Lucia, who had been put on probation, had her face buried in her lap.

It’s noisy outside. There’s no way the girl I’ve been with doesn’t know that. Eleanor can’t stay still.

but… … .

‘There’s no way I could have come this far.’

She doesn’t have the strength to do that.

Even if Oz cooperated with her, it would be impossible. Oz will be caught by Discre, and the helpless Eleanor will be captured before he arrives.

Yeah, don’t get your hopes up.

In the first place, what kind of face did she embrace such a thing?

She, who ran away instead of making excuses in front of Eleanor.

With what face… … .

Ta—Ah!

Suddenly, a gunshot was heard in Lucia’s ears. If it sounds like that, it’s probably Ulla’s rifle.

“Look… … .”

Ulla is the best sniper in ＜Tenebris＞. If she pulled the trigger, it means she hit her opponent.

Furthermore, since the opponent would be Eleanor, he would not have been able to defend himself.

“Let’s forget. Forget about it and move to another place… … . Since I’m a soldier, I’ve always lived a normal life like that… … .”

bang!

At that moment, another gunshot rang through Lucia’s ears. Second gunshot.

What that meant was simple.

Eleanor was not knocked down by the first bullet. Didn’t give up.

Lucia seemed to be able to see the scene.

“stop… … .”

bang! bang!

The gunfire continued.

Even if Lucia didn’t like it, she couldn’t help but think of it. Two of her friends are fighting. are hurting each other

the sound gets closer

There is a sense of urgency in the gunfire.

Lucia thought of Eleanor approaching even when she was hurt, and Ula pulling the trigger with a bitter heart at such Eleanor, but soon covered her ears.

bang!

But as she had a good ear, plugging her ears didn’t mean she couldn’t hear.

She winced at the impact, which was only turned down.

And after such hellish time passed, silence came.

“ah… … .”

silence.

Lucia noticed that the battle between the two was over.

The outcome of the match is obvious.

“hahahaha… … .”

Eleanor must have lost.

She can’t beat Ulla. Unless Ulla deliberately loses, there is no way she can win.

Even Eleanor’s special powers will not be of much use to Ula, who uses guns and gunpowder as weapons, which are physical means rather than complicated powers.

“… … I wanted to apologize at least.”

“Then you can do it!”

bang!

It happened at the same time as Lucia’s muttering ended.

A roar was heard from the door.

It felt as if someone had kicked it. Lucia flinched in surprise and ran toward the door.

“… … .”

And when her hand touched the doorknob, Lucia fell into trouble again.

Could it be that you heard hallucinations? Eleanor would have come in. However, there is no reaction other than the voice I heard for the first time.

“Aww… … .”

But at the sound that followed, Lucia opened the door.

There, I saw Eleanor wearing a cat mask, sitting on the floor clutching at her ankle, as if she had sprained her ankle.

“It hurts… … . The long-awaited appearance was ruined… … . Hello Lucia! I am the Phantom Thief Chrysos.”

“What the hell are you doing… … .”

“Bang the door with your foot! I wanted to appear as glamorous as possible while wearing it, but I failed. Hee hee hee.”

“hahahaha… … .”

Lucia forgot the current situation and laughed at Eleanor’s foolish appearance. He is a really troubled person.

He was so melancholy, but he is a person who brings out laughter to the point of making it better.

It can be said that he is more evil in that he is serious.

“Why are you doing such a reckless thing, Noah… … .”

Lucia laughed and reprimanded as if she was concerned.

“Noah? What do you mean? I am the Phantom Thief Chrysos.”

“Noah, it’s time to joke… … .”

“It’s the phantom thief Chrysos whose symbols are the moon and a black cat!”

He is stubborn about a subject that does not even show the fragment of the idea of hiding.

Moreover, it looked stupid and cute when it was accompanied by a mask in the shape of a cat.

“This is not a good place to come on your own. Rather, what is that mask? Were you thinking of hiding it?”

“I’m afraid you’ll have a hard time talking to me when you see my face.”

“… … .”

Lucia was speechless for a moment because of the unexpected consideration.

“If you don’t want to see my face, then tell the thief Chrysos. I will deliver it for you.”

“Your words are a mess… … .”

Even the subject was not classified.

Lucia approached Eleanor, who was crouching down, looking at her condition.

“There are a lot of bruises… … .”

It must have been a wound from a gun shot by Ulla. Even if it is a rubber bullet, as long as it is accompanied by gunpowder, it will inevitably be painful.

“My wrist was also swollen… … .”

Eleanor’s wrists were swollen, perhaps from overdoing it from swinging the heavy sword.

“And… … .”

Lucia was silent again as if speechless.

The more I looked at Eleanor’s condition, the more I could see how much she had put in for herself.

If this wasn’t ＜Skientia＞, where killing is prohibited, I would have died.

Lucia could easily guess that Eleanor’s personality would not have aimed for such a thing, so it was easy for Lucia to know that she risked her life for her.

“Sorry… … .”

When her heavy lips fell again, the words that came out were apologies.

I’ve always wanted to say this.

“I’m sorry for ignoring you.”

Lucia knew what nightmares she had whenever she was alone in the middle of the night.

I knew but pretended not to know.

It was because he approached her as a ‘character’ who repeats exaggerated actions to the point of looking stupid.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t help.”

When she was having a hard time, when someone attacked her, she couldn’t help it.

It was because he was watching her and gathering information, not his role to protect her.

“I’m sorry for deceiving you.”

And the most fundamental problem.

Lucia has been cheating on Eleanor.

Even knowing how hard she was struggling, knowing how many crises she was exposed to.

she didn’t do anything

In the end, he said that Oz would step in and just watched the situation from afar.

Lucia sobbed and confessed. lingering has been resolved. So now is the time to speak.

“So it’s okay if you don’t have to do that for me.”

It was time to cut it off.

She is a soldier belonging to the Imperial Intelligence Agency ＜Tenebris＞.

You cannot refuse orders from your superiors.

She will be ordered to transfer to another area to take responsibility for the failure of this mission.

“Are you done talking? Lucia.”

Eleanor listened to Lucia’s confession in a calm manner, and then grabbed Lucia’s wrist as she tried to get away from her, and pulled her down.

“You’ve been watching over me until now. You watched everything I did, pranks, from close by.”

she didn’t turn away

so it was fine

“You’ve helped me so far. You helped me write a letter of reflection, and you acted as a part-time job instead of me.”

She has already helped Eleanor many times.

so it was fine

“And… … .”

The culprit behind what made Lucia hate herself the most.

The wrong first button.

“Because I also kept a lot of secrets.”

The relationship between the two did not go well.

It wasn’t just Lucia’s attitude that approached her falsely.

The same goes for Eleanor, who decorated herself with lies.

“As if you knew my secret but didn’t tell me anything, I’ll figure it out this time.”

I knew but pretended not to know.

It may have been an order from the superior, but it was also Lucia’s own consideration.

This time he will do it himself.

You don’t necessarily have to know everything about the other person. Knowing but pretending not to know, understanding was what she thought of as a friend.

“Then don’t go. Lucia. Let’s be friends again.”

“I… … . I can’t.”

Lucia cried and said.

Wouldn’t you like to be her?

“I am a soldier of the Empire. So I must not disobey the order.”

Eleanor patted the sobbing Lucia on the head. I was understanding Eleanor knew what it was like to bind her.

I even heard about the problem from Oz. She’s definitely learned that emotions aren’t enough.

So, she took the first step.

“Didn’t Lucia know about my identity?”

If what is restraining her is the military discipline of the imperial family.

“I am royalty. He is the rightful heir to the Kingdom of Chrysos. I will never abandon my people and I will never yield to anyone.”

The first answer given by the inexperienced Eleanor as a member of the royal family.

“Exile to Chrysos, Lucia. I will set you free from everything that binds you.”

The best she can offer right now. However, her words were light as she had nothing.

It had to be light.

In the end, it’s like appealing to emotions.

Because she doesn’t have the power to make the things she said come true.

No money, no power, no power.

There is none.

It’s like a blank check.

“… … .”

However, Lucia’s heart was shaken when she saw Eleanor’s willful blue eyes.

I wanted to believe in that strong will.

“Hold my hand, Lucia. be my people Because I will protect you.”

It would definitely be a stupid choice.

It was impossible even with the Kingdom of Chrysos before it was ruined, and even now there is no foundation.

“You just need to stand next to me as usual.”

never.

“Then don’t go anywhere and stay with us. Lucia.”

impossible.

“Let’s reconcile. Let’s shake off everything we felt sorry for each other, and let’s become friends again from the beginning.”

Yes, even though it must be impossible… … .

“yes… … .”

Lucia took hold of her hand.

I made a childish choice.

“Hee hee hee. That’s it.”

“Noah?!”

As soon as Eleanor heard Lucia’s words, she grabbed her arm and started running.

It was stupid.

* * *

Discre Punisher thought.

Was he coercive?

Could it be that the one who was hindering Lucia’s growth was the one who wanted it the most?

He looked back on his attitude in the past. When I first met Oz.

-Please lend your residence to the heir of the Sorcerer King.

-… … Yes?

-Do you have any problem?

– No, no… … .

-That’s it.

He forcibly ordered her to see if Lucia could change.

It was for her, but… … . Yes, it was coercive.

Discree next recalled the incident with Prudence Loa.

-And Agent Lucia will be able to deliver a word to Prince Oz in a one-way street.

Shortly after signing a contract with Oz.

-If you tell me that the operation has failed, they will understand.”

-that’s… … !

-Agent Lucia.

He made Lucia deliver only one-sided words.

Even though he wanted her to grow up, he didn’t say anything.

– Fulfill the order.

-… … Yes.

Ignoring his emotions, he just said what only he knew.

Yes, I just gave orders, ignoring all of Lucia’s feelings.

It was Discre, himself, who was hindering Lucia’s growth.

“oh! teacher! And… … Professor Discree?”

“… … .”

Discre looked at the girl who led Lucia until she was covered in blood. Would he be different?

I thought I was acting for my family, but did I really?

Didn’t he force his own ideals while ignoring all of that?

“Captain… … .”

“leader? Who is this? Come to think of it, the two look alike?! They both had cat ears and something like a tail!”

“That’s a common feature of the beast race, Noah… … .”

Discre looked at Lucia, who called herself ‘Chief’.

The two are family. must have been a family

However, it was Discre herself who had dismissed the relationship, saying it was her job. made it so

It was natural, but… … .

Did the two of them ever have time to spend with their families?

Had he ever treated Lucia as a family rather than an agent?

I don’t know about discrees.

I don’t know what Lucia likes or dislikes.

I didn’t even think to know.

so that.

“Lucia.”

Not as a hierarchical relationship at work, but as her family and older brother.

“Yes, yes.”

“Do you know how to ride a bicycle?”

“Yes… … ?”

First of all, I decided to try to understand a little bit by taking the first step.

He is infinitely competent at work, but infinitely clumsy in family relationships.

It was the first step of such a man.