Page 73 (1/2)

Once the long break ca and returned to his house Sakuya insisted that she had to go along no matter what, but as she parted with Izu herself With a continence as if she would burst into tears, Sakuya had forced a shted on Izumi's irl

Once she boarded the carriage bound for Arses territory, a scenery different frohted Sakuya Shesothe road to my home, but the Arses Territory we're headed to isn't the best place to be"

The road to Arses Territory was brior But once they entered the territory, it would be almost like a different world He wanted to warn Sakuya before she was disappointed, but her reaction was the opposite

"Even if it's run down, it's all new to me! The scenery may all look the same to you, but just as it's similar, it's a completely new scene Why don't you look around a bit ave a bitter se A tranquil time passed between the two

◇

Once they arrived at the Arses House estate, it's castle-like scale surprised Sakuya The world she had seen as a goddess, now she was seeing it through the eyes of a single human There wasn'twith curiosity as she looked around the gorgeous manor In that space, Rudel carried out his final preparations and awaited the arrival of the two dragoons

Sakuya would sleep in the guest room prepared for her, but she wanted to have a look at Rudel's rooht out Lena who she'd met before, and asked her for a tour around the mansion

"You want me to show you around? Sure I'll teach you er than her in both body and soul, Lena dragged Sakuya by the hand as she led her around Proceeding hidden through the courtyard, they made for the kitchen and pilfered so into Erselica's roo into your sister's roo to the roof in protest, so Lena approached with lightinto Erselica's roo to do with tastes… ever sincebrother was sent off to borderland, she's been considerably depressed She cries when no one's watching, and if erous place, I'd also… no, I think he'll be fine? He's stronger than est man in the world someday"

"I heard it was a coet it But Rudel and the other one, aren't they your brothers all the saht, but they don't think of it that way Until recently, everyone around was doing terrible things to my brother, and in essence, he was treated like a hindrance in the ht he would be evaluated as he is now"

Withouta particularly dark face, Lena recalled Rudel's reception at the estate that had continued until recently She didn't bear a grudge Lena herself, upon co to the manor, she had obtained a secure lifestyle, and an environment that allowed her to learn Just like Rudel, she was thankful

"… Could you tell me more?"

Keep this a secret from my brother, Lena said as she sat on the stop, and told her everything that had happened

◇

Having heard the tale from Lena Sakuya had Lena lead her to Rudel's roouidance that had clearly taken too many side-stops, they took quite a detour before they arrived

"Hey, it wasn't that far off froe for Rudel's room to be in such a secluded space of the mansion?"

Rudel's room was positioned as if to keep it as far from the mansion as possible Lena herself lived in the storehouse like room below Rudel They had already been there for many years, and the ones in question didn't seee Well, don't sweat the so search under the brozen one's bed"

"As a little sister, what do you think of that statement? Didn't you say you respect him?"

"Hah? It's because I respect hiht? When he rarely gets distracted, I want to know his weakness"

Luckily, the ated the underside of his bed Of course, when Rudel was living his life at the academy, there was no way there were any suspicious books in his room But as she never had any friends in the mansion, the presence of Sakuya made her frolic even more merrily than usual

Sakuya didn't look under the bed, but she did look around the room It was even narrower than the roouest rooioon ritten up The wooden sword leaned against the corner looked like it had gotten sole-ence, as it was a roos in it It was precisely the roooons from his youth All that differed was an earnesty close to oon, and no matter who mocked him, he would put in the effort The roo that room, Sakuya hardened her resolve If that's how it is, then Rudel would surely be delighted…

◇

Rudel's training spot in the estate ithout saying

He wouldn't use the training ground; away from the mansion, a nook of the all-too-vast yard had been his favorite spot ever since he was a child If he used the training field in tiht hiet in his way and he couldn't' concentrate

After finishing his basic training, in order to polish his control on his ic, he constantly maintained a set level of mana on the palm of his hand It was plain, but it was quite a difficult task, and he could continue it without tiring

But last year included, the surrounding reactions were clearly creepy The tutor who instructed him and the former mercenary soldier had been dismissed No, to be more precise, the ones in question had fled The servants who mocked him, and all who'd been terrible to him had fled in fear of Rudel

And now, called fro female servants were stuck to Rudel's side Even if he told them not to come, they would say it was the butler's orders, and fearfully follow along According to them, they were told their houses would be secure if they could catch Rudel's eyes

If he sent the he had to put a word in with the butler later, Rudel continued his training But the girl who looked the youngest a and her education had likely yet to go farThe face of the servant who see to becooon?"

To that siave a curt response

"Because it'selse"

"Y-you can't! If you becoy! My parents and brothers won't have to be hungry anyirl who couldn't control her emotions was scolded by an older servant Rudel didn't see that interested hihtest bit of expectations placed on hi on hiinally people of the territory

Having no expectations is just as troubleso the eht that no one would ever endorse his drea he didn't want to do He didn't want to cause anyone any trouble He decided to give the butler a letter stating that no matter what happened to hiht to himself, he felt that his own dream was built upon too many sacrifices His people, his faht, and he was causing all sorts of trouble for the country That's why Rudel didn't want to trouble anyone with the undead dragon

Holding it all and cornered by the burdens he took onto his

◇

The day he would set out for the dragon dwellings, his Rudel's former fiancé candidates Cattleya and Liliuard and keep watch over hi

Doing a final check on his preparations, Rudel saw there was some time until the promised hour, and invited theo to the dragon dwellings, so she decided to negotiate with the two dragoons Before the two of the over her back as she lowered her head

"I'o no matter what! Please take me with you"

At Sakuya's sudden appearance while they were supping tea, Cattleya and Lilim were surprised But the contents requested of theerous place, it was also a place that required the country's perize for saying this on our first , but I can't take up that request Even if you're related to the Arses House, I can't let you into a place concerned with national security I'm sorry"

As Sakuya still kept the look of youth, Liliently, but Cattleya took the opposite approach

"If you think we're on a picnic, then you'd better give up The place we're headed is dangerous Even with us guards here, if it coht not be able to raise a hand You'll just be in the way"

She had been rejected by both of the only she could do, she told herself, as she actualized the 'dogeza', a special technique she had heard of frooons were taken aback by her actions and will

"I'o!"