When the Second vs. Champagne game was over.
　In the midst of the boisterous crowd, there was a couple who were awfully quiet.


............ We're going home first.
What?
I'll go home alone. You take the wagon.
Hey, honey!　Oh no, I'm going home alone. ......

　Morkus Fana says just that to his wife, Toloa Fana, and leaves the arena alone to leave the arena.

　In the center of the arena, Shampani Fana was blown away by a direct hit from the Flying Wheel Jousting by the Second Firth Test.

　Everyone in the crowd was delighted with the Second Four Crown's challenge to the Four Jousting Saint (Shisousei).


''You!''

　Trowa's voice calling for her husband is drowned out by the cheers of the multitude.

'...... you ......'

　Just before Morkus disappeared from the brilliant sun into the shade of the arena doorway, Trowa saw his back and stopped chasing after him.

　His shoulders were shaking in a small way.


'You're ............ sly. That's just the way I am, too.

　How he sold his daughter, how he felt about her, how he spent the last few years and how he watched the game. All of this, Troa knows.

　The man who had never once shed a tear since leaving his beloved daughter had finally reached the end of his patience. Yes, he didn't want his wife to see him cry. Just that.


　Toloa stared at Champagne's prone form, then slowly closed her eyes, letting them burn into her retinas, and smiled a small smile.

　A drop of tears spilled out of the corner of her eyes.



　　* * * *




　--only three moves.

　There were two people who had been watching the entirety of Raden's former four-liner saint's ridiculous loss up close and personal.

　It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you'll be able to get your hands on it.


You're not going to be able to get your hands on any of them.　You're making us siblings ashamed to be alive.

　Karen muttered with a sigh and turned to Champagne.

'Shh, it can't be helped,'

　Then Champagne hurriedly wiped his fingers under his eyes and regained his composure.

'...... Hey, you, cry now,'
I'm not crying.
No, no, no, no, because of the makeup.
I'm not crying.
Okay.

　A true lady does not shed a tear in public.


............
............

　A silence flowed between them.

　It was a strange silence. On the one hand, the position fell from heaven to earth. On the other hand, it rose from earth to heaven. For some reason the two of them, who should have been at odds with each other, were giving themselves over to a comfortable silence.


'Maybe I'm glad I lost.
'I see. May I ask why?
You've learned your lesson. ......

　Karen laughs to herself and crosses her arms as she begins to speak.


''I hated the ...... nobility. I hated those guys who did everything they wanted with great power that the common people had no enemies. I thought they were unholy men and women who discriminated against each other as they breathed, cared nothing for the weak, and always thought only of gaining.

I'm sure you are.

Oh, you approve?

Yes. There are few who are not growing in strength and influence. But I don't recognize them as noblemen.

...... Hahaha, you can see everything.


　Looking at Champagne, who hadn't lost her spine, Karen let out a sigh and continued her words as she leaned against the wall of the hallway.

'We wanted to be noblemen,'

Yeah.

'We wanted to feel good about discriminating against and gaining from those who were weaker than us, moving them to do what we wanted.'

Yeah.

"You're right, it was aggravating. It was tainted. I was getting closer to the one thing I should have least wanted to be, before I knew it.

Of course.


　Their eyes shifted to the back of the hallway.

　There, surrounded by newspaper reporters, was the Second First Test being interviewed.


''Hey, look. That guy is criticizing the nobles by name.''

　The Second, as planned, bitterly criticized the nobles who strongly recommended the Second for the Seed.

　In particular, he had mentioned their names three times about the Countess of Ormoon. Seeing this, Champagne couldn't help but chuckle.

　Karen, on the other hand, was mussing and ruffling her hair, looking disgusted.


'Don't you think it's ...... cool?　The power to defy the aristocracy. I admire that. That's what we wanted to be. We're supposed to be. And now this is all over ...... why!　How could I let this happen?　Where did we go wrong?!

I'm sorry, what did I say?

What ......?

I've already given you the answer.


　--You should take a good look at me and my master.

　Karen huffs as she remembers Champagne's words.

　I don't think she saw through all of my circumstances and feelings from the beginning--


You'll make up for the delay. You will make up for it. The essence of a true nobleman's life lies in his servants. Please follow the example of me!


　Karen exclaimed.

　She wants her and her master's every move to be an example.

　What confidence (...). And trust. There is no way these words could have come from an ordinary belief.

　Just don't disobey the young lady that Champagne in the Champagne believes in. You don't have to disobey the number one in the world that the Second in the Second believes in. To the people in question, that's all.

　But that is exactly what makes it difficult for the everyman.
　It's dauntingly difficult.


"...... Yeah. Yeah, I see.

　If you don't have faith, don't do it.

　To Karen, it sounded like Champagne was saying that.


'Maybe I'm not up to it.
Oh, really?
That's right. I don't think I can live that way.


　Karen says as she unclasps her arms and turns around as she moves away from the wall she was leaning against.


'But at least I don't want to get any more dirty.

!

You did an excellent job with the spear. No bounds.


　With a fluttering wave, he left.

　Champagne waved gracefully off Karen's rear with a truly radiant look on her face.





'What do you think, Mr. Cherie, Tivo Ormun. We'll have a dinner party afterwards.

'I would love to!　Mr. TiVo, the Count of the Frontier has invited me personally, and we don't get many opportunities like this.

...... No, no, no, I'm just, you know, I'm not feeling very well.

Really?　Oh, my God. Then I'll get a doctor for you.

'No, I'm not going to bother you that much: ......

I'm fine. I don't mean to be a nuisance. It's more than that.

Pfft.

Hmm?　Mr. Sherry, did I say something interesting?

'No, not really: ...... Pukkuk!

What's going on?　Did you misunderstand the term "prior to that"?　This is rude. I meant to suggest that physical condition is more than a nuisance. I didn't mean to imply that I didn't care what the scum of mankind had to refrain from doing now.

"To a human ......?

'Oh Tivo Ormun. Don't worry about it. I don't think of you that way.

'Yeah, yeah, that's an earlier issue: ...... nbufu!


''It's outrageous to call them human scum. It's not like he routinely bullied the young lady of a fallen aristocrat in his school days and took great pleasure in using the power of the Countess to reduce her to slavery, it was rude to talk like that even in a parable.


"What--?


...... You didn't think we'd know about that, did you?
'It's ridiculous. To praise someone so much who once dropped to slavery to fit in with us. It's going to be funny for a while just remembering it.

No, no, no, no, no, how could it be: ......!

Me and the second, we're all friends.
I'd like to think I'm a true friend of mine.

You mean you were cheating all along!

Yes. You've made it interesting. Can I just thank you for that?
I'm not one for thanking and apologizing and saying hello to junk, so I don't think anything of it.

"Sah ...... sucks!　You people suck!　You are vile!　I'll tell your father!　Be prepared for that!

You can't say that for real. You can't say that for real.
'How can you utter such worn-out, silly words? Aren't you ashamed of it?

'Even though you are a countess and a frontier earl, your father won't let you do this lowly thing for free!


Why?　I'm a frontier count. I'm above your house. Don't get it wrong, kid.


......

A masterpiece. Are you in the same situation as the old Mr. Champagne?
'Yes. Then would you like to end up with a slave? As for me, I would recommend a servant of the Firth Test. I'm a gentleman, so I'll let you choose between them.

'Yeah, does that mean we might have to see each other every time we go to that house?　I don't want to do that.
Then slaves.

......~!


You got away.
"Count Chilima, who's always been there, is now a target of criticism because of the second: ...... Doomed, she is.
I'd like to take this opportunity to get rid of the Countess Ormun who is in my way, but we'll see what happens.
...... Lord Steam, could that be why you were in a groove?
'No way. I just want to make him like me.
That's kind of weird. ......



　　* * *



Yuck.

　Dinner was a lot of meat.
　Yukari's stuff, and the hell ears are good. Maybe he has mastered the art of lip-reading.

By the way, Tivo is still a hardcore b*tc*. It's a good thing you didn't meet her.

　As I was enjoying the meat dish, Sherry, who was sitting around the table with a natural look on her face, opened her mouth.

''What? Why?''
He must have hit her.
Hey, hey, hey. I don't hit women and children, okay?
You beat the crap out of Cheri. ......

　I didn't think so.

"Second Lord, I didn't know you were such a hobbyist. I despise you, sir.

　And of course, Steam, who is eating next to me, joins in and starts talking.

I said it's not a hobby, it's a principle.
'Oh, I see. So you're like me, then.

　Eh.

"I will not tolerate women and children if they are trash. Hence, I will reduce Tivo Ormun to a slave.
Are you serious?
Yes. Don't give me any of your nonsense about responsibility or commitment, will you?
Sorry, I was trying to be rude.
...... You're totally not. You're far too honest.

　He was pissed.

'I am a frontier count. I am trusted by His Majesty and entrusted with the borders. You know that.　Scum join together to undermine a nation. They are even more so in the case of nobility. They are insects in a lion's body, so to speak, and they are just a hindrance to national security. Neglecting them is a bad idea. Don't worry, I've exterminated the scum more times than I can count.

'It's not simply because you don't like it, is it?'
No, I don't like them in general.
It's not the same as this?
'We'll have to do it differently. That's what it means to have power.

　As expected of a participant in the Senju-shou fight. That's what it should be like. I must learn from this.

Okay!　Drink up!
I don't like it.
Sherri!
I'm underage.

　I don't know!



　...... Huh?

Hey, Yukari.
Yes, master.

　After dinner, I suddenly felt uncomfortable, so I called Yukari and asked her.

'What's going on with Sylvia and Eco?'
He's already in bed.
Early.

　Oh, no, is it bedtime as usual for Eco?

　So would it be ......?


Then I'll be off.

　Oops, Yukari didn't say anything.

　So that means--


Which one is it going to be tomorrow?