Fly the Flag of Fire!

"Ouch? What the hell is that? Behavior or juice."

"Fu, tsu, ma, shi. I'm a demon master. Haven't you heard of it? Ask about Father Simon's work in the first place, and you won't have any juice anyway for your demeanor. What kind of work is that?"

Elvi corrected the error while writing in the air with his fingers. The adorable red-haired girl moved her neck and confirmed the pronunciation, filling her proud smile just saying she understood everything.

"Oh, okay, that one! Water comes out of your hands, turns off or increases the cloth balls with your fingertips!

"That's my wife. It's not two, it's two. It's a demon job. As a church ranking, it's comparable to Christmas, but it's not a job dealing with believers, so it's not very well recognized in the public."

"Mm... hmm?

I grabbed a cup of tea and took a sip just as I explained. The containers and contents are superior. The tea table and chairs make you feel expensive even among the not overly decorated, and the courtyard with the King's Capital sky as its ceiling is maintained in a bright young grass colour and large.

I hear bells far away. How far has the ritual gone in the royal castle? Elvi thought of the people present there. It is also to think of the centre of the new kingdom as it is.

With the help of a hero, the princess becomes a queen... and today must be an important milestone.

"And a wifemaster... wrong, yes, but you knew very well. I heard the church banned me before I was born."

That's a surer story than anyone else because Marco told me. When he was learning to throw coins, Elvi was taught their existence as a precaution. It is a caveat that sometimes one suspects witchcraft if it is too long for hand moves.

It would be hard if there was any suspicion of witchcraft and even if it had invited a miracle investigator. Life-threatening. After being banned, his wife's user disappeared, he said. A long time ago, one or two of the travelers were mixed up.

Will I still learn such knowledge when it comes to the Count's house? Or did I get a chance to see my wife on some occasion? Elvi thinks he would like to see it if he could see it. Marco, who explains his wife, seemed very happy, even though he was speaking as a precaution.

"Elvi knows a lot of things... is that the power of an adult woman"

The girl is a dissatisfied face as soon as possible, whether she assumed to be correctly answered and praised, or whether she was dissatisfied with the way she was pointed out. He swells his plump cheeks more, only there raising both eyebrows that make him feel like a father. So what doesn't make people uncomfortable is the elegance she has?

Her name is Sandra Salmant. She is the daughter of the late Earl of Salmant, who boasts a martial name on the front line in the northwest part of the kingdom.

Being a grand nobleman's maid of honor, she is born with authority, and wears clothes, whatever they are, beautiful and expensive, and it suits her well. Being natural is aristocratic as it is.

Elvi recognizes it as some kind of “force”.

The days of working as General Ryu's secretary also offer many opportunities to deal with nobles unrelated to the military. Whether authoritarian or not as an individual idea, there is still something about authoritativeness as an intangible power. And he felt that it would be brewed more by the native nobility, like the atmosphere created by the soldiers of the war.

That's one of those forces Elvi can't even gain by asking for. I'm not jealous. Though there are many powers that are unavailable, they have already gained a role to work with. I miss far away the times when I wanted everything from the dark clouds.

"I'm eight years older than Sandra, so I just had so many chances to hear something for that matter. Besides, I'm not familiar with the Demon Master. I've never actually met Father Simon before."

It was Marquis Johannes Ronkainen who invited Simon, the Demon Master, from the Imperial Realm, and Marco also inscribed his name in his summons. It was done by the union of those responsible for the tradition of the kingdom and those responsible for innovation.

It fits this reign ceremony.

On his reign the King of the Kingdom of Asuria shall be blessed by the priests belonging to the Church. It is a strict law arranged at the time of the founding of the country, and breaking it means choosing an immediate path of heresy.

"We do not despise the Church. I'm just challenging what the Church has done to scorn us."

Marco was smiling and talking that way when he said that the conflict with the Church only deepened after the civil unrest.

"It is believed that God does not make mistakes in case, but I wonder if it is pathetic, which paradoxically also means that people cannot escape mistakes. And no matter how long you have, the Church is just an organization run by people."

Although it is easy to interpret it as ostensibly flattering and ironic, the truth is that decisive conflict with the Church has been avoided where it is at stake.

In the first place, criticism of the Church in the Kingdom's civil unrest was only directed against its political influence. The conflict between Marquis Uliharsilla and Bishop Beck was also merely disputed inside the Church's ordained teaching, even though it put the patron dragon legendary new myths and the achievements of the brave on the tongue of the argument… at least that's what Elvi hears.

It is also trivial that Queen Paulina does not use another sword of the Holy See, he said. It's within a ritual based on kingdom everywhere, and the logic is that you can't be blamed because you don't possess another sword of holiness in the first place. Perhaps the Church, which rather gave no sword, should be blamed.

The same reasoning is expressed for the reign. The Eastern Church did not respond to the Kingdom's summons. The Archbishop of the East never even left the Holy Grail Island. Neither the Oriental Bishop nor the Oriental Priest were present. If that is the case, it is in the form of a request for a priestly visit to another negotiable point of contact. The Special Diocese of the Devil is an official church organization.

The Kingdom believes in God, and it recognizes the authority of the Church where it is God's proxy. Elvi thinks the logic is not broken, although it is forceful. Strict laws are obeyed. The kingdom still exists on grounds.

But strife happens...... it is still happening. And it's going to be another big fight.

Because Marco won't give up. Because Marco doesn't stop. Because Marco is Marco.

I hope to stand next to him like that myself keep fighting again...... Elvi put his hand on his hot chest.

"Yes, there it is. That's a tough place to be, too. I plan to catch up with you eventually... but like your mother... uhm"

With Sandra's elusive voice, Elvi restored his consciousness to the courtyard of Salmant Mansion. He was invited by some strange bell tone and was long delayed in his thoughts.

That is dereliction of duty. It is Elvi's task to play Sandra's opponent here and wait while a glorious ceremony by the royal marquis nobility is held in the royal castle. I lived in the right place and strained my mind.

Not only is the girl sitting in front of you a courtier of the Count's house, but she is also the one who protected where Simon the Master of Demons was lost and assaulted. Marco was grateful for that. We have to be polite. And Elvi is here by the nomination from her. There must be no clue.

"Eight can't help but be older... mmm... I wish I was twenty or thirty years older. I can feel a little relieved now. They're starting to fall apart."

But it doesn't work. From the beginning of that exchange of words, Elvi had not been able to communicate smoothly with this girl. I can't really engage in a conversation, and I can feel something somewhat hostile there.

He still whines about something he can't see, while leaning a sharp gaze at Elvi's face and chest.

"... what do you mean, it"

"It means the way it is. The Lord's age is a little troublesome. There is a suitable time for everything. I just scratched my feet and I haven't had enough to have a baby yet... but I'm sorry."

He holds his chest down spicy. I also heard teeth biting.

"Um... to have a baby... eh?

"Hehe, isn't that an attitude of spare time? Good. I recognize a man named Lord. While respecting me as a Salmant person, it is comforting to see that it does not lead to cowardice or obedience. Well, sometimes you just act like a hero's secretary."

Now I say that with a satisfied laugh. It's an attitude that makes you feel even more prestigious at the age of thirteen. Not to mention Elvi, whose cheeks loosened unexpectedly when Marco tangled him and praised him, but no, no, wait, I stopped.

"It's about being competitive. No, should I say there's a knockout"

You've seen that, or you're saying this. He makes his eyebrows rife and shows fierceness in his smile as well.

"Master Sandra... is that... is there any misunderstanding?

"Ho. It's a really challenging story. Why don't we ask? What do you think I'm mistaken for?

To the girl who could deflect her jaw, Elvi responded by carefully choosing word for word.

"I am the secretary of His Excellency General Ryu. That's everything and nothing else. There's nothing I want to do or should do other than encourage my duties in the whole body, and they just notice that I don't get to do it every day."

It is a sincere word. And I wanted to tell you something else.

"Hmm, I've known before I met that your Lord is serious and outstanding. Even in the context of civil unrest, he acted alone with the secret life of a hero, didn't he? Oh, what, your father didn't leak the military plane. I am well aware that the Lord appeared in that town of strict vigilance, and that was rumored even in the King's capital. So everyone was rumoring about entering the King's Capital of Heroes, but in fact, the heroes marched out of the far west... so that's what they did. Later on, I'll know that. Your Lord is the executor of the measure. There's no way he's incompetent."

Instead of passing it on, I got a response that I accidentally felt up to. My eyes are getting worse and worse.

"We also know at a glance that you're not just a clerk. I don't have to know if I'm in any other house, and I don't think I can hide the signs of the martial arts in front of the Salmant family. He is an uninterrupted figure, but even though he doesn't seem to excel in fisting, he has a peek at the end of his behavior... What darkness do you even possess? I hope I'm mistaken."

What a belligerent thing to laugh at. The girl is trying to expose what is also supposed to be her nature. Looks like this was the Beast's Nest.

There's no doubt Sandra has a martial arts mind. Even if I pinch the table, I can't feel safe. There is still a force that seems to be leaping forward. That's an eye-catching thing from the age of thirteen, but, as she said, it's probably natural given the pattern of the family.

But I don't understand this situation.

Would I have done something hostile to her...... Elvi explores the possibilities behind her brain, but there was still only one thing to think of. It is Marco.

I wonder if Sandra Salmant has any special thoughts about heroes.

She had been trying to get involved with the Third Princess SS with enthusiasm for a long time. Elvi finds out about it in his position. Marco doesn't reveal his whereabouts unless he's even caged in a land surface fort, so that's very common as a way to approach heroes, whatever the difference in frequency and intensity. Many nobles move for personal friendship with heroes.

In the meantime, Elvi was also exposed to aristocratic interests, albeit insignificant compared to the attention that would be drawn to Marco. I've heard several different voices. It's a voice that admits to working, a voice that invites sex, and a voice that whispers slander. The percentages are low, but the last one is the most heartfelt.

An elderly woman serves a young hero… many eyes see it as unfavourable. Both are applauded by rumors that they are unmarried. For those who wanted to take in the blood of heroes, Elvi seemed to be a disturber.

Most importantly, that does not apply to the Earl Salmant family. Because Marco's marriage is regarded as a serious matter among the great nobles. No explicit statement has been made, but I can predict that you are probably going to hand it out as the queen's husband. As Elvi, I don't think there is anything else.

That's what politics is all about. The power where a person is the power to control a person demands as a responsibility that a person be transformed into something more than a person. Personal life is unacceptable.

So Elvi is dazzled by Sandra's strong eyesight.

This girl must be admiring hero Marco out of pure favor and admiration. Since it comes from Kwon Mun, I guess it puts my thoughts on specific marriages and births beyond admiration. I guess I'm dreaming. If so, the young female secretary and others may only be the enemy of sight...... Elvi laughed bitterly.

Don't worry about it.

That was a strong and harsh tone.

"I don't care how the Lord laughs right now, not at all. What the hell is that? Why suddenly laugh weakly? How could it wither its unblemished toughness? Unpleasant. Not the attitude a woman named Elvi should take, as I admit. Are you going to fool me into trying to compete with your Lord?"

Every word I could slap hurt oddly. I didn't mean to feel weak, I didn't mean to let my temper shrivel. Still, there was something sharply stabbed in the back of his chest, seeping and creeping. There was a shortness of breath disturbance.

Even if the identity of the pain is not known, it can be handled with reason. I can't do that. Then I can't serve as General Ryu's secretary. I can't stand by the hero. I can't resolutely admit that.

Elvi forced herself to breathe.

And he bowed his head to the girl he was supposed to entertain, as if trying to fight.

"Excuse me. I never thought I'd fool Sandra."

"... well. Fine. And take the sword."

"Thank you...... ha!?

Thinking he had been accepted for an apology, and feeling so unreasonable that he was told not to listen, Elvi put his lowered head back at high speed.

What is shown in a glass of vision is a single bamboo bundle sword.

Sandra is holding onto it. Where the hell would I have hidden it and kept it? Behind the chair or under the tea table... doesn't seem to mean coincidence in any case. Another bamboo bundle sword is held in Sandra's other hand. This must have been a planned development.

"It is a sword conceded from the Third Princess SS. Your lord's used to it, isn't he? Suitable for playing games because you won't get hurt. It's light, but, well, we can fight long enough for that. Ha. You aim for the chest, so be careful."

"Uh... no, hey, the"

"You don't need a prep movement, do you? Yeah, if you have a dark vessel, you can use it. My sword is comprehensive swordsmanship. Whatever you set me up with, I'll use grasping and throwing moves here and here... Get down, those two piles, they'll mop..."

"Hey...... dear Sandra!?

He rose without hearing, and the noisy girl began to swing barely and so forth in the middle of the courtyard. Elvi looked at it blindly in his hand with a pressed bamboo bundle sword. I wonder if this would be a sight of mission failure.

"What's up, Elvi, why don't we start right away! In the end, this is the easiest way to understand."

"Hey, what's easy to understand?

"Which one deserves Accelli Arnell as his partner," he said. What else is there? "

Courtesy, social decrees, attention and patience are human virtues. It's an irrational business.

Incidentally, there is more than one thing that renders reason dysfunctional, and one of them is amazement.

Later Elvi will look back at this time as an "inevitable outburst caused by the astonishing misunderstanding that paralysed the workings of reason". Neither the rumblings that jumped out of his mouth, nor the sword strikes that came upon him without any help, had any choice. I had to fight for something that didn't change.

"Why! Me! Captain Arnell. Something!

"You! Keep the big layer inflated in your chest! You don't even know what that man's charm is!

"You see! I thought I'd hit you again and again!!

"Say something intimate! You're so proud!!

Sandra was a great sword user, but she has disrupted her emotions and, moreover, has stubbornly punched in for only Elvi's chest. Although Elvi is no match for him with his sword, he had several coins planted in his cuffs, and the advantage of the coolness of those who crossed the line of action.

The battle, uncertain as to what to bet on, became a muddy match.

A strange friendship sprouted between them.

Even a lot of strikes, scuffs, scratches... Elvi fulfilled his mission well enough.