990 988: Know what?

After seeing off Matsuyuki, Franc stared at Matsuyuki and the hydrangea for a while.

And when the vibe of the scene finally started to move, I wiped away the tears that had accumulated at the edge of my eyes and dropped my gaze.

At the end of his gaze was Berserk, who was put in a sheath and placed beside the hydrangea.

It seemed like Berserk was losing his strength, and it must have bothered him.

A pitch-black sheath that was unlikely to have radiated that intense pure white magic. Berserk, contained within, is as quiet as if he had fallen asleep with his user.

You must have noticed Franc's gaze. The hydrangea touched the sheath lightly.

……

……

The two stared at each other for a while. But Franc touched nothing of Berserk, nor of the sheath.

I turned my gaze to Shikimi and asked about the future movement of Haganega.

What are they going to do now?

“You've done your duty. I couldn't say I had enough strength, so I'd be better off with my hands and feet. We'll turn back here."

Yeah.

Franc nodded. It's not because of your imagination that you seem a little relieved.

I was afraid that I would be using Berserk until the hydrangea.

Franc's eyes looked at Berserk again. However, I quickly removed my gaze from it.

Looks like you're worried about Franc. The hydrangea was looking up at us.

Black Thunder Princess

What?

"Why don't you ask?"

"... you don't have to ask me anything else"

"Why? Usually, you ask me."

A strange conversation takes place between the hydrangea and the franc. It's a quiet conversation with no subject.

"I don't know."

"Yes, but sometimes."

Huh? Really?

Yeah.

"Thank you."

"I don't care."

The tempo and content are strange. Honestly, I don't know if the conversation is going to hold, and neither I nor Shikimi can understand exactly what the conversation means.

However, Franc and Hydrangea were clearly connected.

I don't know, like this. Do we understand each other who possess a strange sensibility? There's just some things I can understand, right?

Fran decided not to ask about the sheath.

Well, it's state secrets, and you won't tell me. In that case, it might be easier not to talk about it than to give a bad impression to a bad person.

I'm sure Franc didn't think about it that much. He doesn't seem to know why he didn't ask questions.

Maybe the feeling of mourning for Matsuyuki and the feeling of considering the hydrangea combined.

Meanwhile, Isario and the others return with a message.

He must have understood the situation instantly. While stroking Fran's head with a pom-pom, he lowered his head against the remains of Matsuyuki.

"Thanks for saving me, Matsuyuki's girl. Thank you."

The adventurers behind them did the same. Maybe he was talking to Isario.

Shikimi-san, that's enough of your hatches, right?

"... yes, I would like to. Let me take a break and talk to you.”

Roger that.

"Hydrangea, stay back in the carriage. I'd like to ask you about Matsuyuki."

"All right, franc, all right."

”Nh. I'm good.”

Franc waved until the hydrangea with his back turned and the figure of Matsuyuki in her arms disappeared into the carriage.

Behind that, Isario is discussing with Shikimi.

Can you go back to town on your own?

Of course.

Shikimi nodded instantly to Isario's words. I don't know if Berserk will be able to use my troops, as they're already half-damaged.

And yet, why are you so full of yourself? Are you insisting not to worry us?

Izario, who had been staring at Shikimi for a few seconds, relaxed as he dropped his shoulder and mumbled with a light shake of his head.

"... I don't like your way of thinking, but I respect you."

"It's for Beauty Tsukishita."

I hope the surviving grandfathers don't die in vain, but I want them to return to the city safely.

"For us, we can't beat the safety of the hydrangeas and Berserk." The sacrifice is not in vain. ”

Isario exhales like a sigh. For Shikimi, the only thing that mattered was whether the hydrangeas reached the city or not, and not even the lives of herself or her soldiers.

I guess that's why Izario had complicated thoughts.

Isario is worried about the old men, but they're killing him. There's no room for an outsider like him to keep his mouth shut.

After all, we decided to split up our forces here. Along with General Hagane's kingdom, we will retreat adventurers and knights who can't fight anymore.

A place where we don't know when the enemy will show up. Withdrawal of troops was swift. Less than 10 minutes after the decision, the journey begins.

Fran raises his hand as he sees off the tail. Beyond that is a hydrangea staring at us from the carriage's skylight.

The hydrangea looked expressionless and somewhat sorry. Maybe they're sick of running away on their own.

In response, Franc's eyes showed a strong care for the hydrangea. I care about Matsuyuki, like my sister, and the girl who lost the country's soldiers.

No words, but the girls were intertwining their gazes and letting something pass through.

"...... yay"