I'm sorry to have gotten you involved in such an incident.

　The next day, as we were relaxing in the living room, Sierra bowed deeply to us.
　The Toa and the others didn't feel any differently about Ichijo's presence there.
　How long does this guy plan to stay there?

It's a lot better than other countries. In the case of Enuma San, we thought that one beastman was killed and more than a dozen corpses were found lying around, and when we tried to figure out who did it, the entire population of the area covered it up. It's still peaceful here.
Is that possible? Ichijo is surprised.

　Apparently, Ichijo has been to that country a few times too.

''Yeah.''
I've never heard that story before.
Somebody must have cleaned up the mess.

　Of course, it was patched up in Jishi's blood. "The inhabitants of the area are no longer present. I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not a good person.

''But that's still a disgusting incident.

　The Toa drank the juice as if he were taking it out on them.

'Master Masamune, have you been to Enumasan again?' said Sufilia.
'You were away the other day, that time.
...I see.

　Then, there, Ichijou made a disturbed expression.

''Hmm, what's wrong?''
I'm sorry, I'll be back to headquarters.
Dragon's heart, how long do you plan to hang on to it?
I owe Mr. Alford a debt of gratitude.
"...hmmm. Anyway, I don't care. You don't have to come back and say you're sorry, but...
'Don't say that,' Ichijo chuckled.



*



　"Hidaka-kun, why don't we walk for a bit?" said a noisy Ichijo. I had no choice but to move out of the Eccarlato mansion with Ichijo into the town of the royal capital.
　Toa and the others said they wouldn't follow us. Sierra brought out some Walstein's meat to make up for it. Toa and Nem didn't even listen to the story, they were engrossed in the meat.

　They walked through the city centre, through the square, past the guild, and then came to the main gate.

'You're going in transition anyway, then you could have just flown from home.
'Some countries have a web of transference interference. Sierra told me that Razhuisen is no exception. It's probably in case of an Imperial assault.
All right, well, get the f*ck out of here.

　I turned away.

"Hidaka-kun.
...hmm? He stops and turns around.
'You're going to be in King's Landing for a while, right?'
Maybe...
I'm going to see Saeki again.
....
I haven't actually told Saeki about it yet.
What?
The thing is, Hidaka-kun is alive.
I see.
I told Sonoda and the others that I would tell them for them. They don't leave the school very often. So Saeki doesn't know yet.
....
'So I was wondering what's going on. I wondered if this was something I could talk about without permission.
That's why you came to see me, flying around in transition.
...Yeah. So, what do you want to do with Saeki...?
Do you want to tell me?
'No, it's not. I just figured this wasn't my decision to make. You say it doesn't matter anymore, but you still took a false name. There had to be a point to it, I don't know, but you didn't want us to know you were alive, did you?
Maybe. You don't have to say anything.
I see.
Yeah. I'll come over to see you sometime. It's not like we're going to meet and talk, but life needs surprises, you know.

　I made a casual expression.

''Well I get it.''

　Ichijou gave me a half-hearted look. He didn't dare to resolve it, leaving his doubts about me. I didn't ask.
　Then he was enveloped in the light of transition and disappeared before my eyes.

''--You're fond of things, aren't you?''

　As soon as Ichijo disappeared, I heard a voice from behind the gate. I knew it from the beginning, but the fellow slowly emerged and leaned against the gate pillar.
　He wore a wide-brimmed green hat with white bird feathers on his head. He wears a red cloak and green clothing. He carries a musical instrument called a lute in his hand.

"You did this to me, Spillman--

　The Bard
　Spielmann. Occupation, musician. Species, demon.
　He is mainly responsible for collecting information for the organization.
　Because he has been frequently seen on the battlefield, he is known on the street as the bard of the front lines and the bard of the battlefield, but he is an enigmatic figure, and we do not know his identity other than that.

'You've been found out?'

　Spillman stuck out his tongue.

'Lord Elferise told me that no one but you could summon a beast with sound.
He talks a lot.

　Spielmann looks like a teenage child. He is a foul-mouthed brat, but the man in question says he has lived several times longer than Lord Elferise.