After leaving── Leticia in the carriage, I finally came back to Lynchghi Ham.

I entered the royal castle and walked a little, and I was slapped on the shoulder from behind.

When I turned around reflexively, my index finger pierced my── cheek.

"... Douglas, please don't play such a prank." You're surprised, aren't you? "

"Gahaha! Isn't that nice?" I missed you when you went to that damn woman. I can't forgive you for this. "

Do you mean Leticia, the cursed woman?

"Oh, that's the name. Gahaha!"

and Douglas laughed lavishly.

Burning red hair on brown skin.

My body is so big that I always look up when I talk to him.

At first glance, you might make a scary impression on the other person... but when you smile like this, you look just like an innocent boy.

But... this figure is only a temporary one.

He is the dragon that became── my friend when I was a saint in Berkaim.

But knowing that I was banished, he── followed me here to Lynchgham.

Now, like me, I live in the Royal Palace. But lately, she seems to want to start living alone, and she's making a lot of preparations.

It's a little hard to imagine where he lives alone.

I can't tell you about people, but he doesn't know any more than I do. Well, it was originally a dragon, so I guess I had no choice.

"I missed Douglas, too. After seeing your face for the first time in a long time, I feel relieved.”

"Um, um, I'd be glad to hear that."

Douglas scratches his cheek and removes his gaze from me as if it was shining.

What's that?

The usual Douglas says, "Gahaha!" That's where I'm going to laugh.

However,── especially after Berkaim's demon── king disturbance, Douglas sometimes showed this kind of workmanship.

Now it looks like you're shining in front of the girl you like... but it's just your imagination.

"Oh, yes. Do you know where Nigel is? I'd like to tell you about my return to the castle..."

Nigel's in the courtyard.

Douglas and I look in the direction where the courtyard is.

"In the courtyard... is that Ralph playing properly?"

"No, no, no, no, no. Have you heard from Elaine? The Second Prince is coming back to the castle."

"Yes, I'm listening."

"The second prince has already returned to the castle." And now I'm fighting Nigel in the── courtyard with my sword. "

"W-We 're fighting!?" Could it be that you're fighting? "

I ask that question in a hurry.

Maybe... suddenly you want to inherit the throne? If so, it will be difficult.

But...

"I think── it would have been more interesting if it had been a fight." Actually, it was just a mock fight. The sword you're using is also a wooden sword.

My worries seemed sad, and Douglas shook his head.

When I heard that, I stroked my chest.

"Great."

"Well, for me, the battle between the two of you is just fine!" I've watched it all the way, but I'm tired of it! That's why I'm here to greet Elaine. "

"That's how battles between humans look to you...... but why do you two have simulated battles?"

"I don't know. I'm not interested."

Douglas pulls his arms together and says it out loud.

If you're curious, why don't you go check it out?

"That's true, too. Douglas, thank you for telling me. I'll go."

──He lowered his head and then was slapped on the shoulder as he passed by Douglas and headed for the courtyard.

"Yes──, Mugiu"

"Gahaha"

... I was also caught in a prank when Douglas pressed my finger on my cheek.

"D ~ g ~ r ~ th ~"

"Oh, isn't that cute when you're angry?"

"I won't forgive you for saying that!"

After all, Douglas is more of a prankster than a dragon.

Going straight to the courtyard,── there were two men using wooden swords and fighting fierce battles.

Haha!

One, of── course, Nigel.

He wields his wooden sword with a serious expression and attacks another man.

But...

Sweet!

The man rolls over and dodges Nigel's attack.

──Nigel thrusts his wooden sword into his right hand and backfires it to the side to avoid a direct hit.

A fierce sword. A defensive sword.

Honestly... the two of you are moving too hard for my eyes to catch up.

In the meantime, I was holding a sweat in my hand and watching a mock battle.

... Ah. Fenrir's Ralph is lying on the ground at the edge of the courtyard, watching the two of them fight.

I'm very sorry, but I have to endure it for now. Let's focus on the fight between the two of us.

Huh, is Nigel being pushed?

At first, my strength seemed to be reversing.

But... the difference gradually opens up.

"Grrrr!"

Nigel caught hold of the opposing sword as he warped his face.

"[]/(n, vs) (yoji) (yoji)

However, the opponent does not push into the opponent's power.

In a flash, he took a step and── swung away, showing a boar-like rush.

Nigel will deal with it somehow... but in my eyes, it looks like one way or the other.

──Awesome.

I admire you honestly.

Nigel was the first prince, but his sword arm was also top-notch.

That's enough for Knight Commander Adolf to wrap his tongue around it, and if Nigel was interested in it, he would be the youngest Knight Commander at the time.

Someone who overwhelms Nigel like that.

He is the second prince of this country, Mr.── Gert.

I've heard from Nigel that he's now captain of the Knights' 1st Corps.

Nevertheless, he rarely returns to the Royal Castle because of his expeditions and his mixage with the Guards along the border.

So it's the first time or the second time I've seen him.

Even if you just look at it like this, your strength will be transferred to you. It's a gorgeous way to fight, as if you were playing a dance.

And... from time to time, they move sharply like wild animals.

Because of that, Nigel seems to be flirting with his movements.

Even with my amateur eyes, it seemed like my backhand was turning backwards.

Oh no!

Eventually, the opposing── Gert jumped up his sword.

Nigel's sword danced through the sky. Suddenly, he reached out to take── it, but before that, Gert thrust his sword into his throat.

"There's a match..."

"... yeah. I'm done."

and Nigel raise their hands as if they had given up.

The battle is a victory for── Gert.

"I knew Gert would do it." I was going to win today, but I didn't. I'll do my best to keep up with your movements. "

"I'm not the captain of the Knights anymore." Besides, as I said, your sword is too straight. From that point of view, my name is.... "

That's what Gert and Nigel say.

... it looks like it's about time.

I grabbed the towels on the bench in the courtyard and walked up to Nigel.

"Nigel, I've done my── best."