too.

　With that, Currier went back to Mia and the carriage again.

　Ira-san comes running up to her.

'Sorry Kurohiko!　I told Currier about coming to see you off, but I'm a little late...

　That senior, who is usually in the set with Ira, is also approaching lazily.

''I just wanted to see you off, but it took me a while to get dressed up, didn't it?　Hey, Ira?
Come on, Ray!　Isn't that enough?　Well, I mean, I'm sorry I was late, but...

　Senior Ray urges me to do something.

'Look, Kurohiko,'
?

　He points to himself.

"I did, what?
You know what I'm talking about?　Come on, give Isla a hug!　Guh~!
What are you talking about?　And I'm good at it, but Ira-san--
Yes!
What?

　Ray-senpai hugged me unexpectedly.
　But I hijacked and avoided him.

''Oye!''

　Senior Ray striking out.

''..........''

　I did it.

　Ray-senpai's flirting with physical contact has been bothering me for a long time.

　But I think I finally got over it.
　Timing.
　Timing.
　Timing. Speed.
　Completely, I've got it.

"I'm growing up, too, Rei-senpai.

　He smiles wryly.

'It's not going to happen the way you want it to anymore.
'Hmm?　Well, I don't mind, but-- hey, Kurohiko?　Sorry to be so cool, but I'm just wondering if there's something in your elbow.
Yes?

　I turn around.

'Oh--Ku, Kurohiko....
Oh.

　I didn't realize it, but I heard that Ira was in the direction I was evading.
　So.

..........

　My elbow was lodged in her right breast.

'Uh--whoa!　S-Sorry!

　He moved away from Ira at super speed.
　I was caught off guard.
　Thinking back, there was indeed a strange feeling right after evading........

''Fufu, I've done it, haven't I?　Master Conjurer?

　Senior Lei makes a bad face.

''Kudos........''

　I was set up.
　It was an awfully easy to read phone hug, but....
　Was that the aim from the beginning?
　Rei-senpai snaps her fingers regretfully.

''If my legs were tangled up and I could have just pushed him down, I would have been perfectly on target.......!
...Senior Ray?
'Wow!　Well, wait a minute, Kurohiko!　Hahaha........was it a little too much?　Wow!　I get it!　Okay!　Now, get the hell out of here and travel to Ruvel Argan--oh!

　The one behind senior Ray, who made the turn, was behind

What do you mean, that was the target, Ray?

　Ira Horne smiles and gives off a black aura.
　Ah, is that........Cecily-san's smiling intimidation?
　You've mastered it.
　Moreover, the red hair looks like it's on fire and seems to be shaking lily-white.......

''A--Aila!　When did you get around to it?　I mean, Ira is already much stronger than me now!　Crap!　Holy War Festival duo, it's finally getting tricky to make enemies.......!

"Senior Ray?

"Ray?

　I'll pinch him from the front and back.

'Whoa!　I'm sorry!　I'm sorry!　I told you it was too much!

　Senior Lei reflected on it, so I decided to forgive him for now.

''Mmmm.''

　Rei-senpai with a difficult face and a hand to his chin.

''I mean........Kurohiko was just a perk, right?
Ray Sitonos?
'Ugh!　I'm....sorry...

　Senior Lei showed remorse again.
　She looked down and said with a sluggish face.

''Until you come back from Ruvel Argan, I'll weigh in on these pranks.......''
Well, I hope I understand, but...

　Hmm?

'No, that doesn't mean anything to me!

　Candidates for the next president of the public morals, I wonder if this is okay........

''Huh?　Speaking of which--

　Ira-san, who has released his intimidation mode, nods his head.

''Kurohiko, have you ever been to any country other than the East and Renowthread?
No, this is the first time I've been to another country on this continent.
'Oh, really?　Actually, I've never been to the other two countries either!

　Senior Ray held up his index finger.

''I'm sure you've already heard about it, but unlike this country, Rouvel Argan has a lot of internal conflicts going on in different parts of the country, so be careful, okay?
''Wasn't the Military God King basically non-intervention in domestic civil strife?
For better or worse, that country has too much power in and around the royal capital of Cheverpos and its surroundings. It's a good thing that the other territories are allowed to do what they want. Thanks to the internal conflict, it seems that skilled mercenaries are growing up.
But it's kind of a bleak country...
I hear there's a gang of rogues made up of ex-mercs and ex-soldiers.

　Ray-senpai smiles bitterly.

''But, well, if it's Kurohiko now, you don't have to worry about it, do you?　I mean, if they know who Kurohiko is, they might run away on the other side, right?

　Ira laughs.

'Haha, well, I guess so.

　And Ira grabbed my hand in both of his, "I'm sorry," he said.

'But be careful, okay?'
Yes. Thank you, Ira.

　After saying goodbye to the two of them, I turned my steps toward the carriage.
　Currier-san let go of his back from the carriage.

''Have you finished saying goodbye to those two?
Yeah, I just finished.

　I chuckle.

'As usual, I felt like senior Ray was scratching my head, though.
'I've heard rumors that you're the next candidate for the public morals office but is that guy going to be okay?
That playfulness notwithstanding, I'm sure he's excellent.

　He's a person who knows what to say, and he's a person who knows what to say.

''Hm........but I'm going to miss seeing Ray and Ira for a while. Those two have been a big help to me in my life at the girls' dormitory.

　I see.
　Those two are in the girls' hostel group, aren't they?

I'll miss you too.

　Miss Cecily said.
　Miss Currier put a hand on her head.

'It's strange I didn't feel this way when I was leaving the Sixth Estate guys.

　We are going to Ruvelargan.
　The man who created the Sixth House is there.

Does that mean ... that our presence in the Currier has grown that much?

　Currier sniffs.

'Maybe,'
Hmm, then maybe the feeling of being lonely isn't all that bad.

　Cecily smiles with a smile.

'Because it means we've become important to each other, right?
..........

　I guess I won't be able to see that smile for a while, either.
　Cecily-san intertwined herself with my arm.

"What's Kurohiko doing in solitude?
Cecily...

　He snuggles up to me.

I don't want you to forget about me, okay?
What did you say... how could I forget such a beautiful woman?

　Cecily looks up.

'Mmm?　Would you forget that if you weren't beautiful?
''Well... if we talk about the strength of the impression, it's more of an inner dreadfulness that can't be imagined from the purity of the appearance--''
Pei!
Huh?
Did you say...?　Lord Kurohiko?
"I'm sorry Miss Cecily...

　My embarrassment caused me to blurt out a gaffe.

'Oh no!　It's going to end up like this again!

　Pouting Cecily.

'I was just going to give you a good send-off!

　Poppycock.

　Cecily-san gave a weak punch in a circle.

''That's why I'm sorry...!

　She said 《like this》 earlier.
　I felt a kind of comfort in this relationship.
　Somehow at this time, I felt a surge of loneliness.



　Then I chuckled.
　Then Cecily's movements stopped in a flash.
　She pulled her mouth into a knot and groaned.
　It was like she had suddenly lost her emotional outlet.

"I'm so weak when you look at me like that....

　Cecily spun around and turned away.

'Even if we don't see each other a lot of the time, like during the hot season holidays, being in a place where we can see each other at all times... it's a big difference, isn't it?

　His voice had dropped.

'Kurohiko.'

　But she quickly regained her cheerful tone.


'Have a good day,'


　Cecily said over her back.

　A warm sound.

　It sounded like a warm hand gently pushing me back.

　We seem to miss each other.


'Yes,'


　Surely that might be evidence of an ideal relationship.


'I'm off, Miss Cecily,'