Spica grumbled toward Mizar who took her away like a snake crossing a wall.

“What’s this, Senior. Not a single contact.”

“I was busy with various things. Did you think I forgot you?”

Mizar was Spica’s academy senior by one year. The person who watched her talent and despair, wandering and effort from closest by. And also the person who wrote her a knight order recommendation letter.

Spica also ended up giggling at his good-natured laughing appearance.

“You really haven’t changed one bit from the old days, Senior.”

“Thanks for the compliment. People should have consistency.”

This house has delicious this, that’s ordinary, Mizar chattered like he had come to a restaurant. Spica giggled and put everything he told her about on her plate.

“But Dame Sobek should be careful now too.”

“Why?”

“Why indeed. Your commander probably took her away to warn her. To stop picking fights since you and Arneb are over.”

It was still incomprehensible. Why would Diblin care about me and Lepus?

Seeing her soulless pupils, Mizar clicked his tongue.

“Eh. You still didn’t know? The person Lepus Arneb, that bastard, had an affair with.”

“Do I need to know? It’s not like I won’t be angry depending on who it is.”

“Geez, you’re the one who hasn’t changed.”

Mizar shook his finger going tsk tsk and told her.

“What do you think is the reason Arneb can still enter places like this even after leaving the courthouse? The rumor is rampant that it’s because he stuck his straw into Diblin Sobek.”

“……So Lepus and Senior Sobek?”

“That’s right, you girl.”

Spica put down her plate with trembling hands.

‘Lepus Arneb! This trash bastard of the world…… of all people, he chose that person?’

Diblin was definitely surprised when she saw Spica in the knight commander’s office. Since she had no interest in her recent situation at all, there was a high possibility she didn’t know about her relationship with Lepus either.

But whether Diblin knew or not, that wasn’t a big problem.

The fact that Diblin was the person who made Spica despair was known by very few, including her deceased father. Lepus was naturally included among them.

“……I shouldn’t have stopped the Commander earlier.”

“What are you talking about?”

“No, just…”

Spica laughed. Betrayal piled on betrayal made her head dizzy, but she didn’t openly breathe fire.

“How about it? From your perspective, Senior, do those two seem to have imprinted?”

“If they had imprinted, she wouldn’t drag him around like a servant.”

“I see…… Then let them live happily somewhere. While being anxious about when and where an imprint partner might pop up.”

“Oh my. As a beast-human, that’s really spine-chilling to hear.”

Mizar pretended to rub his forearm.

“Still, it’s fortunate. You seem okay. You even seem more solid than before?”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I was worried because you looked really precarious at your father’s funeral.”

“People should live doing what they like after all. Everyone in the knight order treats me well too.”

“Is, is that so? ……Commander Winterhold too?”

Mizar was actually more worried about Alkaid than Lepus.

The person who one day attacked…… no, ambushed him while he was leaving work humming and forced him to write a recommendation letter.

〈You will write a recommendation letter from now on.〉

〈But why should I……? Suddenly?〉

〈Write it. Execute.〉

The look in his eyes as he held out the paper seemed to say ‘If you don’t write it, I’ll give you the experience of having your neck cut by paper.’

A person who knew nothing, and having to push Spica, who was the closest among his juniors, into Alkaid Winterhold’s den made him feel tremendous guilt, but the murderous intent before his eyes was too intense to refuse.

……He couldn’t even open the gift Spica sent along with a thank-you letter when she received her first salary for a while. He worried she might have sent a dagger while thinking ‘Just die, you human!’

“Your commander is really scary.”

“Our Commander?”

Spica, who had tilted her head, soon recalled the words about the Winterhold family’s eyes. It had no particular effect on her, but seeing even her senior say this, it seemed to be true.

“He only looks that way, he’s a good person. He doesn’t give unreasonable orders either.”

“Only looks……”

Mizar, who had been opening and closing his mouth, stopped what he was going to say.

The Alkaid he knew was a commander without mercy to both enemies and allies. That was exactly why the Crown Prince liked Alkaid.

‘It was in the operation area. He cut off three knights’ heads with a single stroke.’

Though it was before joining the imperial knight order, Mizar still couldn’t forget that scene.

It was true that they had violated military law. They went to a brothel the night before the decisive battle, saying they were relieving tension, and drank until their noses were crooked. Alkaid beheaded them right before the knight order’s departure when they appeared sluggishly.

‘Usually punishments vary depending on one’s background……’

Children of high nobles, graduates of prestigious academies. Ordinary commanders usually spare themselves thinking of promotion. They also knew this and enjoyed free knight life.

But Alkaid was different. When someone standing at the top among high nobles wielded principles, no one could resist.

Whether noble or commoner, his subordinates had to roll around covered in blood in seas of fire. Still, most knights respected Alkaid. They were a generation sick of rotten customs.

“……I’m glad you’re doing well.”

Mizar scratched his temple while observing Spica. Unlike other knights who feared yet revered Alkaid, she seemed to genuinely think he was a good person.

Only now did his heart feel a little lighter. He had been worrying alone for nothing. To Mizar who was grumbling inwardly, Spica lowered her voice and asked.

“Um, but Senior.”

“Yeah?”

“You’re also a beast-human, right?”

“That’s right. Why?”

“I don’t know much about beast-humans, so I’m asking because I heard something from someone. Do beast-humans really lose self-control at night?”

“No, what bastard made such discriminatory remarks about beast-humans?”

Spica put a flower-shaped meat roll in her mouth while thinking. Our Commander.

But it wasn’t something Mizar could hear. He continued angrily.

“If the heat period doesn’t come, we’re no different from ordinary people, you know? In the first place, I’ve never experienced that heat period thing. The heat period also requires a partner to be nearby……”

“Sir Mizar Solio of the First Knight Order.”

Alkaid placed his hand on Mizar’s shoulder. Both Spica and Mizar jumped up at the sudden appearance that seemed like magic.

“Commander.”

“C-Commander Winterhold.”

“What business do you have with my adjutant.”

His demeanor seemed somehow sharp. Spica’s eyes hardened slightly while carefully observing Alkaid. Faintly, but there were blood droplets splattered on his epaulettes.

But she couldn’t make a fuss and check here. If other people were thinking like Mizar, rumors that Alkaid had jumped into a love quarrel would spread in an instant.

“Commander. Sir Solio is my academy senior. He’s also the one who wrote my recommendation letter to the knight order, and we were greeting each other since it’s been so long.”

“I see, Sir Solio.”

Mizar found Alkaid’s pretending-not-to-know response absurd.

But the other party was a superior. Moreover, wasn’t this ‘that’ Alkaid Winterhold. Mizar was the type who hated creating trouble for nothing.

Furthermore, seeing the attitude that was worlds apart from when he held out paper to him….

‘This is indeed…… that, isn’t it.’

He couldn’t help but sense it as a beast-human.

Mizar, who finally had all his questions resolved, bowed his head. With slight envy.

“Yes. Isn’t Dame Atrain too valuable a talent to leave idle.”

“Thanks to you, Sir Solio, I gained a good adjutant. I’ll show my gratitude soon.”

“I did what was natural. The ladies are calling me, so I’ll take my leave.”

Mizar quickly finished his greeting and fled. He didn’t want to keep talking to Alkaid’s imprint partner and provoke his mood.

Alkaid stared at his retreating figure that quickly disappeared among people.

‘Why was that guy babbling about heat periods.’

When Mizar had moved somewhat far away, Spica tugged on Alkaid’s sleeve. She felt a bit complicated seeing the helmet that obediently came down close to her face.

“Are you hurt anywhere? You didn’t duel, did you?”

Spica asked with her voice completely lowered.

This was the day the Crown Prince held a banquet. Moreover, if the knight commander he had supported and his direct escort knight had dueled near the banquet hall, it would be no different from tarnishing the Crown Prince’s face.

“No.”

“There’s blood on you, Commander.”

It was to a degree that one wouldn’t notice unless looking this closely, but knights were sensitive to traces of blood.

“Don’t worry about it. Duels are also done with opponents of similar skill.”

Spica’s heart grew cold. Well, who was worrying about whom? Though it was momentary, she felt like a fool for having her heart drop upon discovering the bloodstain. They weren’t even close enough for such worry.

‘Well, no…… I want to copy that confidence. It’s cool.’

With my left hand, or someday when my right arm heals.

Could I also become strong enough like Commander to say such things?

Just imagining it was thrilling. And…… she seemed to fall for the confident Alkaid once again.

‘Still far to go.’

Alkaid swallowed a sigh seeing Spica turn her gaze away from him. It was true that he had seen some blood while interrogating Diblin Sobek.

‘Even if she faints, even if blood traces are on me, she absolutely won’t talk about matters involving Sobek.’

Spica had said she liked him. But not to the extent of confessing everything.

That gap made him hungrier. It was a hole that could only be filled by knowing, seeing, hearing, touching, and possessing everything about her.