If you're going to do something, can't you just tell me what it is?

Back in Radshausen, we were walking down the great corridor of the royal castle with Sierra.
I asked for an audience with Mr. Arnold, and apparently, the king easily granted me an audience with him.
As expected of Patrick's father.
No I can say that he is even more generous than Patrick.

"And then?　Can't you explain to me what this is all about?

No big deal. I've had a little chat with the Imperial Emperor. That's all.

Nah!

When I said that, Toa and Sierra looked at each other in surprise at the same time.
I can also see a half-stunned look on their faces.

''The emperor and........talk.......?''

Yeah, he was a bit of a depressing guy for being an emperor, but...

--I'm painfully aware of that.

Quintessential emperor....
That's about as far as I could go with my strength.
It's easy to unilaterally suppress them with force.
But that would leave the beast race oppressed.
According to Francesca's information, the Empire has the beast nation of Neitzschert-Katalia under its control.
It is said that they have abducted the most powerful ones first, and are building an army with those they have taken away.
But that's not enough of a reason for the Beast Nation to be ruled.
I feel like there's some major part missing.
That's why it can't be destroyed easily.
I wanted to make sure of that too, but by the looks of it, I don't think I'm going to teach it.
Besides, I can kind of guess about that.
But we'll find out for sure after we visit the Beast Country.

I obtained this information from Francesca in exchange for the information that I am one of the 21 brave men.
And on the condition that we don't disclose the source of the information to each other and that it remains a personal hobby until the end of time.

''What... what in the world does that mean?''

'You don't suspect?　I told you I spoke to the emperor, remember?

'Yeah, well it doesn't look like you're lying to me.

Sierra doesn't seem to suspect me.


'I see.......that's what I meant.

Even Toa is convinced, rather than doubting.
Well, even in this world, there is a telephone.
It's not unusual for me to talk to someone far away from home.

I've already told you how the magic works.
I've already told you how the magic works, just in case you're wondering.
In other words, the 'Hounds Possession' is a magic that invades the opponent's body.
And it controls the opponent's spirit and consciousness.
But why was I able to transfer to the Purple Witch in a faraway place?

-- it's a 'black ring'.

The gold ring I gave to Toa, Nem Nem and Sufilia is specialness.
I also made a large number of black rings that can be telepathic. Just in case.
My ring is integrated with my mask.
Through this mask, I can know the exact location of the owner of this ring and telepathic communication.
In other words, I knew from the ring that was embedded in the witch that the witch had arrived at a place that looked like the Empire, and I used the ring as a catalyst to perform the Hounds Possession.

''Oh, I'll tell you the details during your audience if I get a chance.

Then we came to the throne room.




　When Arnold found me, he greeted me with a smile.
But his expression showed a bit of a wince.
Is the matter of the war weighing on him in many ways?

It's been a while, Nito.

It's been a while.

How's school?　Are you having fun?

'Yes, it's easy to get a little swept up in Patrick, but in its own way...'

Then Mr. Arnold gave a scowl, then laughed happily.

When I first met him, Patrick was just like me in the past.
Lack of confidence, and negative.
But the one difference was that he was always looking for power.
It wasn't until I arrived in this world that I began to seek power.

By the way, what can I do for you today?

It's about Sierra. This guy has given up his journey with us and intends to stay in the country. What does that mean to you, as a king?　And you think that's okay with you?

Then Mr. Arnold looked troubled and was reluctant to answer.
From there it was as if he hadn't gotten an answer yet ... and he wanted one.

'Sierra, what are you going to do about it, Lord?　It was Hilda's wish that I should accompany the Lord on his journey to Nitho. And since the country was attacked, Hilda has become more committed to it and has pleaded with me to allow the Lord to travel with her. In other words, Hilda was prepared from the beginning.

'Does that mean ... that you were prepared to die?

I can feel the sadness and anger from within Sierra.

'I wasn't prepared to die. But of course, the attack was predictable. But I hadn't thought about it. I had no idea that there would be a second attack so soon. But that is not what you should be concerned about. What you should be thinking about is that Hilda wanted to wish you well and let you leave. Think about that ... think about your wish again. I'll leave the rest to you. I will say no more.

Then Sierra bowed.

The king said nothing more.
And I felt no confusion or distress from Sierra.
What more is there to say....

'I understand. Now let me ask you about the war, Mr. Arnold, do you intend to go to war with the Empire?

"...I am against war. But most of the knights and soldiers in this country, with Reinhardt at the head of the list, want war with the Empire. And so does Sierra there.

'I see ... what is the purpose of the Empire?'

For now, let's just ask what we want to know and leave.

I don't know...that's why we shouldn't get involved in anything else. If you don't know anything about it, war is exactly what they want.

In other words, the current situation is that everyone other than the king is for the war........
Judging from the way the emperor talks, is his aim the 'Dragon's Heart'?
But I don't know.
We don't have enough information to draw any conclusions.
"I don't think they're planning a war of this magnitude in order to kill the living dead.
And I can't prove that the war is directly related to that goal.
That would suggest that the Empire has a different goal in mind.
So what do they want?
It's none of my business, but I can at least give you some advice...

'Nito, you said that you spoke with the Emperor of the Empire earlier, what did the Empire say?'

What...　The Empire!　Is that true?!

At that moment, Mr. Arnold couldn't believe his ears at Sierra's words.

''Yes, we had a light chat, though. I spoke with the emperor about another matter. While doing so, I also tried to probe a little bit, but.......I couldn't figure out what he was after.

Well that's a shame.

Easy information will only confuse you even more.
In order to draw conclusions, we need to be sure of a few things first.
I need to go to the Beast Country, and then I need to talk to the founder, that Black Dragon, directly.
Besides, I was also planning to go to the Beast Country to ask them about Oliver Joe.
I would kill two birds with one stone.

By the way, about Oliver, should I talk to Mr. Arnold just in case?
But what can I say?
"I lost my body, but I'm still alive," you want me to say?
That doesn't make any sense.
Let's keep this under wraps until we bring him back to life.

That's all I've got to say. Well, I'm going to continue my journey.

I bowed lightly.

'Mm, okay. Take care of Patrick.

'No, he's fine without me now. He was unreliable at first, but now....

With the power and confidence in his hands, Patrick no longer needs support.
I have what I have to do.

Mr. Arnold smiled thinly at his answer, and replied only quietly, "Well....


And I leave the throne hall.




â




　'Sierra I probably won't be seeing you again for a while. I'm a student now, but once I'm on the road, I won't be here for a while.

I told Sierra as we stood in front of the big door.

'Sierra?

Then Nem asks, sadly.

'Nem?　I have something I have to do. Take care of Masamune ... and take care of Nito, will you?

Yes it is.

Nemu's tail was sadly hanging downward in a paragraph.

''Princess Sufilia, you'll take care of Nito, won't you?''

Rest assured. I will protect you in the end, even if I have to pay for your life.

It was an unfamiliar argument, but Sufilia replied with her usual fake smile.
Come to think of it, Sierra realized that Sufilia was a princess from the moment she saw her at first glance.
What about the rest of them?

Are you okay?　Nito--

Hmm?

Sierra said as I was thinking about it.

''As for Princess Sufilia, in my case, I knew about her because I had seen her when I visited Artemias before, but basically, Princess Sufilia was famous for not showing herself, and if it wasn't Francesca-dono of the Demonic Communication, she shouldn't be so well known. I don't think there's any particular danger of her identity being revealed through her face.

'I see.... Okay.

He didn't know how well known a princess was in the first place, so he used the fact that Sierra knew her as the only factor in his decision, but he didn't have to worry about it.

'Toa, nito, please.

Now I'm thinking, how untrustworthy was I?
What is Sierra asking for?
Then Sierra looked at me for the last time.

'Nito, I can't say that I can now, but my thoughts are the same as before.

Hmm?

You have the power. That's why you must think about your actions more than others...

Sierra looked me straight in the eye and said that.

This has been said before.
And I said then, "Sierra?

Sierra?　I don't regret it. In the end, it was necessary for me to do that, and I know that now more than I did then. But if there's one thing I regret, it's the way I killed...

I have no regrets.

Sierra won't understand a word I say.
But she's not going to ask anymore in depth.

''You're not going to tell me about that left eye, are you?

'It's no big deal, what ... this is the mark of my honesty. That's all you need to know to think I'm not lying.

...I see.

Yeah. So long Sierra....

I turned my back to Sierra.

I didn't say anything else, just went on my way.
Nemu, Sufilia and Toa, in that order.

-- regret is the conclusion, it produces nothing.

I tried to create something to get away from it, but in the end, regret continues to remain as regret.
Regrets create more regrets, and they only circulate for the worse.

Hilda-san.........I'm sorry.

Should I force you to take me there?

War is the grave.
It's nothing to me but a gathering place. A vast playground, if you will.
But for Sierra, it's a war zone.
Does he have to be prepared to die?
Once a war starts, no amount of lives will suffice.
Isn't that the way it's supposed to be?
Am I making the wrong choice?

Sierra?　Why don't I keep the ring on me, just in case?　It's a telepathic ring, but...

I ask, turning around.
But I laugh bitterly, and Sierra answers immediately.

"No........never mind.......Lord Nito. This.........is my decision.

I'm not sure...

The first person to treat me in a normal way after I left the dungeon was Sierra.
If possible, I wanted to meet her before Zeke and the others and pretend that she was the first person I met.
It was also Sierra who let the two of us, who had no money, stay at home.
And it was Sierra who showed us to the guild and taught us about Joistain.

----.

'Well....'

I wore a mask so that I couldn't see my face.

We all wanted to travel together, including Sierra.
I wish Sierra and I could have lived the student life together...

And then we all grew up with all the things we were exposed to and then........

It's that simple I can't do it.

What's the power?

I'm so helpless.

Master....

Nem grabbed my hem.
Then he looks up at me with a tearful face.

'It's okay ... never mind.'

But ... there's nothing I can say to Sierra now.

'Sierra I'm on your side.

That's all I have to say and start walking again.

All because of the Empire....

If it weren't for that country none of this would have happened.
All would have been fine.

Everything would have been....


----I...


If it's killing people, I know how to do it.
And what I don't know is....

--only in the way of revenge.



　--Nito chewed on the un-wipeable regret that weighed on his heart and silently swore.

No one, not even Nito himself, knew that a crack had appeared in the wall of the royal castle at that moment.

And no one knew what this represented.