Finally, I''m back.


    I was a soldier in the Begonia Kingdom for three years, so it''s been a really long time since I''ve been back.


    Soldiers have had long vacations and such, but I tried not to come back here so as not to be suspicious.


    I can''t wait to see him.


    I hadn''t seen him in three years, so I needed to know he was okay first.


    I was worried about her.


    Besides, did I make her worry too?


    A large mansion in this country''s noble district.


    She''s in the basement of it.


    "Hey, Elena.


    I was trudging to the room of the person I wanted to see when I heard a disgusting voice coming from the side.


    I want to ignore it and go, but I can''t.


    I stop and stare at the guy, not hiding my disgusted face.


    ''''.......What?　I''m in a bit of a hurry.


    I know you can''t wait to see that guy, but there are a few things I need to check with Elena.


    Don''t feel free to call me by my name.


    I can''t stand it.


    You are the one who named me after the man I cared about.


    "He''s safe. Don''t worry about him.


    If you''re not okay, I''m gonna kill you.


    Hmmm, scary, scary.


    The man in front of me laughs unconcernedly at my killing intent.


    As only a nobleman can, his fat, bloated belly and chin are unsightly.


    It''s not that this guy is strong.


    I could kill this guy in a heartbeat if I could pull out the prey I have tucked away in my pocket.


    But he is convinced that I won''t kill him.


    It''s not that I won''t kill him, I can''t.


    So, go ahead and talk to me. "I don''t have time to talk to you.


    I know. Well, where do I start...


    The thin smile from earlier disappears and the man glares at me.


    ''You--you betrayed me, didn''t you?''


    My heart jumps a little at the words, but I try to remain calm.


    ''What do you mean?　I was well-informed, I thought.


    ''I''m saying that the information was wrong or not passed on,''


    ...and keep your head up.


    This guy mustn''t know what he''s talking about.


    He may be a pain in the ass, but he''s a nobleman of stature.


    This is all very well, but try not to show your discomfort.


    Based on what?


    If your information is correct, there''s no way we would have lost that battle.


    ..............I was suddenly distracted.


    I knew this guy was an idiot when it comes to combat.


    ''''Huh, are you serious?''''


    ''I''m serious. I''m sure our side had plenty of strength in that battle.


    Enough?


    What was enough of that?


    ''The sight I saw was an army that was on the verge of defeat against the Knights without two of its strongest soldiers, but...''


    What?


    You should be rather grateful. If I hadn''t helped you, the battle would have ended without doing much damage to the Begonia Kingdom.


    This is real.


    The big explosion I caused.


    If it weren''t for that, the battle would have ended in an overwhelming victory for the Begonia Kingdom.


    "Hmm, we can find out if this information is true or not, can''t we?


    All right, go ahead, explore.


    This man gets his information from many sources.


    This is because he has to gather several pieces of information and decide if the information he gets is false or true.


    He is getting the information I gave him, but I don''t think he believes it.


    ''Then that''s good. Then there''s one more thing. It seems that there was a strong swordsman in this battle who was not Liberto Corrales. I haven''t received that information from you, though?


    My heart leaps at the word.


    It''s called information that hasn''t been flushed.


    About Eric.


    ''Oh, I forgot. Maybe it''s because I was a little disturbed by the irritated look on his face.


    Cut the crap. Who''s that in there?


    It''s that guy''s annoying face, staring straight at me.


    I probably already have the information.


    So there''s no point in telling a lie here.


    "Eric Aulin. I''m a newcomer who joined the Order just a month ago.


    A month ago?　Is that true?


    You didn''t get that information?


    The truth is, he knows, and he may just be acting.


    He''s an unusual recruit who joined the Order without going through an apprenticeship, after the Commander, Jeremias Astara, talked to him directly.


    There''s another person who joined the Order of Magic without becoming an apprentice, but I won''t tell him.


    ''''Hmm ... I see.''''


    ''I can go now, can I?　If you want to know more about Eric Aulin, I''ll tell you later.


    All right, but next time, give me more information. But next time, give me the information faster.


    Yeah, yeah, I got it.


    Finally, the conversation is over and I''m about to head to her room.


    ''I don''t have any proof that you betrayed me, but I don''t have any proof that you didn''t either.


    Okay.


    I know that you didn''t give them the most important information, you know.


    I left there, letting the words of that guy behind me flow appropriately.


    The basement of the mansion.


    In the innermost room of the mansion, she is in the innermost room.


    Even though it''s called the basement, it''s an aristocrat''s mansion, or maybe because it''s an aristocrat''s mansion, it doesn''t have that dark atmosphere.


    She is being held in a place with an atmosphere about the size of a commoner''s normal house.


    She arrives at her room and knocks on the door.


    ''''Yes.''''


    Hearing that unchanging voice, a smile flooded my mind on its own.


    When I opened the door, she was sprawled out on the bed.


    When she looked at me, she smiled like a flower in a flash.


    She gets off the bed and runs towards me.


    Then she hugged me as she jumped on me.


    I take it gently and call her name.


    ''I''m home, Elsie,''


    She buries her face in my chest and says with a smile as she looks up at me.


    ''Welcome back, brother!''