"I would like to see you with me.

　I think my voice was trembling faintly as it was uttered to Second-sama.

　It was still fresh in my mind this morning. I never thought that I would be so rigid at my first meeting with my master. It would be a different story if the person I was meeting with was an ordinary aristocrat. It's precisely because the person who opened the door to meet him was the Second Master that I was extremely nervous.

　Well. I thought I'd never be that nervous again in my life ...... but sooner or later, something more than that was coming.

　But I couldn't let this opportunity pass me by.

　A frustration that I can't put my trust in this One to whom I owe a great debt of gratitude for picking me up from the cesspool and giving me a human life. But I knew that I was in no position to put my trust in him.

The Second Master said to me at that time, "Make up your mind and take it up with me.

　Oh, how merciful and big-hearted he is! I thought to myself, "I'm glad to have come to this man.

　I had to respond to him. I must be prepared to face him in my own way. This is a fortunate encounter given to me by heaven. I need to grab it at any cost.

As a way to do so, I have the game crown ready here. You will use this...


You're good.


　A cold thing ran down my back.

　Second-sama is smiling. He looked very happy. Like a child who has found a toy, I thought.

'Cubero. I, for one, like a spirited fellow like you.
...... It's an honor.

　Lady Second's beautiful voice coming in my ears is like a drug that stirs in my head.

　...... Don't be cowed. Don't be swallowed up. If you can't show your resolve here, my longing will not come true.

'So you will accept the game then?
Yeah, of course.

　When Second-sama said this, he took a step toward me to take my game crown. This is not good. It is unworthy of a squire to make my master walk. I hurriedly rushed to Second-sama, and on the verge of being

　-- unexpectedly, he stumbled.

　Did the gravel take my foot off the ground? No. Something caught my foot. There couldn't be anyone else here. You mean the Second?　But why on earth.

　I fell forward helplessly. If I didn't, I'd run into Second-sama. I twisted my body to try to duck, but it was a futile attempt to resist.

　Then I head-butted Second-sama's chest as hard as I could.

　Second-sama held me in place. I couldn't help but feel the blood on my face and hastily let go of my body.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry--!

　............ Suddenly, I realize.

　I am a slave. You can't do any harm to your master, even if not intentionally. But now, I've bumped my head "with all my might". I did what I was not supposed to have done. What is this ......?

There he is. You're very good at this.

　The Second Lord is smiling. In other words, this mysterious phenomenon is caused by the Second Lord. I can understand that much, but I don't know what the meaning of that act was, no matter how much I think about it. I opened my mouth in shame.

'What has been done?'
It's called escape. Now you're not a slave anymore.
What--?

　Astonishment ...... No, a shock so lukewarm that such words hit me.

　You say you've cancelled your contract of servitude!　In this one moment!

　I certainly know that such a technique exists. But I've never seen or heard of a method that can be done in an instant.

　And there is one thing I doubt above all. It's.

Why?

　Why have you just freed me from slavery?

　To Second-sama, it was only a risk. If I was planning a rebellion, even if I were to slash at this moment--


It would be boring to play a game. Now we can play each other without a care in the world.

　...................

　No, it seems that I was mistaken.

　To Second-sama, the strength of the servants in this Firstest family is not in his sight. Just to the extent that he cancels the servitude contract with a grin just because he wants to "beat each other up in the flesh".

　...... Different dimensions. I'm looking in the wrong place. I had a fight ahead of me and realized that I was already defeated.

'Haha,'

　I couldn't help but laugh dryly. This man, my master, is an unmistakable - a "strong man".

'Good, good~. Relax. The battle has already begun, you know.
Excuse me. As your steward, I have one thing to say to you: in the future, I must ask you to refrain from rashly terminating your servitude contract like this. If I am a traitor, Second-sama will be taking an unnecessary risk.
'If you betray me, it means I was the man I was before. I liked you. That's why I broke you out. No one's going to argue with that. Besides, does a traitor preach like that?
...... you'll regret it.

　How cool and warm these words were. Holding back tears of longing and joy, I took a pause with Second-sama - and held my fist.

　The main skill I use is 【Body Technique】. I'm not going to be the only one who can do this. Thanks to these two fists, I was a helpless waif, but now I'm here.

　They have been with me for 24 years, and I will strike the trusty love fist that has brought this Cubero to this point, even if it is just one punch to the Second-sama. This is the resolve I have to show. I am prepared to fight tooth and nail. I'm prepared to risk my life to meet the longest desire I have for Narito.

　I clenched my fists and turned my gaze forward. The second master is ...... "standing on a pole". I'm not going to be able to get a good idea of what I'm talking about.

You're not ...... poised?
Yeah. On the other hand, Cubero, you're too hard. Like I said in the day, don't be so hard. Natural body, natural body. What if this standoff goes on for hours?　I know you can win or lose. See?
I appreciate the advice ...... but I don't think we should lick it too much.

　I said this with a sense of provocation as I slowly closed the gap between us. In the current state of affairs, where the opponent's skills are unknown, letting them take the initiative is the usual way to fight. That strategy was not wrong. But ...... the opponent was bad, and soon after, I realized that it was a bad idea.



'I said don't let them lick me too much.

　Second-sama's demeanor, which had been gentle, suddenly changed.


　The moment - I trembled all over and completely let go of my battle spirit.

　I have a memory of what happened to me. I know this because I've gone through the rage many times. This is real intent to kill. In other words, the Second-sama is really trying to kill me: ......


Ugh!

　Second-sama's fist is dug into my cheek. I was blown far away, not even knowing what skill it was.

　I hit the ground, probably bouncing, and a few meters were rolled over the gravel. My cheeks, my jaw, my head, my whole body hurts. How, how strong ...... you are.

　...... From afar, the sound of jerky footsteps approaching from a distance. He was trying to put a stop to the shameless me, who was still unable to stand up. Oh, you are abandoned. I'll be disappointed that I'm not prepared for this. But there's no way you can compete with ....... No matter how much you plan, no matter what skills you use, there is no way you can win.


　I felt like a little boy again, and I just thought to myself.

　I'm scared--and.



'Fool. Get up. Show some guts. Come at me like you're trying to kill me.


　.............
　Wha, what do you say ......? ......?


'Are you like that?　Hey, Cubero. It's not, is it?　When are you going to stand your ground and not stand here?


　...... different.

　Oh, no!

　Yes, no!

　I don't know why!　What's your plan?　What skills!

　d*mn it, I'm an idiot!　Quite different!

　Master Second had not yet abandoned me!


　When will you hold your ground instead of standing here!
　When will you hold your ground instead of standing here!
　When will you hold your ground instead of standing here!

Aaah!

　I lost the ability to stop the tears. The tears stain the wound and bring me back to life.

　--He told me to get up. He told me to get up at all costs. He told me to get up at any cost. I don't care if I die here. The Second Master will take care of the rest. He's made that promise. So all I have to do is lean on his chest and be assured of that. There's no giving up. That's guts. Risk it all. Stand up as if you were dying--!


"......ffffffffffffffffffffffffff!

　Summoning all my energy, I stood up. I was able to stand up.

　I lifted my throbbing, aching head and looked at Master Second.

　...... I'm still scared. I'm still tremendously scared.

　But what does it matter?

　In my dazed consciousness, I didn't even prepare one of my skills to strike at Second-sama.

　The moment my fist was caught in Second-sama's palm, the last thing I heard was a blackout.


''You're the best!''



　　* * *



...... here.
You're awake.

　Dawn.
　Cubero, who had been lying in my bed, finally regained consciousness.

'Do you want a potion?'
...... No, no, I'm not.

　As I tried to hand him the potion, Cubero laughed, shielding the edge of his mouth, which had been cut painfully. 'I want to be with this wound for a while,' he said.

　I didn't understand what he was saying for a moment, so I said, "I see," and put the potion back in my inventory.

　A moment of silence passes.

　It was Cubero who opened his mouth first.

'Thank you.'
What's there to thank me for?
Is it that you have picked me up and made me your slave? Did you give me an opportunity? That you would join me?
Isn't it?
To be honest, I don't know if I'm any good at ......, but I just wanted to say thank you for something.
What is this?

　I looked into Cubero's eyes, wondering if this guy's brain was still shaking. For some reason, Cubero averted his gaze after a second passed, his cheeks dyed. What, what's that reaction.

''...... Second-sama is a truly powerful person. I'm painfully aware of that.
I know.
I may look like this, but I was confident in my bodywork.
Yeah. What have you been up to?
"eh ...... yeah ......

　When I asked that question, Cubero got up from the bed with a look of anguish on his face as he replied, straightened his posture and faced me head on.

　He looks as thoughtful as he did in the carriage. I had no idea what he was going to say about his painful past.

'I used to be the young head of a team called R6 (Reamsma Six),'
R6?
Yes. We're bandits based around King's Landing.
...... bandits, huh?

　A righteous thief who only steals from the wicked. They take from the strong and give to the weak. A group of thieves who are hated by the Order but supported by the people. It's like chivalry.

　Oh, I've heard a little bit about the righteous bandits who use King's Landing as their base. I think I received a report from Yukari before I went to Isolois. It's a good thing that you're not the only one who's interested in this.

It's a good thing that the people resent bandits, or 'thieving' shinobi. I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this in the future. And the same is true for royalty.
So the Kingdom of Castal has taken it upon itself to crush the bandits.
''You are right. The oppression squad of the Second and Third Knights weakened our R6 in just a few months to the point of destruction. However, it was later learned that ...... our destruction was solely due to the First Order.
"The First Order?

　It's funny. The First Order is supposed to be mainly a close guard. It's not natural that it should be the Third Order of the Guard or the Second Order of the Army if they are to deal with bandits.
　There is a reason for this. I have a hunch. The first prince Klaus is leading the rotten knights, so there must be some reason as far as I'm concerned.

...... Our master Reemsma wanted to trade his head for a 'hand slap'. He bowed his head and offered his life for his henchmen to stay out of it. The First Order came to mediate. They had been waiting for it. And the Second and Third Knights agreed to their terms, which should have been .......
You were tricked.
''Yes. In just a few days after that, a bandit suppression squad led by the First Order was formed and dozens of people were killed in a surprise attack. The First Knights were pulling the strings behind the scenes with a neutral face.
It's awful.
A number of my men sacrificed themselves for me as a young head, and I found my way to the Maurice Chamber of Commerce .......
You let me go to .......
...... Yeah.

　Cubero nodded and cried hoarsely.

　He was frustrated. He must have been sad. It's a shame ...... that's all. The last four months must have been uncomfortable. I'm sure he's thinking about how he can help his subordinates who are still living in hiding, scattered and dispersed. It is also for the sake of those subordinates who died believing that if the young head is alive, his master Reamsma's will will will be carried out and the righteousness of the R6 will be restored.

"You want to avenge them?
Yes, sir.
You want to help your man?
Okay.

　Let's leave the merits of things aside. But this guy, Cuvierro, he's a gutsy guy. He's got a mean streak, and he's not going to stop until he's dead. He's got the guts to take a stand. He's shown that resolve as if it were on display. Now it's my turn.

Come with me. I'll take care of it.
"~~ ...... yes!

　It's a promise between men.