Legend

Time returns, hours after Ray ran off the Empire. Dusker, in the position of representative of the Kingdom of Mireana, had come to the castle.

Naturally, there are elk and min figures around Dusker as escorts, as well as several other figures of knights.

It is only natural to attract attention when it comes to the nobility of the Kingdom of Mireana, who beat the Bestian Empire in the spring war, but other than that, Dusker had reason to get attention from the castles.

That's Ray, who set a record of semi-finals at the martial arts competition.

Naturally, participants from outside the Bestian Empire have also won or semi-winned only the martial arts competitions that last for many years.

But it was the first time that the people of the Kingdom of Mireana, also a long-standing hostile nation to the Bestian Empire, had won the semi-finals.

Fortunately for the upper echelons of the Bestian Empire, in the end the winner would have been of the Bestian Empire. Regarding this area, the prudence of the prime minister, Pasche Gat, has become our reputation.

For the upper echelons of the Bestian Empire, the Kingdom of Mireana… that would certainly have crushed their face if Ray, the biggest cause of their loss in the Spring War, had won the Fighting Games.

Either way, Dusker comes to the castle with such a gaze on him and hopes to see the Chancellor.

If normal, he is also a prime minister in a position of considerable superiority among the empires. It's not like I can see you right away in hopes of seeing you. That's who I had to attach my promises to for over a week if I did poorly a few days ago......

However, even here, the Dusker's position as the representative of the Kingdom of Mireana was successful, and the implicit announcement that the matter of meeting was very important made it possible to do so.

As such, he leads the knight to the Chancellor's office.

"Excuse me, Chancellor Pache. Dusker Larks, I've brought you the border uncle."

"Okay, let's go."

Soldiers who hear back from inside and open the door.

Dusker leaves the knight of the escort on the spot and takes only two Elks and Minn into the office.

(Whew)

A dusker inside the office accidentally roars inside.

Rather than being a giant, he doesn't work seriously when it comes to the prime minister, because of Pache's physique, which can be described as obese in one way or another? That's how I thought it was, because it looked exactly like the prime minister of the opponent, with all the paperwork on the executive desk, and quickly through his eyes he was writing something and distinguishing it.

Most importantly, if the Bestian Empire considers it impossible for the incompetent to be in the position of prime minister, this would have been a natural consequence.

When the pache glances at the documents in his hand and writes down something, he turns his gaze into his room… to Dusker only, to be precise.

"Well, it was a sudden visit, but as for this one, I'm very confused. Was it something that needed a rush? Anyway, have a seat. We took the corner time, so let's take our time."

Tell the maid to bring a drink and something to eat lightly, and Pache leads Dusker to the couch, where he also sits across the street.

Dusker sits on the couch and Elk and Minn stand behind Dusker as before.

That's the same for the pache, who stood behind the pache with the same three escorts sitting on the couch as before.

"With that said, is there no deep red today? The final of that martial arts tournament was also shown to me, but it was a great fight. I didn't know we could cross each other that far with immovable noise, which is also our country's hero."

Pache praises Ray for his good fight, even as he leans his neck against how he can't see him.

However, some of the words seeped the intention that it was the people of their country who eventually prevailed.

"No, no, I never thought Ray could cross that far against the Rank S Adventurer, either for me or for me. As far as that battle goes, it's probably not such a far story to be rank s equivalent when it comes to combat power. Fortunately, we have some Rank S Adventurers in our country, so you might want to think about letting them teach you."

In the near future, two adventurers of rank S strength will become adventurers belonging to the Kingdom of Mireana. To the Dusker who makes it smell that way, Pache gives a look like he only chewed up a bitter bug for a moment.

In fact, that's an unmistakable fact, because that was bothering Pache's head.

Even if it doesn't reach S in rank, it's not that far from reaching Rank S if it's purely combat power. Furthermore, although it was a battle in various shackles with each other at the martial arts tournament, in Ray's case, there is his partner Seto, who can also be considered his wife.

That much fighting power in years of enemies would be very uninteresting as the Chancellor of the Bestian Empire.

"... Kohon. Surely the future of the Kingdom of Mireana might be bright. So, what the hell are you doing today?

While exploring our bellies, Pache realizes that we are unfavourable changes the subject somewhat.

"Actually..."

And that's when Dusker hangs on to something, and the maid Pache just ordered comes back to the office with tea and dried fruit.

Stop the words once and wait for the maid to leave before opening her mouth again.

"Let's get back to Ray, who was on the subject earlier."

"Hmm? Is that the problem with the clothes you're going to wear to the awards ceremony or something? This will be the case in the Kingdom of Mireana, but there are many who are tough around it in our country"

In contrast to Pache, who talks like that, Dusker shakes his head beside him in silence.

Having seen that attitude, which is realistically manifesting itself as if it were not that kind of problem, Pache frowned slightly and opened his mouth as he waved its relaxed cheeks.

"He said it wasn't a matter of clothing. No, well, I didn't mean it this way about that... So, what's up?

"Actually, Ray ran under me."

"... what?

I heard an incredible story. With that look on his face, Pache once again turns his gaze toward Dusker.

What you see there is a bitter smile.

(... bittersweet? An adventurer who crossed quite a bit with the noise of Rank S said he ran under himself, but he can get it done with a bitter laugh? Impossible. Then we will miss out on the mimighty power of our own... So this run is intentional?... Wait. Running away?

A quick thought on the inside connects a single thread in the pache.

At this time of year...... yes. Ray ran off by chance at a time when Merclio, the third prince who was under house arrest, was taken away and considered a rebel. That's what they say, and I don't like pache enough to believe that it is.

The gaze toward Dusker, who is gracefully drinking tea in front of him, naturally sharpens.

Still, there's no way I can loudly accuse Ray of running, more than there's some kind of evidence.

(even... but even more troublesome at a time when His Majesty's life makes it impossible to move in a detour)

The castle was attacked in the midst of a large number of invitees from other countries, and the third prince faction led by Merclio was turned into a rebel.

I have succeeded in fixing it because it is the Bestian Empire, but the situation was such that I was crushing my face as a country to the point of lethality if it were a normal country.

There is no way to clean things up, nor can we take a detour because the Emperor has ordered us to look aside directly on this matter.

I understand the pache of what the emperor's aim is, but I couldn't help but think that at a time like this nothing...

Because the result is a large amount of paperwork that I have been deciding on until recently.

Look at Chirali and the pile of paperwork overlapping on your desk, and even more now you anticipate more work to do, and understand that you can't go to the store you're always looking forward to eating tonight.

"So... do you have any idea where Deep Red went?

From the timing, it would be obvious where it went. Especially when it comes to running, Griffon should be with him, and maybe it's not strange that he's already joined the third prince faction that turned into a rebel.

But without being able to put it in his mouth on this occasion, he asks in white.

... Besides, Ray was bandit exorcising instead of joining the Third Prince at this time... just wouldn't be able to figure that out.

"Well, where is it? He said he would work out to be strong... but he didn't say anything else."

"That's... I mean, if Deep Red ever breaks any laws in our country, you don't mind if they judge you or you can't help it, do you?

That's not a question, but a word that says the certainty as it is.

If this seemed to show any difficulty, that was the word that came out of the thought that even the Bestian Empire could not be seen...

"Of course. If Ray had committed any crime, it would naturally have been brought to justice under the laws of that country."

Dasker himself says so softly.

If there's anything reluctant here, it's because I'm still seen as connected to Ray.

Even as a Dusker, I fully understand that the Chancellor of the Empire in front of me doubts himself.

No, not where I suspect. There was also the thought that I would already have gained certainty.

But still, if there's nothing to prove, it's just suspicion.

That's why I needed to make it clear that my relationship with Ray was already broken.

Naturally that's not just here. After this I would have to go to the guild in the imperial capital and hire someone in the form of a temporary escort to show that I and Ray were already irrelevant.

(Even if I told the Chancellor, if he could stop reporting it as just a story here, it could mean me and Ray are still connected.)

He whines inside and opens his mouth with a grin.

"Even this one, I'm worried about the escort because Ray's gone. I plan to arrange additional escorts for the Alliance after this."

"... I see"

I guess I was thinking exactly what Dusker had in mind. Even though the pache, which was a step up here, slightly piqued its rich cheek flesh, he answers so.

Still, I guess it's only natural for you as Prime Minister to have a small grin without putting it on your face.

"I see. Let's also contact the guild here. It'll be quicker."

"Can you do that? Even if this is the case, I hope the people I hire are good."

"... but even after we've already run, it's going to be a lot of trouble to be absent from the awards ceremony at this castle."

"If I could use the help of the Chancellor around there, Even as a person in the Kingdom of Mireana, I am sorry for this incident."

Putting the name of the Kingdom of Mireana in the conversation is still shielding its victory in the spring war, I guess.

(But... the deep red, which played an important role in that spring war, ran, albeit ostensibly. And he's likely joining a third prince faction considered a traitor. So... is this a good opportunity for Ningro? But guess who? It's obvious from watching a fighting competition that even if you hit a half-breed opponent on him, it's not enough to do something about it.... I see. Martial Arts Games, huh? That's a good chance)

I quickly do the calculations in my head, and eventually Pache nods under the guise of an inadmissibility.

"Okay. Let me get my hands on this for the award ceremony. However, I want you to remember to protect the story that was decided at this meeting."

Dusker's gaze sharpens for a moment as he realizes something in words that he would include toward himself.

But by the time Ray told me about this, I was already expecting some trouble. With that in mind, for what Ray's going to struggle with something, it's bad to say, but close to what he deserves.

Still, though, I couldn't stop a bitter look from coming to my mind.

It is true that Ray and I have such relationships as adventurers and employers. Still, it would be natural to have the emotion of intimacy without denial if we acted together.

Still, there's no reason to hesitate here, and Dusker pushes his inner expression to death and nods.

"Okay, so that's it."

Don't die, Ray. With that thought.