Clack, clack.

Out of habit, Khalid walked slowly forward, undoing and fastening the gold ring bracelet on one hand.

“That monster bastard...”

Allen muttered under his breath as he hurriedly yanked a waterproof sheet out of his coat and wrapped it around his boots.

An allied army?

Yeah, right.

This battle had been nothing more and nothing less than that brat’s personal hunting ground for leveling up his skill. By the time Khalid had raced ahead and cut down a hundred magical beasts by himself, the rest of the reinforcements had managed maybe ten, working together and straining for dear life.

And that wasn’t all. Even that final giant magical beast sleeping in the deepest part had been neatly taken care of by him alone, without a single supporting soldier. A creature so close to legend that no one had managed to subdue it for hundreds of years, and had simply left alone.

Of course, Liam Zebbert’s strategy guide played a part too.

Liam Zebbert, who was pumping out research papers at the Academy like a madman, had heard about this battle and sent over a tactical manual describing the traits of the surrounding magical beasts.

It had detailed their habits, weaknesses, and methods of attack, so it must have been a huge help in killing them.

Even so, this attack power... ha, is he a magical beast himself?

Had that bastard finally transcended into a magical beast?

Was he going to wind up beating even Leviathan Zebbert at this rate?

“Holy shit...”

Two monsters walking this earth.

And I’m on that side?

Allen smiled in deep satisfaction.

“Sir Khaaaalid!”

Long, thin life, long live.

Allen, feeling grateful even for the throbbing sensation from his artificial eye, hurried after Khalid.

He had gone farther into the cave and was examining the stele giving off that peculiar aura.

“Mm. Still the same brat who never listens to a word I say. Admirably consistent.”

Even at Allen’s muttering, Khalid did nothing but stare straight at the formulas on the stele.

At last, he could go back.

He could see Rubian.

That was the only thought ruling him.

Using magic, he lit the area, then copied down the formula engraved on the stele with a magic-infused pen.

“So? Is it the formula or whatever the Princess is looking for? Let me see too, let me—”

At that moment, Khalid lifted his head. That utterly indifferent gaze fell on Allen the way one might look at some random rock nearby.

“Get lost. Don’t block the light.”

“Ha. You grew up just fine in every other way, so why’s your attitude the only thing that never did?”

Allen grumbled and backed away.

Could this really be the formula for the mark-breaking circle?

It was so complex he couldn’t tell for certain.

...It does look like a formula for releasing something.

If so, then the odds were good, weren’t they?

Please let this be something he could take back that would actually help Rubian.

“Hey, hey. So how many years has it been since you saw the Princess, huh? More than a year and a half? Two years?”

Allen chuckled.

“How do you think the Princess will react when she sees you, bastard? I stop by the ducal house every now and then, so I’ve seen her. Hey. The Princess got really pretty, you know? She’s cute, but pretty. Didn’t get that much taller, though— Ugh!”

A small stone smacked down against the forehead of the man who had been chirping on without pause.

“Ow! You bastard!”

“Want to shut up yourself, or should I do it for you?”

“You already did it, so why are you asking?”

Khalid smiled crookedly.

“Don’t go around evaluating her however you please. It pisses me off.”

“I’m a man who believes in a self-directed life. Please use words next time.”

It had been a joke, more or less, but not even a reply came back.

Still, since that was nothing new, Allen gave a long yawn, then suddenly looked up.

The face before him looked more serious than he had ever seen it.

He’s concentrating harder than he does in battle.

Christ, that brat’s face really is unfair.

No, his body was outrageous too.

Wasn’t it a shock the first time he stood next to Duke Zebbert?

Made you wonder when he’d grown enough to catch up like that.

“Good grief. When he was little, he was kind of like a little brother. Pretty cute too...”

Feeling the march of time all over again, Allen sniffed.

Those broad shoulders, those dense muscles honed through brutal combat. His straight neck and sharp jawline gave him a strange sort of appeal, making him seem both like a powerful warrior and an elegant, refined nobleman.

“What do you think the Princess will say when she sees you? Cry because she’s so happy? Laugh? Come running over and throw herself into your arms? Damn, that’d be incredible.”

As usual, he’d tossed the words into the air meaninglessly, but unexpectedly, an answer came back. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

“...Come running over...”

“Huh?”

“Feels more likely she’d start by kicking me in the shin.”

That low voice echoed through the cave.

“...What, did you run off after stealing the Princess’s money or something?”

“What a way to think.”

Khalid scoffed briefly, then turned his focus back to the stele.

“I left again after only leaving her a note.”

But really, he couldn’t bear the idea of saying goodbye while looking at her face.

“She’ll be furious.”

Then I’ll go and beg.

As if making a vow, Khalid stroked the one bracelet he had left.

Then suddenly, at the sharp sting in his arm, he rolled up his sleeve.

“Hey. Are you hurt?”

“......”

Looks like it.

“Ah, it doesn’t seem that bad. Come here. At least let me put some medicine on—”

Khalid looked at the lightly scraped patch of skin, then quietly pulled his sleeve back down.

“It’s fine.”

“No, why?”

“I’ll get treated when I get back.”

“...?”

Why, exactly? There was an emergency kit right here stocked practically like a walking clinic.

Granted, it’s for me!

Then Allen narrowed his eyes as if something had just occurred to him.

Oho.

You sly little fox bastard.

Cackling, Allen crouched down beside Khalid. He playfully shoved at his shoulder, and immediately got shoved back himself.

“Damn it, what is this, a fortress wall?!”

Why the hell was his shoulder that solid?!

“What. Stop being annoying and get lost.”

But Allen did not give up.

“You— heh heh. Going to confess when you get back?”

Khalid froze.

For an instant, it felt as if every bit of air in the cave had stopped.

“...Do what?”

“Confess. You’re not? The Princess is an adult now too. So what’s the problem?”

Khalid looked at Allen like he was something lower than a worm on the ground.

“No, listen. The King of Casalia is apparently trying to lure you in by offering you a countship, right? Says he’ll give you territory too. And even when you get back to Babilon, you’ll probably get at least a baron’s title. Isn’t that right? What I’m saying is, you’ve got no reason to feel inferior anymore!”

“......”

“You’re becoming a noble too! And you’ve spent all this time in the knight order getting socialized or whatever!”

Without answering, Khalid just looked at Allen. Allen’s eyes slowly widened.

“You bastard, don’t tell me...”

“......”

“You’re not still spouting that loyalty-this, loyalty-that bullshit, are you?”

“......”

“Ha! So I’m right. How much do I have to spoon-feed you, exactly? Hey! That isn’t loyalty, it’s lo— Mmph!”

Pow.

In the end, Khalid moved his magic and plastered Allen flat against the cave wall like a slice of cheese.

“Want to shut up yourself, or should I do it for you?”

“You could’ve said ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) that before embedding me in the wall...! Aaaagh. Somebody save me. There’s a magical beast in here.”

“If you’ve got time to talk nonsense, get back to Babilon first and go run errands for Rubian. I’ll finish cleaning things up here and follow later.”

“Yes, yes, of course. Our great Sir Khalid Emperor King Noble has spoken, so naturally, naturally...”

Allen barely managed to drag himself free from the cave wall.

“Cough, cough. Let your big brother give you one piece of advice, brat.”

Khalid was starting to think he ought to stuff a magical-beast corpse into that mouth.

“The one who confesses first wins, got it? Huh?! And you’ve already got about a two-year blank in there! Understood?”

“Allen.”

“Huh.”

“Have you ever been married?”

Allen blinked stupidly.

“No?”

“A girlfriend, then.”

“Not right now.”

“In the past?”

“...I’ve never had one.”

The corner of Khalid’s mouth curled up.

Fuck, why were tears coming out?

While Allen sniffled, Khalid jerked his chin carelessly toward the cave entrance.

“You smell like an old man. Get out.”

“No way!”

An old-man smell? When I’m not even married?!

*****

God, I got burned alive...

That conversation with Mom...

I was up talking with Mom all night, and only fell asleep near dawn.

I’d thought I’d be able to sleep longer, but my eyes opened before the morning was even over, so after washing up and eating, I headed for the Imperial Palace.

Now that I was staying in the capital while attending the Academy, trips to the Imperial Palace somehow felt natural too.

Probably because of the Imperial Palace archives.

It was a place His Majesty the Emperor had personally granted me special access to through Licht.

“Princess, this way please.”

“Yes.”

Following the attendant, I headed toward the Imperial Palace archives.

The archives were enormous, but naturally the section I was free to enter was limited.

Mostly the parts related to ancient records.

This was where I researched ancient place names tied to steles. There were also plenty of materials useful for Academy life, so I came here often to consult them.

Ha, come to think of it, the Academy graduation academic festival isn’t far off.

After the Imperial Palace, I should head to the Academy.

Busy, busy.

“Then please take your time looking around, and let me know if you need anything.”

The attendant spoke politely and withdrew.

I sat down in my usual spot among the densely packed records.

Today, I think it’d be best to investigate Zelox’s old place names in reverse.

Then maybe I could confirm whether the final word in that record really meant Zelox.

Hm, maybe I should pull that file out.

I reached toward the cluttered shelves, then wilted a little when I couldn’t reach.

“A footstool...”

Just as I was looking around for one—

“This?”

A large shadow fell behind me.

At the same time, the pleasant scent of soap wrapped warmly around my whole body.