Desire

“What were you thinking? ”

Immediately after leaving Ajin's house, Ekidna asked. Hermione, who was walking with her backpack, turned her gaze and looked at Ekidna. “What are you talking about?” Ekidna's eyes narrowed with a smile.

“The prince has lived for 21 years since he was born without revealing himself. ”

“I didn't have to. ”

Hermione replies. He raises his hand to touch her hair. “How many people want to die? The Crown Prince was not that kind of man. I didn't want to die, so I didn't show up.” Hermione said that without changing her face.

“He is not a particularly ambitious man, and in fact, he is not a very bright head and a very capable man. I just didn't want to die, so I hunched over, and then I suggested that I could do better. ”

“.. what's worth doing? ”

“Competing with my other brothers. ”

Hermione's eyes narrow.

“The Blue Knights support the first brother, the Emperor Xavirt. The second brother, Prince Alcade, is supported by the Red Knights and the third brother, Prince Rufel, by the Black Knights. But I have nothing. The Steel Knights stand neutral, as do the proximal knights. ”

“.. is that your complaint? ”

“No, you were wise. Supporting an emperor who has no basis. Rather, you should be thankful that you didn't take the other brothers' side. ”

Hermione smiles in relief.

“So, what do you think? The Crown Prince can be confident that he has a decent person.Isn 't that how to move the Steel Knights? ”

When Hermione asks, Ekidna says nothing. There's only one of us. But can we say he was the only one who had to do it? If it is all-out war, the conflicts between the princes who still have the imperial throne are such a struggle without direct friction.

‘How many of the current Imperial Knight Leaders are better than him? ’

There are many knights stronger than Ekidna. In the last imperial slash competition alone, there were six knights higher ranked than Ekidna, and other chiefs, other than Ekidna, refused to show their face.

However, I did not feel that the pain was weak compared to them. He was overwhelmed. What if he was on Hermione's side? And what if Ekidna and her Steel Knights support Hermione?

‘.. I'm sure it's worth it. ’

If Azin is better than the master of each Knight, he can struggle with other princes. But what's the guarantee of winning? Is there a reason to gamble your way out of a safe place?

“You look embarrassed. ”

Hermione speaks. He stares at Ekidna's face.

“Whether you refuse or not. Your position will be somewhat embarrassing. It is clear that the prince who saw you changed his attitude in the course of his actions with the prince you saw. No matter how much you say no, I don't know. I doubt my other brothers will listen to that. ”

“Are you threatening me? ”

“I'm asking you. Very simple.”

Hermione smiles low. “Should I kneel?” With that question, Ekidna sighs.

“.. you must be mistaken. But if I don't do anything...”

“Neutral. ”

After hanging up on Ekidna, Hermione opens her mouth. He looked up at the sky. A gray cloud was passing by the moon.

“Grey. Like those clouds. Drifting as the wind blows... just like that. And the world, especially my brothers. You don't like gray so much. Those who want certainty. ”

Hermione's eyes glance at Ekidna.

“I know the other chieftains aren't too happy about your position. Right? Red Knights, Blue Knights, Black Knights. You are the youngest and only of the three knight captains. Of course you won't be pleased. ”

Ekidna couldn't argue with that. As Hermione said, the other chiefs of the Knights do not appreciate Ekidna. If I had the chance, I would try to carve her away and ignore her Steel Knights. Ekidna chews her lower lip well.

“Would those wolves miss a chance to catch a book? Well, at least you'll be spared. No matter how innocent you are. ”

“... which means...”

“Like it or not, you're on the same boat as the one you saw. ”

Hermione smiles bitterly.

“I'm sorry to force you into this position. But I can't help it. Didn't the Crown Prince say that he would ask very little of you? As you see it as a gamble, this is a gamble for the Emperor himself. I don't know if I'll succeed or fail. ”

“.. are you sure? ”

“I don't know about that. But if you help me, I might be more convinced. ”

Ekidna lets out a short sigh. She looks at Hermione with complex eyes and nods slowly. “.. I understand.” Hermione smiles brightly at Ekidna's answer.

And then a few days passed. Hermione gives the Baron a strong statement about wanting to take Azin with her, and he nods his head without a hitch. because he also knew. Celebrity territory is too small to capture such a small amount of knights. The big fish needs to go play in the big water. Baron Frank summons Azin and tells him.

“You'd be able to join the proximal knights. ”

Valfrid calls Azin and says that with a serious face. In his words, he nods slightly. “Don't you regret it?” Valfrid chuckles at the question.

“Knowing the subject. ”

Valfrid sighs and mutters.

“I'm a knight, but not a very good knight. The chief knight of this tiny territory is probably the highest position I can climb. But not you. As you speak of the Knights' geometry, the highest position you can climb on this territory is only as high as where I am. ”

As Valfrid admitted, he was well aware of his subject. He was right. After being in Celebrity territory for a long time, Azin's greatest advancement would be to become the chief knight of the territory. Perhaps you can marry Marianne, the Lord's daughter, and become a nobleman. However, since the body is already married to the Raw Snow scent, such a way is impossible.

“Leave the territory. ”

Valfrid said with a serious face.

“The Lord himself hopes for him. The Lord himself admitted it. I'm not the vessel to receive you. So follow the Crown Prince, leave the territory... and go to the capital. ”

“.. I understand. ”

Of course you should. You don't take it lightly, but you look a little sad. But we've spent a year together, so I can give you this level of lip service. Valfrid grins as if to say otherwise.

“But you've made things a lot better for the territory. The troops got stronger and the monsters were wiped out completely. The point in the future is to keep it that way... but that's it. ”

Valfrid smiles and says: Azin nods slightly. Rather, my heart was lighthearted by telling me to leave so gracefully. I wish I didn't have to hold on to you like that.

The other knights came to see Ajin and said, "Thank you and thank you for your efforts." “If you make it, it's like...” Derun grips his hands and says in an uncomfortable voice. It was the money I had saved up and I strongly refused to give it.

“I won't forget. ”

“Thank you. I trust you. ”

Fuck you.

And the day you leave Celebrity territory. Azin looks at an empty house. Most of the furniture was just left behind, and I agreed with the smell of Raw Snow. It's a friendly house for a year, but if you take it with you every day, you'll only have a lot of stuff. I could have used the Shadow Space to accommodate a lot of things, but I can't use it anymore.

“You're leaving.”

The scent of Raw Snow mutters. Azin glances at the scent of Raw Snow beside him. She was a little bitter. Azin shakes his hand and grabs the hand of the black snow scent. She looks back at the pain in horror.

“.. life in the capital won't be bad. ”

“That's something you need to know. ”

The black snow murmurs. Hermione has been in pain every day since her first visit. In the capital, Ajin becomes Hermione's personal escort knight. We talked about how to join the Steel Knights at first, but if we do, she'll have to step down from the position of the Knight Leader since she's better than Ekidna.

If you become a guardian of the royal family, you are the least of the nobles. I'm not a nobleman, but I can be treated like one. Of course, not everyone can be a royal bodyguard. Be sure you are who you say you are, you must be a knight, and you must be better than the task force. That is the condition. It is not a difficult condition for Ajin.

“Farewell. ”

Baron Frank and the other knights meet at the Lord's Palace. Baron Frank reaches out and says, Azin bows his head politely and grabs the Baron's hand.

“Goodbye. ”

Marianne mutters. Azin greets her with a respectful greeting. I spent a year deliberately staying away from Marianne. It's because she didn't like it very much and was conscious of the view of Raw Snow.

“Well done. ”

Valfrid reaches out. Azin shakes hands with Valfrid and finally greets the other knights. Derun looks at the pain with his desperate eyes. Azin smiles slightly at him.

“I will be a knight like Lord Azin. ”

The soldiers who were trained by Ajin also came to meet. One of them looked serious and said to Ajin.

“You can certainly be a knight. ”

I answered with a serious face. Whether or not he could really be a knight was not his concern. Still, he clenches his fist as if he had gained hope from Azin's words. I turned away, being escorted away. The wagon stands, and Hermione and Ekidna sit inside it.

“Once you've boarded the wagon to the Warp Gate of Celebrity, you'll cross a few territories before returning directly to the capital. ”

Hermione told me that the mission of the local inspector is not yet complete. During the end of Hermione's mission, Azin was supposed to act with him and escort him.

“I understand.”

Azin nods and replies. I got on the wagon. Hermione looks at the black snowflake sitting across from her.

“The schedule will be over in a month. ”

“.. don't worry about me. ”

Raw Snow replied. Worried that the bastard was a man who couldn't take a single punch. She looks out the window thinking like that.

The wagon has moved forward.

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It's... late...

Fitness has diets, but I haven't been exercising properly lately, so...

I lost too much muscle a year ago... I think my arms are thinner... I think my strength is weaker...

Maybe this will just turn into a pig.