Isekai Mahou wa Okureteru! (WN)

Passing through the streets leading to the Imperial City of Philus Filia with a view of the diversity of the people to be met, the two who eventually arrived at the castle gate were in line for the entry inspections to be carried out in the stuffing, in order to enter the city first.

When that punctuating white light of the sun's sun, which began to get high, annoyed, Shuiming, who created the shade of the weasel's eyes and looked through the castle gates and walls, casually asks Lefir.

"Now, what the hell is this Nerferia empire?

To that question, which was too late, Refill frowned like he had lost his words for a moment before returning them.

"It's really a further question now. It's been a long time since you've been in Empire territory, huh? So you couldn't even grasp it for the most part?

"I don't feel the same way about anywhere for me. Speaking of things that have changed from Astel, there are only a little too many people and so many types of things"

and Shuiming flaunts his shoulders in the European and American style. Being a modern person, it is naturally difficult to discern. From Refile, you may be able to grasp a lot of things in the interiors, villages and other conditions of Affordable Accommodation that you stopped by on the road, but for Shuiming, who has seen all that has developed since coming from modern Japan, you can hardly tell the difference even if what is in the other world can seem fresh. To the extent that I can see that the design of what I'm wearing is different...

"Didn't you have to look it up in Astel's library?

'Cause all I know is the book, and I want to hear your impression of Refill.'

"My impression of the Empire..."

Refill often rethinks in Shuiming's words. It's the candid opinion of man in this world. Wouldn't be great for judgment material.

Eventually, she nods and answers naggingly as to whether she was satisfied with the answers she derived.

"- Right, the Nerferia Empire is a strong country, in a nutshell. Yeah."

Mankai said, Mitsumi pulled a bitter laugh.

"... ho, knowledge from the book. Then you did have that vibe"

"I would. The richness of Nerferia is famous. The military is out of reach compared to the rest of the country."

"But I don't feel like an empire that much, but what about there?

What was presented was the doubt that Shuiming had for a long time.

Essentially, an empire is a term used to describe a nation that has dominated a large number of peoples, nations, forces, etc. It is something that seems to be under constant pressure on the peripheral states more than is given its name, but other than that, the Nerferia Empire has allied itself with countries of different ways of governing and other things, working hand in hand.

It may indeed be what it deserves to be called an empire at a time when it puts more than one nation within its sphere of power, but it is not firm enough.

Besides, for Shuiming, like most Japanese, there is a strong image of imperialism and the Greater Japanese Empire that we have established in recent times.

"Oh, that's no choice. Sure, it was originally a powerful country that swallowed many of the countries around it, but lost most of its power in a war that was there hundreds of years ago. He's settled in the way he is."

"You're calm...... It was an ambitious country, but it still is after hundreds of years"

A frigid thought pops out of Shuiming's mouth. If the war is hundreds of years old, then as long as there is as much time as there is - it should recover national power and investigate armaments in a few decades or so sooner than it is said. In that case, it would normally be assumed that the invasion would start again, just like before. How can it not be?

Refill shakes his head to the side to answer that question.

"Oh, Nerferia had alliances between the three countries that had been going on since that time, and because of that war, other countries with a sense of crisis were so strong that they looked into armaments and shouldered Nerferia."

"He said it was not easy to start a war."

"Yeah. Besides, the primary reason would still be Yingjie's summoning ritual is huge"

Refill's unexpected words turn Mizuming's face into something surprising.

"Yingjie summoned? Why would a brave man have anything to do with a war between human nations?

"They called me in the war. A brave man."

"No...?

The confusion of Shuiming only deepens in the words of Refill, which can be continued. Surely you said that the summons of the brave would take place during the world crisis. Consultations between heads of state and wizard guilds in various countries, as well as with the supreme institutions of the Salvation Church, have begun to approve the summons of the brave and the summons will come true. Why, then, can things be as they are called in wars between people?

As Shuiming tilts her strange face to the side for a long time, soon Lefir mouths the answer.

"This is something widely conveyed in the inheritance. At the time, the monarch of a country in the region where the Union Autonomous Prefecture under the umbrella of the current Sardias Union was located suddenly engaged in authoritarian politics and waged war on the surrounding states, slaughtering many inhabitants"

"Dude, genocide is a mess. Why would you do that?

"Come on, we haven't got that much detail. Neither do I. There was just so little foresight, so much brutality, so much stronger, that at the time most humans made themselves feel at risk that all the humans in the world would hang in the hands of the king."

"Ah......"

As Refill spoke, so did Mizuming, and I got to the memory that I was in the corner of my head.

I remember Dorothea saying about that before, who was the prime minister of the Kingdom of Astel, Gres, and the attendant of the Xiao Dark Pavilion. That is the story of a tyrant who, hundreds of years ago, is said to have tried to make the world ours. At that time, about three brave men were called by the rest of the world, and the hero Tan, who had crushed the tyrant's ambitions, was standing by. But...

"So a brave man was called, and he said it would also affect the Empire's war of aggression afterwards... Ah!

"Um, you seem to have noticed. Yes, it was demonstrated in that war that Yingjie's summons would be made against the invading nation. It is true that at the time the Nerferia Empire did not even carry out a mass slaughter, as his tyrants did, but if it were to conquer the surrounding nations, just like his country, the neighbouring countries would agree -"

"We were called brave men, and we thought we'd be hit too."

"That's right. Emperor Nerferia at the time saw the power of the valiant called at that time and, conversely, feared. Enough to leave behind words that do not imitate the brave to their enemies."

"I see."

If you say so much, you have to be convinced of its relevance. I guess that was all the strength of the brave men called at the time to say that to the emperor, who had better military power than the kings of other nations and had more power to be influenced by it.

The same goes for the power of the brave, but in addition to that, the hostility of the brave also leads to the disadvantage of the loss of righteousness. You may not care about righteousness, but if a state without it engages in an act of war, it will form a siege net, like the Great Japanese Empire one day, and suffer a great disadvantage in terms of distribution, because it will be subject to condemnation due to political rush, not only from neighbouring countries, but also from countries away from them. Disadvantages in terms of supplies, disadvantages in terms of power. If you look at it that way, a brave man is a great deterrent.

"Even then, Yingjie's summoning rituals and things are important."

"That's right. It is powerful enough to defeat Demon Kings, Demons, and powerful Warcraft. It is said that it is even comparable to an army in one country. Then there's no way they're going to use it for political hooks, is there?

"Right."

"Because of that, there's been little skirmishes between countries, and there hasn't been a massive war between nations in a long time."

"Not so much"

"Well, as much as Astel and Chardock collided two years ago, so did His Royal Highness Princess Titania of the Kingdom of Astel, who ended up victorious on Astel's side."

Teatania's Activity. The unexpected story popped out of the unexpected, and Shuiming's eyes became round.

"Tia's?

"Tia...... Oh, you mean Her Royal Highness Princess Titania. Yeah, I heard it was pretty active at the time."

"Heh, that princess."

For a little while, it was an admiration to catch Shuiming, who kept exhaling like, uh... unexpected. Princess of Astel, Titania. Active but clear, I can't imagine that princess walking around behind or next to Trinity all the time going out on the battlefield to do the lion's excitement.

As a magician, he didn't seem as powerful as Fermenia, but did he possess tremendous power?

- Can't you say enough? There are many ways to contribute to war, even when it comes to activism.

But...

(No, everyone didn't say anything to her exit because Tia is a man who can fight?

Shuiming tried to remember here, before leaving the castle.

When we sent Trinity, the king, the first prince, and the men of the castle used to hang their words and spare their departure, but we remembered that there was no clasp because it was dangerous. I mean, for those reasons, nobody hung a single word of concern? Because I trusted the princess's power - is it?

Among other things,

"- The next one, inside the jar."

I was thinking about that. I got a call from the cloister. Apparently the order has arrived. It was in the middle of a conversation, but both Mizumi and Lephire finish the conversation there once and get inside the stuffing.

Then, a few gendarmes of the Nerferia Empire stood in the secluded indoors, urging the earlier humans into the city's doors.

Here comes a young man who looks like a civilian with documents and taxes.

"Are you from the city?

"Yes."

"Yeah."

The young man who sees each of them snort and offers them paperwork. It would be filling out the roster. I did the same thing when I left Metail and when I entered the city of Kranto, so I'm used to Shuiming.

"Now please fill in your name here. And if you have something to identify yourself with... Whoa, excuse me, if it's a letter..."

And, yes, that's what the youth in question asks to correct the deficiencies in the question to Mizumi, who walks loosely and Lefir, who walks over a little bit.

"Yeah, you can write it."

"No problem."

"Excuse me. Then please fill it in here. All you have to do is pay your entry tax and toll below and you're done here."

Mizuming receives a polite response from the youth in question, and when he tries to start filling in, he turns to Refile with an uncontrolled smile. Whether he likes children or has a gentle personality, he lowers his gaze slightly because he thinks Shui Ming is too polite,

"Then will your daughter fill out this paperwork, too?

To that gentle favor, Refill makes a daunting look when he wonders if he has ever been uncomfortable or if his shoulders have bounced pickly.

"Your Highness. I'm not your daughter. Do you want me to correct that?"

"Haha, right. Sorry. Sorry. Princess."

"What's that saying! Are you going to flush with the kid's bullshit!?

In response to the young man's response, Réphile stirred up.

The same is true when I shop in the city of Kranto, but when I'm treated like a child, I react quite a bit. Do you want to deny so much what you have to deal with as usual with a trivial light mouth flowing with the wind to the willow?

"- Swimei! Suimei, say something too!

"What, me!?

"That's right!

What should I do, though? Should I explain on this occasion, "Actually, this kid is getting smaller" and so on? Something like that, it would be a bitch to be smiled at.

Then the young man smiled briskly toward Shuiming,

"Haha, you're with me full of energy. It's gonna be tough."

"Oh, no, well... haha"

In the end, Mizuming can only return such a response. I thought I'd leave it to the flow to get through here, arrow tips, grabbing my hips with my hands like Refill was stuck with his feathers.

"Suimei! Why am I even talking to you?

"No...... bye"

I want you to guess this situation that I can't do anything about. That's what I'm saying. When Mizumi is confused by Refill clinging to her like that, the young man smiles at Refill again.

"Lady, you shouldn't bother your brother too much, should you?

"Nothing, I'm annoying Suimei..."

When asked, he stops the words once to see if there is anything he thinks, slightly in a small voice, leaking his worries.

"... no. There are too many to deny..."

Refile stays idle and stunned that he can't say it back. Ever since I was a little girl, I've been able to carry swords, suppress curses, etc., and I've been helping a lot, so they've been able to deny it.

With such a girlfriend on her ass, the young man in question laughed furiously at Mizumi.

"This is how these kids want to stretch out, isn't it? I have an older sister, too, so you'll see."

Yeah. You snort because you have experience? Looking around, the other gendarmes were grinning at Lefir's actions, and the dusty air filled the filling that was supposed to require tension.

"Ku...... that's enough. Let's just fill it in and get out of here."

That said, I finally gave up, or Refill goes back to his usual calm and fills out the paperwork. but...

"Mm-hmm."

"What's up?

Remaining attached to the desk for some reason, Lefir is reaching for the paperwork and roaring like he would when stepping on it. Even if Shui Ming asks her like that, Lephile just fights something in front of her and doesn't respond. I'm just raising my voice that seems difficult and avenging something that has no entity.

"Shit, this is what happened!

……

"Not yet! I'm not giving up yet! Even I have a crush! There's something I can't throw away!

I excite myself with such a big mouthful of things, little refir working alone. I seem to have tried a little, but eventually I realize that there is nothing I can do about it, I sit on the spot with Petan and a girl, and I speak of despair.

"Or don't get to the paper..."

Sipping his nose, Lefir makes such a loving tear. She has reached her back on the desk, but it seems to be in a rather difficult state to write for her right now because of her remarkable position. Was that all you worked so hard for?

Then the young man in charge earlier came next to her,

"Yes, ma'am. You can use this instead of a table."

And, that's what he said, he gave her the chair.

"Wow! I..."

Refile is once again dismayed by the gentle deeds of the young man in question. But...

"I..."

Comparing desks and chairs alternately, they gradually dissipate. Eventually, without uttering any more words, the dropped refil got on the table awesome and started filling in.

I see sadness in the little back with the ponytail shaking every bit. The point is, I guess I didn't want to admit myself getting smaller no matter what.

When Shuiming slapped her shoulder so as to comfort her, she said, "Oh, my God..." and ran a hard feather pen over the paper.

Eventually, when I finished filling it out, a girl suddenly came in through another door on the city side.

Looking at the strange entry, which did not seem to have been prompted by the person in charge, the gendarmes turn to her and salute her immediately.

"Ensign Xandyk!

Ensign from a young man in charge and a girl called so. I have reddish violet twintails and slightly unhealthy looking skin, my right eye is covered in my eyelids, and my other eye gives a slightly jittery impression of sleepy or not. He hooks a uniformed coat to his Gothic and Lolita-inspired outfit and wears a gathered glove on his hand.

Mizuming's eyebrows drop slightly over the outfit of such a strange girl.

Bizarre outfit. I've seen a lot of people dressed differently in the other world, but it's been a long time since I've seen an outfit with this kind of strong self-assertion. It's not like it doesn't look good on you. The one that's floating because it suits you.

Did Lephie think the same thing?

"Oh, she's cute."

No, he didn't. Thank you. If you look at excessively pretentious clothes, they seem to react.

As Shuiming and Lefir react like that, the soldier-like girl, called Ensign, walks up to the young man in question and speaks so cold that it is difficult to say that it is clerical.

"I came to pick up the roster from the day before."

"... Ha!

The young man in question stretched his back tightly and saluted the upright immobility as if with a core stick. And from a drawer quickly attached to the cupboard, I give you a book with a leather fitting. The girl received it and glanced at it, closing the book with patari, saying "Thank you".

... Is the format of the army different from that of other countries in the Empire? The lieutenant call reminds me of the existence of a class and smells modern - anyway. It is this girl. You look twelve, three years old or a little above that. At this low age, it's hard to say military. Completely child soldier level.

Seeing her like that, did you notice her gaze? Sleep-like open zito eyes are directed toward Shuiming.

"... so military, is it unusual?

"No, not like that..."

What is unusual is different. I tried to say that the water was bad, folding, instead Lephile rightly mouthed what Mizumi thought.

"No, I thought you were pretty young for a soldier."

Then, he seemed to care about something contained in the words, and the girl turned her jitty eyes to Lefir with a muddled look.

"I don't want a child younger than me to tell me"

"Become!? I am not a little kid!!

Shuiming exhales with a grand sigh of "Oh......" Will we talk about this again? I've been talking about something lately. I thought Mizumi would have to tell Refile later so he wouldn't react slightly or softly.

The two young girls suddenly said, "Do you fight, do you?" "... okay. Take it and stand," he stared.

And you're going to start some kind of battle, you two, out front so you can be in position.

Are you going to start a fight with these two, even on this occasion?

"Hey, Refill."

"... don't stop, Suimei. This battle, you cannot retreat."

"I can't get out of here. I don't think that's the problem."

Never did Refile hear the words of Shuiming until the end.

Two people moving to draw circles while holding each other in gaze. I'm putting some haste on my foot, and both are moving to mislead my opponent's sight. Eventually I find a good opportunity, or when Refill pops up like he's been played, the girl goes forward to fit in with it too. As soon as both bodies were thought to collide, they suddenly stopped just before the collision.

"Hmm......"

"Mmmm..."

I stare at each other so far away that my nose tips seem to stick together.

Then he flew away again with a back and lateral flight, and seemed to iterate and stagger motions like earlier, but now he would be sidelined and hit his gaze.

- What are you doing, these guys?

That was a frank question, held by Shui Ming, who sends a frivolous gaze to both of us.

Refile and the girl. He stretches his spine perfectly and stares at each other as if he were straining something. I call it a battle, but it is not a physical collision. What if this is the upper back and you want to give it advantages and disadvantages? Thoughting like those around Mizumi who are so inclined to their necks, but that doesn't seem to be the case, the two are constantly face-to-face, sidelined, and arm-wrapped under their chests all over and over again, often without knowing what that means.

Eventually, Shuiming, who went to the answer, grinned as if

(Oh, you're sticking together. with the chest)

The point would be to say so. It's a totally dorsal comparison between the two of us because it's just the appearance that the secondary traits have just begun, but well, that's probably because it's the easiest to understand. I honestly think it's strange to compare it.

But I don't know what the hell that pressing behavior before and after the timing of the stakeout means. Does it add anything by gaining momentum or temper?

Just to see the comparison between the two, the current refil is slightly smaller compared to the girl.

That seems to have been settled between the two of us, and the girl, with a soft-face like she said naturally rather than proud to win, speaks out.

"How about that. I'm more of a lady than you are."

"Kuh, you lose to a young girl in size, etc..."

Yes. When Refile says remorsefully, the girl is as if she would even kick a corpse.

"No. Now I don't have any more feelings from you about being a toddler or anything. Call me your sister. Is that good?

"Yes, no! Even if I go back to where I was!

The way it screams that we haven't lost yet, it's too unclean. The original Refill breast is enough for everyone to admit, but bringing it up now is too much for adulthood.

and the girl had a suspicious look on her words like that, "The way it was?... oh," he nodded as if to a point of convergence immediately after wondering. And

"You"

"Hey, what?

"Stop telling such dream stories. A kid your age often says that you can't tell the reality from your dreams that you said that, but when you keep saying that - you'll regret it sooner or later, won't you?

"Fugu -!?"

Does that mean Sick Sick Two? If you don't know what's going on, it doesn't even sound like Refill is saying those things without shame.

Refil, relentlessly stabbed with a knife of words by the girl, turns his back on the girl as he greets her and tries to go to someone with a bench at an unrestrained foot.

"Refile?"

"... Suimei. Can you just leave me alone for a little while?

"No, I know."

"Don't console me. Because you're the only one who has an extra stab in the heart."

……

Shuiming solidifies with a smile. On the other hand, Refill sits a little physical fitness on the bench, burying his face in his knee and not moving. Now only then is the darkness deeper than the throats of the devil clan. In other words, she is the one who is so miserable today.

Then the girl in the example walks over slightly to Mizumi.

"You, it looks like you're from a family you don't see around here, but where did you come from?

"Oh, I'm from the east. That kid, Lephie, is the daughter I know."

"East? It's not Astel, is it? Still Oriental. Right?

"Sort of."

The questionable gaze and language would be based on the race in and around Astel. When Shuiming admitted, the girl glanced at him once and said, "Is it still," and now she stared at him sharply changing his sleepy eyes like a falcon.

"... hey"

"Shit, Ensign!?

There is a low voice of condemnation coming from the mouth of Shuiming. There is such a voice of confusion from such a young man.

Did this military girl even think you were a spy because of the statement that you were from outside the allies? The swordswallowing of the neighborhood grows in obscurity to the audience of killing and magic she emits.

"What are you doing here?

"I don't think you need to answer that."

When Shuiming says so, the girl still releases her magic mightily. If a normal human being is decently relative, it is not a strange level to be unconscious.

"Shit, Ensign! Oh, calm down - hi!?

"Out of the way."

And, with one glance, the killing and magic turned towards you. A young man pushed by intimidation to hit his desk. You would be on the side of the Empire. Why are you spreading hostility when you do it? The gendarmes are also hardened and unable to move.

Then Lefir, who had been quiet, also responded to the air around the peril and rushed over.

"What's up, suddenly"

"For a little kid, it's irrelevant. Be nice over there."

"Adultery… in this situation where such a sword swallowing mind is sprinkled"

"That's right. This is for those who threaten to harm the empire."

"- Hmm?"

Refill throws a sharp word, in such an ambitious and harsh tone that he doesn't think he suffered an unbroken defeat earlier, wondering if he breathed cold into the girl's words.

"What an imitation of intent to kill against a man who tries to take over into the city the right procedure imposed by the Empire. Does the Imperial Army even educate so shamelessly to do this to the unspeakable?

"What?

"Since the Imperial Army is said to be stricter and cleaner than any other army, what is the matter with Article 12, paragraph 3, of the Imperial Military Outline? Can you say that your actions now follow that outline correctly?

To Refile's words, the girl's face changes bitterly. Is it the discipline of the Imperial Army that has now come out of your mouth? The pointed girl often staggers her gaze like a rifle and a cut of a sword, then chooses to follow the law.

"... fine. I'll pull back this time. But..."

So punctuated, the girl turned again to the water, throwing her cold gaze again.

"- This is an empire. Don't imitate funny things."

Shuiming says a little aside against words and intimidation of a tone that is not familiar to the girl.

"What if I told you I'd do something?

"I'll kill you."

The girl said without any hesitation. Very cold.

Is that a familiar word for a girl? I thought maybe I tried to provoke you, but so far? This girl, in Japan, would be as old as she just went up to middle school. Shuiming, who is Japanese, still feels complicated about such a girl releasing such threatening complaints.

Whether that's Japanese arrogance trying to push someone else's happiness, I know it is. If cultures are different, ethical consciousness is different, and if times change, the age of expropriation is different. It would be remarkable if there were different worlds with civilizational differences.

Having compassion for child soldiers here is a form of self-righteousness that ignores the will of the person. Although, of course, the presence of child soldiers is never affirmed.

For a moment the eyes of Shuiming were about to turn to pity, but he quickly returned to their original condition and dared to go on.

"Oh, come on, baby girl."

"Toddler girl, yes. If that's what the kids there say. Still, like you, I didn't know a discerning adult would say...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... I'll pull you off to the Imperial Military Court."

Girl poking her index finger with her fluffy face in the loose water. He was unexpectedly cute when he was restless in frustration. On the other hand, Refill had his eyes triangulated, "Tell me yet..."

In anticipation of the breakdown of swordswallowing, the young man in question breaks in as if he were afraid of being "so-so".

She also understood that the girl was joking, and turned her back, without showing any sign of swordswallowing, as she had done earlier.

"... I'll be back"

The girl said so and took the roster and left to the city door.

"Hmm... sorry to bother you before you went in."

At the end of the pressing time, Mizumi exhales in relief. Then the young man exhaled a greater relief than the watery one,

"Please don't do anything that provokes you, too. He's with Ensign Xandyke."

"No, I'm sorry"

That's what I said. Scratching my head behind me like Mizumi was bad, I speak out like Lephire remembered.

"Right. I thought it sounded familiar, but is that Liliana Zandaik?

"You know what?

"He is one of the leading wizards in the empire, with one of the seven swords, Rogue Zandaik, in his father. As a young man, I hear he is also named after Empire Twelve Yukie."

"Heh. Mizuki would love to hear that."

To the Seven Swords, Empire Twelve Yuji. An unfamiliar word popped up, but to observe from its mouthfeel, it must be something like a title to which a powerful man takes his name. There is something similar on earth that shows the strength of magicians and swordsmen, but does that exist in this world?

The story of Refile seems to be the right one, and the young man in question nods yeah.

"Yes, it is. So I don't think we should imitate it that way."

To his attention, Shuiming said, "I'll be careful," and this story was over.

A young man in charge urges Shuiming and Refile to the bench.

"Now this will be your last confirmation over there, please wait a moment"

Mizuming stares at the remnants of the girl's magic, while Refill lets her legs hang around to distract her from the sight of waiting, and those called by the gendarmerie and lined up behind her come in.

The traveling humans spoke to the youth as they filled out the documents provided.

"Hey, you hear that? Talk about a brave man being summoned in Astel."

"Yeah, you sure were Master Reggie. Of course I hear you."

Reggie and his familiar friend's name, Mizuming's ears react pickly. Lefir, who knew one thing about Shuiming, also turned to Shuiming.

(Swimei. Sure......)

(Oh. I think you're talking about my friend)

I didn't know you were supposed to have stood that many days since your trip. I didn't know you were already talking about travelers. Decorating the cut of the travelers' stories seems to have done something. When he sends his inner praise that doing everything with a cheerful face is the same, the two men on the journey continue their conversations with the youth in question.

"In recognition of the highest ranking of all the attributes of the Wizard Alliance, the two named Champions of all genus"

"Oh, that's awesome because you say you can manipulate the magic of all attributes. Champion of all genus"

"It's a great two names, isn't it, champion of all genus? I'm a civilian, but I admire you."

To the words unleashed in three consecutive times, Shuiming laughs without any skill.

"P... kuku... so stop it..."

……

Seeing Shuiming, who was somehow chewing off the laughter, and Lefir's strangely pounding, something surprising was said in a somewhat excited tone that oil began to ride on their tongues.

- I hear you've recently destroyed an army of demons trying to attack the city of Kranto, led by Astel's army.

"And that's when they defeated the Demon General, too. I'm talking about Rajas or something."

The first thing that surprised me about that story was Refile.

"What!?

"Dude... what happened to this?

It was Shuiming who changed his expression to something surprising.

They said, "That's amazing. Not long after they call me, I've already made such a feat..." he looks at me, caught in another different surprise than the young man who leaks his admiration.

Apparently, it's a funny story before you know it.