Since then I have been fighting all night and went back to my room by the time the sun rose.

I took a shower and slept like mud, and when I woke up, I predicted time again and went to Lunatic Babel, where I kept fighting until morning.

That's how I became a helo, came back to my room and burst into sleep - to this day.

Evening I was wondering what to do this evening because the White Tiger and Black Xuan self-repair features on the boulder are no longer keeping up with the degree of wear and tear.

Unexpectedly, a navy message arrived in my SEAL.

That's unusual, what a thought. The moment I looked through it, I was struck as if I had been shot through the chest with a cannon.

Oh, my God, the sender's about that sword lady, Villy, Victoria van Frede.

Looks like he was a little faint. When I realized it, about five minitos of time had flown. For me, famous - and it's no exaggeration to say she's an extinct beauty - the direct message from people seemed too irritating. Change the attribute to lock to protect it.

The content of the message, again scarily, was an invitation to dinner.

Says - As an apology for the other day, I want to invite you to dinner. The nuance that I would not see you this evening if it were convenient… was followed by a very polite and delicate text. However,

- If it's good, that friendly girl is with you.

In this last sentence, I am struck as if I had been hit in the head.

That friendly girl - I don't even have to think about it, it's about Hanu. Mr. Villey still thinks Hannu and I are close together.

I feel like I'm stuffed with lead in my chest, in a sinking mood. Everything in this situation is the result of my own invitation. I know that. I know, but...

Second, a question arose.

What if I, much stronger than I am now, become famous - and then when I go to see him, will Hannu forgive me? That's when I shook off her hand, stupid me.

…………

I just imagined for a moment and stopped thinking right away.

Because I had only a bad feeling.

Worst case scenario, they could kill you. Let's just be prepared for that - I thought so.

"Welcome. Please wait for me."

I redirected my mind and sent a reply to Mr. Villey, checking the location and atmosphere of the store, and I admired the lack of luxury. Running to the clothes store in a hurry to get dressed, show the waiter at the restaurant the invitation tag he received from Mr. Villey, and enter the store.

The lighting narrowed the store was dim and the distance between the tables was wide open. The candlestick on the table is about the strongest light source, and the faces of the other guests on the seats are not well visible. It was luxurious to use the space for private protection.

Two figures sat at the table ahead of them who were guided.

One, of course, is Miss Sword Villy, Mr. Victoria van Fredericks.

The other is Mr. Villey's one arm, Mr. Karrellen Orstead about the ice spear Karrellen.

"Holy crap, this time! Ooh, ooh, ooh...!

I'm honored to keep it to your invitation, I wanted to say, but it didn't work at all with all the bites.

Mr. Villey stands up and smiles at me.

"You've come a lot. Come on, sit over here."

Gracefully seated across the street is a sapphire blue piece with a white jacket. My hair, which used to be ponytail when I met her, is now up and tied elegantly. The hair decoration imitating the flowers was very beautiful.

For a few moments, it was seen in its appearance. but soon regained his sanity,

"And excuse me!

Chewed again. I'm embarrassed to death. I mean, I want to die. If there's a hole, I want you to jump in and make it a grave there.

I take my seat in a very tense and gruesome move. At the corner table for four, across from me, Mr. Villey. To the right, Mr. Karellen, that's the position.

This is what Mr. Villey said to the outgoing when he told the waiter to take the order down, feeling used to it.

"Mr. Ragdishardt, would that have been nice? I'm sorry if I was reading the wrong way."

"What? Ah, yes! So, it's okay!

How did you get my name? Though I thought so, I was exchanging basic personal information at the time I became a Navy member. I knew and it was natural.

"Again, I'm Victoria van Fredericks. They call me Villy. Call me that, too."

Finished, Mr. Villey shifts his deep red gaze to Mr. Karellen. He nods and opens his mouth when he's given his say.

"I am, by the name of Karellen Olstead. My men were rude the other day, and I'm sorry I didn't even say hello. You're right, I apologize."

I panicked a lot because Karellen, a shirt of the same color as a black suit and a cyan blue tie, lowered her dull golden head.

"Oh, no, no...!

Fortunately for me, Mr. Karellen raised his head immediately. [M]

"I want you to call me Karel. You... Rag, can I call you that?

"Ah, ha, ha. Shh, sorry, it's a long name..."

Mr. Karrellen, I am afraid of Mr. Karrell's generosity. I don't know, they both feel so sweet. Is this what Top Explorer can afford?

"My apologies again, too. I'm so sorry my Knights associate worked so rudely the other day."

Even Mr. Villey bows his head so as to meet lightly. I was too scared to scream weird. [M]

Don't put your hair in there for a while, Mr. Karel carries on the language.

"In the matter, he was expelled within that day. Even without you, there's been quite a bit of dissatisfaction from the rest of the crew. It may be rude to say that it was just fine...... but people like him still didn't have the right water with us. He left without complaining."

"Oh, really..."

Has that newbie - no, a former newbie - been banished? Expulsion from the cluster is exactly like disciplinary dismissal for Explorer, and it's even disgraceful. Maybe he's already had trouble staying around here, and he's gone to a place with other ruins. Somehow, I feel like I've done something wrong.

"Please, I hope this lowers the hoarding... could it not be enough?

"No, no! Oh, my God!

To Mr. Villey, who says something much scarier, he hurries and shakes his neck to the side to deny it. Or so they had put in enough blows to faint on that spot. I also thought it might be a little too much for a boulder to go further into exile, but I didn't put it in my mouth.

Kusu, Mr. Villey smiles. Then is it my fault that the light looks as bright as it was lit there?

"Then I'm glad. Come on, let's get this far for a tough story. Hey, Mr. Rug. It's a different story... Can I talk to you for a second?

"Yes? What is it?

"I need you to think about something. Let's get straight to it."

A deep red eye bordered by brilliant golden lashes accidentally shot straight through my eyes.

"We are ready to welcome you as the third seat in our Knights of Pale Red Flames. Could you be one of us?

"... Huh?

There was a strange voice, like the diaphragm cramped.

Is that it? What is it, this feeling? I've felt it lately. Oh, yeah. It feels the same way when Hanu threatens to 'be my friend if you don't want to die'. Such discomfort, like seeing a moment when a little bird sounds one.

"... uh...?

I didn't quite understand what Mr. Villey meant, and I tipped my neck. Confirm just in case.

"Oh, you know... [third seat], if I remember correctly... Captain, I came with the vice president, and then the next great man... I think...?

"Exactly"

Short and concise, but forcefully Mr. Karel agreed.

――――

No, I don't know what that means.

Me? The Knights of Pale Red Flames? To number three?

"Uh, uh... kidding, right?

"Do I look like I'm joking?

Mr. Villey was a true face. Carrell next door is staring at me with a serious face.

Huh? Ho, really? Seriously?

If that's true, it's a hell of a place to be. I'm one of the top guys in the group.

No, there's no way.

My mind, which seemed to reflexively grow wings and fly away, suddenly, petrified and heavier than lead.

Idiot, I am. What do you expect?

Isn't that what happened to Mr. Dyne during this time? What are you making a stupid mistake about? The purpose of Mr. Villey and the others is definitely not me. It would have been written at the end of the message as well. If I may, that friendly girl is with you -.

The purpose is Hannu.

Probably unlike Mr. Dyne, that's the kind of soul and balls that try to win me and that kid on the set. If that's the case, aren't you convinced of unnatural favours?

I lean down and squeeze my hands firmly on my knees.

"- Um... excuse me... it's my invitation... if you let me in, that girl won't follow me..."

I felt like I was dumping the gold coins I had received in front of me. I'm so sorry, I want to disappear now.

But even if you lied here and got a fake status, it's visible that you'll soon be ruined by showing off your horse legs. I know how clumsy I am.

"So, um... it's not worth it to me... sorry, I even invited you to dinner..."

I was afraid to confirm the look on the faces of the two of them, and I couldn't raise my face to the bottom. I'm sure you're disappointed. It doesn't help anything, that's what called the guy who wasn't even a hipster.

"- By" that girl, "do you mean" Princess Xiaolong "?

"... Huh?

Unexpectedly raise your face to an unexpected response. What are you talking about? Who's Princess Dragon?

"... and then [after all] you don't know anything..."

"You were right, Captain"

Mr. Villey and Mr. Karel look at each other and convince each other of something.

Huh? Huh? I can't see the story. What the hell are you talking about?

Totally left me, Mr. Villey smiled, turning away from his serious expression. but that's not like the smile I just had, it's creating a snowflake plated atmosphere somewhere.

Oh, that? Have I ever stepped on an awesome mine?

"-Rag, I don't think you know what you're talking about right now, so I'll explain it in order. But before you do, let me solve the misunderstanding."

Yes, and Mr. Villey's smile was so scary that he couldn't reply.

"Could you not underestimate me too much? You think I invited you to take my place as bait for Princess Xiaolong's desire? Too bad. That's a hell of a mistake."

The sound of that voice was also similar to the sound of an iced lake roaring with cold wind. Impossible cold air hangs over my body and runs chills down my spine.

The other day, the look of a former rookie punched in the head with a sword in his sheath.

Even when my face was laughing, I knew right away that Mr. Villey was really angry, even with me at the boulder.

"Shh, excuse me......!

All I can do is correct my posture, stretch my face and say that. Back to back with the alias "Burning Blue Rose," she was now releasing the power to even call herself an ice witch.

Phew, and when Mr. Villey exhales, the atmosphere soothes as soon as possible. I stroked my chest down inside. [M]

Mr. Villey put his hands together, put his elbows on the table, and stare straight at me. Wine-like deep red eyes narrowed as if peeking deep into the heart.

"I let you watch footage from the Gatekeeper fight the other day. Most Explorers seem to have been distracted by Princess Xiaolong's high-powered technique, but my eyes won't be deluded. Mr. Rug, you... [have something] right?

――

Ridiculous, breathtaking. Mr. Villey's eyes are sharper at this time than the knife arranged on the table.

"Surely the power of that boy's maneuvers is broken. There's no point in paying attention there or, well, imposing it, is there? Of course, [if you've never fought a gatekeeper from the front], but"

The kind of gaze you try looks at me without bluffing.

"Anyone with experience in fighting the gatekeeper class will know. How hard it is to stop that one by yourself. I can't believe it's protecting my people while remaining almost intact myself. - In fact, even we are doing less damage to Box Kong opponents. I still can't believe people like you don't belong to any party or cluster because they call me" Hancer Me. "

What should I do? Completely noticed. It will of course not be understood what exactly that is. However, Mr. Villey is definitely grabbing the tail for my unusual surgical control abilities.

"It's true that we're ready to welcome you as our third seat. Rather the other way around. We want you more than Princess Little Dragon. Because you have so much strength and so much credentials. - Do you remember? When I first met you. That's what I thought the moment I saw your face. Woohoo, [this kid has a knight's face],"

……

I didn't know what I was talking about and I couldn't get back to you. When I first met you, did you mean when you and Hannu got help surrounded by SB?

"Surrounded by a multitude of enemies, a face ready to die. That too, [only my people will try to protect me, no matter what happens to me], was such a face."

If you ask me, I don't feel like I was thinking about it. But I was desperate at the time, so I don't really remember.

"Actually, I've been thinking about it since then. He said he deserved my nights because he could do a face like this. Yes, not only do I appreciate your strength, but I also appreciate what's in your mind. I want you to understand that correctly."

...... hmm? Is something wrong?

"... oh, um... do you have a minute?

I really don't understand it from the bottom of my heart, and I ask with my hands up.

"What could it be?

I asked the question, prompted by Mr. Villey's clap. [M]

"Um, that's... that rare, is it? Um... when you're with a girl and you're in a situation like that, it's normal for you to protect me even when I'm dead... uh, that... but maybe, normally, isn't it...?

It was a simple question. At least, as far as I'm concerned.

But as soon as I said it, Mr. Villey and Mr. Karel, the expression fell out of the faces of both sides.

- What should I do? I may have stepped on a mine again.

And when he was aware that his face was pale, he accidentally,

"... pup, cum...!

How dare Mr. Karel blow it out. What, eh!? Wow, I'm laughing!? In the current flow!? How could you!?

"... ugh... ugh...!

Or even Mr. Villey is leaning down and shaking his shoulder. Hey, I don't know, I don't seem angry about anything - but this is definitely laughing, right?

I don't know. Everyone has no idea.

Looking at the two people laughing bitterly, hey, Mr. Karel turned to Mr. Villey,

"Your wisdom, brilliant. Captain."

"Right? I told you, didn't I? He said he was a delicacy."

When the knight of beauty meditated one eye back, the two laughed at each other with pleasure.

Once again, I am the only one outside the mosquito net.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Rug. I may have misunderstood you."

Still laughing at the dullness, Mr. Villey apologizes for not knowing. But I don't really understand what that means.

It is just the mountain of Sekiyama that is perplexed and blooms the flowers of the question mark in its head.

"- The princess who defeated the dragon with her little body"

Poop, and Mr. Villey suddenly squeaked like that.

"Huh...?

"That's where Princess Xiaolong comes from. She hasn't revealed her name to anyone yet. So that's what all the members of the cluster that took her in and all the others call her."

"Ah..."

From the flow of the story, I was somehow guessing. I didn't know Princess Xiaolong was apparently referring to Hanu.

The cluster that took her in, Mr. Villey said.

At this time, I realized. That I have been unconsciously trying not to think about Hanu.

What would that kid be doing by now - I can't believe I never thought about it at all.

It was natural if you think about it. How many days has it been since then? I'm sure a lot of people have killed him. You must have asked me to be one of you.

Hanu, who was left alone, eventually entered one of them.

That's all we're talking about.

That's why I don't have to hurt my chest. I don't deserve that anywhere. Besides, I was the first one to wave away.

"... the fact that you didn't know this street name still means the cluster she belongs to?

I snort to confirm Mr. Karel. [M] Well, squealing, Mr. Karel made eye contact with Mr. Villey. When Mr. Villey nodded back, the deputy head of the "NPK" stared at me and said his name.

"She belonged to a recently created cluster called Supernova."

I thought it was a cluster name I'd heard of somewhere. I feel frosty in my stomach.

"The leader's name is Dyne Samsolo. He used to belong to my NPK."

Just hearing that name stuck my breath, and a dos black thing was born on my chest. I think this filthy, unwanted thing is probably the emotion - disgust - that I don't have on a daily basis.

Right, has Mr. Dyne ever been a member of 'NPK'? That means its strength will also come with origami. We form a new cluster to go for the top group - and the height of its aspirations was convincing.

"To tell you the truth, in welcoming you, we were asked to investigate things. Of course, I was just going to look into you at first - but that's when I discovered the connection between Princess Xiaolong and Dyne. He's also a former member of ours, so I was really curious, so I kept investigating further. And then."

"I found out a few things I had to tell you. Today, it's no exaggeration to say that you've been asked to come here for that."

Looking back at Mr. Villey and Mr. Carrell, I swallowed my saliva.

What do you mean by having anything but a bad feeling in this flow?

"Yeah, but it's one of the things that we want to welcome you as one of our people, right? But I don't mind if you think about it later. I don't think we're going to be around for a while if we listen to what we're going to talk about... Karellen, please"

That's what Mr. Villey said, apparently giving Mr. Karel all his say on [the story to come].

I looked into Karel's jade eyes and waited. Mr. Karel showed a slightly lost bare gesture, but said this as he had decided to.

"According to my research... soon after you [broke up] with Princess Xiaolong, Dyne is luring her into her own cluster"

I thought it was a hard story to believe. Would that Hannu respond so easily to Mr. Dyne's invitation in that situation? I don't think it's surprising that you should complain out loud and walk away.

When I wondered so much, Mr. Karel gave me an answer.

"- Dyne said this to her. 'If you want to make up with your friend him, we can talk to you. I promise. Until then, let's explore with us.' …"

"- Huh!?

I kicked the chair and stood up unexpectedly to a development I hadn't anticipated. Gatan, and the chair collapses, and the restaurant is quiet for a moment.

"Oh no...! What is it... well, it's a lie, because... that's what I'm talking about...

"You haven't heard, have you? Naturally, too. Dyne is just cheating on you. [M]... Mr. Rug, let's calm down a little. Come on, about the seats."

…………

It was only referred to as an ice spear, and Mr. Karel's tone was calmly settled everywhere. But my heart, suddenly simmered with a roasted stone thrown in, doesn't fit so easily.

Because - you know, that's the way to lie and cheat... you're too cowardly!

"Let's calm down, Mr. Rug. You can't save her with that."

"... save...?

A word that was in Mr. Karel's words, which I never thought would come to mind. And he snorts, "Yes."

"You should save her and get her back. That is, of course, what Captain Villey thinks. I intend to spare no effort to cooperate to that end. So I'm still giving you information. [M] Unless, of course, you don't intend to... come on, just calm down and sit down."

"... yes... sorry..."

Mr. Karel's calm voice tells me to wake up and sit down in my fallen chair. My emotions seemed to cool down a little, too, thanks to the overly accurate pointer.

Save Hanu - it's a funny story, I think I'm somewhere. If she's in a situation where she needs to be saved now, isn't Teng himself the one who pushed her down there?

That time, if I hadn't let Hanu go, this might not have happened... so I regretted it, and now it's too much.

Taking a deep breath and breathing, the waiter brought the dish in. He lines up the plates before us as if nothing had happened. When it came to a paragraph, Mr. Karel looked at me again and said:

"What we're going to talk about, including facts and predictions, is just information. It's up to you, Rag, to take it and do what you do. I want you to recognize that first."

In front of Mr. Karel, I think so.

Surely my stupidity may have caused Hanu to suffer. But - no, that's why.

If she's in a situation where she needs to be saved now, it must be my responsibility to help her.

I looked straight back at Karel and nodded.

"Yes......! Nice to meet you.........!

"Great. First, let's talk about what a man named Dyne Samsolo looks like. [Here] is also why he was banished from the 'NPK'"

So when I put it down for a beat, Mr. Karel said just one thing, saying his nature.

"- He's a Fellow-Killer."