"Hey, hey, little Theo is so cute~ I really want to buy a little Theo's doll back to Liber~"

"Target confirmed, threat level modified, currently S-class threat."

"Ah, Tio-chan is Hexu's!"

As she was paying her respects to Theo, Aniyath was attacked by a white eye from Hexu! It doesn't work very well - it's the opposite!

"Isn't this roast chicken amazing!"

"Really, Crutz really has a good apprentice, and he has nothing to say about his craft."

"Oh, do you understand that our action guide only has cooking skills! Good brothers! ”

Karuna, Tovar, and Randy are good friends in no time! Is this what a friend of wine and meat is called?

"Ellie, thank you so much for always supporting the section and helping us."

"No, where, Lloyd, you're the hardest."

"I said, what kind of year-end summary meeting does this feel like......"

Lloyd and Ellie casually turned the banquet into a summary meeting, and were complained about by Noelle! Well done Noelle!

Section Chief Sergei was the most honest and didn't talk much, and after eating a hearty meal, he hid in the section chief's room to smoke.

The proverb of the East: "It is fun to have friends from afar", although I don't know who "you friends" are, but this "music", everyone does understand.

When a guest comes, of course, a banquet is held to welcome them, which is about to become international common sense.

So, the head of the Operations Department of the Support Division showed off his skills and prepared a sumptuous meal in one go. I have to say that the long table in the support department is really useful, especially at this time, when the white tablecloth is spread, it has an aristocratic atmosphere. Of course, it would be nice to have a tablecloth that is large enough instead of two tablecloths put together.

And I don't know when, the two protagonists of the banquet quietly disappeared.

――――――――――――――――――――

"Wouldn't it be such a good night to spend with your new companions?"

On the rooftop on the fourth floor of the Support Division, I was stopped by Krutz while enjoying the night view.

Now Yu only wears a one-piece tights and a pair of white sweatpants underneath. Hearing someone call him, the young man turned around and turned his back to a field of multicolored colors.

"It's because the night is so good that you should enjoy the moon, right?"

"I can't really talk about you."

Crutz smiled, noncommittal. He walked up to You, leaning back against the railing and looking at the sky, following his example.

"Aren't you going back to Liber?"

"Not ready."

"Nobody blames you."

"Me."

"yes, it's really stubborn. He really deserves to be my apprentice. ”

"yes."

"Your Majesty asked me to bring you a message. She says that you are the Shadow Hero who saved Liber and that you are always welcome back. ”

Krutz said, his expression becoming more and more sad.

Although they are masters and apprentices, there is not much age difference between the two, standing side by side, not like master and apprentice, but like brothers.

"Really...... That's because she said that, so I won't go back. If she condemns me harshly and puts me to death in prison, I will go back. ”

"There is no criminal law in countries other than Saiyaru."

"Yes, I'm sorry."

The master and apprentice talked with each other. It's already warmer season, and there seems to be a slight insect chirp in the breeze, but after a cat meow, it can't be heard.

"In the year since I disappeared, have you been to have your body checked again?"

Unable to bear the silence of this early spring, or wanting to know more about this strange apprentice, Crutz actively looked for a topic.

"It's still the same old conclusion. I'm going to die before I'm thirty. After all, my body has become like this. ”

You rarely showed a sad smile, like a dying lion at the end of the road. As he spoke, he raised his right hand and pointed it childlike high at the moon, letting the moonlight fall from his fingers on his face.

"Really......"

Crutz looked to the door. The man hiding behind the door was visibly shaken. Perhaps, it was just a good intention to pull You back to the banquet. Instead, I heard unexpected information.

Did my stupid apprentice mean to tell him?

"So, I want you to help me train them well. After all, my training method can only produce a group of Saiyalu slave warriors. ”

The hair that hadn't been cut short for a long time covered Yu-Tatsumi's eyes, and the projection of his palms falling on his face intersected, creating a gloomy scene.

"Hehe......"

Crutz suddenly laughed.

You didn't respond, but he did turn his head and stare straight at Mr. Crutz, with a clear meaning: please explain.

"You rarely say 'what you want to do.'"

Silent.

An irrefutable fact.

"So, I was really happy to hear you say that you want me to teach you the support department. It's probably like the stupid dad knows that his stupid son has finally become smarter. ”

"Don't call yourself stupid, teacher. That's what's going on. ”

"It's the first time I've met these people, but from the time you've asked me, I've believed that this is the place you should be. Come on. I'm going to have another drink, and it's been a long time since I've seen Tovar. ”

Crutz opened the door and left.

On the rooftop, only You's hair was blown by the breeze.

"I said, it's almost time to come out. My perception hasn't been dulled to that point. ”

If you are traveling, you will see a blue and white jacket.

The soul of the Support Section: Lloyd Bannings appears.

"There are a lot of questions I want to ask you, but the most important thing I want to ask is ......"

"I only lived to be thirty years old. I guess I want to ask about this. ”

Lloyd's mind was broken by You's words, and he scratched his head in embarrassment. You wasn't ready to embarrass him, so he took a deep breath and spoke to himself.

"I was born as Saiaru and I am a slave by profession. You know all of this. But what you don't know is how a person with a weak physique survives in the arena of Saiaru. ”

“……”

"I was kicked and broke my leg, and I dragged the broken leg and continued to fight. When someone broke his hand, he endured the pain and continued to beat. Saiaru's arena is brutal. Blood must be seen every time, one person must die in the two-person fighting skill, and one of the two fighting skills must be completely destroyed. How do you think a weak guy like me survived? ”

“……”

The answer is anything. Kicking sand, hiding, and hurting people with hidden arrows, I've done it all. And what I'm best at is ......"

You suddenly stopped to explain, and his right hand struck in front of Lloyd like lightning, and Lloyd did not evade, quietly watching his fist fall in front of him.

"It's a rush attack. I was born with a bad bones and was very thin. Perhaps for a mature martial artist, the size doesn't matter, but for a small child, fat means good physical strength. Strong bones mean strength. As a person with fragile bones and a thin body, if you want to survive, you can only develop things other than physical strength and strength. The slave fighters of Saiaru all had a common training style that could squeeze all of our talents out of us at a very young age, and as early as I was 8 years old, my physical fitness was about the same as it is now...... The only difference is experience. I have no talent. So, in order to make up for the gap in combat effectiveness, I will master what I can to the limit. For example, vindictiveness, such as alms, as well as chains and charms, and tactics as well. Survival of the fittest, I just survive in such an environment. So, as I told you, that's the end of my growth, and as you can see, I'm already the strongest form of a human named Yu-Tatsumi, and I'm only going to get weaker and weaker over time. ”

I don't know if it's because I remember Saiaru.

Yu's expression became heavier and heavier.

"I'm sorry, but I can't get stronger, and I can't teach you how to defeat powerful enemies."

Lloyd felt that he could not remain silent.

"That training method...... Is it ......"

"Ah, you guessed it. It is to let children receive training that even adults may not be able to bear. You know, when the muscles are broken, the new muscles become stronger. Temper the spirit with pain, and seek new life with destruction. It hurts all the time, and I'm more used to it than anyone else. The muscles have been broken countless times, and then adjusted to their own wishes. My body is in shambles. ”

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

You shrugged and gave him a nonchalant smile.

"It doesn't matter. Anyway, that's it. Because of the damage caused so much, my muscles gradually showed symptoms of atrophy, my bones became brittle and fragile, my internal organs gradually declined, and according to the doctors, I only lived to be 30 years old. Our enemies will become stronger and stronger in the future, and my own growth will come to an end, and the only thing left is to train you. ”

"I see. Just do as you say. The Support Division is divided into two teams, and we will train, and the work will be left to you. ”

"I'm sorry, I've overstepped my authority again."

"Won't ......"

Lloyd took a deep breath and leaned on the railing.

"I love this Cross Bell. After joining the Support Division, I have come to understand this more and more. I'm willing to fight for it. I believe you, You, you will be so anxious to give us a boost in combat effectiveness, you have noticed some abnormal changes. It's like the inexplicable giant monster from before. But ......"

Lloyd punched him lightly in the shoulder: "We're friends." So, there's no need to carry it alone, we'll quickly grow to a height that can rival you, and when the time comes, come and rely on us. ”

It seems that the pure lines in youth novels make You a little embarrassed, Lloyd is good everywhere, but he is always a little too simple, so that ordinary people don't say "talk", just "listening" will be a little embarrassed to speak simply, and he can say it without shame.

That's good, Lloyd. Your personality is probably the main reason why we all stayed in the Support Division. Randy too, and so did I. I'm afraid that Noelle didn't return to the garrison after giving up his surveillance of me, and I guess I want to continue working with you.

Perhaps sensing the innocence in his words, Lloyd smiled like a child, his clean smile shining like the sun in the night sky.

"Would you like to go back and have a drink? Because there is a mission tomorrow, I can only drink water. ”

"Hehe, why don't you invite me to drink juice, Captain."