Maou No Utsuwa

Today is my first ascent to the castle since I returned to the Imperial Capital after my trip. It's not like there's any particular purpose. It's a little greeting at the beginning of my vacation.

It's such an errand that I surround the table with Princess Sophilia, enjoy the tea treats, and just talk to the public.

"Yes, it was a pleasant vacation, wasn't it?

"Yes. Enriched,"

It was Alto who responded to the voice of Empress Sophilia. Nor does Alto, who usually speaks in an unreliable way, just as he did in front of the Sophilia Empress, opposed him with a nervous face.

As usual, Kamui serves as the center of the conversation and bridges well with each, but Kamui has been looking out at the window, somewhere in the sky, without joining the conversation.

Kamui, at this rate, the role of turning the conversation around is something Serene strives to do, but that Serene doesn't open her mouth very much, either, in a seemingly awkward position.

Only Alto and Lutz left to talk to then. [incomprehensible]

In two nervous people, yes, it's not something that plays conversation or anything.

"Kamui-kun, you're very sweet, aren't you?

"Hey, it's been weird lately,"

"Yes. Sick, is there no reason for that? Is there something wrong with that?

"I don't know, I guess. In the case of Kamui, it can sometimes sink deep into your thoughts, so I think that's it."

"... you can talk normally. It's hard to hear you say no."

"But my advisor..."

There's another one in the room. Zenlock standing near the entrance. It is intended to keep an eye on the extras, but its gaze is tough on the alts who are inside. I won't tolerate disrespect, that's the place.

"Zenlock! Don't threaten me that way!

"Threatening, etc., is outrageous. We're just keeping a tight eye on the weirdos so they don't get too close."

"Inside the room?

"No, it's"

Zenlock shriveled once and for all as the Empress Sophilia turned her harsh gaze on her.

"I'll allow it. At least, in this room, no salutations are required. That's good, right?

"... Ha"

Not so much with this, Zenlock is not a man who can't read the air.

"Come on, this is good, right?

"... ha. Then sweeten your words."

The same goes for Alto. I honestly decided to break the word.

"Mr. Serene isn't well either, is he?

"No, I'm fine"

"Really? But you didn't open your mouth much earlier."

"Oh, Serene feels so annoyed."

"Lutz!"

He was Lutz, who broke the word and said it was good and would loosen it up to his head.

"What, what's a nasty feeling?

"It's"

"Shut up! Lutz!

"Afraid of that. Then Mr. Deefreet will hate you."

"Bullshit, stupid! Don't give me that name!

"... ah!

When I got here, I wanted to suspect that Rutz's breadth was deliberate.

"Deefreet hates you? What, what!? Really!?

Princess Sophilia is surprised to learn the meaning of the conversation between the two.

"No, you don't! Mr. Deefreet and I are just friends!

"You're dating, right?

"No, so, that's completely different!

"You don't have to deny it so desperately. Me and Deefreet are just candidates for fiancée, because there's nothing more to it."

"But..."

"Even if it did, I wouldn't blame you for what happened before the engagement. Well, if the other person is Mr. Serene, it's better. How much safer than not knowing where and what kind of woman you were dating?

"... is that what it is?

To the words of Empress Sophilia, Serene's feelings are also loose. This is the same as I've already admitted.

"That's right. But there's Mr. Serene and Deefleet. I thought Serene really liked Kamui."

"That can't be it"

"Really? It seemed that way."

"Serene must have lost her love because Kamui was so feminine."

Here again, Lutz has pinched an extra mouth.

"What kind of woman is that?

"That, don't you know? What am I supposed to say? Do you feel like eagling at the hearts of so many women?

"Yes, Kamui-kun?

I can't imagine anything at all about Empress Sophilia, such as the way Kamui dictates one woman after another.

"No, it's amazing. I just dropped a woman."

"And surprised."

"What is that..."

Though Lutz seemed likely to show even more breadth.

"Lutz!!

With his gaze pointed out the window, Kamui yelled out loud.

"What, what?

It was the Princess Sophilia who surprised me more than Lutz. The reason why Kamui suddenly yelled is not known to Empress Sophilia.

"Don't say things with speculation. Rude to the other guy."

The words that followed were silent in tone, but with unspeakable majesty.

"... bad"

"Dear Sophilia, can you get to the courtyard you can see from here nearby?

Where Lutz was silenced, Kamui inquired of the Sophilia Empress.

"Oh, yeah, the exit's on the ground floor."

"Can I go check it out?

"Why?"

"I couldn't breathe in the stone royal city because I was surrounded by nature during the holidays. I just wanted to be surrounded by trees."

"... that's good. Let the lady who's holding you back outside guide you."

"Dear Sophia!? If you're walking around."

There's no point in watching people stay away from each other. That's what Zenlock tried to stop.

"Zenlock, because it's good. Let him like Kamui-kun."

"But..."

"It's good to go outside, but don't walk around too much, okay? They think you're suspicious, they'll catch you."

Ignoring Zenlock, who still tries to stop him, Empress Sophilia gives permission to Kamui.

"Yes. Okay. Bye."

Leaving near the window, Kamui left the room straight as it was.

"Too well, idiot"

Just checking that, tap your head gently and embarrass Lutz alto.

"Bad. Shit, that's definitely pissed, right?

"It's obvious, right? Well, I'm sure you'll still be fine with that."

"I hope so..."

"Maybe Kamui-kun got mad at you for talking about women?

Where the two conversations were broken, Empress Sophilia asked Lutz.

"Come on?"

"Who's that woman?

"Come on?"

Lutz didn't try to answer the name he was about to say earlier.

"Oh, you won't tell me?

"Because Kamui told me not to."

"Even at my request?

"We serve because it's only a camouflage"

"... yes. Where's Mr. Serene?

"I..., I know a little bit about that woman's pain, so I can't speak lightly"

I had thoughts that I would never be tied to. Even if they're different, that's the same for Serene. I can't be Serene enough to be willing to communicate that thought to others.

"Well, then, this story is over."

"Excuse me."

"Fine. Because it's just curiosity. So what shall we talk about?

"Oh, I have to give it to Princess Sophilia."

"To me? A souvenir, perhaps?

"No, you're not. I could do what I had prepared. This is it."

What Alto offered was a pair of rings.

"... what, I wonder. Alt-kun, are you trying to dictate me?

"This is a magic prop. Analysis of the drug determined that this is better than the antidote"

"Oh, yeah. Mind if I ask how it works?

"Absolutely. First of all, you're on medication. That medicine has the effect of adding a mixture to the magic in your body. Well, even if it's a mix, it's magic too."

"Yes."

"Just a mixture of impurities different from the original magic makes the movement of magic in the body unstable. The results of the analysis showed that it may have had a slight effect on the body, such as slight fever and body weakness."

"You can do that."

When it comes to magic, the Demons have far more knowledge than the people. I knew it as a story, Princess Sophilia was reminded of this fact.

"I thought of it as a way to counteract that effect: magic filtration. The point is, except for the mixed ones. Put on the ring, and when you put it together, the magic in your body circulates between them. Only then will we stop impurities in the ring."

"Is this Alto?

"No way. I don't have the technology to do this. They sent me from the realm."

"Yes."

"I think I'll be fine if I don't take my pills, but there are some things I'll have to take in front of me, and I could use another method. It's for then."

"Okay. Thanks."

"One caveat. If you wear it, the healing magic won't work either."

"Well, you know what?"

Accepting healing magic means accepting the magic of others into your body. This ring also removes magic for healing.

"It saves me the trouble of explaining and helps. That explains the magic trick. Now, the analysis revealed something."

"What could it be?

"This can't be made by a doctor. It is something that will require the knowledge of a high magic guide."

"I guess so."

"But for that matter, the target is narrowed."

"But there are quite a few who can be called magicians."

"No, it's an extremely limited number of sorcerers who can make this"

"How do you know that?

"There is no magic that works for others on four-attribute magic, but there is only a limited amount of magic that it can do. And its users are also limited. The magic guide analyzes magic and facilitates its activation. So it's only based on the magic of the user"

"A user of divine magic gave you medicine?

"It has no effect on the body to the detriment of divine magic"

"Dark magic......, no way the devil tribe?

Dark magic. Empress Sophilia spoke of magic that was not officially recognized.

"No way. What good is it to the Demons to do that? Why target Master Sophilia, even if the bounce is a setup?

"If you ask me that, yes. Your Majesty or your father if you're after him. Who would that be?

"Don't you get it yet? There must be someone in this country studying the magic of the Demons."

"Someone like that?

"You don't know? Where's Counselor Zenlock?

I don't even know him.

"Oh, no, I guess that means it was completely informal."

"Who is it?

"Commander of the Imperial Mage. I think it's more of a regiment than an individual."

"... no"

Alto talked absurdly, but for the Empire, it's a hell of a bomb statement. If the Imperial Mages had acted to harm the royal family, etc., it would not be a fuss.

"Surprised there's an Imperial Mage leader involved who's not supposed to be interested in a power struggle?

"Yes."

"As a matter of fact, I can't tell you how the chief of the Imperial Mage is involved in the power struggle. But I think things should think about the worst. As our enemies are the Oriental House and the Imperial Daoists, this one?

"You have nothing to be sure of."

"Take it easy. You don't have much time, do you?

"... you know what?

"If that's about His Majesty the Emperor, I know."

"That's the thing."

"I'm not impressed with the hiding. This one also drives a lot of calculations crazy. Just do something about the Westerners and the Imperial Knights. Uh, you don't win. What about you?"

…………

"If you care about Serene, do you want me to take your seat off? Most of all, Serene is already ready. Right?"

"Yes, of course."

"Okay. Sometimes the engagement with Deefreet is going well because it's more aggressive. The Knights of the Empire..."

Stuck in words. That's the answer. The uptake of the Knights of the Empire has not progressed. Alto knows why.

"You mean at all? Aren't you ready to use your sister as an instrument of political strategy?

"Straight way of putting it."

"I don't have a choice of words. Besides, deception is bad for Her Royal Highness Princess Claudia. Be sacrificed to win the political battle. I think it's sincere to say so clearly."

"... I think so."

"What about the north and south?

"There's nothing to get involved with."

"That's for now, isn't it? If His Majesty breaks down, the North and the South will take their place."

"Right. I'm sure you two will."

Given his loyalty to the current emperor of the North and South, what Alto was saying was also convincing to Empress Sophilia.

"Well, it's better to stay neutral because it doesn't have to be bothersome, so it's good enough to be careful not to be attached to them. And the Kingsguard Knights?

"I swear allegiance to His Majesty the Emperor, whoever it is. That's the Kingsguard."

Zenlock returned the answer to Alto's question.

"You're neutral until you decide. The National Army has no say. You're wrong about this, aren't you?

"The National Army, made up of conscripts, has nothing to do with national politics."

"Do you ever somehow reflect your opinions?

"Because there are Imperial Knights at the top. Certain endorsements won't get you there."

"What about the central aristocracy?

"I think this one's the dominant one, but in the end, we're going to win."

"I guess so. That means if one big force flips over, you win."

"Right."

"West and the Knights. If we solidify this for sure, we won't lose that way."

"You can't be absolute."

"Then we'll need another support force."

Subtle alto is guiding the story in the direction he wants. It means that with Alto even without Kamui, this much negotiation can proceed.

"As I just told you. There are no forces that are clearly on your side. Maybe enough to pull through the Wizards."

"You just need to show a little inclination, right? There seems to be a lot less influence. There's one force like that."

"... the border."

"Yes. I have no influence over national politics, but if it's the next emperor's choice, it's not the story. No one would want the border to disobey simultaneously."

"Do you have that much influence?"

"If not now, you can make it. The point of influence of the border is to make people think they don't want to crusade the border in the center."

"That's what you do."

"Well, don't be like that."

"Strengthen the power of the border and make it a major influence in the battle for succession to the throne"

"Not big enough."

"It's big, isn't it? I mean, you're the next emperor, right?

Princess Sophilia, who can see this, is not a fool. But Alto is better at negotiating.

"Come on? I don't know if that's gonna happen right now."

"Conditions?

That's not what I'm talking about.

"Kamui-kun."

"Is Kamui clear, too? In his case, he's the type to look at and think about what he's ready for."

The Princess Sophilia, who understood it to be a far-fetched way of putting forward the conditions from there, organized in her head the conditions that Kamui would want.

"Okay. Eradication of fraud against the border. Improving status"

"So?"

Alto's reaction to the extent of what it is.

"... improving the status of other races"

Although slightly hesitant, Empress Sophilia uttered the word.

"What's an improvement in status?

"Prohibition of persecution, emancipation from slavery"

"I don't know."

Not enough yet.

"... treatment no different from that of a human race as an imperial national"

"Dear Sophilia!?

Zenlock gives a surprise voice. It's easy to say. But it's not easy to protect it. There should be a tremendous backlash. It will come from nobility, from the people, from other countries, and we just need the strength to hold back that rebellion.

"I see, it's an out-of-the-box condition. Sure, there's no one else to make that promise. But the reply depends on Kamui. Yeah, can you add that there's nothing to hide?

He said he pulled out as much as he could pull out, but Alto never uttered a word of convincing that it was only Kamui's decision at the end.

"Fine."

"Hey, I heard a good story"

"You guys are scary."

It's not just about the terms. At some point, Princess Sophilia realized that she was more aggressive in the succession struggle. I'm not saying it's all the Kamui's fault, but I'm pretty sure they're coming where they can't pull it off.

"Are you going to be on my side now?

"I'm scared either way, enemy or ally."

"Yeah, I don't really think you should say those words."

"Why?"

"That means you don't trust them. To put it to the polar theory, the idea is to turn it off if you want to be an enemy, right?

I'm not thinking about it.

"It's a good thing that people think that even if they don't think about it. I think you should be careful what you say if you stand up there."

"Right. I'll be careful."

It is not the way the Emperor's mouth works against the Empress. But there is something in Alto that will allow it.

Kamui is not the only one who is not. Empress Sophilia was also a little scared of the Kamuis.

◇ ◇ ◇

Kamui, guided by a samurai, went out into the courtyard, looking up at a blurry, high tree. I've been nodding and restless in my chest ever since I finished my vacation.

I know why. Words I've told you with a small, trembling voice. That's what's left of my ear forever. I said I would carve it on my chest, but I didn't even think this was going to happen.

After vacation, Hildegand and I haven't met face to face yet. How should I treat you the next time I see you? I am worried that I will be able to deal with it as before.

"Can't you think about it? That's when it happened."

I dare speak up and squeal like this.

"Besides, I've made up my mind."

And now, as I tell myself. My position is set. That's why I'm still here today.

I don't have time to worry. Because when I was left, it was much shorter than I thought. I repeated such a grid in my head several times, where I finally decided to go back to my room, through the trees in the front, and saw someone walking in.

Eventually it was a man a little older than himself who showed up. It is clear from the outfit you are wearing that you are not a guard soldier.

"Whoa, you, it is, who is it"

A frightened tone calms the person's gaze on the back.

"My name is Kamui Kreutz from the Viscount Kreutz family"

Although uncomfortable with it, Kamui usually names it.

"K, Viscount Kreutz. No, Nort Ende, that was it."

"Yes, you know very well."

"Shit, I don't know what to do with the Empire's territory."

I'm not scared. Kamui figured out that he was speechless.

"Excuse me, may I have your name?

"Telleys, Va, Weitz, Burke."

"Excuse me!

Kamui, immediately on one knee on the spot, bowed his head. Therese Weitzburg. A man was in front of him, the brother and political enemy of Princess Sophilia.

"Just get up. No need for extra courtesy."

"... then excuse me"

Without hesitation in the words, Kamui stood up.

"Here, be, what are you doing?

"At Her Royal Highness Princess Claudia's invitation, I came to see you."

"Shit, the college, blame, are you a student?

"Yes, I am taught in the same class as Her Royal Highness Princess Claudia"

"Oh well."

"Um, can I ask you something?

"... then what?

"What is Prince Therese doing in this place without accompanying him?

"I'm here to see how my sister is doing."

"Could it be the greeting of Her Royal Highness Princess Sophilia?

"Shit, I know, huh?

"Yes, I have heard about the illness. I also greet you."

"... ho, I'm fine, it was. or?"

"Yes, you said you had a slight fever, but not a problem for us to talk about"

"Oh, well."

It was clear to Kamui that it was not the prince himself who was trying to harm Sophilia when he saw the relieved face of Prince Thales when he heard about it.

"Shall I show you to your room?

"Good, heh, the room, I know. Oh, and, uh, when I see you, you know, all kinds of things, and, uh, trouble."

"... Really?"

I know why I'm here. Kamui swallowed this question. Because even though I know I won't see you, I know I had to come worried.

"K, Claudia and, uh, together, you know, Hildegand and, uh, together, right?

"... Yes"

"Oh, my God, what kind of woman is that?"

"He's a strong man."

"I mean, are you strong, huh?

"Yes."

"Strong, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa."

"Yes?"

"Whoa, I'm, uh, my body's, uh, weak. She's stronger than herself. So, hey, that's good."

"... oh. Not in that sense, no, they do say it's the strongest in the college, but not only that, it's a woman with a strong heart."

"I feel, I feel, I feel, I feel, I feel strong, I hate women, too."

"No, the... But he's cute."

"Hmm?"

"He's noble, he's strong, he's straight, he's a little clumsy. And he's so cute."

With Hildegand in mind, Kamui uttered every word in his head.

"Whoa, you...... Shit, are you close?

"Just a little, we're getting along."

"Oh, just a little."

"Yes, just a little"

"... oh well"

I heard only a few voices from behind where the conversation broke off. The voice seems to be calling the name of Prince Therese.

"Looks like you're welcome."

"Oh, yeah, right. Oh, hey, can I see you again?

"... I thought I probably couldn't do that"

"Oh well. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

"Yes."

In a few words, Prince Thales, who can perceive this, may be described as wise. I found that out. Kamui's mind was getting somewhat confused.

"How about a political opponent's, uh, original, passing, wow, translated?

"Yes."

"Well, you two, uh, wanted to talk, you know, listen, but, uh, I don't have a choice."

"I understand your disrespect. Aren't you going to be drawn from the dispute?

"Damn it, you hear that?

"I didn't think you wanted a fight."

"Holy crap, Emperor, what, what, what, what, then, there isn't. Seriously, it's hard on my sister."

…………

The words of Prince Therese pierce Kamui's chest.

"But if, if, say, my sister, hey, is going to win, then. Now, support me, do it, give it to me."

"... Yes"

"Just, please"

To the descendants of the Borderline Lords, this is what Prince Terrays can say, whose heart also seems preferable to Kamui. Besides, Kamui decided to try and sweeten it thoroughly.

"Do me a favor, too, will you?

"Become what?

"... can you take care of Hilda, Master Hildegand?

"Whoa, you...?

"We know that I am not in a position to ask for it. But..., please"

"... wow, ok. Hey, a little more, uh, quick, I saw you, I'm glad, you know."

"I think so now, too"

If I had met with Prince Thales first, Kamui's breasts would be even more painful given the possibility.

"Come on, first, go. Oh, look at my face, if they see me, it's gonna be a hassle, right?

"Yes. Now, if you'll excuse me"

Turn around and head straight to the entrance to the building. Forced to hold back the feeling that I was about to crouch into the spot.

It was meant to go straight for purpose. To protect my people's whereabouts, anything that disturbed me was going to kick ass and just push on.

But the enemy to be defeated is by no means a wicked man, but a kind man caring for his sister, whose companion has engraved an important word into his heart.

Had I met Prince Therese first, would I have chosen Prince Therese instead of Princess Sophilia? If so, what an unfounded decision my decision was?

Still, I'm not going to get better for a while. With that in mind, Kamui returned to Princess Sophilia's room.