“…… Escort, huh?”

Julis looked down at Emilia as they continue their conversation. There was still no sign of Byrne and the others under Julis regaining their consciousness.

“I guess that doesn’t mean I should become────your exclusive knight and escort you. I believe Princess Emilia had already an exclusive knight that was appointed to escort her the other day. It was also a member of the Royal Court’s Kingsguard.”

“Yes…… indeed, there was a knight who was just appointed the other day.”

Each of the royal family members had their own exclusive knight who was selected for his or her abilities.

And the other day────before she entered the academy, Emilia’s former exclusive knight retired, and the royal family had just announced a new exclusive knight grandly.

“And as I said in the cafeteria, I’m just another student here────so you don’t have to be so formal about it, okay?

“…… I see.”

Julis wondered why he was surrounded by people who disliked formalities.

In a way, someone like Byrne might be easier to deal with.

“So, let me get straight to the point────What do you mean by “that time”?”

Unlike Mirabelle, Julis, who was highly adaptable, reverted to his usual tone and asked.

“……This has not yet been made public, but the other day he committed treason.”

“What?”

Julis said, his voice was rising to the top of his lungs at Emilia’s surprising statement.

“H, hey…… What’s that supposed to mean? When you say treason, you mean────”

“As you can imagine, the man who was appointed the other day…… although this’s a secret, attempted to assassinate me. I was lucky enough to get away, but────he is still on the run and has not been traced.” (TLN: I’m not sure X’D)

“……”

“I really don’t know what happened…… and to my shame, I don’t even know his motives. But I do know that he said, “Everything is for the resurrection of The Evil Dragon!”.”

Julis was rendered speechless by the topic.

If it turned out to be a rebellion, it would be like telling the people that the royal family’s eyes are blind, and it would discourage those who want to become exclusive knights.

……That’s why they haven’t announced it yet. Or rather, they can’t.

(I see, …… So this is why there was no one in charge.)

“This is an important matter that only a few people in the royal castle, including the royal family, know about. Please do not tell anyone about it.”

“…… Haa.”

Julis let out a big sigh.

This was because he didn’t expect to be informed of such a thing.

(Though I was planning to have a peaceful school life…….) (TLN: RIP his peacefulness. LMAO)

This was not going to make him feel any better at all.

Julis had fallen into the worst possible situation.

“In fact, if you were in such danger, wouldn’t you normally have an escort? Especially if you’re a princess.”

“Eerm…… Normally, I would have────but we can’t publicize that matter. That’s why I don’t have an escort here…….”

“What the hell is that?”

Still, if you’re a princess, you should have at least an escort. Said Julis, distrusting the country.

“…… Well whatever, let’s continue────So, when you ask me to escort you, are you asking me to protect you from that traitor, Emilia-sama?”

“I’m glad you’re understanding so quickly────To be precise, I need you to protect me until I appoint an exclusive knight.”

While Emilia was choosing a knight to protect her, she wouldn’t have any during her enrollment at the school.

This traitor was the one who tried to assassinate her, so there was a possibility that that person would try to attack her again────so she wanted him to protect her in the meantime….. He guessed.

“If so, you should ask a teacher for that. I think Caesar would be perfect for that.”

“Teachers can be inflexible. On the other hand, if you are in the same class like me, you will be able to adapt to some extent, have time to protect and respond immediately.”

What Emilia was saying makes a lot of sense.

He could always keep an eye on her, and could also help her immediately.

“Julis-sama is undoubtedly one of the best in this grade, he was able to compete with an S-rank adventurer, Caesar-sensei, so there is no one more suitable for this. For this reason, I’m humbly requesting you, Julis-sama.”

Julis was definitely, in Emilia’s eyes, the most suitable person for this job.

He had all the skills and qualifications────so that was why she’s asking Julis.

But────

“I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to decline that offer.”

“Eh?”

────Julis refused.

Perhaps she wasn’t expecting to be turned down, as a result, Emilia let out a surprised voice.

“Why are you surprised? There’s no way I’m going to accept it, is there?”

Julis crosses his legs on top of the pile of people and gave Emilia a more irreverent manner than before.

Emilia, in response, instantly put her earlier surprise behind her and returned to her calm face. That’s what you can expect from a princess.

“……May I, ask why?”

“It’s a very simple reason────there’s no benefit to me in talking that offer.”

The only thing that Emilia said now was that she told Julis to protect her with his body.

In addition to that, the other party was a former personal knight whose abilities had been recognized by the kingdom────and Julis had to risk himself to face such a dangerous person.

In such a situation, what is the advantage that Julis will get by accepting the offer?

“I’m not so saintly as to help people for free────I’ll help anyone I can within my reach, but not this time…… even I don’t know what I’m capable of, there’s no guarantee I can win by protecting you against a supposedly powerful enemy, and I don’t want to be your bodyguard all the time.”

“I’ll give you whatever reward you want! That’s why────”

“Hey hey….. It’s okay to be desperate for the sake of life, but a maiden shouldn’t be supposed to talk about such things lightly. And────I’m sorry Emilia, but with all this power of mine. All I can do is protect one girl.”

“……”

Julis had a girl he wanted to protect with all his might.

She’s cute, kind, straightforward, always wanted to help people in need, had been given the blessings of the goddess and had attracted a lot of attention, and was graciously willing to always be there for him────she is such a girl.

“I’m not asking, Emilia to die. It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s just that I have someone I want to protect and my hands are full trying to protect her. So, it’s not possible to protect Emilia by leaving her behind.”

Emilia looked down sadly.

(Eee…… if I say her so, it can’t be helped, then.)

It’s easy to see who the boy in front of her wanted to protect.

If you watch from the side as he spent time with that person, you can understand how much he cares about her.

During that time, he should leave her────It’s impossible for him, even if the other person is a princess.

“……I understand. I’m sorry to ask you something unreasonable.”

Emilia gave up on Julis and tried to turn away and leave.

But────

“Well, wait.”

“Eh?”

Emilia reflexively turned around.

“…… This is?”

Emilia caught the small crystal with both hands and peered into its transparent contents curiously.

“It’s a magical device that sends an emergency signal to a designated destination. If you’re about to be attacked, shatter it with all your might────and I’ll come running to you.”

Emilia’s eyes widened at Julis’ remark.

“It’s impossible for me to escort all the time, but if Emilia is about to be attacked, I can at least help her.”

“W, why……?”

“As I said before, I’m no saint. If anything, I’m a wicked sorcerer who has mastered deadly sins────but I’m not so sloth as to leave a girl in danger when I know she’s in danger. Besides, I owe you for helping Cecilia today.”

Julis had mastered his power in order to protect his loved ones and not be ridiculed.

Of course, at the root of it all, there was also “salvation”────and just like with Mirabelle, he had the heart to help those who were in need right in front of him.

“Of course, Cecilia is the priority. Don’t get it wrong, okay?”

“Th, thank you very much……!”

Emilia then held the crystal as if it was a treasure, gave a big bow to Julis, and walked away quickly.

Emilia’s expression at the end was one of relief, and she looked happy and slightly weepy.

“……I thought it would be enough if I could only save Cecilia, but────it seems my greed has gotten the better of me.”

Helping everyone…… is greed.

A person can only help as many people as he/she can wrap his/her hands around. Absolutely, if you help someone, someone else will be sacrificed.

Therefore, the person who is called a hero in this world is a symbol of greed.

That’s what Julis thought.

In the back of the campus building, where Emilia had gone, Julis’s solitary complaint remained in silence.