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From where a destroyed castle town spread out, Cleo looked over her surroundings

The earthen dolls ceased function, rattling as they began to crumble apart

Once the sun had fully shown itself, their e, and just like that, they stopped

Near Cleo, Nate took off her mask and looked around

With a whistle fro that, Cleo spoke

"U-um,"

"Mn? Oh, that's my partner, don't worry about it See, he can become a horse too"

After landing, the hippogryph gave a shake of its eagle head and took on the forh, Nate looked around

"But this really will be a pain to report"

"You're… right"

When they saw the red pillar pierce through the sky, that ale, both Cleo and Nate were surprised But they could understand it now

"Do you think Rudel-dono won?"

"I'd quite hope so Because that would also uardian deity… who's going to take responsibility for this, I wonder"

Cleo spoke

"The guardian deity, is it If I just…"

She had much to think about

There, Nate cut in

"… My ancestors, you see, they were once people of Celestia This blue hair is so of a testament to that"

"Eh?"

As Cleo looked on blankly, Nate…

"Meaning, I'h at present, I've got work in Courtois as you can see"

She kept on talking on theproblems to her position There, Nate's expression turned serious

"Well, I' to say that huht if you just becaive a public apology and provide some support"

As Cleo hesitated, Nate spelled out her options

"You could run off soirl All that's left of the Celestia royal line is you and a few children It's possible to push it onto soave a bitter smile and shook her head

She wouldn't choose that option

"Thank you But I have ations I could not become a sacrifice, but I cannot abandonrole Even if it's someone as unreliable as me"

Nate spoke disinterestedly

"Is that so"

And putting on her mask, she pat her partner's neck a few tiry

It felt like she already knehich one she would choose

"I'm just a little envious of you"

"Eh?"

At the end, Nate,

"That you could choose the option not to run, I'm just a little envious"

◇

A few days later

In the ruins of Celestia, Sakuyablocks

To help out in the reconstruction efforts, Rudel and Aleist worked dawn to dusk

Izumi and Millia aided them

Nate alone made for Courtois to report on the incident Someone had to be told…

"To be totally honest, I think there's so an island of it"

Holding a shovel, Aleist looked at Rudel

"… Aleist, sure enough, I won't deny I had so that one!"

Millia looked at the two of them tiredly

"I understand it was a situation where it couldn't be helped, but… who's going to take responsibility for this?"

Neither Rudel nor Aleist could take responsibility

Millia looked at Izumi…

"Isn't this his surveillance inspector's liability?"

A startled Izu that could be done there"

Izumi had hurriedly drafted up a report and handed it to Nate But just hoould the top brass evaluate it…

The four of theht into it, but Rudel,

"Well, whatever will be will be Once I return, I'ain, so I don't er"

Aleist as well

"You're right This feels soduty Now then, let's give it our best for another day"

Millia looked at the two

"Isn't it strange to use Courtois' white and black knights like this? Nor, and work in the royal palace, right?"

Rudel and Aleist's standings were dubious even in Courtois When norher ranks, one was sent to the middle of nowhere The other was treated as a cleaner

Izu as the ones in question don't raise a ruckus, isn't it fine? If anyone's got any coherups"

When he becaoon, Rudel kneould be sent to the outer reached as he had no corumble here and there, he was earnest in his work

Yet the two of them had saved the country called Celestia

No, perhaps saved was a uardian deity of Celestia

One wrong e of their request to elie probleone"

It was just as Rudel said

Alh officials had perished in the castle

It was because of theto Nate

There were various hands roup's point of view, it was a peculiar ht a battle they'd been roped into

Sakuya looked up at the sky

'Hey, can I eat that?'