Omiros and Kyouka were looking at me.

  「What about you, Regena-san……」


  I was also looking at Omiros. He was not lying. Omiros never lied to me.

  It seems that Omiros would really send me back to my dear master’s side.

  I nodded at him because this was a goodbye with the childhood friend who held me dear in his heart.

  「Let’s go.」


  I stood up and headed towards Omiros.

  「Wait a minute, Regena-san. You forgot something.」


  Saying so, Kyouka then gave something to me.

  「This is my …… sword」


  The thing I received was the short sword that my dear master gave to me.

  「It’s your most important thing, right? Here, I’ll give it back to you. From now on, please do not forget the talk about moving to our place. We’ll be waiting for you.」


  Kyouka-san said so with a beautiful smile on her face.

  Could it be that this princess was actually a really nice person?

  「I have to ask for my dear master’s permission for that. But, I’m grateful for your feeling of wanting to help us.」


  I bowed my head to her.

  「.…… Well, I’ll excuse myself then.」


  Raising my head, I went towards Omiros.

  「Let’s go, Regena.」


  I followed Omiros.

  「Where are we going to go, Omiros? 」


  「First is to the gravesite.」


  Omiros replied without even turning around.

  「The grave …… site? 」


  「Mother’s gravesite because you might not be able to come back after returning to Nargol.」


  For some reason, I knew why Omiros was taking me to that place. Omiros was taking me to see my mother’s grave for the last time.

  「No, we can’t do that!」


  But I refused to go there.

  「Why don’t you want to visit your mother’s grave, Regena?」


  「I mean, everyone whom I left in Nargol couldn’t visit the graves of their relatives, and yet I’m the only one who can. There’s no way I can do that……」


  Everyone except me couldn’t visit the graves of their relatives, so there was no way I could do that without the others getting the same privilege.

  「I see……」


  「Sorry Omiros …… I ended up saying what’s been on my mind……」


  「It’s okay …… I’m glad to be able to meet you again, Regena.」


  Omiros was laughing as he kept looking forward.

  It must have been hard for him.

  I knew what he felt. But, I’ve made my decision.

  That was why I couldn’t respond to his feelings even if I could stay in Algore.

  I remembered the memories of that day.

  The day when we were driven away to the goblin’s nest.

  I was scared of goblins. We were running desperately so that those goblins wouldn’t find us.

  Our comrades vanished one by one. My heart was on the verge of a breakdown due to fear.

  And then, “IT” appeared in front of us. The embodiment of fear in this world, a gigantic dragon.

  When that dragon appeared, my heart was shattered to pieces.

  It was so scary that I ended up crying.

  But then, a miracle happened.

  The dark knight riding on the back of the dragon removed his helmet and smiled kindly at us.

  The Dark Knight, riding on the back of the dragon, an existence more terrifying than the goblins.

  The moment I saw his smile, my heart was at a loss.

  The fear that I felt until a while ago vanished.

  Starting from that moment, we started to live in Nargol.

  Even though we were surrounded by those people of the demon race, I didn’t feel scared at all because my dear master was there. When I was by his side, the fear that I felt when chased by those goblins was gone.

  If the most terrifying existence in this world was smiling at me, I didn’t think that there was anything left to fear.

  I was no good without my dear master. I wouldn’t feel relieved unless I stayed by his side.

  If I’m not by my dear master’s side, I will be haunted by the nightmare of being chased around by the goblins again. Such nightmares disappear when I’m by his side.

  That was why I wanted to stay by his side. I was fine even if I couldn’t become his wife. I was fine even if I was not his mistress either. I was fine even if I was just his slave. Anyway, I was fine as long as I could stay by his side.

  That was why I wanted to go back to my dear master as soon as possible.

  I felt bad for Omiros who did so many things for me, but this was the only thing that I wouldn’t compromise on. Thus, I apologized to Omiros in my heart.

  「Well then, let’s go to the watchtower. I’ve asked McGaius to clear that place of other people. If we go there, it’ll be easier for the Dark Knight to find us.」


  Omiros was walking in front of me as he said so.

  The watchtower was the place that was higher than any other rampart built to watch over Nargol.

  Certainly, it’ll be easier for my dear master to find us if we went there.

  Thus, we marched towards the watchtower.

  A while later, we arrived at the watchtower.

  The place that could be reached by climbing the stairs was wide enough to accommodate up to 30 people.

  「If it’s here, he’ll find you immediately.」


  Omiros was laughing.

  「Thank you, Omiros.」


  I told my gratitude to Omiros.

  I wondered where my dear master was right now. When I was about to search for him……

  「WAIT, REGENA! Someone is coming!」


  I hid in panic as soon as Omiros said so.

  I had become a hated existence for Algore’s citizens. Thus, it would be troublesome if they found my position.

  I could hear the footsteps of someone climbing the stairs.

  「WHO’S THERE! THIS PLACE IS OFF LIMITS!」


  Omiros said so to the one climbing the stairs.

  「It’s me, prince.」


  「Parish-dono?!」


  The one who came was Parish.

  He stood there at the top most step of the flight of stairs.

  「So it’s you, Parish-dono! Just where were you until now? And why are you here?」


  Omiros moved closer to Parish.

  「Well, it’s because I saw you climb the stairs of the watchtower …… Rather than that, I also have something I want to ask you, prince. Why have you brought princess Regena to this place?」


  I hid my face, but it seems he had discovered my identity.

  「That matter should have nothing to do with you. I want you to leave this place!」


  But, Parish laughed as he shook his head.

  「It’s not like this matter has nothing to do with me, Prince Omiros」


  「What do you mean?」


  「More importantly, tell me why you brought princess Regena to this place.」


  I felt something was fishy upon hearing him ask again. Why did he come all the way to this place to ask that question?

  「Understood. I’ll tell you …… It’s to send Regena back to the side of the Dark Knight. Is that clear? Now, please leave this place immediately.」


  Having been overwhelmed in battle, Omiros told Parish his reason.

  「.…… You shouldn’t do that. You really shouldn’t do that, Prince.」


  Shaking his head, Parish mumbled those words.

  I could feel that something was wrong with him.

  What was the cause of this unpleasant premonition? The short sword that I got from my dear master was ringing.

  I looked at Omiros’s side and I caught a glimpse of Omiros’s shield shining for a moment.

  「What’s happening to you Pari—–? Eh, the shield is?」


  Omiros realized that my sword was shining when he looked at it.

  「KISHYAA!」


  The change of events was too absurd. Parish suddenly unsheathed his sword and tried to attack Omiros.

  His attack was fast. By the time I realized it, it was already too late for me to warn Omiros.

  But then, Omiros’s shield blocked that supposed-to-be-deathblow with an even swifter movement. It was as if the shield was the embodiment of my will to save Omiros.

  「WHA–?」


  Omiros retreated to my side.

  「Are you okay, Omiros?」


  「Yeah, the shield is …… moving on its own. It’s as if it’s moving to protect me.」


  Omiros was looking at his shield as he said so.

  His shield was shining faintly. It seems that it was a magic shield. I wonder where he got it.

  I stared at Parish. Why did he try to attack Omiros?

  「What is the meaning of this, Parish-dono?!」


  Omiros glares at Parish.

  「Ceh …… Failed huh.? Even though that attack was supposed to kill you……」


  Parish’s tone was different from before. It was as if his polite tone until now was a lie.

  「W– Parish-dono?」


  Parish’s face got blurred for a moment. That blurred face changed to a completely different–almost the exact opposite–of his previous handsome face.

  I let out a loud scream upon seeing that face.

  「Y-Y-YOU …… ARE!」


  I knew that face. It was the face from that nightmarish incident which I sealed in the corner of my memories.

  「You are …… Goz?!」


  Omiros then called his name.

  「Yes …… I’m Goz, Omiros-kun. I never expected you to remember my name.」


  Omiros was shaking his head after hearing Goz say so.

  「I would never forget about you even if I wanted to, Goz. I never forgot about you ever since the day we met. I never expected you to use Parish’s face.」


  Omiros unsheathed his sword.

  「Hohoho, I’m honored to be remembered by you, Your Highness Omiros.」


  Goz let out an unpleasant laugh.

  「Step back, Regena.」


  I stepped back following Omiros’s advice. But there was no escape since we were at the top of the watchtower.

  Goz was looking at me. I got goosebumps as he looked at me with those eyes.

  「Come to me, Regena. I’ve come to pick you up.」


  Goz said so with a wide grin on his face.