"That sword, do not draw it. You will die."
At Lucas's chilly warning, the 'Shadow's' heart sank heavily.
'How?'
He clearly referred to it as a 'sword'.
How did he know he was intending to draw the sword?
No one has ever seen his sword.
Because it is one of the 'Divine Artifacts' that exists in a different dimension, not in the mortal world.
Generally, it was common for people to end their lives with their throats cut before they even perceived it.
However, the man before his eyes is different.
He noticed the existence of the Divine Artifact even before the sword was drawn.
"Hahahaha!"
Romero burst into loud laughter, whether he knew the 'Shadow's' mind or not.
"It is the first time I see you flustered, indeed. How does Sir Lucas look to you?"
"He is a strong person to the extent that I cannot gauge."
The Shadow said without hesitation.
"If so, if Sir Kraus were to harm me, could you stop him?"
"...."
The 'Shadow' chewed his lip.
Not to mention the naturally exuding intimidation, but the martial power that couldn't be gauged at all.
If this man attacked in earnest, could he stop him?
"Even if I dedicate my life completely, I cannot guarantee it."
It was his honest feeling.
He even received a Divine Artifact to protect the King, but even if he used that power fully, he couldn't guarantee it against the man before his eyes.
A strength whose depth could not be felt.
If a strong person of his level couldn't gauge it, what level has his standard reached?
His fingernails dug into the skin of his tightly clenched fist.
"Enough. Do not forget that vexation and polish yourself."
"I am sorry."
The 'Shadow's' eyes quietly captured Lucas.
***
'Don't look at me like that, you bastard. It's scary.'
Fortunately the sword was withdrawn, but that guy has been glaring at me openly since then.
Blood is even dripping from his fist.
I feel like I'm going crazy.
That King is still just laughing as if it's someone else's business, standing far away from this situation.
"Now, threats don't work either. What to do about this."
Romero's expression as he spoke as if troubled didn't look troubled at all.
Rather, he was making an expression like a troublemaker aiming for something.
Romero already knows I have a different intention.
So he means for me to show my hand.
'First, I have to protect my life. So I absolutely cannot go to Igner. Second. I have to make meat shields to protect me. So my answer is....'
It is earlier than the original story, but this choice is the only way for me to live.
"I apologize, but Aeroc is weak. Even if I bring victory from Igner, afterwards will be the problem."
"Sir, watch your words!"
The 'Shadow' flared up, but this is the truth. Because, I wrote that situation.
The Battle of Igner ends with both camps being destroyed together.
The problem is after that.
Starting with Igner, the front line keeps getting closer to the Aeroc side.
Defense becomes increasingly burdensome, and eventually starting from Glasco, it becomes the starting point of Aeroc's destruction.
It means Igner isn't the problem right now.
"Enough. It was something I also felt. Sir Kraus, if so, do you have a plan to solve the problem after that?"
...As expected.
That King bastard Romero also knew very well that the situation wouldn't improve even if the urgent fire called Igner was put out.
Naturally, the method for me to solve that problem is....
None.
In the first place, Aeroc is a kingdom created for destruction.
It means it is a fuse to announce the prelude of the war spreading to the continent.
Naturally a crisis that cannot be overcome.
"...I do."
But saying 'Huh? There's no such thing though?'
Here won't be of help to me.
It's obvious the answer 'Then get lost to Igner^^' will return.
To emphasize once again, the most important thing is this body's life or death.
I don't know how Lucas survived in the Battle of Igner, but I don't know what will happen if I go.
You can call it avoidance.
If the protagonist dies, the novel also ends.
The possibility of my neck becoming 0 before the favorite count becomes 0 was greater.
So I must get as far away from Igner as possible.
"It is to nurture high-quality troops."
That is why I had to become a professor at Glasco earlier than scheduled.
Because a professor at Glasco can be completely far from the front lines.
"Isn't our Aeroc nurturing sufficient high-quality troops even now?"
"It is insufficient. Even if Glasco students are receiving systematic education, they are not receiving the best education."
"Why do you think so?"
Phew, the groundwork is all laid.
From here I have to be careful with my words to not ruin things.
"Because Aeroc's strongest person and the one closest to him are in this audience chamber, not in Glasco."
Romero's eyes flashed.
"Kuh, kuhahahaha! I see, you got me. Right, Glasco is prestigious but the level of the professors falls far short compared to you two. Indeed, of course."
"I will go and raise those children."
As my meat shields.
"There is logic in your words. Good, I shall appoint you as a professor of Glasco immediately."
...Done!
I don't have to be dragged to war, and later, I can personally nurture the guards who will protect me.
Scanning the settings of
'Right, with that much there is room for me to intervene.'
Just when I was swelling with hope.
"However, take this friend to Glasco too. You will have to make this guy stronger."
...Ah, fuck me!@$#%.
***
The audience chamber Lucas left.
The 'Shadow' could not understand, nor did he want to understand the order the King gave.
"Your expression is full of questions."
Romero opened his mouth.
"I apologize."
"If your seat becomes empty, what will the 'Shadow' do, and also who will take charge of this escort of mine... right?"
"That is correct."
Although he covered it with a veil, his presence is deeply embedded in this kingdom.
He cannot leave that seat empty now.
Above all, the 'Shadow' is an existence born to protect Romero from birth itself.
He has never thought about acting separately in a place other than by his side.
"That is something I will take care of."
"But..."
It is too dangerous.
Isn't he a liege who has lived his whole life under threat of life?
In this war-like Royal Castle, if he does not protect Romero, who means to protect him.
The meaning of his existence itself was shaking.
Romero looked at the 'Shadow' who fell into confusion and opened his mouth.
"I will ask. What is your top priority mission."
"Protecting Your Majesty... it is."
"Did you say you could protect me from that person?"
"...No."
"That is why I am sending you to that person's side. Go and learn. Become strong enough to protect me from that person someday, or even from an existence stronger than that person. This is my command."
The 'Shadow' knelt.
"Subject, Deyan. Receives Your Majesty's command."
***
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"Ha, sh..."
Something troublesome stuck to me, but the reality where I couldn't just get annoyed was annoying.
'Is the only fortunate thing that the time increased to half a year and I got gold.'
But LIFE TIME represents 'inevitable death' to the end, and natural death is not included.
It means if I'm not careful, I can die even within that time.
But now I have come to live bearing such danger.
'I can't keep deceiving his eyes forever. I have to find a way, a way....'
I shouldn't just have good eyes.
I have to show something at least once, don't I?
Besides, the look in that guy's eyes looking at me was not ordinary.
Not in a good way, but in a very very fucking bad way.
If he finds out I deceived the King and him until now, it is certain he will draw that sword and chop- off my neck.
'Why did I put in a setting like the curse of the bow....'
Due to Lucas's racial traits, the combination of these eyes and a ranged weapon like a bow is truly fantastic.
The reason his tribe could survive even in small numbers until now also originates from such things.
But to drive Lucas out of the tribe, I made an absurd restriction called the curse of the bow.
He might be able to use something like a sword, but using it well is....
'Wait.'
At that moment, my mind flashed.
'There is a possibility.'
It's a hypothesis that suddenly came to mind, but there is enough possibility.
"Increase the speed."
"Yes, understood."
I urged the driver and increased the speed of the magic carriage.
"We have arri..."
As soon as we arrived, I hurriedly opened the door and ran straight to the training ground inside the mansion, leaving behind the servants who came out to greet me.
'If my thought is correct....'
I grasped a suitable iron sword.
I felt a heavy weight but it wasn't burdensome to lift.
Holding the iron sword, I approached in front of the wooden doll prepared on one side.
And holding the handle, I drew the sword with all my might toward the wooden doll's head-
Boom!
With a roar as if a bomb exploded, the wooden doll's head burst apart.
"Haa, haa."
My prediction was correct.
Archers are not agility characters, but strength characters.
Even if he received the curse of the bow, the strength unique to the race didn't go anywhere.
Although the sharpness fell short, the destructive power was enough to make my whole body tremble.
"Is this enough?"
Wouldn't it be more than enough to avoid his eyes for once?
***
"Hoh, he noticed this time too."
"I apologize, Your Majesty."
Romero attached a secret guard even on the way Lucas returned to the mansion.
Of course, this time the purpose was surveillance, not escort.
However, he noticed the existence of the secret guard, and while increasing the carriage speed to hurry and end the surveillance, he went straight to the training ground and reportedly burst the wooden doll's head as if demonstrating armed force.
Along with a shockwave enough to make the earth ring loudly.
"'Is this enough?' he says...."
Furthermore, Lucas pierced exactly through the reason I sent Deyan with him.
He gave an answer satisfactory enough to be the answer to both reasons I was worried about.
"Right, Sir Kraus. That is enough."
A smile spread on Romero's lips.