We're under attack.

　A few days after repelling the attack by Father Blessed Ear and the former Marquis of Olguin.
　Aldis had secretly gone to King's Landing to meet with Moore.

''A mercenary as good as you with a wound?''

　Seeing Aldis's face, which still showed fresh scars, Moore, who had heard the story, was immensely disappointed.

　The church must have moved faster than the duke and Moore had thought.
　No matter how much they had been certified as heretics, they should not have expected them to use force in such a large scale.

　It is the same for Ardis.
　He didn't expect them to go out of their way to send an army into the Caucasus Forest, risking their lives.

'I admit I was caught off guard. I didn't expect them to attack us like that.''

I never thought you'd go that far: ......

　When Aldis tells him about the monks' disregard for their own lives and their fighting style, Moore's expression becomes bitter and bitter.

　Aldis, on the other hand, is not at all calm inside.

　The enemy that had attacked them had been successfully eradicated.
　However, just like Father Blessed Ear's last words, the church announced it as Ardis's heinous act once they learned that the defeating force had not returned.
　Moreover, it was not the troops who were sent there, but the priests and their followers who had gone to persuade them to repent, as if to say that Ardis had responded to the Society's peaceful contact with them with a massacre.

　It was clearly untrue, and yet a malicious distortion.

　But there was no one to point that out.
　There is no one left alive who can testify to this, except for Aldis and the others who were involved in the massacre.

　Those who had previously withheld their attitudes have now begun to voice their condemnation en masse.
　Public opinion was about to reject Ardis as a foreign object.
　Aldis, acutely aware of the power of the church's voice and the stupidity of the people who were being swayed by it, said one of his objectives to Moore, who might feel the same way.

'There's a student named Kirill at Marieles Academy. I want you to care for him.

　No longer had Aldis abandoned the option of staying in the Caucasus Forest.
　Considering the influence of the church, it won't be the same wherever you go, but as expected, you should stay away from the area around the royal capital.
　This is not something that isn't good as a result of not being able to make use of any of the experience of running away from Trier, but if the safety of the twins was the priority, it was inevitable.

　The only thing that worries me then is Kirill.
　There are few people who know the connection between Ardis and Kirill, but perhaps the church and the Marquesses of Olguin have information about it.
　Perhaps even the Marquis of Trier may have been informed.

　If Aldis and the others disappeared among them, there was a risk that the contradiction would be directed at Kirill, a mere student.
　Aldis appreciated Kirill's power in its own way, but it would not be enough to allow him to defend himself from the pressure of the church and the power of the nobility.
　It would be reassuring if Moore and the Duke of Nilesteria could get behind it.

'Where do you think you're going?'

　The words of asking someone else to take care of Kirill, in other words, are equivalent to Aldis himself saying he will leave the royal capital.
　Sensing this, Moore asks him where he will go from now on.

'I'm going to the west.'

　Moore nodded, looking convinced that he had anticipated Aldis' answer.

'Yes, I suppose so. The situation would be the same no matter where you go in this situation, but certainly it would still be better in the west. There's probably not much goddess worship in some cities, you know.''

　Like the Kingdom of Naglas, the Bronchel Republic in the north is a place that is strongly hostile to twins.
　On top of that, there is a strong male-dominated tendency, and it would not be a comfortable country for Nere and the twins.

　It goes without saying that the Armenian Empire, which borders the country to the southeast, is the one they fought against in the last war.
　You can say that Ardis, who defeated many nobles on the battlefield, is an unforgivable enemy for them.
　If it is not done well, they may drive Ardis away with more hostility than the kingdom.

　Inevitably, the only destination is the City-State Alliance in the west.
　As the name suggests, the City-State Alliance is a collection of city-states.
　Each city has its own strong uniqueness, and some of them will be more tolerant of the existence of their twins.

　What I was concerned about was the extent to which the church's recognition of their heresy would have a negative impact on them, following them everywhere they went.
　Not all people in the world abhor twins unconditionally.
　The reason why they don't openly cover for each other is because they have the absolute existence of a goddess and the pressure of sympathy from the huge organization called the church.

　There are people like the members of the Byakuya no Meisei who cooperated with us, Kashiha, the innkeeper who looked after us in Tria, and Kirill, who looks up to the other half of the twins as his sister.
　It would be a bad idea to be too optimistic, but I wanted to think that not all of them were enemies.

'You wouldn't fall behind whoever you're dealing with, though: ......

　It's hard to say, and Moore's voice trails off.

'As expected, it's hard for even your husband to reach out for support outside the country.

I'm not gonna be in your debt.

　If it was within the kingdom, the Duke's help would be a great help, but as expected, his influence would not extend to the Union of City States.

''...... sorry.''

It's not your concern, all right? You take care of Minerva and Kirill for me, okay?

　To the apologetic Moore, Aldis replies without a hint of concern.

''I'd like to say I'll leave it to you, but honestly, it's a heavy burden to appease the young lady. Can you meet with her once before you leave King's Landing?

　That duchess, who is quite active, is probably annoying the new guard captain who is usually in front of her.
　Aldis returns an unusually apologetic expression to Moore's pleading words.

'I'm sorry, but we really can't afford it. Both Nere and the twins are injured. It's pretty hard for me to just come to King's Landing now and see you.

I know that's true, but ......

'I feel bad for Minerva. I'm still halfway through my pointing out, and I didn't end up being able to teach her the sword magic arts. Apologize to her.

That's it?　Something like this: ......, is there anything more you can tell me?

It would be better for Minerva if we didn't get involved in things too much. It would be a good idea to pretend you're the one who taught her swordsmanship.

　Moore gives a small sigh at Aldis's words.

'That's a bit of a stretch now, isn't it? And even the young lady wouldn't be convinced.''

...... Don't tell Minerva that you've been meeting me like this?

'How could I tell you? I can see them making a fuss about taking you along too.

　Ardis chuckled, forgetting her situation for a moment, wondering what that would really mean for a noblewoman.






''The question is, what to do with that thing: ......

　After leaving the rest to Moore, Aldis thinks about the girl who is trapped in the magic probe while walking around the city with her hood deep on.
　According to Rona, she's the girl who was called 'Red Osprey' by the survivors of the organization.

　Strangely enough, even though that girl, Aldis, hides herself in a hooded cloak like this, she finds us and follows us before we know it.
　It's because I judge it by its smell," she says, but Ardis is skeptical that such a thing is possible when it's not even a dog.

　Aldis buys a snack from a stall on the main street and turns into a deserted street.
　When the crowd had died down, he beckoned to her, and the girl who had been following him from behind approached at a small run.

'Look, here's your lunch for today,'

...... Thanks.

　If you ask Rona, she says it's nothing more than feeding, but to Aldis, this girl, like Filia and Liana, was an oppressed child who needed to be reached out to.
　Looking at the girl who was biting into the meat pincer bread, Aldis wondered what would happen to the girl.

'It's not enough,'

　The girl, who had finished eating in the blink of an eye, blurted out.
　It seems that she has become accustomed to being around Aldis, and now she is able to hold a small conversation with him.
　It seems that she is beginning to forgive Ardis to the extent that she can spill her true feelings to him.

''Do you want to eat mine?''

　When Aldis held out the untouched meatbread, the girl's movements stopped for a moment while taking it honestly.
　The girl who had been staring at the bread in her hand looked up at Aldis.

'Are you sure?'

Yeah, no problem. I'll be able to get some food later when I get home.

　When the girl heard this, she immediately took a bite of the bread.
　Aldis watched the scene with a nostalgic feeling.





　When Ardis was once a member of the mercenary corps.
　It must have been more than fifteen years ago.

''Well, the Commander said he picked up the kid.

Again. He's a curious guy.

　One day, when he was finally being recognized as a full-fledged mercenary from an apprentice, some of the old mercenaries in his unit were talking about it over drinks, but Aldis ignored it as none of his business.
　It wasn't until Grace, the leader of the troop, suddenly forced her two children on him that he realized it was no stranger to them.

'What?　Do I take care of these people?

Yeah. You and Lou will take care of it together.

　Grace brings the two children to Aldis' doorstep, both still in their early stages of development. They are apparently brother and sister.

Why would I ...... or even us?　We're mercenaries, we're not teachers, we're not teachers. It's our job to fight, right?　

'What?　So you're saying you're willing to let them pick you up, but you don't want them to pick up another kid?

　Grace asked with a teasing look on her face.
　As Aldis, who was picked up by Grace herself, there were no words to return when she said that.

'No, I wouldn't say that, but ......

Oh, it's a shame. I didn't know you were such a jerk.

　Grace follows up with a deliberately mournful gesture.

'I do owe you .......'

　Grace slapped Aldis on the back as she reluctantly spoke her true feelings with a grin.

''I see. If you're feeling indebted to them, then pour the debt of gratitude you received straight into these guys.

　I have a debt of gratitude to Grace.
　He picked up Aldis and the others who had no relatives and raised them so far even though they were not even usable as a fighting force.
　That's why Ardis wanted to fight alongside Grace with his sword, which was finally recognized as his own, to help him.

'But it was Grace who picked me up and raised me. These kids had nothing to do with it.

It's not like that.

　Grace, who has suddenly turned kind, speaks to him in an admonishing manner.

''Hey Aldis. You never know when you're going to say goodbye to a human being, especially if you're a mercenary. Especially for those of us who are mercenaries. It's easy to die in the next battle. It's not always possible to repay the person you owe a favor to. But I don't want you to be the kind of person who takes the favor you owe me for granted. It's true that the best way to repay the debt is to return it to the person you owe it to. But, Ardis. There are times when that is not possible. So where do you think I should direct the debt I owe you?

　Aldis answers the unexpected question immediately.

'How could I know?'

"Think, Aldis, think. You ready?　You owe it to the generation that comes after you to repay the debt of gratitude that you lost. And the people who received the favor from you will repay it to the next generation. This is how the world works. That way, at least someone will be saved by it. As long as someone doesn't interrupt it, my will will will be passed on. How about that, then what I did will not have been in vain?

But Grace is not a dead person. She's in front of me now.

It's okay, I'm asking you to do it.

　It is impossible for Ardis to understand Grace's feelings at that time when she said that.
　I'm going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to get it right.

'Well, that. The one I just mentioned is one of the reasons, but my mercenary group doesn't need someone who only thinks about themselves. Because if you're a mercenary who can't even take care of people and raise them, it's better to get them to move to another mercenary group as soon as possible. This is like an assignment for you and Lou after you graduate from the apprenticeship. Give it up and take it on.

You don't have veto power anyway, do you?

You can take it on, or you can leave my group. You have a choice, okay?

　Aldis clicks his tongue.

'All right. I'll just take care of it with Lou, right?

Yeah, yeah. That's what I like about you, you're a straight shooter. You're doing me a favor. Give them a good workout. Whether they grow up straight or crooked, is up to you.

　With that, Ardis looked away from Grace's back as she walked away and sighed.
　She looked at the two children who had been waiting quietly for her to turn her attention to reality.

'How old are you guys?'

I'm 11.

...... eight years old.

　Unlike her brother, who answered immediately, her sister, who took a few moments to answer, looks down as if she is afraid of Aldis.
　They are both clad in tattered clothes and their limbs are as thin as bone and skin.
　It's not a bad idea to have a good time.

''For now, let's have dinner. I mean, do you have enough for these guys?

　After deciding that there was no training or anything else to do in this state, Aldis decided to shelve his future plans after discussing them with Lucile and decided to eat first.
　After taking the siblings to receive their meals, we sat down at a suitable place and began to eat.

　A meal for the siblings had been prepared, but this is a mercenary group. They are a group of people who fight in exchange for rewards and sustenance.
　Naturally, there is not much food given to children who are not in the war effort.
　The siblings were given only a piece of bread and a cup of soup.
　Aldis, on the other hand, is given three loaves of bread and a cup of soup, plus slices of roasted livestock meat and boiled root vegetables on a plate.

　She ate the bread she was given in the blink of an eye, and her sister's gaze turned to her plate.
　It is obvious that her body is not well-nourished.
　It's a good thing that you're not going to be able to fill your stomach with just one piece of bread and a cup of soup.

No,

　In a hurry, his brother forced his sister to turn her face towards him.
　He was probably afraid that he might displease Aldis.

　In that figure, Aldis reminded herself of herself when she was picked up by Grace.

'That won't be enough. Eat this too.''

　Grace said that at the time and shared her food with me.

　Oh, I see, Aldis realizes.

　Indeed, Aldis had received it from Grace.
　His thoughts and aspirations, along with a slice of bread. As a matter of course.

　Remembering this, Aldis breaks the bread in two, places a thin slice of meat between them and hands it to his siblings.

'Are you sure it's ...... okay?'

　My sister asks me, looking up at me with a fearful look in her eyes.

'Come on, eat. You can't do anything with such a thin body.

　As soon as they heard those words, the siblings took a bite of the bread without saying thank you.
　Seeing them eat with a single mind, Ardis felt that she understood a little bit of what Grace was saying.





　The figure of the girl who was nibbling on the meat-packer bread in front of her and the figure of the brother and sister that Aldis had been taking care of overlapped.

　He remembered the brother and sister who had once looked up to him as an older brother, and at the same time, his hatred and anger towards the madwoman rose anew.
　Shaking her head and forcing those thoughts into her chest, Aldis returned her gaze to the girl in front of her.

　The girl in front of her was probably a few years older than her brother and sister at that time.
　But this girl was far too biased.
　Even though she knew about fighting and covert deeds, on the other hand, she was somewhat juvenile, akin to floating away from the world.
　This is probably because they were raised in a way that deliberately stunted their spiritual growth.

It's up to you whether they grow up straight or crooked.

　Grace's words come to my mind.
　If it hasn't been distorted to the heart, then there is still hope, isn't there?
　I excuse myself that it must be Grace's influence that makes me want to do something about it, even though I know it's unnecessary.

'Just listen to me while I eat,'

　As the girl replied with her eyes as she chewed her bread, Aldis made a thoughtful suggestion to the girl.

'I have a favor to ask of you. If you'll do me a favor, I'll let you eat all you want for dinner tonight.