It was an uncomfortable atmosphere.
No, I have never felt such an uncomfortable atmosphere in my life.
I don’t know what flattery she heard from others, including Kang Chul, but Tia, unlike usual, was dressed with care.
I came here dressed like that.
But where is this place? A political arena where all sorts of filthy men and women cross each other.
Moreover, just before that, he even had a big fight with an assassin.
I knew how she felt when she appeared in such a situation and dressed like that.
“… … Let’s eat first.”
“… … .”
I somehow coped
In order to protect her mentality, I decided to match her delusion.
Even I wasn’t the only one who decided to fit in with that delusion. The nobles, who must have been hostile to me, began to cooperate with me.
I could see what would happen to the person who offended [Yongje] from the appearance of Kang Chul.
That’s how this situation is now.
Back inside the mansion I just jumped out of, I’m being escorted by nobles who have cast spells.
“It’s hard to enjoy the long-awaited holiday because the original assassins are targeting you.”
He speaks as if he had prepared a place to repay her in the first place. I honestly didn’t believe it, but what can I do?
“This will be our meal for the day. The steak is tenderloin, and the sauce is top-notch wine. … .”
“Shut up and put it down.”
“… … Have a nice meal.”
The nobleman who was pointing his staff at me just a few minutes ago is now carrying a plate.
they know it too
In order to fix this atmosphere, everyone has to continue acting.
First of all, shouldn’t we fight or negotiate only if we survive?
“Does it fit your mouth?”
“… … .”
Tia cut the meat without saying anything. Looking at his expression, he doesn’t seem to like it.
These motherf*ckers? Since Tia is a dragon, I told her to do it in rare, but it is clear that she did it in well-done.
Tia, who was slicing the meat with such a sullen expression, finally opened her eyes and said.
“It doesn’t fit in your mouth. I like well-done rather than rare.”
“This is difficult. Didn’t I tell you to bake it well-done?”
The noble who brought out the steak glared at me as if to kill me.
But what? We have to make Tia feel right.
If she says she wants to eat sashimi, you must immediately fly to the coast of Neris Kingdom to catch fish.
“… … I will bake you again.”
In the end, the aristocrat holding the cane compromised in front of reality.
Even so, aristocrats must have the intelligence to back down when needed.
“Hey, it’s hostile. Can I request the music you asked for soon?”
“Yes… … ? uhh… … No, of course. Of course I am ready.”
I asked for it inadvertently because of the suffocating air, but it will be fine.
Still, if you were a noble, wouldn’t you have learned something for culture? Or else we have no choice but to go after each other.
“Hey, wait a minute. It takes time to prepare… … .”
“The service is terrible. I must have asked for it in advance.”
“This bitch… … Big! sorry. Apparently, there was a sudden raid, so I think I need to recheck the instruments.”
“Then it can’t be helped.”
For now, it’s best to erase the word negotiation from your head. When the situation calms down, we will talk through force.
After a while, sweet melodies begin to flow in the banquet hall.
It’s what I said, but it’s amazing that you actually did it. Moreover, it is not a solo performance, but an ensemble.
We all dreamed of rebellion together, so our chemistry is good.
“Now the atmosphere is alive.”
“… … .”
Tia is so cold.
Doesn’t respond to my words. He is just continuing his meal with a sullen expression.
I don’t know what Tia thinks. just out of breath
“Hmm, hmm. Anyway, today is the day to respond to the hard work of the head of the academy, so I hope you enjoy it.”
“… … .”
Let’s not give up and keep trying to fix the atmosphere.
Tia, who was eating with a puzzled expression, raised her head for the first time.
Suspicious eyes turn to me.
“What did I usually do?”
“… … Yes?”
“Did I ever do anything to get you to thank me?”
“Ah, yes… … . Sure.”
“under! so? I only have memories of interfering with what you’re doing? am i wrong? Wasn’t I the one who was the biggest stumbling block to your plan?”
“… … .”
It’s not wrong in any sense.
When I was working inside ＜Skientia＞, I always thought about how to deal with Tia’s trend.
But isn’t it natural?
‘Cause I’m enjoying that privilege. I want to respect her rights, even at the risk.
“Didn’t you get me into Skientia, where I wouldn’t have been able to get in originally?”
“It was because of social awareness. You would have been eliminated if it weren’t for the position of the King of Darkness’ successor.”
claim to be due to social cognition.
Well, that too. At least at that time, Tia was only having trouble with my social status.
“If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be my fault for not getting a letter of recommendation even though I could have gotten one?”
“What is this bastard? Why didn’t you get it?”
“Because of pride?”
“It’s crazy, this.”
Tia’s attitude changes. At least it doesn’t feel as sluggish as before.
But I feel like I want to see all the strange people, so it’s not good.
As usual, but… … lack.
“And Professor Gerrard’s work was also left unresolved.”
“You didn’t kill me. In the first place, that was an overreaction on my part.”
“But you didn’t interrogate.”
I knew I knew something, but I didn’t interrogate it.
It’s forbidden, but it doesn’t matter to her. After all, I was the one who caused a disturbance in her domain.
“Even when he saved Marie, he approved of my reckless plan.”
“Then you risked your life in exchange for carrying out the plan. I just responded accordingly.”
“But the one who worked hard so that no one died was the academy principal.”
If there was even one casualty at that time, my head would not have been there. But it didn’t happen because Tia did her best.
“And so it is with the Commonwealth. I was in danger of being killed by Kang Chul, but didn’t you spare me?”
“It was your involvement in our business in the first place.”
“It’s something I put my head in.”
“… … .”
Confirm mutual recognition and wash away old feelings.
repeat such questions and answers. Tia was suspicious. Are you really a person who deserves to be repaid?
She was a tyrant in the past, and remnants of that still remain.
It is said that Tia burned down the entire country in the past. That is why it has been regarded as an object of reverence, but has never been an object of gratitude.
It must have been quite unfamiliar.
“The head of the academy is a person who deserves to be repaid. At least I feel the favor of the head of the academy.”
“… … .”
“And it won’t be just me. Everyone in the Empire would have known who protected this world.”
She is too strong whether you like it or not.
That’s why protecting the world has become a duty. To the extent that no one has any doubts about him.
And so did I.
It was only recently that I was able to overturn my perception of him.
-Why doesn’t everyone trust you? why is everyone so scared?
Yes, it was when her sister, Spina, asked a fundamental question.
-Why are you trying to protect cowards like that? Even though I clung to it, I couldn’t believe it. Why are you sacrificing for such a cowardly race?
we were cowardly
I took her kindness for granted. In the first place, if I really wanted to save her, I had to stop her from going to battle.
But I thought about it after that.
The moment she risked her life for others was taken for granted.
He didn’t even think about drying it, he just looked at it while saying he felt sorry for her sacrifice.
“Everyone is grateful. That’s for sure. There are more than enough people in the world who appreciate and like the head of the academy, only to be shrouded in awe and not know how to express it.”
If he hadn’t been grateful to her right away, End Lord wouldn’t have stayed up all night.
The same goes for nobles.
Indeed, if she had been afraid, she would have run away and would not have stayed here to deal with the situation.
Awe is respect and fear.
Respect overshadowed by fear is Tia’s achievement, and that achievement contains the gratitude of many people.
“So let me say it again. Principal, thank you. As usual, and this time too. I was truly blessed beyond measure.”
“… … yes.”
“And the clothes too. It’s not empty talk, it really suits you.”
“Poem, noisy… … .”
Tia, who had been listening to my story blankly, immediately lowered her head.
But it wouldn’t be because he was simply embarrassed like before.
Because your ears are dyed red. Maybe the face won’t be different either.
So, this awkwardness is not just uncomfortable, but also a sign that they have revealed their true feelings to each other.
Tia, who had been lowering her head like that, whispered softly at the end.
“… … You always have a problem with that snout.”
“I mean.”
* * *
Darkness falls over the office of the Emperor of the Empire, Antares Van Helios.
Antares muttered as if nothing had happened in the noticeably darkened room.
“You don’t remember calling me, so you’re saying there’s a problem, right?”
“The leader of the Eclipse, Stolas Stilena, greets the sun of the Empire.”
“Yes, Sir Stolas. Do you have any urgent matter to report to me?”
“Yes.”
Stolas explained to Antares a rather exaggerated amount of information, including what he had seen, heard, and experienced.
He even drew a picture of what the other person’s expression was like without making a single mistake about the content of the conversation, and the sounds around him were detailed, down to the chirping of the sparrows.
All of that becomes information. At least for Antares it is. Based on that information, he was able to know as if he had seen the moment himself.
“Indeed, it is definitely surprising.”
“What would you like to do? If the solvent starts to intervene… … .”
“Solvents are strong. Even now, weakened, he could face the empire alone. But the important thing is not the solvent.”
[Solvent] Tiamat is obviously an absurd monster.
Even if she is weakened, the Empire’s power cannot catch her.
Wouldn’t it be okay to just have ＜Skientia＞’s barrier right now?
If you shut yourself up in ＜Skientia＞ and stage a sit-in, there is no time to do anything.
Furthermore, there are dragon soldiers.
Those soldiers born from one of Tia’s fangs can easily overwhelm the elite of the empire.
Ironically, the group cannot deal with Tia. It takes an equally overpowering individual to deal with her.
But the opposite is also true.
“Solvents can destroy an empire, but they cannot control the situation.”
Of course, if Tia openly asked Antares to give up the throne, there was nothing she could do. Even if he doesn’t want to put it down, the frightened people will unite and pull him down.
But Tia doesn’t.
It has been so until now and will be so in the future.
that she has changed?
Rather, isn’t that a good thing?
“What we need to worry about is not the moving solvent, but the person who made the solvent move. Who do you think it might be?”
Oz Quo Vadis.
There is a saying that you should look at the forest, not the trees. But if it’s a tree that moves the forest, it’s a different story.
“The King of Darkness will not be able to make decisions because his temper is not ruthless.”
“The decision is… … .”
“The decision to bring the Dragon Emperor and drown the empire in a sea of fire.”
“… … .”
Antares already had some idea of the individual named Oz.
At least he won’t use the [Solvent] to settle this situation.
He’s such a nice person to the point of being stupid.
Isn’t this the man who robbed his pockets to save the citizens of other countries?
Would such a man, then, have someone’s hands stained with blood for personal ends? No, it can’t be. If you have to stain your hands with blood, it’s to stain your own hands.
That’s why [Solvent] is not going to come to the fore.
“But it is surprising. Leading someone is not something that can be solved simply with effort. I can only say that it is innate charisma.”
And if he had the charisma to lead even the [Yongje], it goes without saying how absurd he was.
“Hmm… … . It’s a pity, but I think it’d be better to see the opportunity and kill it.”
“Then I… … .”
The moment when the two of them made a plan to kill Oz with an attitude as if they were deciding on a meal menu.
“I do not know. Would that be easy?”
In the midst of the conversation between the two, a mocking voice came in.
“… … !”
Antares’ expression, which had always been smiling, collapsed for the first time.
Stolas frantically puts several pikes through his fingers and watches.
The moment I recognized the voice, I realized that there was a girl in front of me.
“Sir Stolas. I want to check it out just in case… … .”
“… … I didn’t call.”
“Right.”
Antares asked Stolas.
Stolas is by far the most powerful assassin in the Empire.
Aside from the family’s talent, the effort she has accumulated until the age of presbytery is approaching is incomparable.
There is no one better than him at hiding his presence. Even if someone comes, it is impossible to lie dormant while deceiving his senses.
That is the conclusion Antares made.
Nevertheless, it is one of two things that an uninvited guest came to this place.
Either that he was a guest invited by Stolas, or that he had abilities far exceeding Stolas’ stealth skills.
Unfortunately, since the former was denied, the latter is inevitable.
“How dare you say this place… … .”
“Enough, Sir Stolas.”
Antares discouraged Stolas from moving. Stolas is not a knight. You don’t know how to fight to protect someone.
If a battle breaks out, the aftermath alone would be fatal to Antares.
He has become so old-hearted.
“Did you come to get my neck?”
Antares asked in an extremely calm tone. If he had intended to kill him, he could have done so right away. However, the opponent revealed his existence.
“No, I stopped by because I wanted to ask you something.”
“It will.”
Yes, he must be looking for a conversation.
Antares asked back while feeling puzzled by the unexpectedly youthful voice.
“How did you get in?”
“Proudly, through the front door.”
“indeed.”
Even with that short question and answer, Antares could tell who the opponent was.
surprised. I couldn’t help but be surprised.
“Your impression has changed quite a bit. Princess.”
Standing there was a girl with long, blue hair.
“I used to be like this.”
Eleanor von Chrysos.
She was glaring at Antares with a cold expression on her face.