- "Are you stupid?"

I was silent for a moment, but I couldn't help but say what was on my mind.

"Uhhhh Huh?"

As if by some sudden impact, the girl replied with some astonishment.

And not just from the dress.

This guy is obviously not even thinking properly.

"You know what, there's not many reasons why a strange man takes a woman away? I quietly looked at the pupils of the girl in front of me and said.

The gold-rimmed filigree on her chest and the dark black dress always had a strong color contrast, which made my eyes hurt.

If you want to survive in the lower districts, you have to teach this guy a lesson.

Is it just that being asked to say nothing can protect yourself?

It's ridiculous.

The alleys in the dark night are like the deep sea, and the deep black seems to be able to attract everything into it.

The intersection behind him was faintly lit with pale yellow lights.

The sky above is divided by the dilapidated buildings that are not so tall as they are crowded and chaotic.

Tiny stars shone in the sky, with the occasional fluttering cloud drifting by.

If you calm down, you will find that the scenery around you is not so abrupt that you are bored. Like a glimmer of light in the dark, anything with temperature can become an Espoir in the heart.

Probably, it is with this mentality that the people of the lower districts live in such decaying and decadent towns.

The power of prayer of the Holy Maiden in the temple that can reach high enough to reach the sky.

Monsters and undead wandering outside the walls of the capital.

This became the only hope in people's hearts.

Because, not everyone has that fanatical desire to fight monsters. It would be better to hide in the lower zone, a blank area under national jurisdiction.

The Holy Maiden, even if in the end she is only praying for the people of the upper echelons of the capital and the royal city. The lower districts can still receive this well-being in the open.

There was silence all around, and the noise that had just been in front of the "Colletia" tavern was gone.

The air is too sticky, which makes the atmosphere in front of me quite uncomfortable.

The girl looked away as if she wanted to escape from my eyes.

"Even if you say so, there are no pure wicked people in this world. She whispered.

This sounds like a great irony to me.

I can't count how many times I almost lost my life outside the city.

However, the guy in front of him is still saying such irresponsible things so innocently.

"You've got a very strong body. The girl looked at me again.

"Plus the face is also very beautiful, it's so cunning. ”

- "Don't judge in front of others. I said with some irritation.

"I'm sorry. ”

"But your life is much brighter than the people here, so why is your heart always shrouded in gray?"

"Despite the faint edge that has always been around you, my instincts tell me that you are a good person. ”

She looked at me with a determined expression.

- Is he a good person?

Myself.

"Huh. I interrupted her.

"Your brain is broken. ”

- "No, there is no such thing. She said in a strong tone.

"You're a good guy. ”

"No matter what you've been doing or what you've done before, I don't mind. ”

"Because I know that your nature is good. ”

The girl smiled gently.

"That's why I said, your instincts are wrong. I said.

"I'm curious, any stranger can be treated as a good person, how do you survive?"

"A truly wicked person will not say that he is a wicked person. She made a strange conclusion.

I lifted the girl's chin with my fingers.

- There are no real wicked people in the world

- It's ridiculous.

"Is there any reason why you flatter me so much?"

- "Only... It's just a fact. ”

The girl replied calmly.

"Yes. ”

I stroked the girl's hair roughly.

"Uh-huh......"

And she just let me do it without saying a word.

From time to time, he looked at me with a look that was speechless, but I ignored it.

“...... I don't understand. ”

The girl made a small, mosquito-like sound.

- "Do you hate it?"

"Not annoying. ”

She smiled.

It is a smile that I made reluctantly.

I let go of my hand tastelessly.

The girl bowed her head and curled into a ball.

After a long time, I spoke.

- "Just now, you mean you're lost, right?"

"Huh?"

"Yes......" she whispered.

"Where are you going?"

I asked, standing aside from the side.

"I'm from the main road......" said the girl, bowing her head.

"So, I'll just take you to the main road, right?"

"Yes, yes. ”

Her gentle smile lightened the tiredness in my heart.

............？

The scene in front of me was suddenly dizzy. I supported my body by holding my hand against the wall next to me.

Sure enough, is it a side effect of using magic?

This supernatural miracle power has been an imperfect product since its birth.

Every time you use it, it puts a great burden on your body.

The roar of the earth could be heard beneath his feet, and the buildings around him were shaking.

“...... This voice. . . I read a little groggy.

The girl's face did not change much from just now.

Sure enough, it's still my own hallucination......

But....... This is all too true.

Such a smile.

My mind flashed through the scene of that day.

Never mind.

It's okay.

Although I tried to convince myself in this way, the tension between the joints was extremely stiff.

The ground was shaking, and the surrounding buildings were shaking.

“？”

Vaguely I could see that the girl looked at me suspiciously.

"Ahh

- "Goo"

The body loses its center of gravity.

The view is choked by something.

..............................

I was hugged by her.

The peculiar smell of a girl's body poured into my nostrils.

It's not a perfume, it's a natural body odor for women.

I really miss it.

Ever since that day, I've lived surrounded by the smell of flesh and rust.

The last smell I smelled was the most identical to this time......

The taste of asters.

“......”

The strength that held me waned.

"Are you alright......?"

The girl in front of her asked with some concern.

"What do you mean?" I replied in a low voice.

"No...... Because you just fell down suddenly, and your expression was stiff......"

- "It's just that I'm a little tired, so I don't care." I held my head and said slowly.

On the other hand, he secretly endured the indigo blood surging in his throat.

The most direct cost of magic to the body is the erosion of the blood in the body.

After that, he coughed up a horrific bloodstain, probably the color of a broken lily.

It tastes like it's been baked and burnt.

People who use magic and magic have to carry this pain for the rest of their lives.

Therefore, it is not an exaggeration to say that one's life is a bargaining chip in exchange with death.

"Let me go, it's hot. I said helplessly.

"Ah...... I'm sorry. “

The girl realized her movements and hurriedly let go of her arm.

I was liberated.

........................

There is still a bit of confusion in my mind, so I can't grasp the concept of time accurately.

I don't know how long I went.

The girl staggered her eyes, intentionally or unintentionally.

An uncomfortably silent atmosphere flowed between the two of them.

As we walked forward, the scene suddenly became more open.

What appears in front of you is a splendid avenue that is quite abrupt in the lower area. It is also the only place where the Guards of the Territorial Capital exist in the lower districts.

The purpose was to hold the pass that connected the lower and upper levels to the royal city.

The magnificent scene in front of me made me unconsciously stop and watch.

At the end of the straight road, there is a stone staircase that spirals up with light and agility. On the other side of the distant height, you can see the lights scattered into the night sky when you look up in the lower level.

Just looking at it can be shocking.

- I'm afraid it's the upper echelons of the capital city of Glen Sauron.

- Yarakuen Garden, where forests and gardens coexist, and marble makes up wide streets.

While I was pondering, the girl walked to a carriage parked on the road. The whole body is covered tightly by brown cloth.

After the girl said something to the people in the carriage, she smiled and bowed deeply to me.

"The host asked me to convey to you how much I would like to thank you. The girl said with a smile.

Master....... Is it?

She took out a white cloth bag from the car and handed it to me.

The sturdy weight of my arm and the slight clattering sound of my arm made me clear what was in the bag.

"No, I don't need to be paid. If you really want to say thank you, let me meet your master, right?"

If you ride in a carriage, the other party should not be an ordinary person. It's also quite worthwhile to ask for a little information.

- "I'm so sorry that my host can't see you for a number of reasons. ”

The girl bowed gracefully to me and did not take the bag in my hand.

"It's a pity. I replied thoughtfully.

"I see. ”

After responding crisply, I turned to leave.

But I heard a fairly clear and pure voice coming from the carriage.

The sound is as crisp as a wind chime, and just hearing it can arouse a man's infinite reverie for the sender.

Seems somewhat familiar.

- "Is it you, did you just help my subordinates?"

"Ahh I said leisurely.

"Yes——?"

"You're tired ......"

I waved my hand and walked into the alley.

You're tired ....... Is it?

It sounds like the other party is a person of high status.

I silently recalled the scene in my mind.

As if electrocuted, a thought flashed through my heart.

That man......

Could it be ......?!

I opened the white bag in my hand. Although I was prepared, I was still scared by the full contents.

The bag was filled with glittering gold coins.

It seems to be a little peculiar.

I picked up one of the bags, and the streak on it made me even more convinced.

- That's right

- This is a gold coin that circulates only in the church.