In the second year of school life, by the end of winter.

Exams were also completed at the end of the semester, and the school was about to take its spring break.

"Mabel, are you going to be able to advance properly?

"I can manage"

"Good luck to all of us."

Those girls walking in front of me, they hear that conversation.

At the end of spring break, which starts tomorrow, we're in third grade.

Final year of elementary school. It's time for everyone to think about what's ahead.

Do you want to move on to the Higher Department and choose the path of research? will you graduate again and live on your own? A lot of students will be where it bothers their heads.

As for me, I almost decided to be an adventurer.

The path of teachers also bothered me. Like in previous life, it's not bad to live teaching your children academics.

If you just want good treatment, you will inevitably be employed by an imperial institution like this school or a nobleman with gold.

I knew very well for myself that that was not right for my sexuality, and most importantly... I wanted to avoid being near the powerful as much as possible.

I don't want to be an eye-catching feather, assuming I wield my powers.

The world is driven by cunning men, who cannot even stand up to it with the strongest violence and the truth of the world.

It's a heavy load to deal with those people.

Rough things are much better suited to me. [M]

I have an appointment with Amu.

That's why I set the course. I wasn't supposed to have anything to do with the worries ahead...

Now, hey, I was weighing in for another reason.

... I have no choice.

Sigh and never open your mouth.

"Amu. Can I have a word?"

Amu, who was walking in front, stops and looks back.

"What. Hold on."

"Actually, I need a favor."

"Please?"

"Show my parents my face."

"... what?

"I want you to meet my family... or something"

"Ha!? Hey, hey, hey!

Amu opens his eyes and openly says, wolfing.

"Oh, my God, what are you doing? What are you doing?!? Oh, we have nothing to do with that..."

"No?

"No, nothing, it's all too sudden! Or do you want time to think, the..."

"So is that. I'll be waiting. But as soon as possible, I want a good reply."

"~ Huh!!

Next to Amu, who blushes and rounds his eyes, Efa said something in tears.

"Amu... I, Amu, would be fine. Congratulations......"

"Oh, what are you talking about too!!

And there.

Mabel opened her mouth as she looked around our faces.

"... Suggest?

"Hmm? No, no, no"

I answer with a bitter smile.

"I got a letter from my parents. Father... or something like that, he would love to meet Amu. Rumor has it that the school has magic swordsmen of all attributes who have passed the chairman."

There will be a dictum about the tale of the brave, but I can't stop the letters the students send to their parents or even the souvenir stories of their homecoming. Some seemed to be spreading rumors about Amu.

"As someone who works with magic, I wonder... I couldn't bring him in front of me, too, because I'm too narrow on my shoulders. So, Amu, it would be helpful if you could come with me."

…………

I notice and say to Amu, who is stiffened with his mouth slightly open.

"Maybe I misled you?

"Huh!! Don't do it. Shit, stupid!! You're gonna kick your ass!?

Why should I be busted?

I ask Amu again, who for some reason sighs tirelessly alongside Efa.

"So, what do you say?

"Hmm...? Well, fine. I didn't plan on going home for spring break, and I'm a hippo. But I'm not sure how you do it."

"It's okay, it's okay. I don't usually give a shit about manipulation because I'm a distant country nobleman. Uh... but I'll tell you later."

Exactly because you have a bad opponent for manipulation...

"Yeah, why don't Mabel come, too, if you like?

"I?"

"The Baron Crain family is often involved in academia. Your father would love it if the lady showed you her face."

"... then, go"

"Good. Then I'll write to you as soon as I can."

All right, all right.

You should have a head count. I may not have to deal with them.

"Hey, Seika"

"Hmm?"

"Earlier, you said something about family."

"Eh."

"Is there anyone else?

"Uh..."

I answer distracted from Mabel.

"Your brother's fiancée is here, maybe. And relatives and customers. That happens to be the case, I might be there. If I were there, well, I'd have to say hi. Look, Mabel's become a nobleman, too, so you know what I mean.

"I don't know"

"Oh, yeah? But that's what it is."

"Hmmm...... that's why you said you'd teach me how to do it earlier. You're starting to feel so heavy... That's what Efa does, you know?

"Because I am a slave... I would not sit in a seat with you, nor would I have talked to you. I will do the same this time."

"You did...... can't I do that too?

"You've decided no. Uh... well, anyway, that's why! The carriage leaves in three days, so everybody be ready. See you then."

And I said goodbye, and I walked out on the road to the men's dorm.

****

"Ha..."

"I think you're feeling heavy, Saika."

Yuki says over his head on the road to the men's dorm.

"Don't you like going back to that mansion so much?

"Well..."

There are people I don't want to see, about two of them.

"Then you should have said no, as usual"

"That's not how it works."

"Because, all this time?

"... Actually, there's a pretty great guy coming to the mansion right now. He's the one who wants to see Amu and me."

"Ha ha...... Two years after my brave daughter went to school, I thought it was strange to get a sentence (fumi) saying," Bring it in like this, but that's why you did it. "

"The world of men is troublesome. When it comes to status and power."

When I say so, Yuki shrugs a little less silently after a little silence.

"That's... to Yuki, I don't know..."

…… What? "

When I prompted her, Yuki told her that she was upset. [M]

"I call it status or power… can such things, in the end, be seized by force"

……

"If you're Seika, get it whenever you want. Why do you have to go so far? Even the emperor of time (Micado) in that world respected Haruyoshi and treated him equally..."

I answer quietly to Yuki, who seems to have teeth. [M]

"It's not that simple... for example, if you took the status of a great nobleman or emperor by force, then what? I was in that position because I wasn't good at politics (i.e., plotting), and I was just used to be good from around me. Because they have their struggle."

"Such things, even with the help of Master Seika..."

"Then will the political enemies also be destroyed by force? But after all that fear politics, what kind of world is there? Nobles and merchants snitch at each other to kick down others to a parliament that is solemnly frightened and not even open to discussion. With the banishment and suspicion of the sage, politics collapses, and it is the mountain of Sekiyama that will either be attacked and destroyed by another country or even in the revolt of the people. At least, this rich country will be lost. It's ruin waiting for me."

……

"There are limits to what you can do with your strength, Yuki. Even I can't do anything. I learned a lot of wisdom in the world, but I didn't know politicians about politics. People's thoughts and profits are only elusive."

I had forgotten such a natural thing back then because I lived a little longer.

"I... couldn't have foreseen a thing. Being close to a wretched young emperor (Micado) can also get you involved in a battle for the throne decades later. Forecasted to be unable to put his disciple in his hands, the enemy faction will also turn to him."

……

"It was a mistake to step even slightly into the political world. I guess for politicians, the unusual strong are just one of the pawns. Even the strongest yin and yang masters in history were beaten to death in this way, and became feathers of transworldly reincarnation and so on. If you can see the power poorly and put your eyes on it... you can see the same thing in this world"

"If so... how do I...?

"So live inconspicuously."

I say.

"It snaps at a great man and is disputed by one of the great multitudes. You don't have to be hostile with the plot, but you don't have to get involved with them in the first place. Keep it hidden without wielding as much power as you can."

……

"At least we have to live to that extent cunningly. Otherwise you will die without being happy again. I was a little relaxed here..."

"But then,"

Unusual, Yuki told me to block me.

"But then... sometimes, wouldn't you even give up?

I ask back unexpectedly. [M]

"Give up? What?

"That's... I can't say it well... yeah, it's nothing after all"

You know, Yuki shut up.

I laugh and speak to the demon who rides over my head.

"You've talked boring. Anything you want to eat? I just finished my exam, and let's go buy some in the city."

"Oh, then Yuki, I like the candied peaches"

"You like sweets."

For the demon of foxes.