A short time later, on the day King Arnold announced the banishment of Laird Black by King Arnold, an audience was being held in the throne room.
　From right to left, Reinhard Rickman, Daniel King and Emily Anderson.
　And Sierra Eckerlath.

　The small White King's Knights now numbered four. King had a serious expression on his face at the scene.

''I don't think ... it was the right thing to do.

　It was Sierra who gave that opinion to the king. I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to defend yourself. I'm not going to start a war with them, I won't go out and attack them. That's what I believe. That's my way of thinking. The former commander of the Ash Clan is a staunch supporter of him. This incident will send a message to the potential warriors who support the Raid. Otherwise we could end up following the footsteps of Oliver.

"Oliver's second coming?

　And Sierra doesn't seem to understand what the king meant by those words.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. And those who excel in fire are prone to catastrophic thoughts.

So that's just plain old-fashioned, isn't it?

　Daniel expresses his opinion to the king's words in what could be considered a half-hearted, provocative manner.
　Reinhardt, who is in charge of supervision, does not blame him.
　The king does not pay attention to it either. I guess the respectful relationship has already broken down.

''Well that's right. I'm sorry for the raid, but for the sake of this country, I have chosen the means I have to take.

　Daniel's expression secretly changes at the answer. He didn't move as he stared at the floor, unable to see the expression on his face.
　Emily just listened to the conversation. She had nothing particular to say.

　This one case involved the death of Sierra's sister, Hilda, if you go back in time.
　After Hilda was killed by the Empire, the Raid had become more active in the war.
　Emily is just worried about Sierra.
　After the loss of her sister and the death of Hilda, the Raid, who was not the only one, but the only one who cared about Sierra, was exiled, and Emily is now the only one who cares about Sierra.

　'Someone has to support her' - Emily just stared at Sierra's back.

'It's a wise decision. There was no way to avoid banishing the raiders.'

　But there was one person who agreed with the king's will - Reinhardt.
　All the White King's knights gathered were surprised at his words, staring at the floor.

''Do you think so, Reinhardt?''

Yes. I have no quarrel with the king's will.

　But neither Daniel nor Sierra had anything to say about Reinhardt's words.
　The audience ended with Reinhardt's words and they left the hall.

　There was no longer any casualness in each of them. It was no longer easy to talk to each other.
　For some time, a gulf had been created between them, and the number of words they spoke to each other had been decreasing.　
　Everyone has their own ideas and thoughts. But they gradually stopped talking to each other about it.



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　Was the banning of the raids justified? .........
　I don't understand it, and I stand here in front of my sister's grave. But she doesn't answer me.

　Then I see Emily. I know she cares about me.
　But now I don't have the time to thank her for her compassion and answer her.

'I wonder what Hilda would have said...?'

　What would my sister have said in response to this raid's expulsion?

I don't know.

Did I agree with the Raid's banishment?

I don't know.

　That's all Emily asked me, and the next thing I knew, she was leaving, leaving me softly in place. I couldn't even pay attention to the signs that she had left.

　-- 'Sierra. If you get uncomfortable in this country, quit the White King first.''

　What I remember now are the words of Lade.
　When he left the country, he called me up and said the craziest thing he could think of -- 'You don't have to be like me.

　--He said, 'You don't have to be like me. This is my way of punishing myself. It's my punishment for disobeying the king, nothing more. I'm sure the King knows that. King Arnold is a compassionate man. If I had apologized, he would have forgiven me for what I did. But that's not supposed to happen. Because he is the King of kings, that must not happen. But if you ever find yourself in the same boat as me, and that title gets in the way of your job title, then leave the country without a second thought. Then leave the country and find me. I'll make sure the place is ready. I ... will surely avenge Hilda and Edward.

　What do you mean by "when your title gets in the way"?
　I have no idea what that means.

"Sierra.

　I noticed that Reinhardt was there.

'It's unusual. 'I didn't expect Reinhardt to be here.'

　As I said this, he looked at his sister's grave for once.

'I have received a document from the Dragon's Heart,'

'What? .....

　It was a sudden revelation.

What do you mean?

'As for this Imperial one, apparently they fear that the Empire is about to launch a major war. That's what they've said, that if Rathhausen is willing, they won't hesitate to lend a hand.

Need a hand? .....

'If we have the will to fight a war, that means they will join us in fighting the Empire.

'That's ... but haven't they always been an organization that has changed things from behind the scenes?　They are not fair-minded. Such are their words....

'Oh yes. So we're going to have a meeting to decide what we're going to do, and whether we're going to take him up on his offer.

Okay.

　That's all Reinhardt said and left immediately.

　What does this genius, who became a Knight of the Kingdom at a young age, was chosen as a Knight of the White King, and rose to the position of Commander, see in him?　
　I don't see anything........I don't see a future ahead of me.
　I guess he can see it.........

'Masamune.........'

　Toa ... nem ... did I make a mistake?

'Sister what is going to happen to this country?'

　I asked the tombstone, but I couldn't find an answer....

'Masamune........'

　What I remember now is the look on his face that day when we last left each other.

　Why am I remembering Masamune now........



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　The day after I briefly asked Lucius-san about his encounter with Lisa, I woke up and was walking aimlessly through this demon king's castle alone, taking a walk.

　Apparently, if I wanted to sleep, I could.
　But it's not necessarily necessary, which is the strange thing about this body that is being dyed into the abyss.

　In my head, the content of my conversation with Lucius-san from yesterday was playing on repeat.
　Lucius-san's words played over and over again to the point of boredom, and I asked him, "What do you mean? I ask.
　But he doesn't answer.
　And I ask again at the end.

　-- "Who is it? And.

　Lucius didn't speak.
　There are four more members of the Rickman family besides Lisa.
　But Mr. Lucius wouldn't tell me.
　He balked, then said, "I still need more time," and disappeared again, as usual, with the world mirror in tow.

　I was annoyed with him, as expected. What is going on with the people in this house?
　No, mainly Lucius-san.

　When we first met, Lucius-san used his Emotional Sensing so much, he read my mind and looked down on me to show me his dignity and power as a Demon King.
　But when you open the box, the reality is that he's just a cowardly king. Is it too much to say?
　I feel as if I'm looking at myself.

　Of course I'm sorry too. I was bad too, having had an admiration for the existence of the 《Demon King》 before I met him.
　The stereotype of the demon king became a preconceived notion, and even before I got to know that person, I must have beautified him somewhere.
　Even if you are a demon race, each living person has his or her own reasons.
　It's not a convenient answer to this intrusive longing of mine.

　As a result, am I a softie for reflecting like this? ... again I'm stuck in this vicious cycle again.
　I'm not sure if I want to be liked by that person from the irritated side, but I immediately blame myself for my thoughts.
　Then I blame myself again for harboring such bad feelings, and I feel guilty.
　But who is the root of all the evil that has caused this outcome? -- and asked, blaming Lucius-san for it being 《that person》.
　For a moment, I thought I understood why Electra-san called him 《that person》. It's unclear whether or not it's the right answer........

　However, from the side of thinking that, and thinking that I should question her again, including those things, I blame myself again for worrying alone and coming to the wrong conclusion.
　This is the same thing. That's why I'm tired of it.
　I'm fed up with my troublesome personality.

Mother.........won't your sister come home again today?

　Then I heard Toa's voice from one of the rooms.

'I can't help it, can I?　Rosalia told me over and over that she was busy--

Well, I'll go to him first!

Good morning.

　I slowly opened the half-open door, greeting her respectfully as I could hear Elektra's voice, too.

'Oh Masamune. Good morning.

　Electra returned the greeting with her usual smile. When Toa noticed me, her expression was dark and somber.

'Toa, good morning.'

Well ... good morning.

　Toa was in a bad mood because her sister Rosalia was busy with work and didn't come home.

　Then she tried to change the atmosphere of the place.

'Yes, Toa!　It's time to go to town!　You haven't been there for a while, have you?　Things have changed since you were a little girl, and I'm sure you're having fun, right?

No. People call me "Princess" when they don't know me!

'You're a princess in this country, aren't you?　Isn't it obvious?

'He even bows to me!　I don't know how many strangers have bowed down to that many people...

It's my duty as a princess!

Even the weirdos are coming!

　Perhaps he was referring to the Ninagawa tribe.

'And for some reason, Lisa gets in a bad mood too...'

　Is Lisa in a bad mood?　What do you mean?　It can't be, can it?
　Because Lisa would have always been respectful and set up the toa as a princess.

You don't have to worry about them. It's not just about you, you know?　There's a shortage of women in Chastain, and they'll recruit whoever's on their mind. And if you care about that, you'll never get to go to town.　Is that what you want?

It's okay.

　Electra was taken aback by Toa's response. That's where the conversation breaks off.
　Just right. I've got a few things on my mind too, so let's change the subject a bit around here.

"Um, Electra-san, there's something I'd like to ask you.

You want to hear it?　What is it?

It seems that Elektra and Lisa all call the Ninaju tribe "they", why is that?　Those people must have been women. Of course, I'm not saying that ignorantly. But I can't help but feel that the nuance of the word "they" has some meaning to it.

　Sometimes those who behave in an arrogant manner call a group of people "they", even if it is a group of women. Even if it is a group of women. There are some people who like to be called that.
　You will be able to get a good idea of what you are looking for.

'There is no gender,'

What?

　It seems that Elektra understands the meaning of my question.
　But what did she mean by "no gender"?

They don't have a gender.

　I see. The words were repeated again, and I found myself agreeing with them.

It has its origins in the snake man. It originated with the snake man. Can you recognize the snake man?

Yes, sir.

　As I recall, Xiaon was a snake man too.

''A long time ago, a white serpent swallowed up a village of snake men. I heard that most of the serpents were killed. A few of the few that survived ended up in this demon kingdom. And after years or decades of living with the demon tribe, their gender disappeared from their lives.

　It's a strange story. In other words, the Ninaju tribe was born as a result of repeated cross-breeding between the snake people and the demon race.
　But why did their gender disappear....
　And despite the fact that their gender had disappeared, they were clearly female in appearance.

''I don't know why their gender disappeared. No one knows, especially since no one is interested in them or wants to know.''

'I mean, why do they hate those people so much?　To me, they looked like they were being discriminated against.

'That's because they've done just that. The change wasn't just in their gender, it was in their personalities ... no one could ever understand them.

　Just because you had a child with a demon... why?　Why does that change happen?

　And what's the point of "that's all there is to it"?
　The more I know, the more questions I have, the more questions I have.

'Lucius has a sympathetic side to them, but I can't accept them because I'm not like that man.

　I noticed that Toa had joined me and was listening to the conversation. Is it enough about your sister?　Well, I was the one who interrupted her.

　Sometimes Electra-san calls Lucius-san "that man". I can't ask her about that, but I wonder if there is some meaning to it. ..........

If I had to describe their appearance in one word, I would say they are the most beautiful women in the world. It's a great way to get a good idea of what's going on in the world. Even women are sometimes confused by them. But they don't have a gender. And above all, they are insidious, emotional creatures...

'Insidious and emotional?　What do you mean?

As if it were in their nature to do this, they find themselves herding and trying to bring others down. How many times have we caused them problems... but when we condemn them, they don't look at the other person and start claiming their pain.

Well, you know, I mean...

　I read deeply and think about Electra-san's words, who didn't say what exactly happened.
　Come to think of it, Lisa said the same thing.
　She said that with a pessimistic sentiment that she didn't take her own hand when she reached out to me.

'You mean my narcissism is freakishly strong?　In addition, they were born with a weaker sense of pain than the multispecies, which is why they have little or no function. It is said that this is due to their ability to endure the intense pain caused by periodic molting. But that's why we are insensitive to pain and unable to understand the pain of others. Insidious, emotional rationality, painless sensation. It's as if we were born to cause trouble for others...

　They're a nuisance, Electra says in no uncertain terms. But she must have had to say so in the past.

　Speaking about them, Electra's expression was serious and her heart was filled with mixed emotions. Anger, sadness...I don't know what that means.

''It's still the same now. You would know if you said you met Masamune-san twice, but I wonder if you ever got through to them?　Perhaps they didn't listen to you? .... Lucius says that they should be able to understand each other, but he is too kind. His kindness is not sensible. I can't accept his words. I can't accept them I can't accept them.

　I didn't ask any more questions.

　Like with Lucius-san, I feel like I've come to understand what people's emotions are lately.

　I've had this feeling before. But lately I've been feeling it even more.
　This person won't respond to any more questions - sometimes I know that.

　Whether it's because I've gotten used to the "emotional sensing" or because of my laziness, I don't really know. But I do know.

　That's why I didn't ask anymore.