Episode 30. Time between dog and wolf (2)

The underground water of the agoge dormitory.

“So, Sepia is under the protection of Princess Frill?”

“Yeah.”

After hearing the report of his henchman who failed to make contact with Sepia last night, Grayvine was troubled.

‘He’s covering Cephaa until he collides head-on with Princess Euril… . Was Princess Frill really that popular?’

“Louis Sepia. He was an essential talent for the organization.”

For Greyvine, who has been making inventions using bodily fluids, the Lewis family’s mana science research materials in the body were very appetizing.

As long as Sepia is brought to Akula, she will be released from academia and will be able to share the mana science papers stored in her family.

Not only that, but his invention, which needs to be sensitive to the mana inside the body, can be trusted enough to Sepia… .

At first, he showed little interest in Sepia’s news that she was being severely bullied in Paideia.

But the more he investigated her, the more Grayvine coveted her. To the extent that he felt that the discovery of sepia was like a well-arranged destiny for himself.

“As expected, sepia cannot be given up. then… .”

He decided to invest the members he had originally gathered to defeat Lete here.

“At times like this, you should be bold in investing.”

Of course, he had no intention of confronting the imperial family.

So, under normal circumstances, he would not have been able to touch the sepia beneath the frills for fear of the strong retaliation that would come back if he touched the emperor’s daughter and the guardian knights attached to the side of the princess.

However, now the imperial family is divided into two sides and is in conflict.

‘This will change the story.’

“Lethe is later. Gather your combatants. Today’s goal is Paideia… . It is sepia in it.”

* * *

It was a reasonable decision for Frill to take Sepia and go all the way around the second alley.

‘Princess, the student council is currently targeting Princess, Sepia, and Mina.’

‘I’m right now… .’

‘no. Princess, please focus on Sepia’s protection in this. In the end, what Princess Euril wants is the downfall of Sepia.’

According to Ian’s explanation, you can’t directly kill the king in chess.

She said that no matter how much she was Princess Euril, she couldn’t turn the guardian knights belonging to the imperial family who guard Frill into enemies.

Of course, Auril was also protected by the other Guardian Knights, but that didn’t mean the Guardian Knights could fight each other. This is because they exist to protect the blood and blood of the emperor, not the private soldiers of the princess.

Right now, Princess Euril was blinded by anger, and ordered the student council officials to bring Fril by force.

It was impossible for even Felix to ignore the knights and take Frill by force.

‘Even if Princess Euril comes down to grab Frill’s hair, it’s the same.’

Even if they insisted that it was just a fight between sisters, if they neglected it and one of them got hurt, they would have to take responsibility with their lives, so the knights would politely block Auril.

‘So, Princess. Whatever you do, do not leave the room. I will take care of the enemies who are targeting the princess.’

“but… . Mina is in danger right now… !”

According to Ian, in the end, there is no one who can stand up to the frills with the Guardian Knight.

So, what if you visit Mina while escorted by the Guardian Knights, with Sepia by your side?

‘If I keep Mina by my side like that, won’t I be able to protect both Mina and Sepia?’

It was not wrong.

It was a theory that Professor Ian, who hurriedly left before hearing Frill’s answer, would not have been able to think of anything to refute even if he had heard it.

If the current situation was a normal situation.

“princess… !”

“mina! You were safe… !”

On the trail lined with marigolds and rose leaves, Frill hugged Mina.

Four Guardian Knights were guarding the surroundings fiercely around her, so no one in Paideia would be able to penetrate them.

‘I saved him.’

Frill’s thoughts did not change until suddenly the knights began to draw their swords, and dark people like shadows flocked everywhere.

* * *

Frill asked the strangers around him in a sharp voice.

“Who are you! Is it the student council?”

Suddenly, a man appeared and slowly walked out among the surrounding people.

“you are… ?”

“Mina Spearmint? Don’t worry, I’m not looking for you this time.”

Henda Gail looked only at the Guardian Knights, not Mina and Princess Frill, and continued talking.

“I express my respect to His Majesty the Emperor and the Guardian Knights.”

Over 100 members of the Akula organization gradually but menacingly closed their distance from Frill.

The Imperial Knights gathered only the strongest swordsmen in the empire. No matter how many enemies were around, they could not be harmed with the power of an academy student.

‘However, the knights are now in a situation where they have to protect the princess.’

Henda Gail aimed for it.

“We did not come here to do any harm to the princess. but… .”

As Henda Gale removed the robe, a black dagger pierced his neck.

The blood vessels around the puncture site grew black, a sight as if another heart was beating.

They weren’t just an academy gangster. The knights, trained in combat, were convinced of this when they saw the ominous mana and empty eyes that fluctuated around Henda Gale.

“Like the knights, we are also in a position to be commanded by the owner… .”

The knights guarding the frills already realized what the suspicious man wanted to say.

“What do you want, arrogant and terrible man?”

“The student behind the princess, named Sepia. Great knight.”

They were threatening.

Even if you are the strongest knights in the empire. Can you keep the princess from shedding a drop of blood while dealing with an organization of over 100 wizards?

We would risk our lives to bring Sepia back. Do you have the confidence to fully protect the princess from the fanatics who are ready to die?

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Just pass sepia, and we will disappear as quietly as we came.

If negotiations break down, it will be the outcome that neither side wants most.

It was natural for Princess Frill to be angry at the knights who were silent over such nonsense.

“you… ! What are you thinking right now, you guys are always righteous knights! It’s an order, don’t mind me and protect Mina and Sepia!”

“Is that possible, Princess?”

Henda Gail did what the knights wanted to say instead.

“The only command given by His Majesty the Emperor is to protect the princess. I hope you will think again about what is the best choice for that.”

The Guardian Knights must only be faithful to the Emperor’s orders.

‘No matter what happens, protect the princess.’

All the emperor wanted from them was to protect the safety of the princess.

Of course, it’s not that they don’t obey the princess, but after all, the highest commanding authority is the emperor.

Whose orders will the guardian knights obey in this situation where the princess could be harmed at all?

Frill’s orders to keep the two girls safe, never mind your own safety, and His Majesty’s orders, above all, to keep the princess as safe as possible.

For the knights who raised their swords for justice and chivalry, such a decision would be heartbreaking, but for the guardian knights who inherited the emperor’s will, the latter was more important.

And… .

Sepia, who noticed the hearts of the guardian knights, could no longer bother Frill.

“I will follow your suggestion.”

“sepia… !”

From the beginning, I was indebted to Princess Frill. I felt happy after a long time.

If you can’t repay it, at least you can’t do any damage.

Sepia shook off Princess Frill, who didn’t want to let go of her, and greeted her sincerely.

“Princess Frill… . Thank you so much.”

“sepia… !!”

In the twilight that covered the world so intensely that dogs and wolves were indistinguishable, her sepia brown hair was dyed orange and receded.

* * *

Ina, who had despaired of facing the dark side of the world, was now running frantically.

‘Now there is only you, Ina… ! Go find the frill princess right away!’

‘Professor Ian… ?’

Since fighting Rize, Ina hadn’t left her room.

Wrapped in a white blanket, crying and falling asleep, waking up crying again.

When the tears finally dried up from crying so much, I was suffering from the sense of shame that came after the sadness.

‘Rize and… . Professor Ian?’

Like a werewolf, Ina, who has bright ears, responded to Rize’s voice and Professor Ian’s voice faintly coming from the hallway.

Wondering what the two of them were talking about, the moment Ina sneaked closer to the door, a roar and scream rang through the hallway.

However, when Ina jumped out of surprise.

Rize was already running away, and only Professor Ian stood there with a distorted face.

‘Is it Ina!? That’s great, go find Princess Frill right now! Sepia is dangerous!’

‘Yeah!? what is that… .’

‘I don’t have time to elaborate. I’ll follow right after, so you run first and protect Sepia… ! It’s around Alley No. 2!’

Why Professor Ian knows about sepia.

She couldn’t understand what the hell was going on, but the name Sepia moved her.

‘Sepia is dangerous… !’

Ina ran more desperately than ever. It was a tough pace even with the heart of a natural Lang tribe, but she gnashed her teeth and ran.

The setting sun was passing quickly through the streets, and day and night were mingling.

Her senses were sharpened at the hour when the world was the most colourful, when the flashes of red collided with the blue night sky.

I definitely remembered the smell of sepia. Ina quickly located her and ran across the woods and meadows.

“uh… ?”

On the promenade I arrived at, I saw a scene where darkness enveloped the sepia.

Those with a terrible smell were taking Sepia away.

Princess Frill was crying surrounded by knights. Mina looked exhausted as if she had already fought someone, but she was desperately trying to chase them.

Looking at only a cross section of the situation, I couldn’t immediately understand what was going on.

but… .

Sepia looked sad. She, who thought she had finally been saved, was laughing with a sadder smile.

“Ahhh… .”

Why should someone be so unhappy?

Why should Sepia, who has done nothing wrong, have to shed tears?

“stop… . stop bothering me… !”

‘Is this the human way?’

I couldn’t understand.

No, you won’t understand.

Faced with evil once again, my heart raced. My hands trembled.

A feeling different from embarrassment or fear, something stronger than those emotions boiled out of Ina’s throat.

“Grrr… .”

Dusk.

A time when intense enthusiasm covers the world and it is impossible to see even an inch ahead.

Is the beast in front of me a dog that loves and fears humans… . At a time when you can’t even tell if it’s a wolf that has revealed its teeth.

The snowfield in my heart melted in the bright red sunset and shattered into pieces.

And… .

When Ina opened her eyes again.

There was blood on her white lips.