「…In other words, you’re about to go to the mountains secretly to search for the vein of that what-do-you-call-it metal?」

    「Something like that」

    「In the first place, I’ve never heard of such a metal itself」

    「It’s something that you don’t have to know. …To begin with, this is a military secret, you know?」

    「That might be so, but…」

    「If」

    Dimitar, who had stood safely on the steeply inclined roof, placed his hand on the hilt of Jagielka and continued.

    「—Dante Valiente was given a large quantity of argental, he probably would have obtained an even larger quantity of magic motion swords. If there really is an argental deposit in this region, it must absolutely be secured by our country」

    「Well, I understand that this is an important mission」

    Dusting the area around her bottom, Valeria stood up.

    「—Then, we have to commence quickly」

    「…What are you saying?」

    「Like I said, we have to commence that important mission」

    「…I should have said that if you listen to my story, you’ll return to your bed obediently, you know?」

    「You certainly might have said so, but I didn’t particularly reply cutely like “Un, I understand!”」

    「Don’t argue for the sake of argument」

    「Or rather, it’s strange that you’re ordering me in the first place, isn’t it? I’m your superior!」

    When Valeria said so, she stamped her right foot lightly and created a night wind, then rode on that and soared into the starry sky. Compared with the sacred dance that she offered to Reduntra, these movements somewhat lacked modesty, but the effectiveness was excellent.

    「—Tsk」

    Dimitar, who had been thinking of hitting her hard in the back of her head and making her fall unconscious, and then forcibly having her double back to her bed, immediately chased Valeria, who had suddenly started moving towards the south.

    「Oi, come back!」

    「Rather than arguing whether to go back or not now, isn’t it more beneficial to start work quickly? It’ll be finished earlier with the both of us searching for it!」

    「Those aren’t the words you should be saying. In the first place, it’s easier for me alone to do it; you go back obediently」

    「I say, even I—」

    「Have you forgotten that incident in Seriba?」

    「—」

    Valeria, who had gone ahead and was flying through the air, stiffened her expression at those few words and came to a stop on top of the roof of a tall private house.

    Dimitar, who had caught up with Valeria and grasped her slender wrist, frowned and peered at the face of the girl, who was casting her eyes downwards.

    「…Similar to Seriba, this place is close to Bigelow too. I can’t say that a rebellion like the one at that time will occur, but better safe than sorry. Even you don’t want to go through that kind of experience again, right?」

    「However… but」

    Biting her lip, Valeria looked up at Dimitar.

    「Then, when can I overcome that sort of thing? Or rather, that sort of old wound—」

    The fear and humiliation Valeria experienced in Seriba most likely became an unpleasant feeling and remained inside her even now. It wasn’t that she didn’t learn her lesson even though she went through a bitter experience; rather, it was precisely because she went through a bitter experience that she was trying to behave recklessly to overcome that—Dimitar thought in that manner.

    「If I say that you don’t need to overcome it, are you able to accept that? I also said this before, but you don’t need to take risks intentionally. There are people who specialise in that sort of work, after all」

    「But I know it already!」

    Valeria pressed her lightly clenched fist against her own forehead, her voice breaking into falsetto.

    「…Know what?」

    「The fact that people who are taking risks are nearby while I’m sleeping in a carefree manner! And in addition to that, it’s not just you this time, even Thial-san—」

    Somehow, it seemed that he must absolutely keep the matter of him doing something behind her back itself secret so as not to be found out to make this girl stop fussing. Should he say that she was conscientious about strange things, or that she had a sense of responsibility—.

    「Or perhaps she’s a stubborn person who doesn’t want to be beholden to people—huh」

    In Dimitar’s opinion, this girl probably couldn’t tolerate the fact that her own honour was built upon other people’s sacrifices. Such a thing was no different from self-satisfaction and was a naive way of thinking; it was hard to say that she understood her position as a Dominas even now. However, one could also say that she was likable as an individual.

    「……」

    Dimitar sighed exaggeratedly and removed his hand that was grasping Valeria’s wrist.

    「…It seems that in case there’s such a mission again from now on, I’ll need to get an imperial order from His Majesty to absolutely not let you interfere in it」

    「Eh? That means—?」

    「Only this time is an exception. After all, we’ll simply be wandering around in the mountains only. …However, in case an unforeseen situation occurs, you shall follow my instructions without making judgements of your own accord, all right?」

    「Eh!? I, is it fine? Even if I go with you?」

    「Does it not sound like that?」

    「That’s…! W, well, whatever. If it’s to that extent, then it’s not like I can’t compromise either」

    Valeria’s face turned a a bit red, and she threw out her chest deliberately. Though she was making a face that looked like she was going to cry until a short while ago, she was considerably self-interested.

    「Don’t get carried away」

    Clicking his tongue lightly, Dimitar started running.

    Before setting foot in the mountains and investigating this and that, they must first cross over the rampart and slip out of this town so as not to be discovered by the soldiers on guard.