Maou No Utsuwa

Fooled. This was Serene's first thought when he saw the building.

A lonely building that leaves the boulevard and enters a dim alley. The door is closed and I can't see what's going on inside.

Serene was supposed to treat Kamui to a meal as promised, but Serene did not know the dining room of the Imperial Capital without the opportunity to eat out. I had no choice but to leave the store to Kamui, and I came this far behind that Kamui, but the building in front of me is very hard to believe as a dining room with no sign or anything like it.

By the time I got here in the first place, I'd already felt scattered and disgusted.

The curious gaze of those nestled in the back streets. There was even something in there that I didn't think was a very good gaze at children.

Still, if you try to come with Kamui patiently, this result. Exactly. Serene also has the limits of patience.

"Hey, where did you bring me?!?

"Where's the dining room?

"This is the dining room?

"Don't even go in there and doubt it. This is a fine dining room. Well, I think it's delicious."

"... really?

There is no atmosphere in which you are lying to Kamui. Most of all, it's a mistake to just believe in the atmosphere because it's a camouflage who lies in the face.

"What are you suspicious of?

"You're not trying to get me into a weird place, are you?

"... over-conscious. For me, rice is better than you."

"What the hell!?

"Don't get mad at me anyway, okay? We're running out of time, so we're going in."

"... you must be really okay, right?

Serene, too, is still a noble lady. Drinking by the suspicious atmosphere around me, I am quite weak.

"You're gonna be okay, aren't you? It's more dangerous to be stubborn here."

"What does that mean?

"I'll talk about that when I get in. We're going into the store anyway."

I can't stay with you. With this thought on his face, Kamui opened the building door and went inside. Still, the confusion doesn't go away from Serene.

As I was worried in front of the door about what to do, Kamui immediately turned up.

"Is it really dangerous to stand alone in a place like that?

"Don't bring me there."

"Let me in because it's good. Because if you look inside, you'll know it was an extra worry."

Kamui told me, Serene peeking inside through the crevices of the dreaded door. Indeed, there were several tables lined up inside, with several guests dining. I'm somewhat concerned about the suspicious guest base, but there seems to be no doubt that this is the dining room.

Open the door wide and step in. At that moment the surrounding gaze gathered in Serene.

"No more, no more."

"Never mind. You'll lose interest soon."

"Really?"

"It's not like I'm looking at you.... Let's go over there."

Thus Kamui turned to a table away from the other guests.

I still feel my gaze, but when I couldn't help standing, Serene also followed Kamui.

After a little while sitting at the table, this again comes a man on the strong side who doesn't seem like a clerk, with water.

"It's unusual to bring a woman, isn't it?

"Oh, he's my friend. Alto and Lutz also know each other. I'm going to introduce you to Dark next time."

"Right. Then let's remember our faces."

As soon as the clerk said so, the gaze of the surrounding guests left Serene.

"Oh, it would help if you did. Sometimes it's good, right? I also remember the face of such a pretty girl. Not all tough faces."

"Must be. What do we do with the order?

"Two of the usual ones. And drinks."

"Okay."

Serene opened her mouth as the clerk left her seat.

"Hey, what do you mean?

"The Admiral is now doing the cafeteria dude thing, but he used to be quite a face player. You're totally retired, but a lot of people took care of you. Even now, it's heavily weighed."

"Face role...... Doesn't sound like a decent profession, does it?

He was partitioning the back society, so he's pretty much up there, even in an undesirable profession. However, I'm not going to serene the details, not in Kamui.

"Well, this is the place."

"Why are you bothering to bring me to these places?

"Whatever we talk about here won't leak outside. That's the place. You lost your sight, didn't you?

"Yes."

As Kamui put it, the unpleasant atmosphere I was feeling just now has disappeared beautifully.

"When I came in, I was wary that a face I didn't know had appeared. But I understood around me that the Admiral was a trustworthy man because he said he would remember his face. The rest of us can talk safely."

"Why are you in this store?

"We're from an orphanage. I've been there for a short time, but the others have been there for years. I know a lot of people."

"How does an orphanage connect to a place like this?

Serene has no way of knowing the circumstances of an orphan.

"There's a limited number of places where orphans can work. There's a lot of seniors around here."

"... yes"

"I'll tell you first. You don't want to get divulged, the same goes for other customers. Never take anything you see or hear out here. All right?"

Kamui's face, which Serene has never seen before, is serious. How dangerous it is to break the rules of the back society. To make Serene understand that, Kamui dares to show his tough face.

"... I know."

"The real story is after the rice comes. Until then, let's talk appropriately."

"Even if they say so.... That's what you just said about me, pretty girl."

"You're a man of love. That's the way you put it. The Admiral would love that, wouldn't he?

"Yeah, I guess so."

Be a little more loving to yourself. I think it's useless to say this, so Serene stopped talking.

"But you've been getting a lot of attention while you've been here, haven't you? Be careful, all right? I don't think anyone who goes into the Admiral's cafeteria does anything weird, but serious scouts could persevere."

"What's a scout?

Serene doesn't know the word scout. It's a word that has no ties to nobility.

"Solicitation? Be sure to ask me to work for you at our house"

"Well, what kind of work do you have?

It feels good to be appreciated by people. I thought so, Serene.

"You're a whore."

"Die!

With one word from Kamui, I was about to run out.

"What is it? Unlike the Glades, this neighborhood is full of legal luxury whorehouses, right? According to what I've heard, the seller woman makes a lot of money. I've been taught to live better than a poor aristocrat."

"Are you going to recommend whore work to your friends?

Unlike Kamui, Serene has a bias against whores. It's more resistance than prejudice. Naturally.

"Are we friends?

"I don't know. No!

"I'm kidding. You've changed your mind, haven't you? I think it felt calmer."

In the first place, I started talking to Serene recently. Until then, even in the same group, it felt like there was some distance. This is mutual, though.

"Even I'm still twelve. Sometimes the years are right."

"Oh, my God, that's awesome. Well, then, you're a whole kid, aren't you?

"It's nothing good. Sometimes I want to be sweet."

"That's who I am?

"... right. I got the wrong guy a little sweet."

"Nothing good, though.... You're royal, aren't you?

Suddenly Kamui has changed the story. Because I realized that I felt a little used to it as well as Serene. I don't trust others easily. Regardless of past abuses, Kamui is committed to this.

"That's right."

"What was the original country name?

"The Kingdom of Ericsson"

"... I don't know. I'm not supposed to know. I'm not going to tell you the original country name."

Border territory is only part of the Empire. I don't teach at Imperial College what the original country name is.

"Well, don't ask"

"It's a story. Can I ask you one more thing?

"What?

"When was it destroyed by the Empire?

"I'm gonna ask you something bad."

"Bad"

"My grandfather's. About fifty years ago."

While complaining, Serene answers Kamui's question. It was before Serene was born. Selene herself doesn't have memories she doesn't want to remember.

"Before my mother was born, too? I don't know."

"But in history, fifty years is recent. It's been a thousand years since the Empire began invading another country."

"... right. Sounds good to me when it comes to founding a nation, but destroying another country makes an empire."

That's what I'm talking about.

More than 90% of the Empire's territory originally belongs to another country. There is the glory of the Empire today, destroying many nations.

"Is my grandfather still alive?

"He's dead. When it's destroyed. You saved your fathers' lives at the price of your own."

"That's some subtle way of putting it."

The way Serene says it, it never sounds like he's praising his grandfather for doing it.

"He didn't have to give his grandfather his life to kill them all. Your father said he didn't want to see his country transformed into an empire."

"... Was he a good king?

"What do you think? But you old people miss the old days."

Fifty years ago. There are still many who survive. In this respect, indeed, Serene is right, it is not yet history, it is an event in memory.

"So it was a better country than it is now? Well, naturally."

"Sort of."

Serene doesn't know how it actually went. But the desire to believe it was made Kamui's inquiry return the affirmative word.

"... how old are you?

"What are you asking me? Same age, right?"

"But your father's over fifty, isn't he?

I was alive when I left the country. Naturally, he will be over fifty years old.

"That's right. It's already sixty."

"No, don't do it, your father. Nearly fifty years ago, you had a baby."

Older if over fifty. It's not a strange year to die. It's not strange that Kamui is impressed.

"Hey, don't be weird."

"But don't you?

"I was getting married late. As old as I am when the country perishes. But I don't think they allowed me to marry inside."

"Why?"

"Dispute over rights. If you let the queen out, the house will have real power. He's always been so loud about our daughter."

Border territory, a destroyed country, imposes various constraints on the lords themselves. For that matter, the influence of his wife's home, an Imperial nobleman, is often greater.

"Right...... So in the end?"

"I cried to the emperor. Whoever you marry, you'll buy another house's grudges, so do something about it."

"Yeah, you're pretty smart. So you think the emperor chose someone?"

"Yeah, a little bet. Even emperors can't pick one nobleman somewhere that easy, can they? I ended up marrying an imperial aristocrat and an unassociated man."

"You did well."

Actually, it would be luck. Instead of paying the aristocrats, there was a possibility that they decided to marry.

"Not that far. But even if it prevents certain aristocrats from freeing the country, that's all I'm talking about. It doesn't make any difference that the Empire is sitting here."

Officials are sent from the Empire to the peripheral territories. It's called a watchman, but that's not the end of it. It also gives a lot of mouth to the consular government. Often for your own rights.

"But I was able to protect my direct blood muscles. It doesn't matter from me, but as a royal, it's pretty important, right?

"Right. But thanks to that I..."

"You got something?

"It was to meet the expectations of everyone in the country. One day, Ericsson will be brought back to life."

"You, the successor?

"Do you call it a succession? I'm pretty sure she's my only daughter."

"... you won't leave the Empire alone, will you?

Serene also has quite a bit to bear. To get distance, the intention to change the story was to bring empathy for Serene into Kamui's mind on the contrary.

"Right. You would try to marry me with some noble son. Who I don't know with anybody anywhere. Well, if you were royal or noble, that would be normal, but I knew it. And no one in the country will admit it. It's hard. Sometimes I get crushed by the weight of what I carry."

"Bad. Did I make you talk weird?

"Fine. It's all I can say. When you get back to the country, you can't throw up weak noises."

"... well. So you wanted to be sweet?

"You said you got the wrong guy, didn't you?

"Nothing good, I said."

…………

The same is true of Serene, who reduced the distance between his heart. This was the first time Kamui had been born for Serene that his generation of opponents could cry.

Between us, there was an unspeakable atmosphere - at that time.

"I'll get in your way."

"Yikes!

Serene gave a girly voice to a voice that was suddenly hung up. The Lord of Voices is the Admiral with the food.

"Oh sorry, did I surprise you? It's a good vibe, so I thought I'd do something about it. I thought if I waited, the food would get cold, so I let him speak."

Unlike the first unfathomable atmosphere, he speaks to Serene in a casual way.

"You don't have a good vibe, do you?

"No, from the side, we definitely looked like lovers to each other."

"... it's not"

"Really? And you're the one who's been calling about this lady."

"What? That?

"You didn't notice? Your daughter won't tell you anything, so I thought that was the relationship."

"It doesn't!

Serene also rushes to deny in an attempt to solve the general's misunderstanding.

"Really? The way the lady looked before she had a difficult conversation, she seemed old enough. Wouldn't that be something to show anyone?

The face of a sensationally grinning general does not change the fact that he is a strong man, but there is something in his eyes that makes him feel innocent like a child.

"... Admiral, now, that's how you want to confuse us, isn't it?

"Well, there is."

Childlike innocence was a late innocence playing pranks.

"I knew it."

"But if we don't do this, Kamui will try to make a girl aware, right? Just knowing how a man feels doesn't keep the world alive. It's the first time I've known how a woman feels. No, don't you forever know what it's like to be a woman? Wahahaha."

The general laughs when he says the most. As much as I wonder what Serene's first impression was, he looks in a good mood.

"Fine, put the food down and go back."

"Oh, right. Let's say the interrupters disappear."

One last time, when he laughed heavily, he set aside the dishes and the Admiral left the table.

…………

The two of them are somewhat awkward. It must mean that it fits the sentiments of the Admiral. Kamui opens his mouth to try to break the atmosphere.

"Can't you eat?"

"Right. What kind of cooking is this?

"Soup"

"You'll see! I'm listening to the ingredients!

At least Kamui seems to be good at pissing Serene off.

"I'm not sure about each and every one of them. Anyway, they're busting and simmering all sorts of things."

"... it's delicious, right?

Kamui's explanation doesn't sound very culinary.

"Oh, I guarantee you the flavor"

Serene with a spoonful of dull soup in your mouth, like a fear.

"... delicious"

A word of admiration spilled out of his mouth.

"Right!? It seems like it would be nice to mix the flavors of various ingredients. Try that meat too."

"What kind of meat is this?

"Come on?"

"Hey!"

"Just try it. It's been simmering for a long time, so it's so soft."

Serene carrying meat into your mouth as Kamui told you.

"... it's true. It's so soft."

Looks pretty satisfying.

"I'm pretty sure they're all cheap ingredients. When it comes to the Admiral's hands, it turns into superb cuisine."

"Yeah. It sure tastes good."

"Right?"

The awkward atmosphere blew up beautifully thanks to the food. When that happens, conversations other than cooking also begin.

"... hey, are the injuries okay now?

"How many times have you heard that? I'm telling you, it's okay."

"Yes, but... We can talk about this in depth, right?

The conversation between the two finally gets to the point.

"Oh, I don't mind"

"You can use sacred magic, right?

To get to the point, this time, it will be a question from Serene.

"Sort of. I didn't know, but I don't think anyone could use it very much."

"You didn't know? But that's when you told me not to tell.

"That's because I wanted to hide that I could use magic itself. If I can't use magic, if I can, they'll pry, right?

"I guess so. Can I do that pry?

This is Serene's primary interest. Magic is all the talent born with. That's common sense. But Kamui is out of this common sense.

"... well, it's broken. Magic is now available because there is simply no longer a cause that magic could not be used"

Then you have no idea.

"I'll tell you now. One is the question of attributes. You know magic has a fitness for every attribute."

"Absolutely."

"In my case, they say that's the extreme and the fire-water terroir fitness is close to none. That's why I can't use four-attribute magic. This is still the case. Introductory magic at best."

"But sacred magic had aptitude. Is that what this is all about?

"Light attribute magical. I don't learn light attribute magic from the beginning because it means advanced magic. That's why I didn't know you were fit."

By being called sacred magic, light attribute magic is considered special. There's a reason I let you do that, but I'm not going to tell you that, Kamui.

"I see.... I wonder if that's unusual."

"It seems so. Too extreme in my case, but I can't recognize my strength with four-attribute magic, but I actually think people have had quite a bit of talent with light-attribute magic. It's a waste of time because many of them will be giving up their magic paths"

"Right. What about the other one?

To Kamui, who was about to finish the story, Serene urged him to explain another reason.

"Is that it? Did I tell you there's something else?

"For one thing, I said. Does that mean there's something else?

"... a woman who won't be alarmed"

Realizing his loss, Kamui decided not to reflect, but to complain about Serene.

"I don't want you to tell me. Now, talk to me."

"Not at all...... The other is my physical defect. It's like being sick. Magic can be reduced if used. But after a while, the reduced magic will come back to normal, won't it?

"Of course."

Otherwise, the magic will run out and you won't be able to use it.

"My body couldn't do the obvious. I barely had the resilience of magic. So my magic is always empty. I couldn't use magic without it."

"... you didn't fall for that often, did you? Always out of magic, right?

If you use too much magic, intense fatigue strikes your body, leaving you unable to stand. If it's bad, you can even faint. That's a symptom that happens if you drain too much magic.

"I'm not sure about that. You didn't use magic, so on the contrary, I guess you had the least amount of magic left?

"Yes, now that you can use it, it's healed."

"That sort of thing."

"How?

"Secrets"

Exactly, Kamui is not willing to talk any more. It explains quite a bit about the body.

'Cause that's what's at stake.'

"We talked pretty deep. Now it's your turn."

"What do you want to hear?

"You......, no, Mr. Serene"

Because of the Admiral, Kamui became aware of how to call him.

"It's already you,... just a little bit of you. Serene is fine."

It bothers me. Also, Serene cares. Though I intended to offer a compromise.

"Bye, Sele"

"Why are you making it short?

"Because it's easy to pronounce. I somehow figured out what was going on in Sele's country. Are there many others who are rebellious against the Empire?

Ignoring Serene's complaint, Kamui moves on.

"It doesn't look like my country is rebelling against the Empire that way to ask. I'll answer that as a general theory. That's good, right?

"Enough"

"There are many countries that are unhappy without even having to rebel. You can say pretty much everything, right? Do you need to explain why?

"You're exploiting the Empire, aren't you?

"Yes. Most of the peripheral territories are subject to heavier taxes than within the Empire. I know it's to weaken your strength so you don't start a revolt, but it's too much. Worst of all, many officials seconded by the Empire are even more on heavy taxes to fatten their private bellies. Few countries are on the verge of bankruptcy, rather than insurgency."

"Why is that allowed?

"He's an eye-spilling guy. Dispatch to the border is never something to be proud of. Without that right, no one would ever try to get to the border. You don't have to come this way."

"I see. You know what?"

Officials who work evil are outside the border. But at the border, it's too famous a story. Kamui had no idea why he was leaving it behind.

"It's already like an institution. Stay on the border for a few years and fatten your private stomach. Once I have some accumulation, I will buy a central position with that money and go back. That's how it's made."

"Doesn't that mean rebellion?

"... it'll happen as soon as there's a trigger. It's actually happening."

Rebellion on the border is not uncommon. When you wake up, you're repressed, and then you start exploiting. And, again, rebellion. This repeated.

"It's not, and it's hard to get up together?

"Who's going to be the center? There is no one who can put that together, O royalty of one country each. There's no way the Empire can leave someone like that alone."

For this reason, the Empire is trying to identify the qualities by enrolling the children of the border territories and their subordinates in the college.

"When I do, I get up and I get crushed repeatedly. Sooner or later, Uncle Neighborhood will be gone."

"You think there's a solution?

"Do you come up with that so easily? Dare I say, create a favorable royal family on the border. It would be great if that person could take the throne."

"No way, do you want that from Empress Claudia?

"I wish I could do that, but I guess I can't"

"Why?

"Because you like people."

"It's not a good thing. You mean there's a chance you'll feel sorry for the border, right?

Easy-to-handle people are great to take charge of. In that sense, Claudia is not bad as the person in charge.

"But there are those who stand in the way of the throne. You can't do that to Princess Claudia, can you? Theresa's not the type to do that either."

But on the border, there is no power to hold Claudia to the throne. Claudia needs to grab the throne with her own hands. I don't think Kamui can do that.

"I'll think of something drastic. You want me to turn off the intruders?

"Otherwise you can't take the throne. The weak don't choose the means for the purpose."

"... something's on my conscience"

"I'm not telling Sere to do that. If I were you, I'd think of those hands. And..."

"What?"

"There's a guy around me who's fine with getting his hands dirty for me. It's bad for him that I'm the only one left clean, isn't it?

"Those two."

"It's not just those two"

"Yes, you have other people. Speaking of which, what happened to those two? It was supposed to last three, wasn't it?

I don't like the noisy topic of assassination, and Serene has changed the story.

"Because Lutz has been a hottie lately. I'm busy."

"Hot?"

"Looks like you're getting invitations from the east and west."

"... because of Kamui."

East and west alone, I know who Serene is referring to. So is Lutz's purpose.

"Did I tell you to call it off?

"It's not good. Isn't it fair that I'm the only one?

"Well, forgive me"

"Oh yeah. So you suddenly showed strength."

Lutz suddenly showed strength to distract Hildegand and Deefleet. Finally, Serene figured out why.

"Finally, this is the story. This is what you wanted to hear, isn't it?

"Yes, but in Kamui's case, the next thing I want to know, it's not there."

"That's undeniable"

"Are you conscious?

"Sort of."

There are many things to hide in Kamui. Kamui knows that when you are on the side, one end of the spectrum can be peeked at.

"Kamui won't tell you what he's trying to do, will he?

"It's nothing I can't tell you."

"Really?

"Protecting our people. Making a place. Sounds like it. I just don't know what to do for it. Be strong for now. That's about it now."

"Well, you're just like me."

"Well, yeah..."

The behavior may be the same, but the content is different. You don't have to bother telling Serene this. This is one of the hidden things.

"What kind of person is Kamui's mother?

Sensitively perceiving Kamui's reaction, which seemed awkward, Serene changed the subject. However, the result is.

"You were a wonderful man."

"Yikes!

Also, suddenly he is called from behind, and Serene gives a surprise.

"Oh, what a surprise."

"... you're doing this on purpose, aren't you?

With a bitter laugh, Kamui complains to the Admiral.

"You didn't even tell me you noticed there was Noon, did you?

"Is that what this is about?

Serene stares at Kamui with resentful eyes.

"I wasn't hiding anything. I just knew you'd been carrying drinks. Mostly, it's worse to be standing behind you and not notice the signs."

"I don't care what you say..."

You don't have enough training.

"Shut up.... does your husband know Kamui's mother?

The meaning of the words the Admiral muttered. Remembering that, Serene asked.

"You can't call me your husband. Call me Admiral. And there's no need for that awe-inspiring talk."

"Yes. Bye, Admiral"

"I know about Kamui's mother. It was a beautiful man."

"The Virgin of Light is called to come again."

Sophia Honfried, Kamui's mother, is a celebrity in the Empire, and if you do a little research, you'll soon have the information.

"It's not the return of the Virgin of Light."

"What?"

"The Virgin herself. It's not just the exterior. He was more beautiful inside than that."

A compliment. The Admiral's appreciation of Kamui's mother fits this phrase perfectly.

"Were you that close?

"You've spoken to me a few times. Lady Sophia used to come around here for a reason."

"... around here?

The resurgence of the Virgin of Light and this noisy backtown are not linked to Serene.

"Is it strange? Well, yeah. It is only natural to wonder how many times the Virgin has visited such a pitiful place."

"Come here and tell me what? Is it charity or something?

It is often the case that the Lady of Aristocracy gives charity to the underprivileged. Although good intentions, popularity, and their motives vary.

"No, you're not doing anything. There was no charity, I just came here to talk to us. That's why he's the Virgin to us."

"What do you mean? I have no idea."

"Hmm. Let's hear it. How do you treat a lady with a whore in front of her? Every day, every day, every day, a woman held by a bunch of men for money."

"It's..."

Selene became aware of her prejudices. I have no choice but to feel ashamed when they ask me face to face like this.

"How do you deal with hungry ghosts who make a living from tears and sleds in front of you?

…………

To Serene, the rough lives of the inhabitants of the Glades are unacceptable. What the Admiral is saying is a crime. That's why I was told to speak honestly.

As a result, the Admiral's inquiry has no choice but to return it in silence.

"That was a mean question. Most people are good, sympathetic or pitiful, and if they are terrible, they will see it with contempt. That's normal. But that one wasn't. He did not express any such emotions and treated them in a way that was no different from normal people. It was always a pleasure for us to see with prejudice."

"Are you so happy?

It was difficult to understand Serene, who had never been exposed to prejudice.

"Sympathy is one of the prejudices. That means you haven't looked at them equally. This better be remembered, miss."

"Yes."

"There's only one emotion that that guy showed. It was just anger."

"Anger......"

"Anger at the world. I can't help it. Anger at myself...... The world would have been a little better if that one had lived better. Is this stupid..."

A general who talks with his eyes like he looks far away. The last word was a small voice close to whining.

"Hmm. It made me sad when I remembered. Let's end this story."

While trying to hide his moistened eyes in tears, he left his drink on the table and the Admiral left.

How big Kamui's mother was to the Admiral. This general's attitude shows.

"... did you know the story now?

"Oh, I heard that before. My child, I was recognized by the Admiral as my mother's son."

"Yes, Kamui is carrying heavy objects, too."

Just as I carry the expectations of everyone in the country, Kamui may also be expected of many. Serene thought so.

"Fate I was born with. I think so."

"Destiny..."

The weight of fate Kamui spoke of could not have been known by Serene at this time.