"I give up." (Yuri)

In the second game, I put my hand on the board, and surrendered. There was a delight expression on Jura's face.

The first game was my victory, so it was one win and one loss. The third game would be a decisive battle.

"It's time for a break." (Timekeeper)

The timekeeper made the declaration.

—

"Yuri-kun, what are you trying to do?" (Myaro)

Myaro, who was in the break room for some reason, was unusually angry.

The smile that was always on her face had disappeared. This was the first time Myaro showed this kind of face to me.

"What do you mean?" (Yuri)

"Don't try to divert the matter. Even I… No, it's not just me. Anyone who has the talent would know." (Myaro)

"Is that so?" (Yuri)

'Well, otherwise, I'll be in trouble.'

"Are you trying to lose on purpose?" (Myaro)

'She knew it.'

"Well, for now." (Yuri)

I simply affirmed.

"Why? Are you threatened?" (Myaro)

"No, not at all." (Yuri)

"Then, why!?" (Myaro)

"I don't want to turn the Seven Witches into enemies." (Yuri)

That was the sole answer.

'It may be strange to say that, but I don't want to invite unnecessary displeasure.'

'Unlike Gudanvier, who doesn't batting in business with me, the opponent this time is Lakrama.n.u.s. There's nothing to gain by antagonizing them further.'

"I don't understand… Could it be that, someone like you are afraid? I mean by those Witch households?" (Myaro)

'The Witch households aren't forces that I can handle easily. I don't look down on them.'

"I'm not afraid, but there's no reason to make them feel bad. On the other hand, for me, there are some reasons to give them favors." (Yuri)

'Or rather, there's nothing to gain by winning.'

'This is such an exaggerated event. Winning will bring honor as a Knight. I know that. Myaro probably wants me to have that honor.'

'But I don't care about that. It's an honor to win, but losing is not a disgrace.'

'I'm sure there are some people who are disappointed, but it's normal to be complimented on how well you've progressed to the finals at this age. It's a different matter if it concerns the Hou Household's prestige, but that's not the case. It's just a matter of what will be a plus if I win, and if I don't win, it will remains zero as it is.'

'Conversely, it's obvious that Jura places importance on winning the tournament since she looks so eager. If I give the win away, it would be a big favor. It doesn't matter to me, and if it's important to the other person, I don't mind giving the favor.'

'If I have to be sorry, that's only toward the guys in our dormitory since I represent them. They couldn't defeat any semi-finalists other than me and Myaro.'

"If it's about Syamu, you don't have to worry. In the dormitory, I…" (Myaro)

"Myaro." (Yuri)

I stopped her.

"For me, I don't want to bother on small stuff. I'm not looking for the glory of winning in this place. I don't like Lakrama.n.u.s, but I'll give the winning away." (Yuri)

"I… Yuri-kun…" (Myaro)

'It's not that I don't understand her feelings. She wants me to play a heroic role as the person who will be the head of the General household.'

'Why is she doing such a thing even though it doesn't benefit herself? That's a preference. If it's a preference to enter the school of Knights against the birth and upbringing, it's also a preference to make me stand up at the top.'

'This girl doesn't have any stake in it. Although no one is telling me that, she's working hard without being told. If she's trying to produce a hero, it's also a preference to take delight in people's reaction against the crime.'

"I'm not living for your pleasures. I'm not going to move the way you want." (Yuri)

Myaro looked down with a painful expression, as if my words had broken my heart.

"So, are you…?"" (Myaro)

"Yes, no matter what you think about it." (Yuri)

When I said so, Myaro shut her mouth. Then, she stood up.

'Did that take about five minutes?'

"I'm sorry. My actions were annoying to you." (Myaro)

Myaro sadly muttered that. She sounded like a fleeting lamp that would disappear if it blew.

"I don't think it's annoying." (Yuri)

"Eh…? But I…?" (Myaro)

"Yes, it's true. I'm thankful. You did it for my sake." (Yuri)

"Yes… definitely." (Myaro)

"However, I don't want to be what you want me to be. I don't want to be expected to do anything." (Yuri)

"Is that so…?" (Myaro)

'While Myaro is a realistic person, she's also strangely dreamy at the root. If she dream about me and caught me, what is waiting is doom.'

'No matter how good it looks to me and how competent I am, there's no guarantee that Myaro's actions are the best. Plus, I'm aiming for something different in the first place.'

'She is probably trying to reform the Kingdom of Shaalta, and she wants to create a position for me. Getting honor in this small tournament is one of the factors.'

'It's a different vector from my thoughts.'

'I don't know which is right. However, I cannot act thinking that Myaro is more correct than I am. It's about being mentally subservient, or to put in a bad way, it's the idea of a slave.'

"Do you understand?" (Yuri)

"Yes. Yuri-kun is right. I'm also a person who will do everything in my own way, and there's not point in following others. When I think about it, that's normal." (Myaro)

"Is that so?" (Yuri)

'I don't know whether she really understood it or not, and I can't read from her expression when she's still look frustrated.'

'However, she seems convinced for the time being. Well, that's fine then.'

—

Myaro opened her mouth, and…

"Uhm… may I ask you one last question?" (Myaro)

She asked me that.

"It's fine even if you want to ask ten questions." (Yuri)

"Yuri-kun, you're not afraid of the Witch households, is it?" (Myaro)

"Haha." (Yuri)

I unintentionally laughed.

"Why do I have to be afraid of them?" (Yuri)

"Then, you're going to defeat them someday, right." (Myaro)

'Defeat them. As I expected, Myaro is fundamentally different from me.'

"They're parasites. Parasites can be bullish to its host, but it can't do anything when the host is about to die. Even if I don't do anything, they're destined to self-destruct." (Yuri)

'Parasites are strong against the host, but once the host is killed, they have to escape from it or die together. Six precedents prove to be splendid that the Witch households' reactions are very similar to it.'

"I see… I don't understand that well." (Myaro)

'She doesn't seem to understand that. Well, she will understand it soon.'

*Knock* *Knock*

The door was knocked.

"Come in." (Yuri)

"Please excuse me." (??)

It was a maid of the royal castle.

'She's probably coming to call for the third game. Is the break over?'

"Yuri-sama, you have a guest." (??)

It was different.

"…Well, this is it." (Myaro)

"Aah, yes. See you." (Yuri)

Myaro left the room with the maid.

"It's an urgent matter. May I see you?" (??)