Konjiki no Moji Tsukai (WN)

Later in the night, at a time when everyone would be asleep, Akwinas was alone, looking up at the starry sky with wine in one hand on the terrace.

Then quickly tilt the glass and moisten your throat before closing your eyes quietly.

"... I didn't know you were coming back to this country."

Like talking to myself, I put out the words in the state they were.

Then a small shadow emerges from behind, illuminated by the moonlight, revealing its expression.

Akwinas slowly opens his eyes and opens his mouth so that he has a complete grasp of who the person is.

"- Lillin?"

The shadow's identity was one of his fellow Japanese travelers - Lillin.

"Well, I didn't come back because I wanted to."

Akwinas turns to her. All I see is a child talking in a grumpy, pointy mouth.

"Huh, but I'm surprised. I didn't know you were with such a person. What kind of wind is that?

"What does that have to do with you?

"That's a lot of words, turn to your brother"

"Don't be ridiculous. I don't think of you as my brother."

"Huh... you're the same.... hmm?

Turn your gaze behind Lillin like Akwinas noticed something. But she shrugs her shoulders as if she had already noticed the signs.

"You can come out."

It was Siuba who emerged from the shadows according to her words.

"... sounds like you have some good escorts"

Look at Siuba. Akwinas is impressed.

"Well, I'm just worried about him."

Siuba does not pinch her mouth and refrains beside Lillin with an unusual and serious look. Apparently he sensed signs of Lillin leaving the room and withheld for an escort.

"... I didn't know you hated this country so much that you would take your own feet like this... You mean that's all there is... for Hiiro Okamura"

"I don't know, it's up to you to decide."

I laugh inclusively and never speak a clear answer. I stare at her eyes like that jiggly and loosen her cheeks fluffily.

"... he was liked by a troublemaker, too."

"What do you mean, they liked you?" Hey, why do you have to like this weasel so much? No way! No way! Demand correction now!

In response to Akwinas' story, he yells as he turns his face bright red and pokes his fingers vigorously, but Akwinas gives an unexpected look when he sees him.

"This is... I tried to tease you a little bit, but apparently it's not even full."

"Oh, stop that convincing face! Look, what you're thinking is clarity, barren, and imagine not plundering fine dust!

I look at her and say with a disturbing breath, and I flatter my shoulders just saying that my current reaction is enough. But it's useless to say any more and change the story.

"By the way, you haven't heard it yet."

"Ha-ha-ha... ah? What is it?

This is why I came to this country.

"... Huh, don't worry. I have no intention of doing anything in this country. I just had some errands nearby."

"... what about you?

"Oh, I'd rather be Hiiro for something"

Lilyn told me that she wanted to read a book in which the sun color was housed in the area of "Depth 5" in the "Fortuna Grand Library".

"Right. Sounds like what His Majesty was saying was true."

Akwinas had asked Yveam that he wished to join the war in Japan in consideration of issuing an admission permit to the library.

If I tried Akwinas, I thought it might be false information such as risking my life like a book, but I was surprised that I was really taking part in the war with the book in consideration.

"You can rest assured that the permit will be issued correctly."

"Of course not. Because that's the price."

I unwittingly loosen my cheeks against her saying things like sun color.

"Right. So you're saying you're in this country for a while?

"I guess so"

At least you can't leave this country until the sun color says you're tired of library books.

"Right..."

Seeing Akwinas conceived with some serious look, Lillin hits a sharp gaze.

"Hey, I don't know what you're thinking, but if you're going to tie Hiiro to this country, stop it"

"... well, why?

"He doesn't like to be tied to something, and I don't think there's a vessel that can control him the way this country does."

"The only great power in the demon kingdom..."

"Assuming you try to tie him up by force of difficulty, this country will now be the enemy of him"

…………

"Besides..."

……

"If you're going to do that..."

Lillin makes his red eyes shine even more suspiciously.

"This eagle can't stay calm, either, can he?

Akwinas opens his eyes slightly to a gaze that clearly contains killings. And I also realize that there is comparable hostility being directed against me from Siuba, who refrains behind it.

"............... you're a really funny person Hiiro is"

It was surprising that Lillin was so obsessed with others and with humans. It was also something she had no experience of defending others who were not her subordinates.

Now Akwinas is quite stunned, though not on her face as she has changed. I became more and more interested in the existence of a sun color that would change her that much.

Regardless of this war, there were mountains of mysteries in the sun color, and it was not an object of interest, including its personality.

I also noticed that Yveam had more fondness than a friend for the color of the sun.

Even though I know how many times I have met him, I can only say that I am naturally interested in the color of the day that attracts people to this point, including myself.

I know all about the pals of the sun who came to see me today. Without even being frightened by Marione's killings, Nicki, who should still be small, came out in front of the sun and tried to shelter him.

Mikazuki seemed to be hiding on the back of the sun color, but he seemed convinced that it would be safe if that was all beside the sun color. And these two.

(With that said, that marione also seemed to break with Hiiro at some point)

Apparently, Akwinas is beginning to feel that the presence of sun color may be something that attracts people just to be there.

Besides, while he was human, beside him were the 'Beasts', the 'Demons', and their half-like people.

(This escort seems to be wacky, too)

I do not realize that Siuba is a 'Spirit', but I grasp that he is not a normal being.

(You're the one who puts all these other races aside......... you're really funny)

That's what I think, I look at Lillin, who's still staring at me.

"Lillin, let me ask you one thing"

"... what?

"You haven't... given up yet, have you?

Then she tries to flinch around with her arms together and say a word.

"Naturally!

"............... right"

To put it that way, Akwinas had nothing more to say. The look, according to the viewer, would have seemed somewhat convincing and included something like sadness.

And Lillin said nothing more and left the scene behind.

Around the same time, Yveam the Demon King also reflected in his eyes the starry sky that Akwinas was looking up to.

What happened today is something that will certainly make a name for itself in the history of the world.

Betrayal of the 'human race' in peace talks.

The "human race" joined forces with the "Beast Nation" to attack [Demon Nation/Heros]. There is even a betrayal inside the 'Demon Nation'.

- War.

Very short in words. But the truth is the reality that death and pain reign.

There's nothing to gain.

No, we will certainly gain safety if we destroy the hostile forces. And maybe we can have peace.

But is that really the right thing to do? Compete with someone, hurt them, kill them, hate each other... is there real peace ahead, etc.

How has it stopped people from joining hands?

Long ago, he said, there was a world where everyone laughed at each other.

There would have been fights and such between individuals.

But still, it never developed into an act that took the other person's life. At least that was the time of year.

And yet how did this happen in this world? Yveam was clouding his expression as he gazed at the beautiful stars.

"... the stars are so beautiful... how can people defile each other's hearts?

Now it is also winter time to put it on Earth, so white breath is exhaled from her mouth.

And I recall what Rudolph, King Victoria, said in today's talks.

'So if, from now on, someone killed your family on that side, your lord is pointless, such as vengeance. That we can solve this in a discussion... that we can laugh and talk to that person?

That's what they asked me, and I said I still can't give up on taking hands together.

But betrayed by reality, he hurt many of his compatriots living in this country. Some of them are dead.

When I think about it, I still feel black emotions gushing out of the back of my chest. Grayaldo also died and asked Akwinas at dinner that he was missing about Tekkail.

It's all because of the person who started the war, too. If they hadn't gone into such outrages and so forth, we could have achieved a good result in the talks by now, and we could all have laughed at each other.

I have conveyed that in the worst form of death and pain.

That reality was bitter, hard, sad, hateful. I really want to hit this emotion on them, too.

Yveam grabs the railing on the terrace with his face distorted by chest pain.

"No... if you act like an emotion, that's what's really irrevocable... Huh!

I desperately make excuses for my emotions so that I can forgive them. But still, the hatred must not fade.

(… Kiria)

At a time like this, I was sure Kiria, who was always there for me, would comfort me. But the girlfriend is no longer beside herself.

Betrayed by her, who had kept her full breadth of trust, Yveam was about to break her heart.

I couldn't do it anymore when I was alone this way and celebrated the night and recognized with clarity the reality that there was no Kiria.

Instead, tears pour out.

(Why... why... Kiria)

Kiria, who always supported me beside her. Kiria reached out to me when I was lost. We've spent our days together as a matter of course since we were young.

He was like a best friend, a sister, a mother, a very warm being.

"Kiria... Kiria..."

Then for a while, her whimpering continued.

The next morning, the colours of the sun were called to Yveam to watch in The Room of Kings.

The color of the sun was something I noticed when I saw Yveam's face.

That is that her eyes are swollen compared to yesterday. You seem to be trying to delude yourself with makeup, but you're not hiding it.

I could probably decide last night that she cried, but I somehow understood why.

This time, she suffered many betrayals and heard that those she trusted most had also gone away.

Speaking of demon kings, she still doesn't look mature. Age may not be as good as it looks, but mentally it won't be any different from those teenage daughters there.

That's what I judged when I was actually meeting and talking to you two. She's sweet. And brittle.

I didn't think there was enough vessel to bind the race. Yet he stands on top and is also in a position to bear the painful choices and hard situations. That would be too much pressure for her.

Besides, he doesn't even have such a bold personality that he can spend the night peacefully betrayed by those he trusted. I also knew the sun color that I had a nerve as thin as a line.

Neither do the other heavy ministers seem to notice her face but are trying to talk about it.

Have you slept well, guests?

Makes me want to hear about you, but the sun color is silently looking at her. Then she put out something like a single card from her nostalgia.

"Hiiro, this is what the example promises"

like a phone card. It is decorated with gold with an outer frame and a black winged shaped mark.

When Yveam came before the sun color, he handed me the card.

"I see, is this the Deep 5 permit to enter the deepest part of the Fortuna Grand Library?"

I would receive and observe from her, but if I looked closely, it did mention it as a "depth 5" permit. With this, I can enjoy the library from corner to corner.

It makes me laugh unexpectedly. I thought I was going to be sorry for a while without getting bored.

"If you lose it, it's gonna take a lot of time to reissue, so be careful, okay?

Returns a gentle nod to the attention from Yveam.

"Yes, Master! Show me, too!

"Ah, like Mikazuki!

Two children try to reach for and grab a card with a sun color.

"I don't mind, but if I lose it... you know what I mean?

You feel something zoggy on your back in your sun-colored gaze. Stop moving. But you still want to see it. Two gazes concentrate on the card.

I had no choice but to call my attention again before handing it to him. Nikki, who received it directly, laughs nicely and observes amicably with Mikazuki.

"But Hiiro, we're still at war. The library is also closed for the time being. That's all you gotta understand."

"... there's no choice."

Surely now there are still 'Demon Nation' enemies lurking around. This will not be the case if you are open to this emergency.

But if you try the sun color, I want to go as soon as possible. The dilemma of being able to go but not, irritates me sexually.

"Hey, when are we gonna open the library?

Naturally, that's a question to ask.

"Right. At least since the end of the war."

Certainly would be right. We don't know when we're going to be attacked. In the present situation, the country is in a state of constant tension. No matter how many leftovers, no, they can't act on their own because they're leftovers.

"I see. But I want to read the book as soon as possible. This war is over."

Yveam solidifies with his mouth open and pocan in the sun-colored words.

Lillin is leaking a sigh of sighing like a "ha".

"Yes, no, Hiiro, that's where we want it too, but now we're just looking at each other's ways out. I think this situation will continue for a while..."

"I guess. Try them, they cut off a lot of power. It's only natural that we should wait for reinforcements from our own countries to boost our strength."

Yveam nods back and affirms to the sun-colored words.

"I was supposed to capture the second prince Lenion and use it to negotiate an end to the war..."

Lenion has escaped me, so I can't use the plan.

(No, I doubt that that Beast King will let the war be shaped by the life of one son)

From the impression I had once met and fought Leo Wood, the Beast King, I did not see him as a person who would prioritize one's life and miss an opportunity.

This is a perfect opportunity for the beasts.

This situation, which can also cross bridges and lead the forces of war to the demonic realm, is a chance to dominate the 'Demon Nation'.

It will not be easy to drop the 'Demon Nation' that is operating Cage Castle, but it will nevertheless be none other than now that we can freely deploy all our forces around this country.

It shouldn't be so easy to stop the fight.

"... that's it for now. You should turn off the road first."

Yveam frowns at the sun-colored whine.

"Road? What road?

"Ah? You don't notice? It's up to the bridge that's their lifeline, right?

I keep looking at you not to say it's natural.

"Bridges can be both pathways and exits, right?

"Oh, oh."

"If you turn it down there, you won't get any more fighting power, or you can lock up the guys who came to the demon kingdom. If we hunt him down with a crocodile, the rest is a bag of rats."

"Ya, sure..."

Yveam gives his finger to his mouth and nods with a convincing face.

"Oh, but Hiiro, it's certainly best if you can do that, but how do you drop the bridge? Perhaps the enemy should focus on protecting it. It's never easy to drop."

"I hear you've dropped a bridge before?

Previously, Yveam, along with Akwinas, has dropped a bridge that connects the 'Demons' with the continents inhabited by the 'Beasts'.

So I put the word to her this time, thinking that it would be easy for her to do it, but the person at the time looks rugged.

"... that's hard"

"Why?

"Dropping the bridge was my primary purpose then. So I was ready in advance. Besides, I never thought they'd drop the bridge, so you stood halfway up to my move."

Last time, Yveam used his greatest magic and a lot of blood to build the greatest magic to drop the bridge. But it seemed to have been prepared in advance.

The magic of that time can be used for the first time by synchronizing the magic of Yveam and Akwinas. He also practiced quite a bit because of it.

Though they can make it work better now than last time. But it will still take time, and most importantly, it will not be a situation where the other person will silently overlook the ritual for use.

If Yveam comes, he'll definitely be targeted first. That would be the intensive attack. Not very much, but I can't use magic that requires a lot of concentration. I will always be disturbed.

"Sure, no fool would tread the same as last time"

"Oh, and the magic I used then was something I had to preempt the construction of the ceremony"

"Hmm? What do you mean?

"I mean, you need to assemble the ceremony by the day before you use it and carve it as a mark on your body."

In fact, last time, she was painting a magic ceremony, a so-called magic formation, on her own belly. Moreover, once drawn, no other magic can be used in that magic formation, and it takes a lot of magic to write.

That's exactly what she said she was ready for beforehand. Besides, the magic formation takes about three days to draw.

"I will be useless for a while if I use it for that. I'm going to fall asleep. You can't let me fall asleep in the present situation."

…………

"Besides, there's quite a distance to the bridge. I can't leave the castle for long now. That's what you can tell the Demon King's Guards here."

Yveam says as he turns his gaze to the Akwinas.

"I see. If that's the case, come on. Sounds like you can't use that magic. And when you go to the bridge, it's bound to be a battle, and there's going to be damage."

"Exactly. Regardless of the advantages of breaking the bridge, there are many. I don't really want to break it, but I can't help it now."

I get a sad, sad look on my face.

"But as things stand now, it's hard to turn our forces to break the bridge. He should be consolidating his defense so that his opponent doesn't get broken. If we collide, we'll have a fight of considerable proportions."

It's a lifeline for them. They will protect you crazily in death so that you don't miss this chance.

Intercepting an attacking opponent isn't that hard, to tell the truth. Because if we take the next step, we can continue to maintain our protection as long as the strength difference is not overwhelming.

But this time it's the other way around. If you're going to break a bridge that's the object of your opponent's protection, you're going to need a lot of fighting power. Besides, it will definitely be contentious and the damage will be done.

"So I think Hiiro's decision to break the bridge is right, but it's hard to implement."

Yveam lays down his face and swings left and right like he's tired.

"Then you can go alone, right?

"........................... Huh?

Since the sun color pronounced the words as though it were natural, it hardens with its mouth open as if it had been poked into the void.

"What are you mocking? Are you listening to me?

I frown grumpy because Yveam never returns a reply.

I hacked her with that word,

"Uh, yes, no, Hiiro? Alone... what do you mean?... alone?

I guess I got hooked on the word "one" enough to ask back twice.

"Oh, I don't want to lose my power. If you don't want to dilute the protection here, you can go alone, okay?

"... Oh, no, yeah, right. Hiiro's right, if you're alone, you won't be so inconvenient. But like I said, you can't move the Demon King's Guard, right?

"I know that because I just heard that. I know you didn't say anything about moving them around here."

"Huh?.................. also, could it be?

Yveam punches his eyes and looks at them.

"If I go, you'll be fine."

The air on the field calmed down and again only Lillin's sighing could be heard.

Pitty, cold things fall on my cheeks, hacking and opening my eyes. I've been asleep, but I still haven't woken up, and I look around with a vain look without being able to tell where this place is.

And he finally remembers what happened to him, and moves his gaze with a chirp to let the light dwell in his eyes and look for something.

"Chika!

Daiichi calls the name of Thousand Jias who slept in the same way nearby. And I do my hand on her cheek, feeling a little cold but definite warmth and howling.

"Good...... Chika"

I still won't wake up, but apparently I feel relieved that my life has nothing else to say. And check the perimeter again.

This place is like a bell cave, and if you look up, you can see several thin rock groups like needles. And water is dripping off that pointy rock.

They woke me up from sleep because the drop hit my cheek. The ambition thought that the falling water would probably be something where moisture in the air condensed in the cold.

Because quite a bit of cold reigns in this cave. I was given a blanket once, but even if I wrapped my body in a blanket like this, it's still cold.

In this situation, the fact that Chika is safe was also salvation for the great ambition. I might go crazy if I was alone in a place like this.

"It's finally happening, su."

That's when I heard voices coming from the dark.

I'm freaked out by my sudden voice and stare into the darkness as I stiffen my body.

Then I hear petapetas and someone walking. And slowly a shadow emerged from the darkness that looked like a person.

"Surprised to see you here again, brave man?

The eyes of the grand ambition are wide open. That should be it, too. Because he knew it existed.

"... Oh, that time... painter?

The Great Ambition recalls. I met the person, certainly at the royal castle of [Victorias], when the birthday of King Rudolph and First Princess Lilith was taking place.

Lilith explained to me that she was a famous painter of everything and exchanged words with him as well.

The impression was that he was an unusual person, but he had an atmosphere that seemed good to people, and his ambitions were quite fond of him.

"Ha, sure... Nazar?

I had no idea why he was in a place like this and why he was handcuffed.

"Oh, I think you remembered."

He delightfully narrows his eyes peeking through his depressing bossy hair that takes half his face.

"Hey, why are you...?

No matter why, I don't know why. Besides, I must have been caught just like myself, more than I was handcuffed and trapped here.

But I also find the presence of him creepy. Stand forward to shelter Chika by accident.

Seeing such an ambition, Nazar looked troubled, as he feared,

"It's okay, Sz. I'm not gonna do anything to you guys."

"... incredible"

"Well, that's ssss. I don't want you to move from here. I want you to feel safe."

He sat down on the spot to represent his intention not to move.

Seeing his attitude like that, the ambitions also loosen their guard a little first. I would not deviate only from my gaze, but equally lowered my hips on the spot.

"Let me introduce myself first."

"Introduce yourself? Nazar, right?"

"Mm-hmm. That's a fake name."

"What? Fake name? Oh, why?

The major aspirants did not know why famous painters named pseudonyms meant anything.

"Oh, well. Is that a name for a painter or something?

I thought it was like a cartoonist's pen name or a handle name in the online world.

"Mm-hmm... I'm pretty sure you call yourself that as a painter. But from a situation like this, I'm going to name it after you again."

"Oh, oh."

"Oyla says Tekkail Sizer, sss. Even if I look like this, I'm getting the rank of" Serial Third Place "for" Direct Guard of the Demon King. "

"Become!?

Unexpectedly get up and enter the fighting posture again.

That should be it, too. Because they say it's the Demon Clan. Plus, the owner of top notch strength. The reaction of the grand aspirant would be natural.

I am a brave man and came to [Demon Nation/Heros] to dominate the 'Demon Nation'. And there was a war.

Tekkail blues his face thinking it's not strange to try to kill himself, the 'Demon Nation', the brave man.

Seeing such an ambition, Tekkail flaunts his shoulders with a bitter smile.

"Don't worry, it's okay. I'm not thinking about killing anything."

"... why?

"I didn't take orders like that, from S.S."

"Orders?"

"That's right. The Lord of Oyla, the Demon King, has no life to kill the brave."

…………

"Besides, in this situation, I've decided it's better to join hands than to antagonize you."

"What is this situation... you know where this is?

"They brought that in. You know that too, don't you, S.?

So the grand ambition reminds me of when I came here.

I got caught up in a big tornado and thought I had been flown somewhere, strange people appeared ahead of me. Chika was taken hostage, and there was no way to accomplish it. I had to listen to them.

When I followed him around as an adult, it was a cave. It was quite dark inside, a space that also blocked the light of day.

If you think you were taken to a large hole in the cave, it was a trail, and the entrance was also fitted with a lattice, as if it were a barn.

Then the man who led me here threw Chika abusively onto the floor, so she accidentally cuts and pokes her fist at the man, but feels tremendous pressure on her belly and breaks her knee.

When the man threw a blanket at Chika with his squatting comrade, he let something like a bracelet fit in each hand before leaving the scene, but the comrade flew his consciousness intact.

"Well... Mr. Tekkail is"

"Tekkail's a good one."

"Ah... Tekkail got caught here by them too?

"That's right. I don't know about the man who brought you here, but I'm gonna be a senior more than you guys."

Speak as lightly as you put it aside. Watching Techcale is going to make me forget the seriousness.

"Don't you know about him? Then who are you here to?

"It's..."

At that time, the lattice opened with a ragged noise. They urge their gaze toward you. There was one person standing there. He's the man with the cross wound on his cheek who brought the comrades here.

"Well, did the man finally wake up?"

Speak face-to-face with Tekkail. Yes, Tekkail had been pretending to pass out and watching after giving Judom the information he had.

So this is the first time we have ever met face to face.

"The Lord is calling. Follow me."

My ambition rattles my throat.

"Ugh..."

Another prisoner wakes up as I measured the timing.

"Chika!

"... I... ambitious...?

Chika looks at the ambition with a nod of her eyes open. Anxious that he opened his eyes, the ambition strokes his chest down in a ho.

"Just fine, all three of you, just get up"

And when I say it again against the three of you to follow me, I turn my back. The great aspirant holds his fist, wondering if he can seize his opponent now.

"You shouldn't, sucker."

Tekkail whispers a voice of restraint.

"Hey, why?

"You don't understand, do you, sss? This is the middle of the enemy land. You can't tell how many enemies there are, but if you do something bad, not only you, but that kid will be in danger, too, right?

"Ah..."

What Tekkail was saying was right. Sure, there's only one man with a cross wound here right now, but if you step outside, you might have a lot of enemies.

Even if you capture a man, it doesn't mean you can be safe.

"Besides, he's a strong sucker. You think you can win without a weapon?

"You have magic, don't you?

"Apparently you haven't noticed."

Tekkail squeezes his jaw and points to the right hand of the great ambition.

"That bracelet, the Devil's Sealed Bracelet" suss?

"Huh? Is this a demon?

"It's the same as these handcuffs on the oila."

Having said that, the handcuffs embedded in Tekkail are more powerful than the comrades.

That's also why we're so dangerous about Techcale, but it's the same in the sense that we're sealed with each other's magic.

"So you can't use magic, you can't defeat him in this situation without weapons?

"Oh, that's..."

"Plus the kid's still awake, asshole. It's better for you if you obey me."

Take Techcale's word for it, and the grand aspirant drops his shoulder like he gave up.

"... ok. Chika, can you stand?

"Ugh, yeah......"

I have no idea what the situation is. She could only snort.

"I know you've got a lot to ask, but now you have to be patient with me"

"I'd love to hear about where this place is, what happened, and the person, but it doesn't seem like that kind of atmosphere."

Chika finally wakes up and convinces herself that it's an unsatisfactory situation.

"What are you doing? Come quick."

There was a man's voice and the three decided to stand up and leave the cabin.