With a sigh of relief, Brain spoke with sarcasm as he stretched. With a cracking noise, his stiff body loosened as his blood circulation returned.

He let out a large yawn.

“…That guy probably lets his soldiers sleep here from time to time. Won’t they be disappointed with a house like this?”

The reason the nobles lived extravagant lives wasn’t solely due to their love of luxury. It was to show off and keep up appearances.

Likewise, if their leader was surrounded in luxurious furnishings, it would stoke the ambitions of the soldiers and make them work harder.

“…No, that’s just pointless meddling.”

Brain muttered and snorted back a laugh, not at Gazef, but at himself.

For it was now the second time that his heart found comfort after a shock large enough to drive him to despair. It must be, since he had the peace of mind for such trivial thoughts.

Brain thought of the appearance of that powerful monster and could not stop his hands from trembling.

“As expected…”

He could not shed the terror in his heart.

Shalltear Bloodfallen.

Brain Unglaus, a man who gave his all to the sword, could not even reach her feet. She was an existence of absolute strength, a monster among monsters with an appearance as if all the beauty of this world was concentrated in one place. She was a being that possessed true power.

Just imagining it felt as if terror was piercing his entire body.

Ensnared by the fear of that monster chasing him, he fled all the way to the capital with almost no sleep or rest. The fear of Shalltear appearing before him while he slept, of her clawing through the darkness as he ran on the road... he was dominated by that uneasiness and moved without getting a decent night of sleep.

Although the reason he fled to the capital was because he hoped that a place with many people would allow him to hide amongst them, even he himself did not expect that the terrifying ordeal of his escape would exhaust his mind to the point where he would seek his own death.

It could also be said that his meeting with Gazef was also outside of his expectations. Perhaps the small hope that Gazef would be able to do something for him caused Brain to subconsciously turn his feet in his direction. The answer was unknown.

“What am I to do now…”

There was nothing.

In his open hand, there was nothing.

He turned his eyes to his equipment resting in the corner of the room.

The katana that he obtained to defeat Gazef Stronoff, but what good would it do even if he were to beat him? With the knowledge of an existence that was tremendously more powerful than he, what meaning was there in their insignificant bickering?

“Maybe I should work the fields… at least that might still mean something.”

As he laughed bitterly at himself, Brain felt someone’s presence standing outside the door.

“Unglaus, I see you’re awake.”

The voice belonged to the master of the house.

“Yeah, I’m up, Stronoff.”

The door opened and Gazef stepped inside. He was securely wearing his equipment.

“You were sleeping quite well. I was surprised.”

“Yeah, thanks to you. Sorry.”

“Don’t mind it. But I must now be off for the palace. Tell me what happened to you when I return.”

“…It’s a gruesome story. You might end up like me.”

“Still, I have to hear it. Perhaps a drink will make it easier to listen… Until then, treat this as your own home and make yourself comfortable. For meals or anything else you may need, ask the house servants and it will be prepared. And if you wish to go into the city… do you have money?”

“…I don’t… but if need be I’ll just sell the item on my hand.”

Brain lifted his hand wearing the ring to better show Gazef.

“Are you fine with that? It looks quite expensive.”

“Whatever.”

Originally, this item was also something he obtained in order to defeat Gazef. Now that he realized that it was for naught, would there be any reason to treasure it?

“It may be difficult to sell expensive items and it also takes time for the purchase price to be prepared. Take this with you.”

Gazef tossed a small pouch. The clinking sound of metal rang out from the pouch that landed in Brain’s hand.

“…Sorry. I’ll be borrowing this for a bit then.”

Part 2

Lower Fire Month (9th Month), Day 3, 10:31

Sebas walked while thinking of how to deal with the five people who were tailing him after he left the residence. He had no particular destination in mind. He only believed that moving his body and a change of scenery would help him think of a good idea.

Eventually, he found that a crowd had formed up ahead.

There, a voice that sounded like both anger and laughter rang out, along with the sound of something being beaten. In the crowd, people were remarking about how someone was going to be killed, and that someone should call the guards.

Although he couldn’t see past the crowd, some kind of violence was certainly occurring.

Sebas thought about taking a different road, but just as he was about to change his direction, he hesitated… and continued forward.

He was heading towards the midst of the crowd.

“Pardon.”

With that single phrase, Sebas moved between the crowds and stepped inside.

As if they were in awe of the strange movements of the old man who was slipping through, everyone who was in Sebas’ path shrank away from him as he passed by. It seemed like there was another person aside from Sebas trying to make his way deeper into the crowd. From his voice asking to let him pass, he sounded flustered from being unable to go through.

Having arrived at the center of the crowd without much difficulty, Sebas confirmed with his own eyes what was going on.

Several men in ragged clothes were kicking something all at once.

Sebas wordlessly continued on. He approached the men till he was close enough to stretch out his hand and touch them.

“What’s with this old man?!”