Presha-san was taken by Raquel-san to the headquarters of the Eastern Front to study as a Knight Candidate at the training school attached to the Order.

　Although he didn't have many opportunities to be instructed by Raquel-san, Presha-san followed her instructions well and spent his time training to be as good as the male candidates. But the memory of that time was left in Plesha's mind as an accumulation of pain and nothing else, just an accumulation of the things that made her the person she is today.

　Three hundred times a day with a stick that had no weight at first. When that didn't feel responsive, she made a training device with weights on the stick, outside of regular class hours, and kept swinging it incessantly.

　With her hair short and looking like a boy, Presha was sometimes called 'male and female' by the boys, but slowly she stopped caring about it. She had divided that in order to become a knight and fulfill her purpose, it was pointless to be aware of her gender.

　She overcame the training that was too much for a girl of early ten years of age by spending her innate magical power on physical recovery, and she developed physical abilities that were unimaginable for her small body. So the path to learning spirit magic and becoming a mage disappears - she didn't realize that she had the makings of a demon warrior, but the people around her noticed her alien powers and slowly grew to fear her.

　Eventually, Presha-san began to participate in mock battles, and she became known by another name, 'She-Wolf' (Volfes), because of the beastly way she controlled a stick that was much longer than her own height and greedily targeted her opponent's weaknesses.

　There was no one who could beat her, not even the instructor. Two years after becoming a knight cadet, a girl who was only twelve years old became the top of the class based solely on her martial arts performance - but Presha-san's wish to go to the front line was not fulfilled, and the one selected as an officer was a male cadet of noble blood.

　An eighteen-year-old young man. He might have had a shred of pride in him as well. He swore blatantly at Presha-san, who had never been able to win in martial arts.

''You're cocky, even though you're an upstart poor man. You're getting carried away just because your underlings like you. Look at the swollen spot where you struck me, it's still swollen. What can you do about it?
"...... I don't know anything about that. I don't remember hitting you in training.
"If you don't remember it, I have it!

　He took a number of the boys in his cronies and led them out to the back of the schoolhouse so that Mr. Presha could not argue with them. Looking relieved and triumphant, he approached Mr. Presha, who was standing there, and touched his chin.

''You should mind your own business, and from now on, the poor should be quiet as the poor. If you don't have weapons, you can't do anything about it.

　How is it that humans are able to direct so much malice at people? Even an event that happened in the past would make me very hard to keep quiet about.

　But this is just an event that happened in the past. I can only watch - but.

'Ha, you're finally getting it. Fine, I'll discipline you in the manner befitting a little b*tc*. Hey, make sure no one comes in.

　From the next moment, the memory is choppy. What I can read is an all-consuming anger and a murderous intent.

Don't speak ill of my mother!

　Ms. Presha didn't have a stick. So, the boys who surrounded her were also caught off guard - but.

''This, this guy ...... guh!

　Presha-san was the first to aim at the opponent who had a weapon - a wooden sword for self-defense - and conquered him using only her physical skills. In the blink of an eye, she mastered her opponent's arm and took the stick away, and then went to the nobleman's young man who mocked her.

''I will never forgive anyone who insults my mother. ......!
"Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

　The aristocratic young man lets out a pitiful scream. Presha-san raises his wooden sword with all his strength, with the intention of taking his life - but.

''Hey ...... let go ...... let go ...... this guy, this guy let my mom ......!

　The one who had grabbed the wooden sword with an amazing grip and stopped it - it was Raquel-san. Her hair was cut off, and her impressions were very different, but there was no doubt about it.

　She had more of a warrior's demeanor than when I brought Presha-san here, and it was enough to make me tremble involuntarily, just looking at the memory.

''I'll let you listen to her in the instruction room. I will report your actions to my immediate instructor. Since this is out of class time, you are to return to your quarters immediately.''
"Bullshit. ...... This guy was trying to kill me, man!　He hit me, the potential heir to the Viscount's house, with a wooden sword!　That's not acceptable!'

　The aristocratic young man made a provocation and then excused himself by putting himself on the shelf. Seeing this, Raquel didn't say anything and looked around at the three people who were surrounding Presha.

'...... Why did you call your underclassman girlfriend alone?　The rules of the Knight Training School should prohibit personal interference in non-academic matters with the opposite s*x.''
"That's because he was ...... this guy was rebellious against us ...... heck ......!

　A sharp light dwells in Raquel-san's eyes, which had hardly shown any emotional movement until then - just like that, the aristocratic youth trembles and takes a step or two backwards.

''It is forbidden to engage in private fights with other candidates, or to apply pressure as a group. If such things were done, the punishment would be severe, but ......''
"...... Oh, we didn't ...... do anything. We didn't even almost get beaten up ......
'That's fine. If you start spouting malicious content against her, I'll make this a matter for the entire training school.'
"Kuh ...... ugh ......

　Unable to face Raquel-san's gaze, the young man who looked at Presha-san with regret, had emotions in his eyes other than hostility and fear of Presha-san. That's right - obsession.

　What was the purpose of calling Plesha-san? Even after realizing that, I can only think of it as too juvenile. What would be the point of forcing a favored party to listen to you by force?

The actuality is that you have to pull back for now ......
"Wha-...... I know you don't have to tell me!　Excuse me. ......!

　The young man called Dadram left in a hurry, taking his cronies with him. The remaining Presha-san was lying on his face, still unable to let go of his wooden sword.

''...... That's not a weapon suitable for you. You promised to give me a spear when you became a quasi-regular knight. If you can't hold out here, you won't be able to do that either.''

　It was only during the short period of time that Mr. Presha taught Mr. Raquel the spear during his stay at the training school that Mr. Raquel taught him. However, Presha-san looked up to Raquel-san as her spear master.

　Otherwise, Mr. Presha would have struck at Ms. Raquel as well, as she became unconscious back and forth. Plesha-san has not forgiven the person who insulted her mother - she quickly suppressed her murderous intent to keep Raquel from feeling sad.

I'm ...... not going to be like my sister Raquel. I have to endure until I become a knight to avenge my mother's enemies. ......
'...... If I had been put in the same situation as Presha, I would have been just as angry. There is no need to be ashamed of that. If your spear is wielded to protect your own pride, you really shouldn't have stopped.'
...... No. If I kill him, I'm sure my noble parents will come out and try to execute me...... then it will be a problem for my sister Raquel who brought me here. I may be an idiot, but I know better than that.'

　Ms. Presha spoke stoutly, but she couldn't hide the tremor in her voice. Mr. Raquel hesitated a bit, but he didn't hug Ms. Presha like he used to.

　At the training school, you never know who's eyes are on you. If rumors spread that Mr. Raquel, who was an active military officer, had made accommodations for Mr. Presha, a student, it would still put Mr. Presha's position in jeopardy.

'There are those who forget their aspirations of defending the country and go sideways to satisfy their own greed,' he said. Presha...... such people, neither I nor my lord will ever forgive such people. If unclean waters don't suit you, get knighted as soon as possible.'
'...... yes. I wonder if I'll be able to go ...... to the place I want to go.

　It wasn't just Raquel-san in front of her that Presha-san's words were directed at.

　The person who isn't here - Presha-san was speaking with an empty gaze to somewhere far away.

'...... I'll be able to go, I promise. But don't forget. Hurrying to live is not going to make up for anything.''

　Her voice seemed to be overflowing nonetheless as she stifled her emotions.

　Presha-san's tense mind was faintly softened. She certainly felt comforted by Raquel-san's words - and.

"Thank you, Raquel. I'm going to be stronger than ever before on the battlefield. I want to repay her for everything she's done for me.

　I think she said it with a smile. I'm looking at the past from Presha-san's point of view, and I don't understand her expression.

　But those words were only meant to cover up her true heart.

　Even if I was pulled back from the darkness now by Raquel-san's hand, all along, Presha-san could still hear her voice.

　When Raquel-san seemed to back away, but still turned away and walked away, Presha-san looked at the wooden sword and said.

''I'm ...... sorry, sister Raquel. I'm ......''

　Presha-san had already been able to use her magic power under her unconsciousness to strengthen her physical abilities.

　The emotions that had no place to go were put into the hand that held the wooden sword's hilt - the wooden sword, which should not have been shattered by the girl's grip, creaked and snapped with a dizzying sound.

　The sharp edges of the wooden section scratch Presha-san's palm. Plesha-san's lips don't hesitate to put her own blood on it as it tries to run down her fingers.

　She feels no pain. It's a good thing that you're not going to have to worry about the fact that you're not going to have to worry about the fact that you're not going to have to worry about the fact that you're not going to have to worry about it.

　-- she had long ago lost the feeling that she was alive.

　It wasn't her own will that drove her, but the voices that kept being heard.

　　　◆◇◆

　Then, about a year passed.

　Plesha-san was given the title of quasi-regular knight, the youngest at the time, and was assigned to the front line of the Eastern Front as requested by Raquel-san, who wanted her to be her subordinate.

　The first unit that Presha-san belonged to was the Fifty-seventh Cavalry Rangers led by His Highness Astina. Plesha-san, who had studied horsemanship at the training school, was given her own horse and the long spear that she had promised Raquel, and she demonstrated her abilities as a demon warrior and made military achievements one after another - but.

　Three months after being assigned to the team, it was three months later. Presha-san was on the verge of being promoted to a regular knight, and was placed in a punishment cell in the Eastern stronghold of Vulcanus Fortress.

　Dressed in rags and bound with wooden fetters on her arms and legs, she was staring at the rats that lived in the corner of the prison.

'...... Presha'

　At the sound of a voice, Mr. Presha, who was sitting with his back to the wall, slowly looked up. Standing outside the bars was Raquel-san, whose hair had grown out.

　A demon warrior's body metabolism was improved by magic power, and his hair would grow much faster than an ordinary person. It meant that Raquel-san was constantly putting herself in fierce battles.

　Already by this time, her body had begun to scream under the load - it could be seen that she was constantly wielding the super-heavy javelin of a horse, a super-heavy spear. Even if it was the figure in Presha-san's memory.

　The time was like night. The light coming in from the high air window was moonlight - in that, Raquel-san was quietly staring at Presha-san.

'...... Why didn't you tell me. That I was looking into the officers stationed in this fortress.
"If you tell my sister Raquel about ......, she'll get in trouble for .......

　When Presha-san said in a faint voice, Raquel couldn't hide her indignation on her face. It looked as if he was crying.

''They did what they should have ...... been punished for, but there were other things they could have done. Even if you didn't do something that would have put you in jail, there are other ...... things you could have done.''
...... It wasn't just the neighbors I had to deal with. The people who talked to our enemies that day, the people who ruined my village ...... are still alive and kicking, and the fact that they sold out my village... ...innocent, jokingly ......'

　Presha was investigating the reason why enemy forces had invaded her village - it was because the troops defending her village did not respond to the enemy forces when they attacked.

'...... The troops defending the village where Presha lived were of low skill level and were far from the area where the battle was originally taking place. The enemy forces that set them apart were cunning: ......'
But ...... they ran away before the Raquel sisters could come to their rescue. They came to the village and wanted things, but in the end they sold the village and then they said it was not a bad thing because they had no choice but to ......

　That was the reason why enemy forces had infiltrated across the border and raided Mr. Presha's village.

　For the sake of temporary gain, they sold the village where the innocent people lived to the enemy forces in order to avoid the danger of engaging themselves.

　But they could not be blamed for the crime, as they were supposed to have committed a great crime against military discipline.

'...... The sons of noblemen are sealed off from the territory by making military achievements as knights. But not all of them are brave enough to make a difference in battle.''
"I'm a nobleman, so ...... I won't be charged with a crime for abandoning my village and running away. I won't even be blamed for laughing at such a thing.

　Raquel doesn't answer.

　''I'm not well versed in the aristocracy. But even when I was at the academy, there were students who were accommodated because they came from a noble family. It's not just about drawing the 'winning' spirit, it's also about having excellent grades.

　I've never strongly questioned that. It's not just a matter of being an aristocrat, it's a matter of being a nation where people with high family status are given preferential treatment. Now, I can only feel ashamed of that - after seeing the attitude of the aristocratic youths towards Mr. Presha.

　But we can't easily change the structure of the country or the consciousness of the people. Knowing this, Raquel is unable to say anything.

'My village was only worth so much to this country. I'd rather fight as a knight like those traitorous guys ......''
'...... sometime ago, we talked about it. You shouldn't stop wielding that spear if you're trying to protect your pride.
'Then ...... why can't you kill those guys ......?　Mom says to kill those guys... ......!

　Ms. Raquel's eyes widened. She knew for the first time at this time - what is the identity of the thing that is still driving Presha-san.

'I don't have to be a knight ...... if I can make those guys pay for their sins.
'If you did that, what's left of ....... If it's still just a punch and that's it. I had a problem with what they said ......, but if the next time the same thing happens ......'
...... the Raquel's sister is also an aristocrat who will eventually listen to the aristocrats. Because Raquel's family is related to the aristocracy ...... and she's different from me from birth, you should feel sorry for me ......

　Racquel-san took in all of Presha-san's words in silence.

　Seeing the sad look on her face, Presha-san had actually noticed it too. That there was no point in blaming Raquel-san - and that she was doing something irreversible.

　Nevertheless, Presha-san, knowing that she shouldn't say it, said the rest of the story.

'Whether or not I could avenge my mother's death didn't matter to my sister Raquel....... That's right, it doesn't matter. I'm just a foundling ......

　Her heart was just empty.

　The first time she became Raquel's subordinate, when she got her first battle results, Presha was praised by Raquel, and she was truly happy about it.

　The soft smile that the quiet Raquel sometimes seemed to spill out of her mouth made Presha admire her, and she longed to be as strong and beautiful as she was.

　If she didn't remember that she was a woman, she would never be strong. With this in mind, Plesha began to grow her hair long because she wanted to be as close to Raquel's figure as possible.

　To Presha, Raquel was more important than anyone else, and she admired her so much.

　But the face of her mother, who was supposed to be kind, warned Presha - every time her mind tried to leave the past, there was no escape.

'...... Presha. All this time, in your heart ...... you didn't believe in me, didn't you ......?'

　That's not true. I want to answer that, but Presha-san can't put it into words.

　There is no point in taking out the regret of not being able to fulfill one of your revenge on Raquel-san. Even though she knows this, Plesha-san's will is twisted by the voices she hears.

　--that's how you forget about me?　Presha was such a sweet girl.

　The voice of someone who wasn't there could be heard loud and clear. To Presha, it is real and not an illusion or anything else.

　He is definitely there. The spirit body of her mother, holding Presha-san from behind.

　--you're so strong, you'll avenge your mother's death.

　But it's not. It's not the mother Ms. Presha knows. It's a spirit without a will drawn by her guilt, a spirit that has changed in response to her remorse.

　The events the genie exerted are deeply imprinted in a person's memory. That's why I was able to notice - if I had a spirit doctor at the time, I might have been able to notice the disease that was consuming Presha-san earlier.

"I don't ...... believe in anyone or anything ......

　The decisive words try to spill out. Mr. Presha can't look Raquel in the eye - his heart creaks and aches, but he can't stop it.

　But before the empty words can be spun to the end. The voice reached their ears.

''It's Presha. It can't be your true intentions.''
"Wha-......, Your Highness, why are you here ......

　The stagnant air of the prison seemed to be purified by the limpid qi she wore.

　--Astina-Razeneier. A third princess with golden hair stood in the corner of Racquel-san's gaze, wearing white and silver armor.