However, happiness tends to make the human heart numb and dull. I was also very happy when I lived with my parents. When you live in happiness, you don't think about anything, and you don't need to confirm whether you are happy or not.

It was only at the end of my happiness that I realized for the first time that I had spent an unknown amount of precious time.

What a jerk I am.

- I've been in fantasy like this, and I haven't thought about one day I'll be separated from Aster.

One evening, just after dinner with Shion and tidying up the dishes, I sensed that something was wrong.

The fire danced in the forest in the distance, and the lake reflected outside the window was a little dazzling for a while.

- Something is approaching.

In the moment of premonition, I grabbed the confused Shion and ran to the room on the second floor.

"What's wrong, Alan?"

“......”

The golden eagle flag outside the window is particularly dazzling in the flickering light and darkness.

—The Glen Horren Guard.

Soldiers armed with swords are gathering in this direction.

- The house was surrounded.

The mind is very confused. I pulled out the dagger from my waist with all my might, my body trembling slightly, unable to stop.

"What are you going to do with that——?"

"Aster stay here and don't make a sound!"

I pressed against the corner of the second floor, whatever it was, no matter what, to swing the blade at a human, not a monster.

What to do?

“...... Stop, Alan" came in a crisp voice

“？——”

"No need for that, I've got it. Her eyes darkened a little. Then, under my astonished gaze, I slowly walked down the stairs.

"Captain Chester - finally found this place. Shion said word by word.

There was a middle-aged blond man holding a giant sword standing at the door, and he smiled helplessly when he heard it.

"yes, Igwini. ”

"—I haven't seen each other for a long time. ”

"It's impossible for you to escape the tracking of the guards. ”

There was a hint of pain on the girl's face.

This man is the enemy!

It's Aster's enemy, it's my enemy!

I stumbled down from the second-floor window.

"Boom-" The sound of his body hitting the ground was heard, and his whole body was instantly numb. The guard in front of the house seemed to hear the movement, and the footsteps were approaching.

"Damn—" I gritted my teeth and swept around the corner of the room.

"Hey, you guy!" the guard shouted at me.

"Whoosh" The bright blade swung at me.

It was a guard that claimed to have been formed to expel monsters for the people of Grancis.

The guards who eat people's taxes openly.

Now he has an ugly face

Point your sword at the human.

These people.

Are you kidding!

"Huh-" The sound of the sword head splitting through the air came from above my head, and I quickly dodged to the left front, dodging the attack, and slammed into the soldiers in front of me.

"Bang-" When I pushed the door open, the man was facing away from me.

Place the dagger straight around the man's neck.

Aster's enemies are my enemies.

"—get me out. I said through gritted teeth.

At this distance, you won't deviate even if you close your eyes. I swung the dagger faster than his.

“...... Hey...... This is really nerve-wracking...... When did you have such a knight, Aster?"

- "Shut up, I won't forgive you for insulting this child." Even if it's you. I will never forgive!"

"Ahhh......h I'm sorry" the man shrugged his shoulders and scratched his head vigorously.

"I've already apologized, should I put the dagger down?"

- "As long as you get out of this room, I'll let you go." ”

I didn't back down in the slightest, and still held on to the hilt of my sword.

"I'm really embarrassed......" The man slowly turned his head, his eyes shooting like icicles.

- "You ............ you. Want to die?"

"Wait!" Shion's anxious voice came.

"It's okay to wait a little longer. The man's tone became low and dark.

- "Igwini, that's pretty much it. Even if you keep running away like this...... Nothing will change. ”

"I ...... Yes, yes. Shion's painful voice came.

She nodded slightly at me and gripped the blade of the dagger. It coincided with my sweaty hands.

"Shion......" I looked at her in confusion.

"Thank you, Alan, but that's enough. I am glad that your tender affection makes me feel good. ”

"It's enough. ”

She gently pressed the dagger.

Shion hugged me, and a burst of fragrance came from her body.

The warmth from her made me stop thinking.

- "Farewell." ”

“......”

"When I came here, I saw a lot. The blue sky of the lake, the stars on the top of the mountain, the breath of the forest. Every silent night that lives with Alan. - I can't forget all of this. ”

"Memories created with you, never ...... gone"

“...... Aster ......!"

The girl let go of me gently and walked out the door. The only warmth I can rely on is leaving me.

The man named Chester was leaning outside the door, his face facing the light of the torches.

"-Can you go?" he asked, seeing Shion's figure.

“...... Hmmm......"

Shion walked in the forefront, and the man followed her, never looking back.

Where to go?

Why go?

Why—leave me alone ......?

Just like when my parents left.

Why—why did everyone leave?

When he came back to his senses, Ziyuan's figure was still not far away, followed by a group of soldiers.

I sped out of the house.

"Aster——!" I shouted into the distance.

The girl's figure stopped with her back to me. The man turned his head and looked at me with depressed eyes.

Unlike when my parents left, I'm here now.

- So, be sure to stop them.

Be sure to get the asters back.

"Alan, don't cry"

“......！”

"As a boy, you can't cry easily, if you have time to cry, you might as well think about how to make yourself stronger. ”

"You are strong now, but I have always been sure that you who are gentle can definitely become stronger in order to protect others. ”

Shion turned her back to me and said to me in her usual tone. It's just that I can feel a little sadness from the words.

- "I'm really blessed to have met you. ”

- "So, let's meet on the same day, and then we will be happy—I've always had that premonition. ”

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

Just like that, the girl's figure disappeared in front of me. To the distance, to the distance where we will never see each other again.

Obviously, we can always be together.

If I had just been on the grass at the top of the mountain with Aster............

Why............

"You're amazing. The man's voice popped up from beside him.

“......！”

It's the man named Chester just now, why is he still here?

Instead of answering, I glared angrily into his eyes.

"Huh...... Before leaving, I would like to thank you for taking care of her. With that, the man took a bag of gold coins from his waist and threw it into my hand.

"She's happy to live with you here. ”

- "Isn't it because of you that our peaceful life has become fragmented!!"

My heart burned like a fire, and anger and self-reproach were gradually eating away at what little reason I had left.

Clenched his fists and swung them at Chester's abdomen.

- all the sorrow, all the pain, all the despair.

"Without you, we can still live in peace——!"

“！............”

A blast hit, and as I was thinking, an oncoming fist slammed into my face. With a thud, I fell to the ground. It felt very hot.

"When you're stronger, come to Glen Solon City. The man said quietly.

- "Who's going to listen to your advice!" I replied angrily.

"Listen to me, if you want to see Aster Igwini again—"

- "No kidding, no words from you. Aster will still be alive and happily here!"

"People who don't have the strength to protect Shion are not qualified to say this!" the man said angrily in vain, "What do you want to do here, kill me here, and then attack the guards?"

"No matter what, look at what you're capable of. See the world clearly, and then pursue your goals. ”

The man's words were not emotional. Just said it simply.

- "Why, tell me such a thing......" I looked at him feebly.

When the man heard this, he sighed slightly and looked towards the night sky.

- "Maybe it's because I want you to take her back......"

“......。 Ahhhh............hh It's boring...... Why would I say such a thing......" The man waved his hand and walked leisurely towards the forest.

I was left slumped on the grass by the lake.

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

When I opened my eyes, I was lying on the bed on the second floor of the Catherston Hotel, and not far from the workbench sat a man, wiping a black wing bow made of gold and silver filigree with interest.

“...... Is it another dream?" I said softly.

— Three years have passed since then.

It was raining heavily outside the window.

I slowly straightened my upper body and sat myself up. With the flickering oil light in the room, I slowly opened the notes on the pillow. The memories of me and Aster are clearly preserved on it.

"What's wrong, Alan. I woke up scared of myself again——?" said Yoyo, a man named Karan West.

"Uh....... ”

The sadness of past memories still haunts my mind.

"This-" Kahlan tossed a glass bottle of liquid. Hard konjac boiling sauce.

I slammed the plug and poured hard. Immediately, a warm sensation filled the whole body.

The magic in the body is slowly flowing. The magic circuit is activated by strong feelings.

“...... Ahh ”

"Huh?

"We—how far are we from the capital of Gran Sollern?" I asked.

"—it's almost there, and you can see it from Casadis and after rounding the hills of Manamia. ”

"Is it—" I replied, turning a new page in my notebook.