I Can See Your Code

I see your code (73)

I stared intently at the nuclear bomb on the table. On the other side, Ricardo shakes his head as if he is doing something without raising his glass. To reciprocate my expectations, I lifted the poisoned chalice and threw it straight into the wall.

Clink!

The magical energy contained in the glass is instantly restored to Ricardo’s body.

“Take the exam in moderation.”

He looked at Ricardo with a calm face and said.

overpower? Put it in a glass too?

There is no such thing as good technology in the world. If there was such a thing, this world would have been full of magical pigs earlier.

Besides, it wasn’t something to be considered in the first place. Because I’m the only one who can block the ‘door’.

Ricardo muttered as he looked at the shards of broken glass.

“It’s your house.”

“Don’t turn around.”

“… … There is no lie in saying that the princess wants to be happy.”

He drank the liquor that Ricardo was holding all at once.

“But I don’t think that’s the only way to run away with a man who pretends to love you.”

A hand with calluses on it. put the cup down

“I might be happy for a while. But it won’t last more than a year. Besides, I don’t even believe that we can be affectionate by being together.”

“Why did someone you know so well do such a useless thing?”

“As you said, it’s a test. Isn’t that the one the princess likes? I just wanted to check it out for myself. Well, at least I know I’m not a stupid human being.”

Ricardo calmly filled the glass again. I watched the scene quietly and let out the power of confusion inside. Pieces of broken glass gather in one place.

Ricardo saw it and his eyes lit up,

“… … I also found out that I’m not just an asshole with a lot of magic.”

“Are you finished with everything you have to say?”

“It’s still there.”

Ricardo got up and went to the window. It is a place where you can see the view of the yard at a glance. I sat in the chair and looked at it.

[DT-2-32-2]

I see Tanya’s code standing in the same place where I was talking.

“It’s already been 30 minutes. You didn’t move from that spot.”

Ricardo looked out the window silently for a while, then turned to me.

“Ask me one thing. What did you think when the princess said that you could use her bed?”

“… … There is nothing to think about. I was just babbling out of excitement for a moment, I don’t think I meant it seriously.”

“is it? I sounded pretty serious.”

Ricardo returned to his seat and sat down.

“Besides, he said he would take the war if he wanted to. Someone who couldn’t kill a single bug in his lifetime. Do you think this is normal?”

“At that time, Tanya was not in good shape.”

“That’s right. You’re not crazy. The princess is ill. It’s a disease called love.”

“… … .”

“Don’t look at me that way. I didn’t mean to make you shrink. To me, love is similar to addiction.”

Ricardo took a cigarette out of his pocket and bit it.

“Whether it’s love or addiction, the more things you want, the more you want them. You seem to think that simply keeping your distance will solve the problem, but it won’t be that easy.”

“So what do you mean?”

Without realizing it, there was annoyance in my voice.

It’s still annoying, but it sounds like you’re blaming me.

“You mentioned addicts as an example, and treatment of those people basically starts with getting them away from them. It’s the best way I can think of.”

“Originally, that would be true. The problem is that you are mistaken about one thing.”

“What do you mean?”

“The princess’s disease has already passed the stage where it can be cured.”

After Ricardo, he spit out cigarette smoke.

“Isolating the subject… … The effect is good, but it is a prescription drug. Is there any need to make such an attempt for an incurable disease that cannot be cured?”

“… … Please explain to me what is the basis of the incurable disease.”

“There is no basis. If you need something like that, let it be my experience.”

“… .”

I was going to say something more, but for a moment, I remembered the past setting about his wife and daughter. When I shut my mouth, Ricardo grinned.

“Looks like you heard something. Well, it’s a famous story, so there’s nothing strange about it.”

“… … So what do you mean in the end?”

After Ricardo once more, he exhaled cigarette smoke.

“You cannot cure an incurable disease, but it can be alleviated. The princess is too dependent on you right now. If you could give me my life, I would give it to you. There’s a difference between being dependent and being dependent. Do you want the princess to become a magical doll like an asshole?”

“… … Not so.”

“To expel the princess right now is to make it that way.”

Jijik. The tobacco that Ricardo was holding burns and scatters into the air. It’s not an attribute, it’s a result of pure magic.

“Just leave me alone. Pretending to love, you don’t even need to love me. It’s not like I’m threatening in the first place. Have you already revealed your thoughts anyway? It is up to the princess to decide how to accept it.”

“… … .”

Ricardo shrugged and stood up.

“Even if I said this, I wouldn’t be very happy with it. Because it won’t be comfortable to be close to the person you’re cold with. So let me add a reason.”

“… … Why?”

“okay. The real reason different from the previous exam.”

Ricardo looked down at me and said.

“As long as you keep the princess by your side, me and the 1st Templar will regard your words as second to his orders.”

* * *

Smoke fills the living room. Ricardo idly burnt a candle, and then he smiled.

At this point, I remembered the nagging that had always followed. If you want to die, you have to die alone, or even open the window.

It’s been over 10 years since I started smoking again after quitting, and every time I smoked a cigarette, I remembered that time.

He blows away the tobacco with his magical powers and approaches the window.

“Stop coming in.”

As soon as the words were finished, a man opened the living room door and entered. Ricardo looked at him and shrugged.

“You must have been very awkward. He was sneaking around in that room halfway through.”

“… … He was a guy I didn’t really understand. Obviously, we only have level 4 magic power, but how do we know where our members are not even aware of it?”

“Well, maybe it’s not just 4th grade.”

“What do you mean?”

Riccardo opened the window and answered Klaus’ question, the vice-captain.

“According to the words of the princess, her body was also trained to a great level. Maybe even a third-class knight can win.”

“… … I hope so. There is a gap.”

“Isn’t it something that someone decided that it was impossible?”

“It is often said that something that no one has been able to do for hundreds of years is impossible.”

“Anyone who does what no one has been able to do for hundreds of years usually makes a mark in history.”

“… … Is that guy such a grown-up horse?”

“It may have already been left behind. Isn’t he the one who stole the heart of the last princess of the empire?”

Ricardo smiled and looked at the yard. There, there was a princess whose expression changed brightly at the words that she did not have to leave the house.

“… … To be honest, I don’t know.”

Klaus, who had approached the window all of a sudden, looked at him and sighed.

“Wouldn’t it be neater to just kill them? The princess will suffer for quite some time, but… … You will win in the end.”

“You’re very good at saying things like that in front of a bereaved person.”

“sorry. I think I have to say something.”

Klaus said with a look of no regret at all. Ricardo shrugged and pulled a new cigarette out of his pocket.

“Do you remember the drug prescription I talked about earlier?”

“Are you talking about sending out the princess?”

“That’s right. It’s the lesser-evil choice you make to avoid the worst. Killing him is like him. If he really wanted to take advantage of the princess there, I would have stepped forward first.”

Klaus stared at Ricardo’s face. There was a smile that could not be hidden. It’s probably not because of the beginning of the year that I always wear in my mouth.

“I think he liked it quite a bit.”

“How easy does it seem to be rejected by someone like a princess when a confession was made? They even bring their own gifts. Even if you don’t have a heart, people are the ones who act. I thought it was a choice for the real princess and turned it down. At first glance, it may seem resolute, but it is by no means sober. It’s something you can’t see at that age.”

“However, in the end, did you not fall for the proposal made by the director? 1st Templar 2nd rank command right. It’s a temptation that’s hard to resist.”

“That’s just what I added. He didn’t seem to be particularly happy. You should have seen that expression.”

After Ricardo… … and exhaled. This time the smoke flies out the window without filling the room.

“I was persuaded by my words and decided to keep the princess by my side, not because of the power of command. And, in fact, it was a decision I made for the Templar.”

“… … Why?”

“Hey, have you been home?”

It was a random word, but Klaus hardened his expression for the first time.

“Yes. A few bums were sitting around. I just threw it out and came back.”

“The members?”

“… … .”

Klaus couldn’t speak easily and hesitated. Most of the 1st Templar’s family lived in Layton, which was the city most severely hit by the war.

Ricardo continued, leaning against the window.

“We didn’t have a family cooker, so it ended up just losing our homes, most of the members must have lost their families this time. The three kingdoms will probably grind their teeth.”

Outside the window, the princess, who had just moved, was heading to the mansion. Ricardo watched it to the end, then turned back as soon as she disappeared inside.

“Honestly, I feel the same way. The desire to kill those three kingdoms bastards is still like a chimney. But I can stand it for the princess. But what about the members?”

“The members will be able to stand it. Aren’t they those who gave their allegiance to the Empire?”

“You look at people’s hearts so easily. When they came back after 10 years, they lost the country to which they had been loyal, and the family they had been with for the rest of their lives. In the midst of this, it is foolish to hope that the knights’ oaths remain.”

“… … Even so, what does that have to do with giving him command?”

Ricardo went to the chair without a word. And after a while, he sat down and spit out.

“I want him to be the mental center to hold the members together.”

At those words, Klaus did not hide his absurd expression.

“You mean the guy who just got out of the little guy? It’s just the manager’s job.”

“Because I am not in a position to stop those who seek revenge on their families.”

Ricardo smiled and burned the candle.

Klaus was speechless for a moment, then sighed and spoke again.

“… … Do you have any reason to be that guy though? It seems that there are also survivors of the Ryan family living here.”

“Who else could take on a role like that? He said it was a defect because he was young, but look at the achievements of that young man who just escaped.”

Whoops. The beginning of the year burns and disappears.

“I became a level 4 knight in just two years, and in the meantime, I built a fairly large company. All day in Argon and here in Layton was all about Ryan.”

“… … I admit that he’s a great guy, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to hold onto the hearts of the members.”

Ricardo shrugged.

“It’s not that I think that this guy will be successful unconditionally. Just think of it as one of several measures.”

“… … Just in case, what if all of those measures fail?”

“The three kingdoms will face unbearable vengeful spirits, and our members will eventually die in vain.”

Ricardo leaned back on his chair and looked up at the ceiling.

“So let’s hope for at least one success.”

* * *