For Reefa, life in the Wang capital was full of excitement and freshness. There were many things in the Wang capital that I would not see in my village for the rest of my life, that I would not be able to experience.

I almost forgot the situation I was placed in without thinking of a privileged environment, but I still don't enjoy it from the bottom of my mind because I feel less self-blame for annoying Harold with my reckless words and actions.

Then you just have to apologize and get rid of the obsession quickly, but when I face to face with Harold, I respond to the usual provocation and become a buying word for the selling word. In the end it came to this without the right time to apologize.

And the third day of my stay, which I welcomed with some traction left in my mind. On this day, the first argument with Justus was finally held.

An hour smaller if it's time. But that was enough to impress Reefa with how good a person named Justus is.

A different perspective than I am, an idea I don't have. I find successive improvements in my logic that I assumed were complete. It was the feeling of getting my extended nose broken, but the pleasure far outweighed the remorse and embarrassment, considering that my magic would be even more complete.

But still, Reefa doesn't feel good.

"Ha..."

"What's going on? You're not well, Reefa."

The time is when the day begins to tilt. Slowly in free space with a break, he was called out by the man who was there to accompany him. I didn't even remember the name, but the well-deserved smile impresses Reefa.

The man sat across from Reefa as if it were natural to do so.

"Nothing like that..."

"I just asked the director about the tech theory that Reefa had devised, and he seems a little depressed because there were so many things he didn't get to than he thought he would"

"I'm intolerant. And Director Yustus..."

Elle sitting next to me puts in an insignificant following. If it's not true but you don't have to be extra prying, that's better. In the past few days, Reefa was beginning to think she didn't want to have much conversation with the officials here.

"But then you had nothing to worry about. I thought he had a bad eye for me."

This is why. They name Harold for something, and disparage whatever the difference in degree is.

Their malice is caused by Harold's words, deeds, and hearsay malicious and outrageous behavior, which means it's Harold's own fault. I'm not going to ignore that and follow Harold.

Sure, Harold is a man with a twisted personality, and if he opens his mouth, he's going to get disgusted, sarcastic and derisive. I can also snort that you hate me.

But for Reefa, Harold is not all that human.

He took the risk of fighting the Ice Dragon with a favor that seemed like nothing more than a promise. Harold kept his promise even in an emergency where two ice dragons appeared at the same time. He helped me without hesitation, despite a situation that seemed to abandon me first if I were truly an outrageous person.

Is it something that a young, deserted and selfish person would keep such a promise in discipline? At least not to Reefa.

It may be an action in anticipation of later in return, but it also ends up being just a help to Reefa's research, which doesn't seem to have any benefit to Harold himself.

"Um, we're not in a crisis because he's never done anything to us."

"That's how I keep you alert! You better stay away from him."

A man who powers how dangerous Harold is. I guess that's the truth for him and his behavior in guiding the Reefers.

But that's just to confuse Reefa, too.

Words that curse Harold that go on and on. Elle explores Harold's past as to why he became told that as he listened to it. It wasn't much of a conversation I wanted to hear.

I get more and more distracted when I think about that. I mean, I'm really starting to feel bad.

"... sorry, I'm going back to my room"

That being said, Reefa took a seat, not even listening to the two voices. When I go back to the room where I am appreciated without looking back, I lay in bed and wear a futon all the way to my head.

This was Reefa's habit.

Reefa twirls into the futon like this when her mother scolds her perfectly, when the research gets stuck, and so on, and tries to calm her mind in the dark. When Reefa's head falls asleep with her knees cuddled with regrets for her actions and doubts about Harold one after another, her thoughts repeat themselves in grandeur without being able to give an answer.

How long would I have done that? Reefa would have fallen asleep in that position if she had noticed. You slept a lot longer. I sweat a lot, my shirt sticks to my skin and I'm uncomfortable.

Ugh, roaring and then just putting his face out of bed. I peered out the window and the night book had already fallen. Looks like he slept for quite a while.

"Wake up?

If I hit that voice upside down, there was Elle reading a hardcover book with only her bedlight on. When I close the book patterned, I take the tray that was on the table and bring it to Reefa.

On the tray were sandwiches and salads. In addition, Elle poured ice water from the water drain into a glass and handed it to Riefa.

"How's it going? I've got snacks for you, but if you don't have enough, you want to go to the dining room?

"Yeah, that's it. Thanks."

This will suffice because the hunger I am feeling is not a strong one. First I drank about half of the ice water I received and took a big breath.

Elle watched Reefa like that with tender eyes. I get a little embarrassed by that gaze.

"What?

"I thought it might be something I could talk to you about because you seem worried about a lot of things. It might be an extra favor."

Apparently, Elle could have seen the inside of his chest. Well, it's not something to hide, it's something I wanted to ask Elle.

That's what I thought, and Reefa started talking about pounding and in her heart.

"What do you think of Harold?

"That means he's the person you hear rumors about, right?

"Yeah."

Elle had an accurate idea of what Reefa wanted to hear. Maybe Elle was thinking the same thing.

"I don't know exactly. I'm not saying you have a bad mouth and a good personality, but you're not even a ruthless person enough to link up with the impression of a vicious, outrageous killer. If you want to borrow Harold's words, it sounds like someone's spreading some bad rumors about him."

"Speaking of which, I thought you said that"

Is that leading to a huge gap in Harold? If so, maybe Harold is still not a bad person.

But Elle pulls his mind back leaning in that direction.

"But you also say you don't stand smoke where there's no fire. That personality wouldn't surprise me if I had big problems everywhere or bought grudges. So I don't know... or because I don't know much about Harold, I can't judge by the information I have."

"But Elle knew about Harold, right?

"That's just about the rumors, too. Same goes for one case in the council, but his information is very secret. It's named after him. I'm sure there's some cover by him, but maybe that's all he's got a lot of secrets."

"Harold's Secret..."

He was about to be executed for circumstantial evidence alone with no certainty. That it is likely to be a hand-wound by someone. On top of that, he lives as a subject in a laboratory where he was supposed to stay away from execution as if it were a scenario.

This is the only puzzling thing about just having Elle teach me. In addition, the mystery remains as to why Harold was wearing the military uniform of the Sarian Empire, and as soon as he tried to speak to the man involved in his deliberations, the man suddenly fell into a state of confusion and nearly lost his life.

This is all happening around Harold. I can't imagine how many secrets he's hiding.

"It can be hard not to be dragged by the voices around you, but you just have to identify him with your own eyes before you decide what to do. That's the privilege of being near Harold."

"... yeah, right. Thanks, I might be feeling a little better."

"That's more than anything."

You're right if you ask me. Reefa herself is a person who has done what she wants without going through the surrounding voices. Whether they tell me the inventor's path is impossible either, or they can stop me from saying no, I've come this far through my own will to make up my mind.

The same is true in the appreciation of people and in the value of objects. Reefa has clear standards within herself. How can you be so lost only when it comes to Harold when it's supposed to be?

(Maybe this is my desire that Harold not be a bad person...?

I think so.

Neglected and excluded from the surroundings. Loneliness with no allies or understanders. That was oddly similar to the situation of Reefa, who is treated differently in the village.

What if you were laying yourself over Harold like that? That's probably why he assumed that unconsciously Harold could also prove himself right. It's a pitiful story, but I was convinced to think so.

So I can't see what Harold is like, his nature. Reefa only captured the superficial part of Harold and was not trying to find out what was in him.

It is Reefa's nature to think that or not to be able to stay. Flatten the sandwich and salad right in front of you in no time.

"Welcome!"

"You don't have to eat so fast"

"I'd like to go see Harold for a moment."

"At this hour?

Elle points to the clock, grinning bitterly at Reefa, who began to move hastily. The clock indicated that the date should change soon. Harold may already be asleep. It is an insane time to visit even if it is not.

And above all, I'm amazed at myself for sleeping all this time.

"Exactly annoying from now on ~..."

"Well, when it comes to crawling at night, it's the right time."

"I won't!

"I won't stop you, and I'll keep it a secret, okay?

"Because you don't need that care!

Reefa gives up her visit to Harold while putting a firm scratch on Elle's tea. The time is also time, so I decided to go straight to bed, but the drowsiness didn't come that easily just because I slept well until just before.

A few hours to repeat over and over again the act of hitting the gobble and the turnaround after a while. The sky begins to whiten without ever being attacked by a sleeper. It's a familiar sky for Reefa, who often gets too overnight enthusiastic about research and development.

I decided that I wouldn't be able to sleep anyway, and that I would change my mood and take a walk to get some clear air at dawn. Leaving the room without making any noise to keep Elle awake sleeping next door.

As a matter of fact, enjoying a morning walk this way was also a fresh thing for Reefa. The village of Riefa is small and the morning is early anyway because most houses also make a living from agriculture and livestock production. Some houses move out before dawn.

I don't like the appearance of Reefa isolated in the village, but she stands out even if she walks at such a time. With that, Reefa was only able to go out decently after sundown.

I can't even force such a cramped life here. Slowly go around the premises of the laboratory as you wish.

That's when Reefa's ears picked up a slight wind-cut sound. Reefa's legs lead him to the shadows away from the laboratory so that he can be invited to the sound.

There was a figure of Harold freely manipulating two swords of different shapes.

Getting blinded, I guess that's exactly what I'm talking about at this moment. Harold waving his sword is like a sophisticated dance, attracting the beholder. When I defeated the Ice Dragon, it was refreshing to see what was going on, sometimes at close distances, and above all, I feared Harold, who was so overwhelming strong that understanding could not be pursued. But once again, I can see how beautiful his battle is.

This was the first time I felt beautiful about my ability to fight.

I don't have a sense of time for how long I've been doing that. Even before Harold, the top priority, it was just viewed.

In the end, Reefa never returned to me until Harold's sword dance was over. Cashan fits in a sheath with two swords lowered to his waist.

Whether that was a signal or not, it was pulled back into reality at once as if the moment when the curtain of the stage that I was passionate about came down. So finally Reefa recalls her original purpose.

There are no people around in the early morning. It's a great opportunity to talk about things that people don't want to hear.

It was almost at the same time that Reefa took a step that seemed to have been trained and now she wouldn't be disturbed if she talked to him, and Harold took off his shirt and exposed his torso without tearing it off. Perhaps even as Harold, he didn't try to show off his nudity, he just took it off because his sweaty, wet shirt was disgusting. You shouldn't even think someone's watching you.

But it is an unexpected thing for Reefa, and soon after I think about it, I will burn his dewy upper body firmly into its eyes.

Sometimes tall, Harold gives a thin impression from above his clothes, but his body doesn't have any wasted luxury, and the muscles where toughness and suppleness coexist even make him feel functional. Glossy as if it had been stretched with sculpture, so much flesh.

There was too much irritating heterosexual nudity in Reefa, who had no romantic experience and was a beginner.

The pulse jumps. I could feel the blood rising so rapidly that I could tell without looking in the mirror. Definitely I would look bright red right now.

Harold, who is turning his back on this one, has yet to realize the existence of Reefa. We should leave this place for both of us once and for all.

I know that with my head, but I can't take my gaze off Harold's forged body. My body's freedom is not advantageous as if my legs were sewn on the spot.

And finally, Harold looks back.

First of all, I saw eye to eye. Deep red eyes shoot through the reefa. I've seen it many times since I met you, and now I'm fascinated by the eyes that say I'm not interested in you.

I can't carry on the word. Until now, I should have wanted to talk to you so much, but I can't say a single word about good morning greetings or explanations for what I was stealing from you. The heartbeat strikes the early bell and just stands there repeatedly breathing shallow.

In contrast to such a leapha, Harold's motion to perceive her presence never precipitates. I walk over to Reefa with my undressed shirt on my right shoulder.

Reefa's thoughts were so boiled up that she couldn't even think about what the hell was going to happen or what she was going to do.

At last, Harold approaches me. Still, his steps did not stop, and the moment he passed by Reefa's side, he leaned over his mouth and whispered in his ear. It must have been because he was exercising intensely, Harold's voice hovering hot punches Reefa in the ear.

"Peeping is your hobby? You're a genius inventor. That's a fine hobby."

Ironically, as usual, Reefa's spine trembles with freckles. A feeling of the unknown, unlike fear or chill.

Harold walked away as if nothing had happened with all that left to say. The leftover Reefa sits down like her hips are crushed.

It's an anomaly. My body has an anomaly I've never experienced before. But I don't know what caused it.

Still, the only thing that was clear was that Harold's face was unlikely to be seen properly for a while.

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