Translator: KJ

Whooooosh──

Northern Robrus. A snow-capped mountain where a blizzard raged.

The three of us stood there, the area grew still as though nothing had happened.

"Haaah..."

Yelena let out a sigh of relief. I smiled faintly and looked around at the Adversaries' corpses.

"Ms. Yelena. Did you know?"

There were five bodies in total. I split the ribcages of the men sprawled in the snow with my longsword.

Crack!

"I'm quite good at iden⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌tifying Subspecies."

Parting bone and flesh, I picked up a still-warm heart with my bare hand.

A form with circuitry tangled chaotically alongside the heart muscle. The hallmark of a Subspecies.

Yelena's eyes widened.

"So it is a Subspecies."

"Yes. An Ezenheim, most likely."

I placed the heart into a box I had prepared beforehand.

Every Ezenheim heart was subject to analysis. We could distinguish Subspecies by the shape of the heart, but we still couldn't specify the details of the Subspecies—Ezenheim—beyond that.

"...You can identify Ezenheim?"

Yelena's brow furrowed slightly.

"Yes. Honestly, it's nothing to be surprised by. Ezenheim have a stench to them."

As Yelena and Schatz looked on, I cut open the chests of the remaining two and extracted their hearts.

“Ezenheim have a stench to them.”

Flick. Flick. I shook my bloodied hands and smiled coldly.

"L⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌et's move. Schatz?"

"Yes."

Schatz gave Yelena a signal. She went ahead to the point with Schatz, and I laid my sword upon the Ezenheim's corpse.

Hummmm—

The Virus resonated. Mana was being absorbed through the longsword. I didn't know exactly what principle governed it or what power it would grant me. Only that the Virus grew stronger by consuming their mana.

“...You done?”

Thump.

These days it answered me quite readily. Ah, for the record, the Virus's "digestive capacity" had limits, so this couldn't go on indefinitely.

“Good.”

I swung the longsword and hacked the rest of the corpse into pieces. The blizzard would sweep them up and bury them soon enough.

Then I followed after Schatz and Yelena, who had set off ahead.

──Before long, we reached the edge of the snow mountain's sheer, precipitous cliff.

"This is the place."

The Mana-Propelled Glider Schatz had prepared in advance lay there, its wings woven from wood and specialized fabric.

"Ms. Yelena. We'll ride the updraft and the wind, soaring over the border."

A natural object, impossible for any detection net to pick up. With only this glider and mana, we would fly across the border zone, then enter the Empire via the vehicle waiting for us.

"...Can we really do this with just that?"

Yelena gazed down at the blindingly white blizzard raging below the cliff and swallowed dryly.

"Yes. The wind blows west anyway."

I gripped the glider's handles.

"Hold on to my back."

"..."

Yelena looked at Schatz beside her. Schatz shook her head.

"I'll be fine."

Of course. Schatz could walk through a border zone like this on foot, unseen by any eye.

"Then..."

Yelena climbed onto my back, and I crouched down. I readied myself to sprint. From against my back, I could feel her trembling.

"Don't worry. A knight is at his most free in the sky."

“Ah, um...”

Before she could feel any more frightened—tah!

I flung out my legs and sprinted for the cliff.

In just five strides my feet left the ground and stepped into open air.

Riding the current, I soared upward.

"Aaaagh!"

I paid no mind to the voice behind me. I only surrendered myself to the sky.

Whooooooooosh——!

Tearing through the flesh-biting blizzard, I spread the wings and glided over the Robrus border.

A pleasant wind rushed in.

A flight that seemed to unravel every scrap of tension and strain I had carried.

Smiling brightly, I unleashed an Aerial Assault of a different meaning than usual.

* * *

Meanwhile, in the Imperial capital.

The Sentinel Knight Order Deputy Commander's office.

"...Hah."

Chiron was huffing through his nostrils, working to swallow his fury.

'What a fucking mess.'

"That vermin."

Thud! He slammed his fist against the oak desk.

"...Ah."

He glanced down, wondering if he'd left a mark. Thankfully, he hadn't.

"..."

Swish. Swish. He ran his palm over the surface of the desk.

He was about to fetch a cloth, thinking that wasn't enough, when suddenly.

Cliff's voice replayed in his ears.

'I have nothing to say to you.'

That moron had only repeated such idiotic drivel, a knight unworthy of the name.

'The Imperial Palace will use this incident as leverage.'

Chiron had solemnly reprimanded him, but.

'Those of you who drove out Deputy Commander Anton-'

'I am the Deputy Commander, Cliff.'

'Those of you who drove out Deputy Commander Anton-.'

'I am the Deputy Commander, Cliff.'

'Weren't you, in fact, the ones hoping to have the Imperial Palace's leash fastened around your necks?'

Cliff had spouted such things with shocking ease.

'To begin with, Sir Chiron-'

'Deputy Commander.'

'Sir Chiron, you too took that seat by borrowing the Imperial Palace's power, is what I mean.'

'...'

Chiron had glared at him. Rage had surged up from his gut and hammered the crown of his head, but he had forced a smile and endured. No point drawing the exchange out any longer than necessary.

Either way, he had disliked this blockhead from way back.

'You're dismissed. There'll be no turning back.'

As Chiron sprang up and turned on his heel, Cliff had spouted more bullshit.

'Yes. Thank you, Sir Chiron.'

Chiron had paused, glaring at him again.

'It's Deputy Commander. You lunatic-'

Knock knock─

The knocking broke his recollection. Chiron ran a hand through his hair. At some point his forehead had grown quite hot.

"Come in."

Chiron's aide entered and spoke.

"Deputy Commander. Sir Maximilian has returned."

* * *

The moment I returned to my office after completing my solo mission, I was given some rather interesting news.

"...There was quite a commotion during your absence, Sir."

With my ears I absorbed the aide's report; with my eyes I skimmed down the file on Cliff's explosion incident.

"Is this a knight order or a political arena..."

I tossed the papers down and rose from my seat.

"Where is Sir Cliff right now?"

"In the temporary disciplinary committee waiting room."

In my absence, Cliff's disciplinary action had already been decided. What remained was to argue over its severity.

Grossman and the rest of the Imperial Palace's leeches wouldn't pass up this chance to tarnish the knight order's prestige either.

I started walking there.

[Waiting Room]

When I opened the door and stepped inside, I saw Cliff with his face set hard.

Upon spotting me in turn, his expression transformed into something thoroughly murderous.

"..."

A short silence passed between us.

I sighed, and Cliff ground his teeth.

“What are you doi⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌ng here?”

“Don’t you know? I have the authority to conduct internal audits within the Order.”

It was a power granted to me by the Imperial household after I had fairly and impartially reviewed Adria.

“Sir Cliff. You seem dissatisfied.”

At my question, Cliff let out a scoffing snort.

“As if I wouldn’t be.”

Such was the depth of Anton's standing. Deep enough to bring about incidents Anton himself would never have wanted. It was proof of the righteousness of his life.

"Good timing, actually. There was something I wanted to ask you."

Cliff's next words were entirely predictable.

"At that closed Hearing, the bastard lower than a beast who was the first to rip open and jab at Deputy Commander Anton's wounds..."

Grinding his teeth, eyes blazing, he spat out a single fragment.

"Was that you?"

I scratched my brow.

There was no way I could explain myself here and now. The Imperial Palace's laws made sure of that.

And if, by some chance, the future deviated and that transcript of the conversation was never made public?

Then that too would merely be a failure of my calculation, nothing to be done about it.

Either way─ being misunderstood by someone was not a thing I feared at all.

I still had tens of millions of Ezenheim to exterminate, after all.

I merely asked back calmly.

"And what if it was."

In that instant Cliff's brow crumpled into something terrifying.

“Would that justify what you did?”

"..."

"What the hell does it change? Do you really think that stunt of yours, dragging innocent civilians into an explosion, is going to do Anton any good now?"

Cliff couldn't contain his rage. With a crash, he shot up from his chair, vaulted over the table, and seized me roughly by the collar.

"You inhuman─!"

Slam! The door burst open and knights rushed in from outside. They pulled Cliff off me and pinned him to the floor, turning the place into chaos.

"You asshole! Because of you, because of you──"

Cli⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌ff's mouth was clamped shut.

I lightly brushed down my rumpled clothes. I looked down indifferently at the thrashing Cliff, then walked out.

A great many knights had gathered in the corridor. Jerome, Tiana, Raynel, Leon, Hannah, and many others— commoners and nobles alike...

No. I was tired of those classifications now.

In Sentinel, we were all meant to be knights, nothing more.

"Max. Don't let it get to you."

Chiron came up and clapped my shoulder. The other noble knights behind him nodded along, casting contemptuous glances at Cliff.

"That blockhead is going to be dismissed one way or another. His Knight Investiture, his Knight Pension, all of it stripped. Foolish idiot."

"..."

Without a word, I left the knight order.

I summoned my aide, had a vehicle brought around, and made for the site in the Central Empire's 14th District where Cliff had supposedly caused the explosion.

[No Entry]

Acrid soot stains, a shattered building. At the site where the rubble still remained, not only police but Imperial Guard personnel stood.

“So you’re saying that lunatic knight just barged into this dangerous warehouse and started swinging his blade around without thinking?”

“Look at the remains of the Mana Condenser. There’s no way he stabbed into it that stupidly without knowing it might explode. It was deliberate. It had to be.”

“And thanks to that, all the evidence of the illegal Mana Stones is gone too...”

Their conversation, deliberately loud as they gestured at the wreckage, reached my ears with unmistakable intent.

I approached them.

"What?"

A bulky Imperial Guardsman controlling the entrance moved to block me, then flinched as he caught a glimpse of the uniform beneath my coat.

"W-Who, who are you?"

"From Sentinel."

"Ah, ah. Yes."

The Imperial Guardsmen saluted reluctantly, their faces sour, and someone who recognized me stepped forward.

“Ah, it’s you, sir.”

The insignia on his shoulder: Imperial Guard Colonel.

His face... I vaguely remembered it. The name, 'Wolfgang'. Likewise a future war criminal. A son of a reasonably prestigious house. It seemed the Imperial Palace had dispatched a man with both seniority and good connections.

I asked him.

"Why is the Imperial Guard here on Sentinel's mat⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌ter?"

Wolfgang tipped his chin up and answered.

"A special mission ordered separately by the Imperial Palace. It was judged that a transparent investigation into the knight order's fault in this tragic explosion was required."

"Tragedy". Already they were slyly manipulating the choice of words.

"This is a crime scene subdued by a knight of Sentinel. The investigative authority and jurisdiction rest wholly with Sentinel, so the Imperial Guard would do well to withdraw now."

I courteously issued the order to leave. But Colonel Wolfgang frowned and shook his head.

"...No. We are preserving the scene and collecting evidence under clear orders from our superiors. Meaning this case has been assigned to us, not the knight order."

He seemed to be trying to hold his ground by using the Imperial Palace's authority as a shield.

How laughable.

The Imperial Palace's Imperial Guard could be like this at times. As men who lived within the Palace, they forgot how the world outside actually functioned.

I gave a thin smile.

"Then, let me ask you."

I stepped one pace closer to him.

"From whom?"

At my sudden question, Colonel Wolfgang asked back stupidly.

"...I beg your pardon?"

I closed the distance by another step and murmured.

"I asked from whom exactly you received such an order."

Wolfgang's pupils trembled faintly. He shut his mouth, unable to answer readily.

It couldn't be an Imperial Edict. At most it would be the flimsy breath of Kentz Bertem, desperate for a Minister's post, or of the Imperial Guard's top brass.

"You can't answer. In that case."

I leaned close to his ear.

"Compared to those 'superiors' of yours who gave that order."

I wiped my expression clean. The smile at the corner of my mouth vanished.

"How do I measure up, standing here in front of you right now."

Thud. Somewhere above us, a piece of debris from the ruined site fell from the ceiling.

My gaze lingered there a moment, then returned to Wolfgang.

"You. “Can you handle the Ebenholtz name?”"

"..."

Wolfgang swallowed dryly. The joint of his jaw twitched as though convulsing.

No doubt the name Maximilian was only now flashing before his eyes like the final moments of a dying man.

The heir of Ebenholtz. The monster who had crushed Genen beneath his tanks and slaughtered the Cartel in a single night.

Notoriety came in handy at moments like this.

"...Ahem."

Still, he hadn't quite thrown away the last shred of his pride. After glaring at me once with sharp defiance, he gestured to his Imperial Guardsmen.

“...We’re withdrawing. Fall back.”

The Imperial Guard receded like an ebbing tide.

The local police chief, who had been huddled in a corner, cautiously approached.

"Ah, um, Sir..."

"Preserve the scene exactly as it is. Don't touch so much as a speck of dust."

I looked around the explosion site and gave the order.

"And the suspects?"

"Yes. They're, well, currently hospitalized. Small fry who were distributing illegal Mana Stones. No direct connection to the Revolutionary forces that we can see."

──Tap.

The click of a heel rose behind me. I turned. Sonnet Kandel stood there in a neat suit.

My brow knit slightly.

"What brings you here, too?"

She pushed up her thin gold-rimmed glasses with her middle finger, yet again, and answered.

"I have a few too many occupations, it seems. As a real estate operator... one of the buildings caught in this explosion happens to be registered under my name."

After a cursory sweep of the scene, she fixed her gaze on me.

"I heard the rumors. That Cliff grabbed you by the collar."

Rumors travelled fast indeed.

Or perhaps I had simply become that significant a figure.

"Have you ever been grabbed by the collar in your life?"

Sonnet's question was simply laughable.

Many, many times. Before my Regression.

Back in my fugitive days, wandering the back alleys after the Empire had fallen. I'd get grabbed by the collar whenever someone was bored, tripped, get picked on for a fight even while sleeping.

I could say I was used to it.

If anything, it was welcome. Even something to be grateful for. For letting me feel that original resolve again after so long.

"Knight Cliff is in real trouble now. Having dared lay a hand on you."

At Sonnet's words, I looked around the scene once more.

"No."

I straightened my disheveled coat lapel and shook my head.

"A knight of the Empire──"

At some point, was it Chiron. Or Adria.

One of them, or perhaps both, had once said this.

'Sentinel is, in the end, Sentinel.'

I agreed with those words entirely.

Which meant this incident was, in fact, an opportunity.

I would steer the investigation in Cliff's favor. By whatever means, by whatever method, I would prove his innocence.

"Never abandons his comrade."

We had to become even more tightly bound together against the outside pressure of the Imperial Palace.

~~~

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