February 18 was the day that Fritz and his party, who had been stranded in Tellurus, were to be able to cross the Torres River.

It would also be the day that he and Rita would part.

Cynthia, realizing that she had been mistaken, had been kind to Rita since the day after that day, and Gloria had been taking care of her like a mother and sister, showing a surprisingly caring attitude.

And Fritz was taking his own pace.

"......?"

There was a sign on Fritz's bedroom door.

"What ......<......?"

And on the side table by the bed was a certificate and a magic tool to remove the collar.

"......When ......?"

Of course, it was the work of the fifth column (Quinta), Regulus 16, a.k.a. , but Fritz had no way of knowing that this was the case.

"...... home country agent or ......?"

It is most reasonable to assume that he is an agent of or ?

"Hmmm, then there must be some political agenda in asking him to take Rita with him.

Perhaps to expose the darkness of Serlore in front of the heads of state, Fritz imagined.

"Well, that's all right.

We can't just let him go. He thought that if he consulted the authorities back home, he would be able to settle Rita's fate in the right direction.

Rita knew that she would have to say goodbye to Fritz and the others after this morning, and she had a downcast look on her face.

"Rita!"

He shows her the proof.

"You are no longer a slave. You are free. You can go wherever you want."

With these words, Fritz takes off her collar.

Rita is suddenly struck dumb and stiffens. Gloria and Cynthia are also frozen.

"What's going on, Mister Fritz?

Gloria finally spoke up and Fritz gave her a simple explanation.

"Well... You mean that ...... agents from your country have freed Rita. You must have some very talented ...... people."

Gloria seemed convinced, saying a little enviously.

"So ......?　What do you want to do, Rita?"

Fritz was not so keen on being used as a political tool and therefore respected her wishes.

"Oh,...... I,...... want to go,...... with you all. If ...... I'm thrown out now, I don't have anywhere to go. ......"

Rita answered hesitantly and reservedly. It was a natural answer and in line with the wishes of the home country. Fritz smiled and nodded.

"Okay. I will go with you. I'll be your squire, I suppose. I'll be your squire, I guess.

Both Gloria and Cynthia were much taller than Rita and their clothes did not fit.

"Ah, then I'll rush to the store after breakfast. Shea, what time was the boat leaving?

Yes, Miss Gloria. The boat leaves at 10:00 a.m.

"I see. That's good enough. Is that correct, Mr. Fritz?

Yes, thank you. I'll leave it to you.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Fritz instructed the five <> to walk slowly through the river to the other side of the river. The trip to the other side of the river would be arranged to take place at night.

The four people on the boat.

The boat on which the group boarded was a large passenger boat that could accommodate about 20 people.

Some were merchants, some were soldiers, and some seemed to be low-ranking nobles.

One of them muttered in a whisper.

"Well, I can't believe there are slaves on board with us. I can't stand the smell."

He seemed to have seen the tattoo on my chest. Rita twitches when she hears these words.

The one who muttered this seemed to be a senior soldier of the Kingdom of Celuloa. In other words, a junior officer.

"Don't worry about it. You're not a slave anymore."

Fritz patted Rita on the shoulder for comfort.

"You seem to despise slaves, but you are a fool if you do not realize that the soil of your country is rotten.

Gloria spoke to herself in an audible monologue.

"What?

"Oh, you heard me. You have good ears.

"You've got good ears!　I told you to listen to me!

Fritz interrupted.

"Gloria, don't do this. "...... I suggest you don't either, since you're on a boat."

"U...... got it."

"Yes."

Gloria reluctantly withdrew, and the soldier turned away as if sniffling.

After two hours, the boat arrived at the other side of the river.

"Ah, we're here at last!"

Fritz stretched out as he was released from the cramped confines of the boat.

"Hey, guys."

"Yeah?"

Fritz turned around to see the senior soldier who had complained about Rita on the ship standing there, along with about five of his followers.

"What do you want?"

"What do you want?" he asked. "I can't stand having a slave in the center of my country. Get out of here as soon as possible.

By "the center" here, I mean the triangle between the Torres and Asur rivers, the lands of the former Kingdom of Selroa.

"Unfortunately, we are planning to stay in Ritz today."

What?

And we'll be in Dali during the commemoration. We have no right to be dictated to by you in the first place.

Fritz says calmly and the senior soldier shows his anger.

"Who do you think you are, ...... me!"

"I don't know. I don't know. We've never met before.

Rita and Cynthia are far away while Fritz is dealing with them. Gloria is standing nearby, watching the proceedings.

"I'm the regional lord of the Marquis of Urau, ......."

"Oh, I don't want to hear about your boss. That's what we call a rat riding on the back of a dragon.

It's the Japanese equivalent of a fox riding on the back of a tiger.

"You!　You insult me!

Whether you take it as an insult or just an explanation is up to you.

d*mn ......!

The senior soldier was about to put his hand on the shortsword at his waist when...

"That's enough!"

A voice called out.

It was a man who appeared to be a low-ranking nobleman on the same ship. He was a little older than Fritz. He has blond hair, blue eyes, and is quite handsome. He is flanked on either side by two strong-looking men.

"What are you doing?　Don't interfere!"

But the strong man kept a stern look on his face.

"I didn't know the Marquis of Ulaanbaatar had such men. ......"

What?

He seems a little creeped out by the fact that his boss seems to know the Marquis of Ulaanu.

"You'd better step back now. This is His Royal Highness the Dauphin Cesar Valois.

One of his entourage announced the shocking truth in a quiet voice.

"What?"

A senior soldier makes a stupid sound.

"Wang ...... Taishi ...... child?"

The blood drained from the senior soldier's face.

"Hey, hey, Kirk, you can't just give him away like that."

I'm sorry, sir.

I'm sorry, sir.

The senior soldier and his cronies kneel down.

"Oh, forget it. I know the name of your boss. You can leave now."

Yes, sir. ......

The Dauphin, who had been in high spirits earlier, looked at the senior soldier, who was now drooping and slinking away, and then turned to Fritz and bowed lightly.

"I apologize for the rudeness of my soldiers."