After leaving the royal palace, I went back to the dormitory but once I had to go to Yele''s office.


    Will he be firmly pissed off this time?


    With that in mind, he walks with me and enters the office.


    Mr. Yelle sits down on a chair and I stand poised in front of him.


    ''Thank you for your hard work today. Was it hard work?


    ''No, Christo the prince was also so strong that I didn''t think I needed him when it came to combat.


    They say he was educated from a young age as a gifted child, so it''s no wonder he''s so strong.


    It''s because of the education he received that he taught me in his previous life. The source of my strength is Kristo.


    ''I see. I asked you to come here to ask one question. I know you''re tired, Eric, and I''m sure you''ll be able to answer it soon.


    I''m not tired, I''m just sleepy because I''ve been drinking.


    I''m still feeling a little dizzy right now.


    What is it?


    He says this while resisting the urge to rub his eyes.


    ''The person you''ve been looking for, the one named Crist, is definitely Prince Christopher Leo Begonia, isn''t he?


    -Oh!


    I felt like I''d been punched in the gut, my brain, which hadn''t been working because I was sleepy.


    That''s right, Yelle was looking for the person I was looking for, Christo.


    I was so happy to see Christo that I had forgotten about him.


    What should I say, I don''t know if I can honestly say that I am.


    But if I answered that, he''d say why am I looking for a prince when I''ve never even left the village?


    But if I answer that I''m not, then I''ll have to ask Jere to find a different Christo, even though I''ve already met him.


    Isn''t there a mistake?


    Mr. Yelle asked me, no, it''s like a confirmation already.


    ''''... yes.''''


    I was unsure, but I still decided to be honest.


    I can''t go through the unnecessary hassle of lying to the people who will continue to help me.


    But what should I say?


    I can''t say that I''m a good friend of that guy''s who has died.


    ''I see. That''s all I wanted to ask you, so please go to sleep.


    What?


    He didn''t ask me any questions, and I was a bit out of breath when he said that.


    ''That''s all I wanted to hear. I''m not so wild as to ask you something you don''t want to be asked.


    Mr. Yelle...!　Thank you!


    Thank God, really. If you had asked me, I wouldn''t have been able to answer anything.


    It''s good that he''s a kind person, I think I understand why Yele-san is liked by everyone in the Order, even though he''s expressionless.


    ''''Then Eric-kun, thank you for your hard work today. Please have a good night''s rest.''''


    ''Yes, thank you. Now if you''ll excuse me.


    I take a bow and then leave the office.


    Huh, I''ve been nervous and clear-headed since you asked me that question, but when I get out of the room, I''m feeling sleepy all at once.


    Maybe Elena-san is already asleep, so I''ll just take a quick shower so as not to wake her up and go right to bed.


    So I went to bed without drinking any water, and then I woke up with a crazy headache.


    Even in the cafeteria, Tina and Yulina-san worried about my pale face.


    For breakfast today, I ate the portion Tina had made and the miso soup that was being handed out in the cafeteria.


    Elena told me that miso soup helps with the hangover. I was very grateful for this information, so I depended on it.


    I don''t know why, but I feel much better since I woke up.


    ''So Eric, I know it''s going to be tough, but good luck with your training!


    Oh, good luck with that, Tina.


    Having said that, we split up and headed to the training ground with Yulina-san and Elena-san.


    As expected, I don''t think there''s going to be an escort for Christo today, so I''ll have to work hard on my training and work as normal.


    --Christo side--


    ''Look, look, look, what''s up, Christo. Try harder!


    ''Hahaha ... d*mn it!


    He''s been getting beaten up in the morning in the little garden of the royal palace, where I always train.


    The other guy is Liberto. He''s such a goofy guy, but he''s the vice-captain of the knights and the strongest man in the order.


    I''ve fought this guy dozens of times, but I don''t feel like I can win at all.


    And since I haven''t been drinking today, I don''t see any gaps.


    Well, even if I''m wobbly from drinking, I can''t win at all.


    There was an opening, but it was a gap that was made. I still can''t tell the difference between the gaps that are made and the real ones.


    Come to think of it, Yelle said, Eric beat this guy.


    I didn''t really believe that he was that strong for being the same age, but I don''t think Yelle would lie about it.


    ''Hey, Liberto,''


    ''Oh?　What is it?


    Do you know who Eric Aulin is?


    Eric ... oh, you''re that sweet guy.


    A nice guy?　I feel like it''s unusual for Liberto to appreciate that.


    ''Because you rubbed my back when I threw up and carried me to the infirmary.


    Oh, you got drunk and threw up. That sucks.


    And when he was carrying me on his back, I threw up one more time, and I shot it all over his back.


    It''s garbage.


    He threw up once during a training session with me, but I''m already a pain in the ass, so I don''t care for him at all and let the other guys take care of him.


    It seriously makes me want to kill him when he throws up when I''m carrying him on my back.


    That''s very kind of Eric.


    ''You fought Eric, didn''t you?　Was it strong?


    Yeah, he''s strong. I mean, how do you know about Eric?


    "Eric was my bodyguard on the hunt yesterday. Just because my dad''s the same age as me.


    Haha, Leo-san is as appropriate as ever.


    Liberto trains me a lot, so I see my dad quite a bit, too.


    The right guys seem to get along well with each other.


    I''m grateful to my dad for this one. I''ve become friends with Eric.


    ''Oh, right. Good thing you''ve been a friendless bozo in the past.


    Don''t call me a bocce.


    Well, there''s no denying it.


    I''ve been to many countries as a prince, and I''ve been friendly with people just like me, but since it''s a social gathering, I couldn''t be comfortable with them, and I was worried about the gut-wrestling and such.


    But Eric is the first equal friend I''ve made.


    He''s the friend I really wanted from the bottom of my heart.


    I don''t know why he was so happy to see me, but he was crying too. I''m pretty sure I''m the happier of the two.


    "Will you bring him along when I train with you?　You''ve got the authority of the deputy commander.


    "You did.


    ''Oh, oh I didn''t think you''d actually ask me to do that. I meant it as a joke.


    I only get to hunt once or twice a month. Even if I nominate that guy for each of those hunts, I''ll see him too infrequently.


    If you''re coming to train with Liberto, you''ll see him at least three times a week.


    I''m sure you''ll be pleased with the results. I can''t even beat him now.


    With those words, my heart, which had been bouncing at the thought of meeting Eric, suddenly cooled down.


    ''''........Does that mean that if I had a left arm, I could win?''''


    I''m smiling or Bert notices that I''ve changed and puts on a serious face.


    ''That''s not what I''m talking about. That guy is so strong that I really don''t know if he could win with his left arm.


    ....


    So don''t dwell on it yet.


    After giving my head a grimy pat, Liberto tucks his sword into his waistband.


    ''''Today''s training is over. I''ll bring that guy with me tomorrow.


    Yeah, you''re on it.


    ''Yeah, why don''t we take Eric to that thing in a month, too?　I''m sure Mr. Leo will forgive me.


    ''Yeah, I''ll talk to my dad. Maybe he''ll say it''s a good idea.


    Then Liberto left the yard.


    As I stand there, Alisa approaches me.


    ''Thank you for your help, Christo. Here''s a towel.


    Thank you.


    I receive a towel and wipe away the sweat. The towel is pleasantly cooled by the water in moderation.


    ''Christo, I don''t think you should worry about that stuff anymore. For your sake, and for Liberto-sama''s sake.''''


    I know.


    I walk out of the garden and into the royal palace, using a towel to keep my face out of Alisa''s sight.


    I''m not stupid enough to forget what happened, Alisa.